June, '16] SCIENTIFIC XOTES 377 



Scientific. Notes 



An Egg Parasite of the Army-worm {Heliophila unipuncta). During the late 

 spring of 1914 a severe outbreak of the army-worm (Heliophila unipuncta) occurred 

 in many places in southern and central Illinois. Notwithstanding the fact that many 

 of the worms were killed by insect enemies and diseases, large numbers completed 

 their growth, and the moths were very abundant by the middle of June. During 

 the latter part of June and the first part of July, careful watch was kept of grass- 

 lands and lawns in the central part of Illinois for the appearance of the second genera- 

 tion of the worms, but only a very few were found. 



In another part of the state, moths of this species were very abundant during the 

 last two weeks of October, 1914. Thousands of them were seen in the early even- 

 ings around piles of cull apples in orchards, and in one case thirty-five were counted 

 on a single rotten apple. In the spring of 1915, however, it was hard to find army- 

 worms in this section; and it seemed probable that some egg-parasite might be keep- 

 ing the species in check. 



In the middle of July, 1915, army-worm moths again became abundant in the vi- 

 cinity" of Springfield, 111., and on each of several evenings nearly a hundred were 

 caught in a small fly-trap. July 24, six pairs of these moths were placed in a lantern- 

 chimney cage over a six-inch pot containing a plant of crab-grass. July 26 this grass 

 was found to be well stocked w:ith eggs, and the adults were killed, the chimney was 

 removed, and the pot containing the grass was set outside the insectary on a lawn 

 where large numbers of army-worm moths had been noticed for several nights pre- 

 vious. The pot was left here until the morning of July 28, when several of the eggs 

 were removed and placed in small shell-vials tightly stopped with cotton. August 3 

 several army-worms hatched, and August 13 a small Chalcid was noticed in one of 

 the vials. On the next day a number of these Chalcids were seen emerging from 

 the army-worm eggs; and an examination made several days later showed that 79 

 per cent of the eggs had been parasitized. A large series of experiments was at once 

 started to determine the general abundance of this egg-parasite; but a little later 

 all were accidentally destroyed. 



Specimens of this Chalcid were identified by Mr. J. C. Crawford as belonging to 

 the genus Telenomus, but whether or not they represent a new species he was not 

 then prepared to say. 



As the army-worm moth is nearly always common in the summer and fall months, 

 it seems probable that this new egg-parasite may have a powerful influence in re- 

 stricting the increase of this pest and in bringing sudden outbreaks to a conclusion. 



Wesley P. Flint. 

 State Entomologist's Office, Urbana, III., 



March 30, 1916. 



Cause of Death of a Valtxable Animal During Fumigation with Nitrobenzene. 



At the Columbus meetings of the Association of Economic Entomologists, Professor 

 William Moore presented a valuable and suggestive paper on the fumigation of 

 animals with nitrobenzene, for the purpose of ridding them of their ecto-parasites.^ 

 On our return to Ithaca, Mr. W. L. Chandler and I decided to check over and use 

 this method on the animals we were using in our laboratory work, and whenever op- 

 portunity arose. 



In the course of the work, after many favorable experiments, a valuable hunting 

 dog was being fumigated for fleas. In that respect the experiment was a great 

 success for when I saw the dog nearly a half hour after he was exposed, the fleas were 

 literally falling ofif from him. Less than an hour later he was dead, all attempts to 



iJouR. Ec. Ent., Feb. 1916, IX, p. 71-78. 



