22 



in the grain, thus safeguarding the later-maturing maize, has 

 proved successful. Damage to stored maize by weevils has been 

 considerably reduced, partly owing to the exceptionally severe winter 

 and partly to the cultivation of the more resistant varieties of maize. 

 Experiments with lead arsenate and other poisons in dust form 

 against the boll weevil [Anthonomvs grandis] on cotton are being 

 continued. Other experiments show that soil fumigation 'v\ith sodium 

 cyanide at the rate of 1 oz. in 8 U. S. gals, of water is a successful 

 remedial measure against various soil-infesting insects, including white 

 grubs [Lachnosterna], termites, etc. This quantity proved sufficient 

 for about 10 to 12J sq. ft. of ground. Fumigation of sweet potatoes 

 W'ith carbon bisulphide against the sweet potato root-borer [Cylas 

 Jormicarius] failed to kill all stages of this weevil and increased the 

 tendency of the potatoes to rot. 



Troop (J.). Entomology. — 31st Ann. Rept.for the Year ending SOth 

 June 1918, Purdue Univ. Agric. Expt. Sta., Lafayette, Ind., 1st 

 November 1918, pp. 30-31. [Received 20th November 1919.] 



The noxious insects reported for the year under review include : 

 Papaipema nehris {nitela) (stalk borer) ; Phorbia fusciceps, Zett. 

 {AniJiomyia zeae, Eil.) (seed-corn maggot) ; an Aphid, Geoica squamosa, 

 which caused considerable damage to barley and rye ; cutworms, 

 against which the substitution of sawdust for bran mash proved 

 successful ; Hessian fly [31ayetiola destructor], which was less abundant 

 but is expected to increase in the near future ; the wheat joint- worm 

 [Isosoma tritici] and the wheat midge [Cmitarinia tritici] which 

 were very destructive ; and a Membracid which was found damaging 

 beans by attacking the stem below the surface of the soil. 



Paddock (F. B.). The Beemoth or Waxvtorm.— -Texas Agric. Expt. 

 Sta., College Station, Bull. 231, June 1918, 38 pp. [Received 

 22nd November 1919.] 



The bulk of this information on Galleria mellonella has been noticed 

 -elsewhere \R.A.E., A, i, 453 ; ii, 379]. The incubation period of the 

 egg varies with the brood and climate. Under laboratory conditions 

 the duration was from 7 to 22 days, when kept at an irregular tempera- 

 ture averaging about 80° F. The average duration of the larval 

 stages of different generations under laboratory conditions is 49 days 

 in spring at a normal temperature. Under the same conditions in 

 autumn the average was 35 days, and during winter with artificial 

 heat it was 110 days. The pupal stage is longest during the autumn 

 and winter ; its average length is 50 days during January and March 

 without artificial heat, about 7| days during August at a normal 

 temperature, and from 18 to 35| days during October to December 

 with normal artificial heat. The average length of life of the adult 

 female is 12 days, that of the male 21 days. 



Ehrhorn (E. M.). Division of Plant Inspection. — Haivaiian Forester 

 and Agriculturist, Honolulu, xvi, nos. 8 and 9, August and Septem- 

 ber 1919, pp. 205-206 and 233-234. 



The pests intercepted during July and August included : mites on 

 seeds of Rubus and mango from Mani^.a ; Aphis sp. on bulbs of Gladiolus 



