JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS 



JUNE, 1908 



The editors will thankfully receive news items and other matter likely to be of in- 

 terest to subscribers. Papers will be published, so far as possible, in the order of re- 

 ception. All extended contributions, at least, should be in the hands of the editor the 

 first of the month preceding publication. Reprints of contributions may be obtained 

 at cost. Minor line figures will be reproduced without charge, but the engraving of larger 

 illustrations must be borne by contributors or the electrotypes supplied. The receipt 

 of all papers will be acknowledged.— Eds. 



The importance of accurate biological data cannot be questioned, 

 despite the fact that all too frequently it is lacking in the case of some 

 of our common destructive insects. Several years ago Mr. A. A. 

 Girault commenced a series of tabulations of the number of eggs de- 

 posited by various species and, thanks to his activity, we have exact 

 data relating to some nine species, the majority of them being of 

 economic importance. These are by no means the only figures in this 

 field, yet they indicate a line of productive activity. Our attention 

 has recently been called to another series of exceedingly timely sta- 

 tistics, in view of the present great interest in parasitic insects. Mr. 

 H. J. Quayle* states that the brown scale, Eulecanium armeniacum, 

 is supposed to be controlled by its parasite. Corny s fusca, its efficiency 

 usually being estimated at 95%. Nevertheless, a statistical study of 

 specimens from 66 different orchards shows a range from 1.9 to 60% 

 in the number parasitized, the average being 12.2%. This study 

 should be continued, as figures for one year are not conclusive. Mr. 

 Quayle calls attention to the fact th*at other agents are responsible 

 for the destruction of a number of the scale insects, and all too fre- 

 quently these latter appear to be unnoticed. Parasites have deserv- 

 edly received considerable attention and occasionally there is no 

 doubt but what they may be responsible for the destruction of 95 or 

 even a higher percentage of their hosts. There is an abundant oppor- 

 tunity for extensive studies of various parasites in order to establish 

 beyond question their true value as natural checks. It is presumable 

 that the work of importing parasites of the gipsy and brown-tail moths 

 will give considerable additional information upon this phase of 

 biological science. There is also great need of more extended infor- 

 mation of this character respecting many of our native species. 



* Science, May 15, 1908. 27:'i 



