764 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Aijhidiits auranlii. a brachonid attacking Tovoptera aurantii, is described as 

 new to science. Observations upon the habits of the aphid and its parasite are 

 accouii)anied by fignres of both. 



Cacao beetles and the use and application of lime, R. D. Anstead (Proc. 

 Agr. Soc. Trinidad and Tobago, 8 ( I DOS). Xo. !>, pi>. 387-392). — Tlie cacao beetle 

 (Stcirastoma deprcssiim) as a hirva does great injury to the cacao trees, bor- 

 ing between the baric and the wood. Methods of preventing the injury are dis- 

 cussed. 



Notes on Termes gestroi and other species of termites found on rubber 

 estates in the Federated Malay States, H. E. Pratt (Agr. Bui. Straits and 

 Fed. Malay States, 6 {1908), No. .5, pp. Jol-Wi)). — An account is given of 

 injury by Termes gestroi to cultivated Para (llevea hrasiUensis) and Rambong 

 (Ficus elastica) rubber trees. In order to distinguish this from other si»eeies 

 a table is given for the separation of tlie common species met with on rubl»er 

 plantations with descriptions of tlieir various castes. Because of the damage to 

 rubber trees of all ages and the difficulty in destroying it this white ant is 

 con.sidered to be the planter's most serious enemy. Methods to be employefl 

 in combating it are discussed. 



The brown scale of the gooseberry and currant, R. Newstead {Jour. Bd. 

 Agr. [fjindon], 15 {1908), No. 3, pp. J9.J-199, figs. .>).— The scale Leeamum 

 persiea' ribis, is said to be generally distributed throughout England but 

 is less known in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. An account of its life history 

 is given and also tlie formulas and directions for applying the caiistic-soda 

 and paratfin-soda washes. 



On an enchytraeid worm injurious to the seedlings of the larch, C. G. 

 Hewitt (.Jour. Econ. Biol.. 3 {1908), No. 2, pp. -'i3-Jio. pi. J).— A small white 

 worm which was identified as Fridericia bisetosa is described as frequently 

 attacking larcli seedlings. Its presence is readily discernil)le by the dead and 

 withered appearance of the plants. Injections of carbon bisulphid into tlie 

 soil at a distance of G or 8 in. on each side of the row in doses of 0.25 to O.oO 

 oz. are recommended. 



A new cecidomyiid on oak, H. M. Russell and C. W. Hooker {Ent. N'-irs, 

 19 {1908), No. 8, pp. 3-'i9-3.32, pi. 1).—A new species of gall tly which works 

 on the leaves of the black oak is described as Cecidomijid folioni. Its life 

 history and a description of the immature stages are given. 



The life history of Syagrius intrudens, a destructive fern-eating weevil, 

 J. Mangan {Jour. Eeon. Biol., 3 (1908), No. 3, pp. 8-'f-91, pis. 2).— This weevil 

 is reported as a persistent and exceedingly destructive pest of ferns at tlie 

 Royal Botanical Gardens at Dublin. The larvfe burrow through the larger 

 portions of the stems and even in the hardest parts of the rhizome. The 

 lavages appear to be strictly confined to hothouse ferns. The mi>st successful 

 method of dealing with the pest is said to be that of soaking the roots in water. 

 After a iieriod of 15 minutes' immersion, all the weevils in the soil will have 

 taken refuge in the stems, wliere tliey can be picked off by hand and destroyed. 



A new species of tick from the Transvaal, L. G. Neumann {Arm. Transmal 

 Mils., 1 {1908), No. 2, pp. 170-172). — The author here describes Rhipieentor 

 vicinus, a tick taken from Erinaeeous frontalis at I'retoria, as a new species. 



The structure, development, and bionomics of the house fly, II, C. G. 

 Hewitt (Quart. Jour. Mieros: Sci. \Ij>ndon\. n. ser., .')2 (1908). No. 208. pp. 

 .'i9.5-5.'to, pis. Jf). — A second paper on the subject (E. S. R., 10, p. (>(54). 



Temperature, character of food, moisture, and fermentation are sliown to 

 be the important factors in the development of the fly. I'nder favoraltle con- 

 ditions, eggs may hatch as soon as .S hours after deposition, while if kei)t at 

 a temperature as low as 10" C, 2 or i) days may elapse before the larvte 



