249 



BuscK (A.) & BoviNG (A.). On Mnemonica auricyanea, Walsingham. — 

 Proc. Entom. Soc, Washington, D.C., xvi, no. 4, December 1914, 

 pp. 151-163, 8 plates. 



In April, the imago of Mnemonica auricyanea, Wlsm., lays its eggs 

 singly on the opening leaves of the chestnut, oak and chinquapin. 

 In May, the larva mines the leaf and becomes mature within a week 

 or ten days ; it then falls to the ground and burrows in the soil, some- 

 times as deep as 1 ft. The imago emerges in April. 



BuscK (A.). Life-History oi Eucosma Jiaracana, Kearfott. — Proc. 

 Entom. Soc, Washington, D.C. no. 4, December 1914, p. 150, 1 fig. 



The larvae of Eucosma haracana, Kearfott, form conspicuous rolls 

 in the leaves of the chestnut. When adult, they leave the rolls and 

 let themselves down to the ground into which they burrow, remaining 

 in their cocoons until late autumn. Emergence generally takes place 

 in April. 



Crawford (J. C). Some New Chalcidoidea. — Insecutor Inscitiae 

 Menstruus, Washington, D.C, ii, no. 12, December 1914, 

 pp. 180-182. 



The following new Chalcidoidea are described : Tetrastichus 

 compsivorus, Oklahoma, from eggs of Compsus auricephahis ; T. 

 agrili, Geneva, New York, from Agrilus sinuatus ; Eujjelminus 

 swezeyi, Hawaiian Islands, stated to be " probably parasitic on the 

 Isosoma (in Johnson grass)." Geniocerus xa7ithopus, Nees, Germany, 

 is commonly reared from the pupae of Dendrolimus pini ; Dirhicnus 

 alhoannulatus, Ratz., Germany, reared from the pupae of Panolis 

 flarmnea [griseovariegata) . 



Criddle (N.). The Value of Some Mammals and Birds as Destroyers 

 of Noxious Insects. — Ottawa Naturalist, Ottawa, xxviii, no. 9, 

 December 1914, pp. 119-124. 



In the course of investigations on the part played by mammals and 

 birds as insect destroyers, a skunk was observed to frequent a 

 particular spot for the purpose of coJicMmgLachnosterna (June beetles) 

 and later to eat the larvae ; the skunk also kills grasshoppers during 

 the summer. It is estimated that 14,520 grubs were destroyed per 

 acre, in a particular field, by two or more skunks. Flickers and crows 

 are also important white-grub destroyers in late May, especially the 

 former, which, accompanied by blackbirds and grackles, follow the 

 plough, picking up the exposed grubs. The cowbird destroys the white 

 grub, eating only the smaller grubs, and gulls are voracious feeders on 

 all insects exposed by the plough. Crows are also great destroyers of 

 cutworms and army-worms. The numbers of Prairie Sharp-tailed 

 Grouse {Papediaecetes cajnpestris) in the prairie provinces are stated 

 to feed chiefly on grasshoppers. The Pennated or Square-tailed 

 Grouse {Tympanuchus americanus) is said to have similar habits. 

 Birds are of little value in suppressing severe insect outbreaks, but 

 when pests exist in normal numbers, they do much to maintain the 

 balance. Many of the worst pests, notably the Hessian fly, Mayetiola 

 destructor, are however scarcely influenced by birds. 



(C150) 



