726 



Cobb (N. A.). Tylenchis similis, the Cause of a Root Disease of Sugar 

 Cane and Banana. — Jl. Agric. Research, Washington, D.C., iv, 

 no. 6, September 1915, pp. 561-568. 



When investigating a disease of bananas {Musa sapientum) in 

 Fiji in 1890-91, the author discovered a new species of Nematode to 

 which the name Tylenchus similis was given. In 1907, a Nematode 

 infesting the roots of sugar-cane in the Hawaiian Islands, was described 

 as T. biformis. These two species are now considered identical. 

 Recently this pest of sugar-cane has been reported from Jamaica. 



KoTiNSKY (J.). The Bermuda Grass Odonaspis.—Proc. Entom. Soc, 

 Washington, Washington, D.C.. xvii, no. 3, September 1915, 

 pp. 101-104, 2 figs. 



Odonaspis ruthae, sp. n., found in Honolulu in 1904 infesting Cynodon 

 dactylon (Bermuda grass), is described. It lives underground on the 

 stem, underneath the scale-like bracts at the nodes. Bermuda grass 

 is the only grass suitable for lawns in Hawaii and is also well adapted 

 for grazing, especially on low lands ; this scale is therefore of economic 

 importance. It is kept in check to a certain degree by a Chalcidoid 

 parasite. 



Kehrig (H.). Les d^gats des microlepidopteres dans les tourteaux 

 d'arachides. [Damage done by Microlepidoptera in ground-nut 

 cakes.] — Bidl. Soc. Etude Vulg. Zool. Agric, Bordeaux, xiv, 

 nos. 1-2, January-February 1915, pp. 1-2. [Received 6th October 

 1915.] 



The ground-nut plant {Arachis hypogaea, L.) is one of the chief 

 sources of wealth in the French colony of Senegal, one Bordeaux firm 

 alone shipping 10,500 tons. The cake obtained in the process of 

 extracting the oil is a cattle food. When stored, these cakes are 

 attacked by a number of Microlepidoptera, the commonest species 

 being Ephestia elutella. Infestation may be limited by placing near 

 the stacks of oil cake containers filled with a fermenting bait made of 

 9 parts water and 1 part molasses. The moths of the first generation 

 can be easily trapped in this manner when they emerge in spring. 



Noel (P.). L'Attirance des males par les femelles. [The attraction of 

 male insects by the females.] —Bull. Trim. Lab. Entoni. Agric. 

 Seine Infer., Rouen, part. 3, July-September 1915, pp. 1-16. 



The hypothesis is advanced that male insects are attracted to the 

 females owing to the emission by the latter of special vibrations which 

 may, perhaps, be imagined to be similar to X rays, Hertzian waves or 

 even N rays. Experiments are described wherein the female was 

 still attractive though hidden from view and surrounded by sulphurous 

 and ammoniacal fumes to neutralise any characteristic odour ; cases 

 are also recorded in which the males flew down wind in search of 

 the females used in the experiments. 



