ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 457 



larval stage are much smaller tliau in the other tachinids and that as a result 

 there is, in all probability, an additional maggot stage. While T. clisiocampw 

 oviposits very freely on large gipsy moth caterpillars, but few are parasitized, 

 due to the inability of the young larvipe to penetrate the tough skin of the large 

 I'orthctria dispar caterpillars. 



Parasctigcna segregata is apparently a single-brooded species, Pales pavida, 

 ZciiiUia lihatrix, and the species of Tachina are reported to be at least double- 

 brooded, while CoiHp.silura concin)i<ita, Dcxodes iiigripes, and Tricholyna grandis 

 appear to be at least three-brooded. It was found by dissecting the tlies and 

 examining the uterine eggs that the reproductive habit could be doterniiued. 

 This is also shown to be of taxonomic importance. Eggs from TO species have 

 thus been obtained and studied. Dissections show a variation in the reproduc- 

 tive capacity of the species of from 100 to 5,000 eggs. The late summer genera- 

 tions of several species were found to oviposit profusely on uewly hatched fall 

 webworms as an alternate host. 



An account is given of the methods and apparatus used. 



" The results of all this work on lOuropean, .Tapanese, and American tachinids 

 point to the very great importance! of Blcplinripa scutclhita and Crossocositiia 

 sp. as parasites of Porthetria dispar. The great capacity for reproduction, pos- 

 sessed by these species, and the fact that all of their eggs must be eaten by 

 the caterpillar's wherever P. dispar is abundant, place them in the lead of par- 

 asites. 



'"No two species can be so relied upon as parasites of Euproctis chrtjsorrhwa, 

 but the Japanese Tachinas, Trlcholyga grandis, Compsilura conciniiafa, Dc.rodcs 

 nigripcs. and Parexorista cheloniw seem to be among the most important here. 



"All of the othei- imported species mentioned will prove of much importance as 

 aids in the control of one or l)otli of these moths. The great majority of them 

 are parasitic on both hosts." 



The formation of the colonies of parasitic ants, H. Viehmeyee (Biol. 

 Centhl, 28 (JD08), No. 1. pp. 18-32).— In agreement with W. M. Wheeler (E. S. 

 R., 20, p. 254), the position is taken on the basis of experimental work that in 

 many species of ants, particularly Formica truncicola, F. sanguinea, and Pohjer- 

 gus rufescens, the so-called slave-making habit is more properly a form of para- 

 sitism. 



Annual report for 1907 of the zoologist, C. Warburton (.Jour. Roy. Agr. 

 Soc. EngJard, 68 (1007), pp. 229-2', I, pgs. //).— During the year 1907, Atomaria 

 linearis was particularly injurious to mangels. The beetle attacks the seed 

 while it is germinating in the ground and later feeds upon the seed, leaves, 

 roots, and other parts of the plant. It attacks both mangels and beets. Men- 

 tion is also made of the injuries caused by various granary insects, cheese mite, 

 Mediterranean flour moth, nematode worms, snails, slugs, Tcphriiis onopordinis 

 on celery, and other insects. 



Insects of the year 1907, R. S. Maodougall (Trans. Iligliland and Agr. Soc. 

 Scot., 5. scr., 20 {1008}, pp. 305-308). — An emulsion soda wash has given good 

 results in combating oyster-shell bark-louse. The formula used in the prepara- 

 tion of the wash called for ^ lb. sulphate of iron, ^ lb. lime, 2 lbs. caustic soda, 

 and 5 pts. of kerosene per 10 gal. of water. Economic and biological notes are 

 also given on Cryptococciis fagi, woolly aphis, spruce gall aphis, ox warble flies, 

 gooseberry sawfly, and Ahra.rax grossulariata. 



I Notes on economic zoolog'yl, Rorig, Borner, and Moritz (Mitt. K. Biol. 

 Anst. hand ii. Forstir.. 3 (11)08). No. G, pp. 3l-r)2, figs. //). — A study was made 

 of" the life history of i)hy]loxera. The biology of this insect was found to lie 

 somewhat simider than has usually been represented, the insect proving to be 

 diecious with tive types of generations. 



(3562o— No. 5—09 5 



