141 



other conifers, as well as the vine. P. betulae however is the species 

 chiefly found on the last-named plant. E. corni occurs throughout 

 Holland wherever the peach is cultivated, as is especially the case in 

 Westland ; it is spread by means of infested plants. P. betulae is not 

 so common, and a large proportion of the vines in Westland are free 

 from infestation. 



The mechanical removal of the scales in winter is a useful remedial 

 measure, but it must be repeated annually and is expensive on account 

 of the time required, especially in the case of the peach. Spraying 

 with lime, sulphur or both combined, is also useful, but not completely 

 effective. Petroleum has been employed with good results against 

 E. corni, but with the advent of sprayers yielding a very fine, powerful 

 spray and of water-soluble carbolineum the latter substance has 

 been used exclusively. By spraying the immature scales the loss of sap 

 is prevented, and numerous trials have proved that this treatment is 

 harmless both to peach and vine. It is important to choose a brand 

 which yields a milk-white emulsion when diluted with water. For the 

 peach the correct strength is 1 part carbohneum to 20 parts water, 

 and for the vine, 1 part in 14-16. The solution must be sprayed, not 

 applied as a wash, and the work must be done while the trees are quite 

 dormant, i.e., not later than December or January. This treatment 

 will also serve against the spinning mite [Tetranychus] and Pseudococcus 

 sp. on the vine and against the spinning mite, Phenacoccus aceris, and 

 other scales on the peach. 



d'EiMmerez de Charmoy (D.). Report of the Work of the Division 

 of Entomology. — Ann. Rept. Dept. Agric. for 1916, Mauritius, 

 1917, pp. 9-10. [Received 30th January 1918.] 



Mango trees are reported to have suffered much from the scale, 

 Coccus {Lecanium) mangiferae, and from the attacks of a Cecidomyid 

 fly, which oviposits in the tissue of the young leaves and stems, forming 

 galls which seriously interfere wth the normal growth of the plant. 

 Sugar-cane has been severely attacked by Oryctes tarandus, the 

 destruction of this beetle on one estate costing nearly £1,800. Another 

 sugar-cane pest, a species of Lachnosterna, has been held in check by 

 its natural enemy, the Scoliid w^asp, Elis rufa, as well as by trapping 

 the adult beetles at night, and thoroughly digging out the larvae. 

 Elis rufa has been distributed in large numbers on sugar estates. 

 Work has continued against Phytalus smithi, resulting in the destruction 

 of 2-J- million larvae and 66 million beetles in 1916. Tipkia paralkla 

 imported from Barbados has become firmly estabhshed, being found 

 in great numbers on its food-plant, Cordia interrupta. 



Froggatt (W. W.). a Lead-boring Beetle {Xylothrips gihhicollis). — 

 Agric. Gaz. N. S. W., Sydney, xxviii, no. 11, 2nd November 1917, 

 p. 814, 1 fig. 



The Bostrychid beetle, Xylopsocus {Xylothrips) gihhicollis, described 

 originally from Southern Queensland, but now known to have a wide 

 range over Australia, under ordinary conditions bores into dead and 

 dying trees, ovipositing in the timber, upon which both larvae and 

 adults live. Of recent years it has been found boring minute holes in 



