18 



Empusa aphidis, which destroys many lice in the soil. The larva 

 of Syrphus pauxillus has been found feeding on a colony on beet, 

 and the larvae of the Coccinellids, Scymnus coUaris, Hippodamia 

 convergens and Scymnus appaculm [? appalacheus, Casey] also 

 attack it. The life-cycle has been followed in the insectary from 

 the gall to the gall and shows that Pemphigus halsamiferae, Williams, 

 is a synonym of this species. P. betac is liable to be confused with 

 P. p-venae, Fitch, and P. p-globuli, Fitch, from which it differs chiefly 

 in the form and position of the galls. P. hetae has not been recorded 

 east of western Kansas and Nebraska, but it is probable that its range 

 coincides with that of its alternative host, the narrow-leafed cotton - 

 wood {Populus migustifoliae), the range of which is given as from 

 North Dakota to Washington and from New Mexico to California. 



McGregor (E. A.). Bucculatrix thurberiella, a Pest of Cotton in the 

 Imperial Valley. — Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, ix, no. 5, pp. 505-510, 

 2 plates (5 figs.), 2 tables. 



The life-history of Bucculatrix thurberiella,, found attacking the leaves 

 of cotton in June 1916 in the Imperial Valley, California, is described; 

 In a heavily infested field examined on 2nd June only 22 per cent, of 

 the leaves were free from attack, and later on the percentage of infes- 

 tation was greater still, but by 1st July was somewhat checked by the 

 work of parasites. By 8th August, however, the damage had increased, 

 until in some fields not a leaf was undamaged. The moth appears to 

 prefer small and weakly plants, which are usually killed by it, larger 

 ones being severely damaged. It is parasitised by tw^o species of 

 undetermined Chalcids. The question as to whether Thurberia or 

 cotton {Gossypium) is the original native host-plant is as yet uncertain, 

 but it was noticed that Gossypium became infested early, while Thurberia 

 growing in the immediate neighbourhood remained free for weeks. 

 The stockade of bristles placed by the mature larva round the cocoon 

 closely simulates the hirsute pubescence found on the stems and petioles 

 of most cultivated varieties of cotton, though this does not occur on 

 Thurberia. On the whole it is considered probable that this pest has 

 entered the United States from the ancient cotton-growdng areas of 

 Mexico and from the insular and maritime regions of tropical America. 



Urbahns (T. D.). Life-History of Habrocytus medicaginis, a recently 

 described Parasite of the Chalcis Fly in Alfalfa Seed.^ — Jl. Agric. 

 Research, Washington, B.C., vii, no. 4, 23rd October 1916, 

 pp. 1 47-1 53, 1 plate, 1 fig. 



This article contains a detailed description of the stages in the life- 

 cycle of Habrocytus medicaginis, a parasite of Bruchophagus funebris, 

 How. , which latter completes its development within the growing seeds of 

 lucerne, red clover {Trifolium incarnatum) and wild species of Medicago. 

 This parasite never attacks the pupa of B. funebris and only a single 

 individual is able to develop on its host in a single seed. It has never 

 been found parasitising B. funebris in red clover seed. The number of 

 males is usually small, those reared being in the ratio of 1 : 30 as com- 



