539 



on the limbs and trunks of the trees, and Ceroplastes floridensis, Comst. 

 (Florida wax scale) on the leaves. The oil emulsions recommended for 

 Coccus acuminatiis [R.A.E., A., x, 188] may be used against these latter. 

 For a heavy infestation of Chrysomphalus aonidum two or three spray- 

 ings may be necessary, the second being applied three to four weeks 

 after the first. The life-histories of, and remedial measures for, the 

 beetle, Anomala undulata, Mels., Coccus acuminatus, Sign, (mango shield 

 scale) and Eucalymnatus tessellatus, Sign, (tessellated scale) have already 

 been noticed [R.A.E., A, viii, 383 ; x, 188]. 



The most serious pests of mango in foreign countries, which should 

 be kept out of the United States, are Dacits ferrugineus, F. [Bactrocera 

 tryoni, Frogga.tt) , A nastrep ha ludens, Lw., A. f rater cuius, Wied., Idiocerus 

 atkinsoni, Leth., and Cryptdrrhynchus {Sternochetus) mangiferae, F. 



McDonald (R. E.) & Scroll (G. J.). Disinfecting Cotton Seed to 

 prevent the Spread of the Pink Bollworm. — Texas Dept. Agric, 

 Austin, BuU. 71, July-August 1922, 38 pp., 16 figs. 



The methods of heating cotton seed for the control of the pink 

 bollworm of cotton [Platyedra gossypiella, Saund.] that have been found 

 so successful in Egypt have not answered equally well in Texas owing 

 to differences in the nature of the seed ; moreover, the purpose in 

 Texas is rather to prevent the spread of the pest than to control an 

 infestation already there, and therefore it has been necessary to evolve 

 a rather different process. A number of experiments are detailed 

 that have been made for determining the thermal death-point of the 

 bollworms outside cotton seed by using hot air and hot water, the 

 thermal death-point of the bollworms in cotton seed, and the tempera- 

 ture injurious to the seed as regards germination, oil content and 

 keeping quaUties. Specifications of disinfecting machinery are given 

 in full, with illustrations and warnings against types of machine that 

 are of doubtful value. As a result it has been found that the seed must 

 be subjected to a higher temperature than that which is to be obtained 

 at the exit of the machine. All seed masses must be broken up and 

 each individual seed must come into contact with the heating medium. 

 Cotton seed uniformly heated to 145° F., with 3| minutes' exposure, 

 will be freed from all living bollworms, while it may be heated to 

 165° F. without injury to germination. Disinfecting machinery should 

 be equipped with reliable heat control apparatus and a good recording 

 thermometer. 



HuTSON (J. C). The Coconut Caterpillar {Nephantis serinopa). — Trop. 

 Agric, Peradeniya, lix, no. 1, July 1922, pp. 21-24, 12 figs. 



Nephantis serinopa has been established for many years in Ceylon, 

 but is not known to occur in inland plantations. It has recently been 

 declared a pest [R.A.E., A, x, 130]. A description is given of all 

 stages. The eggs are laid on the lower surfaces of the leaves or under 

 the webbed galleries made by the larvae. One female can lay more 

 than 350 in her lifetime of two weeks. The eggs hatch in ten days, 

 and the larvae eat the lower surface of the leaves ; they pupate in 

 from six to eight weeks, this stage lasting about two weeks. If the 

 first brood is a small one, the damage is usually slight. If there have 

 not been sufficient parasites to check this brood, the second is usually 

 much larger and unless remedial measures are adopted it will increase 

 very rapidly. All the lower fronds dry up, and the nuts may be also 



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