294 



The new species described include : — the Gelechiids, Gelechia 

 ncotropJicUa on Mimosa berlandieri, and Telphusa mariona on A butilon 

 spp., Malvastnim sp., and other plants, and the Blastobasid, i/o/coc(?m 

 coiifamiilcUa on fruits of Crataegus. 



AiNSLiE (G. G.) & Cartwright (W. Pj.V Biology of the Smartweed 

 Borer, Pvraitsta ainsliei, Heinrich. — //. Agric. Res., IVashiiigton, 

 B.C., xx', no. 11, 1st March 1921, pp. 837-844. 



Studies carried out in Tennessee and the neighbouring States indicate 

 that Pyraiista ainsliei, Heinr., is of no importance as a pest. Its 

 chief food-plant is Polygonum pennsylvaniciim, w\i\i\\\\\ch. the distribu- 

 tion of this moth is probably coextensive. It is easily confused with 

 P.nubilalis.Hh., and P. peniialis, Grote [R.A.E., A, viii, 116]. The 

 life-history is described. There are two generations a year ; the 

 larvae of the second generation are fully grown and abandon the food- 

 plant about the end of August. They seek shelter for the winter in 

 various plants, including maize. The essentials of the shelter-plant 

 are pithy stems with a bark that is not too dense for the larva to enter. 

 Feeding does not take place in the winter Cjuarters. 



Over 40 per cent, of the larvae were parasitised by Panzeria 

 {Pyraustomyia) penitalis, and the other three Tachinid parasites, 

 recorded from Pyransta penitalis [R.A.E., A, vii, 117] also possibly 

 attack P. ainsliei. The larva of a beetle, CaUeida decora, F., has been 

 found pre^'ing on the larvae of P. ainsliei, and those of Chaidiognathus 

 pennsylvanicns, De G., are also found in the burrows of the borer as 

 well as Foriiculids, though the latter probably only act as scavengers. 



DE Ong (E. R.). Prevention and Control of Insects in Dried Fruits. — 



Mthly. Bull. Cal. State Dept. Agric., Sacramento, x, no. 2, 

 February 1 921 , pp. 72-74. 



The importance of protecting dried fruit from insect infestation is 

 emphasised and preventive measures are discussed [cf. R.A.E., A,, 

 vi, 425 ; vii. 358]. The measures advocated include cold storage, 

 exposure to a temperature of 32° to 36° F. for two or three months 

 having proved .successful against all the insects experimented on. 



Strong (L. A.). Quarantine Service. Reports for the Months of 

 January and February, I921.~-Mthly. Bull. California Dept. 

 Agric, Sacramento, x, nos. 1 & 3, Januarv & March 1921, 

 pp. 50-52 & 120-122. 



The pests intercepted during January and February were : — 

 From South America, Ephestia sp., in cacao beans. From Canal 

 Zone, Cathartus gemellatns and Calandra [Siiophilus) linearis in maize -, 

 . Lepidosaphcs beckii on ovnn^es ; and Parlatoria zizyphiis, Lepidosaphes- 

 heckii and undetermined Coccids on lemons. From Central America, 

 Psendococctis sp., Aspidiotns sp., A. cyanopJiylli, Chrysomphahts 

 aonidum and Icerya purc/iasi on bananas ; and pupae of Pieris {Pontia) 

 rapae in banana cars. From Mexico, Heliothis [Chloridea) obsoleta 

 in tomatos ; Calandra sp. in garvanzos ; Chrysomphalns aonidiim 

 on coconuts ; Aspidiotns sp. on Achras sapota ; Pseudococais sp. 

 on pineapples ; and C/irysompJialiis aurantii on oranges. From Oregon, 

 Aspidiotns perniciosns and Cydia [Laspeyrcsia) pomonella on apples. 

 From Texas, Aegeria cxitiosa in peach stock ; and Chrysomphalus 



