478 



varied from 9 to 21 days, with an average of 16*7 days. The pro- 

 longation of this period is, in many cases, undoubtedly due to drought. 

 In Fergus county, young larvae were abundant in grain fields on 4th 

 and 5th November 1915. On 10th April 1916, larvae in the same 

 fields were still small, and therefore must have hibernated in an 

 immature stage. From observations made in 1906, it was found that 

 hibernation took place at or near the surface of the soil. In Montana, 

 activity was resumed at the end of March or beginning of April, and 

 reached a maximum about the third week of that month. Pupation 

 was 'practically complete by 10th May. Pupae occurred in earthen 

 cells about 2 inches below the surface. The duration of this stage in 

 the insectary varied from 43 to 63 days, with an average of 54*7 days, 

 while in the field the duration was about 60 days. Emergence of 

 adults occurred from the latter part of June to the middle of July. 

 Maturity on the part of the females was reached in September, when 

 oviposition took place. This species has therefore one generation 

 annually in the latitude of Montana. 



Davis (J. J.). Aphidoletes meridionalis, an Important Dipterous 

 Enemy of Aphids. — Jl. Agric, Research, Washington, D.C., vi, 

 no. 23, 4th September 1916, pp. 883-888, 4 figs., 1 plate, 2 tables. 



The Cecidomyiid, Aphidoletes meridionalis, Felt, has been observed 

 to attack the following Aphids : — Aphis asclepiadis, Fitch, A. avenae, F., 

 A. cardui, L., A. gossypii, Glov., A. helianthi, Mon., A. maidis, Fitch, 

 A. setariae, Thos., Chaitophorus negundinis, Thos., Hyalopterus pruni, 

 F., Macrosiphum granarium, Kirby, Acyrthosiphon (M.) pisi, Kalt., 

 M. sonchella, Mon., Myzus persicae, Sulz,, Phorodmi humuli, Schr,, 

 Rhopalosiphum sonchi, Oestl,, Sipha Jlava, Forbes, Siphocoryne pasti- 

 nacae, L., and Toxoptera graminum, Rond. The eggs are laid in masses 

 containing up to 12 eggs on fohage among an Aphid colony or on the 

 back of an Aphid itself. The incubation period is about three days. 

 Aphids are attacked dimng the entire larval stage, which lasts from 

 7 to 11 days. Pupation takes place in a cocoon attached to the leaf 

 or on or near the surface of the ground. The length of the pupal stage 

 varies from six to nine days. Pairing and egg-laying apparently take 

 place at night. The duration of the adult stage in captivity was 14 

 days, during 10 of which eggs were deposited. In the vicinity of 

 Lafayette, Ind., at least six generations appear annually. The winter 

 is passed as a larva and possibly also as a pupa within the cocoon. 



Andrews (E. A.). Termites in the Luskerpore W alley. —Qtrly. Jl. 

 Scient. Dept. Ind. Tea Assoc, Calcutta, 1916, Part ii, 1916, 

 pp. 54-72, 5 figs., 2 plates. [Received 22nd September 1916.] 



Two forms of termites are met with in the Luskerpore Valley, which 

 differ in the method of the formation of the nest. In one case a mound 

 is formed and little injury is caused to tea plants ; in the other, the 

 nest is underground and tea suffers considerable injury. In the second 

 form the main nest is probably to be found at some considerable depth 

 and auxiliary comb-cells are connected with it near the surface. 

 Damage to tea plants by this termite almost always begins above 



