SOME MISCELLANEOUS RESULTS OF THE WORK OF THE 

 DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



VI. 



THE SOUTHERN GRAIN LOUSE. 



(Toxoptera graminum Rondani.) 

 By Theo. Pergande. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Aphis graminum Rond., Xuovi Ann. della Science, Series III, Vol. VI. p. 10, 



1852. 

 Toxoptera graminum Passerini, Aphididse Italicse, p. 28, 1863. 



This destructive little aphidid was first observed and described under 

 the name of Aphis graminum by Dr. C. Rondani. who stated that the 

 winged migrants were swarming during the month of June in immense 

 numbers in the streets of Bologna to the great annoyance of the 

 inhabitants. In connection with his description he gives a list of the 

 following graminaceous plants on which this plant-louse had been 

 observed to feed: Oats [Avena sativa and datior)] wheat [Triticum 

 wdgare); spelt (Triticum spelta); couch grass (Triticum repens)] JL>r- 

 deum marinwm; soft chess (Bromus mollis), and corn (Zea maid). 



A lengthy article on the grain aphis was also published the same 

 3'ear by Dr. Dom. Luigi Mazzanti (Xuov. Ann. Sc. Nat. Bologna. Ser. 

 Ill, Vol. 6. pp. 342-352), which I have been unable to consult. 



Dr. J. Passerini redescribed this specie- in 1863 (Aphididae Italicse, 

 Genoa, pp. 28. 29), removing it to Koch's genus Toxoptera. He men- 

 tion- as its food plants Triticum, Hordeum, Avena. Zea. and Sorghum. 

 The same food plants were also mentioned by Passerini (Flora degli 

 Aticli Italiani; Bui. Sec. Ent. Ital.. Vol. III. pp. L51, 248, 340, and 



In 1884 Dr. (i. llorvath. of Budapest, Hungary, published some 

 observations oo this species (" Rovartoni Lapok," vol. 1. pp. L43-145 

 and XIX, and a second article on the same insect in "Fauna liegni 

 Hungariae," p. <">n. L897), dividing the area infested by it into regions, 

 Regions [-IV comprising the central, eastern, and northern sections, 

 and VI the southernmost central area. Neither of these publications 

 is at my command. 



An interesting article on the destructiveness o( this species t>> oats 

 was published by Dr. Karl Sajo, Budapest, Hungary (Zeitschrift fur 



