471 



BoNGiNi (V). Un Nemico dei Piantamenti di Pioppo. [A Pest of 

 Poplar Plantations.] — R. Osservatorio FitppatoJogia, Turin, Foglio 

 d'Istruzione 1, 1920, 3 pp., 1 fig. [Received 2nd August 1921.] 



Young poplar trees from three to five years of age are often 

 attacked by Saperda carcharias, L., which bores into the stems near 

 the ground and causes the plants to wither. 



This Longicorn beetle oviposits in I\Iay and June on the rough bark 

 near the ground, and the larvae mine the sub-cortical part, giving rise 

 to hard swellings that interrupt the circulation of the sap. In autumn 

 they work towards the heartwood, and in spring excavate vertical 

 mines up to a height of about 5 ft. In the following spring they attain 

 maturity and pupate, the adult emerging in May. 



To protect unattacked trees in an infested plantation, the trunks 

 may be smeared up to a height of 5-7 ft. with a mixture of lime and 

 starch paste, or with a solution containing lime and 3 per cent, of 

 tobacco extract. Other remedial measures include the collection of 

 the adults and the destruction of the larvae by inserting a wad of cotton 

 wool soaked in petrol and then sealing the hole with clay. If the 

 larva is mature it may be picked out with a suitable tool. 



BoxGiNi (V.). La Peste del Pomario, Afide lanigero o Pidocchio 

 sanguigno del Melo {Schizoneura [Myzoxylus] lanigera). [Eriosoma 

 lanigermn, the Pest of Apple Orchards.]— i?. Osservatorio Fito- 

 patologia, Turin, Foglio d'Istruzione 2, 1920, 4 pp., 1 fig. 



This leaflet on the woolly aphis, Eriosoma lanigerum, gives a brief 

 account of its life-history and control. Remedial measures are 

 obhgatory in Italy in accordance with the decree of 28th September 

 1919. * 



BoNGiNi (V.). n Perdilegno rosso [Cossiis cossus, L.). TThe Red 

 Borer, C. cossus.'] — R. Osservatorio Fitopatologia, Turin, Foglio 

 d'Istruzione 3, 1920, 3 pp., 1 fig. [Received 2nd August 1921.] 



In Italy fruit-trees and all forest trees are liable to the attack of 

 Cossus cossus, L. In June and July this moth oviposits on the bark. 

 After hatching at the end of July the caterpillars remain together 

 beneath the bark until autumn, when they bore separate mines towards 

 the centre of the trunk and then travel upwards. They become 

 mature in May of the third year and work towards the bark, pupating 

 close to it in the mine, which is closed with silk and debris. Some 

 trees may harbour 200 or more caterpillars. 



Natural enemies are bats, beetles such as Calosoma spp., egg- 

 destroying ants, and Hymenopterous parasites, including Ichneumon 

 pusillator. Meniscus setosus, etc. Valuable trees may be protected by 

 coating the base of the trunk, and all cuts or wounds, with a mixture 

 of clay and ashes or with coal-tar. 



While still gregarious the caterpillars may be crushed, the bark 

 that has been opened for this purpose being closed up again and 

 smeared with tar. If they are mining, a piece of wire may be used, 

 unless they have reached the heartwood and are ascending, when petrol, 

 paraffin, or carbon bisulphide must be injected or introduced on plugs 

 of cotton wool. If the caterpillars are nearly mature the tree must 

 be felled. 



The moths may be captured in June or July, but they are difficult 

 to detect on the bark. 



