191«] ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — EXTOMOLOGY. 855 



Aphidoletes meridionalis, an important dipterous enemy of aphids, J, J. 

 Davis (U. S. Dept. Agr., Jour. Ayr. Research, 6 (1916), No. 23, pp. S83-888, 

 pi. 1, figs. ^).— This cecidomyild, first described in 1908, has been found to be 

 of economic importance in at least six Central States through Its feeding In the 

 larval stage upon almost any species of aphid available. 



The eggs are deposited on foliage among a colony of aphids in cluslors of from 

 1 to 12, or may be deposited upon the dorsum of the aphid itself. Records kept 

 of two females show 116 and 125 eggs to have been depo^^ited. Upon hatching 

 out the larva attaclis the nearest aphid. After sucking the body lluids and 

 killing one, it continues to move on to another until full grown. After from 

 7 to 11 days, which are required for the development of the larva, a loose cocoon 

 is spun, shortly followed by pupation, usually at or near the surface of the 

 ground. The length of the pupal stages varies from 6 to 9 days. Oviposition, 

 which apparently only occurs at night, was observed to continue for v period of 

 10 days, the length of life of the adult under the same conditions being 14 days. 

 The total length of its life cycle was observed to vary from 1.5 to 29 days. 

 Hibernation takes place in the larval stage and possibly also as pupaj within 

 the cocoons. 



Mosquito control in Panama. — The eradication of malaria and yellow fever 

 in Cuba and Panama, J. A. Le Pbince and A. J. Orenstetn {Nexo York and 

 London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1916, pp. XVII+S35, pis. 58, figs. 20).— This work, 

 by the chief sanitary inspector of the Isthmian Canal Commission and his 

 assistant, presents a detailed account of the manner in which mosquitoes have 

 been held in check in the Canal Zone. The work is prefaced by a brief introduc- 

 tion by L. O. Howard of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The first of the 

 two parts deals with the antimalaria campaign (p. 3-22S) and the second part 

 with the yellow fever campaign (pp. 229-324). The work includes maps of the 

 Isthmus, showing the completed csmal ; of Gatun, showing the Anopheles prop- 

 agation area and houses where stained specimens were recaptured ; and of 

 Havana, showing the yellow fever district. A complete index to the subject 

 matter is included. 



New species of Asilidoe from southern California, F. R. Cole (Psyche, 23 

 (1916), No. 3, pp. 63-69, pis. 3). 



The cabbage maggot, its biology and control, W. J. Schoene (New York 

 State Sta. Bui. 419 (1916), pp. 99-160, pis. 8, figs. 3).— This bulletin is based 

 upon observations commenced in 1906 and extending over the eight following 

 seasons. Data relating to its injury and control work with cabbage seedlings 

 grown under cheesecloth and with truck crops have been previously noted 

 (E. S. R., 25, p. 38; 31, p. 352). 



This pest appears to be limited to the North, serious injury having rarely 

 been reported south of latitude 45° in this country and latitude 40° in Europe. 

 The winter is passed in the pupal stage, the adults commencing to appear about 

 the time the Windsor cherry blossoms, and continuing to emerge over a period 

 of four or five weeks. Those that appear first are largely from the fall brood 

 of larvfe, but a few originate from the first and second broods of larvae of the 

 previous summer. When conditions are favorable there are at least three broods 

 and perhaps a partial fourth brood. The eggs, which are deposited on or near 

 succulent cruciferous plants, hatch in from three to five days. The larva, 

 feeding upon the root, matures in from 18 to 20 days and then enters the soil 

 to pupate. The pupal stage may last from 12 to 18 days or be prolonged for 

 an indefinite period of several months, depending upon moisture and temperature 

 conditions, so that it may be one, two, or three brooded. It is thought that 

 oviposition commences within three to five days after the adults emerge. It Is 

 C9107°— No. 9—17 5 



