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AiNSLiE (G. G.). The Larger Corn-Stalk Borer. — U. S. Dept. Agric, 

 Washington, D.C., Farmers' Bull. no. 634, 7th December 1914, 

 8 pp., 4 figs. 



Diatraea saccharalis, F., the well-known sugar-cane pest, does great 

 damage to maize in the southern states under certain weather con- 

 ditions. A heavy wind late in the season, before the maize is matured, 

 breaks the plants off at the surface of the ground, mostly owing to the 

 injury inflicted there by this larva, known as " the larger corn-stalk 

 borer." Earher in the season it attacks the young maize, producing 

 rows of small circular or irregular holes across the blades. An account 

 is given of the habits of the larva, and of the seasonal history of the 

 insect, all stages of which are described. Besides maize and sugar- 

 cane, it also attacks sorghum, Johnson grass, guinea corn, and grama 

 grass, but the injury to the last four is never severe. 



Howard (L. 0.). The Carpet Beetle or " Buffalo Moth."— 17.^. Dept. 

 Agric, Washington, D.C., Farmers' Bull. no. 626, 2nd December 

 1914, 4 pp. 1 fig. 

 In the Northern States, all the year round, but more frequently in 

 summer and autumn, the active brown larva of Anthrenus scrophu- 

 lariae, L., may be found in well-heated houses feeding upon carpets 

 and woollen goods. It is originally a European insect, and was 

 imported into the United States about 1874. Anthrenus lepidus, 

 Le Conte, from the Pacific coast, is now beheved to be a distinct species 

 and does not attack carpets, so far as known. A. scrophulariae beetles 

 begin to appear in autumn and continue to emerge, in heated houses, 

 throughout the winter and the following spring. Under favourable 

 conditions, the eggs hatch in a few days and the larvae develop rapidly 

 if food is abundant. Cold weather or lack of food retard development 

 for an almost indefinite period, particularly in a dry atmosphere, the 

 larvae moulting frequently and feeding upon their cast skins. Under 

 normal conditions the skin is cast about six times, and there are 

 probably in the North not more than two generations annually. The 

 yellowish pupa is formed inside the last larval skin. The beetles 

 are day-flyers and are attracted to fight when not engaged in ovi- 

 position. These Dermestids are strongly attracted by various plants, 

 particularly of the family Scrophulariaceae, certain Compositae, such as 

 milfoil, and the flowers of Spiraea. Under ordinary circumstances, 

 it is probable that migration from the house takes place after oviposi- 

 tion. In Europe the insect is not especially noted as a household pest, 

 The carpet habit is a bad one from other points of view and as carpets 

 become more and more discarded in the Northern States, the " Buffalo 

 bug " will eventually cease to be an important household pest. In 

 Europe this species is a museum pest, but has not acquired this habit 

 to any great extent in the United States. Where it does occur, it 

 has been imported from Europe in insect collections. Only the most 

 thorough and long-continued measures will eradicate it once it has 

 taken possession of a house. Carpets should be very thoroughly 

 beaten, sprayed out of doors with benzine, and allowed to air for 

 several hours. In rooms, kerosene or benzine should be poured into 

 the cracks and sprayed under the base-boards. Wide cracks may 

 be fiUed with hquid plaster of Paris. Before relaying carpets, tarred 



