121 



Howard (N. F.). U.S. Bur. Ent. The Mexican Bean Beetle in its 

 Bearing on Florida Citrus Growing.— ()./r/v. Bull. Florida Slate 

 Plant Bd., Gainesville, vi, no. 1, October 1921, pp. 15-24, 7 figs. 



Epilachna corrupta, Muls., has become one of the major insect 

 problems of the South. The Ufe-history and habits of this beetle 

 have already been noticed [R. A.E., A, vi, 299 ; ix, 374]. A careful 

 study is being made of natural control, and the following Coccinelhds 

 have been observed to be predacious on it. Megilla maciilata, DeG., 

 in both larval and adult stages feeds voraciously on the eggs, and 

 less so on younger larvae ; Hippodamia convergens, Guer , feeds on 

 the eggs in both adult and larval stages ; H. amhigua, Lee, introduced 

 from California, feeds in confinement on the eggs and younger larvae ; 

 Coccinella novemnotata, Hbst., and C. sangninea, L., feed in the adult 

 stage on the eggs to some extent, but the foimer more generally on 

 younger larvae ; Adalia hipimclata, L., feeds slightly on the eggs 

 and \^ounger larvae. 



As regards Pentatomids, Stiretrus anchorage, F., feeds in the larval 

 and adult stages on all stages of the beetle, and in September is often 

 seen sucking the juices from the larvae, pupae and adults ; Podisus 

 maculiventrus, Say, has been observed in the field feeding on the larvae, 

 pupae and adults, but is not so abundant. Of ground beetles, Harpalus 

 caliginosiis, F., has been observed in the adult stage to feed on larvae ; 

 Scarites suhterraneus, F., and Calosoma sayi, Dej., feed sparingly on 

 larvae, pupae and adults, but the former is of no importance in the 

 field ; C. sycophanta, L., from New England, would not feed on any 

 stages of the beetle in confinement. A lace- wing fly, Chrysopa oculata, 

 Say, has been observed in the larval and adult stages to feed on the 

 pupae, but is of no importance in natural control. The tiger-beetles, 

 Tetracha Carolina, L., and T. virginica, L., though known to feed 

 voraciously on the larvae, pupae and adults in the larval and adult 

 stages, are of doubtful value in the field. A Reduviid bug, Arilus 

 i-risfatus, L., feeds on larvae, pupae and adults, but is not sufficiently 

 abundant to be of value. 



E. corrtipta will feed on its own eggs when no other food is available. 

 During the past summer, when the thermometer registered nearly 

 100° F. in the shade, large numbers of larvae and pupae were killed 

 by the sun on the injured plants or on the hot, dry soil. 



A list is given of the known food-plants of this beetle. The mung 

 bean {Phaseolus mungo) has never been recorded as a food-plant in 

 spite of repeated experiments, and the horse bean has also been 

 resistant up to date. 



MozNETTE (G. F.). U.S. Bur. Ent. Notes on the Citrus Root Weevil 



as a Strawberry Pest. — Qlrly. Bull. Florida State Plant Bd., 

 Gainesville, vi, no. 1, October 1921, pp. 24-26, 2 figs. 



In 1920 strawberry plants were seriously damaged in Florida by 

 larvae of Pachnaeus litus. Germ., tunnelling in the main tap-root or 

 feeding on the fibrous lateral roots. The author quotes previous 

 works, which show that this weevil is a general feeder. At the time 

 of the infestation no adults were found, but those reared from the 

 larvae emerged during May and early June, the approach of the 

 rainy season. Adults were then collected in the fields on weeds. 

 When the larvae were abundant in the dry winter season, it was 



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