44 



the family Capsidce and of the geuus Helopeltis which are concerned 

 in the damage to tea and other plants, known as " mosquito-bligbt," and 

 after a consideration of the remedies at present in use he urges the adop- 

 tion of our kerosene- soap emulsion as the best remedy which he can 

 suggest. Mr. Atkinson also records the finding of a Wax-scale (genus 

 Ceroplastes) on the tea plant and suggests that the waxy portion of the 

 adult female may possibly be used as an article of trade like the insect- 

 wax of the pela in China. The species has been sent to Mr. Maskell, of 

 New Zealand, for determination. The butterfly which Mr. deNiceville 

 treats of as destructive to fruit is Virachola isocrates, Fabr. This insect 

 damages the fruit of the Locust, Guava, and Pomegranate, by laying its 

 eggs within the calyx of the flower, the larva boring into the young 

 fruit within which it develops and transforms. No remedy is suggested 

 beyond catching the female butterfly, but the arsenical sprays would 

 doubtless serve to prevent the injury. 



Mr. Cotes, under the head of " Miscellaneous Notes," treats of a 

 number of interesting matters which we have not the space to mention 

 in detail. 



Bean Insects in Nebraska.— In the report of the Horticultural Depart- 

 ment, extracted from the second annual report of the experiment sta- 

 tion of the Kansas State Agricultural College for the year 1889, Prof. 

 E. A. Popenoe takes up the subject of some insects injurious to the 

 Bean. The principal article under this head is, naturally, the Bean- 

 weevil {Bruchus obsoletus Say). After practical tests, Professor Popenoe 

 indorses the use of bisulphide of carbon as a remedy, following the rec- 

 ommendations of the Entomologist of this Department. The other in- 

 sects considered are the Bean Leaf beetle {Ceratoma caminea Fabr.), and 

 two plant-bugs, viz, AgaUiastes bractatus Say and Ralticus minutus 

 Uhler, MS. These insects injure the Bean by feeding in great numbers 

 on the under side of the leaves, puncturing the tissues, sucking the 

 sap, and causing the death of the leaves in small irregular patches that 

 appear as white spots. They operate mostly near the ground and upon 

 weak, slow-growing varieties, and sometimes do appreciable injury to 

 the plant. No practical conclusions have been reached regarding these 

 last two insects. 



Common native Insects of South Australia.— We have jUSt received from 

 the author, Mr. J. G. O. Tepper, F. L. S., Part II of his treatise upon 

 the common insects of South Australia. 



This part is devoted to the Lepidoptera, or butterflies and moths, 

 and has just been printed at Adelaide. 



