ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY. 455 



The yerba santa mealy bug (Pseudococcus yerba-santas n. sp.), E. O. Essie 

 (Jour. Ent. and Zool., 5 (1913), No. 2, pp. 85-S7, flgff. 2).— This coccid feeds 

 upon the foliage of the yerba santa or mountain balm (Eriodictyon calif omi- 

 cum) in Ventura County, California. The larva of the syri-liid fly Baccha 

 lemur preys upon the eggs and young, and the small internal parasite LcucopU 

 bella attacks half-grown and adult females. 



Papers on insects affecting vegetable and truck crops. — The striped beet 

 caterpillar (Mamestra trifolii), H. O. Marsh ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. Bui. 

 127, pt. 2, pp. 13-18, pi. 1, pgs. 2). — This paper is based upon observations made 

 in the Ai-kansas Valley in Colorado and Kansas during the years 1909 to 1912, 

 inclusive. 



The striped beet caterpillar or clover cutworm, while ordinarily of minor 

 importance as a beet pest, some years develops in sufficient numbers to cause 

 noticeable damage. During June, 1911, some 75 acres of small beets in various 

 portions of the valley were observed by the author to be stripped of their 

 foliage. In addition to sugar beets, which appear to be the favorite food, the 

 larvae are found on lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium album). 



There are 3 generations in the Arkansas Valley each year. The first moths 

 appear during the latter half of May. The first generation develops during the 

 first part of July and moths of the second generation appear during the latter 

 part of August. The larvae of the third generation mature late in the fall, 

 • and the impve which develop live through the winter in cells in the soil. The 

 author finds that eggs of the first generation deposited May 20 required 5 days, 

 the larvae 22 days, and the pupfe 19 days for transformation. Eggs of the 

 second generation deposited July 5 required 6 days, the larvte 19 days, and the 

 pupre 15 days for transfomiation. A moth captured on September 17 deposited 

 504 eggs in the 6 days from September 19. 



The natural enemies mentioned include the braconids Microdus inedius, 

 Meteorus sp., and an undetermined species; a tachinid (Phorocera claripennis) , 

 a pentatomid (PeriUoides bioculata), and a spider (Phidippus coloradensis) . 



Since the pupa? are formed in earthen cells near the surface of the soil in 

 the beet fields, cultivation or plowing out the beets at harvest time crushes or 

 exposes them to the weather, thus acting as an efficient check. When the pest 

 occurs in injurious numbers the larvse can be easily controlled by spraying 

 with Paris green. 



Papers on insects affecting vegetable and truck crops. — The spotted beet 

 webworm (Hymenia perspectalis), F. H. Chittenden (U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. 

 Ent. Bui. 127, pt. 1, pp. 11, pis. 4, figs. 3). — This paper presents a brief account 

 of H. perspectalis, which is an enemy of the sugar beet and of ornamental 

 plants both in the garden and greenhouse. Thus far this webworm has been 

 reported as occurring in injurious numbers at Brooklyn, N. Y., and Washing- 

 ton, D. C, only. 



In addition to the sugar beet it attacks Swiss chard. Telnrithera versicolor, 

 Achyrantlics acuminata, etc. The larvae appear to be nocturnal or practically 

 so, rarely being seen during the daytime, during which time tliey conceal them- 

 selves about the bases of the plants near the roots and under portions of leaves 

 or petioles which rest on the ground. The author observed larvae which trans- 

 formed to pupae October 4 emerging as moths on October 25, while one which 

 pupated October 16 emerged October 31. 



Since injury has never been observed to take place until the autnmn, and 

 none of the stages have been observed to pass the winter successfully, the 

 author thinks it doubtful if this species really hibernates as far north as the 

 District of Columbia. 



8297'-%No. &— 13 5 



