410 



Howard (L. 0.). How the Bureau of Entomology is meeting the 

 Great Issue. — Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H., x, no. 3, June 

 1917, p. 377. 



Immediately upon the declaration of War a letter was transmitted 

 from the Chief of the Bureau of Entomology, Washington, to all the 

 members of the Bureau calling upon them to do all in their power to 

 further the conservation of the country's resources, and announcing 

 the establishment of a system by which the reports of local outbreaks of 

 insects will be received, tabulated and mapped out, and statements 

 compiled for the use of the men in the field. Each member is asked 

 to report promptly the first occurrence of any well-known pest or the 

 beginning of any unusual infestation. 



The Campaign for Increased Food Supplies in Alabama.— JL Econ. 

 Entom., Concord, N.H., x, no. 3, June 1917, p. 377. 



In pursuance of the policy of economic entomologists throughout 

 the States, Alabama workers are endeavouring to save two million 

 dollars' worth of maize that is liable to be destroyed by insect attack 

 during the next two or three months. Arrangements have also been 

 made to obtain reports, at a much earlier date than would ordinarily 

 be the case, of any threatened pest occurring within the State, when 

 prompt measures of control will be applied. 



Smyth (E. G.). The White Grubs injuring Sugar-cane in Porto Rico. 

 I. Life-Cycles of the May Beetles or Melolonthids. — Jl. Dept. 

 Agric, Porto Rico, i, no. 2, April 1917, pp. 47-92, 9 plates. 

 [Received 10th June 1917.] 



This paper is the first of a series on the life-cycles, enemies and 

 methods of control of white grubs found in Porto Rico. Four species 

 of Lachnosterna {Phyllophaga) and one of Phytalus have so far been 

 found by the author ; these are all new to science and are briefly 

 diagnosed under the following names : — Lachnosterna vandinei, 

 L. portoricensis, L. guanicana, L. citri, and Phytalus insitlaris. The 

 only species dealt with in detail is L. vandinei. 



Experience has shown that the problem of white grub control cannot 

 be solved by direct methods such as poison- sprays or baits, and it is 

 therefore necessary to rely upon natural enemies of the grubs. These 

 include birds (of which the blackbird, Holoquiscalus brachypterus, is 

 the most important and is constantly seen following the plough in 

 search of grubs), fungous diseases, and insect parasites, both indigenous 

 and introduced. The potential parasites of the Island include the 

 Scoliids, Elis sexcincta, F., E. xanthonotus, Rob., Campsomeris dorsata, 

 F., C. trifasciata, F., C. pyrura, Roh., and Scolia atrata, F. ; the 

 Tachinids, Cryptomeigenia aurifacies, Walt., and Eutrixoides jonesi, 

 Walt. ; and the Elaterid, Pyrophorus luminosus, 111. In the case of the 

 last-named only is there direct evidence of the destruction of Lachno- 

 sterna grubs, but present experience points to the conclusion that the 

 two Tachinid flies are the most important and active agency in the 

 control of white grubs in the Island. A list is given of fifteen North 

 American insects parasitic upon Lachnosterna, and much is hoped 

 from the introduction of some of these species into Porto Rico ; the 



