270 



destroying a certain number of insect larvae, these do not furnish 

 anything like the bulk of their nourishment, and the crops suffer largely 

 in consequence. Many suggestions are given for making the law of 

 1907, which declared crows to be noxious birds, an effective and 

 adequate measure for the farmers' protection, and it is hoped that 

 these suggestions will shortly be embodied in a ministerial decree. 



PouTiERS (R.) & TuRiNETTi (L.). Obseivations biologiques sur la 

 Mouche des Olives et ses Parasites, dans la Region de Menton. — 



Ann. Epiphyties, Paris, vii (1919 & 1920), 1921, pp. 391-397. 

 [Received 15th March 1922.] 



The seasonal incidence of Dacus oleae (olive fly) on the Mediterranean 

 Coast is discussed, and shows considerable variation, for there are 

 only two or three generations in the mountainous districts, while 

 four or even five occur at Mentone. Indigenous parasites reared 

 from D. oleae are the Chalcids, Eulophus longulus, Zett., Enpelmns 

 urozonus, Dalm., and Eurytoma rosae, Nees. Of these, the first-named 

 is by far the most numerous. These Hjnnenoptera are, however, 

 polyphagous, and live, from the beginning of October, at the expense 

 of other insects. D. oleae continues to breed throughout October 

 and November, and larvae continue to mine the fruit even in December. 

 An attempt was therefore made to introduce from Tunis the parasite, 

 Opius concolor, Silv., which is exclusive to the olive fly. Its establish- 

 ment has failed up to the present, but a further effort will be made to 

 introduce it. 



Remedial measures in use in Italy and France are reviewed [R. A.E., 

 A, ix, 110 ; X, 67, etc.]. As the olive trees in Mentone and the Maritime 

 Alps grow very tall, powerful pumps are required for spraying, and 

 the trees should be well pruned to facilitate this treatment. 



The advisability of raising the prohibition against the use of soluble 

 arsenical salts, and also the importance of forming syndicates for 

 combating this pest, as in the Italian provinces, are pointed out. 



Trouvelot (B.). Reeherches sur I'Emploi de la Chloropicrine comma 

 Insecticide agricole. — Ann. Epiphyties, Paris, vii (1919 & 1920), 

 1921, pp. 398-404. [Received 15th March 1922.] 



A number of tests have been made to determine the value of chloro- 

 picrin as a remedy for certain insect pests, and its effect on various 

 plants. Larvae of Nygmia phaeorrhoea, Don. {Liparis chrysorrhaea), 

 treated during the winter in their nests, were all kiUed by even a weak 

 dose acting for a short time. As chloropicrin has given good results 

 with many trees (such as apple, wild quince and myrobolan plum) 

 when treated during their dormant period, it is thought that this 

 method might well be used on a commercial scale against the nests of 

 N. phaeorrhoea. 



Against Coccids the results are much less satisfactory. Diaspis 

 pentagona on jasmine is not destroyed with certainty by a dose of 

 ^ oz. of the fumigant used for one hour, or even by double that strength 

 for 1 1 hours;, while young rooted cuttings are affected by even half 

 of the weaker dose. Coccus [Lecaniiim) hesperidtmi on oranges also 

 proved very resistant to fumigation. Ceroplastes nisei was more 

 easily destroyed, but the susceptibihty of its food-plants was very 

 variable. Oranges and figs were unaffected by the fumigant, but 

 camelhas and roses proved very susceptible. 



