44 



100 per cent. The results indicate that the optimum atmospheric 

 moisture for the bean Bruchid hes somewhere between 80 and 89 

 per cent., and is located in the percentage that is just far enough 

 below 89 to prevent the development of injurious fungi. 



HoRSFALL (J. L.) & Ever (J. R.). Preliminary Notes on Control of 

 Millipedes under Sash. — //. Econ. Ent., Geneva, N. Y., xiv, no. 3, 

 June 1921, pp. 269-272. [Received 22nd November 1921.] 



Great damage is caused by millipedes to tomato seedlings, carrots 

 and lettuce grown under frames in Pennsylvania. The application of 

 sodium cyanide at the rate of 150 lb. to the acre resulted in an increase 

 of 256 plants as compared with the untreated plots, each plot occupy- 

 ing 48 square feet. The cyanide was sprinkled in furrows and covered 

 over. Sodium cyanide used at the rate of 250 lb. to the acre on 

 ground cultivated before sowing did not prevent germination, but 

 retarded it, whereas on ground cultivated the day before sowing 

 no injury was caused. Nicotine sulphate, 1 part in 200 of water, 

 sprinkled on a newly seeded bed resulted in an increase of 224 plants ; 

 2 per cent, nicotine sulphate as a dust increased the stand by 144 

 plants. A bran mash consisting of 2 pk. [sic] bran, ^1 pt. molasses 

 (depending on quality), 2 oz. sodium arsenite, and sufficient water to 

 make a mash, proved effective when scattered over the surface of 

 the ground between the tomato plants and adjacent to the sides of the 

 frames in the spring. The same poison bait applied in the autumn 

 to protect lettuce plants proved ineffective, probably as a result of 

 the seasonal habits of the millipedes. 



Wadley (F. M.). U.S. Bur. Ent. Life History of the Variegated 



Cutworm. — //. Econ. Ent., Geneva, N.Y., xiv, no. 3, June 1921, 

 pp. 272-277. [Received 22nd November 1921.] 



The Noctuid, Lycophotia margaritosa, Uslw. (variegated cutworm) 

 is distributed over most of North America as well as the rest of the 

 world. In Kansas there are apparently three generations a year, 

 though the third may be only partial. The moths have been observed 

 at ail seasons, but they occur in exceptional abundance about 10th 

 July, 15th August and 1st November. The average time required 

 for "one generation in summer, in southern Kansas, is about 59 days. 

 The eggs are usually laid in irregular compact masses, containing 

 from 30 to 320 eggs, with an average of 130. A female may apparently 

 deposit more than one egg-mass. The eggs hatch in from 4 to 6 days ; 

 the larvae grow faster, are more active and feed more greedily than 

 most cutworms. They are apparently leaf-feeders and may climb 

 plants to feed, but in some cases they burrow for food such as potato 

 tubers. In the insectary, lucerne, several common vegetables and 

 weeds were greedily eaten, with special partiality for pigweed, cabbage 

 and turnip leaves. The larval stage lasts from 20 to 28 days. 

 Pupation occurs in the soil at a depth of about 2 in., and lasts 

 from 13 to 20 days. The Hfe of the adult lasts from 8 to 13 days. 



Only the first generation is, as a rule, injurious, the larvae being active 

 in late May and in June. The later generations are hardly noticeable, 

 probably owing to the action of parasites. In Kansas in 1915, and 

 in Iowa in 1919, this moth was heavily parasitised by a Tachinid, 

 Archytas analis. In southern Kansas the adult is apparently the 

 principal if not the only hibernating stage of L. margaritosa. 



