248 



^IcCoLLocH (J. W.). The Corn Leaf Aphis {Aphis maidis. Fitch) 

 in Kansas. — //. Econ. Ent., Concord. N.H., \iv, no. 1, February 

 1921, pp. 89-94, 2 plates. 



Aphis maidis. Fitch, is a serious pest of mai/.c and various sorghum 

 crops in Kansas. The Aphids may be found towards the end of June 

 and beginning of July feeding on the tender parts of the leaves, leaving 

 them for the tassel as it develops. Various forms of injury may occur ; 

 the entire tassel may be so heavily infested that it fails to function and 

 the shedding of pollen may be greatly reduced or completely stopped. 

 Asa rule the leaves show little injury, but they may become yellow and 

 die. Occasionally the Aphids feed on the silks and soft grains, thus 

 hastening maturity and producing small and poorl\^ filled ears. The 

 honeydew secreted by the Aphids also attracts other maize pests, 

 and there is the possibility that A. maidis transmits the physodermal 

 disease of maize. All kinds of sorghum are attacked, but the degree of 

 injury apparently varies. A reddish discoloration, due to bacterial 

 infection, is generally associated with A. maidis. The injury to maize 

 increases with delaj-ed planting until about the middle of May. Certain 

 varieties are more injured than others, the degree increasing with the 

 lateness of the variety in the majority of cases. Further studies on 

 these lines are indicated. The Aphids were successfulh' killed experi- 

 mentally by spraying with nicotine sulphate, but this method is not 

 applicable to fields of maize or sorghum. 



Fluke, Junr. (C. L.). The Pea Moth in Wisconsin. — //. Econ. Ent., 

 Concord, N.H.. xiv, no. 1, February 1921, pp. 94-98. 



The annual infestation of pea-pods by Cydia {Laspeyresia) novimundi 

 [R.A.E., A, ix, 100] in Wisconsin amounts to from 2 to 50 per cent. 

 The larvae bore into the pods and feed on the peas, without any external 

 indication of injury. At present this pest is known to attack only 

 field and garden varieties of peas, more especially those grown for 

 seed. Hibernation occurs in the larval stage. The larvae emerge 

 from the pods in the autumn and enter the soil. The first pupae occur 

 about 15th June, the moths emerging from three to four weeks later. 

 During 1920 they were seen in the field up to 28th July. An average of 

 18 eggs per individual was obtained in the experimental cages. In the 

 field the majority of eggs are found on young pods or leaves. 

 Incubation lasts from seven to nine days, with an average of eight days ; 

 the first eggs hatched 23rd July, the last 1 1th August. Under insectary 

 conditions the larvae emerged from 6th to 29th August. 



No practical method of controlling C. novimundi has yet been found, 

 but there is a possibility of checking this pest by a proper rotation of 

 crops. Experiments may also reveal a satisfactory ovicide. 



Baerg (W. J). A Girdler on Artichoke and other Little-known Insect 

 Pests. — //. Econ. Ent., Concord, N.H., xiv, no. 1, Februarv 1921, 

 pp. 99-100. 



The Cerambycid, Mecas inornata. Say, oviposits on artichoke ( Heli- 

 anthus tuberosus) early in July in Arkansas. Two girdles are made by 

 the adult females, about 1-1 r^ inches apart and about 6 inches from the 

 top of the main stem. The egg-puncture is immediately above the 

 lower girdle. As a result of the injury the leader in the plant dies. 

 The larvae feed between the girdles, and later proceed to the base 



