14 



Welch (P. S.). The Aquatic Adaptations of Pymusta jienitalis, Grt. 

 (Lepidoptera). — Ann. Entom. Soc. America, Columbus, Ohio, xii, 

 no. 3, September 1919, pp. 213-226. 



The 'PjTa\id,Pyrausta penitalis, Grt., is a moth that presents aquatic 

 adaptations, showing transition from terrestrial to aquatic habits and 

 also developing certain physiological adaptations parallel to those of 

 other unrelated Lepidoptera. The insect occurs abundantly in certain 

 protected situations about Lake Erie where its favourite food-plant, 

 Nelumbo lutea, grows. The life-cycle is imperfectly known ; eggs have 

 recently been found for the first time in a mass on the upper side of 

 a leaf of N. lutea. Differing from previous writers, who record stalks 

 of maize and raspberry canes as hibernating quarters, the author 

 inclines to the belief that P. penitalis has at least two generations and 

 that hibernation may occur in connection with aquatic food-plants. 

 While this species thrives in aquatic surroundings, no structural 

 features of aquatic importance have appeared, its adaptations to 

 water being largely, if not entirely, physiological. 



In the Sandusky Bay region P. genitalis was found on Nelumbo 

 lutea only, but other writers have reported it on Polygonum incarnaium, 

 P. hydropiperoides, Eupatorium sp. and Nelumbo nucifera (Egyptian 

 lotus). The larvae feed first on the surface of the leaf and the 

 •chlorophyll-bearing tissue, weaving a silken webbing which protects 

 them from the water and from being washed off by waves. Whether 

 this period is confined to certain instars has not been determined. 

 After a time the larva begins to tunnel lengthwise into the upper 

 end of the petiole, boring through from the upper surface, and, having 

 constructed a burrow, uses this as a shelter whence it emerges for 

 feeding. Larvae removed from these tunnels and dropped lightly 

 on the water remain supported on the surface, and swim actively 

 about. The larva, however, remains a typical air-breather and 

 requires direct exposure to the atmosphere. All the burrows examined 

 seemed remarkably free from water, although at least a part of each 

 of them is below the water-level. When fully grown, the larva 

 'Constructs a closely-woven silken cap or plug at the upper end of the 

 tunnel, completely closing it, and pupation occurs within this. 



HuKTER (S. J.). Report of State Entomologist. ^Rept. Kansas Entom. 

 Commiss., 1917-1918, Topeka, 1919, pp. 12-19. [Received 13th 

 November 1919.] 



The federal quarantine law of 1912, requiring the inspection of 

 nursery stock admitted into the southern part of Kansas, has resulted 

 in the interception of Aleurodes sp., Lejndosaphes ulmi, and some 

 Oniscids (woodlice) in packing. The control of San Jose scale [Aspi- 

 diotus ferniciosus] has been left largely to fruit-growers owing to lack 

 of funds. Native grasshoppers were abundant in some orchards on the 

 eastern side of the State and were controlled by poison bran mash. 

 Bagworms were frequently injurious to evergreens and lawns, and were 

 removed by hand-picking and destruction of the bags. Leaf-hoppers 

 were troublesome on young beans, but did no permanent injury. 



In 1916-1917 the greatest problem was that of the spring canker 

 worm [Palaeaaita vemata, Peck], which has been the subject of a 



