452 



Metcalf (C. L.). a Mechanical Measure for Controlling the Flea- 

 Beetle {Epitrix fiiscula) on Potato. — Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, 

 vii, no. 2, April 1915, pp. 240-241, 3 figs. 



In devising a trap for flea-beetles, the author has taken advantage 

 of the jumping habit of the insect. In 1913, a trap was made from a 

 box by cutting out one end, part of the bottom and part of the other 

 end. The inside was covered with tree- tanglefoot ; the box w-as 

 carried along the rows by upright handles, so that the plants passed 

 through the box from one end to the other. By this means from 10,000 

 to 15,000 beetles per acre were captured. An improvement on this 

 trap was made by placing wires across the inside to prevent the leaves 

 from touching the tanglefoot, and by the addition of a pair of wheels. 

 The trap should precede the operator, so that there is no disturbance 

 of the plants until they have been reached with the trap. The tangle- 

 foot must be renewed after about an acre has been covered. 



Aldrich (J. M,). The Economic Relations of the Sarcophagidae. — 



JL Econ. Entom., Concord, vii, no. 2, April 1915, pp. 242-247. 



The idea that the Sarcophagidae are " flesh-flies " is true for the 

 typical European species, S. carnaria ; in America, however, although 

 S. assidua and S. sarraceniae have been bred from dead fish and 

 S. assidua, S. cooleyi, S. incerta, etc., are known to breed on the excre- 

 ment of mammals, the majority are parasitic on other Arthropods. 

 Two species are recorded from scorpions in Java and Sumatra. 

 Egg-sacs of spiders are attacked by S. davidsonii. The adult of the 

 Siahd, Corydalis cornuta, has been attacked by S. helicis ; the latter, 

 as well as S. hunteri, S. sarraceniae and S. Jcellyi, have been bred from 

 grasshoppers. Larvae have been found attached to the thorax of the 

 adult grasshopper or to the quiescent, new^ly-moulted forms. In 

 Colorado, S. eryfhrura is important in controlling grasshopper pests. 

 That Sarcophagid larvae invade living lepidopterous larvae has been 

 shown in the case of the army worm {Cirjjhis unipmicta). Sarcopliaya 

 spp. have been bred from beetles, viz. Lachnosterna arcvata, DinajMte 

 wrigJitii, Calosoma sp. and Eleodes sp. An undescribed species has been 

 obtained from the Longicorn, Plectrodera scalator, the cottonwood 

 borer. Human beings are occasionally infected ; one case of intestinal 

 myiasis due to Ravinia trivialis, normally an excrement-feeding form, 

 has been recorded. A few species only have shown a wide range of 

 adaptation in their larval habits. S. helicis has been bred from a 

 snail, Corydalis, Cicada, several Lepidopterous larvae and adult beetles. 

 Mr. Parker stated that he had captured the following species from 

 excreta : Ravinia communis, R. peniculata, S. haemorrkoidalis and 

 S. cooleyi. Muscina stabulans had been bred from excreta placed in 

 the open. 



McCoLLOCH (J. W.)& Yuasa(H.). Further Data on the Life-Economy 

 of the Chinch Bug Egg-Parasite. — Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, vii, 

 no. 2, April 1915, pp. 248-261, 3 figs., 4 tables. 



Eumicrosoma benejica is an important factor in the control of the 

 chinch bug {Blissus leucopterus). During 1913, climatic conditions 



