286 



attacking the adult and mites, skunks, opossums and blackbirds, attack- 

 ing the larva. Fungus diseases due to Cordyceps and Metarrhizium 

 anisopliae, and bacterial diseases have not proved effective in con- 

 trolling these beetles Two outbreaks of white grubs in Ilhnois in 

 1912 and 1915 respectively were effectively controlled in some localities 

 by a protozoan parasite. At Lancaster, Wisconsin, a disease due to a 

 Nematode was prevalent in some fields in 1915. Artificial methods of 

 control include (1) the utilisation of farm animals, such as pigs, chickens 

 and turkeys, after ploughing ; (2) early ploughing, as soon as possible 

 after 15th July, during the year in which the larvae are transforming 

 into pupae ; (3) crop rotation ; a rotation of oats, clover and corn 

 has proved satisfactory in some districts ; oviposition does not take 

 place on clover, nor are small grain crops seriously injured by the larvae. 

 The crops should be arranged so that timothy and small grain do not 

 occur when beetles are abundant, while susceptible crops should be 

 planted in land which was thoroughly cultivated during the flight of 

 adults. The collection of adults by a trap lantern or the spraying of trees 

 with arsenicals would be effective if carried out by entire communities 

 instead of by isolated individuals. 



Britton (W. E.). Further Notes on Diprion simile, Hartig.— J/. Econ. 

 Entom., Concord, ix, no. 2, April 1916, pp. 281-282. 



Lophyrus pini, L. (Diprion simile, Hart.) has been recorded in 

 Connecticut in five widely separated localities, two of which adjoin 

 New York State, where this sawfly may soon be expected to appear. 

 Control measures include summer inspection for collecting larvae, 

 spraying of infested trees with lead arsenate, and collection of cocoons 

 in autumn and winter. During 1915, two complete generations were 

 reared and males of the third generation emerged in late autumn. 

 The average duration of the larval stage was 30| days. The broods 

 showed considerable overlapping and were somewhat irregular ; some 

 over-wintering pupae did not produce adults until after the first 

 generation of larvae had matured. Eggs failed to hatch on dry twigs. 

 Unfertilised eggs produced normal larvae and pupae. Newly hatched 

 larvae were unable to feed on Austrian pine, but after the first instar 

 were able to complete development on this tree. Over-wintering 

 cocoons were parasitised by the Chalcid, Pachyneuron nigrocyaneus, 

 Nort., to the extent of 31 per cent. The Tachinid, Exorista petiolata, 

 Coq., the Ichneumon, Hemiteles utilis, Nort., and the Chalcid, Ceramby- 

 cobius sp., were also obtained from the cocoon, and Tachinid eggs 

 were common on the larvae. 



HousER (J. S.). A New Method of Subterranean Fumigation. — Jl. 



Econ. Entom., Concord, ix, no. 2, April 1916, pp. 285-287. 



The experiments recorded in this paper were carried out in Cuba 

 against the ant, Atta insularis, which causes serious injury to many 

 plants, especially citrus trees. The leaves are carried by the ants into 

 the galleries of the nest, where they serve as media for the growth of 

 the fungus gardens, and trees may be completely defohated as the 

 result of attack. The usual methods of control are : — (1) The digging 

 out and burning of the nest ; this is expensive and only moderately 



