533 



Vercier (J.). Une Invasion de Chenilles. — Le Progres Ay tic. & ViLic, 

 MontpeUier, lxx\% no. 42, 17th October 1920, pp. 370-371. 



Attention is drawn to the exceptional abundance of caterpillars, 

 especially Ni/ginia phaeorrhoea {Liparis cJmjsorrJwea) , in Cote d'Or 

 during i920, and the necessity for repeated measures such as the 

 collection of larval nests is emphasised. 



Neifert (I. E.) & Garrison (G. L.). Experiments on the Toxic 

 Action of certain Gases on Insects, Seeds, and Fungi. — U.S. 

 Dept. Agric, Washmgfon, B.C., BuU. 893, 8th September 1920, 

 16 pp., 9 tables. 



About fifteen different species of insects were used for these experi- 

 ments, in which the value of various gases as insecticides was tested. 

 These included various species of ants, bed-bugs, potato beetles 

 {Leptinotarsa (lecendineata and Epitrix cucumeris), grain beetles, 

 house-flies and blow-flies, cockroaches, grain weevils, mites, an Aphid 

 {Myzus persicac) and a whitefly {Aleurodes vapora riorum). 



The gases tested included phosgene, arsine, carbon monoxide, 

 cyanogen chloride, and chloropicrin. Only the last two gave satis- 

 factory results, but they can only be used for stored products. For 

 greenhouse fumigation they are useless owing to their injurious action 

 on plants. 



Malloch (J. R.). Descriptions of Diptera of the Families Anthomyidae 

 and Scatophagidae. — OhioJl. Sci., Columbus, xx, no. 7, May 1920, 

 pp. 267-288, 3 plates. [Received 21st October 1920.] 



Descriptions are given of 29 new species of Diptera. A key is given 

 to the male species of Hijlemijia, R.-D., in which H. uniseriata, Stein, 

 H. fusciceps, Zett. , and H. sepia, Zett., are included, and are recorded 

 for the first time for North America. According to Stein the species 

 previously recorded by authors as H. fusciceps, Zett., is H. cilicrura, 

 Zett. 



Bodkin (G. E.). Report of the Economic Biologist. — Brif. Guiana 

 Dept. Sci. d' Agric, Rept. for 1918, Georgetown, 1919, Appendix iii, 

 9 pp. [Received 2nd October 1920.] 



Sugar-cane pests recorded during 1918 include Diatraea spp. and 

 Tomaspis flavilatera, Urich, the destruction of canes and thorough 

 flooding of the affected area being advocated against the latter ; 

 trap-lights also proved successful. The usual outbreak of Brassolis 

 sophorae, L. (coconut caterpillar) occurred. No fresh pests were 

 observed on Citrus. An ant, Solenopsis pylades, Forel, was noticed 

 in several instances to bore into stems of fully grown rice plants. The 

 nests may be destroyed by carbon bisulphide. 



New scale -insects found during the period under review include 

 Lecanium decemplex, Newst., on leaves of a tree (Lecythis sp.) ; Aspi- 

 diotus umboniferus, Newst. , on the same plant, and Lichtensia litoralis, 

 Newst., on an undetermined wild plant. 



A shipment of beans from Venezuela was found to be infested with 

 a Bruchid, Spertnophagus semifasciatus, Boh* 



