117 



Porto Rico Ao-ricultural Experiment Station, and a 20-page publica- 

 tion has been issued as Bulletin No. 2 of that station, in which various 

 remedies are duly recommended and discussed. Like others of its 

 kind, it is subterranean and nocturnal, feeds largely on the roots of 

 plants, and extends its depredations over the entire year. 



As to remedies, clean cultivation, "hilling up," winter and spring 

 plowing, trap lights, and poisoned baits are the best that are recom- 

 mended. Mr. Barrett's bulletin can be obtained l)y application to the 

 Secretary of Agriculture, and it is not necessary to make further 

 mention of remedies here. 



The southern short-winged mole cricket {Scapteriscus ahhrevi- 

 atus Scud.). — During November and December, 1902, we had cor- 

 respondence in regard to this species with Mr. J. A. McCrory, Miami, 

 Fla. It was described as eating ail fruits that fall to or touch the 



Fig. 5. — Scapteriscus abbreviatKn; a, winged adult, dorsal view; b, same, lateral view; c, young nymph; 

 (I, older nymph — somewhat enlarged (original). 



earth, and injuring all kinds of vegetables as well as seeds, including- 

 Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, and tomatoes; also as eating 

 dried blood and ground bone in commercial fertilizer. Whole fields 

 of tomatoes were devastated, and the insect even gnawed the roots of 

 orange trees. Young tomato plants were gnawed off as fast as set 

 out, and the insects were described as working up the earth like thou- 

 sands of chickens scratching it. Injury began when the crickets were 

 "no larger than a flea." They were more numerous along the Miami 

 River and more or less scattered over the southern portion of Dade 

 County, and were multiplying rapidl3^ Our correspondent stated 

 that it was almost impossible to grow a crop of any kind on account 

 of the destructiveness of this pest. Seed beans were devoured as 

 soon as they became soft after planting. Of 100,000 tomato seeds 

 scarcely one had come up on account of the ravages of these insects. 



