ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF SOWBUGS. ll 



very dull. Following the first stage of the molt the anterior 

 ments commence to loosen and arc slid forward. The dorsum of 

 the third and fourth thoracic segments is loosened before the legs 

 of these segments are released. From then on the last two pairs of 

 legs in the very young and the last three in later stages are used to 

 hold the animal in position. The anterior legs are aot available for 

 use for some time after they are free. The antenna 1 are withdrawn 

 last. 



Regeneration of parts takes place in the antennae and legs. Several 

 times individuals with aborted members were noticed. These latter 

 would gradually attain full length, then budding of the succeeding 

 segment would be noted and finally this member would be normal. 

 The regenerated part is white for some time. 



REMEDIES. 



In the treatment of sowbugs poisoned ha it- arc standard remedies. 

 The great fondness of sowbugs for potatoes long ago led to these 

 being used, poisoned either with Paris green or London purple. 

 The potatoes are sliced and a thin covering of powder applied. 

 Sprinkling the soil around an injured plant with Paris green, or 

 dusting the same under hoard- and other haunts of the sowbug 

 also very effective. If the sowbugs are injurious in a garden patch — 

 after treating the ordinary haunts — it i- best to keep the ground well 

 broken and raked to prevent clodding and cracking, which give- them 

 protection. Old boards, cans, and rubbish should not be allowed to 

 accumulate. Such precautions will tend greatly to prevent any 

 great damage or annoyance. 



Carbon bisulphid has been recommended for the treatment of sow- 

 bugs in greenhouses and dwelling-, but no special experiments along 

 this line have been tried by the writer. 



PORCELLIO LiEVIS Latr. 



Poreellio Icevis Latr. is a lighter colored sowbug than the preced- 

 ing, and doe- not roll up in a ball when disturbed, but instead runs 

 rapidly away to cover. The only definite point in favor of consid- 

 ering it a- naturally a plant feeder was the discovery of one dead 

 specimen under cotton dusted with Pari- green. It was found, how- 

 ever, that tiie best way to keep this species alive in the laboratory 

 wa- to furnish it with fresh cotton leave- and loo-e mixed -oil. 

 Sowbugs of this species were not found far from the barns, and were 

 not numerous in the laboratory cotton patch. They were generally 

 under moist, dark object- and seemed to prefer damp wood piles. 

 Several were found with Armadillidium in crevice- and in tree- at 

 various height-. One Poreellio was found in the -keleton of a car- 

 abid beetle, which was entirely eaten out. In numerous cases this 



