Vol. IV, Nos. 3 and 4.] INSECT EIFE. [Issued November, 1891. 



SPECIAL NOTES. 



Entomological Work at the lo-wa Experiment Station.* — This Bulletin COll- 

 taius, iis its fifth article, reports of the entoniologieal work of Herbert 

 Osborn and H. A. Gossard. The subtitles are: The Clover-seed Cater- 

 pillar {Grapholifha infersfincfaxa Clem.), Experiments with the Hopper- 

 dozer for Grass Leaf-hoppers, Kerosene emulsion for Plant-lice, Note 

 on Grasshoppers, The Flavescent Clover- weevil {Sitones Jlavescem All.), 

 and the Wheat Bulb- worm {Meromyza americana). As the first of these 

 articles appeared in the last number of Insect Life in the Proceedings 

 of the Association of Economic Entomologists, it will not require further 

 mention. The second describes a home-made hopperdozer and the re- 

 sults of its use on the campus of the Iowa Agricultural College. Many 

 grass leaf-hoppers were cS-ptured, and multitudes of the Clover Mite 

 {Bryohia prateHsis) were also caught. The hay crop from the treated 

 portion of the campus was compared Avith that taken from an untreated 

 portion of the same size, with a result of 34 per cent in favor of the 

 treated plat. The authors conclude that the yield of hay or pasture 

 land may be increased from one-fourth to one- third at a cost not exceed- 

 ing 10 cents per acre, by the use of the hopper-dozer. The conclusion 

 arrived at from experiments with kerosene emulsion for plant lice is, 

 that this substance is a perfect remedy against these insects, if the 

 application is thoroughly made, and that it need not be repeated to give 

 certain results. The note on grasshoppers comprehends a brief sum- 

 mary of the outbreaks of the season and a few paragraphs upon the 

 ordinary remedies. The most interesting note in the bulletin is that 

 announcing the appearance of Sitones flavescens in injurious luimbers 

 uj)on clover in Iowa. This weevil is imported from Europe, and while 

 it has been found to be abundant in clover fields in the Eastern States 

 during the past few years, its occurrence as far west as Iowa is unwel- 

 come news. The Wheat Bulb-worm has been found at Ames in mod- 

 erate numbers, but it is preyed upon abundantly by OoeiiM/M.s', its Brac- 

 onid parasite, and injurious multiplication is not feared. 



Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin No. 14, Des Moines, August, 1891. 



87 



