122 



established the scale disa;ppears. In Sicily however the author has 

 observed that I. purchasi is not attacked by it when on Genista 

 aetnensis (Mount Etna broom). In fact it sometimes increases to 

 such a degree as to kill this plant. Examination showed that 

 N. cardinalis occurred on Rhamnus growing quite close to the broom, 

 but never on the broom itself. This was found to be due to the 

 fact that N. cardinalis deposits its eggs in positions protected from 

 the sun. Such protection is not afforded by the few small leaves of 

 broom, but is very necessary to this beetle in hot regions where the 

 sun temperature rises to 122"' F. (50° C.) as in Sicily. Spartium 

 juncenm (Spanish broom) is infested by /. purchasi in the same way. 

 Neither insecticides nor fire are of practical use in Sicily in destroying 

 the scale and it is suggested that on the coast Opuntia ficus-indicus 

 should be substituted for the comparatively few plants of Genista 

 there, as serious loss will result if the scale spreads inland where 

 broom occurs on large areas and is used for fuel, etc. 



De Stefani (T.). Di taluni Insetti delle Carrube. [Some Insects 

 infesting Carob Pods.]— E. Staz. Speriment. Agrimi. Fruttic., 

 Acireale, Boll. 37, 1919, pp. 5-6. [Received 13th January 



1920.] 



The Pyralids, Myelois ceratoniae, Z., and Ephestia calidella, Gn., 

 were obtained in Sicily from carob pods [Ceratonia siliqua] from the 

 end of April up to about September. M. ceratoniae has been previously 

 recorded from dates, dried figs, raisins and the fruits of Cydaniajaponica., 

 and Prof. De Joannis of Paris states that the larva has been found 

 feeding on dried insects. This moth occurs on the Mediterranean 

 coasts, in Africa, Madagascar and the Antilles. E. calidella has 

 been found in dried figs, raisins and cork, and also attacks dried insects. 

 It has been observed in France, England, Spain, Austria, Dalmatia, 

 Germany and Asia Minor. 



SiLVESTEi (F.). Contribuzioni alia Conoscenza degli Insetti dannosi 



e dei loro Simbionti. iv. La Cocciniglia del Prugno {Sphaero- 



lecaniimi pntnastri, Fonsc). [Contributions to the Knowledge 



of injurious Insects and of their Associates, iv. The Prune Scale, 



S. prunastri. Boy.]— jBoZ?. Lah. Zool. Gen. Agrar. R. Scuola 



Sup. Agric, Portici, xiii, 1919, pp. 70-126, 38 figs. [Received 



17th January 1920.] 



A full description with synonymy is given of Sphaerolecanium 



pninastri, Boy., which occurs in France, Bohemia, Italy, North 



America and Japan. Prunus spinosa appears to be the preferred 



food-plant, then the cultivated prune and, according to some authors, 



the peach. 



The larva of this scale hatches very soon after the egg is laid, which 

 takes place from June to August. At an altitude of about 3,300 feet 

 in south Italy the first adult females appear at the end of April and 

 the first adult males early in June. There is thus one annual genera- 

 tion, but at lower altitudes of 800-1,600 feet a second generation 

 was observed in September. S. prunastri is injurious because it 

 sucks the plant-juices and produces a sugary secretion favourable 

 to fungi. 



