130 



Information is also given about By discus (Rhynchites) betulae, L. 

 (betuleti, ¥.), which attacks leaves of pear trees. This insect occurs 

 widely in European Russia, Siberia and Caucasia, attacking poplars, 

 aspens, limes and hazelnuts, while in orchards they feed on the buds 

 and later on the leaves of the apple, pear and vine. Before ovipositing, 

 the females cut into the young shoots with their proboscis, thus causing 

 the leaves to wither ; they then roll up several such leaves, laying 

 three or four eggs in each ; the larvae hatch in one or two weeks and 

 feed on the turned leaves, which soon drop to the earth. The adult 

 larvae gnaw a hole in the leaves and pass into the earth where they 

 pupate, producing beetles in August. The remedies against this 

 weevil consist in the destruction of the rolled leaves, together with 

 the larvae contained in them ; shaking down the beetles from the 

 trees and spraying early in spring with milk of lime (40 lb. of freshly 

 slacked lime in 27 gallons of water). 



Parks (T. H.). Effect of Temperature upon the Oviposition of the 

 Alfalfa Weevil {Phytonomus posticus, Gyll.) — Jl. Econ. Entom., 

 Concord, N.H., vii, no. 6, December 1914, pp. 417-421, 1 pi, 

 1 table, 1 fig. 



Investigations were made to determine why the infestation of Hypera 

 (Phytonomus) postica, Gyll., in Utah, was less serious in 1912 than in 

 1911. Weather conditions were suspected and experiments were 

 undertaken to compare the variation in mean daily temperature 

 throughout the oviposition period of the weevils, with the rate of 

 oviposition in confinement ; accurate information was also obtained 

 regarding the average number of eggs deposited by each female during 

 the season. The eggs are laid in clusters of 6 to 18 inside the lucerne 

 stems through punctures in the stem made by the proboscis of the parent, 

 and they are also laid in dead stems of the previous season's growth. 

 The highest record for egg deposition was reached on 18th May, which 

 day also had the highest mean temperature of any previous to 

 6th June. Most of the eggs were deposited during May, the rate ot 

 oviposition declining after 1st June, but being still influenced by 

 changes in temperature. The largest number of eggs deposited by 

 one female was 1,184, the average being 726. In the inter-mountain 

 country less than half the weevils probably reach maturity, many 

 perishing in the lucerne fields after the removal of the first crop and 

 others being carried away later by the wind. Weevils which emerged 

 from their cocoons between the 10th and 13th June deposited eggs 

 late in October, indicating the beginning of another generation, which 

 was later interrupted by the approach of winter, but continued in the 

 spring. So far as is known, all eggs deposited in the autumn either 

 perish before hatching, or the larvae are killed by the winter. 



Tower (D. G.). Notes on the Life-History of Prospaltella perniciosi, 

 Tower. — Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H., vii, no. 6, December 

 1914, pp. 422-432. 



A description of the life-cycle of Prospaltella perniciosi. Tower, is 

 given. As the first larval stage of the parasite becomes mature, it 

 attacks the vital parts of its host, Aspidiotus perniciosus, Comst., thus 



