548 



Goodwin (W. H.). Control of Melon Lice or Aphids. — Mthly. Bull. 

 Ohio Agric. Expt. Sta., Wooster, vii, no. 7-8, July-August 1922, 

 pp. 122-124, 3 figs. 



The treatment is described of a large area of melon plants that were 

 badly infested with melon aphis [Aphis gossypii], although they had 

 been sprayed in the ordinary way with Bordeaux and nicotine sulphate. 

 As it seemed impracticable to direct all the nozzles by hand, they were 

 attached to four vertical pipes, which descended from a horizontal 

 one connected to the sprayer. These four pipes were made flexible 

 by being jointed with pieces of rubber hose. The two outer ones were 

 longer than the two middle ones, and the nozzles on them were 

 protected by metal shields from catching in the plants and tearing 

 them out of the ground. The force of the spray turned the leaves over, 

 and a second application made in the opposite direction hit the Aphids 

 and covered them with spray. The liquid used was Bordeaux (3:6: 50) 

 with the addition of l|lb. dissolved laundry soap and ^ U.S. pt. 

 nicotine. The entire crop was saved by this treatment and marketed 

 in good condition. 



HousER (J. S.). The Airplane in Catalpa Sphinx Control. — MtUy. Bull. 

 Ohio Agric. Expt. Sta., Wooster, vii, no. 7-8, July-August 1922, 

 pp. 126-136, 9 figs. 



This account of dusting tall trees infested with Ceratomia catalpae 

 has been noticed from another source [R.A.E., A, x, 277]. 



Departmental Activities. — //. Dept. Agric. Union S. Africa, Pretoria, 

 v, nos. 2 & 3, August & September 1922, pp. 108-109 & 203. 



Pseudococcus filamentosus occurs on fig trees in Pretoria in small 

 colonies during the winter in wounds, crevices, or against knots of the 

 limbs and main stem. These colonies can easily be destroyed by 

 brushing them with linseed oil or other oily insecticides. When the 

 tree comes into leaf, the mealy-bugs begin to multiply and migrate to 

 the foliage and fruit, which become dotted with the filaments produced 

 by the insects. The infestation, however, seems to have no marked 

 effect on the vitality of the tree and usually declines as the leaves begin 

 to fall. 



Experiments are being carried out with remedies for the common 

 and very troublesome house ant, Pheidole punctulata. Sodium cyanide 

 is giving very favourable results, but is not generally recommended, 

 owing to its dangerous nature. Sodium arsenite, sodium hyposulphite 

 and vaporite were tried, but did not promise any success. 



Observations have been made with a view to determining the degree 

 of parasitism of the larvae of fruit-flies of the genus Dacus infesting 

 native olives. From larvae infesting Olea foveolata, six parasites were 

 obtained. It was noticed that the host larvae live and pupate within 

 the seed of the olive, the adult emerging from a hole made in the wall. 

 The species of Dacus found in 0. woodiana and also reared from 0. 

 laurifolia has not yet been determined, but differs from that attacking 

 0. foveolata ; the larvae live in the pulp of the fruit and pupate in the 

 soil. 



