464 



BuKGESS (A. F.). A European Pest found in Massachusetts. — Jl. 



Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H., xiii, no, 4, August 1920, p; 370. 



Attention is drawn to the occurrence of the satin moth, Stilpnotia 

 salicis, L., in Massachusetts. The larvae feed on poplar, willow and 

 other trees. As the pest was not discovered until it was too late for 

 spraying, large numbers of larvae and pupae have been crushed, and 

 egg-masses treated with creosote. Observations are now being made 

 on the life-history of this moth. 



Sanders (J. G.) & De Long (D. M.). Descriptions and Figures of 

 eleven confused Species of Deltoccphalus infesting Grasses. — 



Pennsylvania Dept. Agric, iii, no. 15 (no. 346), Bur. Plant Indust., 

 Tech. Ser. no. 1, Harrisbiirg, June 1920, pp. 3-14, 5 plates. 



Methods of collecting and mounting leaf-hoppers are discussed, and 

 a key to the species belonging to the genus Deltocephalus is given, 

 with notes on each. 



Sanders (J. G.) & De Long (D. M.). New American Records and 

 Notes of Cicadellidae. — Ibid., pp. 19-20. 



The species dealt with include : — Idiocerus scurra, Germ., found in 

 New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and 

 probably imported with poplar trees ; 1. cognatus, Fieb., infesting 

 white poplars {Populus alba) in New York and New Jersey ; and 

 Platymetopiits hyalinus, Osb., occurring on various species of maple 

 in Philadelphia, New York City, New Jersey, etc. 



Ainslie (C. N.). The Western Grass Stem Sawfly. — U.S. Dept. Agric., 

 Washington, B.C., Bull. 841, 7th Mav 1920, 27 pp., 16 figs. 

 [Received 30th August 1920.] 



The hfe-history of Cephus ductus, Nort., is reviewed and the various 

 stages described. A key is also given to the North American species 

 of Cephus. The food-plants of C. cinctus include : — Elymus spp.,. 

 Agropyron spp. Hordeum jubatum, Bromus inermis, Phleum pratense, 

 Deschapsia sp., Colamagrostis spp., Festuca sp., wheat, durum, spelt 

 and rye. It is also probable that the larvae attack barley. The eggs 

 hatch in about 6 to 7 days. The emerging larva begins feeding almost 

 at once and excavates the stem of the plant. The number of instars 

 has not been determined, but there are probably four moults, and the 

 larval stage may last 11 months. Hibernation occurs in the larval 

 stage, and pupation takes place in the spring and probably only lasts 

 about a week. 



The most common parasite of Cephus cinctus in grasses is a Chalcid. 

 Pleurotropis utahensis, Cwfd., which attacks the hibernating larvae. 

 They are also parasitised by a Braconid, Microbracon cephi, Gah. 

 [R.A.E, A, vii, 23]. 



Deep ploughing to at least 5 or 6 inches is the only measure suggested 

 at present for the control of this pest, but even this will be useless 

 unless the resulting surface be compacted by harrowing or rolhng, and 

 the stubble thus thoroughly buried. Under laboratory conditions the 

 adults emerged through loose soil when buried at a depth of 6 inches. 



Cephus cinctus is often confused with C. pygmaeus, L., which it also 

 greatly resembles in its life-history. 



