37 



tips and leaves of infested plants to curl and turn yellow. In 1917 

 adults of the first generation were found by 5th May, though most of 

 the Capsids were still in the nymphal stages. There are apparently 

 at least three generations a year in Arkansas. 



Van Dyke (E. C). A Second Food Plant for the Cherry Leaf-beetle. 

 — Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H., xi, no. 5, October 1918, p. 431. 



While various writers have stated that so far as is known the only 

 native food-plant of Galerucella cavicolUs, Lee. (cherry leaf-beetle) is 

 Prunus 'pennsylvanica, L. (pin cherry), the author records having 

 found this beetle feeding in North Carolina on the leaves of the fire 

 azalea, RJwdodendron calenduhceum, while pin cherry in the neigh- 

 bourhood was apparently iminfested. In Ithaca, N.Y., in 1917, the 

 beetle was also found feeding on the leaves of a species of Azalea. 



Blackman (M. W.). Apple Tent Caterpillar. — Jl. Econ. Entom., 

 Concord, N.H., xi, no. 5, October 1918, p. 432. 



The author comments upon the statement made in the Seventeenth 

 Report of the State Entomologist of Connecticut that Malacosonia 

 arnericmm, F. (apple tent caterpillar) has practically disappeared from 

 many localities in that State in 1917, probably owing to the effects 

 of parasites or other natural enemies. A similar disappearance of 

 this insect has been noticed in the neighbourhood of New York. In 

 this locality wild cherry trees that in preceding years had been entirely 

 stripped of their first crop of leaves were observed to show no sign of 

 defoliation. Examination revealed the fact that very large numbers 

 of the larvae in the nests were dead, and it was estimated that less 

 than 1 per cent, of them had survived and that the ultimate mortaUty 

 might be expected to be still greater. This is attributed to the weather 

 conditions of the spring of 1917. From 18th to 22nd April the maximum 

 daily temperature at Syracuse was from 66° to 71°, the minimum 

 varying from 42° to 51°. It was dm-ing this period that the eggs 

 of M. americana hatched. The weather continued imusually cold, 

 the mean temperatm'e for May throughout the State showing an average 

 deficiency of 8°. During tlus period the buds of wild cherry ceased 

 to develop, and frequent rainfall prevented the larvae from feeding, 

 so that most of them were killed by starvation before the return of 

 normal conditions. That the death of the larvae was not due to 

 parasitic or predaceous enemies was proved by their small size (less 

 than J inch) and by the fact that their bodies were unmutilated and 

 their newly begun tents uninjm'ed. 



De Ong (E. R.). An Outbreak of Field Crickets.— JZ. Econ. Entom., 

 Concord, N.H., xi, no. 5, October 1918, pp. 433-434. 



The field cricket, Gryllus integer, became so abundant during May 

 and June 1917 as to do severe damage in the Sacramento Valley, 

 California, chmatic conditions having been favourable for its develop- 

 ment. Crops were attacked during April and May, crowds of the 

 crickets constantly migrating over roads or other intervening spaces. 

 A flock of terns on one occasion was seen feeding upon the crickets, 



