534 



Destruction of Agricultural Pests. — Ann. Rept. Director oj Agric. 

 1918-19, Nicosia, Ci/prus, 1919, pp. 16-17. [Received '21st 

 October 1919.] 



Although attacks by the vme sirividhi [Zygaena cunpclophagci] were 

 lefis numerous than in the previous year, the campaigns against this 

 pest and also against codling moth [Cydia ponionella] were continued 

 in 1918. Systematic measures against Eurytoma amygdali, a Chalcid in- 

 festing almonds, were undertaken during July, August and September, 

 including the collection of fallen infested almonds and their destruction. 

 Phthorimaea opercidella {Lita solaneUa) was found damaging potatoes. 

 Over 8,000 apricot and Kaisha trees were attacked by larvae of an 

 unidentified Tineid moth. 



Carpenter (P. H.) & Andrews (E. A.). Report on Tea Mosquito 

 Blight. — Planters' Chronicle, Bangalore, xiv, no. 38, 20th Septem- 

 ber 1919, pp. 634-639. 



Further investigations have been made with regard to the determina- 

 tion of the factors governing infestation of tea in India by the tea 

 mosquito [Helopeltis theivora], [see this Review, Ser. A, ii, p. 430]. 

 All observations show that healthy plants suffer comparatively little, 

 and as their vigour depends chiefly on soil conditions [loc. cit., vi, p. 

 314], these and climatic conditions are indirectly responsible for the 

 amount of infestation. Various suggestions are made for improving 

 water-logged soil, as excess of soil humidity encourages infestation 

 by impoverishing the plants. The numerous sprays tried have not 

 proved successful, but these experiments are being continued. For- 

 malin has been found effective, but only at a strength that causes 

 scorching of the foliage. 



El Algodonero en Colombia. — Revista Agricola, Bogota, iv, nos. 

 5, 8 & 9, May, August & September 1918, pp. 263-270, 503-512 

 & 551-567, 6 figs. [Received 21st October 1919.] 



In the course of this paper on cotton cultivation in Colombia, some 

 account is given of the insect pests of this plant, including Anthononms 

 qrandis, which has not yet appeared in Colombia ; Heliothis varia 

 [? obsoleta], a Noctuid commonly found in all cotton-growing regions, 

 including Colombia, and causing much damage in the larval stage ; 

 Alabama (Aletia) argillacea, which is found in most Colombian planta- 

 tions of tobacco, cotton, maize and tomatoes, the larvae eating the 

 young, tender leaves and flowers. 



Minor pests include a beetle, Ataxia crypta, which oviposits in the 

 young shoots, and a cotton-stainer, Dysdercus suturellus, which is 

 abundant in cotton plantations in low-lying districts. General 

 methods of control are discussed for these insects, and the importance 

 of protecting insectivorous birds and mammals is emphasised. 



Beeson (C. F. C). The Food Plants of Indian Forest Insects. Part 

 IV. — Indian Forester, Allahabad, xlv, no. 9, 15th September 

 1919, pp. 488-495. 



This continuation of lists previously noticed [see this Review, Ser. 

 A, vii, p. 403] includes the Lamiids : Apriona cinerea, Che v., on 



