October, '171 MERRILL: CLERID AND CODLING MOTH 461 



original nicotine strength applied to the plant, it is quite likely that 

 the mere contact of parts of the body of various insects with this film 

 would be fatal. 



In conducting this test whole leaves should be rinsed (preferably by 

 dipping and stirring each leaf separately, holding on to the petiole 

 meanwhile) without breaking the epidermis. Otherwise organic 

 matter within the leaf, going into solution, may give a test similar 

 to the nicotine test. As cheeks, the water being used in the experiment 

 should be tested as well as the unsprayed leaves. 



A CLERID LARVA PREDACEOUS ON CODLING MOTH LARViE 



(Second Note) 

 By D. E. Merrill, Stale College, N. M. 



In the Journal of Economic Entomology, vol. VII, No. 2, April, 

 1914, on pages 251-252, appeared a first note on the clerid larva 

 treated further below. 



The larva in question was taken October 20, 1912. It was then 

 nearly grown, judging by the sizes of later specimens. Below is its 

 history as recorded: 



October 20, 1912. Taken under a band on an apple tree. Placed in a glass jar 



with some bits of paper on some dry dirt. Given 6 codling moth larvse. 

 October 17, 1913. Given 6 more codhng moth larvae. 

 June 18, 1914. Grown more hairy. Sluggish. 

 June 23, 1914. Fed 6 codling moth larvae. 

 July 8, 1914. All 6 larvse put in last have transformed to moths. So the clerid ate 



none of these. 

 August 30, 1914. Transferred to a 4-inch covered Petri dish. Placed in dish some 



bits of paper and a "pupa stick" such as was used in the codling moth work at 



the Experiment Station for observing time of pupation. Given 8 codling moth 



larvse. 

 September 7, 1914. Placed a second clerid larva in the dish. No. 1 very sluggish. 

 September 9, 1914. No. 1 was evidently starting to pupate when the second larva 



killed it and partially ate it, even when there were codling moth larvse in the 



"stick." 



In this period of nearly 22^ months the larva had molted several 

 times. Opportunity was not given to keep definite record of the 

 molts of this or of later specimens. Only 26 codling moth larvae 

 were fed to the clerid larva in that time. Probably the first 12 were 

 eaten. The 6 placed in the dish June 23, 1914, transformed to moths; 

 6 codling moth larvse were found in the "stick" when the clerid died. 

 Likely the two others of the last eight fed were eaten by the second 

 clerid larva introduced on September 7, 1914. That leaves just 12 

 codling moth larvse eaten in nearly two years. 



