19171 ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 663 



California on apricots and prunes. Successful transference to different host 

 plants is recorded. 



Several parasites have been reared in Michigan from L. comi, which on some 

 trees was so badly parasitized as to be almost exterminated. In the vicinity 

 of Madison, Wis., Coccophagus lecanii was by far the most numerous and effec- 

 tive, though in California Coniys fusca appears to be the chief check. Several 

 insect predators are mentioned and the adult females are said to be susceptible 

 to several fungus diseases, of which that caused by Cordyceps clavulatum is the 

 most important. 



The spruce scale, a European pest first discovered in this country at Hart- 

 ford, Conn., in 1906, and since found in various northern localities as far west 

 as Wisconsin has become a serious pest. It appears to be dependent upon 

 spruce and pine for host plants, preferring the Norway spruce {Picea abies). 

 A. parasite representing a new species, described by Girault as Holcencyrtus 

 phpsokerniis (E. S. R., 36, p. 555), which appears to have been introduced with 

 P. picew from Europe, is effective in checking its spread. Cheiloneurus albi- 

 comis and several encyrtids were also reared from this scale. 



Pupae of some Maine species of Notodontoidea, Edna Mosheb (ilaine Sta. 

 Bui. 259 (1917), pp. 29-8.^, figs. 5). — The importance of being able to recognize 

 insect pests in any stage of their life cycle led to studies of the pupae of some 

 of the more common forms of notodontid moths found in Maine, a report of 

 which is here presented. Twenty-eight species representing 21 genera are thus 

 dealt with. 



Life history of Plutella macuHpennis, the diamond-back moth, H. O. 

 Maesh (V. S. Dept. Agr., Jotir. Agr. Research, 10 {1917), No. 1, pp. 1-10, pis. 

 2). — This report, based largely upon studies made since 1908 at Rocky Ford, 

 Colo., includes observations at Phoenix, Ariz. 



P. maculipennis is a cosmopolitan species which in the United States appar- 

 ently occurs wherever cabbage is grown. It feeds exclusively on cruciferous 

 plants, having been observed by the author to feed upon cabbage, cauliflower, 

 turnip, radish, rape, kale, mustard, Chinese mustard, kohl-rabi, water cress, 

 horse-radish, sweet alyssum, and candytuft, and also on two weeds, wild water- 

 cress {Roripa sinuata) and hedge mustard (Sisymbrium sp. ). While cabbage 

 is decidedly the favorite, rape, cauliflower, turnip, and mustard are readily 

 eaten. 



Seven generations occur annually at Rocky Ford, where the winter is passed 

 as an adult. The egg stage covered from 3 to 6 days, the larva stage from 9 

 to 28 days, and the pupa stage from 5 to 13 days. In the South the diamond- 

 back moth is active throughout the year, and the larvae are to be foimd at all 

 seasons. The larvae reared at Rocky Ford during May lived as leaf miners for 

 the first two or three days of their existence, whereas those reared at Phoenix 

 during February lived in mines for four days. 



While potentially a serious pest, it is normally held in suppression by para- 

 sites, of which the most effective is an ichneumonid, Angitixi plutellce, which 

 in turn is occasionally parasitized by Spilochalci-s delira. From 50 to 70 per 

 cent of the larvae of later generations of the diamond-back moth are commonly 

 found parasitized by A. plutellce. Other parasites reared by the author proved 

 to be Meteorus sp., Mesochorus sp., and a new species of Microplitls. No. para- 

 sites of the eggs or pupae and no predacious or fungus enemies have been ob- 

 served. It is readily controlled by the use of arsenicals, of which Paris 

 green 2 lbs. and soap 6 lbs. to 100 gals, of water is the most effective. Pow- 

 dered arsenate of lead at the rate of 4 lbs. in 100 gal. of water is also effective. 



The tobacco budworm and its control in the southern tobacco districts, 

 A. C. MoEGAN and F. L. McDonough (U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 819 



