362 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



noted (E. S. R., 29, p. 856), the author includes a brief resume of the peculiari- 

 ties in structure and habits of the larvse. In the vicinity of Boston during 1911 

 the spring brood of Simulium was parasitized by yarious species of Myxospori- 

 dia up to as high as 80 per cent mortality, and by Mennis sp. up to 25 per cent 

 ■mortality. The fall brood was parasitized by Glugea spp. up to 10 per cent 

 mortality, and by Gregarine sp. up to 50 per cent mortality. 



The role of ichneumon females in the control of the sex of their descend- 

 ants, I. Chewyeeuv (Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol. [Paris], 74 (1913), No. 12, pp. 

 695-699; a'bs. in Jour. Roy. Micros. Soc. [London], 1913, No. 4, p. 385). — The 

 author's observations of the oviposition of Pimpla instigator and other species 

 in the pupae of species of Sphinx, Pieris, etc., representing large and small 

 pupae, indicate that the female parasite adjusts the kind of egg to the nutritive 

 conditions available. In the experiments conducted female parasites emerged 

 from the large pupae and males from the small pupas. 



The second paper (pp. 698, 699) relates to parthenogenesis. While the 

 fecundated females lay eggs that develop into both sexes, those laid by virgin 

 females produce males only. In the case of the fecundated females, the eggs 

 which produce males are unfertilized eggs, and these are laid in smaller pupae 

 if any choice is afforded. 



A fresh feature- of the large larch sawfly outbreak in the Lake District, 

 J. Mangan (Nature [London], 91 (1913), No. 2282, pp. 530, 531).— The author 

 reports that during 1912 Mesoleius tenthredinis, which has frequently para- 

 sitized as high as 70 per cent of the larvae of Nematus erichsonii, parasitized 

 scarcely 2 per cent in the Lrake District. On the other hand some 25 per cent 

 of the cocoons yielded specimens of another ichneumon which has hitherto 

 played quite an insignificant part as a parasite of this sawfly. The tachinid 

 Zenillia pexops emerged from approximately 24 per cent of the cocoons. 



A further parasite of the large larch sawfly, R. A. Wardle (Nature [Lon- 

 don], 92 (1913), No. 2298, p. 320).— It is stated that the ichneumon parasite 

 recorded above has been identified as EyperaUys aWopictus (=Mesoleiu8 

 transfuga). 



The red spider on jute (Tetranychus bioculatus), C. S. Misra (Agr. Jour. 

 India, 8 (1913), No. 4, pp. 309-316, pi. i).— Since 1909 when the attack of jute by 

 this red spider was observed for the first time, it has been the source of consid- 

 erable injury to this plant in India. "Besides jute, the red spider is also 

 found on cotton, castor, mulberry, orange, indigo, Trumpheta neglecta, Urena 

 lohata, HiHscus flculneus, H. penduriformis, and E. ahehnoscus. In the case 

 of castor, when the crop is badly infested the leaves turn pale yellow and be- 

 come unfit to be served to eri worms (Attacus ridni)." 



Its life cycle is said to be passed in 8 or 9 days. As a remedial measure, 

 spraying with a mixture consisting of crude oil emulsion i pint, flowers of sul- 

 phur 2 oz., and water 4 gal. is recommended. 



Hew species of maple mites, H. E. Hodgkiss (Jour. Econ. Ent., 6 (1913), No. 

 5, pp. Jf20-424). — One species of Anthocoptes, 9 species of Eriophyes, 2 species 

 of Oxypleurites, and 8 species of Phyllocoptes are described as new to science. 



FOODS— HUMAN NUTRITION. 



The phosphorus content of wheat and of wheat flour ; and its relation to 

 the baking" qualities of the flour, H. L. White and R. F. Beard (North Dakota 

 8ta. Bui. 106, pp. 59-64)' — Hard wheat patent flours, hard wheat straight flours, 

 and durum patent flours were used in these investigations, and determinations 

 were made of the total, organic, inorganic, and water-soluble phosphorus. 



