858 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



which attacks tke tnuik; of the tree just above the ground is one of the principal 

 causes of serious reduction In the yield of coffee. 



Root borers and other grtibs in West Indian soils {Agr. 'News [Barhadosi, 

 12 (WIS), Nos. 289, pp. 170, 171; 290, p. 186).— A continuation of the article 

 previously noted (E. S. R., 28, p. 858). 



Beetles affecting the coconut palm, F. W. Ueich (Proc. Agr. Soc. Trinidad 

 and Tobago, 13 (1913), No, 4, "PP- 164-167). — This account relates to the grugru 

 beetle (RhynchopJiorus palmanim), the bearded weevil (Rhina barbirostris) , 

 a rhinoceros beetle (Strategu.s alveus), a shot-hole borer {Xyleborus sp.), 

 two weevil borers {Metamasius obsoletus and M. hermpterus) , and the coconut 

 scale (Aspidiotus destructor). An undetermined tachinid fly is said to have 

 been reared from the bearded weevil, and the larvae of the histerid beetle 

 Oxystemus maxim-us prey upon the larvse of the grugru beetle. 



An insect causing serious injury to vineyards (Rev. Inst. Agr. Cataldn San 

 Isidro, 62 (1913), No. 2, pp. 23-26; al)s. in Rev. Appl. Ent., 1 (1913), Ser. A, 

 No. 6, pp. 189-191). — The larvae of the cerambycid beetle Vcsperus xatarti are 

 reported to have seriously injured vineyards in Spain. 



Report on Phytalus smithi and other beetles injurious to the sugar cane 

 in Mauritius, D. d'Emmebez de Charmoy (Port Louis, Mauritius: Govt., 1912, 

 pp. 35, pis. 9). — The first part (pp. 1-24) of this report relates to the life history, 

 natural enemies, and methods of combating P. smithi, which has been the source 

 of serious damage to sugar cane. The second part (pp. 25-34) presents general 

 information on beetles living at cane roots, including Adoretus versutus, which 

 is one of the commonest beetles in the island, and is a regular pest attacking all 

 trees, cultivated or wild; A. compressus, which is less common than the first 

 mentioned species ; Berica n. sp. ; Oryctes tarandus and O. insularis, the differ- 

 ent species of which genus have been known for years in Mauritius under the 

 name of "moutoucs; " Chyvinogaster huphthalma; Agrypnus fuscipes; the tene- 

 briordds, Eutochia fullo and Opatrum crenatum; and the curculionids, Cratopus 

 punctum and Trocarocephalus strangulatus. The third part (p. 35) consists of 

 a list of 14 species of other insects attacking the sugar cane in Mauritius. 



Injury caused by Criocephalus rusticus to building timber, C. Hoxjlbeet 

 (Insecta, 2 (1912), No. 24, pp. 302-310, pi. 1, figs. 6; abe. in Rev. Appl. Ent., 

 1 (1913), Ser. A, No. 2, pp. 4^, 4^)- — Ordinary fir timber is said to have been 

 seriously damaged by this longicom beetle in the Department of Ille-et-Vilatne, 

 France. In some cases the beetles appeared to have emerged by piercing plates 

 of zinc. The timbers were reduced to a mere shell and in some cases the insect 

 bored through the solder which had been used to repair nail holes in the zinc 

 plates. 



Corn injury by wireworms (Agriotes lineatus) in Bessarabia, G. Kos- 

 LovsKii (Ehoziaistvo, 7 (1912), No. 30, pp. 1000, 1001; abs. in Internal. Inst. 

 Agr. [Rome], Bui. Bur. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, S (1912), No. 10, p. 

 2316). — The greatest damage is said to have occurred on land where com was 

 grown during the previous year. In fields following potatoes, sorghum, barley, 

 and soy beans, the injury to corn by wireworms was very slight. 



Investigations of the fungus-growing fruit tree bark beetle Xyleborus 

 (Anisandrus) dispar and its food fungus, O. Schneidee-Obelli (Centbl. BaJct. 

 [etc.], 2. Abt., 38 (1913), No. 1-6, pp. 25-110, pis. 3, figs. 7; abs. in Rev. Appl. 

 Ent., 1 (1913), Ser. A, No. 8, pp. 259-261).— This is a detailed report of a study 

 of the bionomics of the scolytid beetle X. dispar and contains the results of 

 numerous experiments regarding its feeding habits. The experimental propa- 

 gation of its food fungus Monilia Candida is also discussed. 



