179 



DowNES (W.). The Tree-hoppers of British Columbia.— Proc. Ent 

 Soc. Bnt. Columbia. Victoria. B.C.. Syst. Ser. no. 14 March 

 1919 (1920), pp. 17-19. [Received 16 February 1921.] 

 The Membracids dealt with are -.— Ceresa hasalis. Wlk on willow 

 golden-rod and herbaceous plants ; C. hubahis. F., causing serious 

 damage to orchard trees by the slits made in the bark for oviposition • 

 Shdocephala pacifica. Van D., on willow; Platvcotis quadrivittata 

 Say, on oak, probably hibernating in the adult stage; Glossonotus 

 umvittatus. Harr., on willow [Salix scouleriana) ; and Campylenchia 

 latipes. Say, on lucerne and sweet clover. 



Hudson (G. V.). Notes on the Hosts of certain Parasitic Hymenoptera. 

 N.Z. J I. Sci. & Techn.. Wellington, iii, no. 4, November 

 1920, pp. 222-223. 



The Ichneumonid, Degithina buchanani, Cam., is recorded as parasitic 

 m the larvae of several species of Porina. ha\'ing been reared from 

 P. cervinata and P. umbracnlata. The male parasite is rare but the 

 female has a remarkable habit of hibernating gregariously in crevices 

 between the weather-boarding of houses and in similar situations 

 Before houses were built in the country, the insects frequently occurred 

 under the large scales on the bark of standing rimu-trees (Dacrydium 

 ciipressmum). As the caterpillars of Porina feed on the roots of 

 grasses m winter, the female Ichneumonid must be active at least 

 during mild intervals, in order to oviposit on its host. 



Miller (D.). Insects Inhabiting the Gum Fluid of Phormimn.— 

 N.Z. Jl. Agric, Wellington, xxi, no. 6, 20th December 19'?0 

 pp. 335-337, 7 figs. 



The gum fluid of native flax {Phormium tenax) is the natural breeding 

 habitat of the Syrphids, Lepidomyia decessmn and Svrpinis ropalns 

 and a Chironomid. It was thought that these larvae m'ight be respon- 

 sible for 3'ellow-leaf disease of the plant, but observations show that 

 they are of universal occurrence, both in diseased and healthy plants 

 All stages of the larvae of L. decessmn may be found throughout the 

 year, and the larval period is apparently of considerable duration as * 

 individuals were observed from April to October before they pupated 

 Pupation occurs on the dead leaves of Phormium. 



The larvae of Syrphns ropalus are predaceous and attack many 

 insects, including Xanthorhoe praefectata (flax-grub) and grubs of 

 Vennsta verriculata on cabbage trees {Cordyline australis). 



Parrott (P. J.). Seasonable Facts of snecial Interest on Orchard 

 Spraymg.— Pwc. 1st Ann. Meeting N.Y. Hortic. Soc. 1919 

 pp. 51-63. [Received 10th February, 1921.1 

 Owing to the low temperatures of the winter of 1917-18 orchard 

 pests were far less conspicuous than normalh'. The tussock moth 

 [Hcmerocampa] and the codling moth [Cydia porno nella] were the 

 most conspicuous pests, and redbugs [Lygidea] and apple maegots 

 [Khagoletis pomonella] were injurious in apple orchards. The "pear 

 slug [Erwcampotdes limacina] was surprisinglv abundant, but San 

 Jose scale [Aspidiotits perniciostis] and tent caterpillars [Malaccscma] 

 declined m numbers. It is generally understood that insects can 

 better withstand seasons with steady low temperatures than lho=e 

 (2290) ^ 



