89 ^PR 2 3 1919 



Marras (F. M.). Lotta contro le Cavallette mediante il tfof^qobadilkk^ 

 acridiorum. [Anti-Locust Work with Coccobacillus ataridi&ncm 

 — Ministero per V Agricoltura, Rome, 1918, 1 p. [Received 

 2nd December 1918.] 



The work recorded here was begun on 19th May 1917 and the results 

 proved that C. acridiorum, when its virulence is increased, is able to 

 destroy small foci of infestation and to kill large numbers of mature 

 locusts. This biological method is advantageous if carried out in 

 time and with proper means. It must be followed by mechanical 

 measures which will destroy the locusts that have escaped infection. 



Aull6 (M.). Resena de los Trabajos verificados par la Comisi6n de la 

 Fauna forestal Espanola durante el Aiio de 1915. [A Review of 

 the Work of the Spanish Forestal Fauna Commission during 1915.] 

 — Bol. Soc. Entom. Espana, Saragossa, i, no. 8, November 1918, 

 pp. 163-171, 2 plates. 



At the beginning of May an investigation was made of an outbreak 

 of Dendrolimus pini, L., which threatened to destroy some pine woods 

 in Valencia. This moth, hitherto of rare occurrence in Spain, began 

 to appear on the wing at the beginning of May and was abundant 

 imtil the end of June (some two months earlier than in other coimtries). 

 The adults continued to appear in small numbers until September, 

 when they again became abimdant, although less numerous than in 

 May and June, a few individuals continuing to appear as late as mid- 

 January. Instead of the trunks of pines being chosen for oviposition, 

 as is usually the case, the branches and twigs or foHage were preferred, 

 the eggs being laid, not in masses of 20 to 50 as in other countries, but 

 in groups of generally less than 20, which increases the difficulty of 

 destroying them. During these investigations a curious habit of 

 the caterpillars of this moth was observed. If a hght tap is given to 

 the lower part of the trunk of large trees or to the branches close to 

 their base, the larvae that are scattered about the crown of the tree 

 descend the trunlc within five minutes to the spot where the tree v/as 

 struck. This greatly facilitates hand-collection, though if too strong a 

 blow is given to the tree, the larvae will not react to it. 



The larvae may be controlled in four stages : — when the}'- are in 

 the branches ; when, having defoliated the pines, they migrate in search 

 of other food-plants; while hibernating; and when, after hibernation, 

 they re-ascend the pines. While in the branches the larvae can be 

 collected by hand and the tree can be shaken to cause those that are 

 out of reach to fall to the ground. To prevent migration, trenches 

 may be dug about a foot deep in which the larvae can be destroyed or 

 buried. As the side of the trench must be vertical, this method is 

 not practicable in sandy soils and sticky bands must be resorted to. 



The mixture used for banding consisted of 7 parts coal-tar, 5 parts 

 black soap, 5 parts resin and 3 parts whale-oil. The coal-tar and 

 resin are heated and well mixed, the soap and oil then being added and 

 the whole stirred continually until cool. This mixture should remain 

 viscid for two or three months, though it was found necessary on this 

 occasion to renew the bands about every ten days. For controlUng 

 the larvae on the shoots a spray consisting of 3J lb. sodium arsenate to 

 100 gals, water has been found successful. 



(C545) Wt.P2/137. 1,500. 3.19. B.&F.Ltd. Gp.lI/3, A 



