OFFICIAL ORGAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS

OCTOBER, 1912

The editors will thankfully receive news items and other matter likely to be of interest to subscribers. Papers will be published, so far as possible, in the order of reception. All extended contributions, at least, should be in the hands of the editor the first of the month preceding publication. Reprints may be obtained at cost. Contributors are requested to supply electrotypes for the larger illustrations so far as possible. The receipt of all papers will be acknowledged.-EDS.

The recent enactment of a National Plant Quarantine Act is a great stride in applied or economic entomology and one which should have been taken years ago. The Federal Government is now charged with functions which could not be exercised by the various States and all may look for a much greater protection from injurious insects. Co-operation between National and State agencies should result in a maximum efficiency at a minimum expenditure. Some were afraid such a law might prove a serious hindrance to certain phases of the nursery business. There is no denying that the welfare of all should take precedence over the prosperity of a few. Nevertheless, the administration of this law will doubtless go far to prove the groundless character of these fears and show how the enactment can be interpreted in such a catholic spirit as to command the respect of all.

The campaign against the house or typhoid fly has been in progress for about a decade. The press has displayed a commendable interest, many dailies and weeklies publishing brief timely warnings or directions for controlling the fly. We have at least two volumes on this insect, a moving picture film, some local anti-fly ordinances, accompanied here and there by vigorous campaigns-and flies. This is no implication that conditions have not bettered in some localities. It is simply an invitation to pause and see what has been accomplished. The educational campaign has been a necessary prelude to activity and here and there, but only locally, have we seen an approach to a systematic attempt to control this familiar pest. Is it not time that the more progressive sentiment of many communities, not excluding States, was crystallized into ordinances and laws along the lines such as those suggested by the Indiana State Board of Health for city and villages? Most intelligent people accept in a placid manner, the statements respecting the dangerous character of the fly, but in comparatively few instances does this result in action. Furthermore, it is difficult to secure desirable activity so long as neighbors do not or can not be compelled to assist in an undertaking which must depend in large measure for success upon general adoption. Here is where

ordinances and laws are useful. Entomologists and others interested in bettering sanitary conditions might well turn their attention to this phase of the problem, since even the possibility of coercion proves a powerful stimulant to many who would otherwise be indifferent.

Reviews

Elementary Entomology, by E. DWIGHT SANDERSON and C. F. JACKSON, pages 372, figures 496. 1912.

The volume under consideration may be characterized as an excellent, profusely illustrated elementary entomology, admirably adapted to the needs of those interested or likely to become interested in the elementary or economic phases of the Science With less than 400 pages and nearly 500 text illustrations, the need of condensation is evident. Some 35 pages are devoted to a discussion of the external and internal anatomy, 22 pages illustrate growth and transformations, while over half the volume, about 200 pages, outline briefly the salient characteristics of the more important groups and incidentally notice many injurious forms. Scattered throughout the work there is much biological information, the value of the latter being greatly enhanced by the numerous figures of early stages in connection with those of the adult insect.

The laboratory work provides for the anatomical study and comparison of several typical forms and for biological work with aphids, the cabbage butterfly and the fruit fly. The keys to the orders and the more important families make it possible for students using this volume to become well acquainted with the entire group. The authors have been successful in producing an admirable volume, small in size and moderate in price, which will appeal strongly to all having charge of elementary students in entomology. The paper is excellent, the printing clear, the figures distimet and the general appearance of the work most attractive.

The Wheat-Head Army-Worm as a Timothy Pest, by R. L. WEBSTER, Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 122, pages 323 348. 1911.

The author gives an excellent comprehensive account of a timothy pest, Meliana abilinea. The discussion of control measures immediately following the characterization of the injury is a commendable feature in popular bulletins. The author advises clean culture, fall plowing and early fall pasturing There is an excellent bibliography, a full life history and concise descriptions of the various larval stages The excellent paper brings out the illustrations in a very satisfactory manner.

White pine blister rust Pedermven strobi Kleb Under authority of the Plan" Quarantine Act, Acting Secretary of Agriculture, Wallet M Hays has declared a quar, n'ine ag unst the following pines and their hortical aral varieties, Viz WAN pine Pyeste dia, western white pine Porous montiola, sugar pine Pine landwre hand and the stone or cembrían pine. Piers combra originating in the following CountrieTM Great Britan, France, Belgium Holland, Denmark Norway, Sweden, Rusia Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy

Current Notes

Conducted by the Associate Editor

Professor S. W. Williston will make a paleontological expedition to South Africa this fall.

Mr. C. S. Brimley of Raleigh, N. C., has been elected president of the North Carolina Academy of Science.

Dr. J. S. Ward has been appointed inspector of Apiaries for the State of Tennessee, with headquarters at Nashville.

Mr. W. J. Price is now acting State Entomologist of Virginia, in place of Dr. E. A. Back who has resigned, to take up work in the Bureau of Entomology.

Mr. B. H. Walden, Assistant in Entomology at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, spent his vacation in Western Ontario, Can.

According to the report of G. M. Bentley, State Entomologist of Tennessee, there are 365 nurseries in Tennessee, with an annual income of $3,000,000.

Chas. T. Greene, Philadelphia, Pa., is now assistant in the Division of Forest Insect Investigations of the Bureau of Entomology. His specialty is Diptera.

Professor John Craig, professor of Horticulture in Cornell University and Editor of the National Nurserymen, died August 12th, at Siasconsett, Mass., aged 48 years.

According to Science a valuable collection of British Lepidoptera made by the late John A. Finzi, has been presented by his widow and daughter, to the Zoological Museum at University College, London.

Professor F. W. Rane was appointed by Governor Foss of Massachusetts, a delegate to the Second International Congress of Entomology at Oxford, England, held last August.

H. Maxwell Lefroy, Entomologist to the Government of India, located at Calcutta, has been appointed Professor of Entomology at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, South Kensington, London.

When Professor A. J. Cook became Commissioner of Horticulture in California a serial publication called "The Monthly Bulletin" was started. The ninth number has just been issued, making altogether 707 pages of interesting and valuable matter.

Mr. Howard Evarts Weed, a member of this association, formerly Entomologist at the Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Station, and now a landscape architect in Chicago, is the author of a book entitled “Modern Park Cemeteries," published by R. J. Haight & Co., Chicago.

Mr. F. W. L. Sladen F. E. S., formerly of Ripple Court Apiary near Dover, England, has been appointed assistant in Apiculture at the Experimental Farms, Ottawa, Can. Mr. Sladen is a practical beekeeper as well as a student of entomology and his work will be under the Dominion Entomologist, Dr. C. Gordon Hewitt.

Dr. W. J. Holland, Director of the Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, Pa., Author of "The Butterfly Book" and "The Moth Book" sailed August 20th, for Buenos Aire to install in the National Museum at La Plata, a replica of Diplodocus carnenes, presented by Mr. Carnegie.

Mr. W. S. Fisher, for sometime assistant in the Division of Economie Zoology, Harrisburg, Pa., has recently accepted a position under Dr. A. D. Hopkins, in the Division of Forest Insect Investigations, Bureau of Entomology. Mr. Fisher specializes in the order Coleoptera, and for a time he will be stationed at Charter Oak, Pa, but during the winter will be located at Washington.

Professor T. J. Headlee of the Kansas Agricultural College has been appointed Entomologist of the Agricultural Experiment Station, State Entomologist of New Jersey, and Professor of Entomology at Rutger's College, New Brunswick, NJ, as successor to the late Dr. John B. Smith. Professor Headlee planned to take up his new work about October 1st.

According to Science Dr. Henry Fox, professor of biology at Ursinus College, has resigned to accept a position as assistant in the Bureau of Entomology. For the present his headquarters will be at the Experiment Station, Lafayette, Ind.

Rev. Geo. W. Taylor, a collector and writer in entomology, especially Lepidoptera, died at his home near Nanaimo, B. C., August 22. Mr. Taylor was Curator of the Canadian Marine Biological Station at Departure Bay.

It is reported in Science that a collection of foreign Lepidoptera containing about 150,000 specimens, included in 68 cabinets and worth over $200,000 has been received at the British Museum as a bequest from the late Mr. H. T. Adams of Enfield.

According to the Monthly Bulletin of the California State Commission of Hortaculture, the services of Dr. F. Silvestri of Portici, Italy, have been procured for a period of twelve months, by the Board of Agriculture and Forestry of Hawant, for the purpose of introducing into the Hawaiian Islands, parasites of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata, and the local Cotton Boll Worm, Gelechia gossypiella Dr Silvestri will obtain a leave of absence from his present work, and at an early date will visit the tropical portion of West Africa for this purpose. A series of Entomological Stations for receiving and distributing parasitic material will soon be established.

Mr. C. H. T. Townsend removed with his family in June, 1912, from Piura to Lama, Peru, where he becomes chief of the Estacion de Entomologia now being established with headquarters at the capital. The work at Piura will constitute a branch of the station. Mr. E. W. Rust, who has charge of the work in Piura under Mr. Townsend, was unharmed by the severe earthquake which visited that region on the morning of July 24, 1912. The collections, books, notes and important equipment escaped the earthquake, having been transferred to Lama The Piura office quarters were badly damaged and a transfer is being made to a new temporary site. The equipment le ft in Piura suffered only nominal damage Mr. Townsend's correspondents will please note his change of address to Esta non de Entomologis, Lama, Pru.

The following have been appointed members of the Federal Horticultural Bard to have charge of the administration of the Plant Quarantine Act - Dr C L. Marlatt, Assistant Chief, Bureau of Entomology Churman: Dr W A Orton, Plant Pathologist Vice-thurman, Peter Bisset, of the Bureau of Plant Industry. A F. Barges of the Bare va of Entomology and George B. Sadworth of the Forest Service, Moled October 13, 1912.

By W. DWIGHT PIERCE and T. E. HOLLOWAY, Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Department of Agriculture

In this paper we describe the very peculiar life-history of Chelonus texanus Cresson. In brief the adult Chelonus deposits its eggs in the eggs of its hosts but the parasite emerges not from the egg, but from the larva developed therefrom. Oviposition in the host's egg and retarded development of the parasite to permit the host to hatch and grow to considerable size has been pointed out by Marchal (Summarized by Bugnion, 1907. Smithsonian Report for 1906. pp. 310314) with reference to the Encyrtus fuscicollis Dalman which oviposits in the eggs of Hyponomeuta malinella, etc., and by Silvestri (Biologia del Litomastix truncatellus (Dalm.). Portici, pp. 4, 5, 10. 1906) with reference to Litomastix truncatellus Dalman which oviposits in the eggs of Plusia gamma Linnæus and other Lepidoptera. Litomastix truncatellus is polyembryonic and possibly pædogenetic in alternate generations; Encyrtus fuscicollis is also polyembryonic, but the Chelonus we have observed is a single and simple parasite. The Litomastix adult measures only 1.9 mm. in length and the egg of Plusia measures 0.6 mm. in diameter. Chelonus measures fully 5 mm. and the eggs of Heliot his measure about 0.5 mm. in diameter, while those of Laphygma are still smaller. Thus the contrast is much more striking when one observes Chelonus ovipositing than it would be in observing Litomastix.

1 Published by permission of the Chief of the Bureau of Entomology.

It appears since sending in the above manuscript that during the summer of 1912 Mr. R. A. Vickery, of the Bureau of Entomology, at Brownsville, Texas, confirmed these observations in regard to Chelonus and Laphygma. It also appears that Mr. T. H. Parks, also of the Bureau of Entomology, reared Chelonus from Laphygina through two generations at Greenwood, Miss., confirming in all respects the observations reported by Mr. Pierce in the above article.