114 



Watson (J. R.)- Life-History of the Velvet-Bean Caterpillar {Anti- 



carsia gemmafalis, Hb.).— J/. Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H., ix, 

 no. 6, t)ccember 1916, pp. 521-528, 2 pi., 2 figs. 



This paper is an amplification of an earlier one [see this Review, 

 Ser. A, iv, p. 37]. A description of the life-history, habits and 

 distribution of this moth is given. Besides Slizolohium sp. (velvet 

 bean), which is the preferred food-plant, Pueraria ihunbergiana 

 (Kudzu vine) and Canavalia sp. (horse bean) are also attacked. Many 

 predaceous enemies attack Anticarsia gemmatalis, including Agelaivs 

 phoeniceiis (red- winged blackbird), lizards, wasps, the Carabid, Callida 

 decora, and the bugs, Alcoeorrhynchus grandis, Dall., Brochymena 

 annulata, F., Euihyrhynchus floridensis, L., and Podisus maculiventris, 

 Say. Internal parasites are rare, only two, the Tachinid, Euphorocera 

 floridensis, and the Ichneumonid, Itoplectis rufuscula, Davis, having 

 been obtained from many hundred pupae. By far the most important 

 enemy of this insect is the fungus, Botrytis rileyi, which holds it in 

 check during September and October, thus reducing the need for 

 arsenicals. 



Graham (S. A.). Notes on the Control of the White Pine Weevil.— JZ. 

 Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H., ix, no. 6, December 1916, 

 pp. 549-551. 



This is a record of experiments with various sprays for the control of 

 Pissodes strobi, Peck., on the w^hite pine. These included kerosene, 

 creosote, carbolineum, sulphur, lead arsenates, calite and carbolic. 

 The only effective sprays were creosote and carbolineum, but with 

 each of these there is some injury to the tree, and further experiments 

 are required. It is necessary to spray only the terminal shoots, as 

 these are the points attacked. The application of tanglefoot to the 

 trees is also considered worthy of further experiment. 



HuNGERFORD (H. B.). Scicira Maggots Injurious to Potted Plants. — 



Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H., ix, no. 6, December 1916, 

 pp. .538-549, plates. 



The larvae of the Mycetophilid, Sciara cojjrophila, are omnivorous 

 feeders, their favourite food being the roots and root-hairs of potted 

 plants. The life-history, which is fully described, occupies 24 to 32 

 days. The insect prefers soils that are moist and rich in manure. 

 All kinds of insecticides were tried against the maggots in the soil, but 

 the most effective measure was to let the soil become perfectly dry 

 occasionally. Dry sand should be laid on the surface of the soil, and 

 trap-pots of dried blood and earth and sprouting grain wall attract the 

 ovipositing adults. These traps should be submerged in boiling water 

 about every two weeks to destroy the eggs. The maggots are attacked 

 by a Dipterous parasite [see this Review, Ser. A, in, p. 466] ; a bug, 

 Milyas sp. , destroys the eggs, and there is also a Nematode parasite, the 

 life-history of which is being studied. 



A bibliography of 23 works is given. 



