472 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 5 



action of Hippodamia convergens, with the aid of certain hymenop- 

 terous parasites, checl<:ed the outbreak. 



Lachnosterna spp. A serious outbreak of white grubs occurred in 

 northeastern Iowa in 1912, corn and meadows being greatly damaged. 

 This outbreak is to be considered elsewhere by Professor Summers, 

 so it need not be taken up here. 



PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENTOMO- 

 LOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS 



By Thomas J. Headlee, Ph.D., Chairman 



In accordance with the desire of the American Association of Eco- 

 nomic Entomologi-sts its committee on entomological investigations has 

 collected data for the preparation of a list of projects. Any workers in 

 Canada or in the United States who have not had a chance to con- 

 tribute have either been inadvertentty overlooked, or have previously 

 refused to cooperate. 



At the suggestion of several of the leading entomologists, this com- 

 mittee has reduced the ordinary number of ciuestions and included 

 one intended to furnish information for the making of a taxonomic 

 directory. 



A Remedy for Chrysanthemum Leaf Miner. During tlie spring and summer of 

 1912 a very serious outbreak of the chrysantliemum leaf miner, Napo7nyza chrysan- 

 themi (Kowarz), occurred in two Milwaukee (Wis.) greenhouses which had imported 

 infested chrysanthemums and marguerites from Boston. Similar injuries were re- 

 ported from Chicago and other points. The growers were facing an entire loss of 

 their blooming plants caused by complete infestation of the leaves by the mining 

 larvaj of this fly. 



While experimenting with contact insecticides for their control, the nicotine solu- 

 tions, especially "Black Leaf 40" used as a spray with or without whale oil soap solu- 

 tion proved a complete and satisfactory control. One part of nicotine in 400 parts 

 of water, killed the eggs and larvae readily, as well as newly formed pupae. The pupae 

 of all ages were killed with 1-200 nicotine solution. It is evident that the nicotine 

 affects the larvae through the leaf epidermis by osmosis. Several types of lepidop- 

 terous and coleopterous leaf miners were killed by the use of nicotine sprays in an 

 experimental way, but time was not available for field tests. It would be advisable 

 to test this method in the control of the blackberry leaf miner which is a serious pest 

 in some seasons. 



J. G. Sanders, College of Agriculture, Madison, Wis. 



