384 



Berger (E. W.). Whitefly Fungus. —Qtrly. Bull. Florida State Plant 



Bd., Gainesville, iv, no. 3, April 1920, p. 104. [Received lOtk 



July 1920.] 



The Entomological Department of the State Plant Board has ready 



for distribution about 3,000 pure cultures of the red fungus, Aschersonia 



aJeurodis, and yellow fungus, A. flavocitrina, which infest the common 



and cloudy- winged whitefiies of citrus [Dialevrodes citri and 



D. citrifolii]. A culture is sufficient for starting the fungus in an acre of 



grove. The method of ordering the cultures is detailed, growers 



being requested to send a few dozen leaves for examination so that, 



if necessary, A. flavocitrina, regarded by some as being more effective 



against D. citrifolii, may be included. 



Smith (L. B.). The Green Clover Worm a Pest of Soy Beans {Plathy- 

 pena scabra, Fab.). — Qtrly. Bull. Virginia State Crop Pest Com- 

 miss., BlacJcsburg, i, no. 3, October 1919, 8 pp., 4 figs. [Received 

 10th July 1920.] 



Soy beans suffered severe injuries throughout Eastern Virginia in 

 1919 from the attacks of the green clover worm {Plathypena scabra, F.), 

 while other legummous plants, including lima and snap beans, lucerne 

 and clovers were also injured to some extent. A similar outbreak 

 of this moth was reported over most of the Atlantic coastal plain region 

 from Maine to Florida. The leaves and occasionally the blossoms 

 of the plants are eaten. It is seldom that the plants are killed, new 

 growth coming again after the outbreak subsides, but the quantity 

 of seed is much less owing to the extra foliage produced. 



The life-history of P. scabra has been already noticed [R.A.E., A^ 

 vii, 201]. There are probably four generations in Virginia, but they 

 overlap considerably. It appears that the caterpillars of the first 

 generation feed chiefly on clover and lucerne, as beans are not available 

 before the middle of May. 



A spray recommended to control the caterpillars on beans is made of 

 lead arsenate (powder), 1 j lb. in 50 U.S. gals, of water. As an alter- 

 native a dust made of 5 lb. lead arsenate and 50 lb. gypsum or air-slaked 

 lime may be used. Snap beans should be treated just before the 

 blossoms open ; with later treatment the blossoms will be destroyed, and 

 after the pods are set, there is a danger of poisoning the beans as food. 

 Lima beans should be sprayed just before the second crop of blossoms- 

 comes into bloom. Soy beans grown for seed may be treated with 

 the same spray with the addition of 2 lb. of hme. It is unnecessary 

 for the spray to reach the under-side of the leaves, and it may be 

 appfied at any time. If the caterpillars have disappeared before any 

 measures are taken, a furrow thrown towards the base of the plants 

 from each side of the row will kill the pupae, or prevent the moths 

 emerging. Soy beans sown broadcast for forage should not be treated 

 unless the infestation is very severe, since, as far as fohage is concerned,^ 

 they wiU probably recover. In very severe infestations they should be 

 cut and raked to destroy the larvae by exposure to the sun and lack of 

 food. 



Clover and lucerne should be cut immediately if the caterpillars are 

 abundant. Lucerne develops new growth after cutting, and in the case 

 of clover, the loss from early harvesting is less in the end than it 

 would be if the caterpillars were permitted to feed uninterruptedly. 



