504 



but the author has some evidence that drought has the same result, 

 as the insect is well able to withstand it, while its natural enemies 

 are killed. There is no satisfactory remedial measure known, though 

 kerosene emulsion with insect powder or tobacco extract may be of 

 some use. 



NiSHiGAYA (J.). Honnen Aomoriken no Heikwa ni Daihassei seru 

 Kashiwa-kemushi ni tsuite. [On the Caterpillars of Lymantria 

 mathura that appeared in Abundance on the Apple in 1918.] — ■ 

 Konchu-Sekai [Insect Worlcl], Gifu, vol. xxii, September 15th, 

 1918, pp. 13-20. 



Lymantria tnathira, Moore, which is known to feed on forest trees, 

 especially on Quercvs dentata, appeared in immense numbers in 

 apple orchards of the Minamitsugaru District of theAomori Prefecture, 

 in July 1918. The caterpillars defoliated many of the orchards 

 of this apple-growing district to such an extent that in some places 

 the trees were cut down for charcoal and the harvest lost. The 

 caterpillar hatches from the end of May to the beginning of June, 

 matures from the middle to the end of July and pupates from the end 

 of July to the beginning of August. The adult emerges in August 

 and oviposits shortly afterwards. The larvae on hatching remain in 

 a mass for 4 or 5 days and then begin to disperse. Whereas the gipsy- 

 moth caterpillar [I/ymantria dispar] does not exhibit a preference 

 for apple foliage, the present species feeds chiefly at first on the young 

 buds and later attacks the larger leaves of apple. The former caterpillar 

 usually rests in cracks of the bark or at the base of a branch, while the 

 latter shelters itself within the foliage. The adult female of L. mathura 

 is more active than that of L. dispar, while the male is less so. The 

 eggs are laid usually on pine trees, if there are forests of this 

 tree near the apple orchard, and such trees should be examined for 

 egg- masses. 



As regards remedial measures, since the caterpillars are still very 

 small in the middle of June, spraying with any insecticide and applying 

 adhesive bands to prevent them climbing the trunks are very effective. 

 For the spray, kerosene emulsion (1 in 20) is good by itself, or mixed 

 wth insect powder (1 in 30), or wth tobacco (1 in 20), or with fish-oil 

 (1 in 20), the last being the best of all. For adhesive bands tar or 

 bird-lime is used. The collection of mature caterpillars and of pupae 

 among the fohage is also of some value. 



SiLVESTRi (F.). Contribuzione alia Conoscenza del Genere Centrobia, 

 Forster. [A Contribution to the Knowledge of the Genus 

 Centrobia, Forster.]— i5oZ/. Lab. Zool. Gen. Agrar. R. Scuola Sup. 

 Agric, Portici, xii, August 1918, pp. 245-251, 4 figs. 



This paper re-describes the Chalcidid genus Centrobia, Forster. 

 C. walkeri, Forst., was taken in Italy from twigs of Quercus robur, 

 from which were also obtained specimens of C. walkeri, Forster, 

 var. minor, nov. This variety also occurs on Quercus ilex. C. similis, 

 sp. n., is described from specimens taken in Italy from the hazel 

 {Corylus avellanu). 



