462 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOKD. [Vol.41 



parasite, first introduced into Massachusetts from Europe in 1906. It occurs 

 in Europe over practically all the territory covered by the brown-tail moth, 

 attacking both, nocturnal and diurnal hosts comprising 58 species, a list of 

 which is given, together with a host list of 33 species recorded for this country. 

 It is found in almost any part of New England within the gipsy moth ai'ea. 



The account includes a discussion of the importation of this parasite into the 

 United States, colonization, spread, recovery, classification, larval stage, life 

 hi.story, action on hosts other than the gipsy and brown-tail moths, seasonal 

 history, secondary parasitism, superparasitism, and supernumerary parasitism. 

 A map showing its distribution in New England, and points outside of such ter- 

 ritory where it has been colonized, is attached. 



In discussing its economic importance, it is pointed out that the white-mai'ked 

 tussock moth, which a few j'ears ago was a serious pest in many localities in 

 New England, has practically disappeared. The promethea moth {CaUosatnia 

 promethea), which in past 3'ears was very common in the area covered by Comp- 

 silura, is now quite rare. The cabbage worm has been materially lessened in 

 some sections. The celery worm {Papilio polyxcncs) is not so common as 

 previous to the importation of Compsilura, and the fall webworm, which was 

 found in large numbers in eastern Massachusetts in 1910, is scarcely noticed 

 now. While this parasite is not the sole cause of the disappearance of these 

 pests, it is significant that the decrease has occurred since its introduction. 

 The gipsy and brown-tail moth infestations have been materially lessened in 

 sections where this parasite has been firmly established, and it appears to 

 have played an important part in causing the decrease. It is the most im- 

 portant of the tachinids introduced for combating the gipsy and brown-tail 

 moths, and attacks both freely. 



A bibliography of the literature relating to C. conchinata and its specific 

 synonyms is appended. 



Cane borer parasite work in 1919, T. E. Holt-owat {La. riantcr, 63 {1919). 

 No. 8, pp. 122, 123, fig. 1). — This is a brief report on the status of tachinid 

 parasites introduced from Cuba. Considerable numbers were introduced dur- 

 ing the month of July, and colonization is being attempted in several localities 

 in the cane-growing sections of Louisiana. 



Sugar cane and hardback grubs in Antigua, H. A. Ballot; {Agr. News \_Bar- 

 badosJi, IS {1919), No. Jf49, pp. 218, 219).— This is a report of the imperial ento- 

 mologist based on a trip to Antigua in March, 1919. 



Wireworm. control, with special reference to a method practiced by Japan- 

 ese growers, R. C„ Treherne {Agr. Gaz. Canada, 6 {1919), No. 6, pp. 528-53G).— 

 A method practiced by Japanese growers in the Okanogan Valley, B. C, where 

 the onion crop in particular suffers very seriously from wireworm attack, con- 

 sists of baits composed of rice shorts or rice bran and water, sunk in the soil. 

 The rice shorts or bran is roasted dry in pans or on sheets of tin over a fire, 

 being turned frequently as it browns. The shorts thus dried gives forth a pro- 

 nounced odor, which is held by the Japanese to be the cause of attracting wire- 

 worms in the soil. The roasted shorts is moistened by a little water and molded 

 by hand into small, compact balls, which are placed in shallow holes (made 

 with a hoe) about 10 ft. apart between rows of onions and covere<l with soil. 

 In a week or ten days the baits are scratched up, broken open, and the wireworms 

 found therein are removed by hand and placed in small collecting boxes, after 

 which the baits are remolded and reset to be examined in the same way a week 

 or ten days later. 



The author considers this method to have its merits, th(> number of wireworms 

 apparently having been considerably reduced. Individual baits which had only 

 been set one week in the soil yielded from to 67 Wireworms. 



