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118 



Hinds (W. E.)- Mexican Bean Beetle Situation. — //. Econ. Eni., 

 Concord, N.H., xiii, no. 6, December 1920, pp. 486-488. 



Attention is drawn to the seriousness of the present position and the 

 danger of the further spread of Epilachna corrupta. Muls., in the United 

 States. There is apparently no geographical or climatic barrier 

 for this pest. At present the infestation in Alabama covers more 

 than 4,500 square miles. The food-plants include various kinds 

 of beans, with the exception of velvet beans, although these were 

 accepted as food under laborator}^ conditions. In Alabama breeding 

 is continuous until the frosts begin ; there are apparently three to 

 four generations a year. All remedial measures so far tried have 

 proved ineffective. Arsenicals may act as repellents, but cannot 

 save the crop. This beetle is very hardy, and survived a submersion 

 in water of 24 hours, although 48 hours proved fatal to all individuals. 

 Even fumigation with hydrocyanic gas at standard strength only 

 killed 25 per cent, of the adults tested. 



The Alabama State Board of Horticulture has established a quaran- 

 tine covering the known infested area and an adjoining safet}^ zone 

 of approximately 25 miles and prohibiting the movement of all 

 possible food-plants and materials likely to disseminate the pest. 



The country of origin of this beetle appears to be Mexico, and 

 diligent search there may reveal the existence of useful parasites. 



Thomas (F. L.). A Study oJ the Effect of Cotton Worm on Boll 

 Development and Cotton Yield. — //. Econ. Ent., Concord, A'. H., 

 xiii, no. 6, December 1920, pp. 489-491. 



As a result of observations made during 1919 in Alabama it was 

 found that injury to foliage by the cotton worm [Alabama argillacea] 

 does not kill the plants or cause loss of weight in the bolls, but the 

 unopened bolls mature much earlier under boll-weevil conditions, 

 and in years of abundant moisture the stripping of rank-growing 

 cotton two months before a killing frost is considered beneficial rather 

 than injurious. 



Smith (R. C). Predaceous Grasshoppers. — //. Econ. Eni., Concord, 

 N.H., xiu, no. 6, December 1920, p. 491. 



The grasshopper, Udeopsylla nigra, Scud., is recorded as predaceous 

 on adults of Lachnosterna. In captivity it readily feeds on many beetles 

 as well as on other grasshoppers. 



MozxETTE (G. F.). A Blossom.-destroying Beetle on the Mango and 



Avocado. — //. Econ. E)it., Concord, X.H., xiii, no. 6, December 

 1920, p. 491. 



Considerable damage was caused by a Rutelid beetle, Anomala 

 undulata, Mels., to avocado and mango trees in southern Florida 

 during the spring of 1920, the damage being done at night to the 

 bloom spikes. 



Leonard (M. D.). A Dipterous Parasite of the Parsnip Webworm 



(Depressaria hcraclca)ia, L.). — Jl. Econ. Ent., Concord, N.H., 

 xhi, no. 6, December 1920, p. 491-492. 



The Tachinid, Dichaetoneuta leucoptera, Johns., is recorded as 

 parasitising Depressaria heracleana, L. (parsnip webworm) in New 

 York. 



