91 



all alkalies, nitric acid, sodium cyanide, soap, or contact with lead, 

 commercial tin, impure zinc, solder, cast iron or steel. Aluminium, 

 brass, block tin, piu-e zinc, nickel, silver and copper are all highly 

 resistant to the acid and the first-named is recommended for the 

 construction of dehvery drums, brass fittings being permissible. 



EssiG (E. 0.). The Olive Insects of California. — Univ. California 

 Agric. Expt. Sta., Berkeley/, Cal, Bull. 283, September 1917, 

 pp. 43-64, 21 figs. [Received 30th December 1919.J 



Among the more important olive pests in California are Saissetia 

 oleae, Bern, (black scale), Aspidiotus hederae, Vail, (ivy or oleander scale), 

 Polycaon confertus, Lee. (olive twig borer) and Luperisinus calif ornicus , 

 Swaine (olive bark-beetle). The last-named is a comparatively little- 

 known insect, but may possibly become a serious pest. This beetle 

 resembles the fruit-tree bark-beetle, Scolytus (Eccoptogaster) rugulosus, 

 Ratz., in appearance and also in its manner of constructing small 

 burrows through the cambium layer, sometimes girdling the infested 

 portions of the trees. The beetles apparently prefer sickly or dying 

 trees and breed abundantly in them as well as in dead prunings. 

 They have, however, been found attacking healthy olive-trees in 

 proximity to their breeding-places, especially if an entrance can be 

 made through a sunburned or wounded spot. The distribution of 

 the species is not well known, and no other food-plants than olives 

 have been recorded. Adults were first taken in 1909 in sweepings 

 from Fresno County at an elevation of 3,000 feet and the species was 

 described in 1916 [R.A.E., A, iv, 384]. The first essential in avoiding 

 attacks is to maintain a healthy condition of the trees and to prevent 

 sunburn and injuries that encourage infestation. Prunings should 

 be immediately burnt. All infested limbs or trees should be cut 

 out and burnt. A Hymenopterous parasite, Ecphylus sp. (probably 

 E. schwarzi, Roh.) attacks the immature stages in the burrows, but 

 is not an effective agent in control. 



Minor olive pests in California include Scirtothrips cilri, Moult, (citrus 

 thrips), Heliothrips fasciatus, Perg. (bean thrips), Platypedia areolata, 

 Uhl. {net-wmged cicada,), Prociphilus fi-axinidipetalae, Essig (mountain 

 ash aphis), Chrysomphalus aurantii, Mask, (red scale), LepidosapJies 

 beckii, Newm. (purple scale), Aspidiotus rapax, Comst. (camelliae, 

 Sign.) (greedy scale), and a Geometrid, Sabulodes caherata, Gn. 



Some of the principal insects attacking olive trees in other States 

 and countries are also figured and briefly described. 



HousER (J. S.). The European Corn Borer. [A new Insect Pest 

 attacking many Farm Crops.] — Ohio Agric. Expt. Sta., Mtlily. Bidl.y 

 Wooster, iv, no. 6, June 1919, pp. 185-190, 7 figs. [Received 30th 

 December 1919.] 



Attention is drawn to the necessity of maintaining a constant 

 vigilance against the possible introduction of the European corn 

 borer [Pyrausta nubilalis] into Ohio. The life-history and control 

 measures are discussed [R.A.E., A., vii, 224, 411]. Any suspected 

 material should be at once forwarded for identification. 



