433 



Gibson (A.). The Greenhouse Leaf-Tyer {Phlyctaenia ferrugalis, 

 Wan.).—Agric. Gaz. Canada, Ottawa, vi, no. 7, July 1919, pp. 

 626-629, 2 figs. 



The Pyralid moth, Phlyctaenia ferrugalis, Hbn., of which all 

 stages are described, was imported from the United States into 

 Canada, where it has recently increased and caused much damage 

 in greenhouses. It feeds on nearly all soft-leaved greenhouse plants 

 and also on celery, tobacco, cabbage, sugar-beet, spinach, nasturtium, 

 begonia and carnations in the field. The eggs are laid singly or in 

 a mass on the under-side of the leaves. They hatch in about 14 days. 

 As the generations overlap, larvae of all stages may be found at 

 various seasons. All five instars of the larva feed on the leaves ; 

 sometimes two leaves are spun together by silken threads, the larvae 

 then feeding on the under- side of the upper leaf. Pupation occurs 

 in a folded-over portion of the leaf and lasts from 17 to 20 days. 

 The moths rest during the day-time on the under-side of the leaves 

 or in sheltered places in the greenhouse, and become active at night. 

 The life-cycle from egg to the emergence of the moth occupies about 

 70 to 75 days in the winter. Under greenhouse conditions 3 or 4 

 generations may occur from September to May. 



The natural enemies recorded from the United States include a 

 Braconid, Apanteles glmneratus, L., an Ichneumonid, Synetaeris sp., 

 and a Tachinid, Phorocera parva, Big. No parasites have yet been 

 reared in Canada. 



The following spray is advocated as a remedial measure : 1 oz. 

 by weight of soluble sulphur, 1 fluid oz. of Black-leaf 40 and 6 gals, 

 of water. This mixture applied three times at intervals of one week 

 has proved successful, but care should be taken to spray the plants 

 well from below at the first appearance of the pest. 



Russell (E. J.). The Work of the Rothamsted Experimental Station 

 from 1914 to 1919. Control of Soil Organisms and Pests. — Jl 



Bd. Agric, London, xxvi, no. 5, August 1919, pp. 504-506. 



Owing to the importance of wireworms in view of their destructive- 

 ness to crops much attention has been paid to all possible means of 

 control, including the effect of poisons applied to the soil. Ammonia 

 has proved distinctly harmful to wireworms, and attention is called 

 to the fact that it may be produced by the application of liquid 

 manure or by folding sheep on the land. Other effective poisons 

 tried were chlorphenol, which is about four times as toxic as phenol, 

 and di-chlorcresol, which is about five times as effective as cresol. 



Ramakrishna Ayyar (T. V,). Some Foreign Insect Pests which we 

 do not want in India.— ^^^nc. J I. India, Calcutta, xiv, no. 3, 

 1919, pp. 500-511, 3 plates. 



In view of the recent Pests Act passed in India as a protection 

 against the introduction of insect pests from other countries, a list 

 is given of the most dangerous insects not yet found in India, as well 

 as their most likely mode of entry into the country. 



