630 



pests of E. gomphocephala were the Longicorn, Phoracantha synonyma^ 

 and the seed weevil, Haplonyx tibialis. Ants are also said to destroy 

 these seeds, but the only species noticed in this connection was Irido- 

 myrmex conifer (twig mount ant). Dead or dying limbs are frequently 

 infested with the termites, Coptotermes michaelseni , C. raffrayi and 

 Leucotermes clarki. In fallen logs and limbs Eutermes fumipennis 

 is frequently found. Eucalyptus marginattcs was infested by the 

 girdling beetle, Anilara uniformis, but it is not certain whether this 

 was the primary cause of death. The egg-stage of the insect has not 

 been discovered. Banksia verticillata suffered heavy mortality ; in 

 some cases Cyria vittigera (banksia girdler) was the cause of death. 

 B. nienziesii and B. grandis were also attacked by this Buprestid, and 

 by a moth, the larvae of which bore in the young wood and defoliate 

 the trees. Eucalyptus calophylla is attacked by the Longicorn, 

 Tryphocharia hamata, the life-history of which has not been definitely 

 determined. It- is hoped to ascertain whether this and other borers 

 in red gum are the cause of the gum veins that render the wood 

 valueless for building. 



The introduction and colonisation of various useful parasites has 

 been continued. A consignment of Habrobracon johannseni, a parasite 

 of PhtJiorimaea operculella, was received from California, but unfor- 

 tunately the insects died without reproducing themselves. Further 

 attempts will be made to introduce this and also a parasite of the 

 .woolly aphis [Eriosoma lanigerum]. Many parasites of Coccids were 

 collected and distributed. Blastophaga grossorum (fig wasp) is now 

 definitely established, and it is hoped that the fig-drying industry 

 may become a very successful one. 



Jarvis (E.). Cane Pest Combat and Control. — Queensland Agric. 

 JL, Brisbane, xviii, pt. 3, September 1922, pp. 146-148. 



Rhabdocnemis obscnra, Boisd., is causing much damage to sugar- 

 cane at South Johnstone, where it is hoped to liberate the parasite, 

 Ceromasia sphenophori, although climatic conditions and natural 

 enemies may hinder its successful establishment. Observations are 

 given on three larvae that developed bacterial diseases, though 

 attempts to infect healthy larvae with them have not yet been 

 successful. 



Jarvis (E.). Science Notes. — Queensland Agric. JL, Brisbane, 

 xviii, pt. 3, September 1922, p. 231. 



In 1919 experiments were made to determine whether adults of 

 Campsomeris tasmaniensis , Sauss., were immune from attack by the 

 entomogenous fungus, Metarrhizium anisopliae, and in less than a 

 week after infection of the soil several wasps were found dead. At 

 present it would not appear that the occurrence of this fungus under 

 field conditions would materially affect the spring and summer broods 

 of these Scoliids, but the author is of opinion that in the autumn 

 the fungus kills more Scoliids than Scarabaeid larvae. 



Burr (A.). Parasites des asperges dans les cultures d'Alsace. — Bull. 

 Assoc. Philomathique d'Alsace et de Loraine, Saverne, vi (1921), 

 pt. 3, 1922, pp. 43-52, 2 figs. 



The most important pests of asparagus in Alsace are the Chrysomelids 

 Crioceris asparagi, L., and C. duodecimpunctata, L., and the Trypetid, 

 Platyparea poeciloptera, Schr. 



