19 



stomach poison when eaten by chewing insects, or its odour may have 

 some fumigating eii'ect. Possibly the fihn acts as a direct contact 

 insecticide, on larvae as well as on other stages, and being so highly 

 concentrated, may prove fatal by mere contact. 



Merrill (D. E.). A Clerid Larva Predaceous on Codling Moth Larvae. 



— Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H., x, no. 5, October 1917, 

 pp. 461-464. 



A previous note has been published on this subject [see this Revieiv, 

 >Ser. A, ii, p. 386]. The unidentified species of Clerid referred to in 

 that paper was subsequently kept under observation for over 22 

 months, during which time the larva moulted several times and ate 

 12 codling moth larvae out of a number supplied to it. At the end of 

 this period the larva was very sluggish and was e\'idently preparing 

 for pupation when it was killed and partly devoured by another 

 larva of its o^vn species, though larvae of Cydia pomonella were present. 

 The species was identified as Cipnatodera aethiops, Wolcott, which is 

 said to be usually found on partly dead branches and shrubs, or hiding 

 under loose bark. Xery little is known of the behaviour of the adults 

 in the natural state, and though larvae have been collected from codling 

 moth bands on apple trees, and a pupa has been found under a band 

 in a codling-moth cocoon, there is some doubt as to the economic 

 importance of C. aethiops in relation to the control of this moth. Clerids 

 are mainly carnivorous, but under natural conditions this species 

 probably does not confine its attacks to the larvae of the codling moth. 

 Where bands are kept on apple trees in ^^dnter, the food-supply is 

 constant and the Clerids are protected, but even under these conditions 

 they do not appear ever to be sufficiently numerous to dispose of the 

 codling-moth larvae present on the trunJcs on which they are found. 

 Considering their long developmental period, their small numbers and 

 their variable diet, the efficacy of this species in the control of Cydia 

 pomonella is reduced to a minimum. 



Patch (E. M.). An Infestation of Potatoes by a Midge (Diptera, 

 Chironomidae).— JL Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H., x, no. 5, 

 October 1917, pp. 472-473, 1 plate. 



In October 1913 an investigation was made into potatoes on three 

 iarms in Maine, which were infested with the larvae of a Chirononiid 

 •tunnelling down into the healthy tissue of the tubers. The larvae 

 were abundant in the trails, 15 or 20 in some cases being found together. 

 No pupae were obtained from these larvae and by the middle of 

 November all were dead. A specific determination was not possible 

 under the circumstances, but the larvae were thought to be probably 

 those of Campiodadius sp. No further attack has come to the 

 knowledge of the author and it is hoped that the infestation was 

 encouraged by some local condition which may not recur. 



Dunn (L. H.). The Cocoanut-tree Caterpillar {Brassolis isthmia) of 

 Panama. — Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, N.H.,x, no. 5, October 1917, 

 pp. 473-488, 2 plates. 



Coconut culture on the Isthmus of Panama is an important and 

 •extensive industry, the value of which is likely to increase in the future. 

 (C433) b2 



