240 



two to four inches high around the stems of the vines, using the 

 hollowed stems as entrances and exits to their nests and frequently 

 causing the death of the plant, probably by girdling. Fumigation by 

 pouring one or two ounces of carbon bisulphide into holes made in the 

 nest would prevent the spread of the ants and the ultimate destruction 

 of other plants, but would be very injurious to the plants that 

 received treatment. Other investigators have recommended a solution 

 of 1 oz. potassium cyanide to one gallon water used in the same way; 

 this would probably be more effective in dry ground and sandy soil. 

 A solution of Black-leaf 40 is also very effective. 



Currier (D. L.). Damage to Tomatoes by the Potato-tuber Moth 



{PMiorimaea operculella, Zeller). — MtJily. Bull. Cal. Stale Dept. 

 Agric, Sacramento, ix, no. 3, March 1920, pp. 91-93, 2 figs. 



Tomatos in Santa Clara County, California, were in 1919 infested 

 with the potato-tuber moth, Phlhorimaea operculella. While the 

 number of fields in which serious loss was caused by the larvae was 

 small, the possibihties of damage are considerable, the moth being an 

 active flier and capable of rapid spread. The larvae infest very small, 

 green tomatos as well as ripe ones. They generally enter at the stem 

 end of the fruit and work just under the skin; later they l;)urrovv 

 deeper into the fleshy part of the tomato, sometimes hghtly webbing 

 the entrance to the tunnel. There are frequently 7 or 8 larvae in one 

 fruit, sometimes as many as 15 or 16. It has not yet been discovered 

 where oviposition occurs. 



If all the plants and fruits are piled up and burned shortly after 

 they have been killed by the autumn frosts most of the larvae wdll be 

 killed. Burning the plants and ploughing the fruit under to a good 

 depth might be as effectual and would be cheaper. Clean cultivation, 

 including the destruction of such weeds as would serve as breeding- 

 ])laces or hibernation quarters for the insect, is advocated, and sheep 

 and pigs might wnth advantage be turned into the fields to clean up 

 refuse. 



Maskew (F.). Quarantine Division. Report for the Month of 

 January, 1920.- Mthhj. Bull. Cal. Slate Dept. Agric, Sacramento, 

 ix, no. 3, March 1920, pp. 98-99. 



The pests intercepted during January included : From Hawaii, Hemi- 

 chionaspis minor and Chiysomphalus aotiidum on coccnuts ; Diaspis 

 bromeliae and Psevdococcus bromeliae on pineapples ; Coccus elongatus 

 on betel leaves; Parlatoiia ziziphus, ChiyfompJialus aonidum and 

 Lepidosaphes beclii on oranges. From Japan, Hemichionaspis 

 aspidislrae on tangerines. From Central America, Pseudococcus sp., 

 Aspidiolus cyanofhylli and Icerya ptirchasi on bananas. From Mexico, 

 Heliolhis {Ckloridea) obsolela on tomatos ; Lepidosaphes gloveri and 

 Parlatoria pergandei on limes. From Colorado, Cydia (Laspeyresia) 

 pomonella on apples. From Florida, Lepidosaphes beckii on oranges. 

 From Oregon, Chionaspis pinifuliae on Douglas fir and C. povionella 

 on apples. From New Jersey, Chiomispis f "ifura on undetermined 

 plants. From South Dakota, C. jwmondla on apples. From 

 Washington, C. pomonella on apples and larvae of Balaninus sp. in 

 chestnuts. 



