August, '19] SCIENTIFIC NOTES 351 



the total weight of nicotine in the solution should be known. In the 

 three commercial preparations mentioned above, each preparation is 

 labelled 40 per cent nicotine and yet in one case four pounds of nicotine 

 and in another only 2.97 pounds of nicotine are contained in the same 

 T-olume of solution. 



Scientific Notes 



European Elm Scale. On May 27th, the writer found an American elm on the 

 college grounds infested with European elm scale (Gossyparia spuria). This, appar- 

 ently, is the first time the insect has made its appearance at Ames. The college col- 

 lection has a specimen from Des Moines, but we have been unable to find a pubhshed 

 record for this state. Albert Hartzell, Ames, Iowa. 



European Com Borer (Pyrausta nubilalis Hubn.) in New York. A recent determi- 

 nation by Messrs. Heinrich and Schaus, through the courtesy of Doctor L. O. Howard, 

 of moths reared from corn stalks collected near Schenectady has positively established 

 the occurrence of this serious pest in New York State. A subsequent identification 

 by Mr. Heiiu-ich of moths reared from corn boring larvse suspected of being Pyrausta 

 nubilalis has shown the Dutchess County insect to be Pyrausta penitalis Grote. This 

 is welcome news and unless upset by subsequent discoveries, means that European 

 corn borers occur in but one area in New York State and probably in but two in the 

 United States. E. P. Felt. 



Com Borer in Connecticut not the European Species. In this Journal for April, 

 page 218, is a note to the effect that "what appears to be a small infestation of the 

 European corn borer was found in Milford, Conn., March 12." Adults have now 

 been reared from this material and we are pleased to announce that they have been 

 identified by speciahsts at Washington as Pyrausta penitalis Grote, and not the Euro- 

 pean corn borer, Pyrausta nubilalis Hubner. W. E. Brittox. 



Swarms of Aphids. On June 23 and 24 vehicles and pedestrians passing through 

 Chapel Street, and some other nearby thoroughfares in New Haven, Conn., were 

 literally covered with small green insects which were flying in the air and were caught 

 on the clothes, and tops of automobiles. One of the seed stores telephoned to my 

 office inquiring what they were; some of their customers took them to be the arrival 

 of the much heralded "seventeen year locust." On investigating the matter they 

 were found to be aphids, afterwards identified by Dr. Edith M. Patch as Calaphis 

 betulcecolens Fitch, a species infesting birch and supposed to remain upon that host 

 throughout the season. Just why they migrated is a conundrum, unless because 

 they became so abundant that they were forced to leave in search of food. Though 

 there are a few birches in the city, there are doubtless many acres on the Orange hills, 

 two or three miles to the southwest, from whence they came. Several observers 

 noticed the swanns of aphids in New Haven and Hamden at this time and also the 

 preceding week. W. E. Britton. 



Army Entomological Laboratory. Malcolm E. MacGregor, a Carnegie student 

 who studied in tliis country several years ago, informed Dr. Howard in a recent letter 

 that he is in charge of tlie War Office lOiitomological Laboratory, Kitchener Camp, 

 Sandwich, Kent, adding that th<' tropical cam{)aign3 have made the English tumble 

 on many facts which they could not se(> l)efore. The laboratory exemplifies the last 

 word in modernity, all the apparatus lieing run by electricity and the equipment 

 being beautiful in every way. Mr. MacGregor extends a most hearty welcome to 

 any .\merican entomologist who may be visiting in I^ngland. E. P. F. 



