ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 161 



Phyllotreta and Psylliodes infesting Cruciferie in Germany, Austria, and 

 Switzerland, etc. 



Th.e destructive Eleodes (Eleodes omissa borealis), E. O. Essig {Mo. BuI. 

 Com. Hort. Cat., 2 (1913), No. 8, p. 627, fig. i).— This tenebrionid beetle is 

 reported to have been the source of injury to orange trees around Bakersfield 

 and to have stripped a large number of apricot and plum trees in an orchard 

 lit Wasco, Kern County. 



The fruit tree bark beetle (Scolytus rugulosus), E, O. Essig (Mo. Bui. 

 Com. Hort. Cal., 2 {1913), No. 9, p. 658). — The author records the occurrence 

 of the shot-hole borer in apricot trees at Ontario, Cal., this being the first 

 authentic report of its occurrence in the State. 



Investigations of the fung-us-growing- fruit tree bark beetle Xyleborus 

 (Anisandrus) dispar and its food fungus, O. Schneider-Orelli {Centbl. 

 Bakt. [etc.], 2. Alt., 38 {1913), No. 1-6, pp. 25-110, pis. 3, figs. 7; abs. in Rev. 

 Appl. Ent., 1 {1913), Ser. A, No. 8, pp. 259-261).— This is a report of a detailed 

 study of the bionomics of the scolytid beetle X. dispar and contains the results of 

 numerous experiments regarding its feeding habits. The experimental propa- 

 gation of its food fungus Monilia Candida is also discussed. 



The females emerge from their burrows in the spring and soon commence a 

 new system of burrows, the walls of which become lined with a dense mass 

 of this so-called ambrosia fungus upon which the larvae feed. The spores are 

 said to be spread through being taken up by the adult beetles, and later regurgi- 

 tated from the stomach. 



A billbug injurious to small grain (Sphenophorus discolor), H. S. Smith 

 (Mo. Bui. Com. Hort. Cal., 2 {1913), No. 8, pp. 619-621, figs. 3).— Considerable 

 injury is said to have been caused by 8. discolor to all varieties of barley, 

 wheat, and oats in the vicinity of Sacramento. 



Black brood in bees, I. L. Serbinow (Vyestnik Russ. Obsheh. Pchelovod., 

 1912, No. 11, pp. 426-429; ads. in Rev. Appl. Ent., 1 {1913), Ser. A, No. 3, pp. 

 94-96). — This article relates to European foul brood and its occurrence In 

 Russia. 



A preliminary account of a chalcidid of the genus Tetrastichus which, 

 parasitizes Ceratitis and Dacus in West Africa, F. Silvestri {Atti R. Accad. 

 Lincei, Rend. CI. Sci. Fis., Mat. e Nat., 5. ser., 22 {1913), II, No. 5, pp. 205, 

 206). — ^A new species of Tetrastichus reared from Ceratitis stictica, C. gif- 

 fardii, and Dacus cucumarius in Nigeria, Kamerun, Gold Coast, and Dahomey 

 is described under the name T. giffardii. 



A new braconid of the genus Microdus from Canada, C. H. Richardson. Jr., 

 {Canad. Ent., 45 {1913), No. 7, pp. 211, 212). — A new braconid reared from the 

 eye-spotted bud moth at Bridgetown. Nova Scotia, is described as Microdus 

 ocellance. 



The enemies of plant pests: The Aphelininas, R. G. Mercet {Trab. Mus. 

 Cien. Nat. [Spain], 1912, No. 10, pp. 306, figs. 68).— A synopsis of this impor- 

 tant group of chalcidid i)arasites, including tables for the separation of genera 

 and species, is presented. 



Collembola damaging pine trees, W. E. Collinge {Jour. Econ. Biol., 8 

 {1913), No. 2, p. 99). — The author reports finding that Seira ni^romaculata 

 causes the young needles on shoots of Pinus sylvestrig to wither and drop. 

 "The insect seems to be attracted by the resinous gum. and as soon as the 

 leaf bud opens makes its way to the bases of the young leaves and commences 

 to bite into the same ; after a short time the needles turn yellow and ultimately 

 fall away. Sometimes only part of the base is destroyed and part of the 

 bud remains in a damaged condition, but in most cases the new buds are com- 

 pletely ruined." 



