June, '17] SCIENTIFIC NOTES 377 



Scientific Notes 



Aleyrodes citri not in Porto Rico. In the April number of Phytopathology, in 

 an article on Porto Rican plant diseases, appears the following statement: "The 

 fungus appears to be growing upon a scale insect, probably Aleyrodes citri." Thia 

 statement refers to a white-fly found on the undersides of the leaves of Guava, the 

 writer assuming that it is the notorious citrus white-fly. 



Aleyrodes citri Riley and Howard has never been found in Porto Rico to our knowl- 

 edge. There are, however, two species of white-fly that are commonly found on 

 Guava in Porto Rico, Aleurothrixus howardi Quaintance and Aleurodicus (Metaleu- 

 rodicus) minimus Quaintance, and it is very probably one of these to which the 

 writer refers. 



Richard T. Cotton. 



How the Biireau of Entomology is Meeting the Great Issue. Immediately upon 

 receipt of the news of the Declaration of War, the following letter was transmitted 

 by the Chief of the Bureau to each member of the Bureau of Entomology, both in 

 Washington and in the Field Service: 



April 7, 1917. 



"The crisis in which this country is placed makes it necessary for the Bureau to 

 do all it can towards the conservation of our resources. It has been decided to estab- 

 lish a system of reporting local outbreaks of insects so that the Bureau will have 

 the earliest possible information regarding unusual injury to crops. This service 

 will receive reports on insect abundance, make tabulations and maps, and compile 

 statements for the use of the men in the field as to probable damage. 



"Will you please make it a part of your duty to report promptly through your 

 section chief all observations on insect damage which are of more than usual intensity, 

 and report the first occurrence of well-known pests. In aU cases where possible 

 numerical estimates should be made. This work should cover all injurious insects 

 which may come to your attention regardless of the work in which you may be 

 regularly engaged. It is not intended, however, that this shall supplant the regular 

 work. It should be merely incidental but at the same time carried on to as full aa 

 extent as possible without interfering with other important matters. 



L. O. Howard." 



The Department of Entomology of the Alabama Experiment Station is endeavoring 

 to do its bit in the campaign for increased food supplies partly through the saving of 

 at least $2,000,000 worth of corn that is Hable to be destroyed by insect attack in the 

 cribs during the next two or three months. Furthermore, arrangements have been 

 made for prompt reports by demonstration agents, agriculturists in our District 

 Agricultural Schools and others of any threatening insect occurrence in this state. 

 An effort wiU be made to get these reports much earher than they would come ordi- 

 narily from the farmers themselves, so that remedial measures may be applied in time 

 to prevent loss. 



In the Gulf States section, the winter of 1916 and 1917 has been the most severe 

 for perhaps 18 years past. Serious damage has been done by cold to citrus fruits and 

 figs particularly, also in a less degree to other fruit crops. Probably as a partial 

 result of winter injury, more numerous reports are being received of injury in which 

 some new fungus diseases and borer injury seem to be associated. Some of these 

 attacks are occurring upon a large variety of fruit and forest trees and promise to be 

 serious problems for future study. 



