450 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Sunflower insects, T. D. A. Cockebell (Canad. Ent., 47 (1915), No. 9, pp. 

 280-282). — Further notes on the insects of Helianthus, an account of which has 

 been previously noted (E. S. R., 31, p. 548). 



The biology of the juniper berry insects with descriptions of new species, 

 S. Maecovitch [Ann. Ent. Soc. Amcr., 8 {1915), Xo. 2, pp. 163-1S8, figs. 63).— 

 During the course of investigations at Ithaca, N. Y., and at Minneapolis. Minn., 

 of the insects attacking Juniperus virginiana, the author has found a number 

 of insects to develop in these berries, including a tineid (Argyrcsthia alter- 

 natella) which eats the seeds, a trypetid (Rhagolctis juniperinus n. sp.) which 

 feeds on the fleshy portion of the berry, and a cecidomyiid ; and a mite, deter- 

 mined as Eriophyes qnadrisctus. He has also reared six chalcidids, at least 

 two of which are plant feeding in habit, namely, Eurytoma juniperinus n. sp., 

 a description of which is here presented, and (lenioccrus junipcri.. A parasitic 

 larva found in contact with a Geniocorus larva has been determined as G. mar- 

 copitchi. A. alternatcUa has a number of enemies including a blue chalcidid 

 (Secodella sp.), Protapantales sp., and parasites of the family Eucyrtidae. 



A list of nine titles relating to the subject is included. 



Control of grasshoppers in Imperial Valley, "SV. E. Packard (California Sta. 

 Circ. l/fS (1915), pp. 11, figs. 8). — A description is given of the more practical 

 measures for combating grasshoppers. 



Potato curly leaf caused by Euthrips occidentalis, D. L. Crawford {Mo. 

 Bui. Com. Jforf. Cal., 4 {1915), No. 8, pp. 389-301, figs. 2).— In the San Gabriel 

 region of California the attack of potato plants by E. occidentalis has resulted 

 in considerable injury to the crop. 



The feeding of this thrips on the lower surface of the expanding leaf buds 

 and young leaves causes the leaves to become crinkled and curly and usually 

 much dwarfed. The attack on the older leaves does not cause curling but only 

 spotting where the injury has been the worst. It is said to be very common to 

 see early blight {Macrosporium solani) killing parts or the whole of some leaves 

 injured by the thrips, and it is estimated that 7.") per cent of the early blight 

 in such fields is on the curly plants. " The dwarfing of the plants is severe as 

 sometimes they are only one-tenth normal size ; the leaves are much smaller and 

 very often more or less blighted. The yield of tubers is seriously reduced, 

 averaging perhaps one-fifth to one-third as many as on normal plants. The 

 loss caused is gi'eat, when it is considered that in an average field at least one- 

 eighth to one-fourth of the plants are seriously dwarfed, thus reducing the crop 

 several hundred pounds per acre." 



While curly leaf has been known in this region for two or three years it has 

 not heretofore been as serious as during the .season of lOl.'j, and Imt little atten- 

 tion has been given to its control. The application of Bordeaux mixture by 

 several growers for early blight is said to have resulted in a considerable reduc- 

 tion in the number of thrips. The author recommends that a tobacco extract 

 such as blackleaf 40 be added to Bordeaux mixtux-e at the rate of 1 pint to 100 

 gal. of Bordeaux, or to water alone, and applied as a control measure for the 

 thrips not later than one month after planting. It will also help much, both 

 for blight and curly leaf, to spray a second time with the same combination of 

 Bordeaux and tobacco extract, about three weeks later. 



The pea thrips (Kakothrips robustus), C. B. Williams {Ann. Appl. Biol., 1 

 {191-5), A'o. 3-J,, pp. 222-2 i,G, figs. 12).— A detailed report of studies conducteii 

 by the author in Great Britain, where, as in western Europe, A', robust us is the 

 source of damage to peas and beans. 



"The adults appear from May to August; males only in the earlier part. 

 The eggs are laid chiefly in the tissue of the stamen sheath. They hatch in 



