89 



them a creamj^ appearance and causing great loss of vitality in the 

 plants. These mites are difficult to deal with while the plants are 

 growing, but they may be killed in large numbers at the end of the season 

 by burning the tops off together with the grass that comes up amongst 

 them. A nicotine spray is effective where it can be applied without 

 interfering with the fruit, but plenty of water is perhaps the best 

 remedy. 



Small weevils occasionally eat out the crowns of the plants, but 

 several species of Coleopterous larvae are the worst pests, and have 

 become more serious during the last few years. Sometimes a large 

 bed will be so badly damaged by June that it is necessary to dig up and 

 transplant the surviving plants. No effective measure against them is 

 known. The adults, Anoplognathus spp., feed on the leaves of 

 Eucalyptus and of apricot, plum and other fruit trees. If they are 

 seen in an orchard near the strawberry plot, the trees should be sprayed 

 with lead arsenate or Paris green, or the beetles should be beaten into 

 sheets in the early morning or late afternoon. 



Material assistance is derived from two insect enemies of these 

 beetles, a blue Scoliid wasp [Discolia soror), which parasitises the 

 larvae, and a Therevid fly [Anabarrhynchus sp.), the prcdaceous larva 

 of which is very voracious and will attack almost any soft underground 

 larvae. 



Ramsay (A. A.). Potassium Cyanide for Trapping Fruit-flies. — Agric. 

 Gaz. N.S.W., Sydney, xxxi, pt. 11, November 1920, pp. 821-822. 



In view of the successful use of weak solutions of potassium cyanide 

 as a bait for fruit-flies, investigations were carried out to ascertain the 

 rate of alteration or decomposition occurring in potassium cyanide 

 solutions when so used. It was found that a | per cent, solution of 

 potassium cyanide exposed in the shade in a cellar decomposes almost 

 completely in fifteen days, and a 1 per cent, solution in seventeen 

 days. When exposed to the action of both light and air, the rate of 

 decomposition is much increased, a | per cent, solution decomposing 

 almost completely in seven days, and a 1 per cent, solution in 

 eight days. 



In the case of aqueous hydrocyanic acid solutions exposed to light 

 and air, decomposition takes place within twenty-four hours. 



Illingworth (J. F.). Cane Grub Investigations. — Queensland Agric. 

 Jl., Brisbane, xiv, no. 5, November 1920, pp. 245-246. 



The Tachinid parasite, Ceromasia sphenophori, Vill., is still being 

 bred and liberated, resulting in a noticeable decrease of sugar-cane 

 borer beetles [Rhahdocnemis obscura]. Phaenacantha australica. Kirk, 

 (linear bug) [R.A.E., A, ix, 9] is particularly abundant in grassy 

 fields, and the necessity of clean cultivation is emphasised. Destruction 

 by fire may prove a successful remedial measure against this pest 

 especially if applied to the surrounding grass-land as well as to the trash 

 from the cane. 



Arrow (G. J.). Some New West Indian Species of the Melolonthid 



GenvLS Lachno sterna . — Bull. Entom. Res., London, xi, pt. 3, December 

 1920, pp. 189-193, 1 fig. 



Examples are given to show that the characters that have been given 

 for defining the genera Phytalus, Brahmina and Holotrichia are incorrect, 

 (7734— a) h 



