129 



it had increased enormously on Acacia. The chances of natural 

 extermination of the scale are small, while the spread of infestation to 

 certain agricultural crops in Ceylon would be disastrous. An appeal 

 is made to all agriculturists to co-operate in providing information 

 regarding the spread of this pest and to attempt its control before it 

 attacks economic products. Immediate steps should be taken to have 

 all infested material cut out and burnt. 



Anstead (R. D.). Coffee Borer in Indo-China. — Planters' Chronicle, 

 Bangalore, xii, no. 48, 1st December 1917. p. 608. 



The coffee borer [Zeuzera coffeae] is a serious pest in the coffee 

 plantations of Noi-th Annam, where 12 or 13 per cent, of the trees, if 

 not more, are attacked by it every year. As the larva of this moth 

 attacks the root as well as the branches, cutting down the bushes is 

 useless unless the stumps are also removed ; consequently plantations 

 always show gaps that must be replanted \\'ith vigorous nursery stock. 

 The insect begins its attack on the bushes in the third year from 

 planting. 



ScHWARz (E. A.). Ants protecting Acacia Trees in Central America. — 

 Proc. Entom. Sac. Washington, Baltimore, Md., xviii, no. 4, 

 December 1916, pp. 211-212. 



Ants of the genus Pseudomyrnia living in the thorns of acacias in 

 Mexico and Central America effectually defend these trees against the 

 attack? of man, cattle, and insects, such as leaf-eating caterpillars and 

 ants. Ajjhids and Coccids, though one Coleopteron, a species of Bruchus, 

 ovi'josits in the acacia pods ^^'ithout being molested. The stingless 

 wasp, Polybia occidentalis, Oliv., also builds its nest in the tops of these 

 -p xit-protected trees and nowhere else. The ants are powerless to 

 protect their host-plant against underground boring larvae ; among 

 those bred from a tree killed in this way were seven species of 

 Cerambycidae and one Buprestid, a species of Agrilus. 



Fisher (W. S.). A New Species otXylotrechvs (Coleoptera : Ceramby- 

 cidae). — Proc. Entom. Soc. Washington, Baltimore, Md., xviii, 

 no. 4, December 1916, pp. 214-216. " 



Xylotrechus aceris, sp. n., is here described ; this species has been 

 confused with X. quadrimaculatus, to which it is closely allied, but 

 from which it differs in its habit of making galls on maple trees, being 

 recorded from Acer nihrum (red maple) and A. platanoides (Norway 

 maple). The injury caused by X. quadrimaculatus consists in girdling 

 the branches of various trees. 



Gibson (A.). Tlie Occurrence of Eumerus strigatus, Flu., in Canada. 



— Canadian Entomologist, London, Ont., xlix, no. 6, June 1917, 

 pp. 190-191. 



The European Syrphid, Ewnerus strigatus, has been recorded as a 

 pest of onions, shallot, iris, narcissus, hyacinth and amaryllis. It is 

 now widely distributed in North America, where its presence was first 

 recorded in 1904. As many as 17 larvae, which measure half an inch 

 or more when full grown, have been found in a single bulb, their 

 occurrence being the cause of much loss. 



