293 



for 24-36 hours has been recommended ; considerable loss from decay 

 has however resulted from this method, although it can sometimes 

 be successfully used in dry localities. 



Severin (H. H. p.). Fruit Flies of Economic Importance in California. 

 Currant Fruit Fly {Epochra canadensis, Loew). — Mthly. Bull. Cal. 

 State Commiss. Hortic, Sacramento, vii, no. 4, April 1918, pp. 201- 

 206, 3 figs. 



Epochra canadensis, Lw. (currant fruit fly) is of very widespread 

 occurrence in Canada and the United States, but apparently has 

 not been recorded in any other countries. The native host-plants 

 are the wild northern gooseberry {Grossularia oxyacanthoides), the 

 flowering or mountain currant {Ribes alpinum), and the wild red 

 currant {Ribes triste). The life-history and habits of the insect are 

 described. Eggs of apparently a Hymenopterous parasite were found 

 in the respiratory hole of E. canadensis in a gooseberry, but no adequate 

 control by natural enemies has been recorded. 



Measures against this pest under garden conditions include the 

 daily collection and destruction of fallen infested fruit. Submerging 

 fruit for two days in water destroys all larvae, and this can then be 

 buried or ploughed into the soil. As the pupal stage is passed in 

 the ground below the bushes, the surface soil to a depth of three inches 

 should be removed. Various poisons placed on the ground to destroy 

 larvae, pupae or adults when emerging were tried without success. 

 Potassium cyanide added to soil containing puparia destroyed the 

 pupae, but resulted in defoliation. Vegetable and petroleum oil traps 

 gave no success. Fowls destroy many puparia under the bushes, 

 and should be allowed access to them after the crop is harvested and 

 in early spring before the fruit is set. An objection is that hens 

 scratch holes in the earth and expose the roots of the bushes. If the 

 crop is left unpicked until August, practically all fruit on the bushes 

 would be free from maggots, though some of it may have suffered 

 from sun-scald. vSpraying the foliage both with lead arsenate and 

 dilute molasses, and with sodium arsenite and dilute molasses gave 

 a fair amount of success. The first application should be made when 

 all the gooseberries and most of the currants are set. 



Maskew (F.). Quarantine Division. Report for the Month of January 



1918. — Mthly. Bull. Cal. State Commiss. Hortic, Sacramento, vii, 

 no. 4, April 1918, pp. 217-218. 



The following pests were intercepted during the month of January : — 

 From Florida : Phomopsis citri and Lepidosaphes beckii on grape- 

 fruit. From Hawaii : Diaspis bromeliae and Pseudococcus bromeliae 

 on pineapples ; Coccus longiilus on betel leaves ; Lepidopterous larvae 

 in garlic and Coleopterous larvae in cigars. From Indiana : Aphis sp. 

 on roses. From Japan : Parlatoria pergandei, Pseudococcus sp. on 

 oranges ; Pseudaonidia duplex on azaleas ; Hemichionaspis aspidistrae 

 and Chrysomphalus sp. on aspidistra ; Lepidopterous larvae on pine 

 trees and in dried persimmons ; Ceroplastes nibens, Pseudococcus sp. 

 and borer larvae in persimmon trees and in roiDts of flowering cherry ; 



