288 



attacked by the fly than others. Determinations were made of the 

 ash content of young and mature straw to find out whether it differed 

 in the three varieties and whether it might be a factor in repelhng the 

 fly. The ash content was found to differ and the extent of infestation 

 seemed to vary directly with it. The 5deld of Fulcaster was much 

 greater than that of the other two varieties, but part of the extra 

 weight may have been due to the fact that it is a bearded form. 

 Investigations are being continued this year on a larger scale, early 

 and late sowings of several varieties having been made to observe 

 the effect of such sowings on the fly and on the wheat itself as regards 

 winter injury. 



Harned (K. W.). The Small Pink Corn Worm {Batrachedra 

 rileyi, Wals.) in Mississippi. — Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, ix, no. 2, 

 April 1916, pp. 295-298, 2 figs. 



Batrachedra rileyi, Wals., caused serious damage to maize over a 

 limited area in central Mississippi in the autumn of 1914. In 1915 

 the damage was less in the central counties, but was found to have 

 spread to other parts of the State. In both years larvae were found 

 in every field examined, the number of ears infested varying from 

 10 to 99 per cent. Larvae appeared to be more numerous in maize 

 grown on hill lands. Early maturing maize usually contained fewer 

 caterpillars than late varieties. Stored maize was generally severely 

 infested during November and December, but few larvae were present 

 as late as 1st April. Larvae were most numerous in ears which had 

 been damaged by other insects and in imperfect ears, but they also 

 occurred in those which were otherwise healthy. Infestation was 

 greatest at the tips of the ears, though other parts were also affected, 

 A temperature of less than 10° F. in January 1915 caused a considerable 

 diminution in the number of the caterpillars. In feeding, the larvae either 

 attacked grains which had been partly devoured by other insects, or 

 tunnelled through or between fresh grains. Sorghum and kafir corn 

 were badly infested in July and August 1915. 



Taylor (J. E.). Cooperation in the Establishment of State Quarantines. 



Jl Econ. Entom., Concord, ix, no. 2, April 1916, pp. 299-303. 



For the effective working of State quarantines the closest co- 

 operation must be established between affected States and the effect 

 of such quarantines on well-established lines of commerce be considered 

 before they are promulgated. The estabhshment of arbitrary 

 quarantines, especially when they affect commerce, is liable to lead to 

 retaliatory measures being adopted by commercial interests and 

 increases the danger of spreading a pest. The facihties at the disposal 

 of most State quarantine officers are inadequate to meet commercial 

 interests affected by quarantine measures. It is therefore important 

 that the various States threatened with attack by insect pests or plant 

 diseases should act together to prevent invasion. The author describes 

 the quarantine measures established against the State of Utah by 

 Arizona, Cahfornia, Idaho, Montana and Oregon, on account of the 

 lucerne weevil [Hypera variabilis]. In his opinion none of these 

 quarantines are justifiable, nor is any State gaining protection from the 



