ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 355 



Gaertner group bacilli in rats and mice, W. G. Savage and W. J. Read 

 (Jour. Ilyg. [Camhridgc], 13 {1913), So. 3, pp. 3-J3-3o2).— Forty-oue rats were 

 examined for the presence of Gaertner group bacilli. Bacilli identical with 

 Bacillus entcritidis were isolated from 5 rats in each case from the si)leen 

 (in 2 from liver also), but no members of this group wore isolated from the 

 intestinal contents. 



" Several of the rat sera were capable of agglutinating Gaertner group 

 bacilli in high dilution. These facts point to the view that old infection with 

 Gaertner group bacilli had taken place. The general result of the investigation 

 is in favor of the view that while rats are liable to be infected with Gaertner 

 group bacilli and to be ill in consequence these bacilli are not natural intestinal 

 inhabitants. If this be accepted, it may be stated that this group of bacilli are 

 not natural intestinal inhabitants of any known animal species. 



" Rats infected with Gaertner group bacilli may serve as a means of infecting 

 meat with these bacilli and may possibly in this way be a cause of meat poison- 

 ing outbreaks." 



Report of the entomolog'ist, T. J. Headlee (New Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1012, pp. 

 421-454, pis. 3, figs. 9). — This reix)rt consists of a number of articles by the 

 author and others. An illustrated description of the new entomological build- 

 ing is given by R. S. Patterson (p. 422). A discussion of the occurrence of the 

 more important insect pests during the year (pp. 423-443) and a preliminary 

 report on greenhouse insecticides (pp. 444-450) are by H. B. Weiss. A brief 

 report of work with the peach borer and plum curculio is given by R. S. 

 Patterson (pp. 451-454). 



In order to determine the value of various preparations sold as greenhouse 

 insecticides, they were applied to palms infested chiefly by scales. Eentia for- 

 steriana, K. behnoreana, Latania rubra, and Pandanus paciflcus were all in- 

 fested by Chrysomphalus dictyospenni, and P. veitchii by G. aonklum. The 

 results are presented in tabular form. Livistonia rotundifolia and Areca ver- 

 schaffelti seemed to be the only plants which will stand Scalecide 1 : 20 with- 

 out injury. " Scaline at 1 : 25 and 1 : 30 gives promise of being better than 

 Scalecide, but further experimentation is necessary. Using hydrocyanic acid 

 gas, the effects on the Kentias were discouraging. It failed to kill entirely when 

 used at ^ oz. to 100 cu. ft., and at ^2 oz. to 100 cu. ft. the plants were 

 injured. However, P. pacificus, L. rotundifolia, and P. veitchii stood i oz. to 

 100 cu. ft. with no injury and complete killing of the insects." 



Insecticides experimented with to determine their value in destroying radish 

 root maggots {Phorhia fusciceps), including corrosive sublimate, Sulfocide, and 

 potassium cyanid gave negative results, as fully two-thirds of the radishes were 

 infested and one-third were entirely unsalable. 



Report of the entomologist, D. L. Van Dine {Porto Rico Sugar Producers* 

 Sta. Bui. 5 [English Ed.], pp. 25-46). — This annual report of the entomological 

 work for the year, which was mainly with May beetles and their white grubs, 

 is in continuation of those previously noted (E, S. R., 29, p. 52). The report 

 includes a list of the species known to attack sugar cane in Porto Rico, to- 

 gether with their associates, parasites, and other natural enemies, and a list of 

 the references to the entomology of sugar cane in Porto Rico. 



A feature of the work of the year was the discovery of the occurrence of a 

 weevil root borer of sugar cane in injurious numbers in several localities. 

 Adults that were reared from grubs taken from the roots of cane have been 

 identified as Diaprepes sp&ngleri, which under the name Exophthalmus spen- 

 gleri was recorded by Barrett in 1903 as an enemy of citrus stock and the fol- 

 lowing year as being abundant in orange orchards and common iu coffee 



32052"— No. 4—14 5 



