582 



insects, and are themselves able to pass from the roots of one tree to 

 those of another. Infested palms should be burned, and care must 

 be taken not to cut or otherwise wound healthy trees. 



Zetek (J.). El Uso del Bisulfuro de Carbono contra ciertos Insectos. 



[The Use of Carbon Bisulphide against certain Insects.! — Rev. La 

 Salle, Panama, June 1922, pp. 494-498. [Received 25th Septem- 

 ber 1922.] 



This article describes carbon bisulphide, its action, and the methods 

 employed in fumigating insect pests infesting the soil, buildings and 

 stored products. 



Ravaz (L.). LaFumagine. [Sooty Fun gusl. — Progres Agric. etVitic, 

 Montpellier, Ixxviii, no. 39, 24th September 1922, pp. 295-299. 



The relation between Pseudococcus {Dactylopius) vitis and the 

 occurrence of sooty fungus on vines is discussed. As the presence 

 of the scale is essential to the development of the fungus, remedial 

 measures should aim at destroying the insect. The measures recom- 

 mended are the application of hot water, a mixture consisting of 15 lb. 

 stone lime, 8 lb. tar or heavy oil, and 200 gals, water, or 2-3 parts 

 soft soap, 3 parts petroleum, and 100 parts water. The last emulsion 

 may be applied even to the leaves and fruit, as it does not injure the 

 plant in any way or spoil the flavour of the grapes. 



HuTSON (J. C). The Rhinoceros or Black Beetle of Coconuts [Oryctes 

 rhinoceros). — -Trop. Agric, Peradeniya, lix, no. 2, August 1922, 

 pp. 106-109, 1 plate. 



A general account is given of the life-history and habits of Oryctes 

 rhinoceros [R.A.E., A, vi, 259]. The beetle has occurred in Ceylon 

 for many years without attracting very much attention, but as the 

 coconut crop has now become one of the main industries of the Island, 

 it is essential that measures should be taken to deal with it. That 

 advocated is the careful extraction of adults, the wound being then 

 plugged with coconut fibre soaked in tar, or with a mixture of sand 

 and tar, and the hole stopped with clay. In this way the wounds are 

 prevented from decaying or attracting the red weevil [Rhynchophorus 

 ferrugineus]. Measures against the grubs have been previously noticed 

 [R.A.E., A, ix, 567, etc.]. All palm stems that are to be used for 

 building purposes, fence posts, temporary bridges, etc., must be split 

 up within three months after cutting. Whole logs can only be used 

 for posts, etc., if the ends are tarred thoroughly or protected from 

 rotting. The fungus, Metarrhizium anisopliae, and the predacious 

 grubs of another beetle, help to reduce the numbers of 0. rhinoceros. 



DE LoRGUEs ( J.) . Contre les Parasites des Arbres Fruitiers. — //. Agric. 

 Prat., Paris, xxxvii, no. 24, 17th June 1922, pp. 491-492. 



It is pointed out that in the use of oleoresins as insecticides the 

 application of a dose of the poison insufficient to cause death will 

 yet diminish immunity in the insect, making a second apphcation 

 of an even smaller dose fatal. This was particularly noticeable in a 

 case of dusting against the larvae of vine-moths. The effect of such 

 doses is not easily recognised in species that at once feign death and 

 fall to the ground when disturbed. When they die of asphyxiation or 

 poisoning, the fall is generally delayed and irregular. 



