758 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 35 



Chrysopa caZifomica carried on during 1915 in southern Arizona, where it is of 

 considerable importance, particularly as an eiemy of aphids. The species is 

 known to occur throughout the Pacific Coast States and in Texas, Arizona, New 

 Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and southern California. In addition to plant lice it 

 feeds upon mites, leaf hoppers, thrips, etc. 



Oviposition requires from one to four days, during which time about 30 eggs 

 are deposited. From 6 to 12 days were passed in the egg stage, 8 days being 

 the average for 122 eggs observed. From 11 to 22 days are required for the 

 development of larvae, 16 days being the average, during the course of which 

 there are two molts and fi'om 74 to 160 full-grown aphids were eaten by each 

 larva. The pupal stage was found to vary from 14 to 23 days in length, the 

 average being 16J days for March and 20^ days for November. The author's 

 observations show that there are at least six generations annually in the Salt 

 River Valley. 



Though reported to be commonly attacked by parasites in California, exami- 

 nations of abundant material failed to detect any in Arizona. 



Larval characters and distribution of two species of Diatrsea, T. E. Hollo- 

 way (U. 8. Dept. Agr^ Jour. Agr. Research, 6 (1916), No. 16, pp. 621-626, pi. 1, 

 fig. 1). — The differences in the larval characters of Diatrcea saccharalis cram- 

 Mdoides and D. zeacolella are pointed out and descriptions given of full-fed 

 larvse of both the summer and winter forms of the two species. 



The food plants and breeding habits of the two have been found to differ to 

 some extent. D. saccharalis crambid aides feeds on sugar cane, corn, and John- 

 son and other grasses, practically all the larval period being spent within the 

 stalks of the plants, except that the first instars feed about on the leaves. 

 D. zeacolella, however, seems to have a preference for corn even when sugar 

 cane is present and goes down in the taproots of corn, which D. saccharalis 

 crambidoides does not do. The last mentioned form has been found to be 

 limited to southern Florida, southern Louisiana, and the southern tip of Texas, 

 indicating that it was brought to this country in shipments of sugar cane from 

 the Tropics. 



Notes on the life history of Ecpantheria eridanus, R. H. Van Zwalenbueg 

 (Insecutor Inscitia; Menstruus, 4 {1916), No. IS, pp. 12-17). — This arctiid moth 

 (E. eridanus, of which E. icasia is a synonym) is said to be fairly common 

 throughout the island of Porto Rico and to have a wide variety of host plants. 

 It has been taken on the orange, Erythrina micropteryx, Ipomcea sp., vanilla, 

 banana, Cissus (?) sicyoides, and Panicum sp. At the experiment station the 

 larvae have done some damage by feeding on the blossom buds of vanilla. The 

 synonymy of E. eridanus and E. icasia is said to have been substantiated by 

 breeding both forms. 



Technical descriptions of the adult and immature stages, including eight larval 

 stages, are given. The eggs are deposited in large irregular clusters on the upper 

 leaf surface, unfertilized females in captivity having each laid over 500 sterile 

 eggs. From 6 to 8 days are required for the development of the egg, 24 to 62 

 days for the completion of the larval stages, and 15 to 20 days for the pupal 

 stage. The ichneumon Eremotylus angulatus is said to parasitize the larvae. 



The army cutworm in Montana, R. A. Cooley and J. R. Pakker (Montana 

 Sta. Circ. 52 (1916), pp. 97-108, figs. 4).— Information previously noted (E. S. 

 R., 33, p. 654) is supplemented by observations in 1915, when a state- wide out- 

 break of the army cutworm (Chorizagrotis agrestis) resulted in the destruction 

 of at least 100,000 acres of grain, principally winter wheat. Notes by A. Atkin- 

 son on crops to plant where winter wheat has been destroyed are appended. 



Notes on the relation of insects to the spread of the wilt disease, H. W. 

 Ajxen (Jour. Econ. Ent., 9 (1916), No. 1, pp. 233-235) .—Yery liitle is known 



