103 



tissues of the cambium layer. Two years are required for the life- 

 cycle, the first winter being spent in the larval stage. The movements 

 of the larvae are irregular, so that a blotch-like mine of considerable 

 extent is frequently formed. About September of the second year 

 pupation occurs, and lasts from about 16 days to a month or more, 

 according to the season. The adults pass the second winter in the 

 pupal cells, and bore their way out when the first warm days occur. 



Very little damage is done to living pines, the females choosing, 

 when possible, recently dead trees for oviposition ; they will oviposit 

 again the second year, but trees that have been dead three years are 

 seldom attacked, as there is little cambium left. Considerable damage 

 is, however, done to recently dead timber. The excavations frequently 

 loosen the bark, allowing moisture to enter, and this is retained 

 b}^ the large masses of frass and encourages fungus growth. The 

 exit holes of the adults also admit water, fungi, and other insects, 

 and the infested logs are soon rendered useless for commercial pur- 

 poses. The insects may be found from the base to near the top of the 

 tree, but never occur in the limbs, unless these are very large. 



Predatory enemies of R. lincatnm include woodpeckers and other 

 birds, ants, and probably centipedes, Staphylinids, Carabids, etc. 

 The parasite, Atanycolus simplex, Cress., destroys at the most 5 per 

 cent, of the larvae. Artificial remedies consist of the cutting and 

 removal of all recently killed pines before 1st March. This will kill 

 both larvae and adults. The placing of newly felled logs in water 

 will pre^'ent oviposition, or carbolineum, applied in May, has the same 

 effect. These methods have largely reduced damage by this beetle 

 about Ithaca. 



^Montgomery (J. H.). Notes from the Quarantine Department. — 



Qtrlv. Bull. State Plant Bd. Florida, Gainesville, v, no. 1, October 

 1920, pp. 1-5. [Received 6th January 1921.] 



Owing to the danger of introduction of various fruit-flies, the State 

 Plant Board has passed a rule prohibiting the importation into Florida 

 of all guavas, mangos, Cuban plums, Surinam cherries, etc., from 

 countries where the West Indian fi'uit-fiy [Anastreplia fraterciiltis] is 

 known to be established. 



Epilachna corrupta, Muls. (Mexican bean beetle) has recently 

 been discovered in Alabama, in bean and cowpea fields. As this 

 beetle attacks all members of the pea and bean familj^ and as it is 

 apparently well established, an important source of food is threatened. 

 An attempt will be made to eradicate, the pest before it becomes more 

 widely distributed, and a request has been made to the Federal 

 Horticultural Board to impose a federal quarantine on the shipment 

 of dangerous material from the infested areas. 



Strenuous effoiis are being made to eradicate the sweet potato 

 weevil [Cylas formicarius] from Florida. Emphasis is laid on the 

 importance of growers avoiding the use of plants from any locality 

 that is likely to be infested. 



It is recognised that there is serious danger of the black f[y[Aleui'o- 

 canthus wogliimi] being introduced into the extensive citrus-producing 

 regions of Florida, and the Federal Horticultural Board is in conse- 

 quence considering the imposition of- federal quarantine restrictions 

 on importations likely to introduce the fly from other countries. 



