1917] ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 567 



Nebraska. The injury is caused by tlie larvae, wliich bore into the petioles or 

 midribs of horse-radish ([Nasturtium] Radicula armoracia), and by the adults, 

 which feed on the leaves, causing the characteristic flea-beetle injury — wither- 

 ing and dying — or gouge deep pits in the petioles or midribs. In 1914 it became 

 of economic importance in the growing of horse-radish on a commercial scale in 

 Brown County, Wis., and in the two years following reappeared in large num- 

 bers. It is also a source of injury at Shermerville, 111., to the extent of 

 thousands of dollars every year. This beetle is partial to horse-radish and 

 marsh cress but has once been taken on young cabbage in hotbeds in early 

 spring. 



The species hibernates as an adult, appearing in its northern range in April 

 and May. The eggs are deposited from the latter part of April or early May 

 until esfrly August, the crevices of the tender petioles of young leaves where 

 they leave the root usually being the preferred location. A total of 418 eggs 

 deposited at intervals in numbers of about 22 were recorded from a single 

 female. The incubation period of the egg required from 7 to 14 days. 



On hatching, the lai'vse crawl about the leaf for some time, examination of a 

 small tender petiole showing that they enter at different places along the inner 

 side. The larvse grow and feed in the tissues of the petioles and midribs of the 

 leaves, and when very numerous the petioles are tunneled to the extent that 

 they shrink considerably, causing the leaf to wither and die at the tip and 

 about the margins. 



When the larvae are ready for pupation, they leave the petioles and enter the 

 ground. That the larvfe may also live in the root of the plant is said to have 

 been clearly demonstrated. After leaving the plant the larva enters the soil to 

 a depth of from J to i in., or even 3 in., where it remains for 4 or 5 days, pupat- 

 ing in from 2 to 6 days. Forty-eight days was the total larval period of an 

 individual which was deposited as an egg on INIay 1 ; others required periods 

 of from 52 to 66 days and 10 to 13 days for pupal development. 



The length of the oviposition period was found to be about 75 days, from the 

 middle of May to the first of August. The total period of time from egg laying 

 to adult ranges from 77 days to about 90 days in the cases where complete 

 records were obtained. The adult appears to live about a year, there being but 

 one generation annually in Wisconsin. 



Bordeaux applied on the first appearance of the beetle is recommended as a 

 preventive to be followed by arsenate of lead where necessary. 



A bibliography of 10 titles is appended. 



The two-banded fungus beetle, F. H. Chittenden (Jour. Econ. Ent., 10 

 {1911), No. 2. pp. 2S2-2S7. fig. 1). — Alphitophagus hifasdatus, a cosmopolitan 

 fungus beetle, is a scavenger usually found in refuse, such as decaying vegetable 

 matter. In flour and feed stores, in mills, and in grain warehouses, and is not 

 uncommon in the open as well as indoors. The present paper gives a brief 

 summarized account of observations of the pest. 



A troublesome household pest (Attagenus plebius) of Hawaii, J. F. Illing- 

 woBTH (Jour. Econ. Ent., 10 {1917), No. 3, pp. SJfO-SU, fig. i).— This dermestid, 

 which has habits somewhat similar to the black carpet beetle {A. piceus) of the 

 United States, is said to be an important household pest in the Hawaiian 

 Islands, though apparently not found elsewhere. A note is given on its life 

 history, together with technical descriptions of its several stages, and brief 

 mention is made of control measures. A second fumigation with carbOB bi- 

 sulphid is necessary, as the eggs are not thus destroyed. 



Studies on the life history of Ligyrus gibbosus, W. P. Hayes {Jour. Econ. 

 Ent., 10 {1917). No. 2, pp. 253-261. pi. 1).—L. gibbosus, which first came into 

 prominence as an enemy of the wild sunflower, is growing in importance as a 



