224 



Tosastes cinerascens, Pierce ; Tricolepsis sp. ; Tychius lineellus, 

 Lee. ; as well as other beetles, such as, CotaljM gmnicollis, Hald. ; 

 Eusattus 7nuncatus, Lee. ; Glyptoscelis alternata, Crotch ; Polyphylla 

 decemlineata, Say ; and Syneta alhida, Lee. 



A table is given showing the food-plants of these insects. Among 

 orchard trees, practically all attack apples and most of them peaches, 

 while a few attack pears and other fruits. Their principal native 

 food-plant is the sagebrush {Artemisia tridenfata) though several of 

 them may also be found on the wild sunflower {Balsamorrhiza sagittata) 

 and Lupimis. The weevils proper are found only on new land or that 

 which has not been cleared of the native flora longer than one or two 

 years. 



Against these weevils in the larval stage the use of paper cone tree- 

 protectors is the most effective and practical measure. These also 

 are useful to some extent against the adults. The method of cutting 

 these cones in the most economical mamier and the sizes suitable 

 for one- or two-year old trees are described. A heavy paper is used, 

 the top and bottom edges of the cone measuring 3^ and 10|- inches 

 respectively, while the depth of the paper is 6 inches. The papers 

 are smeared on one side with a 3 or 4 inch band of tangle-foot, which 

 should not reach to the bottom or broad edge as this makes it difficult 

 to handle. A piece of cotton wadding is placed round the tree about 

 8 inches from the ground, and the paper carefully wrapped round it 

 so that its bottom edge is 3 or 4 inches from the ground. The object 

 of the cotton is to ensure a perfect contact between the cone and the 

 tree. The cones should be placed in position as soon as the trees are 

 planted out. Other methods of control are discussed, the results 

 obtained by different experimenters being tabulated. A bibliography 

 of 25 references is given. 



Mel.inder (A. L.) & YoTHERS (M. A.) The Coulee Cricket. — State 

 Coll. of Wa^Jmigton, Agric. Expt. Sta., Pullman, Bull. no. 137, 

 January 1917, 54 pp., 36 figs. 10 tables. [Received 30th March 

 1917.] 



The coulee cricket {Peranabnis scabricollis, Thomas) occurs in re- 

 stricted areas in Montana and Washington and in the latter State 

 has appeared sporadically in immense migratory hordes, which 

 devastated the whole of the vegetation growing in their path. It is 

 practically omnivorous, feeding on desert plants, dmig and dead 

 animals. If other food is available, it will not eat peas, but when 

 pressed for food it strips even the bitter sage brush. It is also canna- 

 balistie throughout its life. It breeds in non-arable areas characterised 

 by the presence of the scabland sage brush {Artemisia rigida), among 

 the fallen leaves of which the newly hatched crickets secure protection 

 in early spring. During the first four instars, the insects feed in the 

 breeding grounds ; at the fifth they begin moving in bands and spread 

 over miles of country. Eggs are laid singly, usually at the base of 

 grass stems, each female averaging about fifty ; they are deposited 

 during the migrations whenever the insects come to a favourable area. 

 The eggs are sometimes parasitised by a Scelionid wasp {Sparasion 

 pilosum, Ashm.), and small crickets are preyed upon by a Carabid 

 beetle {Calosoma zimmermanni), robber flies {Cyrfopogon maculosus), 

 and various ants, though not to any great extent. 



