380 



laid singly on either surface of the leaf and the young larvae feed on 

 the leaves, while the older larvae bore into the seed-pods. The life- 

 cycle occupies on an average 36 days, there being thus a possibility 

 of 10 broods in a year. H. assulta has a wide distribution and also 

 occurs in West Africa, Asia, Japan, Queensland and Samoa. 



PhtJiorimaea heliopa oviposits on tobacco on the surface of the 

 stem, into which the newly-hatched larva penetrates and travels 

 either upwards or downwards. When it has been inside for several 

 days a swelling of the stem begins, followed by the wilting of the young 

 buds. The best and most practical method of control is to pull up 

 and destroy infested plants, if young ; though vigorous plants can be 

 dealt with by making a longitudinal cut on the swollen part of the 

 stem with a clean, sharp, thin-bladed knife to expose and kill the 

 larva. No further treatment of the plant is necessary. Seedlings, 

 especially those that have been kept for a long time in seed-beds, are 

 severely attacked, hence it is important to transplant them when 

 about 6 inches high and to remove all shoots growing at the base of 

 the plant and on the axils of the leaves. Spraying with Paris green 

 does not prevent the moth from ovipositing on the stem. 



Phytometra eriosoma, Gn., was first observed feeding on tobacco 

 in 1914. While the plants were still in the seed-flats they were 

 severely injured by larvae, very few of which, however, touched the 

 plants after they had been transplanted and had reached the flowering 

 stage. At this time the larvae occurred in large numbers on carrots, 

 cress and celery. 



The larva of Acherontia lachesis, F. (tobacco horn-worm), though 

 not at present causing any serious injury to tobacco, is a potential 

 pest that it is safer to destroy. 



Prodenia litura and Heliothis assulta may be controlled by spraying 

 with Paris green in either the wet or dry form, care being taken to 

 cover both surfaces of the leaves. The Reduviid, Etiagoras plagiatus, 

 Burm., is predaceous on these two larvae, while Phytometra eriosoma 

 is parasitised by a Braconid, Urogaster sp., and attacked by a fungus^ 

 Cordyceps sp. The caterpillars of all these species may be reduced 

 by fowls, if a limited number are allowed the free run of the plantation, 

 and also by handpicking. 



La Cochenille australienne (Iccrya purchasi) et son Parasite naturel 



{Novius cardinalis). [The Australian Scale Insect (Icerya purchasi) 

 and its Natural Enemy {Novius cardinalis).] — Bull. Sac. Etude 

 Yulg. Zool. Agric, Bordeaux, xvii, no. 6, June 1918, pp. 56-61. 



A note under the above title was issued in March of this year by 

 the Minister of Agriculture, drawing attention to the occurrence and 

 life-history of Icerya purchasi (cottony cushion scale) and to the 

 means of controlling it by its natural enemy, Novius cardinalis. 

 Lest new centres of infection in southern France should become 

 established and extended before the introduction of this Coccinellid, 

 an insectarium has recently been established at Mentone, one 

 department of which is specially devoted to the rearing of Novius 

 cardinalis for rapid distribution [see this Review, Ser. A^ v, p. 536]. 



