140 



than two years. New clover should not be sown in the vicinity of 

 old fields, and should be pastured or mown in the autumn of the first 

 year. 



GossARD (H. A.). The False Apple Red-Bug.~MtJihj. Bull. Ohio Agric. 



Expt. Sta., Wooster, no. 29, May 1918, pp. 153-155, 3 figs. 



[Received 1st February 1919.] 

 Lygidea mendax (false apple red-bug) has recently become 

 increasingly numerous each year in the orchards of the Experiment 

 Station at Wooster. There is one generation in a year. Adults 

 appear during late June and early July, most of the eggs, which are 

 laid in two-year-old wood just beneath the bark, being deposited in 

 mid- July. These hatch in the following spring, generally in early 

 May, and the nymphs attack the young blossoms. They cause the 

 leaves to curl and the tissues to wither ; the punctures are also 

 frequently followed by attacks of fire-blight. The adults and older 

 nymphs imbibe the sap from young branches and as soon as the young 

 fruit is available they punctm-e it, causing a woody fibrous growth 

 along the channel of the puncture. Infested fruits either wither and 

 fall or become badly deformed. The most successful treatment as 

 yet discovered is spraying the nymphs vfith 40 per cent, nicotine 

 sulphate at the rate of one pint to each 87|- gals, of the spray 

 that is applied immediately after the falling of the blossoms. This 

 can be used in combination with the lime-sulphur-arsenical mixture 

 given for codling moth {Cydia pomonella) and will also be useful 

 against Aphids. 



Steak (J. R.). Clover Root Bover. —^Mlhly. Bull. Ohio Agric. Expt. 



Sta., Wooster, no. 30, June 1918, pp. 187-189, 2 figs. [Received 



1st February 1919.] 

 Hylastinus obscurus (clover-root borer) is a comparatively new pest 

 in Ohio, where, besides various clovers, lucerne and garden peas are 

 also injured. Hibernation usually occurs in the adult stage, though 

 a few larvae may be found in clover roots during the winter. The 

 adult beetles emerge from the roots in early May and fly to other 

 plants in the same or neighbouring fields. Oviposition occurs during 

 late May and June. Eggs are deposited in cavities in the roots eaten 

 out by the female beetles. About six eggs are placed in each cavity 

 and these hatch in a few days, the young larvae burrowing into the 

 root and frequently tunnelling the entire length. Sometimes the 

 clover dies out in patches over the field and the roots are often entirely 

 destroyed, this being especially noticeable in dry weather. Very little 

 seed is produced. By the end of July most of the larvae have pupated 

 in their burrows, and by October the majority of the adults have 

 emerged, but remain in the roots throughout the Avinter. Clover in 

 its first year is not attacked by the beetles, the roots being too small 

 to attract them. Infested clover should be ploughed under as soon as 

 possible after removal of the hay crop. This exposes the roots to 

 sun and wind while the borers are still in the larval stage. If ploughing 

 is delayed beyond 1st July, the larvae will have pupated and are then 

 unafiected by ploughing. If this practice be followed for a few years, 

 the pest will probably require no attention for several years. This is 

 the only practical remedial measure, natural enemies being negligible. 



