118 PAPERS ON CEREAL AND FORAGE INSECTS. 
Mr. T. H. Parks, of this office, also made a similar record near Salt 
Lake City, Utah, on August 16, 1911, wherein he observed a “ number _ 
of large ants (Formica subpolita Mayr) dragging one of these half- 
grown larve to their nest in a field of alfalfa. The larva fought 
to free itself but was finally overcome and killed by the ants.” 
DISEASES. 
Early in July, 1909, many of the larve in our rearing cages at 
Pullman, Wash., were killed by a disease. First, they became slug- 
gish and contracted, and then turned dark brown, often being reduced 
to a black purulent mass. In other cases they became mummified. 
Specimens of these diseased larvee were sent to Dr. Flora W. Patter- 
son, Mycologist of the Bureau of Plant Industry, who reported 
that while she could find no fungi, the specimens were swarming with 
bacteria. 
A note made by Mr. Theodore Pergande* February 21, 1883, 
records a fungous disease (Botrytis riley’), having been found para- 
sitic on Plusia brassicw, by Mr. W. G. Farlow, of Cambridge, Mass. 
REMEDIES AND PREVENTIVES. 
Attention has already been called to the fact that in this species 
we have an illustration of the influence of natural enemies of a pest 
in protecting the iaterests of farmers by keeping the insect so re- 
duced in numbers as to prevent injury to his crops. So effectually 
was this being done in the case of the present species as actually to 
prevent the conducting of experiments for warding off such injuries; 
hence no recommendations can be given. The time may come, how- 
ever, when these natural enemies may themselves suffer reverses and 
temporarily fail to hold the pest in check; then the information here 
given will become of the utmost importance as a basis for experi- 
ments with restraining measures. 

1 Bureau of Entomology Notes, No. 294°. 


DDITIONAL COPIES of this publication 
may be procured from the SUPERINTEND- 
ENT OF DOCUMENTS, Government Printing 
Office, Washington, D. C., at 5 cents per copy 


