455 



Zacher (F.). Die Weissahrigkeit der Wiesengraser. [The White- 

 Ear Disease of Meadow Grasses.] — Deutsche LandivirtscliHl. 

 Presse, Berlin, xha, no. 59, 23rd July 1919, pp. 445-446, 7 figs. 



The flowers of many meadow grasses are prematurely yellowed 

 and withered by the attacks of various insects and mites. These 

 include flies of the genera Oscinella, Meromyza, Elachiptera, Chlorops 

 and Cecidomyia. Some caterpillars injurious to wheat that also 

 attack grasses are Trachea (Hadena) secalis, L., Anerastia lotella, 

 Hb., and Ochsenheimeria taurella, Schifl. In Finland Tortrix paleana, 

 Hb., occasionally injures Phleum pratense in this manner. Cephus 

 pygmaeus, L., damages meadow grasses in the same way, and the 

 following thrips have also been recorded in this connection : — AiJiino- 

 thrips rufus, Gmel., Limofhrips denticornis, Hal., Chirothrips hamatus, 

 Tryb., and Haplothrips (Anthothrips) aculeatus, F. 



In cases where the presence of insects is not apparent the injury is 

 often believed to be due to mites, which escape notice owing to their 

 minute size. Of these, Pediculoides grammum, E. Reut., does the 

 chief damage in Finland ; it attacks a great variety of grasses. Tarsone- 

 mus cidmicolus, E. Reut., is a less common species ; and is responsible 

 for about 18 per cent, of this kind of injury. Tarsonemus spirifex, 

 March,, has been found on grasses (Avena elatior, Dactylis glomerata, 

 Festuca pratensis and Poa pratensis) in North Germany ; this appears 

 to be the first record of such infestation, this mite being hitherto 

 known on oats and barley only. As the result of his observations in 

 Finland Renter advises early mowing and speedy harvesting of grasses 

 showing signs of attack. Attention is drawn to the fact that grasses 

 growing alongside paths, etc., may prove a source of infestation for 

 neighbouring meadows. 



Marchal (P.) & FoEx (E.). Rapport Phytopathologique pour I'Ann^e 

 1915. — Ann. Service des Epiphyties, Paris, iv (1915), 1917, 

 pp. 21-44. [Received 1st September 1919.] 



A general review is given of the insects injuring cereals, vegetable 

 crops, fruit and grape-vines, trees and ornamental shrubs and of the 

 work of the entomological and phytopathological stations in various 

 parts of France during 1915. 



Latiere (H.). La Lutte centre les Maladies des Plantes en Italie. — 

 Ann. Service des Epiphyties, Paris, iv (1915), 1917, pp. 76-144. 

 [Received 1st September 1919.] 



An account is given of the history and work of the various stations 

 and laboratories for studying diseases and parasites of plants. The most 

 injurious insects in Italy include Phylloxera, the ohve fly [Daats oleae], 

 the scale-insects infesting Citrus, particularly Chrysomphalus dictyo- 

 spermi pinnulifera {minor) and Icerya jJurcJiasi, the mulberry scale 

 {Aulacaspis (Diaspis) pentagona) and the vine moths [Clysia ambigueUa, 

 Polychrosis botrana and Sparganothis pilleriana]. Minor pests that 

 also cause serious damage are the ohve thrips {Phloeothrips oleae) 

 Psylla oleae and the olive moth [Prays oleellus], the woolly apple aphis 

 [Eriosoma lanigerum], Cydia (Carjjocapsa) jtomonella and Mayetiola 

 {Cecidomyia) destructor. 



