283 



Davis (J. J.). The Value of crude Arsenious Oxide in Poison Bait for 

 Cutworms and Grasshoppers. — Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H., 

 xii, no. 2, April 1919, pp. 200-203. 



A summary is given of a number of tests made in difierent States 

 both in the laboratory and the field demonstrating that crude arsenious 

 oxide is just as efficacious, but much cheaper, in poison-baits than 

 Paris green, provided that it is used in a very finely powdered form 

 [see also this Review, Ser. A, vi, p. 396]. 



Hawley (.J. M.). Some Notes on Phorbia fusciceps as a Bean Pest. — 



Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H., xii, no. 2, April 1919, pp. 203- 

 205, 1 plate. 



In 1917 the bean crop in New York State was greatly damaged by 

 Phorbia fusciceps, Zett. (seed corn maggot). These Dipterous larvae 

 attack the beans when planted, eating off the plumule or tunnelling 

 in the cotyledons, causing stunted growth and preventing the develop- 

 ment of pods. 



The eggs are laid on moist, freshly ploughed ground, and on decayed 

 clover and cabbage stems. There are two broods in New York, 

 and sometimes a third. The flies of the first brood appear in May 

 and those of the second at the end of June and beginning of July. 

 The time from egg to adult varies from 25 to 47 days. 



Insecticides are useless against this fly as they are harmful to the 

 germinating seeds, but cultural methods ofler some prospect of success, 

 especially shallow planting combined with the judicious use of a quick 

 acting fertiliser. 



Heertck (G. W.) & Detwiler (J. D.). Notes on some little known 

 Pests of Red-clover.— JZ. Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H., xii, no. 2, 

 April 1919, pp. 206-209, 3 figs. 



Weevils that occur abundantly in clover fields in New York are : — 

 Hypera {Phytonomus) nigrirostris, F. (lesser clover-leaf weevil), 

 H. (P.) meles, F. (clover-head weevil) and TycJiius picirostris, F. 



The larvae of H. nigrirostris five in the heads of clover, into which 

 they tunnel, eating the florets and devouring the ovaries. They 

 sometimes infest the axils of the clover stems also. In these cases 

 the larva eats into the sheath surrounding the bud in the axil, severs 

 the bud from the stem and grooves the side of the main stem. The 

 larvae become full-grown at the end of June and beginning of July, 

 the duration of the pupal stage being from 13 to 16 days. 



H. meles has apparently been introduced from Europe ; it was 

 first noted in New York in 1907. The eggs are found on and in the 

 stems and leaf-petioles of clover and lucerne, and also on blossoms 

 of clover. The larvae are abundant in the heads of clover, in which 

 the pupae are also found, as well as in the axils of the branches. The 

 pupal stage lasts 12 to 19 days. 



Tychius picirostris is also widely distributed in New York State. 

 In Ithaca as many as 19 adults were found in a newly opening head 

 of red clover, apparently feeding on the pollen. This weevil has 

 also been found on pear trees. The larvae feed on the florets, and 

 when fuU grown, descend into the soil to pupate. The sunmier brood 

 of adults began to appear about the middle of August. 

 (C671) B2 



