June, ’23 
SCIENTIFIC NOTES 
327 
Dr. Feytaud’s paper not only discusses this outbreak and the plans for eradication 
or control but includes a most interesting and exhaustive outline of the various dis¬ 
coveries of the Colorado potato beetle in Europe from the time this species reached 
the Atlantic coast in the United States in April. 1875, to the present. These out¬ 
breaks which were more numerous than seems to be generally understood in this 
country, have all resulted in complete extermination up to the present time with 
the possible exception of one at Hohenwedel, Germany, in 1914, about which there 
seems to be inadequate information. 
The activities in France, in connection with this new outbreak and the successful 
campaigns of the past are particularly interesting, in view of the several entomological 
eoradication projects under way in the United States at the present time. 
S. B. Fracker, Madison, Wisconsin 
Note on a Bombyliid Parasite of the Pale Western Cutworm (Porosagrotis 
orthogonia Morr.) During several past seasons extensive rearings have been made 
of P. orthogonia from collections of larvae made in various parts of Montana, and a 
considerable amount of data accumulated upon the occurrence and abundance of 
parasites. Until 1922 only two Dipterous parasites, Bonnetia compta Fall, and 
Pleteria robusta Wied., have been reared from this species. Both of these are 
Tachinidae. 
In 1922 we found among our Noctuid pupae which were supposedly ready for 
emergence several actively moving pupae of a Bombyliid fly. These moved active¬ 
ly about for a few hours, then became quiescent upon the soil surface, and the 
flies emerged about two days later. The fly has been determined for us by Mr. 
J. M. Aldrich of the U. S. National Museum as Anthrax sp. and fifteen were 
reared from 116 larvae caged, or about 13%. 
A search of the economic literature brings to light the parasite recorded by Allen 
from the Southern Grass Worm ( Laphygma frugiperda S. & A.) (Journal Ec. Ent. 
14; 510, 1921) as the only recent record of a Bombyliid as an economic factor in cut¬ 
worm control. The fly ( Anthrax lucifer), reared by Allen, has a life history precisely 
similar to our species of Anthrax, so far as observed. 
This fly is apparently confined to P. orthogonia, as extensive rearings of several 
other common species of Noctuids, including Euxoa pallipennis, E. dargo, and 
Porosagrotis vetusta, failed to disclose a single specimen of Anthrax. 
William C. Cook, Montana Agricultural Experiment Station 
Calcium Cyanide Dust as an Insecticide. In August and September, 1922, 25 or 
30 orange and lemon trees were fumigated by blowing finely powdered calcium cyanide 
under tented trees to determine the effect of such material on citrus trees and on the 
scale insects infesting them. The trees were infested with the black, red and citricola 
scales and a complete kill of these scales was effected without any injury to the trees. 
Other trees were fumigated in the same way later in the season when rains and 
moist weather followed with the result that, while the scales were killed, some injury 
to the trees was apparent. The injury, however, appeared to be only temporary. 
During a dry period in January, one or two other trees were fumigated without in¬ 
jury. Moisture seems to be an important factor in connection with the possible use 
of powdered calcium cyanide as a tree fumigant, and further work to determine its 
effect is now in progress. 
Powdered calcium cyanide has also been used as a soil fumigant, and results thus 
