330 



actions in the life of the hoppers are found to be in close relation to the 

 temperature, the influence of a given temperature varying, however, 

 in the different instars. Hoppers of the first instar succumb if forced 

 to move about on the bare earth the temperature of which has reached 

 53° C. [127° F.], but the movement of the fifth stage hoppers is not 

 stopped until a temperature of 57 or 58° C. [134-136° F.] is reached. 



Hoppers that are just about to moult, or that have just moulted, 

 succumb to lower temperatures. At the moulting period the hoppers 

 are greatly weakened. It is at this period that cannibalism often occurs. 

 Moulting may also be hindered if the hoppers about to moult are 

 surrounded by those of other stages. The author thus thinks that 

 it is an instinct for self-preservation that induces the hoppers to migrate. 



Webster (J. F.). Spraying oJ Trees for greater Crop Production. — 



Dept. Agric, 'Iraq, Baghdad, Leaflet no. 8, 1922, 4 pp. [Received 

 21st April 1922.] 



Instructions are given for spra\ang date palms against diseases and 

 an Aphid infesting peach trees. 



Ramachandra Rao (Y.). A Preliminary List of Insect Pests of 



'Iraq. — Dept. Agric, 'Iraq, Baghdad, Memoir no. 7, 1921, 35 pp., 

 5 figs. [Received 24th April 1922.] 



This paper is an amplification of one previously noticed [R.A.E., 

 A, X, 160], and gives notes on the life-histoiy and habits of most of 

 the pests observed by the author during his year's work in Mesopotamia. 

 Among the more important species dealt with are an Anthomyiid, 

 presumably Hylemyia coarctata. Fall., the larva of which causes dead- 

 hearts in wheat and barley, and a wheat pest identified by Dr. Felt 

 as Mayetiola {Phytophaga) destructor. Say (Hessian fly). Ripe stems 

 of wheat broken off an inch above ground were found to be cut from 

 inside by the sawfly, Cephus pygmaeus, L., which tunnels down through 

 successive joints to the base of the stem, where it shelters during the 

 heat of summer and the cold of winter, emerging as an adult in the spring. 

 The most injurious pest of wheat is the bug, Eiirygaster integriceps. 

 Put., the young of which attack the grains in the milky stage and cause 

 much damage. The bugs become adult in May and June, and disappear 

 when the wheat is harvested. A smaller bug, Aelia acuminata, L., 

 has similar habits. The large brown grasshopper, Tettigonia albifrons, 

 ¥., attacks maturing ears of wheat and barley, maize cobs, pea pods, 

 young cotton shoots, various vegetables, and leaves of figs, mulberry 

 and apricot, and is capable of doing much damage. Eggs are laid in 

 May and June, and the adults disappear about July. Dociostaurus 

 niaroccanus, Thunb. (Moroccan locust) also occurs. 



Myiopardalis pardalina. Big., is practically the only fruit-fl}' found 

 in Mesopotamia. Apricots, peaches and nectarines are all damaged 

 by the fruit-boring moth, Anarsia lineatella, Z., while Cydia pomonella, 

 L., is the chief pest of apples. Figs are attacked by Lonchaea aristella, 

 Beck, (black fig fl}'), which may cause the loss of 50 per cent, of the 

 crop [cf. R.A.E., A, vi, 75]. 



A large Bostrychid, Phonapate frontalis, F., var. uncinata, Karsch, 

 was found boring in date-palm stems used as rafters in a house ; termites 

 and leather beetles are also sometimes troublesome household pests. 



The only boUworm observed was Earias insulana, Boisd., which is 

 parasitised by Habrobracon kitcheneri, Dudg. & Gough. The latter is 



