ENTOMOLOGY. 879 



A revision of the Anophelinse, G. M. GihES {London: John Bale Sons & Daniels- 

 son, Ltd., 1904, i>p. 47, pi. l,Jig><- is). — This constitutes tlie author's first supplement 

 to the second edition of his Handbook of the Gnats. Notes are given on the names, 

 habits, and life history of a number of species in the subfamily Anophelina?, and 

 descriptions are presented of several new species. 



Tlie cotton bollworm, A. L. Quaintance ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 191, 

 pp. 24, Jigs. 7).— .\ brief historical statement is given regarding the previous investi- 

 gations referring to this insect. It appears that planters have thus far made little 

 practical use of the effective remedies which have been discovered. Notes are given 

 on the extent of injury from this insect in Texas in 1903, and also upon its general 

 distribution, habits, life history, food plants, etc. The number of annual broods 

 appears to vary from 4 to 7, with an average of about 5. The preferred food plant 

 is corn, but no practical remedies have been devised for combating the insect upon 

 this plant. The chief injury to cotton from the bollworm appears with the August 

 brood of caterpillars. Observations on the egg-laying habits of the moths showed 

 that the majority of eggs are deposited upon the leaves. The effect of infestation of 

 the squares is to cause them to flare. 



Among the ineffective remedies wdiich have been tried or recommended the author 

 mentions trap lanterns, poisoned sweets, burning of sulphur, and the use of resistant 

 varieties. No varieties of cotton immune to attacks by the bollworm are known. 

 During the season of 1903 experiments were made in early planting, spraying with 

 arsenicals, and using corn as a trap crop. As the result of these experiments it is 

 recommended that an early variety of cotton be used, and that this be planted as 

 early in the spring as possible and given good cultivation. Corn may be advanta- 

 geously used as a trap crop provided it is jilanted so as to be in silk not later than 

 August 1. Considerable T>eneflt may be obtained from spraying with arsenicals, 

 which are most effective if applied about August 1. The arsenicals may be applied 

 dry or in water, but from the standpoint of convenience the dusting method is 

 preferred. 



Information concerning' the Mexican cotton-boll weevil, W. D. Hunter 

 ( r. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 189, p)p. 31, figs. <?). — In this bulletin a historical 

 account is presented of the introduction and distribution of this pest in the United 

 States, with a special account of the territory infested at present, the amount of dam- 

 age, and a plan of the investigations of the Division of Entomology. Notes are given 

 on the life history and habits of the insects, and on local restrictions regarding the 

 shipment of infested cotton seed in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, 

 and Louisiana. The author states that certain dealers have raised the price of cotton 

 seed alleged to be of northern origin far beyond the actual value of the seed, and in 

 some cases when the seed concerned was not of northern origin. 



As a result of the investigations thus far made in combating this insect, it is con- 

 cluded "that there is not even a remote probability that the boll weevil will ever be 

 exterminated." The belief is expressed, however, that the insect can be sufficiently 

 controlled to allow the production of profitable crops by practicing a number of pre- 

 ventive measures, such as early jilanting, the use of seed of early varieties, thorough 

 cultivation of the fields, planting the rows far apart, destroying all the cotton stalks 

 in the fields when the weevils become so numerous that all the fruitis being punctured, 

 and more extensive use of fertilizers. 



Sesamia fusca ( Transvaal Agr. Jour., 2 {1904), No. 6, pp. 2^0-222, pi. /).— The life 

 history and habits of this insect are briefly discussed. Some damage is done to corn 

 wherever the insect is found. The best methods for controlling the jiest consist in 

 the proper rotation of croi^s, late jilanting, fall plowing, and burning of corn stubble. 



The climbing- cutworm in the Hawkesbury District, H. W. Potts {Agr. (laz. 

 Neir Soiilk Wales, Ij {1903), No. 12, j)p. 1203-1206, figs. -^).— The climbing cutworm 

 is reported as having caused great injury to wheat fields during the past season. The 



