45 



111 this way the presence of the pest and its distribution throughout the 

 islands may also be ascertained. It is hoped that experiments in this 

 direction will be made by agricultural officers wherever possible. 



The employment of good cultural methods is resulting in an 

 appreciable reduction in the numbers of the borer in what were 

 previously badly infested districts. 



Baker (A, C), On the Chinese Gall (Aphididae— Horn.). — Entom. 

 Neivs, Philadelphia, xxviii, no. 9, November 1917, pp. 385-393. 

 1 plate. 



The galls produced by an Aphid on Rhus semialata have for many 

 centuries been an important article of commerce in China, where they 

 are employed in dyeing and tanning and in native medicines. They 

 have also been largely exported and at present are one of the principal 

 ingredients of the dyes used for sealskin in London. Although the 

 product is well known, literature relating to the insect causing the 

 galls is scattered and difficult of access. This paper brings together 

 the chief information published about this Aphid, which is compared 

 with the alhed American species. There are many references to this 

 Aphid in Chinese literature, particularly medical, dating back to the 

 16th century. The hfe-history of this species in Japan was studied in 

 1910 by Sasaki. A stem-mother was taken forming a gall on the 

 under-surface of a leaf petiole in May. These stem-mothers produce 

 17 or 18 young. By the end of June the galls are divided into 

 chambers ; projections then begin to appear on the galls, usually with 

 two young in each. Towards the end of August the galls contain 

 numerous females of the second generation and many young of the 

 third ; in October, young of the fourth generation are present and 

 nymphs begin to appear. During October and November the galls open 

 and the alate forms escape. It is thought that this occurs when male 

 winged insects are developed, this generation forming new galls in the 

 following spring. 



This insect was described by Bell in 1848 as Aphis chinensis. 

 Walsh, in studying a Virginian species allied to A. chinensis, in 

 1866, erected the genus Melajihis with M. {Pemphigus) rhois. Fitch, 

 as the type, this species forming a bladder-like gall on the under-side 

 of the leaves of Rhus glabra. The life-history, habits and structure of 

 the American and Chinese species referred to are so similar that the 

 latter must also be placed in this genus. A bibHography of 35 works 

 is given. 



Tucker (E. S.). Outbreaks of the Elegant Looper {Philtraea elegan- 

 taria, Hy. Edw.) on Privet in Louisiana (Lep.). — Entom. News, 

 Philadelphia, xx\dii, no. 9, November 1917, pp. 394-396. 



In May 1913 a severe infestation of a Geometrid caterpillar, 

 Philtraea elegantaria, was observed on Amur privet {Ligustrum 

 amurense). The adults appeared in June. Hymenopterous parasites 

 destroyed a large proportion of the pupae, the most important 

 being Chalcis ovata, Say, and Eutelus sp. A Tachinid parasite, of 

 which only one female specimen was observed, proved to be 

 Euphorocera claripennis, Macq. 



