Departmental Activities : Entomology, August 1921.—// Dept. Agric, 

 Union S. Africa, Pretoria, iii, no. 4, October 1921, pp. 306-309. 



Experiments are being made in the Cape Province to ascertain 

 whether it is possible to create a controllable supply of mealy bugs 

 [Pseudococcus] for the maintenance of the predacious Australian 

 Coccinellid, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, which has not yet become 

 established in South Africa. 



Great damage has been caused to Eucalyptus by the larvae of a 

 weevil, the life-history of which is being investigated. A species of 

 Dorylus caused considerable injury to cabbage and kale by gnawing 

 off the bark below the ground. The ants were probably attracted 

 by moisture, but the plants were apparently not entirely attacked 

 for food, as the ants gnawed irregular holes in the stems, presumably 

 to serve as an entrenchment against Pheidole pimctidata. The soil 

 should be kept firm and moist around injured stems to allow of the 

 formation of new roots. 



Icerva piirchasi. Mask., is reappearing in certain pear orchards 

 in the" Western Province, the variety "Winter Nelis " being chiefly 

 attacked. When the trees are sprayed with lead arsenate against 

 codling moth [Cydia pomonella], I. piirchasi becomes coated with the 

 poison, but is not affected by it, whereas the Coccinellids, Novitis 

 cardinalis, are greatly reduced in numbers. An attempt is being 

 made to re-establish the beetles by breeding them at the experiment 

 station and liberating them in large numbers on the infested trees. 



The spring colonies of woolly aphis [Eriosoma lanigeriim] are being 

 actively attacked by native Coccinellids such as Exochomtis nigro- 

 mactdatus, Oenopia cinctella, Chilomenes limata, and Alesia sp. The 

 establishment of Aphelimis mail has not yet been proved. It is 

 possible that its work is hindered by the Coccinellids, as the latter 

 probably reduce its food supply at a critical time, and may also devour 

 freshly parasitised Aphids. 



Pettey (F. W.). How the Fruit Grower may more effectively control 

 Codling Moth. — //. Dept. Agric, Union S. Africa, Pretoria, iii, 

 no. 4, October 1921, pp. 357-365, 1 fig. 



Codling moth [Cydia pomonella] is one of the worst pests of pears 

 and apples in South Africa, but it may be effectively controlled by 

 spraying with lead arsenate, provided the operation is properly carried 

 out.' The various points to be considered in spraying orchards are 

 dealt with. The efficacy of the treatment is greatly augmented if the 

 thinning of the crop in October, November and December is practised, 

 with special attention to the removal and destruction of infested fruit. 

 Infestation from the fruit-shed should be avoided, and infested wind- 

 falls should be regularlv collected. It is also advisable to band 

 severely infested trees and collect the larvae from the bands at intervals 

 of two weeks. 



The spraying experiments here recorded show that the effect of lead 

 arsenate is "somewhat reduced by the addition of Bordeaux mixture, 

 e.g., 2i lb. lead arsenate paste in 50 gals. Bordeaux resulted in 

 10-18 per cent, more infested fruit than when 50 gals, water were 

 substituted for the Bordeaux, and the same amount in 40 gals. Bor- 

 deaux resulted in about 4 per cent, more infested fruit than when 

 40 gals, water were used. Less than IJ lb. lead arsenate powder to 



