590 



Martelli (G.)- Su due insetti nemici della Bianca-Rossa. II Rizobio 

 lofanta e I'Afelino del Crisomfalo. [Two insect enemies of 

 Chrysmnphaliis didyospermi var. pmnulifera. Mask. : Rhizobius 

 lophantae and Aphelinus chrysomphali.] — Giorn. Agric. Merid., 

 Messina, viii, no. 6, June 1915, pp. 81-88, 4 figs. 



In the natural control of the Coccid, Chrysomphalus didyospermi 

 var. pinnidifera, Mask., the Coccinellid, Rhizobius lophantae, Blaisd., 

 is far more efficient than the Chalcid, Aphelinus chrysomphali, Merc, 

 the ratio of efficiency being as 3 to 1 . 



Hinds (W. E.). Chain drag for Boll weevil Control. — Alabama Agric. 

 Expt. Sta., Auburn. Press Bull. no. 78, 15th June 1915, 1 fig. 



An exceedingly simple and inexpensive mechanical device for weevil 

 control, the value of which has been proved in Texas, is the chain drag 

 or cultivator. It does not catch the weevils or collect cotton squares, 

 but combines in one process the cultivation of the crop and the collection 

 of fallen, infested squares to the middle of the rows of the cotton, by 

 drawing over the ground heavy chains attached to the ends of a beam 

 so that they will assume a semi-circular shape when dragged along. 

 Thus the infested squares are exposed to the heat of the sun and the 

 weevils in various stages are killed. The device is of special value in 

 hot, dry weather and on soils that are not baked. It is constructed 

 as follows : — A spar or log of wood 2 or 3 inches in diameter and fairly 

 heavy, 6 or 8 inches shorter than the distance between the rows of 

 cotton plants, is taken, and to the ends of this, two pieces of chain, 

 one shorter than the other, are attached so as to form two loops one 

 inside the other. From 12 to 15 feet will be sufficient for the two 

 loops, for a log 3 or 4 feet in length, and the best type is a square- 

 linked chain such as is used in logging. By dragging the log and 

 attached chains for a short distance over a smooth floor, the loops will 

 arrange themselves more or less symmetrically. A wire is then 

 attached to the middle link of each chain, and two more to the log at 

 about one-third of its length from each end ; these wires are gathered 

 up to and twisted round a piece of wood which will serve as a handle. 

 The wires should be of such a length that the man in charge of the 

 drag can conveniently lift the chains over stones or other obstacles 

 or use them for guiding the drag. All that is needed further is to 

 attach a draw-bar to the log by two chains of such a length so that the 

 horse, when pulling on it, will not lift the log off the ground. In dry 

 weather weevil infested fields should be gone over twice a week with 

 this device. A man and mule can cover 7 or 8 acres a day. When 

 used in dry weather, it will save the extra labour of handpicking 

 infested squares as the sun will destroy the insects. 



Bodkin (G. E.). Report of the Economic Biologist. — Rept. Dept. 

 Science & Agric, British Guiana, 1913-1914, Georgetoivn, Deme- 

 rara, 30th April 1914, 11 pp. [Received 24th July 1915.] 



Considerable attention was paid to pests of the sugar-cane, especially 

 to Diatraea saccharalis (small moth-borer). The life- histories and 

 habits of a number of parasites of this pest were investigated. The 



