77 



"mealies" is used in this country instead of corn.) This swarm 

 was so numerous that it stopped a railway train, the latter being 

 obliged to go back several times before it could cross it. The farmer 

 sprayed a semicircle about 60 feet Avide in front of the swarm, using 

 the arsenical spray. As a result not a single locust escaped. It 

 seems that the sugar in the spray has a great attraction for them, and 

 they eat their fill of it to their utter destruction. 



As to the prevalence of malaria on our eastern line of railway, we 

 have at last succeeded in awakening the railway people to the serious- 

 ness of the situation. Next Tuesday Ave expect to start on a mosquito 

 survey of about 150 miles of railway, in cooperation Avith one of 

 the raihvay medical officers. I shall make accurate surveys of the 

 breeding places and the kinds of mosquitoes found, Avhile the doctor 

 Avill make blood studies of the inhabitants, including the natives, 

 horses, sheep, goats, birds, and other animals. We are being fur- 

 nished Avith three cars — one for living purposes, one for a laboratory, 

 and one for kitchen and dining room. If I am not mistaken, I think 

 that this is the first time that any entomologist ever had the oppor- 

 tunity of conducting studies of this character under such favorable 

 circumstances. — C. B. Simpson, Entomologist^ Transvaal Departnnent 

 of Agricultui'e^ Pretoria^ Transvaal^ South Africa. 



THE CATERPILLAR OF ANTICARSIA GEMMATILIS INJURING VELVET BEAN. 



October 8, 1903, Ave received from Mr. A. Fredholm, Fort Drum, 

 Fla., numbers of the caterpillars of the Noctuid moth, Anticarsia gem- 

 matilis Hbn., found on veh^et beans {Muerma titilis). We have also 

 received a communication relative to the great injury accomplished 

 by this species in Florida (localities not stated). The insects Avere 

 stated by Mr. John Parker to occur in great numbers and to destroy 

 the vines by entirely denuding them of their foliage. Mr. Parker 

 thought that several generations Avere produced each season, as they 

 appeared to be Avell-nigh continuous breeders. The larvae are exceed- 

 ingly active, and at the slightest disturbance jump to the ground, 

 Avhere they Avriggle about rapidly until a place of security is found. 



Blackbirds and rice birds eat them, but the insects are often too 

 nimble for the more clumsy birds and many escape. When, how- 

 ever, the birds are in large flocks, as frequently happens, they must 

 undoubtedly be of service. The " green sparroAv " Avas said to be 

 the most active as Avell as successful enemy of the larvae. These 

 birds, hoAvcA'Cr, do not occur in great numbers, but one of them would 

 get in under a vine and pick off larva after larva. The larva3 remain 

 on the under sides of the leaA^es. 



The veh^et bean is highly recommended for Avinter pasturage in the 

 extreme South, for hay, and for soil renovation; it is also used as a 

 nitrogen gatherer in orange groves. The occurrence of this insect. 



