August, '21 1 SCIENTIFIC NOTES 373 



Scientific Notes 



Pear Midge. On examining a number of pear trees in Ithaca, N. Y., I found a heavy- 

 infestation of the pear midge {Contarinia pyrivora). In one tree where there was 

 promise of a good crop the loss appears to be total. Some of the pears are turning 

 a rusty color while others have completely dried up. As many as thirty larvae, and 

 even more, may be found in a small pear not more than two-fifths of an inch long. 

 Some of these larvae reached maturity, by May 18 and were dropping to the ground . 



John D. Detwiler 



A New Almond Aphid. A severe attack of a species of aphid new to the almond 

 has appeared throughout the Sacramento Valley, California. The species was identi- 

 fied by professor Essig as Rhopalosiphutn nymphwce Linn., this being apparently the first 

 recorded attack of this aphid on almond although it is frequently found on plums. 

 Liquid applications of nicotine sulphate, 1 in 1000 plus sufficient soap to give a 

 "suds}^" eflfect have proven superior to nicotine dusts 2% strength. The latter was 

 effective when applied in quantity to the body of the aphid, but indirect applications, 

 resulting from the dust drifting in the wind, were ineffective. 



E. R. de Ong 

 University of California 



Camphor Scale in New Orleans. At a meeting of the Louisiana Entomological So- 

 ciety in April Mr. E. R. Barber, of the U. S. Bureau of Entomology, made a talk 

 on a newly introduced scale insect, Psudaonidia duplex, which he reported as killing 

 camphor trees in a limited area in New Orleans. Resolutions were adopted by the 

 Society calling the attention of the city and state authorities to this matter, and reports 

 of the action taken were furnished to the daily papers. Soma publicity was secured, 

 and Mr. Barber was afterwards asked to make talks on the scale at meetings of 

 various local secieties. The Bureau later sent Mr. Harold Morrison to look over the 

 situation, and he submitted a detailed report in which he recommended taking steps 

 to control the scale wherever it is established. At Mr. Barber's suggestion, backed 

 by the Association of Commerce and the Horticultural Society, the City Commission 

 Council of New Orleans has voted $5,000 toward control work, with a promise of as 

 much more money as may be needed to carry on the work till funds from other sources 

 have been secured. Badly infested trees are being cut down by the City Parking 

 Commission, and the Bureau is sending a spraying expert to take charge of the work. 

 In the meantime Mr. Barber has been studying the scale, and has taken it on upwards 

 of 1(X) plants. Camphor seems to be the favorite host plant, but Ligustrum, rose, 

 Citrus, fig and sweet olive are also injured. 



T. E. HOLLOWAY 



Secretary- Treasurer, Louisiana 

 Entomological Society 



Cotton Boll Weevils. During the past March and April the writer had an op- 

 portunity to investigate cotton conditions on the West Coast of Mexico from Hermo- 

 sillo south as far as Villa Union, near Mazatlan. Realizing that among the many 

 specimens of boll weevils collected from wild and cultivated cotton there were typical 

 grandis, typical thurberiae, hybrids and races of various kinds the writer selected a 



