Chrysomphalus {A.) didyospermi, Morg., Aspidiotus (Diaspis) osireae- 

 forniis, Curtis ; Diaspis boisduvali, Sign. ; Aulacaspis rosae, Bch. , _ 

 very injurious to rose trees, which should have the infested shoots 

 destroyed ; an unidentified species of Lepidosaphes, injurious to pine 

 f ohage ; Lepidosaphes {Mytilaspis) ficus, Sign. , L. heckii, Newm. 

 (M. citricola. Pack.), which is abundant on oranges ; and Chionaspis 

 aspidistrae, Sign. A complete list of the known food-plants of each 

 species is given, with notes concerning some of them. 



Martin (W. H.). Dissemination of Septoria lycopersici, Speg., by 

 Insects and Pickers. — PhytopalJiology, Baltimore, Md., viii, no. 7, 

 July 1918, pp. 365-372. 



Studies to determine the methods of dissemination of the causal 

 organism (Septoria lycopersici) of tomato leaf-spot were made during 

 the summer of 1917, insects being suspected as possible factors. 



It was found that in New Jersey the tomato is visited by both 

 the adults and larvae of Lepiinotarsa decemUneata, Say (Colorado 

 potato beetle), by Epitrix cucumeris, Harris (flea-beetle), Protoparcs 

 Carolina, L. (tomato worm), and Aphis pseudohrassicae, Davis, in 

 large numbers, all these being present in the field until late in the 

 season. Observations indicated that early blight (Alternaria solani) 

 of tomatoes is disseminated by flea-beetles, the punctures made by 

 which become centres of early bhght infection, the spores being 

 carried either by the beetles themselves or by the wind. 



During the later part of the season when the disease became more 

 prevalent, all insects examined, whether taken from diseased or healthy 

 leaves, were found to carry spores. 



Examination of insect excreta showed that they invariably contained 

 spores, instances being noted where those of S. lycopersici and A. solani 

 were germinating, thus proving that alimentation does not destroy 

 their viabihty. This fact is important, since it explains how spores 

 thus carried may be distributed over a wide area, whereas those on 

 the bodies of insects are carried only a short distance. 



It was also established that insects feed on the diseased leaves, 

 though it is not supposed that they attack these in preference to 

 healthy ones. It has been shown, however, that the beetle, Leptostyhis 

 macula, Say, feeds on the pustules of the chestnut bhght fungus. 



Examination of the material adhering to the hands and garments 

 especially of those working in heavily infected fields showed the presence 

 of large numbers of spores, which accounts for the commonly observed 

 fact that the disease becomes particularly severe after the second 

 picking, which takes place about a week after the fii'st. The obvious 

 remedy for this is to delay picking after a rain or heavy dew until 

 the plants are dry, tliis being specially important in the case of tha 

 first picking. 



d'Emmerez de Charmoy (D.). Report on the Work of the Division 

 of Biology.— ^ww. Rept. Dept. Agric. for 1917, Mauritius, p. 11. 

 [Keceived 31st October 1918.] 



Several attempts to introduce a stock of the Eri silkworm [Attacus 

 ricini] into Mauritius from India have failed owing to delays during 

 transit. 



