219 



Orandi (G.). Contribute alia conoscenza del costumi e delle meta- 

 morfosi del Tychius 5-punctatus (L.), (Coleoptera, Curculionidae). 

 [A contribution to the knowledge of the habits and metamor- 

 phoses of Tychius 5-punctatus, L. (Coleoptera Curculionidae).] — 

 Separate, dated 18th March 1916, from Boll. Lab. Zool. Agrar. R. 

 Scuola Sup. Agric, Portici, x, pp. 103-119, 6 figs. 



In April 1915 the attention of the Laboratory was called to a severe 

 invasion of Tychius 5-punctatus in bean plantations at Kuvo di Puglia. 

 All stages of this Curculionid are described. The adult beetle feeds 

 on the parenchyma of the tender leaves and of the young pod. In 

 the pods the holes bored for feeding do not apparently differ from those 

 made for oviposition, but sections never showed the seeds to be 

 attacked in the former case. Mating usually takes place in mid- April, 

 sometimes in March. After mating the female begins to ovijjosit and 

 usually selects young pods. The method of oviposition is described 

 in detail. The local damage done was serious. According to the 

 growers the infestations occur at very long intervals and the losses 

 vary from 50 to 75 per cent. ; in some cases the entire crop is lost. 

 As natural enemies are not known, soil disinfection with carbon 

 bisulphide (30-50 c.c. per square metre) should be carried out as soon 

 as the crop is harvested or before the new crop is sown. A more 

 radical measure would involve the planting of some other crop for 

 some years by all the growers in the infested region. The collection 

 of the weevils is not a practical measure. A bibliography of seven 

 works completes this paper. 



EoNDAR (G.). Bichos damninhos da fructicultura e arboricultura. 



[Larvae injurious to fruit and tree culture.] — Biblioteca Agricola 

 Popular Brazileira, St. Paulo, no. 22, 1915, 52 pp., 26 figs. 

 [Received 5th April 1916.] 



Cerambycid beetles are prominent in Brazil on account of the damage 

 they do to orchards and parks. The following species are briefly 

 described : — Oncideres amputator, F., 0. heterocera, Thom., 0. saga, 

 Dalm., 0. gibbosa, Thom., and mention is also made of 0. dejeani, 

 Thom., and 0. impluviata, Germ. Mangoes, peaches, roses andguavas 

 are among the many species attacked. The best method of control is to 

 collect and burn all dead branches in January, February and March. 

 Chrysophyllum raminiflorum, Cam., which is a tree of some value as 

 timber, is often bored by Hamaticherus mexicanus, Thom. {castaneus, 

 Bates) to such an extent as to be useless. This insect is attracted by 

 light at night from September to December. Its eggs are deposited 

 in the bark and the larvae mine subcortical galleries until they attain 

 full growth, when they bore to the centre of the trunk and excavate a 

 chamber in which they pupate. The adult makes its exit by the larval 

 gallery. Only weakly, dying or recently felled trees are chosen for 

 oviposition. H, mexicanus is also very common on Sponia micrantha 

 and this tree is attacked when in vigorous growth, so that, although 

 of no commercial value itself, it becomes of some economic 

 importance. To prevent oviposition in fallen trunks, all that is needed 

 is to decorticate them, especially that part in contact with the ground. 

 (C268) b2 



