
bei EG fase 
Castor bean plant ineffective as a killing agent for Japanese bee- 
tie.--"A visit was made to the Landreth field plots at Bristol on July 
20," reports F.'W. Metzger, Moorestown, "to observe feeding on the plants. 
Few beetles were seen feeding and the number dead was negligible. No 
serious injury was seen on the plants, although soy beans in the im— 
mediate vicinity were badly damaged. The Landreth officials stated that 
feeding by large numbers of beetles: does not occur until the plants are 
Several feet high, or until about the middle of August. Few beetles have 
fed on the various varieties planted at the laboratory and the cage 
tests have given negative results so far as mortality is concerned." 
Electrostatic trap inferior to funnel trap for Asiatic garcen bee- 
tle.—-H. C. Hallock, Westbury, N. Y., reports that "The study of traps 
has been continued in 1932. The large funnel trap has caught a total 
of 51,954 Asiatic garden beetles during July. The largest catch in any 
One night (in this trap in 1932) was 11,598. t another locality obser— 
vations were made on an electrostatic trap which electrocuted the bee— 
tles after attracting them to the light. This trap captured 9,261 bee-— 
tles in 15 days, the largest catch being 1,818 in one night." 
TRUCK CROP AND GARDEN INSECTS 
‘New parasite of flea beetles discovered.--"Possibly the most out- 
Standing new discovery," says Neale F. Howard, Columbus, Ohio, "is the 
finding (by Alvah Peterson) of a new species of Perilitus that attacks ad- 
ult flea beetles, particularly species of Phyllotreta, namely vittata Fab. 
and bipustulata Fab. To date this parasite appears to be important in 
at least three hosts. Field collections have shown parasitism approx- 
imating 70 per cent. Early in July, when beetles were abundant, col- 
lections about Columbus ran between 60 and 80 per cent and late in July, 
when the population of beetles in the field was low, the parasitism ran 
between 20 and 40 per cent. The parasite has been found in hosts taken 
at Columbus, Wooster, and Athens, Ohio." 
Barium fluosilicate diluted with tobacco dust controls tokacco 
flea beetle.—-F. S. Chamberlin, Quincy, Fla., reports that "Field exper— 
iments with diluted barium fluosilicate have been continued this month 
(July). The investigations this season have shown quite conclusively 
that control measures properly applied early in the season will prevent 
the production of a disastrous third brood of flea bettles in the lat- 
ter part of the growing season. There were, however, numerous instan- 
ces of severe third-brood infestations throughout this region. Control 
measures were directed against these infestations with excellent results." 
Longevity of tobacco stalk borer in Arizona.--K. B. McKinney, 
Tempe, Ariz., has just completed a set of longevity experiments with <edult 
tobacco stalk borers. He submits the following summary of results: "106 
adults were used in this set of experiments; 96.2 per cent lived more 
than 45 days; 90.5 per cent, 90 days; 66.0 per cent, 120 days; 25.5 per 
cent, 150 days; 13.2 per cent, 180 days; 3.5 per cent, 210, days) i sia 
per cent, 225 days." 
