22 FIRST REPORT ON ECONOMIC BIOLOGY. 



MEALY BUG on VINES. 



A Warwickshire correspondent reported a very serious attack of 

 Mealy Bug on Vines, the particular species being- Dactylopius longi- 

 spinus (Targ.-Tozz.). 



When inspected the stem, branches, and roots were covered with 

 the insect in various stages ; indeed, I have never seen a worse attack, 

 although it is a common vine pest in the Midlands, and frequently 

 forwarded by nurserymen, etc. 



The method adopted in this case was as follows : 



A tin of soft soap and paraffin (Price's) was mixed with a little 

 water to the consistency of paint, and the whole of three vines were 

 painted over with a stiff paint brush. The roots were treated with 

 the same material, further diluted, and at a later date the whole of the 

 plants were well sprayed with a still further dilution of the same 

 material. 



Althoug-h the trouble, so I was informed, had existed (< for some 

 years on a small scale, it seemed to break out and run riot " with the 

 commencement of 1910, but happily nothing further has been seen of 

 the pest, and the house up to the present time remains quite free. 



THE CHERRY BLACK FLY. 



Myzus c era si, Fabr. 



The black aphis of the cherry is a particularly serious pest to 

 wall fruit, and it was recorded on such trees from various localities 

 during the past year. 



LlFE-HlSTORY. 



Early in the spring, on the lower leaves, wingless viviparous 

 females appear, having hatched from eggs laid the previous autumn. 

 These soon give birth to young lice, which develop into wingless 

 viviparous females, which quickly spread over the tree, feeding on 

 the leaves from their undersides. The infested leaves curl up and many 

 die, particularly is this so in dry weather. This continues until July, 

 when many change to olive green pupae with yellowish wing cases. 

 Later these develop into winged viviparous females, and for a short 

 time they remain on the tree, suddenly deserting it. Where they go 



