Vol.X>OCIIIj ^^^^^^ Literature. 449 



of the pest make up to some extent for the almost complete omission of 

 measures of control. It is said ^ that: 



" The insect enemies of the clover leaf hopper seem to be few. Birds 

 appear to be the most important enemies, and among the common species 

 known to eat various species of leaf hoppers in numbers are the Nut- 

 hatches, Yellow Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Long-billed Marsh Wren, 

 Nighthawk, Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, and Chickadee. In 

 addition to these, over a hundred species of wild birds are known to feed 

 upon leaf hoppers. These birds should receive protection at the hands 

 of the farmer." 



The author of the foregoing extract has also recently published ^ on the 

 corn and cotton wireworm (Horistonotus uhleri), a seriously destructive 

 pest in the eastern half of the United States. It appears that in this case 

 also " comparatively few natural enemies of this wireworm have been 

 noted. No internal parasites have been reared from any stage of the 

 species. Birds feed upon all kinds of wireworms, including those of the 

 genus Horistonotus." 



From a Florida publication ' we learn that birds are appreciated aids 

 in controlling the only serious insect enemy of velvet beans. " The cater- 

 pillars have many natural enemies. One of the most important is the 

 'Rice bird,' also called 'blackbird,' or ' red-and-buff-shouldered-marsh- 

 blackbu-d.' These collect in great flocks in infested fields. Other birds, 

 especially Mocking-birds, eat many of the caterpillars. It is proljably on 

 account of birds alone that small patches of velvet beans planted near woods 

 usually escape with little injury." 



Since bu-ds are more or less indiscriminate in their attacks upon insects, 

 beneficial species, as well as injm-ious, suffer from their predations. Brief 

 comment upon a case of this kind is included by V. L. Wildermuth in his 

 recent account ^ of the California green lacewing fly {Chrysopa calif ornica) . 

 This neuropterous insect preys upon scale insects, plant lice, leaf -hoppers, 

 and other injurious species and is held to be of real economic value. With 

 regard to its bird enemies, the wi'iter says: 



" According to the records of the Biological Survey, United States 

 Department of Agriculture, the Western wood pewee {Contopus richard- 

 sonii) feeds upon the species at Pasadena, Cal.; and at East Bernard, 

 Texas, the nighthawk {Chordeiles virginianus) was found feeding upon 

 the species, the stomachs of two birds containing three and six adults, 

 respectively." 



In judging birds in relation to useful insects, it must be borne in mind 

 that a bird may take at a single meal as many insect pests as the insect 



1 Gibson. E. H., Farmers' Bull. 737, U. S. Dept. Agr., June 26, 1916, p. 5. 



2 Farmers' Bull. 73:3, U. S. Dept. Agr., June 9, 1916, p. 5. 



3 Watson, J. B., "Control of the velvet bean caterpillar. Bull. 130. Fla. Agr. Exp. Sta. 

 June, 1916, pp. .56-57. 



«Journ. Agr. Besearch 6, No. 14, July 3, 1916, p. 524. 



