ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 55 



also emerged under field conditions from 2 bananas which were removed from 

 the bunches of banana trees that had been cut down during the mosquito 

 campaign in Honolulu." 



Cheri-y fruit flies (Rhagoletis cingulata and R. fausta) and how to con- 

 trol them, J. F. Illtng worth {ISIexo York Cornell Sta. Bui. 325, pp. 191-204, 

 pis. 9). — Cherry fruit flies are said to have been the source of serious damage 

 in orchards about Ithaca for a number of years, late sour cherries, however, 

 apparently being the only ones affected. Investigations of these flies in 1912 

 led to the discovery that two species, R. cingulata and R. fausta were about 

 equally concerned in the Injury, although it had previously been supposed 

 that R. cingnlata was the sole source. In a search through the literature the 

 author found one instance in which R. fausta was reported to attack cherries, 

 this infestation having been in an orchard at Victoria, British Columbia, in 

 1904 to 1906 (E. S. R., 19, p. 959). A brief study, however, led to the assump- 

 tion that it is widely scattered along the northern border of the United States, 

 working in association with the common cherry fly. 



Technical descriptions are given of its several stages. Although the in- 

 dications are that the common cherry fly is a rather general feeder, attacking 

 all varieties of cherries and sometimes plums, thus far R. fausta has been 

 found only in sour cherries. The flies emerge about June 10 in the region 

 around Ithaca, N. Y. They mate when 5 or 6 days old and begin ovipositing 

 about 2 weeks after they emerge. The eggs are inserted into the fruit by means 

 of a sharp ovipositor, and hatch in approximately 2 lo 4 days. The number of 

 eggs produced by each female is probably 300 or 400. In 1912 the first tiny larvse 

 were found June 30, about the time that the early varieties of cherries were 

 being marketed. The infested fruit does not fall from the tree, but soon de- 

 cays. The presence of the larvte can often be recognized by the fruit having 

 a small hole near the upper side, probably cut by the maggot for air. When 

 the larvse are mature, about the middle of July, they fall to the ground and 

 bury themselves about 1 in. Here they change into pupae and lie dormant 

 until the next season." 



Applications of a poison bait consisting of arsenate of lead 5 lbs., molasses 

 3 gal., and water 100 gal., made on June 10 and June 24, resulted in reducing 

 the infestation from one-third of the crop, as occurred on the unsprayed trees, 

 to about one-sixth of 1 per cent. The sprayed fruit also showed a noticeable 

 lack of brown rot and curculio injury. The author thinks that possibly 

 arsenate of lead without sweetening may control the cherry frnit flies. 



A remedy for chrysanthemum leaf miner, J. G. Sanders {Jour. Econ. Ent., 

 5 {1912), No. 6, p. 472). — In experiments carried on during an outbreak of 

 the chrysanthemum leaf miner {Napomyza chrysanthemi) , nicotin solutions, 

 especially black leaf 40 used as a spray with or without whale oil soap solu- 

 tion, proved to be a satisfactory means of control. One part of nicotin in 400 

 parts of water killed the eggs and larvae readily, as well as newly-formed 

 pupaj. The pupte of all ages were killed with a 1 : 200 nicotin solution. The 

 idcotin affects the larvae through the loaf epidermis by osmosis. 



Report on rat fleas in Suffolk and North Essex, C. Strickland and G. 

 Merriman {Parasitology, 6 {1913), No. 1, pp. 2-18. figs. 3). — Previously noted 

 from another source (B. S. R., 28, p. 757). 



Life history and habits of Trogoderma tarsale, a museum pest, J. E. 

 WoDSEDALEK {A7in. Ent. Sac. Amer., 5 {1912), No. 4, pp. 367-382, figs. 5).— The 

 author's summary of variations in the life hislory of different individuals of 

 the same generation of this coleopteron is as follows : " The adults lay eggs from 

 3 to 7 days after emergence. The number of eggs laid by different individuals 

 95099°— No. 1—13 5 



