371 



out in a locality where the disease does not exist to ensure freedom 

 from infection of the plants used. However, Aphis maidis, which was 

 shown to carry the disease, has been reported on sugar-cane from 

 practically wherever this crop is grown. It is not considered probable 

 that the transmission of the disease is limited to this insect, or to other 

 Aphids. The sharp-headed grain leaf-hopper [Draecalacephala niollipt's], 

 which had been under suspicion as a carrier, did not transmit the 

 disease in the experiments, but other leat'-hoppers are being tested. 

 Just what insects are responsible in tlie sugar-cane regions remains 

 to be proved. 



MozNETTE (G. F.). Banana Root-Borer. — Jl. Agric. Research, Washing- 

 ton, B.C., xix, no. 1, 1st April 1920, pp. 39-46, 4 plates. [Received 

 1st July 1920.] 



The banana root-borer, Cosmopolit<<s so^didiis, was introduced into 

 Florida about four years before 1917, when it was first definitely 

 noticed. A national quarantine was placed on it in 1918, and every 

 effort is being made to exterminate it, particularly as it has been 

 reported as attacidng sugar-cane, besides all forms of banana {Musa 

 spp.). \ full description is given of the various stages. The eggs are 

 laid in a cavity which the weevil makes between the leaf -sheath and 

 the stem of the banana plant. The grubs hatch in about a week and 

 work their way into the body of the bulb or trunk. They are very 

 destructive, as they girdle the plant in the immediate vicinity of the 

 lateral roots put out by the bulb, thus cutting off the passage of sap. 

 After from 1 5 to 20 days the larvae pupate in their burrows. The pupal 

 stage probably lasts about a week. The adult weevils are nocturnal. 



The best method of control in Florida consists in the immediate 

 destruction of infested banana plants, followed by the use of traps 

 consisting of stiips of healthy banana stems. As the beetles congregate 

 under and about these strips they should be burned, and the process 

 repeated until the pest is eradicated. It is very important that the 

 traps should be renewed, as the weevils can hve a considerable time 

 without food. 



Snyder (T. E.). U.S. Bur. Entom. The Colonizing Reproductive 

 Adults of Termites. — Proc. Ent. Soc, Washington, B.C., xxii, no. 

 6, June 1920, pp. 109-150. 



This paper gives a description of tlie three types of colonising 

 reproductive termites, and the nymphs from which they develop^ 

 together with their intermediate forms. An account is given of their 

 habits and methods of establishing new colonies, and the results of 

 experiments in breeding and cross-breeding are also discussed. 



Barber (H. S.). A New Tropical Weevil from Florida and Cuba. — 



Proc. Ent. Soc, Washington, B.C., xxii, no. 6, June 1920, pp. 

 [ 150-152, 1 ])late. 



' A description is given of the adult of Metamasius mosieri, sp. n. 

 Its food-plant is unknown, but it is possible that it may become a pest 

 of some economic crop in view of its close relationship to other weevils, 

 such as Metamasius sericens or Cosmopolites sordidus, infesting sugar- 

 cane, banana, pine-apple, and palms. 



