374 



Geandi (G.)- Contributo alia Conoscenza degli " Agaonini " (Hymen- 

 optera, Chalcididae) dell' Eritrea e dell' Uganda. [A Contribution 

 to the Knowledge of the Agaoninae of Eritrea and Uganda.] — 

 Separate (42 pp.)^ dated 1917, from Bull. Soc. Entom. Italiana, 

 Florence, xlviii, 1916. [Keceived 29th June 1917.]. 



The Agaoninae from Eritrea and Uganda described in this paper 

 include four species hving in figs. 



De Gregorio (A.). Observations upon Icerya purchasi and its Natural 

 Enemy Novius cardinalis in Sicily (2.).^ — Internat. Rev. Science and 

 Practice Agric, MiJily. Bull. Agric. Intell. and PI. Dis., Rome, vii, 

 November 1916, p. 1722. (Abstract from II NaturaUsta Siciliano, 

 xxiii, N.S., nos. 1-6, pp. 5-17, 4 plates, Palermo, 1916). [Received 

 22nd June 1917.] 



Icerya purchasi, Mask., has recently been found at Palermo, but 

 has been kept in check by the Coccinellid, Novius cardinalis, Muls., 

 a stock of which was obtained from the Zoological Laboratory at 

 Naples. Another species, Chilocorus bipustulatus, L., also aids in the 

 control. The young larvae of /. purchasi may be quickly killed by 

 spraying the under-surfaces of the leaves with soap-suds. 



Aharont (J.). Eurytoma sp., a Hymenopterous Pest of Almond Trees 

 in Palestine. — Internat. Rev. Science and Practice Agric, Mthly. 

 Bull. Agric. Intell. and PI. Dis., Rome, vii, no. 11, November 1916, 

 pp. 1723-1724. (Abstract from Der Tropenpflanzer, Berlin, 1916, 

 Year 19, no. 6, pp. 317-322). [Received 22nd June 1917.] 



The larva of a species of Eurytoma' destroys one-half of the almond 

 fruits in Palestine every year, mainly attacking old trees and causing the 

 almonds to turn black. This pest seems to have few^ natural enemies, 

 which accounts for its general distribution. The larvae of a Micro- 

 lepidopteron and of a Curculionid have been found in blackened 

 almonds, as well as a Dipterous larva in Arabian almonds ; it is there- 

 fore uncertain whether Euryto7na alone is responsible. The eggs 

 have not been discovered, though it is known that the adults attack 

 the young ovaries at the beginning of March and the larvae appear 

 towards the end of May. By harvest time (mid-July to the beginning 

 of August), the kernel has been completely eaten, but the larvae 

 hibernate in the shell, till February or March. The insect can be 

 kept in check only by picking and burning all the fruits that have 

 turned black, but from which the adults have not escaped. 



Stone (G. E.). Studies concerning the Application of Hydrocyanic 

 Acid as an Insecticide. — Internat. Rev. Science and Practice Agric, 

 Mthly. Bull. Agric. Intell. and PI. Dis., Rome, vii, no. 12, 

 December 1916, p. 1858. (Abstract from Jl. New York Bot. 

 Garden, New York, 1916, xvii, no. 199, pp. 97-103.) [Received 

 26th June 1917.] 



Hydrocyanic acid gas, though a powerful insecticide, has the disad- 

 vantage of scorching the leaves and flow^ers of plants on which it is 

 used. As the result of experiments upon plants grown under various 



