431 



Jakvis (E.). Sugar-Cane Pests. — Queensland Agric. Jl., Brisbane, vi, 

 no. 1, July 1916, pp. 36-37. 



The common cane beetle [Lepidiota alholiirtd] was present in con- 

 siderable numbers in the Highleigh and Babinda areas. L. caudata 

 was found at Deeral but caused no serious injury. The native food- 

 plant of this species is Paspalum platycaule (carpet grass) and the life- 

 cycle occupies two years. The Noctuid, Mods frugalis, F., caused 

 defoliation of sugar-cane at Meringa and Gordonvale during March, 

 while a second brood occurred in June. The moth is well-controlled 

 by natural enemies and is not likely to become a serious pest. 



Walton (W. E.). The True Army Worm and its CoxiixoX.— U.S. Bept., 



Agric, Washington, B.C., Farmers' Bull. no. 731, 23rd May 1916, 

 12 pp., 8 figs. [Received 26th August 1916.] 



This paper gives a popular accoimt of the habits, life-history and 

 methods of control of Cirphis (Heliophila) unipuncta, Haw. 



Hollow AY (T. E.). Larval Characters and Distribution of Two Species 



of Biatraea. — Jl. Agric. Research, Washington, B.C., vi, no. 16, 

 17th July 1916, pp. 621-626, 1 fig., 1 plate. 



The summer and winter forms of the larvae of Biatraea saccharalis 

 crambidoides, ¥., and B. zeacolella, Dyar, are described. The former 

 species occurs in Mexico, the Gulf States and the Mississippi Valley on 

 sugar-cane, maize and grasses. Larvae in the first instar feed on the 

 leaves of the host, but in later stages are found Avithin the stalks. 

 B. zeacolella has been recorded from North and South Carolina and 

 Virginia on maize. This species differs from the preceding in that it 

 penetrates into the tap-roots of the host, whereas B. saccharalis 

 crambidoides is confined to the aerial stems. 



Malloch (J. R.). A New Species of Agromyza destructive to Beans in 

 the Philippines. ~ P/-OC. Entom. Soc, Washington, Washington, 

 B.C., xviii, no. 2, June 1916, p. 93. [Received 26th August 1916.] 



Agromyza destructor, sp. n., is described. This species often causes 

 serious damage to young beans and cowpeas in the Phihppines. 



Miller (D.). Control of the New Zealand Flax Gruh.—Jl. Agric, 



Wellington, N.Z., xii, no. 6, 20th June 1916, pp. 446-451. 



[Received 22nd August 1916.] 



The Geometrid, Xanthorhoe praefectata, causes most serious injury 



to flax [Phormium tenax] in the Makerua Swamp on the left bank of the 



Manawatu River. Injury occurs in both the wet and drier portions 



of the swamp, and the abundance of the insect is not dependent on the 



regularity or irregularity of floods. Attack is mainly confined to those 



bushes around the roots of which dead leaves, etc., have collected. 



Feeding takes place at night or on dull, wet days, direct simhght having 



an injurious eft'ect on the larvae. Movements are apparently influenced 



to some extent by temperature, but the insect is able to exist in districts 



in which severe frosts occur. Birds, especially the swamp-hen and 



