ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 59 



Food habits of the thrushes of the United States, F. E. L. Beal (f7. S. 

 Dept. Agr. Bui. 280 (1915), pp. 23, figs. 2). — Eleven species of thrushes occur 

 within the limits of the United States, of which six are here considered, namely, 

 Townsend's solitaire (Myadestcs toxonsendi), the wood thrush (Hylocichla 

 miistelina), the veery and willow thrush {H. fuscescens subspp.), the gray- 

 cheeked and Bicknell's thrushes (H. alicice subspp.), the olive backed and rus- 

 set-backed thrushes (H. nstnlata subspp.), and the hermit thrushes {H. guttata 

 subspp. ) . An account of the food habits of the five species of robins and blue- 

 birds of the United States by the author has been previously noted (E. S. R., 32, 

 p. 648). 



The account of each species includes a classified list of the insects identi- 

 fied in the stomachs and the number of stomachs in w^hich each was found. 

 " The thrushes are largely insectivorous, and also are fond of spiders, myriapods, 

 sowbugs, snails, and angleworms. The vegetable portion of their diet consists 

 mostly of berries and other small fruits. . . . Thrushes of the genus Hylocichla 

 show a very pronounced taste for ants, and the average consumption of these 

 insects by the five species is 12.65 per cent. Few birds other than woodpeckers 

 show so strong a liking for this highly flavored food. Hymenoptera in general, 

 including ants, bees, and wasps, are the second largest item of insect food. 

 Lepidoptera (caterpillars) stand next as an article of thrush diet, wdiile Orthop- 

 tera (grasshoppers), which are a favorite food with most birds, do not seem 

 to appeal much to the thrushes. 



" The thrushes are pronounced ground feeders, and may often be seen picking 

 small fruit that has fallen to the ground. The vegetable portion of their food 

 (40.72 per cent) is largely composed of fruit, which constitutes over 34 per 

 cent of the total food. Of this 30.88 per cent is made up of wild berries, which 

 outweigh the domestic varieties with every species. In all, 94 species of wild 

 fruits or berries were identified in the stomachs of these birds, although it is not 

 always practicable to identify such material unless seeds or some other char- 

 acteristic parts are present. . . . Domestic fruits are eaten so sparingly by 

 the thrushes here considered as to be of no economic importance." 



Report of the division of entomology for the biennial period ending De- 

 cember 31, 1914, E. M. Ehehokn ([fiioi.] Rpt. Bd. Comrs. Agr. and Forestry 

 Hatcaii, 1913-14, pp. 103-161, pis. 6).— This, the usual biennial report (E. S. R, 

 29, p. 53), presents details of inspection work carried on, including the inspection 

 of agricultural products imported into the Territory from the mainland and 

 foreign countries, inter-island inspection, and a list of the pests intercepted. A 

 brief account is also given of pests which during the past two years have proved 

 quite a menace to plant life in and around Honolulu, as well as in some districts 

 on the other islands, namely, the Japanese rose beetle (Adoretus tenuimacu- 

 latus), coconut palm leaf roller (Omiodes blackburni), alligator pear bark 

 beetle {Xyleborus immaturus) , tree roach (Eleutheroda dytiscoides) , cutworms, 

 mealy bugs, scale insects, plant lice, ants, etc. 



Reports of the Work of the Insectary, by D. T. Fullaway (pp. 143-151) in 

 introducing, breeding, and distributing parasites of the fruit fly and horn fly, 

 and Parasitism Among the Larvae of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly {Ceratitis 

 capitata) in Hawaii during 1914, by E. A. Back and C. E. Pemberton (pp. 153- 

 161) are appended. 



Some important insect pests of the greenhouse, R. D. AVhitmaksh (Ohio 

 Sta. Circ. 154 (1915), pp. 93-104, figs. 10). — A brief popular account is given 

 of several of the more important insects occurring in greenhouses, including 

 the greenhouse whitefly, greenhouse red spider {Tetranychus telarius), plant 

 lice, and mealy bugs (Pseudococcus citri and P. longispinus) , and means for 

 their control. 



