403 



severity of the attack in 1921 was doubtless due to the exceptionally 

 high temperature during the summer. Trees having a good water 

 supply, can withstand the attack to a large extent. When the fruit 

 begins to be soft and mellow the mites leave it and probably remain 

 on the tree among the fibrous growth during the winter. Spraying 

 with kerosene emulsion is suggested in preference to sulphur dusting 

 as being less expensive, and because the mites lodge in rather inaccessible 

 places in the tops of large palms and the underside of bunches of dates. 

 A 10 per cent, emulsion is recommended, to be apphed in June or 

 July and again after seven days' interval. 



Against the Fulgorid bug, soap solution with tobacco decoction 

 had no effect as an insecticide, but half a pound of ordinary hard soap 

 in one gallon of water, emulsified with two gallons of kerosene, the 

 whole diluted with ten parts of water, readily killed the insects. May 

 and September are the best times for spra^'ing, but where the dates 

 are not harvested by September, May spraying only must be rehed upon, 

 as kerosene emulsion is liable to render the ripe fruit unfit for eating. 



LuGiNBiLL (P.). Bionomics of the Chinch Bug.— U.S. Dept. Agric, 

 Washmgton, D.C., Bull. 1016, 31st Januarv 1922, 14 pp., 2 figs. 

 [Received 7th June 1922.] 



In South Carolina Blissus lencopterus, Say (chinch bug) has six instars 

 besides the egg stage. There are two generations annually, and 

 these overlap to such an extent during the summer that all stages of 

 the insect may be found at once. Adults of the first generation appear 

 in late April, those of the second in September and October, and 

 these latter hibernate. Hibernation occurs chiefly among dead 

 maize-stalks and dead grass, along terraces and borders of fields, 

 the insects being very scattered and feeding but httle. In the first 

 warm days the spring migration begins, the adults flying to grain 

 fields. The summer generation consists largely of short-winged forms 

 that are unable to fly, and are compelled to crawl to fresh fields. The 

 life-history of the bug is recorded and the various stages are described. 

 A Tachinid parasite recovered from a male of B. leucoptems proved 

 to be Phorantha occidentis, Wlk. This seems to be the first record 

 of a Dipterous parasite being reared from this bug ; a Chalcid, 

 Eumicrosomci benefica, Gah., was reared from the eggs several years 

 ago [R.A.E., A, ii, 383]. 



Grossman (S. S.). Apantcles melanoscelus, an imported Parasite 

 of the Gipsy Moth. — f/.5. Dept. Agric, Washington, D.C., 

 Bull. 1028, 13th March 1922, 25 pp., 4 plates, 1 fig., 1 map. 



Apanteles melanoscelus, Ratz., was introduced into New England 

 about 1911 and has since become firmly established. It is spreading 

 rapidly and increasing in abundance in spite of a number of secondary 

 parasites, which include at least three Ichneumonids as well as numerous 

 Chalcids. This parasite is particularly useful as it is able to complete 

 its life-cycle in several native insects. It has been recorded from 

 Porthetria dispar, L., Stilpnotia salicis, L., and Hemerocampa lencostigma, 

 S. & A. Reproduction is also successful in Malacosotna americana, F., 

 M. disstria, Hb., Olene hasiflava. Pack., and Nygmia phaeorrhoea, 

 Don. {Euprodis chrysorrhoea, L.). Oviposition apparently occurred 

 in Charidrvas nycteis, D. & H., Hemilenca maia, Dru., Pteronus ribesii, 

 Scop., and a Tortricid, but there was no evidence of parasitism in any 

 of the larvae except those of C. nycteis. 



