451 



Saltet (R. H.). and Lubsen (C. H.)- Over den Invloed van Blauw- 

 zuur op de Eieren van Malacosoma ncitslria, L. [The Effect of 

 Hydrocvanic Acid Gas on the Eggs of M. neusiria.]—Ent. Ber. 

 Ned. Ent. Vereen., The Hague, v, no. 120, 1st July 1921, 

 pp. 345-348. 



Experiments made in 1919, 1920 and 1921 show that even so high 

 a strength as 2| volumes of hydrocyanic acid gas per cent, (which is 

 probably the highest possible for practical use) has Httle or no effect 

 on the eggs of Malacosoma neiisina, L., which thus differ from those 

 of many other insects. 



RuscHKAMP (P. F.). Zur Biologic der Dermestidae (Col.). [On the 

 Biology of Dermestids.] — Ent. Ber. Ned. Ent. Vereen., The 

 Hague, V, no. 120, 1st July 1921, pp. 348-351. 



The statement that Megatorra undala, L., develops in old wood 

 may lead to the assumption that its larva feeds on such material, 

 but this dees not agree with the habits of closely allied species, such as 

 Aiiihrenus museorum, L., which are known to feed on animal debris. 

 The larva of M. undata does not seem to be an exception. Lentz 

 thought that it fed on .sawfly larvae and Calwer-Schaufnss stated that 

 it occurs in elms infested with Cossus and in the mines of the wood 

 wasp, Xylocopa. The author has observed it together with Xes- 

 tobium rufovillosum, Gylh., and with bees. All these facts point to 

 it being carnivorous. Like the larva of A. museonim it appears to 

 have a wide range in food. It is of interest to ascertain whether it 

 preys on living larvae or on the dead bodies, for in the former case 

 M. undata may be grouped with the Clerids among the most useful 

 economic species. 



In June and July the author observed M. undata, Anthrcnns fuscus, 

 Oliv., and A. museorum. About this time they occurred on various 

 flowers, where they probably are harmless pollen-feeders and where 

 mating takes place. Up to the flight period the adults seem to feed 

 on fresh and old pollen in the nests of Hymenoptera. 



Another Dermestid, Trinodus hirtus, F., has habits similar to those 

 of M. undata and A. museorum. ■ A. scrophulariae was again observed 

 as a pest of museum collections. A. verhasci and A. fuscus were 

 obtained from garden wood. The former species seems to develop 

 more usually in the open than indoors, while the contrary is the case 

 with the latter. 



Orphilus glahratus, F. {nigcr, Roi^si) appears to be confined to 

 southern and eastern Gerrnanv. 



ScHOEVKRS (T. A. C). Een voor Cattleya's schadelijk Kevertje. 



[A Beetle iniurious to Cattleya.] — Verslag & Meded. Phytopath. 

 Dicnst, Wagrningen, no. 18, February 1921, pp. 11-17, 3 figs. ; 

 also Tijdschr. Plantenziekten, Wageningen, xxvii, no. G, June 

 1921, pp. 65-71, 1 fig. 



Severe leaf injury noticed in a collection of Cattleya has been found 

 to be due to a beetle which Dr. Ed. Everts consiflers'to be Mordellistena 

 cattleyana, described by G. C. Cham-pion in 1913 from plants apparently 

 brought from Venezuela. 



