1916J ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 757 



this treatment may be used, or fumigation with hydrocyanic acid gas, directions 

 for the use of whicli are given. 



The western wheat aphis (Brachycolus tritici), J. R. Parkek {Jour. Econ. 

 Ent., 9 (1916), No. 1, pp. 182-1^, pi. i).— This aphidid, describe<l by Gillette 

 from Colorado in 1911, first atti-acted attention in a few localities in Fergus 

 County, Mont., in 1910. In this year an investigation of the reports of injury 

 led to the determination of the fact that it was causing serious injury to N^inter 

 wheat. In one instance, a grower who had 700 acres of wheat estimated his 

 loss at 5,000 bu., while 80 acres of wheat on another farm were so badly injured 

 that no attempt was made to harvest it. Since 1910 the western wheat aphis 

 has become increasingly abundant in Fergus County and has appeared in in- 

 jurious numbers in several other counties. 



This paper presents descriptions of the pest and discusses the character and 

 extent of injury, seasonal history and habits, and control measures. Barley 

 is said to be the only grain crop besides wheat thus far known to be injured 

 by the wheat aphis. Blue joint grass (Agropyron occidcntale) when growing in 

 and around the edges of infested wheat fields is always heavily infested and is 

 probably the native host plant. 



Plant Uce injurious to apple orchards. — I, Studies on control of newly- 

 hatched aphids, P. J. Parkott, H. E. Hodgkiss, and F. H. Lathrop (New York 

 State Sta. Bui. 415 (1916), pp. 11-53, pis. 8, figs. 6).— The experiments and ob- 

 servations quoted in this bulletin were made chiefly at Geneva, but auxiliary 

 experiments were carried on with more than 400 trees in 10 orchards in Niagara 

 and Orleans counties. The work was chiefly concerned with control methods on 

 newly hatched aphids. For this purpose lime-sulphur, nicotin solution, sodium 

 sulphid mixed with soap, crude carbolic emulsion, and other insecticides were 

 used. Observations were also made on the seasonal behavior of apple aphids 

 and on the influence of these insects on the growth of apples. The species of 

 plant lice under observation were Aphis sorbi, A. avenw, and A. pomi. 



The rosy aphis (A. sorbi) was chiefly responsible during 1915 for the dwarfing 

 and deforming of apples. The effects of the other two species were not so 

 clearly distinguished. The rosy aphis caused a retardation of increase in the 

 transverse diameter of apples at first, but ultimately brought about a reduc- 

 tion of the axillary diameter of the fruit. Infested apples showed an average 

 axillary diameter of 1.51 in. and transverse diameter of 1.71 in., as contrasted 

 with 2.37 and 2.87 in., respectively, for the diameters of uninfested apples. 



Satisfactory results in controlling the rosy aphis were obtained from the use 

 of nicotin solution and soap, nicotin solution and lime-sulphur, and crude car- 

 bolic-acid emulsion. The first insecticide caused no injury to foliage, while 

 slight injuries resulted from the use of the other two. The insecticides used in 

 this experiment were equally efficacious against the other species of insects, but 

 the multiplication of green aphis made repeated applications necessary to control 

 this species. Evidence was obtained that the soap and nicotin solution brings 

 about only a temporary protection. The value of the insecticide appeared to be 

 enhanced by the addition of large amounts of lime. 



Apple aphids and their control, F. H. Halt, (New York State Sta. Bui. 415, 

 popular ed. (1916), pp. 11, figs. 2). — A popular edition of the above. 



Some grass-feeding mealy bugs, T, D. A. Cockebell (Jour. Econ. Ent., 9 

 (1916), No. 2, pp. S12, 313). — Pseudococcus timherlakei on salt marsh grass at 

 Millbrae, Cal., and P. neomexicanus utahensis from Elymus at Salt Lake City, 

 Utah, are described as new to science. 



California green lacewing fly, V. L. Wildeemitth (U. S. Dept. Agr., Jowr. 

 Agr. Research, 6 (1916), No. 14, PP- 515-525, figs. 7).— A report of studies of 



