ae 
to, leafhopper breeding grounds. On the basis of weather correlation 
studies the forecast index for 1934 indicates probable mean yields of 
16.535 tons of beets per acre. Allowing for normal deviation, as 
shown in past years, this would indicate that actual mean yields for 
1954 shovld fall between 15 and 17 tons per acre, or at least 1 to 2 
tons per acre more than were harvested in 1933. E. W. Davis, of the 
Salt Lake City, Utah, laboratory, has issued a statement for the ben- 
efit of the beet growers in Sevier and Gunnison Valleys, Utah, to the 
effect that the beet leafhopper may be expected to cause considerable 
damage to the crop in 1934. The precipitation in the desert breeding 
area of the beet leafhopper in November was sufficient to germinate 
the host plants upon which the leafhopper develops and the winter 
precipitation has been adequate to maintain these plants in good con- 
dition. 
Cold weather damage to winter and early spring crops in the South.-- 
W. J. Reid, of the Charleston, S. C., field laboratory, reports that 
the unusually cold weather during the latter part of February has been 
responsible for considerable damage to winter and early spring crops 
in the vicinity of Charleston. Local growers estimate that the injury 
ranges from 50 to 95 percent of the crop. The low temperatures have 
affected adversely all injurious insects, with the exception of the 
seed corn maggot (Hylemia cilicrura Rond.). This pest is usually more 
—— 
active in cool weather than during warmer periods. 
Food preferences and duration of developmental period of common 
coccinellids.--B. J. Landis and Neale F. Howard of the Columbus, Ohio, 
laboratory, report that special studies with seven species of the more 
common large cocinellids, Hippodamia parenthesis Say, H. convergens 
Guer., H. tredecimpunctata L., Cycloneda sanguinea L., Coccinella 
novemnotata Hbst., Adalia bipunctata L., and Cerato megilla fuscilabris 
Muls., have revealed a remarkably close similarity in the duration of 
the total developmental period, the range in the individuals of these 
species under observation being from 20 to 24 days. Although most of 
these coccinellics feed on a wide range of insects, some of them show 
marked fo .d preferences and are found on certain plants to the exclu- 
Sicn or near exclusion of related species. Adalia bipunctata occurs 
for the most part on fruit trees, elm, spirea, and, in midsummer, on 
parsnip, associated with aphics procucing waxy secretions. Cerato- 
megilla fuscilabris is found in the spring in the heads of dandelion 
and is quite omnivorous. It is particularly abundant on corn, fron 
the tine of flowering until frost, where it feeds on pollen fungus 
and small insects. Hinsodamia parenthesis was particularly abundant 
late in the summer of 1933 on alfalfa, sweet clover, and, occasionally, 
on beans. Hip podeamia convergens was most abundant on turnip, cabbage, 
potato, end bean. adult beetles were collected in the field by hand 
or by sweeping and were placed in individual vials. Adalia were fed 
