No. 115.] 149 



known, recorded in this country. No mention of it is found in 

 any of our entomological reports. The specimens seut were not 

 in condition for study. The aphis may prove to be the Megoura 

 solani of Thomas, recorded as feeding on tomato. The wash 

 used in England for the hop-aphis — 100 gallons water, five 

 pounds soft soap, eight pounds of quassia, might be used for this 

 aphis. The dead stalks and leaves, and other garden rubbish 

 which might afford hibernating shelter, should be burned. 



Potato-Stalk Weevil — TricJiobaris trinotata (Say). (The Ameri- 

 can Kural Home for July 24, 1886, xvi, No. 30, p. 8, c. 4-5 — 

 22 cm.) 



Beetles sent from Maricopa county, Texas, as having almost 

 destroyed the potato crop in that section, by boring the stems, 

 are recognized as Trichobaris trinotata, of which a description 

 is given. It occurs in the Middle States, but is seldom very 

 injurious except in the Southern States. As the transformation 

 to the perfect stage takes place in the stalks, a preventive of 

 future attack is found in pulling up the plants as they commence 

 to wither and burning them. No other food-plant is known 

 for it. 



A Plant-Louse on the Potato. (The Country Gentleman for 



July 29, 1886, li, p. 569, c. 1-2 — 23 cm.) 



A plant-louse received from Wyoming, Pa., where it is 

 destroying entire fields of potatoes, is identical with examples 

 received from Springfield, Mass., two weeks previous. They 

 were in too poor condition, when received, for study or identifi- 

 cation. No potato-feeding species is recorded. They may be 

 the same as reported from Albany as infesting tomatoes the 

 present year, and possibly the Megoura solani of Thomas. The 

 English hop-wash of water, soft-soap and quassia, is recom- 

 mended for their destruction. As a preventive, stalks and all 

 garden refuse should be burned. 



[Notice of Dr. Walker's communication on "Experiments in 



Gapes."] (The Country Gentleman for July 29, 1886, li, p. 576, 



c. 1 — 6 cm.) 



No evidence adduced of identity of the parasite in earthworms 

 with the Sy?igamus. Earthworms not the only media by which 

 the gapes can be communicated — the media serve no purpose 

 for development. The experiments cannot set aside those of 

 Dr. Meg n in. 



The Stalk Borer. (The New England Homestead for July 31, 

 1886, xx, p. 277, c. 1 — 20 cm.) 



A borer damaging corn in Hampden county, Mass., by burro w- 

 iug in the stalk from the blossom downward, is Gortyna nitela 



