June, '13] SCIENTIFIC NOTES 331 



decided to make another excursion to the place known as Galafre where we had found 

 a number of specimens before. On November 30, 1912, while digging for '' berraciuitos 

 de la tierra'' and after collecting a few specimens, we found in the bottom of one of 

 the borrows a cocoon of a hj-menopterous. insect that appeared to be a parasite, for 

 attached to the outer threads of the cocoon could be seen the mandibles and the fore 

 legs of a Scapteriscus. The pupa was still undeveloped but seemed to be that of a 

 Myzinida. More cocoons were found and also a full grown larva spinning its cocoon. 

 Several cocoons were brought to the laboratory and at this date, April 7, 1913, 

 were opened: three contained dead pupte, and the other two much shrvmken though 

 still living larvae. The cocoons were found in the bottom of what seemed to be 

 Scapteriscus borrows, at a depth of from one to two feet, in a low and moist clay soil, 

 near a brook; they are of a brown color and have two coverings, the one next to the 

 insect is silky and hard, of elongated pear shape, the outer covering is very thin and 

 loose. The}' measure about 1.6 cm. in length by .5 cm. in its broadest part. 



Patricio Cardin, 

 Entomologist of the Agric. Exp. Station, Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba. 



Gouty Pine Midge {Itonida inopis O. S.). Observations of last year (Econ. Ent. 

 Journ. 5 : 368j and those of the present season show that under certain conditions this 

 species may be of some economic importance, even though its host plant, the scrub 

 pine, Pinus rigida, is not one of the most valuable trees. The latter part of May, 

 1912, the larva? of this midge were very abundant at Karner, midway between Albany 

 and Schenectady, N. Y., and similar concUtions prcAailed this season the last of April, 

 the larvae emerging with the appearance of several days of warm weather. Observa- 

 tions at this latter time show that a very large percentage, possibly half of the shoots 

 were affected and, in some instances, 40 or 50 larvae or cocoons were to be observed 

 upon individual shoots. The sw^ollen, injured area ranged in length from three to 

 seven inches, the infestation producing an approximate doubhng in the diameter of 

 the twig and presumably interferes with the movement of the sap. One small scrub 

 pine some six feet in height had nearly every shoot affected and it was estimated that 

 over 1,000 lar\-a? or cocoons were to be found upon tliis tree, the vitality of wliich 

 was much reduced, as e\'iclenced by the short, pale needles. The injury by the pre- 

 ceding brood, that is larvae hatching from eggs in 1911, showed as swollen, scarred 

 pitchy areas. The growth beyond such points was apt to be less vigorous, and it 

 appears probable that in some instances at least, this midge may be an important 

 factor in reducing the vigor of young scrub pines, especially as it appears to be gen- 

 erally distributed and localh' abundant. The brilliant orange, conspicuously 

 tubercled larvae issue so early in the season that they would ordinarily escape atten- 

 tion by most collectors, and this appears to account for the insect having been over- 

 looked for so many years. 



E. P. Felt. 



Reorganization of the Gipsy Moth Work of the Bureau of Entomology. — 



Dining the past few months several changes have been made in the gipsy moth 

 work in New England, carried on by the Bureau of Entomology, United States 

 Department of Agriculture. Heretofore the work has been conducted along 

 two separate lines, viz.: field work to prevent the spread of the gipsy and brown-tail 

 moths, and laboratory' work, which included the introduction of parasites and preda- 

 tory enemies of these insects. There has been a reorganization and Mr. A. F. Burgess, 

 who has been cormected with the experimental work a number of years, has been 

 placed in charge of the entire project. He will look after the administrative ]>art of 

 the work, and also have general supervision of the experimental work which will be 

 carried on as heretofore. 



