470 



Fkench, Junr. (C). Insect Pests of the Carnation. — Home & Garden 

 Beautiful, Melbourne, Ist April 1915, pp. 999-1001, 4 figs. 



Cutworms are serious pests of carnations, the base of the plant or 

 the buds being destroyed by the larvae. Spraying with lead arsenate 

 or scattering poisoned bait are suitable remedies. Thrips, attacking 

 the flower buds, can be sprayed with benzole emulsion when the buds 

 are beginning to show. Coal-tar spray, consisting of 1 lb. coal-tar in 

 from 50-100 gals, water, nicotine, or hellebore also give good results. 

 Mealy bug injures the roots of carnations. Carbon bisulphide should 

 be injected into the ground at a distance of 3 feet from the plant. 

 The Rutherglen bug {Nysius vinitor) is abundant on the flowers in 

 hot weather. It can be removed by spraying with benzole emulsion, 

 1 lb. in 5 gals, water. The eggs of the light-brown apple-moth are 

 often deposited in the young flower buds, upon which the larvae feed 

 as soon as they are hatched. Lead arsenate or kerosene emulsion 

 sprays give good results. The moths are attracted by light. 



Gasman (H.) & Jewett (H. H.). The Life-History and Habits of the 

 Corn-ear Worm {Chloridea ohsoleta). — Kentucky Agric. Expt. Sta., 

 Lexington, Bull. no. 187, December 1914, pp. 513-591, 16 figs., 

 3 plates. [Received 10th July 1915.] 



The particulars of the life-history of Chloridea ohsoleta recorded in 

 this paper are the results of observations and experiments begun in 

 1889 and continued imtil 1914. The corn-ear worm feeds on both 

 leaves and seed of tobacco pods, on Abutilon avicennae and on the fruit 

 and leaves of tomato, but prefers maize to the latter. The moth will 

 eat bait consisting of various sweet substances, and visits flowers in 

 the daytime ; it is not attracted to light. Injury begins on tomatoes 

 and maize in June, and ends on late maize and tobacco suckers, 

 gradually increasing in severity with the advance of the season. The 

 late fourth brood may be greatly reduced by the effects of frost and 

 attacks of enemies. The experiments of 1909 showed that the rate 

 of development of the caterpillar is influenced by temperature and 

 food conditions. The time required for complete development is a 

 month and three or four days. If the insects emerge in the middle of 

 June, as some do, there is opportunity for the production of a brood 

 by the 20th July, another by the 25th August, a third by 30th Septem- 

 ber, and a fourth by the middle of October, allowing a longer period 

 for the latest brood. The number of broods is liable to be reduced 

 by cold both in spring and autumn. Moths from hibernating pupae 

 may emerge from March to August. The first eggs were found on the 

 28th June. During 1912, attention was given to the parasites and 

 other enemies of this pest. In 1913, breeding experiments, conducted 

 in the west of Kentucky, showed an acceleration of development on 

 account of the warmer climate, the cycle lasting from 28^ to 30 days. 

 More than nine-tenths of the eggs are deposited on the young silks, 

 on which the larvae feed at first. They then burrow along the cob, 

 destroying the grain as they go. The damaged maize is liable to 

 injure or even kill animals which may be fed on it. Early varieties 

 of maize escape attack almost completely. Injury to cotton was found 

 to be shght, the bolls attacked being those nearest to maize fields 



