536 



Destruction of Insect Pests on the French Riviera. — Jl. Roy. Soc. Arts, 

 London, Ixv, no. 3384, 28th September 1917, p. 756. 



The recent appearance of Icerya 'purcliasi among the orange and 

 lemon plantations in the department of the Maritime Alps has led 

 to the entomological section of the Ministry of Agriculture taking 

 steps to arrest its spread. Unfortunately many growers have cut 

 down and burnt their trees, being probably unaware that the intro- 

 duction of Noviiis cardinalis was successfully employed against this 

 scale-insect in the same neighbourhood a few years ago. An insecta- 

 rium is now being established at Mentone, where this Coccinellid will 

 fee reared and supplied gratis, together with advice to all applicants. 



C. T. The Earwig. — Gardeners' Chronicle, London, Ixii, no. 1605, 

 29th September 1917, p. 132. 



As a trap for earwigs [Forficula auricidaria], an old broad-bean stem 

 is recommended as being as effective as a flowerpot and less unsightly. 

 Lengths of 6-8 in. are placed among the lower branches of fruit trees, 

 on chrysanthemum pots, under dahlias, etc. The insects thus caught 

 may be killed by tapping the end of these stems on a pail containing a 

 little water wdth a dash of paraffin. 



Webster (E,. L.). The White-marked Tussock Moth. — Iowa State 

 Coll. Agric. Expt. Sla., Ames, Circ. no. 33, December 1916, 4 pp., 

 3 figs. [Received 28th September 1917.] 



Hemerocampa leucosligma (white-marked tussock moth) has been 

 reported as occurring abundantly in various districts in Iowa during 

 the autumn of 1916. While this is not a new insect in Iowa, it seldom 

 causes such wide-spread notice. The life-history and control of this 

 moth have already been dealt with, [see this Review, Ser. A, v, p. 174]. 



LEGISLATION. 



L'Emploi des Arsenicaux solubles en Viticulture. [The Use of Soluble 

 Arsenicals in Vine-growing.] — Bull. Agric. Alger. -Tun. -Mar oc, 

 Algiers, xxiii, no. 9, September 1917, p. 199. 



In view of the difficulties that would be encountered by vine-growers 

 under present conditions with regard to hot-water and other treatments 

 against Sparganothis pilleriana, Clysia amhiguella and Polychrosis 

 botrana, in consequence of the scarcity or the cost of labour and 

 materials, the French Minister of Agriculture has decided, by a decree 

 dated 5th August 1917, to extend (for the space of one year) the 

 period allowed to manufacturers and dealers for the sale of prepara- 

 tions based upon soluble arsenical compounds destined for winter 

 treatments of grape-vines and fruit trees. 



Consequently, these preparations may be sold and vine-growers 

 may use them from the end of the coming vintage until 1st May 1918. 

 for the winter treatment only of vines and fruit trees. 



