356 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



An interesting case of antennal antigeny in Thysanoptera, J. D. Hood 

 (Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., 11 (1915), Xo. 3, pp. 128-182. figs. ^).— The genus 

 Plesiothrips is erected for Sericothripa ? perplcrn. 



Further experiments in the control of the tarnished plant bug (Lygus 

 pratensis), M. D. Leoxakd (Jour. Econ. Ent., 8 {1915), Xo. S, pp. 361-367).— 

 In continuation of investigations previously noted (E. S. R., 31, p. 650) the 

 author records tests made of the effectiveness of excluding tarnished plant bugs 

 from nursery blocks by means of wire screen fences, of bagging, and of 

 pruning. 



Note on the life history of Enchenopa binotata (Membracidse) on the 

 butternut, W. D. PX-nkhouseb (Jour. Econ. Ent., 8 (1915), No. S. pp. 368- 

 S71). — This membracid is said to occur in abundance on the butternut in the 

 vicinity of Ithaca, N. Y. 



An investigation of the best methods of destroying lice and other body 

 vermin, J. P. Kinloch (Brit. Med. Jour., Xo 28^2 (1915), pp. IOS8-IO4I ; abs. 

 in Pub. Health Rpts. [U. S.], SO (1915), Xo. S2, pp. 22S7-22S9) .—" Dry heat 

 is more effective than moist heat in destroying lice and tlieir eggs. The louse 

 can be revived after immersion for one minute in water at 100° C. Exposure 

 to a dry heat at the same temperature and for the same time appears to kill 

 both lice and nits. The paraffin bodies are actively insecticidal. and of these 

 petrol is the most effective. Lice and their eggs are destroyed by immersion in 

 petrol for one minute, and they may be killed by exposure to the vapor of petrol 

 for half an hour. Powerful fatty solvents other than the paraffins are actively 

 in-secticidal. Benzene, toluene, and acetone are as toxic to lice as petrol. Cer- 

 tain chlorin derivatives of methan, ethane, and ethylene are more lethal to lice 

 than any other substances, and have the imp<irtant merit of being noninflam- 

 mable. Immersion in the chlorin derivatives of ethane and ethylene immedi- 

 ately destroys all lice and nits, and exposure to the vapor of these substances 

 for five minutes is equally destructive. Even soap solutions containing 2 per 

 cent of trichlorethylene or 10 per cent of tetraehlorethane are capable of kill- 

 ing in half an hour at ordinary temperatures all lice and nits. 



"A 25 per cent solution of dichlorethylene or trichlorethylene In vaselin 

 when applied to the human body has been found capable of exerting its in- 

 secticidal action for hours. The action of a 25 per cent solution of petrol in 

 va.solin is of .shorter duration, but is also effective for some hours. 



" The common phenol disinfectants in their usual degrees of dilution for 

 disinfectant purposes and at ordinary temperature fail to kill lice or nits, even 

 after steeping for half an hour, but become efficient as insecticides if the tem- 

 perature of the steeping tank is maintained at 65°. 



" The volatile oils have no direct insecticidal effect. In a moist vajwr of 

 oil of wintergreen, oil of cloves, oil of caraway, oil of turpentine, oil of euca- 

 lyptus, oil of thyme, etc., lice live for many hours at body temperature, and can 

 be revived after immersion in the.se oils. 



"Over solid substances, such as iodoform, camphor, and paraform. and in con- 

 tact with them, and in contact with garments impregnated with sulphur, borax, 

 blark hellebore, alum, etc.. lice appear to remain practirally unaffected." 



Miscellaneous aphid notes, chiefly from Oregon, H. F. Wilson (Trans. 

 Amer. Ent. Soc, 41 (1915). No. 2, pp. 85-108, pis. 7).— Life history notes on 

 Prociphilus fraTini-dipctala; are first presented. This aphidid, first locateil by 

 the author at Washington, D. C, on roots of white pine (Pinus strohvs), was 

 later found to develop upon Fraxinus sp. He has since worked out the rela- 

 tionship on F. oregona and Pseudotsuga taxi folia in Oregon. In the spring it 

 appears on leaves of the ash, causing them to curl and assume a gall-like forma- 



