117 



are lotus {Nelumbium luteum), Polygonum, Apocynum and Ewpatorium, 

 and although the larvae have been found in considerable numbers in 

 raspberry canes and boring in maize stalks, study of the insect's habits 

 has shown conclusively that serious injury does not occur to any 

 plant other than the lotus. The distribution of P. genitalis in the 

 United States is from New Jersey westward to Illinois and Kansas 

 and southward to Texas. The life-history has been worked out 

 approximately. Hibernation occurs in the larval stage, the first 

 moths emerging from March until June, according to the locality. 

 The eggs and place of oviposition have not been observed. The 

 larva is first found on the upper surface of the leaves in a silken, 

 tent-like web, but soon turns its attention to burrowing, perforating 

 and devouring buds and seed capsules and the interior of stems that 

 are available. It feeds and develops during the summer and towards 

 the end of August crawls into any convenient stem for hibernation, 

 a cocoon being constructed with a little silk. The insect is parasitised 

 by a number of Tachinids, including Panzeria penitalis, Coq., which 

 had destroyed more than half the larvae collected by the author from 

 raspberry stems, Exorista vulgaris. Fall., Hypostena variabilis, Coq., 

 and Phorocera comstocki. Will. An Ichneumonid, Zemelucha {Porizon) 

 facialis, Cr., was reared with the first-named. Bracon xanthostigmus, 

 Or., has been reared more than once from blackberry canes. Another 

 Braconid and a Chalcidid parasite have also been recorded, the latter 

 being a secondary parasite of the former. Blackbirds are said to eat 

 many of the larvae before they seek their winter shelter. 



A spray of lead arsenate, Paris green or other arsenical will destroy 

 the young larvae before they penetrate the interior of buds, seed 

 capsules, etc. When they are working within these shelters, it is 

 better to pick of? the infested portions and burn them. It is advisable 

 also to collect and burn the stalks in which the insects are found 

 late in the season. When the pest occurs on lotus, all parts of the 

 plant containing the insect above the water line should be cut away. 



EusT (E. W.). Anastrepha fraterculus, Wied. (Trypetidae), a Severe 

 Menace to the Southern United States.— JL Econ. Entom., 

 Concord, NJI., xi, no. 6, December 1918, pp. 457-467. 



Numerous Trypetids are serious pests of fruit in almost all tropical 

 or sub-tropical countries. In northern Argentina the particular 

 species dangerous to fruit is Anastrepha fraterculus, Wied., and this 

 would become a very serious pest if once it gained entrance to the 

 southern United States. This species is indigenous to, and well 

 distributed over the warmer portions of South and Central America and 

 the West Indies. The Province of Tucuman has suffered the severest 

 infestation, oranges being seriously damaged in that region, while 

 almost all thin-skinned fruits are more or less liable to infestation in 

 most parts of Northern Argentina. In the Provinces of Salta and 

 Jujuy almost every orchard visited during May was found to be infested, 

 and it is considered that before many years the wild oranges in the 

 forests of these regions will be regular host-plants of the fly. 



The female oviposits in many kinds of fruit, in various stages of 

 maturity and at various seasons. The eggs are sometimes placed 

 singly but frequently several occupy the same cavity and one fruit 



