252 



rubbing of the tree against a post or board, or in some other way. Where the bark 

 has been kept smooth they do not seem to trouble it. The moth evidently prefers to 

 lay her eggs in cracked or roughened parts. Any application, therefore, which will 

 tend to keep the bark smooth will be of value. — [December 5, 1889.] 



Hessian Fly in California. 



This insect has been reported as being very abundant during spring (1889) in the 

 central part of the State, destroying most of the wheat around Mt. Eden. Personally 

 it was observed in the Santa Cruz Mountains on May 26. At this time they were 

 found in all stages from young larvae to pupae and empty cases (puparia) within 

 barley. Some of these collected the beginning of June produced flies until beginning 

 of July ; others collected beginning of July did not hatch up to date, October 30. A 

 few parasites (Semiotellus destructor) were also bred; they had issued up to Septem- 

 ber. Flies are marke d 443 ; parasites 443°; and a few Isosoma that had been bred 

 from some straw 443 a . One small fly was also found in jar ; this is marked 443 b . Dur- 

 ing September, 1887, a few puparia, evidently of this fly, were found near Alameda 

 on two species of grass, one of these Elymus americanus and the second a species of 

 Agrostis. Also during the last summer specimens and traces of such were found in 

 the Santa Cruz Mountains upon several species of grass. This is without doubt the 

 Hessian Fly. On October 1, 1889, I found larvae still remaining within puparia col- 

 lected in July. — [Albert Koebele, Alameda, Cal., October 30, 1889. 



An Ivy Scale-insect. 



I have an ivy vine which is badly diseased. Inclosed please find sample of leaves. 

 The ivy is some 30 feet long and runs along the inside of my store. Had one of about 

 the same length destroyed some 2 years ago by the same pest. Kindly inform me 

 what to do to get rid of these pests. — [George Teuchert, Lake View, 111, Dec. 2, 1889. 



Reply. — Your letter of the 2d instant, inclosing leaves of ivy infested by scale 

 insect, has been received. The insect in question is the common Aspidiotm nerii, a 

 cosmopolitan species which infests a great variety of plants, and is by no means 

 confined to the ivy, although occurring commonly upon it. As a remedy I would 

 advise you to spray with a dilute soap emulsion made according to the usual formula. 

 [December 4, 1889.] 



Ant Hills and Slugs. 



I have resorted to many expedients to get rid of the ant hills that disfigure my lawn 

 and sometimes seriously injure plants and shrubs, and have finally succeeded in con- 

 quering them. I first hive them — break up the nest pretty thoroughly and if it is 

 near the roots of a plant draw as much of the debris as possible a little way from it 

 and turn over it a large plant jar. The ants will promptly appropriate the jar, re- 

 move their larvae to it, and fill it with pellets of earth. I then drench this with kero- 

 sene emulsion reduced to a strength of 2 to 3 per cent., which will kill every ant 

 thoroughly drenched with it. It is more destructive to them than pure kerosene, 

 which does not adhere to them. In this way I have thoroughly conquered the ants. 



The rose slug and the currant worm I keep completely under by use of hellebore, a 

 tablespoonf ul to a gallon of water, and forcing it violently among the foliage with a 

 hydropult. Commencing in the spring before I can find a slug or a worm, and repeat- 

 ing the drenching once a week for three or four weeks, I can destroy them completely 

 before they do any damage. On one hundred roses I was able this spring to find 

 only two slugs, while the foliage of some common sorts I did not spray was com- 

 pletely destroyed. — [M. C. Read, Hudson, Ohio, September 5, 1889. 



A curious Case of insect Litigation. 



I recently learned of a case where the good work accomplished by the Vedalia cardina- 

 lis had been grossly ignored. It appears that a certain adventurer inoculated a number 

 of Icerya-infested orange trees, with the understanding that if by this means he sue- 



