August, '11] REVIEWS 413 



Reviews 



The House Fly — Disease Carrier, an Account of Its Dangerous 

 Activities and of the Means of Destroying it, by L. 0. Howard. 

 New York. Frederick A. Stokes Co., 1911, pp. i-xix, 1-312. 



This admirable work discusses all phases of the fly problem in a non-technical 

 manner and yet with such scientific accuracy that the economic entomologist will 

 find therein much of value, especially as it summarizes the latest developments in 

 solving the fly problem. Some sixty pages are devoted to a discussion of the zoolog- 

 ical position of the insect, its life history and habits. There are in this chapter a num- 

 ber of extremely valuable suggestions for future investigations. Natural enemies 

 of the fly are considered in some detail as well as the insect's place in the dissemina- 

 tion of a number of diseases. The fifty odd pages dealing with remedial and pre- 

 ventive measures discuss fully the various problems involved, considerable attention 

 being given to the cooperation necessary in cities and villages. The final chapter 

 comprises accounts of a number of species occurring in houses. The bibliographical 

 list will prove of much ser\'ice to those interested in the original sources of information. 

 The appendices contain much valuable information in regard to flies occurring in 

 manure and kitchens, the regulations of the health department of the District of 

 Columbia relating to house flies and methods of constructing and maintaining 

 sanitary privies. The volume as a whole is a distinct addition to our knowledge 

 concerning this most important insect, and the author, in the preparation thereof, 

 has rendered a material service, not only to the general public but to all workers 

 interested in this line of effort. The illustrations are excellent and the letter press 

 admirable. 



Scientific Notes 



Rose leaf hopper {Typhlocyba rosce Linn). An examination of available litera- 

 ture shows that this insect is supposed to hibernate in the adult stage, yet an investi- 

 gation of rose bushes in the fall, during winter and in early spring, failed to reveal 

 any such adults in the vicinity of the bushes. Some shoots were brought in in early 

 spring before the foliage had started, and the eggs were found deposited singly just 

 under the new bark. Their location is indicated by an almost imperceptible, oval 

 elevation in the bark, about 1 mm. long and presenting a slight greenish or yellowish 

 discoloration, occasionally accompanied by increased transparency, due to the egg be- 

 neath. There is at one end of the elevation a very slight scar made at the time the egg 

 is deposited- This latter is quite different from the elongate lenticel seen upon the 

 wood. It is comparatively easy to expose the eggs by simply rupturing the bark 

 on either side with a needle and raising it. The egg has a length of .7 mm., a diameter 

 of .2 mm. It is narrowly oval, the anterior extremity broadly rounded, while near 

 the posterior third there is a slight curve, the posterior extremity being narrowly 

 rounded. It is semi-transparent. April 17 material taken in the field contained a 

 semi-transparent, yellowish embryo, with a length about one third that of the egg, 

 and showing an indistinct segmentation. May 14 nymphs were numerous on the 

 lower leaves especially, their presence being indicated by the rather characteristic 

 white spots along the veins. The abundant growth above these affected leaves 

 obscures, in large measure, the early signs of this insect. The injury becomes more 



