656 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



occasionally becomes troublesome. Beneficial insects mentioned include wasps 

 of the genera Odynerus and Pollstes wliich prey on caterpillars, and several 

 predaceous bugs, including CEcJialia grisea, Zelus renardii, and Reduviolus 

 hlacJcburni. 



Insects attacking' mealies, C. P. Van Der Merwe (Dept. Agr. Orange River 

 Colony, Biol. Div. Leaflet 9, pp. 16). — The species mentioned as attacking grow- 

 ing corn in Orange Pdver Colony are cutworms, the stalk borer (Sesamia 

 fiisca), and the beard grub or cob worm (Heliothis armiger). 



The thrips insects of tea, C. B. Antram {Indian Tea Assoc. [Pamphlet] 3, 

 1909, pp. 9, pis. 2). — A serious outbreak of thrips on tea at Darjeeling is re- 

 ported for 1908. There are 2 species of thrips which occur together on and 

 injure tea plants at that place during the height of the season and a third 

 species that occurs largely in the flowers and to some extent in the buds of the 

 tea plant during the cold weather. These species are referred to as the common, 

 black, and yellow thrips. 



" The effect of thrips on the bush is to arrest the growth of the young leaves 

 and shoots to a remarkable degree, the young leaves after a time falling off 

 of their own accord or on being touched, and this has a serious effect in weak- 

 ening the bush. The leaf is hard and brittle and does not make good tea ; in 

 fact it is the general opinion of the local planters that there is a loss of flavor 

 when the bushes are attacked by thrips." 



The importance of cooperation in combating these pests is emphasized. 



The apple and pear membracids, H. E. Hodgkiss {New York State 8ta. 

 Tech. Bui. 17, pp. 81-112, pis. 8). — The discovery, during the course of investiga- 

 tions of fruit insects, of the presence of eggs in wounds in the bark and in the 

 buds led the author to conduct the studies here reported. 



Prior to these investigations the deposition of eggs in the buds was an 

 unrecognized habit of these insects. Two species, Ceresa taurina and C 

 borcalis, were found to oviposit in the buds, while the buffalo tree hopper (C 

 iubalus) and Stictocephala inermis lay their eggs in the bark of the young 

 wood, causing characteristic scars. Five uymphal instars were found in each 

 of the 4 species. The nymphs of these species may be recognized in their dif- 

 ferent stages principally by the structure of appendages, the character of the 

 spinosity of the body, and the coloration. 



The author finds that in general trees and shrubs serve chiefly for the 

 deposition of eggs and as food for the adults, while more succulent foods are 

 necessary to sustain the younger stages. Thus the species breeding on apples 

 and pears depend on succulent weeds and plants for the sustenance of the 

 nymphs, the range of host plants being quite extensive. The injurious species 

 are those which slit the bark during the itrocess of oviposition, ti'ees thus 

 attacked often being stunted in growth and the branches vv'eakened by continual 

 scarification. These injuries are often aggravated by destructive fungi and 

 insects which find lodgment in the wounds. C. huhalis is the more destructive 

 to apple and pear wood, while 8. inermis does not cause injuries of an important 

 nature. The insertion of eggs between the bud scales by C. taurina and O. 

 horealis appears to have no detrimental influence on the development of the 

 buds. Succulent shoots of pear, when used in the laboratory for food for 

 nymphs, were always girdled about the larger portion of the stem. " Such work 

 is always present on the more succulent food plants, and of these the thistles are 

 apt to show the effects of the girdling most severely." 



" The imago appears about the middle of July. In 1908 the first individuals 

 of C bubalus were seen on July 2, but the insects were not numerous until 

 July 20. . -During the season o:f 1910 a large number of the adults of S. inermis 

 were collected on July 12. but C. bubalus and C. borealis at this time were 



