390 



Fink (D. E.). Injury to Peanuts by the Twelve-Spotted Cucumber 



Beetle {Diahrotica 12-'punctata, 01.)- — Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, 

 ix, no. 3, June 1916, pp. 366-368, 1 plate. 



Peanuts in Virginia are frequently attacked by Diahrotica 12-pimctata. 

 The larvae of this beetle bore into the young, soft pods and com- 

 pletely destroy the nut within. Pods which are approaching or have 

 reached maturity are seldom attacked. Examination of two plots 

 showed that one on which peanuts had been growing for several 

 consecutive years was injured to the extent of 47 per cent., while the 

 other, on which peanuts had been grown in rotation every three years 

 with maize or potatoes, was injured only to the extent of 24 per cent. 

 Vigorous growth and crop rotation are important factors in controlling 

 this insect. So far as is known, the larvae do not attack cowpeas, 

 clover, potatoes, cabbage, spinach, kale, turnips, tobacco or egg-plants. 

 Cereal crops are not recommended for alternation with peanuts. 



EssiG (E. 0.). A Coccid-Feeding Moth, Holcocera iceryaeella, Riley 

 {Blastobasis iceryaeella, Riley). — Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, ix, 

 no. 3, June 1916, pp. 369-370, 1 plate. 



Hibernating larvae of Holcocera iceryaeella were found during the 

 winter of 1914 beneath the old shells of Eidecanium {Lecanium) 

 persicae, F. (European peach scale), at Berkeley, California. Later 

 observations showed that the larvae fed on old shells, eggs and young 

 of this scale, but did not appear to attack scales which were more than 

 half -grown. Large numbers were found on Laurus yiohilis, L. (sweet 

 bay) infested with Aspidiotus camelliae, Sign, (greedy scale), but did 

 not apparently act as a check upon this insect. Other scales attacked 

 by H. iceryaeella are : — Saissetia oleae, Bern, (black scale), Icerya 

 purchasi. Mask, (cottony cushion scale), and Pseudococcus hakeri, 

 Essig (Baker's mealy bug). The larvae spin protective webs over the 

 areas infested by the scale-insects, the larval and pupal stages being 

 passed through in these situations. 



/C Cory (E.N.), Notes on Pegomyia liyoscyami, Panz. — Jl. Econ. Entom., 

 Concord, ix, no. 3, June 1916, pp. 372-375, 1 fig. 



Pegomyia hyoscyami, Panz., has been reared from spinach, Ckeno- 

 podium album and Amaranthus retroflexus. The eggs are deposited 

 on C. album in rows on the under-surface of the leaves. In 1915 the 

 first eggs were observed on 15th May. The incubation period is four 

 days. In 1912, nearly full-grown larvae were present in spinach leaves 

 on 17th May and produced adults between 5th and 19th June. In 

 1915, larvae were present until the first week in August ; they then 

 disappeared and a new generation was produced in September. There 

 are at least three broods annually. The pupal stage was found to vary 

 between 14 and 20 days. The entire life-cycle occupied from 30 to 42 

 days, with an average of 32 days. The parasite Opius foveolatus, 

 Ashm., has been reared from this fly. 



