56 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



buds of tlae tubers, accidental cracks in the surface of the tuber, depressions 

 along the nervures of the leaves, etc. 



The author has found parthenogenesis to occur in but 9 cases out of more 

 than 100 which he has observed. Altogether but 23 females and 21 males werd 

 produced parthenogenetically by these 9 females, as many of the eggs deposited 

 did not hatch. Forty is said to be the maximum number of eggs deposited by 

 unfertile moths; these moths live much longer than the fertile ones. During 

 July and August the life cycle vpas passed within a month, but with the parth«in- 

 ogeuetic generation from 1^ to 3 months were required for the same develop- 

 ment. 



The insects of the dipterous family Phoiidae in the United States National 

 Museum, J. R. Malloch {Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus., 43 {1913), pp. 411-529, pis. 

 7). — Two genera and 92 species are described as new. The paper includes a 

 list of the species the habits of which are more or less known. 



Descriptions of new genera and species of muscoid fiies from the Andean 

 and Pacific coast regions of South America, C. H. T. Townsend (Proc. U. 8. 

 Nat. Mus., 43 (1913), pp. 301-367). — This paper contains descriptions of 72 

 species of muscoid flies of South America. See also a previous note (E. S. R., 

 26, p. 860). 



Merodon equestris in southern British Columbia, P. Norman (Proc. Brit. 

 Columbia Ent. 8oc., n. ser., 1911, No. 1, pp. 22-26). — The narcissus fly {M. 

 equestris) is said to have been Imported into British Columbia about 6 years 

 ago. The adult is active from the end of March to the beginning of September, 

 but practically all the injury is done during the month of May. Upon hatching 

 out from the egg, which appears to be deposited in the center of the crown of 

 leaves, the larva enters the bulb, where 6 months are passed in the larval stage 

 and where it hibernates. In February it leaves the bulb and pupates about 

 half an inch below the surface of the soil, emerging as an adult toward the end 

 of March. 



The southern com rootworm, or budworm, F. M. Websteb (U. 8. Dept. Agr. 

 Bui. 5, pp. 11, figs. 2). — ^A summarized account of the literature, together with 

 recent observations of Diabrotica duodecimpunctata, its distribution, food plants, 

 injury, habits of the larvae, oviposition, seasonal history, natural enemies, and 

 remedial and preventive measures. 



The western corn rootworm, F. M. Webster (U. 8. Dept. Agr. Bui. 8, pp. 8, 

 figs. 5). — A summarized account of Diahrotica longicomis similar to that of 

 D. duodecimpunctata above noted. 



The coconut leaf -miner beetle, Promecotheca cumingii, C. R. Jones {Philip- 

 pine Jour. 8ci., Sect. D, 8 {1913), No. 2, pp. 121-133, pis. 2; PhiUppine Agr. 

 Rev. [English Ed.}, 6 {1913), No. 5, pp. 228-233, pi. 1, fig. i).— This beetle is 

 said to be a source of injury through feeding, both in the adult and larval 

 stages, upon the leaves of the young coconut. The author here presents an 

 account of its life history and habits and methods of control. Observations 

 have shown that a little over 44 per cent of the larvae and pupae and an average 

 of about 5 per cent of the eggs are parasitized. 



The occurrence of a cotton boll weevil in Arizona, W. D. Pierce {U. 8. 

 Dept. Agr., Jour. Agr. Research, 1 {1913), No. 2, pp. 89-98, pi. 1, figs. 9). — This 

 is a report of studies made by the author during August, 1913, in association 

 with A. W. Morrill, of the Arizona Experiment Station, as to the occurrence of 

 a boll weevil, which had previously been discovered by O. F. Cook and H. B. 

 Wright, and reported by the former (E. S. R., 29, p. 458), as developing upon 

 Thurheria thespesioides in Arizona. The weevil has been found to occur in 

 Ventana Canyon, Santa Catalina Mountains, and in Stone Cabin and Sawmill 

 Canyons, in the Santa Rita Mountains, where it breeds commonly upon 



