469 



Strickland (E. H.). The March fly (Bibio abbreviatus) in grain fields 

 and as a pest of celery. — Agric. Guz. Canada, Ottawa, iii, no. 7, 

 July 1916, pp. 600-603, 3 figs. [Received 6tli September 1916.] 



In the autumn of 1913 and again in 1914 celery plants at Lethbridge 

 were damaged by the larvae of Bibio abbreviatus (March fly). This 

 appears to be an exceptional habit of these larvae, which feed for the 

 most part on decaying material and are likely to be found in immense 

 numbers where there has been a heavy application of farm yard 

 manure. They also abound in places which contain rotting vegetation. 

 The dates of oviposition and the early stages are unknown, but by the 

 end of October all the larvae are full-grown. In this condition the 

 winter is passed at a varying depth in the soil. Early in April the 

 larvae begin to work their way towards the surface of the soil and 

 pupate. The larvae are distinctly gregarious, both in autumn and 

 spring, and the pupae are usually found in groups of a dozen or more, 

 though each inhabits a separate cavity. The adults begin to hatch 

 in about 10 days, the first appearing on 10th May. Though the larvae 

 of B. abbreviatus have not been often recorded as of economic 

 importance, they have occasionally been reported as pests of rhubarb, 

 both in England and America. Another species, B, gracilis, has also 

 been found damaging autumn wheat in Canada and elsewhere. The 

 damage to celery consists of the destruction of the soft pulp between 

 the fibro-vascular bundles of the stalks, and where a large number of 

 larvae are present, the whole of the underground portion may be 

 affected. The attacked areas turn brown during the late sunmier and 

 autumn and are the seat of infection for various fungus diseases and 

 small Dipterous larvae, such as those of Drosophila, which soon render 

 the plants unfit for sale. Celery beds are heavily manured, and the 

 larvae live and usually mature in the manure. When the celery is 

 earthed up in August, many of them are brought into contact with the 

 pulpy flesh of the stalks and apparently prefer it to their normal food. 

 Earthing up should therefore be avoided in places where these larvae 

 are numerous. Bleaching celery between boards, or prepared paper, 

 has been tested at Lethbridge with good results and is recommended. 



MacDougall (R. S). Insect and Arachnid Pests of 1915.— Trans. 



Highland & Agric. Soc. Scotland, 1916, pp. 1-33, 13 figs. [Reprint 

 received 13th September 1916.] 



Larvae of Merodon equestris and Eumerus strigatus (narcissus flies) 

 were found in bulbs of Narcissus poeticus. Otiorrhynchus sulcatus (black 

 vine weevil) was reported as injurious to cyclamens under glass. The 

 adults of this species may be trapped by means of sacking or hay 

 placed round the plant or by shaking from the plants at night, while 

 the larvae attacking the roots may be destroyed by incorporating 

 naphthahne or vaporite with the soil. Acherontia atropos was found 

 in a bee-hive in Kirkcudbrightshire. Adults of Amorpha {Smerinthus) 

 populi (poplar hawk moth) appeared in June and July, the larvae being 

 recorded on poplar, elm and some garden plants. Hepialus humuli 

 (ghost swift moth) was found on herbaceous plants. Meligethes 

 aeneus (turnip flower beetle) was reported from Fife during June on 

 the flowers of Raphanus raphanistrum and Sinapis arvensis. The eggs 



