251 



From the Hawaiian Islands, undetermined weevils in algaroba seeds ; 

 L. beckii on oranges ; Aspidiotus lataniae, Heniichionaspis minor. 

 Chrysomphahis aonidum, Ripersia palmarwn and Hypomoscoma sp. 

 on coconuts ; Diaspis bromeliae and Pseudococcus hromeliae on pine- 

 apples ; Coccus elongatus on betel leaves ; Cylas formicarius on sweet 

 potatoes ; and undetermined Coccids on ti wood and pot plants. From 

 Australia, Pheidole sp. in bamboo ; Pseudococcus longispinus and 

 Diaspis {Aulacaspis) rosae on rose plants ; and mites, springtails, 

 millipedes and spiders on iris bulbs. From China, undetermined Lepi- 

 dopterous larvae in Chinese pears, sunflower seeds and black beans ; 

 Cathartus sp. in narcissus bulbs ; Odonaspis iniisitata on bamboo ; 

 Euscepes batatae and Cathartus advena in yams ; Calandra granaria 

 m packing of bulbs ; undetermined weevils in sweet potatoes ; and 

 undetermined Coleoptera on medicinal roots. From Siam, Dinoderus 

 minutus and Lasioderma scrricorne in bamboo. From India, Bruchus 

 chinensis in lentils ; Cathartus advena in algaroba pods ; and unde- 

 termined Lepidopterous larvae in bean pods. From Palestine, 

 Chrysomphahis aurantii, Lepidosaphes beckii, Pseudococcus citri and' 

 Parlatoria pergandei on citrus fruit. From Holland, Rhizoglyphus sp. 

 on hyacinth and narcissus bulbs ; Cathartus advena and undetermined 

 Lepidopterous larvae in hyacinth bulbs ; and Tribolium confusum on 

 buckwheat husks used for packing bulbs. From France, Cathartus 

 advena and Laemophloeus pusillus in bulbs. From Sicily, Aspidiotus 

 hederae on lemons. 



Thomson (G. M.). The Naturalisation of Animals & Plants in New 

 Zealand.~Cambridge, The Univ. Press, 1922, x -}- 607 pp., 1 map. 

 Price 42s. 



This is an admirable attempt to record the changes in the fauna and 

 flora of New Zealand (possibly the only country for which this could 

 be attempted with a reasonable hope of success) during the past 150 

 years, and gives data regarding the introduction of every species and 

 its subsequent success or failure. As an example of past acclimatisa- 

 tion blunders in New Zealand, the author cites the contemplated 

 introduction in 1916 of Australian swallows, for the purposes of con- 

 trolling noxious insects, without any previous enquiry as to their 

 food-habits, or even as to whether the birds are migratory ; the 

 extreme importance of expert biological advice in future acclimatisa- 

 tion experiments is emphasised. 



Included in a lengthy chapter dealing with over 300 introduced 

 species of insects is an account of the introduction of humble bees, 

 Bonibus spp., for the fertilisation of red clover [Trifolium pratense), 

 which is now extensively cultivated, but which previous to the advent 

 of these insects only produced seed to a very hmited extent. Within 

 nine years of the liberation of 90 queen bees in 1885, ;^200,000 was 

 realised on red-clover seed alone. Another beneficial introduction, in 

 1900, was that of the Coccinellid, Rhizobius ventralis, Erichs., which 

 suppressed a serious outbreak of the scale, Eriococcus coriaceus, attacking 

 Eucalyptus sp., and is now very common. 



Important introduced pests include the diamond-back moth, 

 Pliitella maculipennis, Curt, {cruciferarum. Z.) introduced over 30 years 

 ago, and now abundant, and Brevicoryne [Aphis) brassicae, L. (cabbage 

 aphis), which is now the most destructive introduced insect in New 

 Zealand, where it causes an estimated annual loss of over £250,000. 

 (6239) ^ 2 



