41 
Vedalia at the Cape of Good Hope. — Hon. T. A. J. Louw, who carried over 
Vedalia to the Cape of Good Hope last year, writes us, under date of June 8, that 
although claims have heeu made that the native Rodolia iceryce is equal to the 
Vedalia in keeping Icerya in check, later developments show the superior value of 
Vedalia. The latter insect has increased so numerously in the cages that they are 
being distributed to all parts of South Africa. 
An Army Worm occurrence. — Dr. G. A. Hankins, of Toano, James City County, 
Virginia, wrote us under date of the 17th July that the Army Worm, Leucania unl- 
puncta, was present in his millet by the thousands. The worm was noticed in small 
numbers in the same field last year. He also sent specimens of the Red-tailed Tachina 
fly, which is stated to have been so abundant that the buzzing sounded like a swarm 
of bees. We assured him that the worms will not be injurious next year. The most 
interesting point of this instance is that the injurious brood of these insects is cer- 
tainly the second and perhaps the third generation. The usual date for the appear- 
ance of a destructive brood in southern Virginia is the latter part of May or the first 
week in June, and this brood consists of the immediate offspring of the hibernating 
individuals. 
Another predaceous Lepidopteron. — Mr. J. G. O. Tepper, of the South Australiau 
Museum, writes us, under date of May 30, that he has reared Thalpochares dubia from 
a larva found feeding upon the Black Scale in South Australia. The predatory spe- 
cies is not numerous enough, however, to produce any appreciable effect upon the 
scale insect. 
Kerosene Emulsion against the Hop Louse. — Prof. F. L.Washburn, of the Oregon 
Experiment Station, writes us that he has tried kerosene emulsion on the hop vines 
much stronger than has been recommended in various bulletins with no bad effects 
to the vines. He therefore infers that the complaints of growers in this connection 
arises from their carelessness in compounding and using the emulsion. This is a sig- 
nificant statement, since in a recent bulletin Prof. Washburn concludes that the 
emulsion is unsafe for the average hop-grower to handle. 
Periodicity in Insect Attacks. — A correspondent in answering our Cicada circu- 
lar mentions the fact that in his opinion tent caterpillars have periods of 13 years, 
judging from the fact that at such intervals he has noticed that they are very 
abundant. This observation, however, is founded upon a coincidence and one 
which affects only a single locality. Fall web worms are annual or semi-annual in 
their development and the fact that we have seasons of immunity from their attacks 
is due to the unusual appearance of parasites or to unfavorable climatic conditions. 
Army Worm in New Mexico. — Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell informs us, under date of 
August 9, that Lecanium unipuncta is present near Las Cruces in the larval state in 
millions. One field of alfalfa was defoliated and the caterpillars were destroying 
Corn and Capsicum and even climbing Apple trees. 
A new Hopperdozer. — Rev. M. Wirtner, of Boulder, Colo., writes us that this 
summer a hopperdozer 15 feet long, 2 feet deep, and 4 to 5 feet wide was constructed 
by a prominent ranchman for the purpose of fighting the local grasshoppers which 
have been so destructive. The box was divided into 16 compartments and each 
compartment filled with milk-white lime water. Excellent success in the use of 
this contrivance is reported. 
Fondness of small black Ants for Kerosene Oil. — Some recent correspondence 
with Mr. H. L. Hutson, of Texas, and Dr. W. S. Dudley, of Georgia, shows that flat 
boards covered with kerosene and placed near the nests of Dorymyrmex pyramicus in 
a Georgia town proved very attractive to the ants. They clustered upon it and 
brought grains of sand with which to cover it. Wherever such kerosened boards 
were placed the ants found them and covered them with fragments of sand and 
wood. This is a habit new to us and would seem to indicate that the ants appre- 
ciate the danger to themselves of leaving the kerosene uncovered. 
