155^ INSECTS ETC., INJURIOUS TO VARIOUS CROPS 



eastern and southern regions of Canada and of the United vStates. Its 

 favourite host as its English name indicates is beyond doubt the Camellia 

 japonica ; then come Euonymus sp., Oncidium Papilio, Calanthe natalensis 

 Anguloa Clowesii, Lycaste Skynneri, Acalypha sp., Brassica verrucosa, Phaius 

 maculatus, Cofjea arabica, and Euonymus alatus. 



Chrys. didyospermi , widely distributed over the tropical and sub-tro- 

 pical regions, is also met with in the temperate zone, in hot houses and shel- 

 tered places. In California this species has been recorded from Ventura, 

 Berkely, Marysville, and San Diego. It is mentioned as attacking Kentia, 

 orchids in general, Coelogyne cristata and Persea gratissima. In other 

 regions this cochineal insect has also been observed on Dictyospermum al- 

 bum, Erythrina indie a, Cycas sp. (sago palm), Latania sp., on palms in ge- 

 neral, on Mangifera, Pandanus graminifolius, Areca triandra, Cypripedium 

 sp., Dendrobium sp., Anthurium sp., Aloe Zeyheri, tea -plants, Ficus sp. etc. 



In the Italian peninsula, in vSicily and in Spain, this insect causes se- 

 rious damage to citrus plants, hence the necessity of careful supervision, so 

 that the parasite may not extend its attacks to this group in California. 



ii/\6 - Chortophila cilicrura and Thereva sp., Pests on Rye in Silesia, Ger- 

 many. — • Oberstein, ill Zcilschrift fur Pflanzenktankheitcn, Vol. 26, Fapc. 5, pp. 277- 

 180. Stuttgart July 30, 1016. 



In Silesia, during the period of vegetation of 1914 and 1915, it was 

 observed that the winter crops were attacked by a pest which devoured 

 the leaves from the top to the bottom in succession, almost to the foot of the 

 plant. This damage was recorded from a vast extent of land, and although 

 the same caused great damage in these localities, it was certain that it had 

 not done the mischief in question. The parasite also attacked the corn, 

 but it 'did more harm to the rye. 



On November 22, 1915 the Experimental Station for Agricultural 

 Botany of the Chamber of Agriculture of Silesia, received from the ' di- 

 strict of Glogau, larvae and pupae which came from three fields of rye. 

 According to the peasants' the larvae, by eating the grain immediately 

 before and after germination, had caused great damage to the yoimg plants 

 which by degrees died. 



After rye, lupins were grown and were also attacked. On December 

 II, 1915 the Station received a second consignment of pupae — there were no 

 more larvae— which were used to identify the insect ; at the beginning of 

 February 1916 laboratory^ breeding experiments gave rise to males and fe- 

 males of a Dipteran which was identified as Chortophila cilicrura. 



On October 17, 1915 another pest, hitherto tmknown, was sent from 

 the district of Steinau a. O. to the Station. The infected rye succeeding 

 sarradilla had hardly germinated. The young plants were gnawed ; a great 

 number of white diptrous larvae were found in the soil which were without 

 legs, shaped like wire- worms and with little black heads. A neighbouring rv'e 

 field in which the previous crop had been oats was unattacked : the r3'e 

 had germinated satisfactorily. All the rye examined was treated with 



