118 PAPEES OX CEEEAL AXD FOEAGE INSECTS. 



Mr. T . H. Parks, of this office, also made a similar record near Salt 

 Lake City, Utah, on August 16, 1911. wherein he observed a " number 

 of large ants (Fomvica subpolita Mayr) dragging one of these half- 

 grown larvae to their nest in a field of alfalfa. The larva fought 

 to free itself but was finally overcome and killed by the ants." 



DISEASES. 



Early in July. 1909, many of the larvae in our rearing cages at 

 Pullman, Wash., were killed by a disease. First, they became slug- 

 gish and contracted, and then turned dark brown, often being reduced 

 to a black purulent mass. In other cases they became mummified. 

 Specimens of these diseased larvae were sent to Dr. Flora W. Patter- 

 son, Mycologist of the Bureau of Plant Industry, who reported 

 that while she could find no fungi, the specimens were swarming with 

 bacteria. 



A note made bv Mr. Theodore Pero-ande 1 Februarv 21, 1883, 

 records a fungous disease (Botrytis rileyi), having been found para- 

 sitic on Plusia brassicce, by Mr. TV. G. Farlow, of Cambridge. Mass. 



REMEDIES AI\TD PREVENTIVES. 



Attention has already been called to the fact that in this species 

 we have an illustration of the influence of natural enemies of a pest 

 in protecting the interests of farmers by keeping the insect so re- 

 duced in numbers as to prevent injury to his crops. So effectually 

 was this being done in the case of the present species as actually to 

 prevent the conducting of experiments for warding off such injuries; 

 hence no recommendations can be given. The time may come, how- 

 ever, when these natural enemies mav themselves suffer reverses and 

 temporarily fail to hold the pest in check ; then the information here 

 given will become of the utmost importance as a basis for experi- 

 ments with restraining measures. 



1 Bureau of Entomology Notes, Xo. 294 02 . 



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