365 



heteromorphiis, Felt, has caused the death of many individuals, and 

 hair-worms (Mermis) have destroyed about 8 per cent, in recent 

 years. Fungus and other diseases also seem to be responsible for a 

 considerable mortalitv. 



GuiTEL (F.). Entomologie 6conomique. Parasites des veg§taux. 



[Economic Entomology. Pests of Plants.] — Insecta, Rennes, vii, 

 no. 73-84, 1917, pp. 37-38. [Received 17th June 1918.] 



Coccus viridis (green scale) is an important pest of coffee in Reunion. 

 Control measures recommended include the attempted introduction 

 of a fungus parasite, as yet non-existent in the island, a method 

 which is worth trying owing to its small cost, and the experimental 

 use of insecticides by the coffee-planters themselves, since the results 

 obtained are so largely influenced by external local factors, such as 

 climate, humidity, etc. 



MuMFORD (F. B.). Work and Progress of the Agricultural Experiment 

 Station for the Year ended 30th June 1916, — Missouri Agric. 

 Expt. Sta., Columbia, Bull. no. 147, June 1917. [Received 

 18th June 1918.] 



The work of the various departments is described. With regard 

 to entomology, investigations are being carried on with different 

 varieties of wheat resistant to the Hessian-fly [3Iayetiola destructor] ; 

 injurious insect pests of melon and related crops are being studied ; 

 the Ufe-history, development and habits of the corn-ear worm [Heliothis 

 ohsoleta] are being investigated, with practical methods for its control. 

 Nurseries are being inspected for the insects that damage the nursery 

 stock, with a view to methods of control being found for them. The 

 scale-insects of Missouri are being systematically studied. 



ToRREND (C). Insect and Vegetable Parasites of the Cacao-Tree in the 

 State of Bahia, Brazil. — Mthly. Bull. Agric. Intell. & PI. Dis., 

 Rome, ix, no. 4, April 1918, pp. 523-524. (Abstract from Broteria, 

 Braga,SeT. Vulg. Scien., Vol. xv, part 6, 1917, pp. 263-279, 4 figs., 

 & Ser. Botanica, Vol. xv, part. 3, pp. 106-127, 1 fig., 4 plates.) 



Recently discovered diseases of cacao have been investigated by 

 a Commission in Bahia which is the principal centre of production 

 of this crop. The disease known as rust is caused by Heliothrifs 

 {Physopus) rubrocinctus. This Thysanopteron forms colonies on the 

 fruit, in which the larvae puncture innumerable small holes, causing 

 an abundant secretion of the sub-epidermal tissues which eventually 

 covers the whole surface of the fruit. The simplest method of control 

 would be to crush the colonies of the insect. The use of insecticides 

 is difficult owing to the size of the plantations. An ant, which is 

 common in the district and is probably Dolichoderus bituberculatus, 

 seems to be a useful enemy of H. rubrocinctus and should be protected 

 and propagated, contrary to the present custom. 



A Capsid bug closely resembhng Helopeltis antonii, called 

 provisionally Mosquilla vastatrix, because it is beheved to be 

 identical with the insect known to Ecuador planters as " mosquilla," 



