358 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



" For the adults a solution composed of ^ gal. whale oil soap, ^ gal. of com- 

 mercial lime-sulphur, and * lb. of blackleaf 40 to 50 gal. of water is now in use. 

 This has proved quite efficient." 



Note on the occurrence of the felted beech coccus, Cryptococcus fagi, in 

 Nova Scotia, C. G. Hewitt {Canad. Ent., 46 (1914), A'o. 1, pp. 15, 16).— C. fagi, 

 a coccid which seriously affects the beech in England and Europe, is said to be 

 well distributed in the Halifax district. Nova Scotia, occurring on ornamental 

 and forest beeches. 



Th.e gasoline torch treatment of date palm scales, 11. H. Forbes (Jour. 

 Econ. Ent., 6 (1913), No. 5, pp. 415, 416).— The gasoline blast torch has been 

 found to be very effective as it penetrates inward and downward into the 

 siDaces between the leaf bases, thus reaching and exterminating Parlatoria 

 WancharM, one of two important date scales occurring in Arizona. Phcenico- 

 coccus marlatti is not reached by this treatment, but by cutting the old leaf 

 stubs of the palm clear down to the bole of the tree, thus largely removing the 

 infestations of this scale, and then thoroughly burning the exposed bole of the 

 tree with, the gasoline torch it may be entirely removed. 



Some recent studies of the grape phylloxera, P. Marchal and J. Feytaud 

 (Rev. Vit, 40 (1913), Nos. 1020, pp. 5-11, pi. 1, figs. 6; 1021, pp. 33-41, figs. 3; 

 1023, pp. 104-110, figs. 2). — A review of recent investigations of the biology of 

 Phylloxera vastatrix. 



The false tarnished plant bug as a pear pest, P. J. Parrott and H. E. 

 HoDGKiss (New York State Sta. Bui. 368, pp. 363-384, pls. 8, figs, ii).— Recent 

 investigations have shown that the injuries to pears, characterized by the 

 cracking open of the skin in small spots and the formation of protruding 

 granular areas, the seriously injured pears usually being deformed and under- 

 sized, are caused by Lygus invitus, which the authors have termed the false 

 tarnished plant bug because of its resemblance to L. pratensis. The damage is 

 done by the nymphs which attack both the fruit and foliage. They show a 

 preference at first for the tender leaves, attacking those that are unrolled along 

 the margins of the fold or those that are expanding at the apices or along the 

 edges of the unfolded margins. The tissues about the points of injury turn 

 black, and if the punctures are numerous, more or less extensive areas along 

 the margins of a leaf shrivel and become dry. The dead portions later become 

 detached from the healthy tissues by the whipping of the wind, which may 

 cause the affected foliage, usually on the growing shoots, to assume a ragged or 

 frayed appearance. 



" The principal injury by this insect is the piercing of the young pears which 

 later become much scarred and misshapen. The young nymph thrusts its pro- 

 boscis deeply into the substance of the tiny pear and on withdrawing it sap 

 flows from the puncture. The sap dries, leaving a blackish spot. One nymph 

 may make many wounds, and the perforations, which at first seem small and 

 inconsequential, result in a disfiguration which becomes increasingly conspicu- 

 ous as the young pear develops in size. When the fruits have become as large 

 as filberts they are conspicuously marked with hard, granular spots of irregular 

 shapes, varying in size from a pin prick to i in. "Wherever they occur the epi- 

 dermis is ruptured and uplifted while the exposed surfaces are mealy like and 

 of a light yellow color, contrasting strongly with the healthy tissues. By cut- 

 ting into the fruit one will find hard, flinty areas which form cores in the flesh. 

 When these are numerous the knife cuts with difficulty through them. Similar 

 injuries may occur on the stems. Occasionally a number of the diseased spots 

 may coalesce, producing a large crack which extends deeply into the flesh of 

 the pear. Severely injured fruit, besides being badly deformed, may also be 

 stunted in its growth, which may seriously affect its market value." 



