June, '21] SMITH: fall army worm 305 



site adults developed from the lot. It was further found that larvae 

 are rarely if at all poisoned by feeding upon a larva which has died from 

 eating poisoned bran mash. In a series of 77 larvae, of which five ate 

 all of a dead larva and died ; 29 ate all and lived. The increase in the 

 death rate over the check was 1.7 per cent, an increase so small that 

 it might be otherwise explained. 



Summary 



An outbreak of the fall army worm occurred in central and east cen- 

 tral Kansas in September, 1920. Only occasional fields were attacked 

 and frequently only parts of these were defoliated. The larvae were 

 first seen defoliating volimteer wheat and oats, but soon appeared in 

 alfalfa fields where the real damage was done. The moths emerged 

 in the field early in October, but very few eggs were deposited. Con- 

 trol experiments with the poisoned bran mash made with Paris green 

 gave satisfactory results. Sawdust substituted for the bran was less 

 attractive to the larvae, and a lesser killing was made. 



Scientific Notes 



Harlequin cabbage bug in South Dakota. The Harlequin cabbage bug (Murgan- 

 tia histrionica Hahn) has established itself in South Dakota and has already proven 

 to be a serious pest in its new home. . Our attention was called to this pest for the 

 first time in 1919. During this year complaints regarding the injurious work of 

 this bug came to us chiefly from the lower central portion of South Dakota. In 

 1920 the injury was much more serious and extended thru central South Dakota, 

 from the southern border almost to the northern. Cruciferous plants were most 

 generally injured, but potatoes, tomatoes, beans, beets, squash, pumpkin, corn, 

 plum trees and even cotton woods were reported to have suffered. 



H. C. Severin, 

 State Entomologist, Brookings, S. D. 



Peach Seedlings Attacked by Dipterous Larvae. On March 14, 1921 some 

 peach seedlings infe.sted with dipterous larvae and puparia were received from 

 H. N. Shamburger Nursery Company, Myrtle Springs, Van Zandt County, Texas. 

 This material was placed in a rearing cage and the first adult flies appeared on March 

 22. The flies were identified by Dr. Alc^ich as Hylemyia cilicrura Rd. (Phorbia 

 jusciceps, Zett of authors). Dr. Howard states that this species is supposed to be 

 identical with the seed com maggot (Anthomyia zeae,Kiley). 



The following extracts relative to the injury are taken from a letter received April 

 6, 1921, from the proprietor of the Nursery: 



