1907.] Insect, Fungus and other Pests. 



557 



to have been infested with aphides, which attack wild as well 

 as cultivated cruciferous plants. From May onwards as the 

 season advances aphides migrate from the former to the kitchen 

 garden or to cabbages, &c, in the fields, and it is then they 

 are chiefly noticed. Spraying with washes as recommended 

 in Leaflet No. 104 may be practised. In garden practice 

 j lb. soft soap in 1 gallon of water, sprayed several times 

 weekly has proved effective. 



Hymenoptera. — Oak Spangle Gall. — A correspondent for- 

 warded from Gloucester abnormal specimens of oak leaves, 

 and these were found to be covered on the under sides with 

 the common spangle gall, the autumnal form of the currant 

 gall. There can be no doubt that their presence in great quantity 

 is injurious to the trees, though not to a serious extent. A note 

 on this insect appeared at p. 478 of this Journal for November, 

 in which the alternation of generations was explained. 



From Witney the Board received specimens of wheat 

 .attacked by the corn sawfly, dealt with in the November 

 Journal, pp. 478-9. 



Mites. — Specimens of mites of the family Tyroglyphidae, 

 species Glyciphagus domesticus, were received from West 

 Horsham. With the allied species G. spinipes, these mites 

 are sometimes a great nuisance in houses. They were dealt 

 with in this Journal for June, 1907. Mite- infested mushrooms 

 were forwarded from Brighton, and with them were associated 

 two species of springtails. 



Springtails. — Small white active insects known as spring- 

 tails or Collembola were found in conjunction with the root fly 

 (Phorbia brassicce) on cabbage plants from Skye, and with mites 

 on mushrooms from Brighton. These springtails have long been 

 neglected, partly because the general belief was that they did 

 no damage first hand, but that they were scavengers, being 

 abundant among decaying plant matter. They sometimes 

 occur in excessive numbers, the typical situations being hidden 

 places, in damp earth, moss, &c, a number being usually 

 found together. They bear no wings at any time of their life. 

 Evidence has been accumulating during the past four years and 

 it is now proved beyond doubt that springtails directly attack 

 plants not otherwise injured. Both cabbages and potatoes have 

 been attacked and greatly injured by them. Several species 



