466 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.35 



Notes on beet or mangold fly, A. D. Imms {Jour. Bd. Agr. [London^, 22 

 (1915), No. 9, pp. 881-88Jt). — A brief account of the distribution, life history, 

 and methods of control of Pegomya hyoscyami hetw. A detailed account by 

 Cameron of the life history of this species has been previously noted (E. S. R., 

 32, p. 351). 



The yellow currant and gooseberry fruit fly (Epochra canadensis), L. A. 

 Whitney {Mo. Bui. Com. Hort. Cal., 5 {1916), No. 4, pp. 152-151, figs. 5).— 

 This fruit fly, which is generally distributed throughout the currant and goose- 

 berry growing districts of the United States and Canada, is in California appa- 

 rently confined to the central and northern parts of the State. Technical de- 

 scriptions are given of its life stages, together with a summary of control work 

 with the cherry fruit flies in New York State, adapted from New York Cornell 

 Experiment Station Bulletin 325, previously noted (E. S. R., 29, p. 55). 



Life histories and methods of rearing Hessian fly parasites, C. M. Packabd 

 (Z7. S. Dept. Agr., Jour. Agr. Research, 6 {1916), No. 10, pp. 367-381, pis. 2).— 

 This report of studies made of the life history, habits, and relative efficiency of 

 Hessian fly parasites during the seasons of 1914 and 1915 deals with three 

 hymenopterans, namely, Eupelmus allynii, Merisus destructor, and {Merisu^) 

 Micromelus suhapterus. The methods of rearing found most satisfactory are 

 first described. 



The egg of E. allynii requires a period of from 1.5 to 5 days for incubation 

 from July to November ; from 7 to 10 days are required by the larva to pass 

 through the five instars and complete its growth, and from 9 to 24 days for de- 

 velopment in the pupal stage. As many as 58 eggs are recorded as having been 

 laid by each of two females. It is stated that W. R. McConnell has ascertained 

 that this species can reproduce parthenogenetically. 



M. destructor requires from 1.5 to 4 days for its embryonic development ; from 

 7 to 11 days for the development of the larva ; and 7 to 14 days from the for- 

 mation of the pupa to the emergence of the adult. A total of 39 eggs is re- 

 corded as having been laid by a single female. 



M. subapterus was found to require from 1.5 to 5 days for the development 

 of the eggs ; from 7 to 10 days for the growth of the larva ; and from 7 to 13 

 days for the development of the pupa. A total of 103 eggs is recorded as hav- 

 ing been deposited by a single female. 



The author's experiments and observations have led to the inference that 

 only one specimen of any of the three species studied ever matures in a single 

 Hessian fly puparium. In every instance where more than one egg or larva 

 was placed on the same host or in the same cell, one survived and the rest were 

 killed by that one or starved to death. This was true whether the two or more 

 larvae were of the same or different species. 



Studies of agricultural biology. — I, Account of the glossines or tsetse 

 flies, E. Hegh {Etudes de Biologie Agricole: No. 1, Notice sur les Glossines ou 

 Ts^ts6s. London: Belgian Govt., 1915, pp. 148, figs. 29). — This reports studies 

 of the tsetse flies. 



A chemotropic response of the house fly (Musca domestica), C. H. Richard- 

 son {Science, n. ser., 43 {1916), No. 1113, pp. 613-616) .—The author here pre- 

 sents a preliminary report on tests of the response of the house fly to a number 

 of inorganic and organic compounds which occur as products of fermentation 

 In barnyard manures. Negative results were obtained in all but the ammonium 

 hydroxid and ammonium carbonate experiments. 



Flytraps and their operation, P. C. Bishopp {V. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' 

 Bui. 73/f {1916), pp. IS, figs. 7). — A popular account of supplementary means 

 for controlling fliea. 



