ENTOMOLOGY. 865 



awa3\ The great cost and slow process of application of this sub- 

 stance renders it an imperfect insecticide. Black Death was also 

 applied once on i acre of potatoes at the rate of 40 lbs. per acre. It 

 had no appreciable effect upon the beetles. 



The author concludes that there is no good substitute for arsenical 

 poisons in combating the Colorado potato beetle. Arsenical poisons 

 are best applied with water in the form of a fine spra}^ in conjunction 

 with Bordeaux mixture or lime. Some of the cheaper arsenoids were 

 as effective as Paris green. Lead arsenate was the most satisfactory' 

 of all insecticides used during the experiments. 



Economic and biological notes on insects injurious to herba- 

 ceous crops in the Valley of Bientina, G. del Guercio {I^uove 

 Relaz. R. Staz. Ent. Acjr., 1. ser., 1900, No. 2,2>P- 269-303, figs. 31).— 

 A critical review is presented of the literature relating to Agrotis 

 ypsilori, in connection with a brief bibliography of the subject. 

 Detailed descriptions are given of this insect in all its stages, and a 

 brief discussion is presented of its life habits and metamorphoses. 

 The more common host plants of this insect in Italy are said to be 

 beans, kidney beans, potatoes, hemp, tobacco, cotton, etc. The con- 

 ditions which are favorable to the development of this insect are a drj', 

 windy winter, followed by a spring relatively cold and wet. The 

 insects which were noticed pre^dng upon this cutworm were Ilister 

 G-striatus, Fm'mica rufa, and Poly erg us rufescens. A bacterial dis- 

 ease was noticed among the cutworms and several cutworms were 

 destroyed by Oospora guerclana. The more important insect parasites 

 are Meteorus scutelJator, Microplitis mediana, Erigovgus melaiiohafus, 

 Ceolopistus ce2)halotus, etc. 



The author recommends the usual remedies adopted for cutworms 

 and army worms in coml^ating this insect. 



The effect of scale lice upon vegetable tissues, J. Kochs {Bot. 

 Mns.,Aht. FfiaRzen><cludz, JFamhuvg, 2 {1900), jp- i^)-— The author 

 made an investigation of the cause of spots of various colors found on 

 the exterior of fruits. Red spots were found on peaches, pears, and 

 apples, and were due to the attack of Diasjns "pentagona., the San Jose 

 scale, Forbes scale, Putnam scale, and the scurf}" scale. Yellow spots 

 were found on pears and were due to the attack of the oyster-shell 

 bark-louse and Asjndiotus p)yri. Yellowish green spots were found 

 on apples, and were caused b}' the presence of Roastelia i^i^'dta. Green 

 spots observed on apples and lemons were attributed to the attacks 

 of Asjy'idiotus ancylus and A. nerii. Bleached spots Avere observed 

 on oranges, and were caused by the attack of Parlatmna proteiis and 

 P. zlzypM. 



On the skins of oranges onl}' a slight discoloration was produced by 

 the attacks of scale lice, while ripe lemons showed round spots of 10 

 mm. from the same cause. An investigation of the green spots showed 



