RECENT LITERATURE. 23 



weather set in. I find, in conclusion, that, with the exception of the in- 

 sects before mentioned, it has not been a good season for Lepidoptera. I 

 noticed very few examples of that often abundant and lively insect Plusia 

 gamma. — T. B. Jefferys ; Bath. 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



Handbook of Insects Injurious to Orchard and Bush Fruits, with Means 

 of Prevention and Remedy. By Eleanor A. Ormerod. 8vo, 

 pp. x, 286. London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., 

 Limited. 1898. 



In this volume, the most recent of Miss Ormerod's valuable con- 

 tributions to the literature of economic entomology, all the most 

 important information on the subject has been brought together and 

 presented in a form that should be of great help to the fruit-grower. 



The matter is arranged in accordance with the alphabetical sequence 

 of the various fruits considered; thus, under the heading "Apple" 

 there are accounts of American Blight (Woolly Aphis), Schizoneura 

 lanigera, Apple Aphis (Aphis mali), Codlin Moth (Carpocapsa pomonella), 

 Figure-of-8 Moth (Diloba caruleocephala), Goat Moth (Cossus ligniperda), 

 Lackey Moth (Glisiocampa neustria), Lappet Moth (Gastropacha querci- 

 folia), Small Ermine Moth (Hyponomeuta padellus), Garden Chafer 

 (Phyllopertha horticola), Apple Sawfly (Hoplocampa testudinea), Mussel 

 Scale (Mytilaspis pomorum), Apple Chermes (Psylla mali), Apple-blossom 

 Weevil (Anthonomus pomorum). In all cases the questions of preven- 

 tion and remedy are fully treated, and figures of each " pest " in its 

 mature and one or more of its earlier stages are given. 



Referring to Carpocapsa pomonella, our author states that other 

 orchar dfruits besides apples are liable to this infestation. " Pears are 

 sometimes much injured; quince, plum, peach, and apricot are some- 

 times attacked ; walnuts have been found infested ; and this species 

 has been recorded as having been bred frequently from sweet chestnuts. 

 The method of infestation is for the moths to come out about the time 

 of the opening of the apple blossoms, and when the petals have fallen 

 and the embryo fruit is beginning to form, the females lay their eggs ; 

 formerly it was supposed especially at the eye or blossom end of the 

 fruit, but according to recent observations it appears that the eggs 

 may be attached anywhere, — to the surface of the fruit, or to its 

 stem." 



In the case of Gastropacha quercifolia Miss Ormerod says : — " The 

 attack of the lappet caterpillars to orchard leafage has very rarely been 

 reported as occurring to any injurious extent with us, and here, as 

 well as on the Continent of Europe (where the attack is much more 

 destructive), it is rather from the great size of the caterpillars than 

 from their numbers that they are seriously mischievous." 



The illustrations in the text, over sixty in number, are excellent, 

 and there is a portrait of the author, reproduced from a photograph 

 by Messrs. Elliott & Fry. We have very great pleasure in commending 

 this handy manual not only to those for whom it has been especially 

 prepared, but also to the student of general entomology. 



