June, '19] SCIENTIFIC NOTES 271 



A Note on Temperature in Relation to Sciara coprophila Lintner. In the winter 

 of 1918 an outbreak of Sciara coprophila Lintner interfered with an experiment in 

 which Dr. W. H. Burkholder of the Department of Plant Pathology of Cornell 

 University was testing the growth of beans at three constant temperatures. The 

 experiment was carried on in three parts, one at a temperature of 91° F., another at 

 76° F. and a third at 60 to 65° F. The moisture content of the pots was kept 

 uniform by the use of Livingston auto irrigation. The beans grown in soil at a 

 temperature of 91° were uninjured, but those growing in earth at 76° were seriously 

 damaged while some at the lower temperatures of 60° to 65° were slightly attacked. 

 The air temperature of the greenhouse varied between 70° and 80° F. 



To regulate the evaporation, the pots in which the beans were planted were cov- 

 ered with paraffine paper and a paper cyUnder was placed around the plant to pre- 

 vent the paraffine coming in contact with the stem. Adults of Sciara were found 

 entering these cylinders and lajdng eggs in the moist earth to which manure had been 

 added as a fertilizer; later when the paraffine covers were removed, large numbers of 

 flies were liberated; eggs, larvae and pupae also were found commonly present in the 

 soil of the pots. The beans were in a weakened condition, many of the lateral roots 

 having been eaten off and the taproot itself attacked. 



Although these data were obtained by chance, they tend to indicate that the opti- 

 mum soil temperature favorable to the reproduction of the fly is near 76° F. and below 

 ■91° F. Evidently infestation may take place in soil that has a temperature of 60 

 to 65° F., but apparently this is not the most favorable temperature for the continued 

 and abundant increase of the insect. 



I. M. Hawley, 

 Department of Entomology, Cornell University. 



Handbook or Compendium. An entomologist's handbook or compendium is very 

 much needed, especially b}' economic entomologists. It is planned to compile such a 

 handbook, which will include principles and methods of studying the life-histories of 

 insects, of conducting field experiments and demonstrations, handy tables for field 

 workers, etc. It is desired to have references, or better, to have separates of all pub- 

 lished notes dealing directly or indirectly with the subject and to have details, and if 

 possible drawings or photographs as well, of cages, apparatus, methods, etc., as yet 

 unpubhshed. The handbook will be a compilation and full credit given to all con- 

 tributions. 



The cooperation of entomologists is solicited. 



John J. Davis, Box 95, West La Fayette, Indiana. 



Commercial Entomology. A recent manual of spraying, issued by a company 

 which prepares spray materials and which is illustrated by colored plates, gives a 

 figure on the plate of the San Jo.s^ Scale labeled "egg of female" and another labeled 

 ''egg of male"! 



This is a contribution not only to entomology but indeed to natural history as a 

 whole. It is to be hoped that some parts of this manual, at least, are more reliable 

 than this. H. T. F. 



Lachnosterna crassissima (Blanch). Three adults of thus species were in the 

 stomach of a channel catfish {Ichlalurus punclatus) caught in a small stream in 

 aouthern Kansas, July 6, 1918. In the stomach of .second fish was a handful of wheat 

 grains. Two adult L< /«,sca (Froclich) were in the stomach of a crappie {Pomoxis 

 annularis) caught in June, 1911, in the same small stream. 



E. G. Kelly, 

 Extension Entomologist, Kansas State Agricultural College. 



