550 



ant) often found in greenhouses. Originally described by Say in 1834 

 as Lathrobium sphaericolle, this Staphylinid, which measures about 

 tn inch in length, is the sole representative of its genus in the United 

 States. Violets, Ulies, dahUas, pansies, forget-me-nots and other soft 

 plants are attacked. The grower who first complained of injury was 

 advised to use decaying leaves, deposited in piles at regular interv^als 

 about infested violet plants. This attracted the beetles and they 

 were killed by dipping the leaves into hot water, the leaves afterwards 

 being restored to the traps. Four years after the first occurrence of 

 this insect on hothouse violets, it had disappeared as a pest, the grower 

 reporting that he had used spinach, kale and chickweed as traps, as 

 advised. In the same year another grower stated that at least three 

 of his pansy beds had been cleared of the beetles by dusting them with 

 tobacco, although in adjoining beds they were nearly as plentiful as 

 before treatment. Injury by A. sphaericollis is undoubtedly pre- 

 ventible by care in looking over the soil, or the dead leaves used as a 

 mulch in violet or pansy beds. Sterihsation of this material would 

 prevent the greenhouse or flower beds from being infested. 



Surface (H. A.). A New Pear Insect in Pennsylvania. — Zool. 

 Press Bull, Penns. Dept. Agric, Harrisburg, no. 317, 24th May 

 1915. 



The destructive pear midge {Coniarinia pyrivora), which was 

 introduced into Connecticut about 40 years ago and has gradually 

 spread into New York and New Jersey, is now reported from Penn- 

 sylvania for the first time. French pear trees are chiefly attacked, 

 while the Seckel and Bartlett varieties do not appear to be much 

 aflected. As a means of control, shallow cultivation is recommended 

 during Jujie and July. This will destroy the pest in its earthen cell, 

 as it does not descend more than an inch or two. The infested pears, 

 known by their enlarged condition, should be collected and burnt 

 without delay. On sandy soils, such as those in New Jersey, from 

 1,000 to 2,0001b. of kainit per acre has been effective in destroying 

 them in the ground, but this cannot be advised for all soils, as the 

 trees may be injured. Spraying is useless, because the eggs are laid 

 by punctures made through the unopened blossoms. 



Gray (R. A. H.). The Prevention of Egg-laying on Turnips by the 

 Diamond-back Moth.— Jl. Bd. Agric, London, xxii, no. 3, June 

 1915, pp. 222-226. 



The presence of PluteUa macuUpennis (diamond-back moth) amongst 

 turnips was reported early in the summer of 1914. A later report 

 on 17th June from Belford, Northumberland, stated that the moths 

 were abundant among turnips and potatoes. The occurrence of the 

 moth in large numbers at more or less distant intervals is apparently 

 dependent on weather and food conditions ; the number of over- 

 wintering pupae is greatly reduced by excessive rain and wind. 

 Infestations are very local, hence any efficient methods of control, 

 applied at the beginning of an outbreak, should have the effect of 

 saving the crop. Test substances were applied on 23rd June and 



