493 



The followiiiij parasites of the fruit fly and honifly were liberated : — 

 Diarhasnia fiilhiwai/i a)id Telrastichus yiffardi ; D. tnjoni was reared, 

 but not liberated. 



ViERECK (H. L.). Notes on the Life-History of a Species of Wasp-like 

 Parasites of the Genus Leptomaslix, parasitic on the Mealy Bug. — 



Mthly. Bull. State Commiss. Horlic, Sacramento, (Jul., iv, no. 4, 

 April 1915, pp. 208-211, 3 figs. 



A new Chalcidoid parasite, a species of Leptomaslix, found on 

 Pseudococcus citri at Palermo, Sicily, in June 1914, was successfully 

 removed to the State Insectary in California and reared on lemons 

 infested with P. citri. The temperature varied from 50°-105° F., 

 the humidity being maintained by evaporating water in shallow pans 

 over radiators and by means of moist moss in the cages. Specimens 

 were transferred to lamp-chimney cages for investigation of the life- 

 history. The life-cycle occupies from 41-63 days, the adults living 

 from 20-34 days. Temperatures favourable for the increase of mealy 

 bugs, increase the frequency of generations of the parasite. Oviposition 

 takes place soon after emergence of the adult. Mealy bugs in the first 

 or last stage are not attacked. The egg stage lasts froni 3-6 days. 

 Probably only one larva matures in a single mealy bug. The host 

 retains the power of locomotion through the larval stage of the parasite, 

 which lasts from 8-25 days, but dies as soon as the pupa is formed. 

 The pupal period lasts from 10-18 days. 



Vosler(E. J.). Calendar of Insect Pests. — Mthly. Bull. State Cmnmiss, 

 Hortic, Sacraynento,Cal.,'\Y, no. 4, April 1915, pp. 212-218, 3 figs. 



The red-humped caterpillar {Schizura concinna) often causes serious 

 damage to walnut, apple, prune, plum and cherry , being most abundant 

 from June to September. The larvae can be removed by hand- 

 picking in the early stages, or by spraying with lead arsenate. Two 

 species of cankerworms are found in the central and northern parts 

 of the State, destroying the foliage of apples, cherries, apricots, etc. 

 The grape leaf-hopper {Typhlocyha comes) is injurious in the 

 Sacramento, San Joaquin and Imperial valleys. The first generation 

 appears at the beginning of May and the second during the latter 

 part of June. The grape-root worm {Fidia viticida) occurs through- 

 out the northern and central parts from the end of April until June. 



Insect Notes. — Mthly. Bull. State Commiss. Hortic, Sacramento, Cal., 

 iv, no. 4, April 1915, pp. 219-220. 



Bryobia praetiosa {pratensis), the almond mite, is infesting almond 

 trees near Santa Susanna. Tetranychus mytilaspidis is present in 

 citrus grove in Ventura comity and in pear orchards near Sacramento. 

 Eriophyes pyri, the pear-leaf blister mite, has been observed during 

 March in Nevada, beneath the bud scales, where were also many eggs. 

 Probably the mites spend the winter in this position, ovipositing as 

 the buds begin to swell, and the first mites to do any damage are those 

 that have emerged from the eggs laid by the hibernating individuals. 



