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GouGH (G. C). Insect and Fungus Pests during the Winter : the 

 Importance of Plant Hygiene. //. Minis/. A^yic, London, xxvii, 

 no. 8, November 1920, pp. 772-775. 



With few exceptions, such as the winter moth [Cheimatobia bntmata], 

 insect pests are in a dormant or semi-dormant condition during the 

 winter, and many are to be found among the refuse of crops. Measures 

 against them while in this condition are more economical in the end 

 than any action that can be taken later. 



Pests in the soil are most effectively controlled by working the land 

 frequently so as to give birds every opportunity of discovering them. 

 It has been noted that grease bands on trees on arable land have 

 caught fewer moths than those on trees growing on grass. Ridging up 

 land to allow access to frost has little effect on insect pests. Soil 

 fumigants containing a basis of naphthaline are far from being generally 

 successful, though they may enable a crop to become established and 

 so to withstand injury. 



Winter spraying is effective. A caustic soda spray will remove 

 lichen, moss, etc., which shelter insect pests on the bark. Lime- 

 sulphur is a cleansing agent as well as a fungicide and, unlike caustic 

 soda, can be used every year if necessary without injuring the trees. 



Spraying should be done after pruning, and it is best to wait till 

 the buds have swollen, or even just commenced to open. Eggs are 

 not nearly so vulnerable as the young larvae, which have usually 

 hatched about February. Lime spraying done late not only cleans 

 the trees, but when properly carried out, encases insect eggs and 

 prevents hatching. Even when hatching takes place, the insects have 

 difficulty in moving about in the particles of lime. 



MuNRo (J. W.). CryphaUts {Ernoponts) fagi, Nordm., in Surrey, etc. — 

 Entom. Mthly. Mag., London, Third Ser., no. 71, November 1920, 

 p. 257. 



Cryphalus fagi , Nordm., is recorded from the New Forest, and was also 

 found on a dead branch of beech near Kew. The egg and larval tunnels 

 were in the sapwood, the pupal chambers being cut deep in the sapwood 

 and occasionally penetrating the pith. 



MuNRO (J. W.). Hylastes attenuatus, Er., in Britain. — Entom. Mthly. 

 Mag., London, Third Ser., no. 71, November 1920, p. 257. 



Hylastes attenuatus, Er., is recorded as occurring in various localities 

 in England on Scots pine and Corsican pine. In Central Europe it 

 occurs indifferently on spruce and Scots pine. 



Braid (K, W.). Note on Typhlocyba donglasi, Edw. — Entom. Mthly. 

 Mag., London, Third Ser., no. 72, December 1920, p. 279. 



It is now established that Typhlocyba donglasi, Edw., is one of the 

 causes of the blotched appearance of the leaves of beech trees {Fagus 

 sylvatica) in the south-east of England. Similar damage is caused by 

 other Typhlocybids on elm, hornbeam, birch, ash and sycamore. 



White (S. A.). The Economic Value of our native Biids.~S cience 

 and Lndustry, Melbourne, ii, no. 8, August 1920, pp. 494-500. 

 [Received 4th November 1920.] 



The food habits of native birds in Australia are of the greatest 

 importance, owing to the steady increase of the worst insect pests of 



