Samples of a dipteran pest of wheat were tested to confirm identity, describe local populations and suggest the use of deploying resistance (R) genes in wheat cultivars for control of Mayetiola destructor, Hessian fly (HF). Morphological evaluation of adults and a free-choice oviposition preference test documenting that females overwhelmingly preferred to oviposit on wheat instead of barley supported they were HF. Using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (coxI), the Barcoding Region, nine haplotypes were revealed. Two were found only in the Israeli collections and averaged 3% sequence divergence compared to the other seven haplotypes found in the United States, Israel and Syria. In evaluations of virulence, the Israeli HF in culture was virulent to 11 of the 19 (R) genes tested, and complementation analysis documented that, for four of the R genes tested, the Israeli HF shared loci for virulence with HF from the United States. Levels of HF infestation at seven Israeli fields were at least at the 5–8% level, which historically has indicated a significant yield loss. Microsatellite genotyping of the five HF collections from Israel revealed mixed populations in Israel that are distinctly separate from the single population in Syria.

Knowledge of the breeding habits of the Anopheline mosquitos has advanced greatly since the days when it was considered that the larvae of any species were distributed indiscriminately in all and sundry collections of stagnant water. In the Federated Malay States entomological research, which has now extended over many years, tends to show that preferences by the various species for different kinds of breeding-places exist; and attempts have been made to define in relation to particular species, or groups of species, or groups of species, the types of breeding-place favoured.

As a general rule, on the Benue River and its tributaries, at least between Abinsi and Lau, the tsetses found are Glossina tachinoides and G. palpalis, the latter occurring far less frequently.

DDT (p,p'-dichlordiphenyl-trichlormethyl-methane) has been shown to be very toxic to the housefly, Musca domestica, L., when applied as a spray containing 0·1 per cent, w/v or more in kerosene. DDT at 1 per cent, gives an effective spray for practical use, but at lower concentrations the speed of knock-down is too slow. This disadvantage can be overcome by the admixture of a small amount of pyrethrum. A mixture of 0·03 per cent, w/v total pyrethrins and 0·1 per cent, w/v DDT in kerosene is recommended as a suitable fly spray for practical use. This mixture can be stored in glass bottles in the dark for at least 17 months at 27·5° C. without marked deterioration. Its toxicity may be increased by the incorporation of a suitable activator, e.g., sesame oil or isobutylundecylenamide.

The impurities in crude preparations of DDT appear to exert no toxic effect on houseflies.

DDT acts more slowly when dissolved in industrial methylated spirit than in kerosene.

Attention is drawn to the residual film effect of DDT on walls, etc., and an example is given to show how this effect was employed in the control of a fly population in a kitchen.

The symptoms of poisoning of flies by DDT are compared with those caused by pyrethrum. DDT is relatively slow in action; it is a severe irritant, causing the flies to buzz violently at one stage; it induces marked tremors during the coma preceding death; and, at death, it causes the legs to be tightly flexed at the femoro-tibial joint. When the pyrethrins and DDT are mixed in a spray, these constituents, so far as can be judged from the train of toxic symptoms, act independently, so that the rapid paralytic effect of the pyrethrins keeps the insects immobile until the slow lethal effect of the DDT supervenes.

This work has been carried out as part of the programme of research of the Pest Infestation Laboratory, and this account is published by permission of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

The following brief contribution summarises a part of the contents of an extensive Russian report on parasites of the egg-pods of some Turkestan Acridodea, studied by the writer while on the staff of the Middle-Asian Institute of Plant Protection (Tashkent, U.S.S.R.), in the years 1927–30.

The writer is specially indebted to Mr. V. I. Plotnikov, Director of the Institute, under whose supervision the work was done, and who kindly identified the Acridian hosts ; and for the identification of the parasites reared, to Messrs. A. A. Ogloblin, Santa-Anna (Scelionidae), S. J. Paramonov, Kiev (Bombyliidae), B. B. Rohdendorf, Leningrad (Tachinidae) and B. S. Kuzin, Moscow (Meloidae). The author's thanks are due also to Mr. B. P. Uvarov, for his kind assistance in the publication of this note.

Seasonal trends and the parasitoid complex of Chinese wax scale (Ceroplastes sinensis) was studied from July 2010 to February 2013. Six commercial citrus groves located in northeastern Spain were sampled fortnightly. Chinese wax scale completed a single annual generation. Egg oviposition started in May and continued until mid-July. Egg hatching began in mid-June, and in the first quarter of August, the maximum percentage of hatched eggs was reached. In the same groves, the parasitoid species of C. sinensis were determined together with their seasonal trends, relative abundance and occurrence on C. sinensis. Four hymenoptera were found parasitizing C. sinensis, mainly on third instars and females: Coccophagus ceroplastae (Aphelinidae), Metaphycus helvolus (Encyrtidae), Scutellista caerulea (Pteromalidae) and Aprostocetus ceroplastae (Eulophidae). The most abundant species was A. ceroplastae, corresponding to 54% of the parasitoids emerged. Coccophagus ceroplastae and M. helvolus represented 19%, whereas S. caerulea comprised 8% of the total. This study is the first published record of C. ceroplastae in Spain and the first record of M. helvolus on C. sinensis in Spain. Concerning the economical thresholds normally used, sampling plans developed for the management of C. sinensis in citrus groves should target population densities of around 12–20% of invaded twigs, equivalent to 0.2–0.5 females per twig. The sample size necessary to achieve the desired integrated pest management precision is 90–160 twigs per grove for the enumerative plan and about 160–245 twigs per grove for the binomial plan.

A gelechiid moth whose larvae attack the flower buds and young leaves of sapodilla (Achras zapota), known also as chicle gum, chiko or naseberry, in northern India and Pakistan is described and named Anarsia achrasella sp.n. Wing pattern, labial palpal and genitalic features of both sexes of the adult are figured, and the species is differentiated from the closely related Afrotropical A. pinnata Meyr.

Infestations of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), and numbers of beneficial insects in two cottons, Gossypium hirsutum, were compared at Maricopa, Arizona, and Brawley, California, during the 1986–1988 seasons. Plots (0.8 ha) of WC-12NL (nectariless, okraleaf, and early maturing) had significantly lower boll infestations than DPL-61 (nectaried, normal leaf, and later maturing) for each location and year. The three year average (range) PBW/100 bolls for WC-12NL and DPL-61 at Maricopa were 6.8 (5.7–10.7) compared to 11.2 (6.8–15.7), respectively. At Brawley the averages were 18.9 (9.3–27.6) compared to 39.2 (15.5–52.5), respectively. With the exception of 1986 at Maricopa, the percentage of bolls with eggs was significantly greater for DPL-61 (average 8.1, range 3.4–16.0) than for WC-12NL (average 4.2, range 1.1–12.1) for each location and year. Both cottons averaged about four eggs per oviposited boll; not significantly different. The numbers of Lygus spp. and three beneficial species of insects were not different in the two cottons. Collops vittatus (Say) (Coleoptera: Melyridae) was collected in significantly greater numbers in WC-12NL (1.0 per 50 sweeps compared to 0.9 for DPL-61), while Hippodamia convergens (Guérin-Ménéville) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) was collected in greater numbers in DPL-61 (0.6 per 50 sweeps compared to 0.3 for WC-12NL). WC-12NL is the culmination of a 20-year breeding programme for resistance to P. gossypiella and has characteristics attractive for cotton production in areas where a shorter growing season is desirable.

1. The Hemipterous fauna of the tobacco plant in Rhodesia during the growing season is confined to a Coreid, Aleurodid, Jassid and a Capsid.

2. A description of the adult and various instars of the Capsid, Engytatus volucer, Kirk., is given.

3. The habits of the insect on tobacco are discussed.

4. Attempted transmission of tobacco mosaic by Hemiptera found on tobacco plants failed.

5. Further experiments with the macerated contents of the thorax of E. volucer have proved it to cause a rolling and puckering of the leafsurface, which is termed “crinkle.”

6. Crinkle is caused by the poisonous nature of the saliva which spreads rapidly through the interior of the leaf. The salivary action does not affect localised centres to any appreciable extent so as to cause a “shot-hole” effect, as observed with other Capsids. The feeding sites are only noticeable when the leaf is held up to the light; rapid translocation currents cause its action to be spread over larger areas.

7. The injury is aggravated in weakened plants grown under adverse conditions, such as the striking of a hard pan in the sub-soil or a stone, or water deficiency.

8. Control can be effectively carried out by thorough cultivation of the soil, and the choosing of suitable sub-soils for root development. Early planting in December is recommended, or even earlier if rains are suitable, so that the plants will be well established before the height of infestation in April.

Pyrethrum spray-sheet collections in a small village in Northern Nigeria showed that there was no significant difference in the numbers of Anopheles gambiae Giles and A. funestus Giles caught at different times in the early morning. In this village, huts at the edge nearest to the only breeding site attracted considerably more adults than those further away from the edge, and some huts were consistently more attractive to mosquitos than others. There was a positive correlation between the numbers of A. gambiae and A. funestus in the huts. Although significant differences were found between numbers of mosquitos caught in the huts occupied by different numbers of people, no simple relationship could be discovered between the combined densities of the two species and the number of hut occupants. It is concluded that there is need for further investigations into the factors influencing densities of the Anophelines in village huts.

In 1968–70 adults of Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) and Scapanes australis grossepunctatus Sternb. were counted and removed weekly from two one-acre plots in separate plantings of 3–5-year-old coconuts in the Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain. For O. rhinoceros the immigration rate (average 3 adults/acre (60 palms) 4 weeks) showed no annual cycle or overall trend with time but was reduced by rain; the beetles occurred singly on the palms, but certain palms were more frequently attacked than would be expected by chance; the sex ratio (♂/♀) averaged 0·91, five out of nine females being mated and one having mature eggs. For S. a. grossepunctatus the immigration rate (average 4 adults / acre 4 weeks) decreased with time but was not affected by rain; females were usually accompanied by males, the female being deeper in the feeding hole, and 92% were mated, 15% with mature eggs; the high ♂/♀ sex ratio (3·69), differing from that in reared material, is attributed to females spending much time searching for ovi-position sites.

The application of an undiluted paraffin extract of pyrethrum for controlling Antestia and Lygus simonyi on coffee trees is described.

(1) The spray is applied with a small hand “ atomiser,” using 20 cc. of extract to a tree, and spraying under a cloth cover.

(2) Tables are given with detailed figures in which the different methods of application may be compared. The kill of Antestia brought down by the most favourable method is 99%.

(3) The proportion of insects brought down by the spray is in the neighbourhood of 96%. It appears that in practice a kill not much below 95% should be possible.

(4) Of the Lygus on trees sprayed, 99% were brought down and the kill of these was complete.

(5) The method is a dual control for Antestia and Lygus, and examples are given of trees sprayed when both these insects were present in serious numbers.

(6) An experimental field spraying against Lygus is described in detail. It was shown that the numbers of Lygus could be kept below two to a tree by this spraying, and the proportion of fruit set on the sprayed block to that on the control was 3 : 2, indicating an increase of about 8 cwt. an acre.

(7) The technique of the experimental sprayings, by which the detailed figures in the tables were obtained, is described. It is believed that these methods will be of more extended value in the experimental testing of sprays in the field.

During a recent visit to Samoa the senior author had an opportunity to collect a few COCCIDAE. No time was available to make a systematic search for these insects and the specimens collected were only such as were seen in the course of other work. As a list of these has been asked for, it seems desirable to publish the following brief notes with the descriptions of the three apparently undescribed species.

Oryctes rhinoceros, L., the Asiatic Rhinoceros beetle, was accidentally introduced into Western Samoa, apparently with rubber plants from Ceylon, sometime prior to September 1910. The results were disastrous to the coconut industry, and caused grave anxiety to coconut planters in the adjoining groups.

The observations here recorded have been made between April and October 1940, at Amani, Tanganyika Territory.

Two distinct varieties of Helopeltis occur on cinchona at Amani, which correspond well with the descriptions of H. bergrothi, Reut. var. rubrinervis, Popp., and H. bergrothi var. disciger, Popp. (Poppius, 1911).

Eight strains of Boophilus decoloratus (Koch) are described from farms in the High veld area of Rhodesia. All eight strains showed resistance to a number of organophosphorus ixodicides and four showed additional resistance to the carbamate, carbaryl. This is the first recorded resistance to these two groups of ixodicides in Rhodesia.

Biochemical studies on the Alicedale West Farm strain indicated a level of resistance between that of the Berlin strain of B. decoloratus and the Biarra strain of B. microplus (Can.).

There are few countries in which agriculture is more important and the enemies of the crops less known than Mesopotamia. The following notes on a serious pest of the fig-tree in various parts of the Baghdad vilayet were put together on the River Diyala, north-east of Baghdad, at the end of July 1918. The Liparid moth which is so injurious has been determined by Sir G. F. Hampson as Ocnerogyia amanda, Staud. The larve devoured all the fig leaves completely. with the exception of one or two of the large vascular bundles. The fruit shrivelled and dropped before it was ripe.

Langata Forest is a small, detached forest, 11 square miles in area, of the African plateau type, lying 5 miles west of Nairobi at an altitude of 6,000 ft. The forest is mostly secondary and although of evergreen character, much foliage is lost during the long dry seasons. The indigenous trees include olives (Olea chrysophylla), crotons (Croton megalocarpon), muhugu (Brachylaena hutchinsonii) and cape chestnut (Calodendron capense).

Knowledge on the reproductive biology of target insect pest is essential for the effective implementation of pheromone-based pest management tactics. In mealybugs, the second largest family of scale insects, the existence of female multiple mating was recently suggested. In this study, we aimed at testing how general is this behavior in mealybugs, by investigating polygyny and polyandry in two cosmopolitan pest mealybugs, Planococcus citri and Pseudococcus calceolariae. Males of these species were able to mate an average of 11.9 and 13.3 females, respectively, during their lifespan. The number of fertilized females per male decreased with male age/mating history for both mealybugs. We found no differences in female fecundity and fertility, when fertilized by males with different mating history. When we used male age as a proxy of mating history, we observed a significant negative effect on female fecundity. The females of both species remained receptive after first copula and eventually mated multiple times. The percentage of remated females of P. citri decreased linearly with time since first copula, with some maintaining receptivity up to 24 h. Males showed no preference between virgin and mated females, in static-air olfactometer tests. We found no benefit of female multiple mating in relation to fecundity. In biparental mealybugs, the mating system of males is possibly scramble competition polygyny; and that of females is possibly polyandry, with female receptivity restricted to a relatively short period. We discuss the practical implications of the results for pest management.