ate 
The vapor-sterilization room in the Honolulu laboratory is now in 
eration and experiments are being conducted with avocados, rose apples, 
mangoes, kamani nuts, and pineapple plants. 0. C. McBride reports: "All 
hours orf longer. The infestation in the rose apples averages 15 larvae 
per fruit. Heating results are very similar to those of other fruits. 
* * * Pineapple plants withstand very high temperatures. The pineapple 
mealybug kill was checked on 2 lots of plants. Lot No. 1 gave a very 
poor kill at 114° F. for 6 hours, relative humidity 98 per cent. When 
the relative humidity was reduced to 82 per cent a very good kill was 
obtained." 
H, Marlowe, Honolulu, T. H., continuing toxicity studies with 
the Mediterranean fruit fly, has determined that "in order to secure 100 
per cent mortality, flies must be very hungry or must feed over a period 
longer than 1/2 to 10 hours." 
H. Mitchell, jr., Honolulu, reports: "A few tests on Svacuim 
treatment of adult (Mediterranean fruit) flies indicated that, although 
flies exposed to a high vacuum for several minutes were rendered inactive, 
recovery would take place when they were returned to normal conditions. 
Exposure for more than 15 or 20 minutes is apparently fatal." 
L. H. Dawsey and Arthur J. Haas, jr., NewOrleans, La., who have been 
conducting experiments on the determination of oil retained on plant sur- 
face, report: "Work was started on this phase in June using the methed given 
by L. L. English (Jr. Agr. Research, 41, No. 2, 151. 1930), but with camphor 
instead of satsuma leaves. The leaves of course contain a large amount of 
natural oils and waxes, some of which are extracted with the oil. It was 
found that the variation in this natural oil and wax content was so great 
in the camphor that an improved method of analysis had to be developed 
before satisfactory results could be obtained. The new method consists 
essentially in extraction as above, then cooling this extract to—20° to 
-~30° C. and filtering. At this temperature most of the wax is solidified 
and separated in filtration.’ The chlorophyll in the filtrate is then 
destroyed by nitric acid, and the filtrate centrifuged to separate the 
oil, which is read volumetrically in calibrated skim milk bottles. Tests 
in which a known amount of oil was added have shown the initial quantity 
to be recovered, and very close agreement between different lots was 
secured. The method has been used successfully on pecan leaves also and 
is now being tried on leaves of other plants common in this region." 
D. B. Creager, Babylon, N. Y., who has been conducting nutri- 
tional studies of Eumervs sp., reports: "Young larvae introduced on 
sterile bulb agar remain alive without development for over 4 weeks, at— 
taining a length of a little over 1 millimeter, whereas the introduction 
of yeast or Fusarium completes the life cycle to the adult form within 
that same period of time." 
C. F. Doucette, Sumner, Wash., reports that examination of 
60,000 narcissus bulbs for Merodon equestris showed "the average infesta— 
tion about 3.75 per cent," but that species of Eumerus "were very scarce 
ee 
EEE — 
———S ee 
te 
E— XE KS ee eee eee eee 
