656 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



occurred in Connecticut from year to j-ear during June and July as a result of 

 chickens feeding upon rose cliafers led to the investigation here reported. 



It is stated that a number of cases have been reported to the author, in 

 some of which the loss of several hundred chickens resulted. 



An extract made from crushed rose chafers and distilled water, filtered, and 

 fed to chickens in varying doses with a medicine dropper resulted in a large 

 number of deaths. Small chickens died in a few hours after feeding, whereas 

 older chickens when fed a small quantity of the extract lived but showed signs 

 of poisoning, and large doses caused their deaths. The results show that 

 from 15 to 20 rose chafers are sufficient to cause the death of chickens a week 

 old, fmd that from 25 to 45 rose chafers are usually necessary to kill a 3-weeks- 

 old chicken. Some 9-weeks-old chickens were killed by eating rose chafers, 

 but only one 10-weeks-old chicken was killed in the experiments. 



The author concludes that rose chafers contain a neurotoxin that has a 

 direct effect upon the heart action of both chickens and rabbits and are exces- 

 sively dangerous as a food for chickens. 



Some notes on the western twelve-spotted and the western striped 

 cucumber beetles, R. A. Sell {Jour. Econ. Ent., 8 {1915), No. 6, pp. 515-520).— 

 Notes on the biologj- of Diabrotica sornr and D. trivittata. 



Investig'atious on borers and borers' parasites, :\I. Ishida {ilcdcd. Procf- 

 stat. Jara-S It ikcrind !(■'<.. 5 {1915), Xo. 12. pp. 3SJ,-349, figs. 3).— The investiga- 

 tions here reported were carried out by the Formosa government entomologist 

 at the experiment station in Pasuruan, Java. 



Egg masses of Diatrcra striatalis to the number of 5,CM38 were collected with 

 a view to determining the percentage of parasitism. Of these 10.9 per cent were 

 parasitized Xry Trichogramma {Trichogrammnioidca nana and TrirJwgramma 

 pseiifJoiKUKi), 31.9 per cent by Phanurus, and 7.4 per cent by both Trichogramma 

 and Phanurus. From 146 egg masses containing 2,352 eggs, 1,813 specimens 

 of P. hencflricns were reared, of which but 4.35 per cent were males. A total 

 of 37.0 per cent were free from parasites. The number of eggs of the gray borer 

 {Grapholitha schiataccana) found in a cane field in Pasuruan is tabulated. 



Experiments in the control of the poplar and willow borer (Cryptorhyn- 

 chus lapathi), R. JIatheson {Jour. Econ. Ent., 8 {1915), Xo. 6, pp. 522-525). — 

 The results obtained in the destruction of the eggs and young larva? by applica- 

 tions of a number of insecticides, including scalecide, kerosene emulsion, car- 

 bolineum, and carbolineum emulsion, applied to trunks from the ground up to 

 the young growth, are reported upon. It was found that carbolineum applied 

 pure and its emulsion gave almost absolute control and seem to be very simple 

 and effective means of control under nursery conditions. 



Another nodule destroying beetle, AV. II. McConxell {Jour. Econ. Ent., 8 

 {1915), A'o. 6, p. 551). — The author reports having found the nodules on the 

 roots of Sesbania macrocarpa growing at Greenwood, Miss., to be injured by 

 larvre of the otiorhynchld Eudiagogus roscnschocldi. 



Studies on the biology of the Arizona wild cotton weevil, B. R. Coad ( U. S. 

 ncpt. Agr. Bui. 3U {1916). pp. 23, pis. 2, fig. J).— In this report of boll weevil 

 work carried on in continuation of that previously noted (E. S. R.. 33. pp. 2.57, 

 563) the author deals Avith the distribution and habitat of the Thurberia plant 

 and weevil, the seasonal activity of plant and weevil in nature, the emergence 

 of weevils, the relative attraction of cotton and Thurberia for weevils, natural 

 enemies of the weevil, and life history studies, including fecundity, develop- 

 mental period, and tests of caged weevils on growing plants. 



Bees and their diseases {Bd. Agr. and Fisheries [Londanl, Misc. Pub. 4 

 {191.'f), pp. 82-101, figs. 2). — A reprint of leaflets on the subject arranged in 

 convenient form for the use of the beekeeper. 



