83 



be accounted for by the exceptional scarcity of sparrows. It was 

 also noticed that cabbages planted in the immediate neighbourhood 

 of tomatoes apparently suffered less from these pests than those 

 further off. The probability of the odour of tomatoes acting as a 

 repellent is suggested as an explanation of this fact [R.A.E., A, iii, 

 340]. The Braconid parasite, Apanteles (Microgaster) glomeratus, was 

 noticed ovipositing on the caterpillars and its mode of attack is 

 discussed. The protection of bird life during the winter is advocated 

 as a remedial measure. 



II " Daco," Mosca distruttice delle Olive. [The Olive ¥]y.}—L'Agric. 

 Colon., Florence, xiii, no. 11, 30th November 1919, pp. 501-502. 



In September and October 1919 the olive fly [Dacus oleae] appeared 

 in the Menzel bou Zelfa district of Tunisia and attacked the large, 

 mature " October " olives. None of the usual methods against it 

 being feasible, recourse was had to the immediate harvesting of these 

 fruits. Their removal will deprive the pest of its food-supply, and 

 if the weather has become cool by the time that others are mature, 

 it may disappear altogether. 



Fletcher (T. B.). Report of the Imperial Entomologist.— ^cfew«. 

 Rejyts. Agric. Research Inst., Pusa, 1918-19, Calcutta, 1919, 

 pp. 86-103, 3 plates. [Received 30th December 1919.] 



The determination of the relative immunity of varieties of cotton 

 to boUworm attack was greatly hampered by the infestation of the 

 plants with Pseudococcus corymbatus, Phenacoccus hirsutus and a 

 mite, Eriophyes sp. , probably E. gossypii. The appearance of P. corym- 

 batus was traced to an adjoining plot of soy beans. A Bethylid, 

 ? Parasierola sp., was found in cotton bolls containing larvae of 

 Pectinophora (Platyedra) gossypiella. 



Thespesia populnea is apparently not an alternative food-plant 

 of P. gossypiella, but larvae of a Phycitid were found boring in the 

 pods. A Gracilariid, Acrocercops sp., is recorded for the first time on 

 cotton. The larvae mine under the bark, causing it to peel off even 

 from the leaf- stalks. 



The work connected with borers infesting rice has been continued. 

 These include Schoenobius incertellus {bipunctifer), Sesamia inferens, 

 Chilo sp. and a Halticid beetle, the grub of which bores into the 

 •stems of rice and millet seedlings from the outside, giving rise to a 

 dead heart. 



Investigations with regard to the degree of parasitism of the indigo 

 Psyllid, Arytaina isitis, have been continued, and show that it is 

 at its highest at the end of May and September after which date 

 it gradually declines and reaches its minimum in February. 



It has been definitely ascertained that the mulberry disease 

 " tukra " is caused by a' mealy-bug, Phenacoccus hirsutus, which is 

 found in company with Pseudococcus virgatus. P. hirsutus completes 

 ten generations during the year and is also known to attack cotton, 

 guava fruits, grape vines and Tecoma grandiflora. Its numbers are 

 reduced by three Chalcids, as well as by a butterfly, Spalgis epius, 

 a Noctuid moth, Eublemma quadrilineata, and a Cecidomyiid. 



(654) ^2 



