Entomological News AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. o VOLUME I, 1890. EDITOR : HENRY SKINNER, M. D. ADVISORY COMMITTEE: 1'iHO. H. HORN, M.D. CHARLES A. BLAKK. EZRA "I". ("RKSSON. PHILIP P. CALVERT. PHILADELPHIA: ENTOMOLOGICAL ROOMS OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, LOGAN SQUARE. iSgo. INDEX TO VOLUME I. 12 IO I 12 GENERAL ENTOMOLOGY. A Cocoanut Pest ..... A Royal Entomologist Announcement .... Association of Official Eco- nomic Entomologists . Collecting in Pennsylvania . Collecting by Lamplight . . 69, 91 Doings of Societies 31, 4». 63. 79- 115, 135, 150, 167- Elementary Entomology 70, 86, 102, 119, 140, 157. Entomological Literature 13, 29, 44, 59, 77, 95, 112. I3L H7, 162. Entomology at Long-port, N. J. 142 Excursion to Jamesburg . 94, m Home-made Cork . 12 Letter to Editor . 27 Metallic Colors in Insects, Evo- lution of ....... 3 Notes and News 10, 26, 41, 57. 74. 92, no, 128, 145, 1 60. Notes from Colorado . Obituary .... Philadelphia's White Pasha Queries and Answers Scientific Research in Mexico . Spiders carried oft' by Pompi- lida? ....... I2S- Spider's Web, balls of 75 146 TI 62 41 44 Whistling Trees . . COLEOPTERA. A Golden Beetle . . Orion cine t us Cicindelidae of a season . Elateridae, notes on Ergates spiculatus . . Fond of Grammar Jewels that are Alive . Notes on Coleoptera . Notes from the Northwest . On the Habits of some Meloini Phytonomus pnnctatus Rare beetles on the N. J. coast Sudbury, Ont., Beetles at . • 57 - 158 - 53 . i6i • 38 . 28 9, 52 33 89 12 12 43 DIPTERA. Interesting Method of Egg De- position . . 39 Mosquitoes at Cape May . .128 Mosquitoes, Exterminating . 76 HEMIPTERA. Acanthiapapistrilla in the nests of Barn Swallows . . . . 26 Apple Pest, a new . . . . .123 /'jnpoasca hintti n. sp. . . .123 Metrobates hesperius . . . .no Siphonophora or Nectarophora? 20 Timothy Bugs 75 HYMENOPTERA. Aculeate Hymenoptera new to Pennsylvania and N. Jersey . 83 /•'on/bus, notes on 39 Dolerus arvcnsis, D. itnicolor. 94 Ichneumon siititralis .... 161 Inhabitants of a Hickory Nut . 49 New Hymenoptera . . 106, 137 Ccelioxys dolichos . . . .107 Hoplisus foveolata .... 106 Mixcophns aincricanits . .138 Phi/anthus enrynomc . . . 107 Photopsis Cressoni . . . . 138 Sphex (Isodofitia) macro- cephalns 137 ( )\ iposition of Anomalon . . 139 I'inipla grapho/itha' n. sp. . 5" Polybia cnbensis in Florida . . 93 Pompilus a- 1 hi ops catching a Spider 128 Pompilidse carrying off Spiders 145 Sports in Venation . . . Vespa vulgaris 161 What are the Uses of Bright ' Colors in Hymenoptera . .65 Yucca Insects 75 LEPIDOPTERA Actias hina .... .76, 93 Aletia argillacea . . • 154 Bananas as Bait ... 93, 129 INDEX. I'.itr i it" ( 'at'-i | illl.ir as ( "alisr of I I 'Mill ........ liiittrrlli.-s tumid :it C >| " May . liutu-rlli. -s mi Kt.K . iluiatl . . I'.utti-rtly li.ithiii- ..... ( "aliinct, A iu-u- form of . . . Callosamia angulifera . 5*. i 'iitn>iti a nil rada. preparatory sta-i-s i it' ....... I li-spcriila-. North AiiK-rican . 23 I lop \\ oinis ....... 43 Larva- rearing. Smiu- i-\|>rri ences in ...... r 08, 117 i .cpidoptrra \V\\ t( • ( >ur Lists. 1.15 \\-.\\ Muthsin Nc\\ I lanipsliin- 17 \,-»nyinf>/ni Mi/, -ht-lli in N |. . i 211 Xlitcs on L.-jiid. ,|.t.T.i . . . 51 /'(//>!/!<> Illili /I'YilllltS . . . .I3O Pafrilio palamedes ..... MC. /\iiiif>/ii/ii .Idiniii n. ^p. . . '.. i _>s Pamphila panoquin . . . .111 Phobetron pithecium . . . .160 Kaixl'iin Nc ilr> on I .t-pi.li >| itcr.i n, Smerinthus astylus . . . . 21 i 'I r.Hll'-rllics . . . .no /.•. inifii'i'iiili\ • • • 57 >i\ ni/ ippi ...... [29 I n ipi< al -p •( ii s in l-'lc n ul.i . . i ^ , \\'lial can it be? . I .' I \\'inl<-i ( '< ill< din- in I I. n ida 8l, ' NEUROPTERA. I >ia-' Hiili"-. al \i-ln i |»i List of Maine I )ra;^onllics . 36, 55 \. ites < in N. Am. < )doiiata . . 73 Virginian i )ra.L;<>n(lies ... 22 CONTRIBUTORS TO VOL. I. Aaron, 1C. M., . i, 12-15, 23,^29, 30 I'.aldv. S 146 I',;. Hard, Mrs. J. P 124 Blake, C. A., 43, 44, 58, 127, 136 ('.linker, R lo.s. 1 1 7 < lalvert, I*. P., . .14, 22. 70. 73. ,s6, 102, I 14. 140, 157 < 'ockt-rrll, "1". I ). A.. 3, 27. 5,S. 65, 75. 161 lley, A.I', s.s < )resson, L. T 5.1 1 >\ ar. 1 1. < i 105, 160 Klinnan, G. A 93, 130 Fox, \V. |., . 83, 93, 106. 137, 145 |-'r<-m Ii, ( i. 1 1 153 C,ilK-ttf. Trot'. C" P.. 26,94, 139. 161 i .odiiiu,, F. \\' 123. 129 1 lamilton, I)r. )., . . 12, 49, 142 Hill, \V. M 92 Holland. Rev. \\". J 155 Horn, Dr. (i. II.. g. 53. 69. 99. 160 [ves, [. E., . . . 39 Krllic oil. I). S 146 |i nics, K. M 21 KIIII/I-. 1 )r. R i 2g 12, 52. 1 .it-ln-ck, (' Lugger, Prof. O., . I. viiian. 11.11... . Martindalr. \. C i J" Peters, E. 1 >. lr j; Roln-i Noil. ( 31, si. iss. 111, MIS. \ r.. . 17. si . ioi Skiniu-r. Di I L, >\ to, i i , 12, u*. 31, 51. 58, 76, 84, 129 Smith. Pro!' |. I1... . . Snnimi is, |'i o| I I . I \ an \\ mkl. . \ ^ \\ads\\, ,ith. Miss M . \V. - ,1. D. C M . \Vi. kliam. II I Williston. Pro! s \\ . 1 45 . I lo ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION, ACADEMY NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. i. JANUARY, 1890. No. i. CONTENTS: Announcement i j Notes and News 10 Cockerell— On Metallic Colors 3 Skinner— On Collecting at Cape May... 6 Horn — Notes on Coleoptera 9 Entomological Literature 13 Exchanges 16 ANNOUNCEMENT. IT has for some time been apparent to Entomologists in this country that there was unoccupied room for a journal of Ento- mology devoted less to the dry details of descriptive and classi- ficatory work and more to the news and gossip which is always of interest to entomological workers. The field of descriptive en- tomology is already well filled by journals published in Brooklyn, N. Y., and London, Ontario; that of economic entomology by a government publication at Washington, and the bibliographic department has received special attention at Cambridge, Ma>s. None of these journals allude systematically to the important work always in progress in Europe and elsewhere, nor do they by any means regularly notice such work appearing here from time to time. Ne\\> of this sort is of great value to the student of Entomology even if he is near one of the large libraries; to those remote from these centres of information it can not fail to be of the utmost importance. A journal which will keep ento- 2 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. f Ian. * L J mologis.ts en rapport with what is being accomplished in serials and by monographs at home and abroad, and which will also give the items of interesting news concerning explorations and ex- plorers, collections and collectors, will, it is believed, win itsw-y into the good graces of the insect collecting fraternity. Such a journal is only possible where its conductors are in close com- munication with the literature of Entomology and the sister sciences. Philadelphia, the possessor of the public libraries of the Academy of Natural Sciences, the American Entomological Society and the American Philosophical Society and several private libraries rich in works on special branches of Entomology, is generally conceded to occupy a position in this field unrivaled in America. With this in view the Entomological Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, with the co-operation and financial aid of the American Entomological Society, have de- cided to publish, beginning with this number, a journal to ap- pear about the ist of each month, July and August excepted, under the editorial and advisory direction set forth on the cover. Besides such scientific papers as will naturally appear in a journal published under these auspices, there will be departments of "Notes and News," "Queries and Answers," "Exchange," " Doings of Societies," etc. Under the first it will be the object of its conductors to make ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS deserve its name in the widest sense. Under the second, so far as may be possible, insects sent for determination will be named by members of the Section and the results announced therein. The depart- ment of ' ' Exchange' ' will be free to all under reasonable restric- tions. And, finally, it will be the aim to give a brief r6sum6 of the proceedings of the various Entomological Societies throughout the world. With liberal patronage and support from the Entomologists of America and elsewhere, it is intended that ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS shall grow into an important factor in every entomolo- gist's work. It will be enlarged, and its scope modified or increased, as its readers may seem to demand. This issue will give but a faint idea of what it is proposed shall be the scope of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. Its conductors will be glad to recrivr from its readers, at any time, criticisms of its work and suggestions for its improvement. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. Scientific papers, news-notes, reports of societies, etc., are needed from all sources to make this journal just what it* name implies, a compend of entomological news. EUCIM M. AARON. The Evolution of Metallic Colors in Insects. BY T. D. A. COCKER HI. 1.. Metallic coloring in insects cannot be a very recent develop- ment, for we have good evidence that it existed in later Eoa n- or Miocene times, a Chrysis having been discovered in the Flo- rissant fossil-beds in Colorado. Nevertheless, probably no OIK would propose that the earliest insects, even of the orders now presenting metallic species in abundance were metallic. Then seems to be a graduated series of colors, following in nearly direct sequence, and of these the metallic ones are by no means the first, nor do they occur predominatingly on those parts of tin- insect which we might suppose least specialized as regard* colors. For the present we may consider the Coleoptera and Hymen- optera alone, because in color these orders are specially related. and form a section apart from all other insect*. The primitive color is probably testaceous, with variations to rufous, orange and yellow. The legs and under parts are often so colored ulu-re the upper parts are darker or metallic. Pale legs not unfrequently have dark joints, and this may be related to stimuli due to tin- motion of the parts. Pimpla conqnisitor well illustrate* the dark- ening about the joints, as well as the difference between the i olor oi legs and body. Sometimes, however, these condition.-, are reversed, as in Vipio coloradensis, which is a reddish orange species with the legs mainly black. From testaceous there is variation to dark bn>\\n of various shades — rufous-brown and black. It ha* been noticed hou often phytophagous, and especially wood-eating beetle-* are brown, and there- is good reason to suppose that tannin has influenced their color. Mr. Slater ( Km. Mo. Mag. [887, p. 721 remarks on the presence of tannin in the tissue* of phytophagous beetles, and M. Villon (Atheneum, iSS;, p. ;s- i found tannin in corn v. The non-metallic series of colors, then i* .something like this : 4 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan- pale rufous, testaceous, orange or yellow/1' through browns and rufous-browns to dark brown and black. The body is often darker than the legs, and the elytra of beetles are often darker than the thorax, though the reverse of this latter condition occurs in Coc- cinella, Lacn IK- reversion to the state of an ancient progenitor. Some confine it to the development of half- forgotten rudiments, but to me this seems an unwise restriction. To me there are two fundamentally different kinds of atavism : (1) Due to the development of structures now obsolete. (2) Due to arrest of development and consequent resemblance to a less-developed or differentiated ancest< >r. The first class is due to abnormal development, the second t< > abnormal arrest of development — two very different things. Our atavistic green Haltica chalybea clearly belongs to the second division. The first division is exemplified in a horse that develops extra toes. .Mr. T. H. Hall gives me a list of his varieties of Donacia sericea. The females are coppery, brassy and green. The males are green, violet and purple. Here we see in the female the older type of coloration to what obtains in some butterflies and other insects. At Chislehurst, in England, I collected two species of metallic Chrysomcln\ C. gocttingensis, which lived concealed at the ro.it> of herbage, was dark blue. C. hyperici, on Hypcriciim, and more exposed, is green. Here seems protective adaptation to circumstances; or perhaps we may say that C. hvpcrici would have developed in time to blue, but natural selection prevented it. C. goettingcnsis has beautifully pink wings, but these need not be considered in the present connection. Dr. Hamilton found a variety of Calosoma r.v'Av.v/, varying from its normal -r<---n and golden to purple-black, with the mar- gins of thorax and elytra purple-blue. Possibly this was a token of the future color of C. .v/Av.iv. In ('/tnrns. A. !'.< r-e found he could actually manipulate the>e color change-, in ( '(tntbi/s by chemical means, and produce certain "varieties" at will. 6 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ J;in. Metallic-blue grades into black. Pcccilus mauritanicus looks black, but shines a brilliant blue-green. Perilampus cyaneus is blue, but P. hyalitnis, in the same genus, is black. Perhaps a still higher development in the metallic series is crim- son. This color appears prominently in some lovely species of the genus Chrysis in Europe, especially the common C. ignita. In America nearly all the species of Chrysis are blue or green, but C. martia has the abdomen crimson. This preponderance of green and blue in American Chrysides is in accordance with the not-rarely observed fact that where a genus is common to Europe and America, the American forms are the oldest. Hut in Cantharis, the common European species is green, while in America we see crimson appearing on the elytra; the thorax, as in Chrysis, remaining green. WEST CLIFF, CUSTER Co., COL., Dec. 9, 1889. -O- Notes on Butterflies found at Cape May, N. J., with description of a new species of Pamphila. BY HENRY SKINNER, M. D. Pamphila Aaroni n. sp. — Antennae, head, thorax and abdo- men very dark brown, almost black. Primaries above tawny with blackish brown border about one-eighth inch in width. The base of the wing is shaded a darker color by the same dusky scales. The nerves of the primaries are not defined by the dark color as in hobomok. The tawny middle area of the wings is darker and more fiery than in the latter. The cliscal bar or dash is black and very distinct and well defined, although quite small in most of the specimens; running from this obliquely toward the body to the interior margin is a broken, very faint line. Secondaries are a practical reproduction of the primaries, the only difference being that the dark border encircles the entire wing, but is narrower on the anterior margin, and the neuration is well defined. Underside. — Extending from the thorax into the wing lor about one-eighth inch and covering only tin- lower halt of the base !-> a sharply defined black spot, which has a pointed projection ex- tending into the third median interspace. The middle area of the wing is tawny, but some shades lighter than the upperside. The border is about the same width as above along the lower half 1890.] I.. \TOMO LOGICAL NLU'S. 7 of the exterior margin, but widens considerably as it approaches the apex; this border and tin- immaculate secondaries aiv ot a light cinnamon-brown color. There is a brownish black streak running along the interior margin of underside of primari. -s. The female is larger and the colors of a lighter shade and not as well defined as in the male. On the upperside it resembles P. hobomok\ and beneath P. delaware, except in color. Largest specimen 9 expands \}/± inch, and the smallest £ i inch. De- scribed from 7 £ £ i 9. It is IK. more than proper that Mr. Aaron should have one of his pets called after him, thus the name emanated. The specimens were found in company with P. pano- quin, feeding on the flowers of Staticc limonium var. America- mini, which grows in the salt meadows, but was quite rare and exceedingly wild and difficult to rapture, making off in a straight line when any movement was made near it. The seven specimens represented about ten days careful collecting. THL LIMITF.I) RANGE OF SATYRUS ALOPE. Without having given the subject any thought or study I had been under the impression that the greater number of species ot butterflies had no fixed abode or dwelling-place, but were prac- tically unrestricted in their range, going here, there and every- where in search of food or pleasure. While on a tramp one day and only incidentally looking for insects, not having my net with me, I saw fluttering in and around a small clump of holly bushes a beautiful specimen of Satyrus alof><\ uhidi evidently had only been a short time from the chrysalis: it alighted, and I endeav- ored to secure it by taking hold of the tips of the wings between the thumb and index finger, when it violently flapped them and left the tips as a souvenir. This spot and its neighborhood proved an excellent collecting-ground, and I subsequently visited it frequently, and each time saw the -a me it /<>/><• in the same clump of bushes. I saw other specimens of the same species here which I learned to recognize from peculiarities in the way they \\ere rubbed, etc., as most of the >p(-cimens at this time were badly tlown. I made this species the subject of -cine Mudy at the time, and came to the com lusion that it undergoes its trans- formations and lives its entire life in a very restricted area. A form with one ocellus is found at ('ape May, which Mr. Kdwards thinks is not f>cga/a< but a variety ot 8 I. NK>M< (LOGICAL NEWS. [Jan- EGG-LAYING OF TKRIAS LISA. The female Tcrias lisa deposits its eggs in a very systematic and unilorm manner. It moves about in a fluttering way so characteristic of butterflies when ovipositing, and lights on the tip of the leaf Cassia nictitans, facing toward the stalk of tin- plant and walks up the K-at until the end of the abdomen is mid- way between the end of the leaf and its junction with the main stem and then deposits the egg on the uppers 1< of tin- st'-m or mid-rib that runs between the leaflets. It moves with i^ivat care and precision, as though such nicety were very necessary. The egg is thus placed at what might be called the exact centre of the leaf. There seems undoubtedly to be design in this, as the eggs are exceedingly frail and delicate, and if deposited on the leaflets they would probably be injured or crushed when they close up tight at night. I did not notice whether the eggs were placed between the junctures of two sets of leaflets on either side, but I think such was the case. When the females are confined over the plant the eggs are scattered about indiscriminately either on the Cassia, or anything else near it. They were found oviposit- ing here in the last week of August, and at Westville, X. J., in September. THE FIRST STAGES OF PA Ml' HI I. A PANOQUIN. August 22d, Pamphila panoquin was exceedingly abundant on the meadows flying about and feeding on the flowers of Staticc. They were fine, bright specimens. This .species does not semi to have as much of the jerky flight as most species <>\ th< -• nus, but flies generally in a straight line. It is readily caught when feeding on the blue flowers, which attract it greatly, but when in the net is exasperatingly restless, and usually manages to denude its thorax of hair. A female deposited a te\\ t ggs in the paper in which it was confined, not having been pinched hard enough t,, cause immediate death. One hatched .\u-u-t Jjth. and the young larva was about one-eighth inch in length and was dittiTcnt from any I lesperid larva I had ever seen in bein- (ream white in color. I 'nder the microscope it showed six or eiijit .small \>« like warts on each segment. The head was ol a hejit collee color darker toward the front. It entirely devoured tin- egg shell. The eggs were of the usual form in the genus and »t a pale greenish white color. I tried to ivar it on lawn ETass. which it al'-olutelv 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 9 refused to eat, and thus suicided. The remaining eggs I scut to Mr. W. H. Edwards, hut they failed to hatch. The female pano- quin differs from the other sex in being larger, several shade-, darker in color, and in having the maculations on the supt -ri< >r wings much more sharply defined and brighter in color. Then is a prominent light colored streak on the inferiors nearly one- quarter inch in length, which is either wanting or only indicated in the male. A colony of full grown funonia ctenia larva- were found feeding on Gerardia tenuifoliuni, which. as lar as I know, is a new food- plant for the spccic-s. -o- NOTES ON COLEOPTERA. I5V GEO. H. HORN, M. I). From the remarks of Mr. Fauvel ( Revue Ent. 1889, p. 142) it is evident that two species of Cryptolivpnus have been confounded under one name by many of the Coleopterists of Europe, notably by Dr. Candeze, whose work has been accepted as authority on the family ELATERID.K for many years. It is pardonable in students on this side of the Atlantic if they are found guilty of an error due to, or rather copied from, those who should be final authority on the species of the fauna around their own home.-,. C. pulchellus Linn., c.viginis Rand., gnttalnlus Mets. The above line appears in Dr. Hamilton's paper on the Cole- optera of the sub-arctic regions eommon to both hemispheres. From the remarks of Fauvel two speeies have been confounded under pulc/i din s, \\luVh have a ^reat superficial similarity ; these an- : C. pulchellus Linn. — Thorax with posterior angles sinuate, di- \er-ent and acute at the apex, the stria- of the elytra obsolete at the tip. ( '. sabit/ico/a l!oh. — Thorax with posterior angles arcuate, rather incurved, obtuse at apex, elytra deeply striate, the im< i \-als subeostitorin. Any one who will read the descriptions of Randall and Mels- heimer, which are remarkably - 1, will see that \\ e ha\c in our taiiu, i puli -Jicllux as described by l;aii\el. 10 LNK>M<)LOGICAL NK\VS. [J;tn- C. qitadripnnctatus Fab., docs not occur in our fauna, although \vc have a representative species in pcrplexns Horn, which ha- a longer thorax and the humeral elytral spots only. C. dermestoides Hbst. var. quadriguttatus Lap. -This species is now for the first time recorded in our fauna. It is a small species, thorax rugulose, especially in front; median line smooth, but linear. Elytra with four yellow spots, one on each humeral angle, the other on the middle line of the elytra near the apex. Specimens are in my cabinet from Nova Scotia, Maryland (Lugger) and Washington, D. C. (Ulke). The true dermestoides has no elytral spots, or very faint indi- cations of them. Three such specimens are known to me from Nevada, northern California and Los Angeles. On the other hand three specimens from the State of Washington are interme- diate in the fact of having a well-marked apical spot but no humeral. C. riparius Fab., is said, by Candeze, to occur in our polar regions. He does not state his grounds for this and the species has not been recognized by us. Notes and. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL ol'AKTERS OF THE GLOBE. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit, and will thankfully receive items of news, likely to interest its readers, from any source. The author's n.inie will he >;i\ in in each case !cr the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] A ROYAI. ENTOMOLOGIST.- U<-i" Philadelphia, in recognition of his services to Ktitomolo^y. He !-> one of the fe\\ men of science of royal rank, and is editor and p.irt writer of one of the finest works of recent years on Lepidoptera. The work was commenced in iSS.j, and at present consist-, of li\e handsome volumes, the last published recently. They are profuseh illustrated in the most sumptuous manner by tin- best artists of I -in rope. Me has sent out several collecting expeditions under a .n'liard of Cossacks, which tinned up mans new and rare species. The work is entitled " Memoiis sm les I epidop- teres rediges," par N. M. Romanoff (Grand Duke Nicholas), of Si Peters- boiiri;. The first article is " 1 .es I .epidopteies de la rranscaucasie," b\ 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. II N. M. Romanoff, and is continued in tin- succeeding volumes. He lias a collection of Lepidoptera, and lias corresponded and exchanged with I >r. Strecker, of Reading, uho has received many fine specimens from him. II. SKIN NIK. PHILADELPHIA'S " WHITK I'ASIIA." — I )r. \\'. I,. Al>l»>tt, an ornitholi i^ist and entomologist, well known in Philadelphia, is making -quite a reputation in Mast Central Africa as an explorer and naturalist. I '.Hi m- l«-a\ in- this country lie presented his fine collection of birds to the Philadelphia Acad- emy. He also possessed a fine collection of Lepidoptera, mostly local species. Dr. Al>!>ott is a life member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, a graduate of the Towne Scientific School and the Medical Department ot the Tniversity of Pennsylvania, and member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Kn^land. He collected birds in the far \\Vst in iSSi, and birds and insects in Hayti in 1883, and presented the latter to the American Entomological Society; amoiiL; these was a new species of .Inaiiia and other rarities. He was with 1 1 err Hhlers, uho recently made the first successful ascent of Mt. Kilmanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Dr. Abbott did not reach the summit, but broke down at 17,000 feet with heart dilatation, as he was convalescing from the African lexer. More birds have been collected by him than by any one uho has visited the Kilmanjaro region (550 species i. At last accounts Dr. Abbott was preparing a lar-e expedition into Masai land. Stevens, the round-the- world bicyclist, alludes to him (mite frequently in his letters to the A'c'.v York H'ur/d. He describes the natixes as sin^in^ his praises asfollous : " ( )ur Wanyamwezi, marching together in the same regular order as yesterday, struck up a vociferous and truly African retrain, while the rest of the caravan suivj, the chorus. No matter how hot the day or how tired his limbs, the porter seems always ready to split his throat in sin^in^ and shouting. For this or for dancing he seldom ;^ets too tired. The \Yan- yamwe/i are noted shouters. They commenced a soni; in praise ol' tin- white man, and many joined in heartily. "Great is the m/.un^er ! \\'oh! uoh!" suivj, the melodists from the Land of the Moon. " \\"oh ! woh! woh ! the Mzu-u-gu-u-u ! uoh!" chorused the caravan. ' The M/iin^u is :^,reat ! uoh !" '•\\'oh! uoh! woh! the M/u-u-u,-u-u ! uoh!" "Great is the Merikain ! (Dr. Abbott, uho is widely known by that proud title amoiiL; the natixes of Kast Central Africa i uoh !" " \\'oh ! uoh! uoh! the Merikain, u oh !" " ( )ur l« M >d is rice and fish ! uoh !" "\Voh ! woh ! woh ' rice and lish !" " \\'oh ! our food is rice and tish '." " ( ireat is the M/un^u ! woh !" "\\'oh ! uoh ! uoh ! the M/un-u uoh!" " He l^ixes Us rupees ! rupees !" " \\'oh ! woh ! woh ! he -ix es us rupees ! rupees ! uoh !" — H. SKIN N i 12 KXTOMOLOGICAL NKWS. [J;m- PHY ToxoMrs PI-NCTATUS FAB. — The appearance ot this weevil in this vicinity tor the first time ami in numbers, is one of the remarkable im i dents in Coleoptera occurring during the year just ended. 'I IK- tirst spei i im -i is were taken about the first week in May and tin- last tin- early part ot November. At irregular intervals it appeared very abnndantly, and Imt few days passed \vithout at least one or two specimen-, bein- observed. It is singular that, when this insect make-, its appearance in any locality, it is always in numbers. Mr. Reinecke, ot buffalo, in August, iSSj, recorded an invasion of this species at that place, in the lluffalo /•)'<•/> /'; which was reprinted in the " Brooklyn bulletin" of September, iS.s.j. ( "n AKI.KS I.n.m • K. A CocoAM'T PEST. — The United States Consul at Santiago de Cuba has made a report to the Secretary of State in regard to a mysterious disease prevailing in that country which at one time threatened to anni- hilate all the plantations producing cocoanuts for market and export. Small shipments of cocoanuts are constantly leaving Santiago for tin- United States, and the Consul says he has sought to discover the origin of the disease which has affected them. Opinions of scientists differ as to the cause and nature of the disease. The Consul says that it has been at last definitely ascertained that the destroyer of the cocoanut tree is an insect of diminutive si/.e, barely visible to the naked eye, and probabh a Coccid. Prof. Gundlach, of Havana, recommends that all cocoanuts re- ceived in the United States be dipped into boiling water upon arrival, and that the bags they are shipped in be destroyed. E. .M. AAK< >v FKKBIA EPIPSODKA var. Siiie-occllata described in Can. Fnt. Dec., 'v». p. 239, by 1 )r. I lenry Skinner, the author informs us, is probably a synonym of Epipsodea var. limed described in a few words by Mr. Klues, Trans. Knt. Soc., London, June, iSSij, |>. 326. The latter description is as follows: "minor absque ocellis fascia rufa fere obsoleta," habitat Summit County, Colorado, 12,000 feet altitude. It is but justice to Dr. Skinner to state that his description was in the hands of tin- editor of the "Canadian Entomologist" at least six weeks before Mr. Klues' descrip- tion was received at the libraries in Philadelphia. K. M. A.\KI>N. 1 b I.MK-MADI-: Ci IKK. — Mr. !•". M. ]ones, of \Yi1min^lon, 1 \-\.. describes a ver\ -ood lining for insect boxes as follows : " 1 made a ron^h wooden press and |irocured about a barrel of the fine cork which white -rapes are packed in, mixed it with weak -hie and pr.-ssed it into sheets between white paper. The sheets when pressed must be about three-ei-hths of an in: h thick to turn out properly. It answers \er\ well and costs almost 1 1. SKINNI R. RAIT I'M PLES ON rn KNEW JERSEY COAST. Among many good things t i ken on P.ri-aniine I'.eai h, N. f., just after the September storm, In which the whole island, excepl a lew ol the coast sandhills, was subnier-ed, max b spei iall\ in iticed : 1890.] I ENTOMOLOGICAL NKYVS. I.} Cafius sericeus Holme, two 9 examples. This fixes an American lo- cality for ami decides in tavor of the successful coloni/ation of this Knro- pean species. It appears slender and delicate compared u ith the alnindant vistriotus. Cryptobium pusillum I.ec., two examples, ••' and + , .25 inch. lon.^. The only specimen seen by Dr. Horn, when preparing his Cryptulnum pa|>er, was the type in the LeConte collection, a from tin- sea-shore of l.on- Island. N. Y. The last ventral segment of the has a parallel notch from apex to base, and a contiguous depression on the apex of the pre- ceding, as if nature had intended to continue the slit ; the last ventral of the 9 's rounded. Cryptobium htgnbre Lee., three examples, unfortunately .. Having In en described Iroin Florida, it is mentioned here to record the locality. Qiiediusbninncus Mann., and Aitolniis naiius \ lorn, were taken in some abundance. The Coleoptera were for a time very much concentrated, taking refuse under the trash swept up around the sandhills. The New fersey coasl is rich in small Colepptera, apparently neglected by neigh- boring collectors, or at least unrecorded. JOHN HAMILTON. Entomologica.1 Literature. iNS OF THE: ILLINOIS STATE LABORATORY OF NATVRAL HIS- TORY, Vol. III. Article \'. — .•/ Descriptire Catalogue of the Phalangiines of Illinni.\ by Clarence M. Weed, M. Sc. In a pamphlet of 20 pp. the author tabulate-, the genera I.iohiniuiu, ( )li»olophns and /'/la/iu/^iiini, describing in them ei^lit, one, and one species respectively. Three figures are -iveii in the text. /.. i-/i-^iin.^ and /.. politns are described as new. Artii le V\.— A partial Bibliography of the I'lialan^ iiinr of' \. . l>/tt-rini, by the same author, enumerates the general articles and follows with a reference li'.t i »f the species. StlldelltS < if this little-klli IW11 '^\'( Hip so ( ( >lll- nioiily called " dadd\ -Ion- -le-s, " \\ill find these papers invaluable -uide-,. i-:. NI. A. MASSACIII ^i i is A( ,KM n/n KAI COLLEGE. Hull. 'tin No. 5, July, rj Household Pests, \sy Charles H. I-'ernald, m pp. 6 \\ood-cuts [Dec.. [J Carpet beetles, clothes moths ants and bacon beetles are treated of and their habits and remedies described in a way that renders the anil,. meaning clear to any reader. I-'.. M. A. ACKKTI.I l K A I. l'.\l'i:KIMl N I STATION OF MINNESOTA. bulletin No. N. |uly, [889. I'lii- A'm/sv Mountain Locusts in (>//i'r Tail ('ountv Minn., in iS.s^. |()tto l.u--er, I'll. I).] 2., 9 cuts. 2 plates, 53 fi-ure, [ 1 iNSi). ) A \eryfull ini|iiiry into the cause, elte< ts and piv\enti. ,n ,,| this visitation for the |>ast season. -V.. M. A. 14 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [January, Identification of Insects (Imagos) for Subscribers. Specimens will be named under the following conditions: ist, The number of speci- mens to be unlimited for each sending ; 2d, The sender to pay all expenses of transporta- tion and the insects to become the property of the American Entomological Society ; 3d, Each specimen must have a number attached so that the identification may be an- nounced accordingly. Twelve names, if possible, will appear in each issue of NEWS according to number. Address packages to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, Academy Natural Sciences, Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pa. H. MEESKE. — i, Cicindela i6-pnnctata; 2, Cicindela vulgaris, var. ; 3, Macrodactylus subspinosa; 4, Cicindela pusilla, var. cyanellus; 5, Epi- tragus canalicnlatus; 6, Necrophorus marginatus; 7, Chrysochus aitmfns; 8, Trox sonoree; 9, Hippodamia convergens; 10, Chrysomela scalaris. E. WILKINSON. — 2, Carpophilus palilpennis; 4, Sphcerophthahna or- chis; 5, Bombus pennsylvanicus ^; 6, Orthosoma brnnneum; 7, Necro- phorus amcricanus; 8, Solpugidse (belongs to); 9, Allorhina nitidaf 10, Eleodes longicollis; u, Hipponielas ccelatus; 12, Psiloptera dilaticollis. CHAS. FUCHS. — i, Eleodes hispilabris; 2, E. carboiiaria, smooth var. ; 3, E. qnadricollis 9 ; 4, E. obsolcta, var. ; 5, E. carbonaria, var. soror; 6, E. extricata; 7, Discogenia marginata; 8, Eleodes cordata; 9, E. con- sobrina; 10, E. cordata; n, E. parrico Us; 12, E. obscura. G. D. B. — i, Catocala concumbens; 2, Cteniicha I'irginica;' 3, 3ficro- * co3lia obliterata; 4, Heliophila unipuncta? 5, Hadena spntatrixfb, Ag-^ rotis messoria? 7, Plusjfi contexta; 8, EustrotJAcarnepla; 9, Hypena sp.;"^ 10, Tetrads crocallata; n, Pyrophila pyramidbides; 12, Metancma quer- civoraria. From Haddonfield, N. ]., wingless females of a Geometrid moth, per- haps genus Anisopteryx. Entomological L-itera.txj.re. BULLETIN FROM THE LABORATORIES OF NATURAL HISTORY OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, vol. ii, No. i, contains the continuation of the monograph entitled, "The Pselaphidae of North America, by E. Brendel, M.D., and H. F. YYickham (concluded), 85 pp., 3 plates, 63 figs. Full descriptions with synoptic tables of the species are given. THE ENTOMOLOGIST, November, 1890. — Additions to the British List of Deltoids, Pyralids and Crambi since 1859 (with plates), by Richard South. The sexes of LEPIDOPTEKA, by T. D. A. Cockerell. Contribu- tions to the Chemistry of Insect Colors, by F. H. Perry Coste. Entomo- logical notes, captures, etc. Doings of Societies. THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE, November, 1890. — How do Coccids produce cavities in Plants? by W. M. Maskell. Notes on the LEPIDOPTERA of Digne (Basses Alpes), by A. H. Jones. Entomological ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 15 notes from Aden and Colombo, byj. J. Walker. Notes concerning Psocus qiiadrimaciilatHS Latreille, of which Ps. suhnebulosus Steph. is a synonym, by Robert McLachlan. Aculeate HVMEXOPTERA collected by f. |. Walker at Gibraltar and in North Africa, by Ed\v. Saunders. Notes and Captures, Doings of Societies, etc., finish the number. TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA vol. xiii, pt. i. — Descriptions of Australian LEPIDOPTERA, pt. i, by E. Meyrick. Further notes on Australian COLEOPTERA, by Rev-. T. Blackburn. A CONTRIBUTION TOWARD A KNOWLEDGE OF THE MOUTH PARTS OF THE DIPTERA, by Prof. J. B. Smith (from Trans. Am. Ent. Soc.). This is an interesting essay of twenty pages with twenty-two figures; very little has been written on the anatomy of the mouth parts of DIPTERA, and Prof. Smith's paper is an important addition to the literature of the sub- ject. He states that he studied each organ in its entirety, in its rela- tion to others, and in its development, and that the studies were morpho- logical rather than anatomical. THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE, December. 1890. — Notes on the British species of the genus Anthonomns, with a description of a species new to Britain, by Rev. Canon Fowler. Hymenopterological notes, by P. Cameron. Description of a new species of the genus P/ian- fcns, by B. S. Nevinson. Trichoptera observed in the Exmoor District in Autumn, by R. McLachlan. Observation on some British and exotic Coccidae, by J. W. Douglas. Descriptions of two new species of Euplcea from the South Sea Islands, by Hamilton H. Druce. Great flight of Cnlc.v, Tipiila and Tetramorium in New Zealand, by W. \V. Smith. Meyrick's Pyralida of Europe, by Prof. C. H. Fernald. Trypeta bigelo- vice n. sp., by T. D. A. Cockerell. On a new species of Tomoderus from jaivin, by G. C. Champion. Note on the genus Dischidus, id. Bidessiis Hiiistriatiis in East Norfolk, id.; Anisotoma triepkei, etc., at Aviemore, by R. W. Lloyd. Danais archippns at Eastbourne, by A. H. Clarke. Chcerocampa nerii near Dartmouth, by Henry F. Owen. Description of the larva of Phoxoptery.v upiipana, by B. A. Bower. Insects in the Scilly Isles, by C. W. Dale. BULLETIN No. n, November, 1890, Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station. The Potato Stalk Weevil ( Trichobarix trinotata]. The Apple Curculio (Anthonomits ^-gibbus). A new Currant Borer (Hypcrplaiys aspersus}. The life-histories and remedies against these injurious insects are given (illustrated). These entomological articles are by Prof. C. P. Gillette. \\'E have received the following from Prof. C. Y. Riley, U. S. Ento- mologist: Insecticides and Means of Applying them to Shade and Forest Trees, by C. V. Riley, M.A., Ph.D. The Insectivorous Habits of the English Sparrow, by C. V. Riley. Inserts Alferting the Hackberry (va- rious species of Ce//is], by C. V. Riley. These entomological papers are all from various government publications. l6 ENTOMOLOGICAL NKVVS. [fall. Exchanges. [Entomologists are invited to make free use of this page for the purpose of brin their duplicates and desiderata before the insect-collecting world. Cards of four lilies, with four changes per year, will be allowed without charge, lleyond that, insertions will be charged at regular advertising rates.] North American botanical specimens offered in exchange for butterflies and moths — I. C. Martindale, Camclen, N. |. The LEPIDOPTERA of the world offered in exchange for North American MACKOI.KPIDOPTERA. — Henry Skinner, 716 North 2oth St., Philada., I'.i. LEPIDOPTERA. Cocoons of hybrids, ex Ci 'a noth i et Cccropia ; also Cloven at Cecropia, besides set specimens of North American species. Lists exchanged. — Emily L. Morton, Newbnrgh, N. V. — New Windsor 1 >< -livery. HESPERID/K of the world desired in exchange for the same and other rare butterflies. Good cash prices for rare species. Correspondence solicited. — E. M. Aaron, Academy Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, I 'a. AMERICAN LEPIDOPTERA, especially from West and North desired for purchase or exchange. — H. J. Klwes, Preston, Cirencester, England. HEMIPTERA desired in exchange, especially in HO.MOPTKKA, either named or unnamed. Correspondence solicited. — E. I'. Van 1 >u/ee, (iros- venor Library, New York. A limited number of \<-ony»ipha Atitchcllii French, n. sp., lor exchange. Send lists to Irving N. Mitchell, Fond dn Lac, Wisconsin. PAMPHILA AND CATOCALA. < iood value in cash or exchange for perfect specimens. — Philip Laurent, 1306 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. Dragoullies i ( leased lo hear from anv one interested in the colle« t ion and study of Coleoptera of North America, either to • 01 ie- spond or exchange spe< imeiis. Will collect all orders in this \icinity and exchange for < oleoptera ol other localities.-- Charles l.iebeik. Klltoino- logi( a I Sei tion A< ad. Nat. Sciences, Philadelphia, Pa. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AM) PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION, ACADEMY NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. i. FEBRUARY, 1890. No. 2. CONTENTS: Slosson— May Moths 17 Aaron — N. American Hesperida? 23 Skinner — Random Notes 19 Notes and News 26 Weed— Siphonophoraor Nectarophora? 20 Entomological Literature 29 Jones — Notes on Smerinthus Astylus... 21 Doings of Societies 31 Calvert— Virginian Dragonflies 22 May Moths in Northern New Hampshire. BY ANNIE TRUMBULL SLOSSON. Few entomologists seem to know much of the early spring- in Northern New England and its opportunities for collecting. For the last two or three years I have gone to Franconia, N. H. , on or before the middle of May. In an ordinary season the snow at that date still lies in tin- woods, and the mountains often look quite white. But there are plenty of moths. I have found, on May I5th, Corycia vestaliata Guen. and C. semiclarata Walk. Hying in such numbers over the fields and on the edges of woods that they looked like white flower petals flut- tering in the breeze. With these, and as early, fly the pretty species of Lobophora, L. vernata Pack, and I., gcminata Pack. About the same date Lozogramma dcjluata Walk, and /,. dcter- sata Guen. start up before you as you walk in meadow or open 18 ENTOMOLOGICAL XI.WS. [Feb. woods to fly rapidly a few feet and drop again suddenly t<» the ground. L. lactispargata Walk, is generally a little later. On 1 8th or 2Oth comes the early brood of Scloiia k< ntaria < ',. Ov R. No one who has not seen these early specimens at this season can know anything of the real beauty of this species. These lirst comers are larger and infinitely deeper and richer in tint than the later ones, and there is a soft, tender bloom upon the surface of the wings which is as evanescent as lovely, and is quite lost in drying. Before the 2oth Euftdonia notatariu \Valk., Fidonia truncataria Walk, and Ematurga faxonii Minot, an- plentiful. All these are clay flyers, of course. The nights at this season are still very cold, and often frosty, but it is marvellous to see how many noctuids are moving about and are attracted to sugar and to light. Two years ago, between May :6th and 2Oth, Ho- moptera edusa Drury, was in great abundance, flocking at night to our sugar-stations and also to our lanterns on the pia//a. We have often taken more than a hundred of this species with its two varieties, lunata and saundcrsii, in an evening. With them came also H. unilineata (ir. , H. woodsii (ir. , H. bencsignata Harv. , Zale horrida Hiib. , and the three forms of Ypsia nndnlaris Drury. T iiin-n ol' Pkriigmatobia assimilans Walk. This beautiful insect known only 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. IQ for many years by the worm and damaged types in the British Museum owes, doubtless, its rediscovery by me to my early visit in that backward season to the New Hampshire hills. Random Notes on Lepidoptera. BY HENKV SKINNKK, M. I). Determination of Sex of the Cocoons of Cecropia. — One winter some time ago I collected a large number of Platysamia cecropia cocoons and noticed quite a difference in their superficial appear- ance, and I determined to see, if I could, what it meant. I had suspected from some previous observations that the two kinds represented the different sexes. I divided the cocoons accord- ingly, putting them in separate boxes, and found, subsequently, that the cocoons in one box produced males and the other females. I separated them by the following characters: the male cocoon is much more compact, lighter in color, and not nearly so baggy as the female and much longer in proportion to its width. A typical male cocoon is three and three-quarters inches in length and one and one-eighth in width, while the female cocoon is but three and one-eighth inches in length by two inches in width. The male cocoons are nearly always found high on the stalks (elder) and the females close to the ground hidden by long grass and dead leaves or other matted material where the elder stalk leaver the ground. The difference in the construction of the two co- coons is very striking, the wrinkled, baggy character of the female ones is noticed at once. There may be some exception, but I think by taking the sum of the characters the sexes may be picked out at once without any difficulty, especially in the cocoons found on elder bushes. The above facts are also true of the other spe- cies in the genus Platysamia, but in a lesser degree. I have separated the sexes of ceanothi in the same way. A UNlnrK COLLECTING-FIELD. The Eastern Penitentiary is situated at 22(1 and Fairmoiint Avenue, Philadelphia, in the heart of the eity. and is surrounded by a stone wall about 42 feet high. The corridors run from a common centre like the spoke-, of a wheel, thus leaving some ground between them. Most <>t the cells have a small yard at- 20 ENTOMOLOGICAL NKUS. [I'Yb. tachecl in which the prisoner, is allowed a few hours each day \«\- exercise. Sonic time ago while on a professional visit to some of the inmates I was mortified to find a lepidoptcrist. although in- terested in his captures, which were all made in the yard attached to his cell. The cell yard was enclosed by stone walls 14 by 17 feet and n/'2 in height. In this small space he had caught during the past summer eighteen species, as follows: /'ti/>/7ti> astfn'as, turnus, glaucus, ajajc; Pieris rapce; Colias philodice; Danais ar- chippus; Grapta interrogationis ; Vanessa antiopa, atalanta; An- cyloxypha numitor; Eudamns tityrus; Philampelus satcllitia; Sphinx cclcus; Hemaris thisbc; Catocala obscura, ilia; Cicada sp. P. ajax is a great rarity here. I have never seen but one in the city limits, and Catocala obscura is also rare. Most of the species were represented by a number of specimens. AN ERROR CORRECTED. Mr. Wm. Beutenmueller in his article on the preparatory stages of Callosamia angulifera, Ent. Amer. \'ol. \ , \o. n, p. 200, says " the cocoon can only be separated from that of Promethia by its larger size." The differences in the cocoons and the habits of the larvae of the two species in my mind are the most striking proofs of the distinctness of the species. The full grown Pro- methia caterpillar takes great care to securely fasten its cocoon to the twigs of the tree and hangs by a thread of tightly -woven silk, which has been spun over the stem of a leaf and the dried leaf itself from the outer covering of the cocoon. The angulifera caterpillar either spins its cocoon in the leaf and when the leaf drops in the fall the cocoon falls to the ground in it, or crawls down the trunk of the tree and spins its cocoon in the i^rass, or fastens it to a dead stick under the tree. The angnlift-ra cocoon is oblong, being one inch and a halt in length by live-eights of an inch in width, and never has the silken prolongation as in Promethia (see "1'syche," Vol. V, p. 261), and is not obscured so much by the curled leaves, and has a more marked appearance. Siphonophora or Neclarophora? r,v CL \KINCI: M. wi i n. The fact that the aphidid genus Sifilunuiphora has recently been replaced by Ncc laroph ora, does not seem to have received .us 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 21 much attention from entomologists as it deserves, and ENTOMO- LOGICAL NEWS may perhaps be utilized to present a brief state- ment of the case. The change was made by Prof. O. W. Oest- lund in his " Synopsis of the APHIDID.E of Minnesota (Bulletin No. 4 of the Geological and Natural History Survey of Minne- sota, p. 78)," where in using Ncctarophora he says : " It is with some reluctance that I propose to replace a name that has already become so familiar and extensively used as that of Siphonophorn. But Siphonophora as a generic term was al- ready appropriated for the Myriapoda before Koch made use of it in the APHIDID^E; and it is also used to denote an order of the oceaiTic HYDROZOA, and should, therefore, according to practice, be replaced by one not already occupied." Prof. Forbes informs me that Marschall's " Nomenclator" gives the date of the use of Siphonophora by Brandt for a genus of MYRIAPODA at 1886, and that of Koch for HEMIPTERA at 1855. It seems to me that in questions of nomenclature entomologists at present cannot do better than follow the code of the American Ornithologist's Union, in accordance with canon xxxiii, of which the use of Nectarophora would be justified. This canon reads as follows : " A generic name is to be changed which has been previously' used for some other genus in the same kingdom; a specific or subspecific name is to be changed when it has been applied to some other species of the same genus, or used previously in combination with the same generic term." -o- Noles on Smerinthus Astylus Drury. BY FRANK M. JONES. As but little is known of the life-history of this insect, the fol- lowing notes may be of interest; unfortunately, I could not ob- tain a full description of the larva through all its change : June 16, 1889. — Found 1 and 9 on a twig of High-bush Huckleberry. Here and there on all the Huckleberry bushes hung a few dry leaves; the leaves, when dead, turn einnamon- brown, and the two moths, as they sat motionless on the twig, so closely resembled one of these clusters of dry leaves, both in color and outline, that I did not recognize them as living insert?, for some seconds after seeing them. 22 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Feb. June 16 to 19. — 9 l^icl 151 smooth, glossy, pale greenish yel- low eggs, somewhat flattened, 2 mm. greatest diameter. June 23. — Some of the eggs changed to dirty white, and the young larvae could be seen within. June 24. — Eggs commenced to hatch; young larva pale green- ish white, 6 to 7 mm. in length; head and thoracic segments large; caudal horn 1.5 mm. in length, reddish brown, darker at base and tip; two spines at tip, making it appear pronged; horn usually straight, or nearly so, but in some cases much curved; in this moult it points backward. July 28. — Larva full grown; length 38 mm.; green, with yellow granulations; seven yellow, oblique, lateral stripes, the last reach- ing base of caudal horn; an indistinct, yellow, longitudinal, lateral line to fifth segment, and continued faintly; a variable number of red dorsal spots or blotches, two on a segment; some have but two small red spots on the third segment, and on others red is the predominating color of the dorsal region ; caudal horn straight, pale green; two thorns at tip; points forward; several days before pupating the green of the dorsal region fades to a dull yellow. August ii. — First larva pupated; although provided with a plentiful supply of light, moist earth, none of the larvse attempted to enter the ground, but pupated upon the bare soil. If this is their habit in nature, it may in part account for the rarity of this insect, but I have noticed the same thing with other and com- moner species when confined in breeding-cages, and its rarity is probably due to some other cause. -o- Noles on a few Virginian Dragonflies. MY PHILIP P. CALVKKT. Some months ago Mr. \Ym. I). Richardson, of burg, Ya., sent to me, for identification, a few dr.igonllies which he had taken in Spottsylvania County in that State. These speci- mens may interest sonic readers as adding new data for geo- graphical distribution. Fxcepting ./•.'. //,-r<>.\\ none of these >pe- cies have liciu recorded from Yirginia before, although /'. trimaculata\\\\* knoun to inhabit the I'nited States everyu hen- east of the Kocky Mountains. The nods \\hich Mr. KiclunUon sent with the specimens are enclosed in quotation marks. 1 890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 23 1. Lestcs forcipata Ramb. (Selys, 1862) $ "July 3, 1889, near a pond." This species is the hamata of Dr. Hag-en' s Synopsis of 1861. 2. Anomalagrion hastatum Say, 9 "July 12, 1889, near a pond." 3. Enallagma aspersum Hag., €. BY EUGENE M. AARON. No. 1.— ERYCIDES URANIA and EUDAMUS HESUS. It is the purpose, in this series of short papers, to give descrip- tions of new or little-known species of North American HES- PERID^E, with notes that will be calculated to aid students in the study of this neglected Family. There are a few species of HES- PERID.E which have never been described, the identification of which depend on illustrations only to be found in rare and costly works. Others are inadequately described or, in the opinion of the writer, confounded with older species, and still others are as yet undescribed. Where it seems to be desirable to elucidate the text, plain drawings will be furnished. Erycides Urania, West. [Plate I, li.u,. i.]* West.-Doub.-Hew., Gen. Di. Lep., p. 510, No. 7, pi. 79, fig. i (1852). Though figured, in 1852, in the superb work cited above, this striking species has never been described in the publications of its :; Plate I will appear in a future number uf NKWS. 24 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Feb. native land nor abroad. As the "Genera of Diurnal Lepidop- tera" is an extremely rare work — it is doubtful if more than fifteen copies are to be found in the United States — I have thought it well to describe and figure it at this time, so that hereafter it may be easier for the American student of the HKSI>KKII>.I. to identify the species as it turns up in collections. The only textual reference to this species in the ' ' Gen. Di. Lep. ' ' is in a list of the species of the genus ; the student is left to the very accurate figure on plate 79 for the determination, and there, very unwisely as it seems, only the upper side is figured. The description which follows is made from the figure by Mr. Hewitson, and from a fair series of specimens from Texas and Mexico : Expanse 2 to 2^6 inches. Ground color above black on both wings ; banded and spotted with bright green or blue. On the primaries this banding in most examples is caused by the fact that nearly the whole surface is covered with a dense coat of scales of bright green, which, being separated by the black bordered ner- vures, take on the form of longitudinal bands; in a few specimens, however, the apical area is but slightly sprinkled with green and the whole outer half of the wing appears black or nearly so. A group of translucent sub-apical spots consist of three constricted points along the costal margin, one larger below the outer of the three, and a much larger quadrate spot centrally below the four. Two translucent bands follow these spots internally, the first bifid, short, hardly more than an elongated spot, the inner one crossing the median area much longer and made trifid by two nervures. The color of the markings on the secondaries is much brighter, and towards the anal angle of a deep azure-blue tint in some ex- amples. From the base three streaks diverge towards and stop abruptly on the median area, the upper of these is shorter than the others to make room for the bifurcate series of spots on tin- outer area of the wing. These spots -four in the inner limb and seven in the outer are placed in the form of a written letter r. < >n ^oine examples there is a faint indirati< m ol another streak. It mger than the three others running parallel to the abdominal margin. Beneath, color and markings a reproduction of the upper sur- face, save that while the black is not so dense on the primaries, it is deeper and more \el\ety on the secondaries. The green atoms on the primaries are fewer; \\ "1 s|,,,ts parallel to the outer margin is made to continue in its sub-marginal course by the addition of two spots placed parallel t<> the costal margin. Beneath the discal spot and towards the abdominal margin there is another somewhat smaller. Body and thorax above and below concolorous with the \vings; head above the same, below much brighter. Antenna anmilated with black and the general color, brighter at base of tip, then black, and finally ending in a long tapering tip of the general color. Habitat. — Mexican boundary of Texas; Mexico; Central Am.: Brazil ( ? ). The locality was unknown when the insect was figured bv Westwood. Notes and Ne\vs. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OK THE GLOBE. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit, and will thankfully receive items of news, likely to interest its readers, from any source. The author's name will be given in each case !or the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] ABCANTIIIA I'AIMSTRILLA IN NESTS OF THE RARN SWALLOW. — While \\orkmcn were nailing sonic brackets beneath the eaves of the college barn in the latter part of last August preparatory to putting up ne\\ eave- troughs, they complained of receiving a shower of bed-bugs whenever they pounded on the barn. The fact was reported to me and I imme- diately went, bottle in hand, to get a supply of the bugs. A large flock of swallows had lived about the barn all summer and reared their young and had recently deserted the place I lie eaves uere Completely lined with their mud nests betueeii the ends of the rafter-,. 1 'pon examining these nests I found them to he literally alive with crawling vermin someuhat resembling bed-bugs, but much smaller, more hairy, and having a grayish |>ilose appearance instead of the naked brick-red appeal - ance of the article that 1 had always seen. I lie outside of the nests were in many places gray in color from the accumulation of tlieir \\hite egg- shell-,. 'I'he largest of the bugs found in the nests measured bill i) >•< \ of an inch in length, while lull grown s|>ecimens of . /. /,-,/n /,/; i\r in my col- leitioii measure fully '4 of an iiu h. 1 am indebted to Mr. Ashniead. ot the Itivision ol 1-jitoinolo- \ at Washington, for the idi-ntilic.itioii of the speci" . Mr. Ashniead tells me that he does not think that this species has ever b« tore been reported in I his country. It is a common spec ies in 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 2J Europe on the swallow and the bat. Is it not very possible that in most cases, and perhaps in all cases, where bed-bugs have been reported in swallow's nests in this country that this was the species present, and not A. lectularia? C. P. GILLETTE. West Cliff, Custer Co., Col., Dec. 16, 1889. The Editor ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, DEAR SIR: — I received your preliminary circular, or prospectus, to- day, and am glad to hear of the new journal. Conducted on the lines set forth, and by the editor and committee announced, it cannot fail to be highly useful. It will bring entomologists in closer touch and to more harmonious feeling than has yet been seen on this side of the water. ' It has occurred to me that ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS might fulfil a very useful function by collecting facts and opinions regarding the various ques- tions which have been or are under debate in entomological circles. Thus, you might announce in successive numbers of the journal that facts and opinions were required concerning such questions as : 1. Does moisture cause melanism, and if so, why? 2. Ought varieties to be named, and if so, to what extent ? 3. Should the term " form" be used to indicate slight varieties ? 4. In symmetrical insects does one side tend to vary more than the other in an average of numerous examples ? And so on. Theo a "question editor" might be appointed (or a committee) to sift and arrange the resulting correspondence, and finally draw up a report showing the trend of opinion and the weightier facts on either side. Don't you think that would be useful ? You might also have a " Variation Committee," to receive reports of all varieties, and assort and arrange them when convenient for publication. In this way facts from all hands would be correlated and their significance understood. Hitherto there has been too much exclusiveness. Those who were not specialists, or great students, have thought they could do nothing, whereas, properly guided, they can do everything! Hut they must not be slighted or looked down upon because they are "beginners." Yours very truly, THEO. D. A. COCKKKKLL. [The projectors of ENTOMOLOGICAL Xi-:ws have had the plans for its management and publication under advisement for some time past; in fact ever since the untimely demise of " Papilio," in iSS.s. it lias been more or less in their minds. Though lor some time assured that such a journal as they hope- to make it was needed they have continued to teel doubtful of its reception by the entomological public until answers began to pour in from those who received the preliminary circular alluded to above. Letters such as this from one of the most active biologists interested in our science have reached us in sufficient numbers to assure us that American and 28 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Feb. Foreign Entomologists are much interested in our success. From these present humble beginnings we hope to move on towards even higher ideals until, with the aid of our correspondents, we reach such useful channels as Mr. Cockerel! has outlined. — E. M. AARON.] WHISTLING TREES. — A species of acacia, which grows very abundantly in tin- Soudan, is also called the " whistling tree" by the natives. Its sin >< its are frequently, by the agency of the larvae of insects, distorted in shape and swollen into a globular bladder, from one to two inches in diameter. After the insect has emerged from a circular hole in the side of this swell- ing, the opening, played upon by the wind, becomes a musical instrument, equal in sound to a sweet-toned flute. — Exchange. A GRASSHOPPER STORY. — A reformed car driver who worked for the Street Car Company of Mobile, Ala., in the days when paper currency was all the go, says that the company introduced the patent boxes which for a time headed off the boys effectually in their " knocking down" fares. But the victory of capital over labor was short-lived, for the drivers sup- plied themselves with large grasshoppers which they tied by the wings with a string and shoved down into the box, and when Mr. Grasshopper grabbed onto a dime they jerked him back out of the box. This was kept up for some time with great success, until one day the string broke and left the bird in the box, which gave the snap away. — Exchange. JEWELS THAT ARE ALIVE. — The firefly of the South — the cucjijo, an inch-long beetle — is occasionally brought to this country as a curiosity, and if fed on sugar-cane and kept in a moist atmosphere it can be pre- served in health for several weeks. The people of the Caribbean Islands use these beetles for ornament, confined in folds of gauze, where the beautiful green light which they emit — their red light flashes only in (lying —is more varied and splendid than any emerald that ever shone in a king's coronet; a number of them together under a glass make sufficient illumina- tion for dressing or reading without producing any heat. — Harper 's L'tizar. THK MEXICAN WASP. — The Mexican Wasp is built entirely for business. He is over two inches long when he is of age, and is about the color of a bay horse. His plunger is a full inch long and as fine as a spider's \\eb. Unlike the stinger of a common bee, the stinger of the Mexican Wasp is uon-forfeitable. He doesn't give up after one lunge, but is always ready for an all-day job il necessary. The mission of the Mexican Wasp seems to be to hunt up people to run his stinger into. The natives say that lie will go ten miles out of his way to get a whack at a person. The nati\es secin to get fat on snake bites, centipede bites and scorpion stings, but if the\ discover one of tln-se wasps iii their neighborhood they hunt for cover without delay. — (»;>i-r of Vol. XX11 contains " Ihilaiiinus — Its food habits," by |ohn Hamilton, M. 1)., with five- illustrations of Jla/aninns HHCHIH. The continuation of l'n>f. |. P>. Smith's " Preliminary Catalogue of the Arctiidtr of Temperate North America, with Notes" [the i^enus Air da.'] "Note OH the- Larval ( >rna- mentation of the North American ±\/>h /;/»' '. Smith," by A. R. drote; a controversial article. " Notes" ,md "Correspondence" contain brief notes on Collecting by !•'. 15. Caullield. "The Cotton Worm" around London, Ontario, by I-".. liaynes Reed, and " Chrysalids (Pryrameis can/it i\ devoinvcl by Caterpillars plt v_T.r larva,-," by John H. Wood. " ( 'o/coptcra at Cobhane Park, Kent," by (. |. Walker. " Descriptions of two new genera (St<-f/i- idea and Trichidca\ and of some uncharacterized species of d'a/cmii/itf," by Joseph S. Baly. The species are from the Indian fauna. " Notes on the Lepidoptera of Mooltan," by N. Manders. " Iicrya f>unhasi and its insect enemies in New Zealand," by W. M. Maskell. The briefer notes in this issue are on " Scoparia afonia/is and Scoparia an»'itstt'a," by Kustace R. Bankes. " Opostega salacicl/a" by the same author. " Habits ot the Honey Moth" \_(,'al/cna ccirana,~\ by C. G. Barrett, and ".•/;/- .1 beneficial eliect," is published and Obituary Notices of I >r. Fran/ Low. at Vienna, a^ed hi; |. 15. (iehin, at Kemiremont, a^ed 7 v. and Pro!. Win. Ramsay McNab, M . I)., at I lublin, a-ed 45. are -i\en. The usual .1. i omits of Sorieiv Meetings end the number. — L. M. A. Li- NATURALIST! C\\ADII;.N iVceinbei. iSSi). \\'ith this issue comes i|>a^ed 2X5 2t;2i a separatum continuing the \\ork on the /,/.v.\/,/,-.v i _/(/.v.v//.v to /','I//I>/>M'M. The rest of this number is of general interest, and not c-spi-ciall\ addressed to entomologists. !•'.. M. A. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 3! THE ENTOMOLOGISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT, Dresden, Band 2, 1889, con- tains a very interesting and valuable paper to lepidopterists entitled: " Lep- idopteren der Insel Palawan," by Dr. (.). Staudinger. It covers one hundred and seventy-seven pages enumerating two hundred and eighty- three species collected by Dr. Platen. At the end of the paper are two very useful lists of species, one being systematic and the other alphabetical. About sixty new species are described, and some of them illustrated, there being two plates, containing thirty figures, which are photographic repro- ductions. Copious notes are given with each species listed. Among the interesting new forms were two species of Ornithoptcra. Palawan is one of the Phillipines, and is two hundred and sixty miles long by thirty wide, the interior being mountainous, and the west flat. The products of the island are cowries, gold, ebony and other fine woods. Also two papers by C. Kibbe; one on two new diurnals from Africa, and the other on new butterflies from Banggassa, a small isle in the Celebes, illustrated by two plates, seven figures. A paper by H. Ribbe on some aberations in the •collection of Gustav Borneman, is also of interest to lepidopterists. H. SKINNER. Doings of Societies. COLORADO BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, West Cliff, Oct. 19, 1889. — Mr. •Cockerell exhibited and made remarks on a number of Hymenoptera, in •eluding / 'ipio coloradensis Ashm. 9 , collected in the Wet Mountain Valley, •Col. This was only the second example of the species known. December i4th Mr. S. H. Scudder was announced as a corresponding member. Letters from Mr. Ashmead, containing identifications of Hy- menoptera and Hemiptera, and from Rev. G. D. Hulst, containing identi- fications of Lepidoptera, were laid before the meeting. All these insects had been collected in Wet Mountain Valley, Custer County, Col. The Hymenoptera included Glyphe flavipes Ashm., Ho- malotylus bifasciatus Ashm., etc. The Lepidoptera included two new species: Ragonotia saganella Hulst and Caripeta niveostriata Hulst, and .a species, Altoona ardiferella Hulst, of which only one specimen was previously known. T. D. A. COCKERELL, Sec. THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, Dec. 14, 1889. — Mr. W. L. Distant exhibited on behalf of Mr. L. de NiceVille, a branch of a walnut tree on which was a mass of eggs laid by a new Lvca-nid butterfly, which Mr. de Niceville had referred to a new genus and described as Oncfo- procta odata. It was said to occur only at elevations above 5000 feet in N. W. India. Dr. Sharp exhibited eggs from a South American bug, J'iczostcnniui siibulalian, which, tin nigh taken trom a completely rotten imago, were in a perfect state of preservation. I le also exhibited a speri- 32 . I MOMOLOGICAI. XKWS. [Feb. men of I\L-cilocln-i»iia /.f.v/.v//, ;i Pentatomid bug from Japan, which, uhen dampened \\ith water, turned instantly from a dull green to a nn- tallic copper color. Mr. |. II. Leech exhibited a large number of /.,/>/ iin Simla previously only recorded from Pekin; and Mr. Distant stated thai he had latelv re( eiv« d .1 species of Cicada hum. Hong Kong hitherto supposed to be confined to Java. Mr. \V. II. 15. Fletcher exhibited a preserved specimen and draw- ings of a variety of the larva of Sphin.v /igiistri. Mr. V. I), (iodman read a letter from Mr. Herbert Smith, containing an account of the //i - menoptera, Diptera, Honip/cni and Colcoplcra recently collected in St. Vincent, where he was employed under the direction of a committee ol the Royal Society appointed to investigate the natural history of the \\Vst Indies [it is understood that a work on the lines of the superb " P.iologia Centrali-Americana" will in time be the product of this survey.] Mr. Khves read a letter from Mr. I )oherly descriptive of collecting at light and sugar in the Naga Hills. Mr. Doherty expressed the opinion that light used in out-of-the-way places repels rather than attracts; the same applied to sugar, as insects required to be accustomed to these de- coys, Col. Swinhoe said the attractive power of light depended on its in- tensity and height above the ground. I le had collected over three hundred specimens of Spiritigidcf at electric light in Hombay in one night. Mr. J. |. Walker had found electric lights very attractive in Panama. Mr. F. Merrifield read a paper entitled, " Systematic Temperature Experiments on some Lepidoptera in all their stages," and exhibited a number of speci- mens in illustration. Darkness of color and markings in l:.ninnnos au- tnninaria resulted from the subjection of the pupa.- to a very low tempera- ture. The same had occurred in Sclcnia illuslrai'ia, where the markings had also been altered in a very striking manner. Lord \Valsingham ob- served that exposure to cold in the pupa state appeared to prodm < a darker coloring in the imago, and that forcing in that stage hail an opposite effect; that insects subjected to glacial conditions probably de- rived some advantage from the development of dark or suffused coloim-, and that this advantage was, in all probability, the more rapid absoiption of heal, lie believed an hereditary tendency in this direction u.i-^ e-,tab- lished under glacial < onditioiis, and that lliis would account for the preva- lence of melanic forms in northern latitudes and at high elevations. 11. ( ",< >ss and \V. \V. FI IWI.I-.K. Si . 's. I NTOMOLOGH \i Ni- us fur Januai \ \v:is tn.uU il I. in. i ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION, ACADEMY NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. i. MARCH, 1890. No. 3. CONTENTS: Wickham— Notes from Northwest 3^ Robertson— Notes on Bombus 39 Wadsworth — List of Dragonflies 36 Notes and News 41 Lugger — Fond of Grammar 38 f Ives — Method of Egg Deposition 39 Entomological Literature 44 Doings of Societies 48 NOTES FROM THE NORTHWEST. BY H. F. WICKHAM. The following notes were made on my collecting trip in the summer of 1889, and may be of interest to the readers of EXTO- MOLOGJCAL NEWS. The species of Cychrus included in the subgenus Brennus are said by Dr. Horn (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. VII, p, 176) to be " pe- culiar to the true Pacific coast fauna of North America." This summer I took the common C. marginatus Fisch. at Mullan, Mon. , and again at Helena in the same State, which extends the range a long way east. These examples differ from the western ones by being smaller and of a more uniform black. Carabus mccander occurs in the Rocky Mountains at Mullan j Mon. A special search for Pselaphidae brought to light only the fol- lowing species: Ctenistes pulvereus Lee. , one specimen under a stone at The Dalles, Oregon. Three examples of Pselaphns 34 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, erichsonii var. longiclavus Lee., many Bryaxis conjuncta Lee. and Bry. albionica Mots, in rubbish under logs at Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. Tychus cognatus and Batrisns scphyrinus Case}- (which runs in collections as albionicus Aube) occurs in moss at Victoria, Vane. I. ; the latter species also at Tacoma. Batrisns monticola Casey came to hand only once in the Cas- cade Mountains, Yakima Co. , Wash., where Bry. albionica was also taken. A single $ of Bry. albionica also occurred at Vic- toria. At Portland, Oreg. , I got a specimen of Far onus cavifrons Casey under bark. Bry. fnndata is found at the Spokane Falls late in July, under logs, and in the Rocky Mountains at Mullan, Mon., I took a beautiful example of Tyrus corticinns Casey. Mycetina hornii occurs occasionally under bark throughout the Northwest, but I found in one case a colony of over seventy-five individuals under a single log in a burnt district of the pine forests covering the Cceur d' Alene region. Byrrhidae seems to prefer burnt logs for protection, as they were always more numerous where the timber had been charred by fires. Calochromns di- uiidiai'a has the same habit. In a swamp at Cceur d' Alene I found Aphodius occidentalis in unlimited numbers in little ditches which ran through the soft earth. They were there by thousands, dead and living, a half hour's work supplying me with above seven hundred of them. The beetles were burrowing at random in the mud, which was apparently rich enough for them to live and luxuriate in, full of decaying vegetable matter. Toads had been attracted to the feast in numbers, and, to judge from the quantity of wing covers in their excrement, had made the most of their opportunity. Amphicoma canina and A. rathvoni are day fliers, and may be found flying in the hot sun during the early part of July, fre- quenting the flowers of the " Yarrow," which grows abundantly near Tacoma, where I made my observations. I do not know it the occurrence of Cremastochilus under bark has ever been re- ported. I took a lew of them in such a situation at Coeur d' Alene, but they were in the company of their hosts — ants. I have railed the species f>itosico//is Horn, but there may be some little doubt as to the/ correctness of the determination. The electric lights of Spokane Falls attract great numbers of /:V;'niicns, SO 1 made it my business to go around everv night to pick them up. They come 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 35 out from cracks in the sidewalks, under door-sills, and in fact from any place where they can squeeze themselves away. Then the fun begins, and, as I go down the street with my biggest col- lecting bottle slung on my wrist and begin picking up the ' ' bugs," I am a centre of attraction. Next, two policemen proceed to "collar" me, and it takes half an hour of explanation to con- vince them that I am neither an incendiary nor a fugitive from the State asylum, and that my bottle (because, forsooth, it is marked " poison") is not a deadly weapon. At length they are satisfied though, and let me off, and I filled my bottle every night. Leptura makes a brave show in these Northern regions, and all the following occur on flowers: L. obliterate soror, plagifera, subargentata, convexa, canadensis, erythroptera, Icztifica, quad- rill nm, chrysocoma, crassicornis, crassipes and scripta, most of them rather rare. Timarcha intricata I found always under logs in moss. Whether it feeds on this or not I cannot say. Occurs at Portland, Tacoma and Cceur d' Alene from early June until the beginning of August. Chrysomela exclamationis and conjuncta are common in Idaho (Pocatello) on Helianthus, and C. elegans on willows at various points. C. lunata I found on rosebushes mostly, though they also appear on grasses, sunflowers, asters, and even poison ivy. I doubt if they eat any of these but the roses, however. The Tenebrionidae I leave for a separate paper, and will close with a few remarks on the Rhynchophora of the region. Thri- comigus luteus is found in western Wyoming under logs and on rose-bushes. Sitones is everywhere, but I am not yet able to satisfactorily separate my series. Plinthodes t(zniatus I took under logs, and the same is true of Trichalophus didymus. The former species I took at Tacoma and Victoria, the other is found, though rarely, over the entire northwestern corner of the United States, and as far East as Mullan, Mon. It seems to be quite- variable in size and color. Macrops also occurs over almost the whole region, though I took none at Victoria. At Portland I took M. hnini/is'm a swamp around the roots of grass, and on the plains of Wyoming, Mon- tana and Nebraska I found I\I. vitticollis, tenebrosus, ulkei and obscurellus more or less abundant. Sphenophorus is abundant in the native grasses all through the central region from Nebraska to eastern Oregon, and will doubt- 36 ENTOMOLOGICAL NKWS. [March, less make itself felt as a serious pest to farmers when cultivation cuts down its present food supply. Of the species I took the following: simplc.\\ •r^nicrinux, ulkci. in 27> 3°: June 7. 25, 27. In woods, road and near brook. 5. Ischnura verticalis Say. 1889, May 25 to July 2. In woods, near brook and lake. G. Enallagma Hag-eni Walsh. 1X89, June 7, 9 9 25, three £ £ ; near lake. July 6, two & £ , brook. 7. Erythromma conditum Sri vs. 1888, June 18, in field. iS.x.,, May 25, 28; June j;, J. June 25, one £ in woods. July 5, observed one devouring a Calof>tcr\.\ »//(t. 20. Hagenius brevistylus Selys. 1889, June x^> onc 9 • m woods. 21. Cordulegaster diastatops Selys. iSS8, July 1 1, near brook. Not common. 1889, June 13, one £ . (To be contimu-tl. i ENTOMOLOGICAL M1WS. FOND OF GRAMMAR. BY OTTO LUGGER. [March, Entomologists all know that insects are by no means very stupid animals, and know much more than is generally supposed. They learn, no doubt, by experience as well as we do, but do not, a.-, a general rule, search for knowledge. A few days ago a young student at the Agricultural School complained that his books at home were badly eaten by some insects, and as a specimen of the damage caused by them he brought a Norwegian grammar. And true enough the damage done was very plain, and the culprit, or rather culprits, were still engaged in the work, as may be seen in the illus- tration. Snugly hidden in the o^^ grammar were the larvae and the imago of Trogosita mauritanica, and also the pupal skin of a third individual, already escaped. Hut evidently the desire to inform them- selves in the Norwegian grammar had not been very great, or had been too difficult for their taste. They had not penetrated into the grammatical mysteries, but were satisfied to rest contented with a very superficial knowledge of the same. Hut they had ^one into it to stay; had formed snug cellsclo-M- to the edges, and had plugged the entrances with trass; had, so to speak, burned the ships behind them. Telling the boy that he ought to be ashamed of neglecting his books he \\ondered that the insects should have been able to inform me of thefai 1. When I also told him to n mo\ <• his books from the vicinity of neglected llour, teed or similar things, he looked perplexi d, and said that the bui;s h.id told me more about jc. (&x., t latin o: (erorfforingSt = (Sjigfyebstegr 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 39 his room than he knew himself, but an inspection soon showed that the books were stored upon a board resting upon a barrel filled with old bran. Evidently the larva?, in search for suitable quarters to transform, had wandered about and had mistaken the covers of his books for the loose bark of trees, their usual abode-. An Interesting Method of Egg Deposition. BY J. E. IVES. Some time since I received from Mr. J. C. Saltar, of Pember- ton, N. J., what appeared to be a dried-up mass of dead flies, about the size of a man's fist. Throughout it were scattered light- colored fragments, which had somewhat the appearance of empty egg-cases. The whole mass was very brittle, and readily crum- bled to pieces. It was obtained from the under surface of the trunk of a tree overhanging a small stream. Being unable to obtain any information as to the nature of this peculiar structure, I sent it to Dr. Williston, of Yale, with the request that he would kindly examine it. He has done so, and writes that the flies are the females of a species belonging to the genus Atherix, probably to Atherix variegata Walk. He draws attention to the fact that, in the Standard Natural History, p. 418, he makes the following reference to the subject: "The eggs of Atherix are deposited in large, pear-shaped masses, attached to dried branches overhanging water. Not only do numerous fe- males contribute to the formation of these clusters, but they re- main there themselves and die; the newly-hatched larvae escape into the water." The instinct which leads to the formation of such a mass is a very peculiar and interesting one. -o- NOTES ON BOMBUS. BY C. ROBERTSON. In a letter addressed to me in October, 1888, Mr. Cresson ex- pressed the suspicion that Apathus? elatus Fab. was not a true Apathus, but that it was probably a Bonibiis, and in a letter of November he expressed the hope that I would obtain some- lij^ht on the subject during the following summer. Accordingly, in 40 i XK>M( ^LOGICAL NEWS. [March, the summer of 1889, I completed my observations, arriving at the conclusion that Bombus amcricanornm Fab. is distinct from />. fr-n>i.fv/i'anici(s I )e Geer, and that Afiathns? elatns is its male. I give below the synonymy of the two species with my notes upon them : Bombus pennsylvanicus. Apis pensylvanica DeGeer, Me'm. Ill, 575 (1773). Bombus pensylvanicus Crzss., P. E. S. II, 94, £ — 9 $ in part i 181 On Aug. 22, 1888, I took the sexes of this species in copula. The female was hanging by one foot to a leaf of Gerardia pedicu- laria. This female bore two yellow spots on the vertex; the scutellum had a little yellow; the first segment of the abdomen was entirely black. From the specimens at hand I would distin- guish the female from that of/?, americanonan as follows: Vertex always more or less yellow; scutellum more or less yellow; first segment of abdomen black, or with a little yellow on the sides; seen from above, the base of the labrum shows a transverse rid^e more or less interrupted medially. The worker resembles the female. Bombus americanorum. Apis americanomm Fab., Syst. Km. 380, (17751; Ent. Syst. II, 319 (1793). Boinluts americanorum Fab., Syst. Piez. 346, (1804); St. Far^. Hyin. I, 472 (1836). . -//>/\ da/a Fab., Ent. Syst. Suppl. 274, <$ (1798). lloinhns elatns Fall., Syst. 1'iez. 352, tf (1804). ,\f>ath its elatns Cress., Proc. Fnt. Snc. II, 114, $ (1863). ^•\ fml hits.' clatii .v Cress., Cat. Described Hymeimp. X. A. ^ (iSS; . Apis nidii Unix Fab., Fnt. Syst. Suppl. 274, $ (1798); see Cress., Pn>c. Ent. Soc. II, 165. /loin/ins until /a us l-'al)., Syst. Pie/. 349, ^ i [804). /•'<»ii/>iis paisy/ranii'its Cress., l'n>c. !•".. S. II, 94, 9 $ in part , 1*63). In Proc. Knl. Soc. II, 164, Mr. Crimson says: "On the nth of September, 1863, a nest ot Bombus pensylvanicus T)e Gteti was captured near Gloucester, N. J. It contained 6 females, 34 workers and 21 specimens of .\pathits clatns Fab., all males. No males oi /.'. pensylvanicus were lound in the nest." This convinced me that a solution of the problem must be found in the nests of .Z?. f>rn>isv/;-nn/fns. Accordingly, on Au^. 20, I opened ;i nest of \\hat I had always taken as />'. fr-niisv It c ontained I li-male and \2\ worker^, and J males <>f .//>,//// /c\.-> claliis. On comparing this female and the \\nrkers with the fe- male taken in copula \\ith B. pennsylvantCUS J) , 1 came to the 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 41 conclusion that they were distinct, and that the nest belonged to B. americanorum. On September gth I saw the sexes of this species in copula. The same night 'I opened two nests, one con- taining 10 females, 46 workers and 10 males, and the other con- taining 9 females, 51 workers and i male. The female of B. americanorum has the vertex always black; the scutellum black, or with a little yellow; the first segment of the abdomen yellow; seen from above, the base of the lab rum shows two tubercles separated by a wide interval. The males of B. americanorum and of B. fervid us may prove to be very much alike. Indeed the $ of B. americanorum re- semi >k-s the 9 of B. fervidus more than its own female; but I think B. americanorum is more nearly related to B. fervidus than it is to B. pennsylvanicus. B. fervidus is very rare in my neigh- borhood, as I have seen but two female specimens. In Proc. Ent. Soc. Ill, 247, Walsh mentions finding B. fervidus 9 sur- mounted by Af>athus elatus $ . He was discussing the effect of mimicry, and he cites this as a case in which a Bombus mistook an Apathus for one of its own species. But the mistake was probably on the part of the entomologist; he had, no doubt, taken the true sexes of B. fervidus. Notes and. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL \i.\vs solicit, and will thankfully receive items of ni-ws, likely to interest its readers, from any source. The author's name will be given in each case tor the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] O SCIKNTII -ic Ui SI.ARCH IN Mnxico. — An important scientific explora- tion is to be made of the less known portions of Yucatan and Mexico, re- gions which have not hitherto been systematically explored by naturalists, except in so far as arch;eoloi;y is concerned It is the object of the expe- dition to ascertain, as a continuation of former explorations in Florida, the general structure of tin- basin of the C.ulf of Mexico, conceniin.y; which there is much dixersity of opinion anioii^ scientists. Tin- exploration will comprise, besides the ideological examination of t!u- region, a < lose examination of its /oology and botany, towards which end specialists in various departments of science uill accompany the expe- dition. The party will be under the leadership of I'n.l. An-elo Heilprin, 42 KXTOMOI.OGICAI. NK\VS. [March, of tlu- Academy of Natural Sciences. Accompanying him \\ill be Mr. J. I-".. Ives, one ol" I'rof. Heilprin's assistants at tin- A< adcmy of Natural S< iences, who will ha\e charge i >f the marine /.< >< >\< >gy; Mr. Witmer St< >n«-. who will make the collectii HIS < >f botany and ornitholi igy; Mr. !•'.<'. I laker, of COnchology and general /oology and Mr. Roberts l.e Moiitillier, uho will be the photographer of the expedition. Papers governing the expedition have b.-eii ivi eived from the St.it'- 1 '••- partment at Washington addressed to the representatives of this country in Central America and Mexico, and also Irom the Mexican Minister at Washington, Seuor Romero, commending the expedition to the <'.o\ein- ment of Yucatan. The expedition left Xe\v York by steamer February i.sth. to stop first at Progresso, Yucatan, whence the research will extend into the interior of that State. Much of interest is expected from the expedition to this region, as very little is known of its entomological riches. From Yucatan the expedition will be deflected to \"era Crux, wheix e will begin the exploration of the Mexican 1< >u land and of the volcanic belt which stretches westward towards the 1'acilic. This region, like Yucatan, despite its ready accessibility, is still to a great extent unknown to the en- tomologist. The determination of the limitation of the range of animals and plants and the intermingling of Northern and Southern forms will receive the first attention of the expedition. An attempt will be made to gain the summit of the extinct volcano of Orizaba, 17,500 feet high, by some considered to be the loftiest peak in Mexico, and perhaps loftiest summit of the entire North American Con- tinent, of the complete ascent of which no trustworthy details appear to be on record. The peak affords almost unsurpassed advantage for the study of vertical distribution of animal and plant life, since it rises from a base within a short distance of the sea, far beyond the limits of perpetual snow. From Orizaba the course will lie towards the City of Mexico, uhere an examination will be made of the lakes lying on the Mexican plateau. An ascent will be made from this point of the neighboring peak of Popocate- petl, which rises to approximately the same height as < >ri/aba. but is much more accessible than that mountain. From the valley of Mexico the expedition \\ill take a uesterK course, having in view the passage of the Sierra Madre Mountains and a descent to the Pacific coast. The still active \olcanic foci uill be made the feature of this rest-. in h. The volcano of Colima, i -?,.S(H> feet, in elevation, \\hose recent furious eruption ga\e e\ id< -in -e that the volcano \\ as not, as generally supposed, extinct, and which threatened the existence of /apotl.m, uill piobabK be the limit of the expedition, although a further attempt to reach lorullo. rendered famous by I 1 umbolt It's narratix e, max be made. The exact route ol the return joimie\ has Hot \e| been determined upon. It is e\pe( ted, however, that it uill reach home before midsummer. I890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NF.WS. 43 A large part of the region to be traversed will lie away from civilixation, necessitating travel by primitive- methods, and for some distance probably the protection of an armed escort will be necessary, especially in the re- gion of the revolted Indian tribes of Yucatan. The expedition is organixed under the auspices of the Academy of Natural Sciences, which has recei\ed the co-operation of its individual members, and also of the American Philosophical and American Ento- niological Societies. This expedition, it is stated, is the first extensive one that has been or- ganixed by a scientific institution in this country to be sent outside of the bounds of the I'nited States for many years, and its results are awaited with a great deal of interest by scientists. The entomological collections, which will be made in all orders, will be distributed among the leading specialists, and the conclusions readied by them will be published in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, or in the Transactions of the American Ento- mological Society. The narrative of the expedition will probably be pub- lished in separate book form. Editor ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS: — I should like to ask some of your readers if Sudbury, Ontario, is not a very Northern locality for Ca/osonta scrutator? I have always understood that if ever found North of the (in-at Lakes it came only as a shipwrecked mariner. While looking under pine bark for Allans invops last spring, of which I took nineteen specimens in a few days, 1 found a fresh, living, full-sixed specimen of C. scrutator. Altogether, I took some 450 different species of beetles here last season, but cannot get more than half of them named. ]:.latcrid(f were peculiarly plentiful. I took some 200 individuals and nearly 30 species; also 42 spe- cies of Carabidcc and 21 of water beetles. My prixe is a large green in- sect, apparently a Cantharis, but certainly not one of the common Ca>i- tharidif; also several Ceratnbycidtc and fyrochroidif that local entomolo- gists cannot determine. Lepidopterists will be interested to know that Colias interior, both male and female, are quite common here in the season. — E. 1). PKTKKS, JK. I b IP W< IKMS. --Late last August I found several larx.e feeding in the Hop (Humulus lupulus). I removed portions of the stems, cutting live or six inches above and below the swellings, and placed them in a box used for feeding larv.e. In about three weeks the imagos emerged, prov- ing to be (,'oiiyini nitila (iueii. The \ine from uhich they were taken uas literally riddled with them. No description of the larva- was taken at the time, In it I hope to be able next season to give a more detailed a i count of tlii-rn. Two broods of (.iortyna nilcla, with its variety ;/<•/>; v'\, were raised in the same manner. The larvae were feeding in the stems of the great rag- weed i A ml in >sia trilida i. This larva feeds also in the stems of burdock (Arctium lappa). As far as my experiem e goes, all the < ', . >i iv na- are internal feeders. — C. A. HI.AKK. 44 KNTOMOLOGICAI. NKWS. [March. A CORRESPONDED iii I lanlee\ Hie, s. C.,'says he " witnessed a most •wonderlnl phenomenon:' from noon to sundown, with a -nitlr wind Mow- ing t'nun the soiithuest and a perfectly dear sky, a shower of white balls filled the air and cove-red the -n >nnd for a space of ten miles square, with a gentle shower of a white lleecy substance, as line as silk, which was vc-ry strong when twisted. He was nnalile to account tor its pn-s- ence there, and had never seen anything like it bel. The same tiling occurs liere every autumn, but I never saw it as abundant as the cor- respondent describes. The little balls referred to are the llm < nli. or remains of the- web of which the spiders make their cocoons, tin- exi In in- cut off and floats away. — C. A. BI.AKK. A NKHDI.KSS ALARM. — Some time ago a certain entomologist in one of the leading cities of the country who, on the Sabbath days, stri\<--> to enlighten a large and aristocratic congregation in the mysteries of the i;ospel, but beguiles his leisure moments by the pursuit of hexapods, hap- pened to find a heap of refuse lying near a humble duelling in the out- skirts of the city aforesaid. The gentlemen is a devoted student of lepicl- opterology, but bags the beetles, also, as they chance to fall in his way. The most prominent object on the ash heap was an antiquated and Hide ham, upon which numerous carrion beetles were disporting themselves. Recogni/ing the find as worthy of his attention, he began to collect the insects upon it. He had barely begun his malodorous task when he dis- covered that he was being observed, and a strident female voice from the •^i (mid story of the humble dwelling rang out an excited warning—" Law sakes! man alive that ham is spiled! Nancy and me thrmved it out day before yesterday! It's all blowed! I .aw sakes! youdon'1 be after gatherin1 up such truck as that, be ye? A well dressed man like you un hadn't otter to be rakin' in old ash heaps after somethin' to eat. Kf you'iv hun- gry come in the house an' I'll give you a bite. Hut iand here the \oice rose to a shrill falsetto), mercy me! leave that old ham alone! It's spiled! 1 tell yon it's spiled!" The clergyman, who carried under his waistband reminders of an elegant luncheon served an hour or two before, cannot cease to smile at the memory of the position into which his eiUomolo-u-.il ardor had brought him in the eyes of the old dame, from whom he es- caped as she was coming down-stairs to open the door and oiler him the hospitalities of her little home. — AM>N. Entomological Liu -r. • i n nx\ li. NATURALISTA SIOI.IANO. — Anno IX, No. i. October, i.s*>j. | Ke ceived |annar\, iS<,o.] — Contains " Lepidotteri nno\i della Sicilia," /'/ >n-iil<-( ies running from .-'.n/i^nsh\i to .h'if>fi/ia. " I l<~!o- t litn;-\ •;//-,' /v7// ///A n. sp. i habitat Sit ilia i," b\ Kuwert. "Tavola -inottica <]• i ( .yrinns di Sicilia," [synoptic table ol the Sicilian species of the -einis 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL XLWS. 45 (iyrinns] by I-".. Ragusa. " Coleotteri nuovi o ]» >co coiiosciuti della Sicilia (com.)" [new or little known Sicilian < '< ileoptera] by !•".. Ragusa; no new species dcsi Tibed in this part. "Una n<>tasulla Chalcis Dalmannii," by T. DeStefani. This number is accompanied by the indict.-^ lor Yol. \'II[ of this journal. THK WORK or \ DKCADK rpox FOSSIL INSKCTS 1880-1889, by S. II. Scudder [Annual address of the retiring ])resident of tlie Cambridge l.n- tomological Club |an. 10, 1890. Kxcerpt from " 1'sychc," January, 1890.] The author hen- gives a comprehensive and very readable account of the work accomplished in this field in the decade just ended; a field in which, as is well known, he has been the principal laborer. In speaking of the relative abundance of fossil insects the author says: "During the past summer, in explorations for the ( ,e< (graphical Survey, I found that the strata of a considerable tract of country, certainly many, probably hun- dreds of square miles in extent, lying in western Colorado and eastern I 'tali, were packed with fossil insects as closely as at Florissant. There can hardly be any doubt that we shall soon be able in our Western terri- tories to rehabilitate successive faunas as successfully as has been d ,ne with many of our vertebrate types, anil as has not yet been done for in- sects in any country in the world. What we really need is a 51 <>f trained workers to ' go in and possess the land.' No one would wel- come them more heartily than one who is almost a solitary worker in the American field." P.KiuH.iA CENTRALI-AMERICANA, Part LXXX of Zoology; Xovem 1889. — [Received January, 1890.] — -Contains " A K. \CH.NIDA ARANKIKI \," by O. 1'ickard Cambridge, pp. 41-48, pi. iv. 83 figs., 1 8 colored; u new species are described from the genera /:/V/;w, Tiirckhcitnia and Carcf>al.\'i*. CoM-ioi'TKUA as follows: Yol. Ill, part I, pp. 145-168, plates vii and viii. 46 figs. 20 colored. This portion on the nnf>rcstides contains the descrip- tions by C. O. Waterhouse, of many new species, usually illustrated in colors. Yol. YI, part I, Supplement, pp. 153-168, plate xxxix, 34 figs. 25 colored. Many new species are here described by M. Jacoby, entirely from /'IK-// ybrac/iys and Ch/ainys. " LKIMI>< >i- TKKA /\/i<>f>a/<>CcT(i,\«\. II," by F. I). C.odman and < >. Salvin; pp. 153-18}, plates Ixiii and Ixiv, 55 figs. all colored. This part contains the systematic consideration of the group from Colias ccssonia\.Q Enantia virgo. The pale '/'<-rins, allied to m<-.\-j- cana in pattern, which was returned as from tin- Mt. ( iraham Range in Ari/ona is here deii-rinined i with an excellent figure as '/". i:,nsJii:\ili(iiii>ri:RA HI-.TI.KI »CKKA, \"ol. I," by 1 1. Druce, pp. 336, contains the systematic treatment of this suborder from />r,'/>.\- ocellata \K> Anomis agillacea. While revieuing this stupendous work it may interest our readers to know that the following entomological volumes have been completed: Coleoptera, \'ol. I, |>art i ,.\Jc(^ha^a\, by II. \\". Hates; Yol. I, part 2 i . ///; \'ol. 1 1 1, pai t 2 \ Ma/a- 46 ENTOMOLOGICAL NKUS. [March, by II. S. Gorhani; and Y<>1. \' i Lon^icornia i, by II. \V. Hates and ( /.V//<7//. Sharp. These lour volumes cf.ni.iin 2088 pages and 69 plates, with many hundred figures. In acklitii.n several other volumes on Coleoptera are well under way. \'ol. I of the l\lu>f>uloccrii is complete, save the index and title, running through the suborder from Danais plexippus to haf>)iis hc>-a. INSECT LIFE, \'<>1. II, No. 6, December, 1889 (Received Ian. 14, 1890). It hardly seems worth while to enumerate the usual richness • .1' the m< uithly issues of this most excellent periodical, as it may be had from the I". S. Department of Agriculture for the asking; no entomologist can allord to be without it. Besides short notes on "The Official Association of Fcon- omic Entomologists," "Entomology at the Paris Exposition," 'The Mediterranean Flour-moth," "Spider-bites," "Scent in Dung beetles," "Beetles from Stomach of a Chuck-wills-widow," " A harvest-mite de- stroying the eggs of the Potato beetles," " Injury to grass from Gastro- phvsa polygoni" "Damage to Pine by Rhaginin lineatiini" Notes on " Vedalia" and "On Heematobia serrata" there are longer papers on "The so-called Mediterranean Flour-moth," with illustrations; "The •Ox-warble (Ilypotit •> 'ina bovis), illustrated;" "Association of Economic Fntomologists — First Annual Meeting," by L. O. Howard, secretary pro. tern.; "Office and Laboratory Organization," by S. A. Forbes. Follow- ing these are " General Notes" on " Oviposition of Tragidion fnlrit>cnne" " Insects injuring the tea-plant in Ceylon," "On some gall-making insecis in Xew Zealand," "Dr. Franz Low" and "Eugene Maillot," obituary notices, and the usual quota of purely economic notes. ILLUSTRATIONS < >F TYPICAL SPECIMENS OFLEPIDOPTERA 1 1 KTLKI.CI K v IN THE COLLECTION OF THE BRITISH MI/SETM, I 'art 7, by Arthur Gardiner IHitler, 1889, contains an account of a collection of Macro-I.epidoptera made in the district of Kangra India by the Kev . J. H. Hocking in tin- years 1877-79, chielly at Dharmsala. The number of species amounts I.. ii] .wards of 780, many reared from larvce. There is a systematic list and a list of descriptions with notes. Vol. VII consists of 124 pages, 18 fine colored lithographic plates representing 249 figures. In the COMPTES KE.NI.TS HEBDOMADAIRES I>KS SEANCES DE LA So- CIETE m<; BIOLOGIE (Paris) ninth series, 1890, No. i. — M. Gaston I'.oiichet has a short note on the "Action of tin- Venom of the Hymenoptera on the gray wall-lizard." He slates that lie caused some wasps, bees, and oilier hymenopti-rs to sting some gray lizards, some of which received eight or ten stings on tin- most sensitive parts, such as the evelids, tongue, etc. In most cases the piercer remained sticking in the tlesh. The lizards apparently suffered little pain, and no inllammation u as visible at the places stung. None of the lizards who were stung died. TRANSACTIONS <>!• Tin WISCONSIN . \CAIUMY Ol SCIENCES, Aurs, AND LETTERS, Vol. VII, iss^ S; (published iNSf.i, contains a paper f>n the Auid.e of North America by George W. and Fh/abeth ( i. 1'eckham. ;j 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 47 genera and 79 species are described, including both new genera and spe- cies, and six plates figure details. Also by the same authors and \Vin. 1 1. Wheeler "Spiders of the Subfamily I.yssomanae" (of the world); a num- ber of new species are described. \Ve have not seen plates \i and xii intended to accompany this paper. In the SCHRIFTEN DES NATURWISSENSCHAFTLICHEN YKREINS FUR ScHLESwio-HoLSTEiN (Kiel), Bd. VIII, Heft i, 1889, W. Wiistnei con- tinues his notes on the Hymenoptera of Schleswig-Holstein in his third " Beitrage zur Insectenfauna Schleswig-Holsteins." In LE NATURLISTE (Paris) for Jan. 15, 1890, L. Planet describes the larva and nymph of Helops striatiis, with woodcuts, and 1'. Dognin de- scribes three new species of Lepidoptera from Zamora, belonging to the genera Ficfo/iia and Acida/ia. SlTZUNGSBERICHTE DER KoNIGL. HoHMISCH. GESELL. D. WlSSEN- SCHAFTEN (Prague), 1889, I, contains "Revision der in Kolenatis Tri- chopteren-Sammlung enthaltenen Arten," by Fr. Klapalek — asynonymical article. ATTI DELLA SOCIETADEI NATURALISTI DI MODKNA, Serie III, Vol. VIII, fascic. ii, 1889 (published in Italian), has " Notes on Arachnida received troin South America," by G. Boeris, describing four new species. H. PIERS in Proc. and Trans. Nova Scotia Inst. Nat. Science, Vol. VII, pt. iii, describes a larva of the May-beetle with parasitical fungus. TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY Vol. XVI, Jan. -Dec., 1889, (380 pp. 8 plates), contains a Revision of the species of Cardiophorus Esch. of America north of Mexico, by Frederick Blanchard; On the species of Macrops Kirby, inhabiting N. America (plate I), by W. G. Dietz, M.D.; Contributions to a knowledge of the Lepidoptera of West Africa, Paper II, (plates 2-4), and Descriptions of new species of Japanese Heterocera, by Rev. W. J. Holland; Synopsis of N. Am. species of the genus Oxybclits, by Chas. Robertson; Two new species of butter- Hies, by H. Skinner, M.D.; Catalogue of Coleoptera common to N. Am., Northern Asia and Europe, with the distribution and bibliography, by John Hamilton, M.D.; a Synopsis of the Halticini of Boreal America (pis. 5-7), •by George H. Horn, M.I) ; Contributions towards a monograph of the Noctuidae of temperate N. Am. — Revision of the species of Oiicoou-inis i plate 8), by John B. Smith; and Proceedings of the monthly meetings of the Entomological Section of Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia for the year 1889. ERRATA. Page 5, line 22, read type of coloration contrary to what obtains, etc. 15, line 30, for Tcnzcm read /.cit 19, line i, for worm read worn. 20, line 25, for from read forms. 20, line 33, for marked read naked. 48 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [M Doings of Societies;. 'l'n i ENTOMOLOGICAL Socn IN or \V.\sn i \i , i < >.\, Nov. 12, is,S9. Mr. Lugger rt ail some notes on "The migration of tin- Archippus butterlly." ;nid gave an interesting study of their spring and tall nio\<-incnts. Ik- noted similar migration in / '. />ns wintering along the- dull" of Mexico in vast num' Mr. Howard read a paper on "A feu additions and corrections to S. ud- der's Nomenclator /.oologicus." Mr. Marlatt ga\ e " Notes on the abun- < lance of oak-feeding I .epido|)teroiis larva/ this fall," and mentioned tu el\e species of Macrolepidopterous larva' taken in the conr.se of about an hour. Mr. Schwar/ read a paper entitled, " Capritication," and Mr. Toun-. paper on "The fall occurrence of /!i/>io and /->//Vy>///c.s." In disi iission on the last ]>a|>er it was conceded that tin- autumnal occurrence uas d: acceleration of development. \\'. H. F<>.\, M. D., Kec. £ ENTOMI >i.( I(;ICAI, SECTION, ACADKMV NATTKAI. SCIENCES <>i I'HII.A- DKi.riiiA, Jan. 23, 1890. — A meeting of this Section of the Acadeim uas held January 23d, Dr. Geo. H. I lorn, President, in the (hair. Members present: Messrs. McCook, Ridings, Martindale, Skinner, Calvert, l.ielieck, Wells, \\'estcott and several visitors. Dr. Horn exhibited some drauings illustrating points of interest in the comparative anatomy of the spe< ;< the genus Cercyon, and stated that most of the species were either intro- duced, or also found in F.urope. The classification of the species and facts in their geographical distribution were discussed at length. Dr. McCook exhibited the first volume of his new book entitled, " American Spiders and their Spinning Work; A Natural Historx of the ( )rb\\ea\ in;^ Spiders of the t'nited States." He i;a\e a resume of the \olume.and also some interesting generalizations on the facts in their natural history. On a (|iiestioii from one of the members Dr. McCook made some instruc- tive remarks on Spiders as mathematicians. Dr. Skinner called ,;tt< ntii n to the donations to the cabinet: Mrs. A. T. Slosson prest nted a specimen &i Ecpantheria dcnnilaia described by herself, from Florida; /.';>//./ niti^- iliilcini and .•Irgyiniis j'rig»'a var. Sa^n; tuo rare species, from Colorado, from Mr. Aaron; a type specimen of I'aniplnla .\a/;>>n and tuo exi l;c butterflies donated by Dr. Skimu-r. — For the Recorder by I!. SKINNl Tnr AMERICAN FXTOMOLOCICAI, SOCIETY, |an. 23, [890.— Al a busi- ness meeting of the Society held alter the Section meeting, as abo\e, the sum of $IOO was voted toward defiaying the expense ot the expedition to Mexico to In mule i taken under the auspices o| the Acadeim ot Natural Sciences and the direction of Prof. Angelo lleilprin. 1'rot. Heilprin uas elected a member of the Society, and Dr. \Y. M.Croufoot a C( sponrlent. 'I he President amioiini ed the death of Mr. I. I'lank Knight, one of the oldest members ot the Society, and for a nnmbei of years Recoidini; Secretary.- For the Secretary by H. SKINM K. I NTOMOLOCICAl \r\\-. lm (ittiiim \ w .ts ui.nl. il J;in . .; i . ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION, ACADEMY NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. i. APRIL, 1890. No. 4. CONTENTS: Hamilton — Inhabitants of a Hickory- Wadsworth — List of Dragonflies 55 nut Hull. 49 Notes and News 57 Skinner — Notes on Lepidoptera 51 Entomological Literature 59 Liebeck — Notes on Col eoptera 52 Queries and Answers 62 Horn — Notes on Elateridae 53 Doings of Societies 63 The Inhabitants of a Hickory Nut Hull. BY JOHN HAMILTON, M. D. While collecting Hickory-nuts last October the hulls or husks of several of the species were observed to be inhabited by some lepidopterous larvae, and to ascertain their parentage, some of these hulls were thrown into a capped glass-jar and kept in my office. January 8th, two £ specimens of a beautiful hymenopterous parasite appeared belonging, according to Mr. Cresson, to the genus Pinipla. On cutting open one of the hulls a nearly ma- tured 9 nymph was found in its host's cell, of which all that remained was the horny head; the long ovipositor ascended over the tip of the abdomen and extended along the centre of the back reaching the labrum. This example lay naked in the cell formed by the larva of the moth, having made no cocoon. February gth, two moths appeared, and another small, but beautiful parasite, which Mr. Cresson determined to be Phanero- toina (Sigalphits) tibia/is Hald. (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 2cl s. , iv, 203) the larva of which forms a thick silky cocoon in the 50 I XTOMOLOGICAI. NKWS. [April, cell of its devoured host, though three or four crawled out and spun up against tin- glass. This species has heretofore been known to prey on the larva- <>f another Hickory Tortricid which feeds on tin- leaves, ^-Icro/hisis caryce Grote, 1'apilio I, 13 and 14. It is much smaller than the Pimp/a, which may be accounted tor by the fact that the larva of the latter wastes none of its substance in forming a cocoon, and the perfect insect appears much larger than its host. The moth was courteously determined by Prof. C. H. Fernald, and proves to be a Tortricid long known to microlepidopterists as an inhabitant of Hickory-nut hulls. It was first described by Fitch (N. Y. Agric. Rept. xvi, 459, 1856) under the name J-'phip- pophora caryana, now Grapholitha; and again by Shinier (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. II, 394) as Grapholitha carvcc. The larva when full grown excavates a cell in the hull several times larger than itself. which it lines with a silky gum. It is then about .25 inch, in length, white, except a luteous head, and i6-footed. The pupa is pale clay colored, .20 inch, long, and has on the posterior mar- gin of each segment a transverse row of erect teeth which enables it to move about its large cell with great ease. The anterior wing cover of the moth is dusky black, with a sprinkling of scales- golden, purple and blue, and a silvery blotch near the tip. K\- panse .50 to .60 inch. The nuts attacked in their earlier stages usually abort and fall, or fail to produce a perfect kernel. In furnishing these beautiful parasites nature has been very kind to the country and village boys, as without this protection Hickory-nut hunting would not often be one of their chief autumnal pleasures. A full grown larva, while under observation, stepped from tin- table, but like its leaf-rolling kindred, it let itself down very gently by a suddenly improvised thread. This \\.is rather a surprise. as it is not known to leave the interior of the hull voluntarily till it comes forth with wings. Some evolutionists may interpret this as proof of an ancestry that had business in the outride world. In compliance with my request, Mr. I'.. T. Crcsson has kindly furnished a description oi the /'inip/a. [Pimpla grapholithae n. sp. , . I lead nifopi. eons, smooth ami shining; vertex, fiicr and mandibles, except tips. fuse, p i.-st.n •<•< ,us; palpi and scape lieneath uhile, remainder ol aiilenii.i- l>l.n k; thorax smooth and polished. mpnnctate, lukoiis or h»ne\ \.-llo\\; metathorax piceoiis; te-ul.e uhite; 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 51 wings hyaline, iridescent, nervures brown-black, upper nervure of third discoidal cell bent downwards at about the middle, so that the cell is nar- rowed at base; legs, including coxa?, white; spot on coxae and trochanters within, broad stripe on femora within, tips of four posterior tibia? and of their tarsal joints, black; abdomen brown-black, rather closely punctured, segments 2-5 above with a rounded elevation on each side about the mid- dle; segment-; i and 3-5 quadrate; segments rather longer than broad; ovipositor a.; long as the body, honey-yellow, sheaths black. Length .40 inch. <3\ — More slender than the 9 ; head, metathorax and abdomen jet-black; face with a fine whitish pubescence; all the abdominal segments longer than broad and clothed with a short, fine, whitish sericeous pubescence; basal segment above with a longitudinal central groove. Length .37 — .40 inch. Described from one female in collection Amer. Ent. Soc. from Missouri, and two males reared by Dr. Hamilton, as stated above. -E. T. C] o NOTES ON LEPIDOPTERA. BY HENRY SKINNER, M. I). A SPHINX NOT KNOWN IN AMERICAN COLLECTIONS. — Proto- parce dalica was described by Kirby in Trans. Ent. Soc. London (1877), p. 243. Locality Canada. There is a good figure of it on page 70 in the " Aid to the Identifications of Insects," Vol. i, by C. O. Waterhouse. Dr. H. Strecker thinks this is an aber- rant form of P. rustica, and such it will likely prove to be. ARCTIA PALLIDA Pack. — Prof. J. B. Smith, in " Can. Ent." February, 1890, p. 35, says "the type of pallida is in the collec- tion of the Am. Ent. Soc., where I have several times seen it. It is certainly not an Arctia, but perhaps nearer Seirarctia." The specimen in the collection of the Society was marked type on the authority of Mr. Aaron. He showed it to Prof. Packard, when he was here on a visit, who said he thought it might be his type. The specimen has a Pennsylvania locality label on it, and also Dr. Lewi--/ name. In the original description of the species Prof. Packard says, "I am indebted to Mr. Calverly for the lean of this fine, and apparently very rare species." Locality given is New York. The specimen in question, in my opinion, is an aber- ration of Hvphanti'ia I'unca of Drury, but it also answers to the description ol . /. pallida. \* pallida known to exist? has any one the species ? Is our specimen the t\ | 52 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, In "Notes on Cuban Sphingida-," Proc. Knt. Soc. Phila., \>. 79, 1865, Mr. Grote refers to OLnosanda noctuifonnis \\'alkcr, and refers to the specimens in the collection Knt. Soc. of Phila. which came from Cuba, and were presented by Prof. Poey, being" No. 835 of his MS. catalogue. I ha\c compared these with speci- mens in our North American collection labeled Cauftl/tia (Jrotci Hy. Kdwards, and can see no specific differences. If there is no difference between the Florida and Cuban specimens it seems likely that there is but one species inhabiting the \\V-t Indies and that Walker's type from San Domingo represents the same thing. If but one species is found in San Domingo, it will prob- ably be found to be identical with the one inhabiting Cuba and Florida. SOME SYNONYMY. — Phyciodes ianthe Fab., = Acca hera Hub. Samml. Ex. Schmett. Band 2, figs, i and 2 £ , 3 and 49 = Eresia Texana Edw. , Pr. Ent. Soc. Phila., 2, 81, 1863, = Smer- dis Hew., Ex. But. 3, pi. 5. o NOTES ON COLEOPTERA. BY CHAS. LIEBECK. While visiting some friends near Landisville, N. }., during the summer of 1888, my attention was directed to the damage caused by the common Rose bug, Macrodactylits subsfiinosus Fab., to the young grapes in their vineyard, situated about two hundred yards from their house. About the same time they planted a tew rose bushes of the common free blooming variety in front of the house. In June, 1889, the beetles again made their appearan. <• in large numbers, but showed a decided preference for the roses, not molesting the vines in the least. The bushes, at a short dis- tance, appeared to be scorched, but a nearer vieu slmued that they were being devoured by the beetles, and although the bushes had grown to a large size, bearing hundreds of buds and tloueix none seemed to have escaped their voracity. It" others similarly afflicted would plant a hedge of roses in the vicinity of their vine- yard it may prevent damage by this pest to their grapes. TWO NOVEL HKKTI.K TKAI'S. During the warm days in the early spring of last year 1 \\a> colleeting Coleoptera in the fields towards evening, taking such 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 53 species as generally fly just before dark. I usually selected a piece of meadow-land with a bank of earth five or six feet high running through it, thus making it easier to see the insects against the horizon as they flew over. Accompanied by a white setter dog, I happened to glance at him while- sitting by my side and noticed a number of specimens running along his back among the hair. I captured these, and laughable as it may seem, there- after found it much more profitable to send him running along the top of the bank and act as a trap, than by the usual method. I took numbers of small Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Scydmaenidae, Pselaphidae and Niticlulicke in this way, which were evidently attracted by his white coat in the semi-darkness. A wide ditch, the surface of which was covered with a small floating water plant, a species of Lemna, served as the other trap. A large swamp- oak on its borders was very attractive at night to numbers of Lach- nosterna, which, in returning to the ground in the morning, flew into the water, no doubt mistaking it for solid ground, where they staid until their sluggish movements met the eyes of a collector happening that way soon after, when they were immediately fished out and transferred to his bottle. Although a large number of specimens were taken, I believe, but two species were represented, L. micans Knoch. and L. hirticnla Knoch. -o- NOTES ON ELATER1D>£. I5V GEO. II. HORN, M. D. In the A'nnales Soc. Ent. Belg. , 1889, Dr. Candeze resumes his descriptions of Elateridae in a " Ouatrieme fascicule' ' of fifty-seven pages. The descriptions are brief, but ample, and concerning them he makes the following comment, which I translate : " Entomologists have been often able to observe that it is not the longest descriptions which arc the best. By too many details, in which one loses himself, and which apply definitely and very often to the specimen only which tin- de->rril>er had before him, it becomes impossible t<> figure to one's ^-If the species which it is desired t<> recognize." The following North Anu-rican species are deseribed : . Hans cauadcnsis. Allied to wiv/>\, but with the dark ei >lc >r of nic- /in/i>/>s. I have a specimen from Canada which responds fairly to the deseriptioii, \\hich seems hardly specifically different from A>/rcninsularis. Compared by Candcxc with res- pcrtiniis, and from the series in my cabinet, certainly a variety of it. Florida. lletcrodcrcs lantus. The species of I [ftcrodcrcs were included by LeConte in Monocrepidius. From the description lantus is al>out the size of r/'sfio'tin/i.t, and of the color of simfidns. It is of the type (fide Cdz) of certain Fast Indian species, and I sus- pect requires further confirmation as a member of our fauna. Florida. Dr. Candeze, in passing, speaks of the revision of I >ra>terius by LeConte in 1884 (posthumous), and says that the union ot several under the name elegans seems " rigoreu-e." It is pn>b- able that sufficient cause determined such action on LeConte s part. Mi-Ianotus peninsularis. This is the species determined by LeConte as dandestinus Er. and distributed as such in all our col- lections. Florida. Corytnbites trunculentus. Black, thorax with ferruginous side margin; elytra ferruginous brown. Allied to vo/itans and sa^it- ticollis. Long. 14 mm. California. Corvmbitcs iirostigtna. Brown, elytra with apical testaceous spot; third joint of antennae long. Long. 13 mm. California. Corymbitcs gracilis. yEneo-piceous, third joint of antennae shorter than the fourth. This is, without doubt, C. monticola Horn, from the same region. X. California and < )regon. C. floridanus. Closely allied to diraricatns* and (littering in having the hind angles shorter and not divaricate. My examina- tion of a specimen sent me led me to believe it merely a variety of that species. Long. 9 mm. Florida. Asafihes Lccontci. This is a species which has long been in our cabinets unnamed, as I have never been able to xati-.lv my- self as to the proper genus. It is of piceous color, elytra yellow- ish te.xtaceoux, the suture and border darker. Scricn* lu'hrcnsi. This is Scricoxonius int'oti^rnits Lee., which Cande/e seems to ha\-e lo.xt sight of. The nanu- is in hix index as Alrat'li>f>lcrus incon^ruHs, but no mention ot it occurs in the volume. In addition to the above I de^in- t<> make known two interesting ix fiirnixhed me by correspondents : 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 55 Megapenthes limbalis Hbst., is the male, and grauulosns the female of the same species. Mr. M. Lim-11 informs me that they have several times been taken in copulation by himself and others. Certainly, all the- specimens I have seen confirm this, as the one is always male the other female. Corymbites injlatus Say, is the male, and crassns the female of the same species. To Mr. Frederick Hlanchard this information is due, and he has made the same observation here as has been made in the preceding species. -i i- LIST OF THE DRAGONFLIES (ODONATA) Taken at Manchester, Kennebec Co., Me., in 1888 and 1889. BY MISS MATTIi: \\ADS\VORTH. (Continued from p. 37, Vol. I.) 22. Corduleg-aster maculatus Selys. 1888, June 19, to July n. 1889, May 15, June 6, 13, 22, 24. This species not very common, but several £ £ seen on dates mentioned flying directly over brook and following its course. Few 9 9 observed. 23. Corduleg-aster obliquus Say. 1889, June 29, one £ , near brook. Tribe III. — LIHKLLULIXA. Subfamily 5. CORDTLINA. 24. Macromia transversa Say. iSSS, May 27, to July 10. 1889, May 15 to June 25. A very common species in woods, field and near brook. 2.->. Epitheca Walshii Scml. 1888, July 1 6, one £ , near brook. •.'(;. Epitheca forcipata Scud. 1889, May 20, one £ , in woods. 27. Cordulia semiaquea Burin. IS88, June 15 to July 9. [889, May 15 to June 28. A \ vry common species in woods, near water and everywhere. •>. Cordulia lepida Sclys. iSSS. July II, one 9 , near brook. 56 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, 29. Cordulia libera Sclys. 1889, June 6, one $ . 30. Cordulia Uhleri Sdys. 1889, May 1 8, 23, 25, two & , three 9 taken. All near road. 31. Cordulia princeps Hagm. 1889, June 19, 24, one taken each day. Near road and brook. 32. Cordulia new'.' species. 1889, May 29, one 9 » "ear woods. Subfamily 6. LIBELLULINA. 33. Libellula exista Say. 1888, June 15; July 7, 9. 1889, May 18 to June 25. This species quite common near woods and brook. 34 Libellula quadrimaculata Liun. 1888, June 19; July 8-n. 1889, May 15 to June 24. A com- mon species in 1889. 35. Libellula pulchella Drury. 1888, July 7 to Aug. 2. 1889, June 25 to July 16. This species observed near water, woods, and in open fields. 36. Libellula incesta Hayen. 1889, June 18, 19, 22, 25; July 9, 16. But few of this species taken. Near lake, woods, and in road. 37. Libellula semifasciata Bunii. issy, June 21, one £ ; July n, one £ . Near brook. 38. Leucorhinia intacta Ha.m-n. 1888, June 1 6, one 1 , in open field. iXSq, May 25 to July 4. A very common species (1888) near brook, woods and road. 39. Leucorhinia proxima (lla^cn in-s. ( alvcrt. 1888, July 10, n, 16. One £ taken each day, all near brook. 40. Dipfax rubicundula Say. isss, June 2«; to July 30. 188 i, June j.s to An-, 21. A very ( ommon Aperies everyw here. 11. Dlplax vicina Hagen. isss, Aug. i to Oct. ii. [889, An-. 3 to Oct. 9. This spe- cies al>o very common rvrry\\ hen-. \i. Diplax coatifera ( riilrr ins. j llaym. ISSS, Sept. o. iSS(j, An.^. -1 to Sspt, l \. Thi> sp( cirs t|iiitc ( -0111111011, Iml all taken wnv tcm lies. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 57 43. Diplax new ? species. 1888, Aug. 6, one I , five o'clock P. M., in field. One or two specimens of each of the species mentioned in the foregoing- list were identified by Mr. Philip P. Calvert, of Phila- delphia, and from these the others were identified by me. All the species noted were taken in Manchester, Kennebec Co., Me. Notes and. Ne\vs. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE. [The Conductors of KN IOMDI.OCICAI. NKVVS solicit, and will thankfully receive items of news, likely to interest its readers, from any source. The author's name will be given in each case 'or the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] " K.x KI.MDI.OCV must always be, as it undoubtedly is at this time, not only a useful, but a popular study, and must contribute, perhaps, mure than any other to the enjoyment and recreation, mental 'and physical, of those dwel- lers in towns who possess a true appreciation of the pleasures and interests attaching to country life. I think it would be difficult to over-estimate the rivili/ing and refining effect which a day in the country with the object of gaining an insight into tin- marvels of natural creation, none the less won- derful because in themselves common and widely distributed, must have upon the minds and characters of all who seek such enjoyment." — LORD WALSINGHAM. WKITIM, from Darjeeling, Hritish Sikkim, under date of Jan. 13, 1890, Miss Adele M. Kielde refers to a visit she paid to the shop of Mr. Paul Miiwis. dealer in Tibetan curios and butterflies, i Victoria Terrace. Mr. Mowis is one of the five Europeans who has ever traveled in Tibet, lie makes very valuable collections of Himalayan butterflies, which he sends to museums in all countries. 1 le exhibited to Miss Kielde the male of a pair of butterflies i Teinopalpus iui/>fria/is} whose mate he had sold to a museum in Merlin for ,(."25 sterling. This was the largest sum he had ever received for an insect. The male was exquisitely beautiful, bright ^n < n and gold. The female was said to have "six tails." Miss Kielde inclose s .1 beetle of the f.imiK < "hrysome!id;e. which she ob- tained from a ragged t;irl on the 1 Iiinal,i\.is, \vho brought it to the train lor sale. When she took the insect in her hand she at first thought it must ha\ e b< -en artificially gilded, so truly like metallic g. >ld was its ornamenta- tion. This does not remain alter death. Dr. I >.\vn> SIIAKI-, the eminent entomologist, and late I'tesident of the Kntoniolo-iral Society of London, has act epted the appointment of Cu- rator of 7o! >lo;_;y in the Mus.-nm of the I ' Diversity of C unbridle. 5§ ENTOMOLOGICAL NE\\ -. [April, IN answer to Dr. Skinner's artick- in Kvn >MOI.< K.IC'AI. NI-AVS, Vol. i, p. 20, in which IK- (k-siivs to correct an error I made in describing tin- cocoon of Cal/osamia an^it/ifem, I should like to say that the < ••» ooii of DKA. In " P.utlerllies of North America," Pt. 9, Vol. iii, Mr. W. II. Kdwards gives us a very interesting account of /-.'. <•/>//. v< >i it \ i. I [e gives as its ideographical distribution " Middle ( 'ol, >radi > north wan I to the Arctii Sea." It comes, how<-ver, a little further South than this, and it may be north while to lix its most southern point as at present knoun. Mr. II. \V. Nash informs me that he has taken it at Music Pass, CiMcr ( 'on nt \ , Col., and at I 'x man/a. Sagmache County. Col. The litst , it' these localities is about N. I. at ^S", tin- other is rather more northern. — T. P. A. CnrKKui LI , West Cliff, Custer County, Col. ()\ (AM AKV 2oth, while in llaltimoic, I t.iptuied a line specimen of ('/nun tiii(tii\ Drury, iia\\lin- on tin- sid< \\alk. /:"/ v •' the early bug ( ate lie , (he pin. — C'. A. I'.l \K I . 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 59 Entomological Literature. TRANS. KNT. Soc. London, for the year 1889, Part IV, "On some Le- pidoptera from New Guinea," by Fdward Meyrick. This paper consists of sixty-seven pages, in which a number of n«-u genera and spec irs of moths are described. "On the distribution of the Charlonia group of the genus Anthocharis," by George T. I taker. " A revision of tin- genus Ar- gynnis," by Henry |. Llwes. A new species is described under tlie name hanniii^loni: it was taken at Taveta, near Mt. Kilimanjaro, in Africa. This paper is a very interesting and important one to Ameriean students, and will probably be reviewed later at some length. "Additional note-, on the genus Hilipus," by Francis I'. 1'ascoe. From the I'K< >n-.i-.i>i.\<;s <>K Tin-: I'MTI-:!) STATKS NATIONAL Mi si IM "Annotated Catalogue of the Insects collected in 1887-88," by !,.<>. How- ard. The insects received were the part products of the scientific results of explorations by the IT. S. Fish Commission steamer "Albatross." The I li-inipli-m wen- sent to Prof. P. R. Uhler, of Baltimore, .Md.; the Orthnf- Icrn to Mr. Lawrence Hruner, of Lincoln, Neb.; the Diptera to Prof. S. \\'. Williston, of New Haven, Conn.; the LcpiJoptcra to Rev. \Y. |. Hol- land, Pittsburgh, Pa.; and the Mallophaga to Prof. Herbert Osborn, of Ames, Iowa." Dr. Holland describes, as new to science, I'rotuparce calapagensis horn Charles Island, Galapagos. The K.vn >MI >I.(>(;IST, February, 1890. — "New species of Lepidoptera from China," by J . II. Leech. The specimens were collected near Ichang, Central China, and fifty-six new species are described, all diurnals. " Co- leo|itera at Camber during iS.Sg." "An entomological tour on the Table- land of Mount Arthur," by G. Y. Hudson." "On the occurrence of Hcspcria lineola in Lssex," by A. |. Spiller. I\hof>aloccra in Swit/erland. "< )n the variation of Ilclinpluilms his/tutus at Portland," by N. M. Rich- ardson. "Gas-lamp entomology," by J. Arkle. The remaining part of the number consists of notes, captures, etc., and the doings of societies " RHI H'AI.OCKKA NIIIONICA : a description of the butterflies of |apan," by H. Pryer. Part .^ for Decemln-r, iSSc;, has arrived, completing the work. < hving to the lamentable and untimely death of the author on the i;th of February, 1888, the preparation tor the press of the unpublished portion of the work was undertaken by James P>isset, F.I..S. The text is in l-'.n-- lish and Japanese, and colored figures, notes, description of spe< ies, time of appear.mce and food-plants are gi\en. TRANS. KANSAS ACAD. Sc\ \'ol. n, [887-88.— " Notes on the early stages of Nerii-t- l>id<-ntatii, Aui\»tn sti^tna and (\illinwrpha .\ition of a new -enus of Oriental Cicadid.i ," /'a/din^a) by \\'. L. Distant. " I 'escriptii in of two ne\\ spi-cjes ( if . /, /•,/•n the means of defense of Arthropods," including references to insects, and 1'. Dognin describes a new lepidopter from Loja, O.vytt'iiis? t'cna- dorensis. The ExTr >M<>I.O<;ISCHE NACHRICHTKN i Berlin) for February, 1890. con- tains " Pentathcmis inemln-annlata, a new Australian Libellulid with five- sided cardinal cell," by Dr. F. Karsch, describing a new genus /'•;//,?///,•- mis (family Confii/i/ia), type I', membranulata n. sp. from Torres Strait, with a woodcut of fore wing. "On varieties of Knropean ("icindelid.e." by H. Beuthin. "On ('.alls and Gall-flies from flower-heads of various Compositae (continued)," by |. J. Kieffer, including Cecidomyia Jlorum n. sp. "New Histeridrc (Coleoptera)," by Joh. Schmidt i continued i, nine species of the genera V/V Y^.sV/.r, Tri/ta/ns. /'c/orni'its and Siif>riniis> from .Australia, Africa and South America. Some shorter notes and notices , it" recent entomological works. INDIAN MISM \i Notes (economic) Vol. i, No. 2; one hundred .md twenty pages, three plates, Calcutta, iSSi, ; published by .mthoiily of the < rovernmenl of India. In !,!•: NfATURALISTE (Paris) for Feb. i, is.);,, Kd. Andre has a note on " Les lar\es de Malar-hiiis ( 'oleoptei.i, (".mi. Mal.icodermiognin diagnoses t\\o new I.epirloplera from / iniora, Amalu/a and I .oj.i--. liit/.i/iit aJc/a and ( \i/>,-- 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NK\VS. 6l The ORVOS-TERMESZETTUDOMANYI EKTKSITO (Medical and N. aural Science Communications, being the organ of that Section of the Transyl- vanian Museum Union), Vol. XI\', 3 heft, 1889, contains " Contributions to the Coleopterous fauna of Transylvania," by L. V. Mehely. It is a list of species with notes in I lungarian. A German summary is given p. 295; also a " Notice of his entomological excursion into S/eklerland," by I )r. A. I'.alint; a general list of insects taken. LE NATTRAI.ISTK CANAUIKN for January, 1890, contains notes on the Jassidae (Hemiptera-Homoptera) of the province of Quebec, and describes as new, — Tluitnnotettix decifiiens and llythoscopus pnini (Flitch ms.) In the TRANSACTIONS OF THE MARYLAND ACADEMY OF SCIENCES for 1888-89, PP- 33-44. Pr°f- V- K- Uhler describes some "New genera and species of American Homoptera." The new genera are Scaphoideus (fam. Jassidce), type J. immistus Say and three new species; Dyctidce (fam. Issidae), type D. angustata and one other new species; Dictyobia (Issidce), type D. pcrmutata n. sp.; Dictyonia (Issidae), type D. obscura n. sp., Danepteryx (Issidae), type D. manca n. sp.; also a new species of Tilicen (cupreo-sparsa). Most of these new species are from California. In IL NATTRALISTA SICTLIANO for Dec. i, 1889, B. Grassi and G. Ro- velli publish tlieir sixth memoir on the Progenitors of the Myriapods and Insects by a (continued) study on the Italian Thysanura. Four new spe- cies of Lepisma are described. We have received from the author a copy of "Die Tagfalter (Rhopal- ocera) Europas und des Caucasus. Analytisch bearbeitet von K. L. Bram- son. Kiew. Verlag des Verfassers, 1890." In this work Prof. Bramson publishes analytical tables of the families, genera and species of the but- terflies of Europe and the Caucasus, with notes on the distribution and time of appearance of each species. A list of all the species (330 in num- ber) with their varieties and synonyms, and alphabetical lists of the fami- lies, genera and species are given. One plate showing the terminology of the wings and head of a lepiclopter accompanies this work, which ought to be of great use to students of the European Rhopalocera. K. Moiiiex has a (continued) paper on the " Acari and Marine Insects of the sides of the Boulonnais" in the "Revue Biologique du Nord de la France (Lillej," ame Anne'e, No. 5, Fevrier, 1890. The F.vroMou H;ISK TIJDSKRIFT (published in Swedish, with short re- sumes in French, by the Entomological S<>< i«-ty of Stockholm ) Arg. 10, 1889, Haft 1-4, contains, besides other notes, the continuation of H. I), f. Wallengren's "Skandinaviensvecklarefjarilar," relating to the Tortrit i. v. Porat. Lists of entomological papers of 1888, relating to Srandina\ia and Finland, and a new species of Chai'd.vcs ^ic^ius from the Cameroons), by Chr. Aurivillius. 62 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April. The Zweite Abtheilung of Dr. Arnold Land's I.ehrbnch der \Vrgleich- enden Anatomic i Text-book of Comparative Anatomy;. Jena, iSXy, con- tains that portion of the work treating of the Insecta. Ac. onlin- to the classification here adopted the Insecta i I It'.vapoda • are divided inti • ->i\t«-en orders. Dr. Lang successively treats of the External Organization, Inte-u- ment, Musculature, Alimentary Canal, Nervous System, Sense < irgaiis. Circulatory System, Fat Bodies, Respiratory System, Sound-producing Apparatus, Sexual Organs, Dimorphism and Polymorphism, Development and Life-history, and Phylogeny of lns<-< ts. A bibliography of important \vorks on the anatomy, development, etc., of insects completes this, section. ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER for January, iSgo, No. 326, contains " EnrtluT observations on the Dorsal Gland in the Abdomen of I'criplaueta and its allies," by Kd\v. A. Mmchin. " Note on the Sexual Apertures of the Lepidoptern Chrysalis," by W . Hatchett |ackson. Note on H. T. Fer- nald's paper entitled, "External Sexual Markings of Pupae." " Butterflies of North America," by W. H. Edwards, third series, part 9, contains figures and descriptions of Arg. nevadensis $, A. halcyonc . . Life-history* of Arg. aphrodite, Satyms pcgala, Sal. alopc var., Ercbia cpipsodca, figures and life-history, also figure of epipsodea var. Jimcci. ENTOMOLOGIST'S MONTHLY MAGA/INH, February, 1890, " (/<•/<•tions of new species of South American HalticicUe of the group CEJi/>otft's." by Martin jacoby. A.Mi'.i. S., (.\-cido>nyia sa/icis-siliqna Walsh. February 22d. — Mr. T. Charlton exhibited specimens of Cemthophilus niacit latits Scud., which he had found in the Powhattan Mine, in-flr Kosita, Col., about 250 feet from the entrance. Tun subterranean occurrences <,\ this species had already been recorded by Packard ("Cave Faun, of X. Amer." p. 72) in Massachusetts and New York. Mr. Cockerell exhibited an apparently new genus and species of Flateridae found at West Cliff, and remarked that this insect was now being studied by Dr. Horn, with a view to ascertaining its precise relationships. On behalf of Mr. H. G. Smith, Jr., the following Coleoptera, collected by him at Denver, were exhibited: Bruchus obsoletus vur. fabcz Riley, ICuryojnia iiida I.., Si//>/ia lapponica L., Chauliognathus basalis Lee. and Hippodantia conrergcns Gue"r. A letter from Mr. L. Bruner, containing identifications of Colorado Orthoptera was laid before the meeting. Among the Orthoptera was an apparently new species of Ameles from Custer County. T. I). A. COCKKKKLL, SeC. . -o- MORE MISTAKES. Some of onr readers have kindly pointed out a number of oversights in proof-reading, which we desire to correct. Page 15, line 30, for Ten zero, read Zeuzera. An unsuccessful attempt was made to correct this error in the errata given at bottom of page 47. Page 21, line 16, for 1886, read 1836. " 26, " 20, for AUCANTIIIA read ACANTHI. \. " 27, " 20, for symmetrical read asymmetrical. 29, " 1 8, for I-roliaws read Frohawk. " 30, " 19, for Cobhane read Cobham. 30, 33, for Limnophilas read l.imnophilus. " 48, last line, for January read February. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS for January was mailed Jan ; ioi i'Yiini.u> . i.m. 31, 1890; for March, l-'cli. 27, 1890. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION, ACADEMY NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. » VOL. i. MAY, 1890. No. 5. CONTENTS:' Cockerell— \Yhat are the uses of bright colors in Hymenoptera 65 Notes and News 74 Entomological Literature 77 \ an Winkle— Collecting by lamplight.. 68 ,, ... Doings of Societies 79 1'. 1'. C.— Elementary Entomology 70 Calvert — Additional notes on some X. American Odonata 73 What are the uses of bright colors in Hymenoptera? BY T. D. A. COCKERELL. Following somewhat on the lines indicated in my letter pub- lished in the February number, p. 27, with the editor's permission, I will put the above question to your readers. Hereafter, I may have something to say on the uses of color among insects in gen- eral, but the present question seems so suitable for general inves- tigation that I will briefly give some of the pros and cons and leave your readers to work the matter out themselves if they will. In that admirable work, " Darwinism," Dr. A. R. Wallace lavs considerable stress on "Warning coloration," and shows that many animals art- conspicuously colored as a sign that they are dangerous or inedible. With insects this is said to be specially noticeable, and thus insectivorous birds and other enemies of the insect tribes get to know and avoid those they cannot eat, to the great advantage of such. On p. 233 of " Darwinism" is a reference to the Aculeate Hy- menoptera in this connection, as follows: "We all know how well marked and conspicuous are the colors and forms of the stinging wasps and bees, no one of which in any part of the world 5 - • •..i:-,c " - cull- - : I:-red -oo-aculea: .!;::- -7-; : - • _ die point him- r-v . :,- ::_':: 7 : - - - : ' - colored as a ar-.: — 7j .;- : "-•?-':.-:'::_• A r. Wallace '. _ -^- - - - - r::riT _ :« OL . r;-j in Lincx r r rr-im jodea: vocable ibr » ". - • • i — _: L I apj - ' :il::ii: - .ir. _: :: _':: ih- r the :ritr mi lak - a whclr v.- ~ :<: brill: no other tamfly. not xceptnig the Chr —e^illi - - pinion. " - - , • - - - . brilli^r .: : : ' •-: .'-.' •- : : *n*m . ^ . . . IT*™*^ iii ^-cc to He as fiaOow - tie be- - • _.x - : - •***- b*1-" - •"-cdr.3 tits -.'f- •:•-•' "-- '--'-'"- "• •" - - - Tjf^ \~--- :••—- r. --. : 06 ^ -: .cr^-i.: » ra* Bdi: ' - --< : • J.] " I am of course speaking of tbe insects found ir. neri a, as I am n- -amifer vitfa exotic or oriental forms. "In far -spidar tbere are none: in Emmten. i^ -. .-.-_ nooe: in Crabronida; onJy a Jew species in die genera and OjcrMu.? show am- and tben uruCv to die pubesccE. Pan] r.redon: ^"r ilack or ornate with white and yeflow; in MT! rJdar and Mimesidar v.t althougii sometimes die poi-r^.cr r golc - - the same: in die Larrkiar some of the :" m~ i-: i--jt r~ ing di not brilliant, and die met^ : : : : - . _ - _ L connned to tt. - e family Ampul. ; .~L~ -_ ^- : . : r : '~---'. is i_'k colored. In die famihr Sphecida:: a large percer.--^T ~h :^ metaffic but onlv a iev. uc briUiant: in P:~: . i;- - - ored. but not met^ll; : : iz .>. t Scoiiidar only a lew ic^ms. wh£ : -.;dar and Fonnicidar not :-w 01 j : make in a nutshell (AV. H. Ashmeac :> .":'-. F^: = : > j .ich sunur :.-: ilms. 68 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ Ma\ ', So clearly, the Aculeata do not always escape! Myzine sex- cincta is marked pretty much as most of the species of \ ~cs/>a, Odvncnis and Crabro, and yet is not protected. So here is the great class of yellow markings on black, apparently useless for warning purposes. The humming and buzzing of bees may likely frighten their enemies in some cases. Certainly it scares those of the genus Homo in most cases. But that has nothing to do with the colors. There seems to be a tendency for insects which are carnivorous in their early stages to be metallic, but there are very many ex- ceptions to this rule. Thus in Coleoptera the Carabidas are often metallic, but so are many of the plant-feeding Chrysomelicke and several of the Curculionidae, while many carnivorous beetles are dull. In Diptera, the blow-fly, Lucilia, is metallic. In Hymen- optera, the parasitic Chalcididre are mostly metallic, while the plant-feeding Cynipidae are brown, black or yellowish. And so on through numerous examples. So much then on the colors of the stinging and stingless Hy- menoptera. The question remains, what are they for? Win- do they exist ? o COLLECTING BY LAMPLIGHT. BY A. S. VAX WINKLE. Xo doubt many entomologists have spent night alter night col- lecting different species of moths which can only be taken after dark. Many a time have I spent night after night, alone, dm\n in the dark forest bordering the Mississippi in collecting on very warm, dark and damp nights when the harvest would be ver) productive, as many different species ot Bombycidae, Xoctuid.i . GeometricUe, Pyralida-, Tortricid:e, Tineidie and Pterophorid.e would be captured, while on other nights I would be dm mud t«> disappointment for after being up almost night 1 would collect little or nothing. When one reads Dr. Wallace's delightful work entitled, " Tin- Malay Archipelago," giving his experience of collecting in the e.i^iern Tropics, especially the part referring to the subject of moth collecting at night, he cannot tail to appreciate its impor- tance. Knowing full well that the readers of KNTO.MOI.IHIICAL 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NK\VS. 69 NE\\'S, especially those who have not had the pleasure of reading Dr. Wallace's work will he interested in it, and that ENTOMO- LOGICAL NEWS is chiefly devoted to this kind of literature I take pleasure in quoting the following passage: " While collecting on the island of Borneo what occupied me most was the great abun- dance of moths which, on certain occasions, I was able to capture. As during the whole eight years' wanderings in the East I never found another spot where these insects were at all plentiful, it will be interesting to state the exact conditions under which 1 here obtained them. On the one side of the cottage there was a verandah looking down the whole side of the mountain, and to its summit on the right all densely clothed with forest. The boarded sides of the cottage were whitewashed and the roof of the verandah was low and whitewashed. As soon as it became dark I placed my lamp on the table against the wall and with pins. insect-forceps, net and collecting-boxes by my side, sat down with a book. Sometimes during the whole evening only a soli- tary moth would visit me, while on other nights they would pour in in a continual stream, keeping me hard at work catching and pinning till past midnight, as they came literally by thousands. These good nights were very few. During the four weeks that I spent altogether on the hill I only had four really good nights, and these were always rainy, and the best of them soaking wet, but wet, rainy nights, were not always good, for a rainy moon- light night produced next to nothing. All the chief tribes of moths were represented, and the beauty and variety of the species was very great. On good nights I was able to capture from a hundred to two nundred and fifty moths, and these comprised on each occasion from half to two-thirds that number of distinct species. Some of them would settle on the wall, some on tin- table, while many would fly up to the roof and gave me a chase all over the verandah before I could secure them. (To be continued.) O NOTK. — By a slip of the pen I quoted Mr. Blanchard incor- rectly in the April Ni:\vs. C<>>"\'»il>itt'f I'mssit* is the female of , and not as I there stated of in/liitns. — * i. II. Ilnk.v JO ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May. ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY. FIRST PAPER— WHAT IS AX IXSKCT? While the study <>f Entomology, or the knowledge of In- is one of the most fascinating of pursuits, it is not a matti-r of wonder that many have been deterred from undertaking it. cause of the difficulties with which it is hedged about, and the array of strange, technical words with which it is surrounded. The purpose of these articles is, therefore-, to endeavor to popu- larize the study by explaining, in as simple a manner as possible. the various technical terms which, of necessity, must be emplov, d by scientific writers. The word Insect is, as a rule, very loosely employed by those who have not studied the subject. Even scientific usage of the word has varied, and Insects are sometimes regarded as equiva- lent to the group described later on in this paper under the name of Tracheata. In this series the word Insect is used in a restricted sense, and does not include such animals as spiders, cent;p< and mites, and yet we would not exclude Irom the pages ol this journal information about such creatures, since we hope to give our readers some very interesting notes on spiders (as well as on ants), from the pen of our fellow-member, the Rev. Dr. McCook, who has made the study of their habits a specialty, and who knows so well how to interest his readers. Insects may be described as being (i) joint-footed animals, breathing by tracheae; (2) having the body of the adult divided into three distinct portions, — head, thorax and abdomen: ; having in the perfect or imago state, one pair of antennae attached to the head. (i) The joint-footed animals, or technically the A>Uirof>odii (which is the ('.reek equivalent i, are formed on a different plan from the other branches ot the animal kingdom. Their bodie-. are i omposed ofa series of rings (or segments)^ within which are the vital apparatus and muscles. It is true that many ot the Worms have their bodies segmented, but no Worms have jointed feet. A vast number of animals are included within the Artluo- poda, — not only the Insccla, but also the AnichnitJii (spider-. scorpions, etc.), the .l/ivv, 3) the Pwpa (chrysalis), usually a quiescent state, and (4) the Im (perfect insect). * The characters given in this paper for thi classi •> Irthropoda are mainly thos in i 'l.uis anil Si-ili;\\ ick'si-M'i-lli-nt I i-\t 1'unk <>t /n. ' t Such as the " Tomato-worm," " < Irapo-vinv wui in." and similar pl.int-lcr 72 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [M.iy. 2. Insects which pass through three states, viz.. f i) the . (2) the Nymph and (3) the Imago. 3. Insects which pass through two states, viz., (i) the E± and (2) the Larva-form. 1. Insects passing through four such states differ very much when in their larval state from the form which they possess when in their imago state, and hence are said to undergo a complete metamorphosis or transformation. Such are Bees, Butterflies, Beetles, etc. Very frequently the pupa is enclosed in a cocoon <>t silk, earth, chips, or other substance. 2. In other insects there is no distinction between the larval and pupal states, and the larva much resembles the imago, although differing noticeably by the wings being not yet developed as or- gans of flight. Such insects pass through an incomplete trans- formation. Lately the word Nymph has been used to den»te that state of existence in such insects between the egg and the imago, although formerly it was synonymous with pupa. Insects with an incomplete transformation are Grasshoppers, Dragflies, etc. 3. These insects undergo no transformation, the larval form being retained to the end of their existence. Such are Fish- moths and Spring-tails. The growth of an insect is completed in its larval or its nymph state, and however long an insect may live, it never increases in size after it has attained its perfect form. The modes of passing through the successive changes of form vary much in the different orders of insects, and are always full of interest to careful ob- servers. These changes will be referred to in future articles .m the various orders. I The principal characters which distinguish the Insecta from tin- other classes of Arthropoda may be tabulated as follows (Th< -< characters apply only to adult individuals): Arthropoda.— Animals with a segmented body and jointed M--iiK-m.il appendages. A. — Breathing by gills i 1 >i\isi.m Uraiu'liiatd.^ I'.' >dy usually divided into a ceplialo-thorax and an al>doim-u ; two pairs of antenna- . . Qass 1, Crustacea. B. — breathing by tracln-.r il>i\ision Ti\ichcata.\ i. No true antenna- > Subdivision Ckelicerota.} Body usually divided into a eephalo-lliorax and an abdomen; tour pairs of thoraric feet; no abdominal feet. I'las-. II. Aracllllitla. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 73 2. With one pair of antenna: (Subdivision Aiitcunatu i. a. llody not divided into regions; feet fairly mum-rous, Class III, Onychophora (or Prototracheata . Class IY, Myriapoda. b. Body divided into head, thorax and abdomen; six feet, restri< t« •<] to thorax. Usually with two pairs of wings, Class Y. Insecta (or Hexapoda . p. r. c. — o Additional Notes on some North American Odonala. BY PHILIP P. CALVERT. On Jan. 28, 1890, were published the separate copies of my paper entitled, " Notes on some North American Odonata, with descriptions of three new species (Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. xvii, pp. 33 — 40, i pi.)." During the next two days I sent copies ot my paper to various students of the Odonata. One of the new species I described under the name of Leucorhinia Hageni, Ii-- uring the inferior appendage and hamule of the male, and the vulvar lamina of the female. Under date of Feb. 2, 1890, Dr. Hagen wrote to me acknowledging the receipt of my paper, and stated that " your Hageni is, I believe, L. hudsonica Selys." 1 1<- also sent me drawings of the male hamule and female valvules ol hudsonica. I can now see no reason for believing Hageni to be specifically distinct. Since the publication of my paper, Mr. Charles W. Johnson has kindly looked over my Floridan types of Lcpthemis grai'ida. He tells me that he has collected this species flying over the salt marshes near St. Augustine, Fla. In the habitat given originally (1. c. p. 36) for this species, I have misspelled Ponto Rasso for Punta Rassa. Students of the Odonata must rejoice in the recent publication of two parts of Dr. Hagen's new " Synopsis of the Odonata ot North America," published in "Psyche" vol. v, Nos. 160 and 166, and dealing with the genera Calof>tery.\ and .\ua.\\ I have recently compared the specimens of Caloplcryx in my collection and that of the American Entomological Society, with Dr. I la-en'-, paper on that genus, [n both collections Calof>tcry\- is but j.-oorly represented, and but few new facts were ascertained from the comparison. 74 1 XTOMOLOGICAI. NK\VS. [May, Five Xorth Anu-riran species are recogni/.ed in tin- paper re- ferred to, vi/. : C. angitstipenniS) auiata, dimidiata '\\-ith race apical it \ it"(]intbilis (\vith races intdsouicti Mu\yakima\ and ttii/is and maculaia. I >r. Hagen states ("Psyche," v, p. 242) that ' Tin- -mus Calopteryx largely represented in tin- northern boreal and t<-m- perate zone nowhere passes to the south beyond the 30! li d« --r< I possess a male dimidiata, fornit-rlv in the collection of 1'rot. I'. R. Uhler, of Baltimore: when Prof. I'hler gave this specimen to me it bore (and still bears) the label "Calopteryx, Honduras." Honduras, including that part under British 'rule, i-xtend.s fnun about the iSth to the I3th parallel of Xorth latitude. The nio-t southern locality in all America for any species of Caloptcry.\. as given by Dr. Hag'en, is Florida. In the Am. Ent. Soc. collection are two males of apicalit from Delaware, a new locality. In the same collection are two k-males, one certainly, the other probably from Delaware; I think that they also belong to apicalis. The nu a-nrements of these females are: Total length 40 — 40.5 mm.; abdomen, 31.5 — 32.5 mm.; anterior wing, 30 mm. ; posterior, 29 mm. Of (zquabilis I possess one male and one It-male, both taken by Mr. Harry L. Walker at Belvidere, Boone County, 111., June 29, 1888, "on the bank of a little stream." I'.oth agree very well with Dr. Hagen's description, except that the wings of the ti male are hardly smoky at the apex. For maculata I add a new locality, Tama County, Iowa; two males and one female taken June 21, 2X, 29, iSs.j. by Miss Alda M. Sharp. Notes arid. Ne\vs. ENTOMOLOGICAl OLE \N1N(,S I'RoM A I I. QUARTERS OF I II 1 i , l.iil'.l . [The Conductors of ENTOM"i "*.!<• M NEWS Solicit, ;uicl will thunkfullv rt-ri-iM- it •.vs, likely to interest its n-a.l. rs, tr«m :inv smin e, I'ln- autlim 's n.tiiu- will l'i- i;i\'i-n in , ai ii ' ase tor tin- ininnnaticni di rataii H.MUTS ami bibliographers.] IDENTIFICATION 01. INSECTS (IMAGOS) !••< >K Sn-.scKiia KS.— Sp;-( i will IK- naiiu-d under tin- fi >ll« >\\ iii;^ n unlitii MIS; 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 75 ist. — The number of specimens to be limited ID twelve (12) for ea sending. 2(1. — The sender to pay all expenses of transportation and the inset ts to become the property of the Ann-rican Entomological Society. .vl. — Eai h specimen must have a number attached MI that the identii1 tions may be announced accordingly. Such identifications as can be ^iven will be published according to number, in the issues of the NKWS. Address packages to I'jiiniiiolo^ical News, Acad. Nat. Sci., Logan Square, I'liiladelphia, l'i. \OTKS FROM Coi.< IK A D: i. — T'unolhy hugs. On A ut;. 21, iSSc;, I took and 9 Pentatomids on Timothy-.^rass •. riilcidii pralcnsc] by Willow Creek, Custer County, Col. They are identified by Mr. Ashmead as //,/- iiiit-iniis hijit^is I'hler, which is probably a variety of H. aneifronx Sa\ . )'iiccti-inst/ni rxtfs. On June 26, iS.s^. I cau-ht a 9 Ca'iio>iy»i/>/ui ochracea near Texas Creek, Custer County. From its abdomen 1 ob- tained an e-- by pressure; it was pale yellow, -lobular and lar-e for tin- size of the insert. It proved infertile. — T. D. A. C< >CK KKKLL. |. \V. Tr rr— Raylei.nh Villa, \Vestcombe Park, London, E. England is engaged on a Monograph of the varieties of NOCTU^E occurring in (in-at liritain, with descriptions, etc., of the varieties of these species occurring in other countries, and would be phased to hear from the readers of EN- TOMOLOGICAL XKWS as to any striking forms of variation that may come under their notice. THK GLANVILLK EKITI.AKY. — "This butterfly took its name from the inu'-nious I. ady ( ilanville, whose memory liked to have suffered for her curiosity. Some relations that were disappointed by her will, attempted to set it aside by acts of lunacy; for they sii^ested that none but those who were deprived of their senses, would i;'o in pursuit of butterllies. Her relations and legatees cited Sir 1 lans Sloaiie and Mr. Ray to sup|>ort her character; tin- last gentleman \\ent to |-".\eti-r, and on the trial satisfied tin- jud-i- and jury of tin- lady's laudable inquiry into the w> .ndt-rfnl works of tin- Creation; and established her will. — 1 1 arris .lnir/ian 1766. "I RECOLLECI some ten or twelve years a-o, one Sunday, whilst col- lecting in a neglected field, near I'-.-rnard's dam, that the proprietor ol ih.- ground, or of some nei^hborin- territory, a pleasant, hale old ^<-ntlem in. came down in his shirt sleaves to gratify his curiosity in regard to my doings. He first approached with the |iro|»-r caution du<- t< > Hearing an equivocal animal, but assuring himself b) the placidity of my countenance, doubtless, that there was no apparent danger to be dreaded, he approached 76 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May. me, and in tin- Pennsylvania German dialect asked what I was doing. I showed him my collecting-box and its contents, my net. etc., and as at that moment a large female of the ICf>/icstion butterfly Hew near, I joined example to precept by capturing and killing and pinning it in my d fleet- ing-box in his presence. The most difficult part to make tin- old gentle- man comprehend, was what the things could be used tor after they • caught. 1 attempted an explanation. Whether I was successful in doing so to his satisfaction I still doubt, however. In- seemed pleased, and by way of explanation said, as he departed, ' Ich haab clich gasayn for ein bar Suntaag here und durt so rum springe un ich hab gaydenkt du waaiM so ein kaerl wo nicht gons recht in kopf war, aber.' Here he pauvd and looked puzzled, and I fear to this day the worthy old husbandman (bless his kindly face) is still, if living, in a state of suspense as regards my being responsible for my actions before the Lord and my fellow-man.' Tut: EXPEDITION sent out by the Academy has been heard from several times; they are doing good work, and are all well. The last report says, " We have just arrived at Yera Cruz after a very enjoyable and interesting time in Yucatan. Expect to go straight to Orizaba. This m< >rning, early, we saw the snow-clad peak of Orizaba in the distance." WHILE watching a luna moth just after it emerged from the cocoon. 1 noticed that the small and unexpancled wings were light yellow in color. and I thought it would be abnormal in coloration, but at the base of the wing I saw a small area, which was of a beautiful light green, and as the moth gradually expanded the wings this was distributed through them, making the color normal. This is another proof of the fact that the wing- are expanded by the moth pumping a lluid into them when they are soft and elastic. — H. SKINNER. THE fine collection of insects made by the late Stephen Calverley has been presented to the Brooklyn Institute by his son. PLANS FOR EXTERMINATING MnsoriToEs. — Mrs. Eugene M. Aaron. of 1832 Pine Street, has been awarded the first pri/e offered by Dr. Robert II. I.amborn, of New York City, for the best essay on the extermination of mosquitoes, especially by Dragon-Mies. The second and third p' have ceen divided equally between Mr. Archibald C. We, -ks. u,, p.m. id way. New York, and Mr. William P.eutenmiiller, i;,j K.ist Seventy-sixth Street, New York. It is understood that Dr. I.amborn will publish the essays. The judges who made the awards were the Rev. Dr. llenrv t M« ( ook, of the Academy of Natural Scieix es of Philadelphia, and Prof. |. S. Newberry, of the School of Mines. Columbia Co New N »rk. Mr. |. D. EVANS, in the "Ottawa Naturalist." vol. iii. No..), rep. /•'.rcliiti <-f>if>s/>t/t-ii as being found at Sudbnry on the Canadian P. i Railroad. * ' I li;i\ i- s.-i-n vim i uiiiiin^ H .'MM. I hen for thi last coupli ol Sundays . ; ! tl MI; lit vi i ii wen- ..in ..I those 1 1 11" ws \\ In' \VL-II.- 1 1 "I 1 1 11 it i- unlit iii tin.- up;. I nit' 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL XKWS. 77 Entomological Literature. DlK ZWKII-IA'GLKR DKS K A1SKKLICH K.N .MlSKl'MS 7.V \\ \ KN, IV.— Vo- rarbeiten zu einer Monographic des Muscaria Schizometopa (exclu Anthomyidae) Pars I. \'<>n Prof. Dr. Friedrich Brauer, \\'. M. K. Akad., undj. Edl. v. Bergenstamm i Mit 11 Tafeln). Denkschr. d. math.-wisseiis. Classed, k. Akad. d. \Vissciisch. I5d. Ivi, pp. i — 112, pis. i — xi, 4to. 1889. -( inly lie who has endeavored to find his way in the devious labyrinth of tht- calyptrate Muscicke can appreciate this important and valuable paper, the most important that has ever appeared on the subject, and one that will mark a new epoch in our knowledge of the group. To give even an outline of its contents is impracticable here, nor would I feel at all com- petent for the task, were my opportunities unlimited. A paper that intro- duces fifty new families and one hundred and fifty new genera would appall any ordinary critic, and I know only enough about the insects to appreciate the labor and research the paper has cost. The authors, fol- lowing out Prof. Brauer's previously published taxonomic views, present an almost entirely new classification of the group, which is coextensive with what has been generally known as the Muscida- calyptraUe, with the inclusion of the Oestricke. " Families," groups and genera are defined, and three hundred and ten admirable lithograph figures, graphically illus- trate most of the genera. All the known genera are not included; only those of which the authors had definite or artoptic knowledge; still, there cannot be many wanting, and the work must remain as the sine qua >i/»i of all dipterologists wh > have anything to do with these flies. The work is nothing if not iconoclastic, and 1 do not think will, and ought not to, obtain the concurrence of entomologists in all respects. The authors' conception of the genus is, I think, not tenable, and there is a great lack of uniformity in the group names. I'.ut, whatever the differences m.i\ be, all \\ill unite in their appreciation of the great value of this bahubrechend . — S. \V. \Viu.isTuN. PROCEEDINGS ACAI>I:.MV X.VITKAI. Sen NCKS PHILADKLIMIIA, I 'art 111, j. — .\uteniue of Coleoptera, by Geo. H. Horn, M. D. On a new spe- cies of Spider of the genus Dinopis from the Southern I'nited States by ( M-O. Marx, M. I). A SKASON'S \\'<>KK A MONT, Tin ENEMIES OP THE I b u< nrri/i i KIST, by Clarence M. \\Vt-d. The enemies referred to in this paper are of t\\o kinds: insects and fungi. The insects treated of are tin- Rhubarb Snout Beetle, Imported Currant Worm, Plum Curculio, Striped Cucumber Bee- tle, Cherry Tree Slug and Strawberry Root I .oust.-. The appropriate remedies are given to destroy each of these pests. Tin ENTOMOLOGIST, London, March, 1X90. — The Involution of Insect- galls by T. D. A. Cockerel!. Notes on tin- I.' onoiny of l\ctinia rcsincllii, R. Adkin. Khof>aloict\i at 1 >igne, Mrs. Nicholl. ( )ne the Phylogeiietic 78 i:\roMoLOGiCAL XE\\-. significance of the wing-markings in certain genenera of tin- Nymphalida-. F. A. Dixey. New species of Lepidoptera from China, ]. H. Leech. 1 '•• scriptions of new species of Phytophagous Coleoptera received by .Mr. j. H. Leech from Chang- Yang, China, Martin (acoby. Descriptions of the Homopterous family Cicadukc, \V. L. Distant. Notes on Hybocaiuf>a milhanst-ri, T. A. Chapman. Faroe Islands, Rev. I )r. \\'alker. Ento- mological Notes, Captures, etc., and doings of societies, etc., complete the number. ANNAI.S AND MAG A/ INK ( >K NATTKAL HISTORY, vol. \ , No. 27, London. —Descriptions of new species of Lepidoptera i I leteiocerai from Central America, Herbert Druce. The new species mentioned in the above paper are figured in the Biologia Centrali- Americana. Descriptions of two new Central American Buprestidse, C. ( ). \Vaterlioiise. Description of a new /'npilio from the West coast of Africa, H. Grose Smith (J'api/ioii harpa- goti). On the constitution of the body in the Ulattiihe, 1C. Haas.. De- scription of a new genus of the Homopterous family Cicadidce. \V. L. Distant. • BIOLOGIA CENTRALI-AMEKICANA, Part LXXXI, December, i (Received March, 1890). Contains ARACHNID ARANEIDEA, O. Pickard Cambridge, pp. 49 — 56, pi. 5, thirteen colored figures. COLEOPTKKA. vol. ii. pt. 2. H. \V. Bates, pp. 385 — 416, pi. 24, twenty-live colored figures COLEOPTERA vol. iii, pt. i, C. O. Waterhouse. pp. 169 — 193. C< >].!•:< IITEKA vol. iv, pt. 2, G. C. Champion, pp. 103 — 120, pi. 5, twenty-live colored figures. LEPIDOPTKRA, HKTKROCKRA, H. Druce, pp. 337 — 344, plate 5. twenty-fiva colored figures. RHYNCIIOTA 1 IETEKOI-TERA \V. L. Distant. pp. 321 — 328, pi. 30, twenty-five colored figures. (Juite a number of new species are described and handsomely illustrated. CENTRALI-AMERICANA Part I. XXXII, January. March, 1890). — COI.EOPTKKA vol. ii, part 2, H.\Y. P.ates. p|> 417 — 432. COLEGPTEKA vol. iv, part 2, G. C. Champion, pp. 121 — 160, plates 6 and 7, fifty-one colored figures. LKPIIH U-TKKA Hi i i RO< ERA \ol. i, H. Druce. pp. 345 — 368, plate 31, fifteen colored figures. DIIMIKAXO!. ii. !•'. M. van der \\'ul]), l>|i. 41 — 56. The ENTOMOLOGIST'S MONTHLY .M.\r,.\/i\i (London) M.uvh, : Syno])sis of the I'.ritisli ( )K rm >r i i u.\ (continued), Kland Shaw. COLE- (irii'.KA in Noriolk, |ames lulwards. Descriptions of some new s|,, of South American 1 lalticida- of the group CEDIPODES (< on tinned I, .Mar- tin jacoby. Descriptions of four ne\\ species of the genus i\ix/niii from .South America, llerbeit I >nice. Notes on British Tortricei (continued . C. G. Barrett. Notes on the Coi E( »P CERA and l.i ni'i >ri'i KA ( A7/< >/>..• of Nor\\a\ , < i. < . Clianip'h Jii i u ilh list oi Noru e-iaii butterllies b\ \\'. .M. Si hopen). Notes on British and l.\oii( Coccidae. J. \\'. I 'ouglas. HI \i- HETEROPTERA at Dover and its vicinity, G. C. Hall, 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL \I.\VS. 79 llcsticoodii at Maidstone, G. E. Frishy. Cis cis bilamelUiiiis breeding in captivity, Rev. Theodore Wood. Ilarpalus obscnrus \\. K. Tottenham. Casual captures of COLKOI-TK'KA, J. J. Walker. C< U.KOI'KKA in the North of Ireland, Rev. W. V. Johnson. Obereu ocitlata. Rev. C. Fowler. My, li-nts cnrcnlionidcs from near Oxford, Id. On the larva of C spadicea and (,'. racciiiii, T. A. Chapman, M. 1). A point concerning hybridization, II. W. Vivian. Some MICRO-LKIMDOI>TKKA of the Chalk Hills near Reading, W. Holland. Acipfilia palndiiin in the New Forest, Id. Mciyna polygonalis Tr. in ;New Zealand, E. Meyrick. Nepticnla />_]'/•/, a species new to Ilritain, J. II. Wood. Si of>aria basistrigali* as di->- tinct from S. ambi^nalis G. T. Porritt. Identity of Diantha'cia carf><>- phciira and D. capxo[>hila, W. F. H. I'.landford. Drepanopiery.i' f>hal«-- noides in Durham, Amos Mitchell. Doings of Societies. ENTOMOLOGIYAL SECTIOX ACADEMY XATTKAL SCII.M. is OF PHILA- DELPHIA, March 27, 1890. — Members present: Messrs. Martindale, Rid- ings, Skinner, Liebeck, Seeber, Castle, Calvert; Westcott, Mr. Meng< 1 and Mr. Fox, visitors. 'Dr. Geo. H. Horn, Director, in the chair. Verbal communications being in order. Dr. Horn called attention to a box con- taining C',-/riv;/and allied genera, with all the known species represented. He exhibited plates, showing anatomical characteristics of Cercyon. The shape of the meso-sternum was considered in relation to classification. A lighter colored region of the meta-sternum is defined or not according to circumstances. The genus Cryptoplcitmni lias a \\ell defined line or ex- tension of the meta-sternnm, which lias value as a basis of comparison. In Cercyon the pro-sternum is a carina, and in some genera a broad plate. Points in the comparative anatomy of the genera were considered at length. He further stated that the proper way to study genera is by a Comparison ol the gradations of anatomical features. Mr. C'alvert spoke of the list of dragon-Hies collected at Manchester. Me., by Miss W.nU worth, forty-three specie-, U-ing enumerated, which is a very creditable showing. The number (lf species observed in comparison to other places is large, as in Great Britain only forty-six species are enumerated accord- ing to Md.achlan. Mr. Calvert estimated tin- species of this locality ' Philadelphia i as fitly. /:/>///•,•<(/ H'ti/s/iii is the rarest species in the Maine list, only four •/ and one . specimens being known. Dr. 1 1.igen has lately published a synopsis of the dragoii-tlies of North America, to \\hicli Mr. Calvert 'called attention. The following specimen-, \\ere donated to the cabinet: Rhodites fusiformans Ckl., four specimens; Syntomaspis mon- ticola Ashm., one s|)ecimen. Galls of 7/;i'/>< -fa bigt'lurus Ckl. Cialls of 8o ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, Rhoditcs rosirfo/iu", Ckl. (the- flies liave since emerged), all fnun Mr. kerell. West Cliff, Colorado. J'hnpla ^rupholil/nr Cress., presented by Dr. John Hamilton. t ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY <>F WASHINGTON. — March 6, 1890. Mr. Schwarx exhibited and remarked upon the following Species of Coleop- tera, \vhich are new to the fauna of North America: Ln(hridins i Conino- inns) nodifcr Westwood; Actinopteryx fucicola Allibert; Arrhipis Lancri Guerin and I'rohafins itmhmtilis Duval. He also showed specimens of TcHiHochilii Hiibbardi Leveillee, and Tt'irlriosonui Jforf/ii Lewis, re- cently described in European journals from the semi-tropical region of Florida. He finally drew attention to Dr. Horn's recent Revision of the North American species of Ochthchius, and spoke of the -, . .graphical distribution of these aquatic beetles. Discussion followed by various members. The Secretary presented a note on a 1 >ipterous larva infesting the seeds of Xanthium. He had found that these larva- at Manhattan. Kansas and during the past winter in the District. Drawings were exhibited illustra- ting the larva and the nature of its work. 'The Secretary also presented a short note on the food-habits of Psi/op- tcra drnininondi. These notes were discussed by Schwar/, Towns-nil and Howard. Mr. Townsend read a paper entitled, " Notes on Acridiida- in Michigan." which related more particularly to dates of appearance and habits. C. L. MAKI.AT i , -O- ERRATA. l'.i-e ^, line 10 from top, for exista irm/ exust.i. " 58, " 6 from bottom, for Sagmache, >;\iJ Sa^nache. " 60, " 5 from top, for Amstat, iTad Austat. " 61, " 15 from top, for Dyctidif read 1 \vctidca. " 61, " i.S from top, for Tiliccn read Tibiccn. " 64, " 6 from top, for fitscifurtnaiis re. id f'nsi/t>nnan.<. •• 64, " S from to| >, for < ':-iii//iof>/i i/iis re. id (\-tithof>liilns. EiSTOMOLOGlCAL \i.\vs fi >r April \vus inailcil Mai. li I . ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AM) I'ROCHHniXCS OF Till: l:\TOMOLOGICAL SECTION", ACADEMY NATfKAL SCIKXCKS, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. i. JUNE, isgo. No. 6. CONTEXTS: Slosson— Winter collecting in Florida.. Si Wukham— On the Habits of some Me- Fox — Aculeate Hymenoptera new to loini 89 Pennsylvania and New Jersey 83 Van Winkle — Collecting by lamplight.. 91 Skinner — Geographical Variation 84 Notes and News 92 P. P. C. — Klementarv Knti>inr>i<>gy S6 F.ntomological Literature 95 <""]i!ley — "Sports" in Venation 88 WINTER COLLECTING IN FLORIDA. i;\ ANXII-: TRUMBULL SLOSSON. I rea< h< -d Florida this year on January 25th. Butterflies were flying at that season in Jacksonville, anil I saw from my window Cti//idt'}'pi(s, and some of the Hi^pi-rida-. At nis^ht, though the weather was cool. .l^r<'/is incii'is and .-/. malcfida came to the ]>ia//a lights l>y the dozen. On the Jjth, at Sanford, about one hundred and twenty-five miles farther xnith, several moths came to the rather dimly-lighted windows, amon^ them the Southern form of 1 f\'pi-)-i'hiria /\>, Dr. Stn-cker's lilith — Endiof>tis /iva/innta and Agrotis iui'/i'i's. On the jSth we went to Puntu Gorda (Charlotte I liirl.or i and remained there until March. Then' had lieen no rain there for some four or ti\e months, con>e(|uently \i-c|;ition was t>ack\vard, and then- u i-ri- very few flowers, luit in^ecN were ])lentitnl. During the tirst t'eu days alter my arrival I -aw I\ crcs/i/hvt/fs, P. palani<-d< ,v, /'. ajax} /'. /nn'/us, /'. tnrnns, D. un-hif>f>us, L. ditippus. I . eros} /V(;vV >nomtsft\ .l^nm/is rani/la-. Ti-rnt* dcli<<, I', lisa, (.'(tl/idn'tt* cnbulc and Jioionia cn-nia, he^iiles numerous He-,])erida-. A feu days later, about 6 82 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, the few orange blossoms which opened in spite of the drought, we found beautiful specimens of Erycides batabano. They flut- tered about the fragrant flowers like humming birds, their wings glancing in the sunlight with touches of sapphire and emerald. With them, and sipping from the same blossoms, we took three specimens of an Alypia new to me, and which I cannot place till I have access to my books. Along the shore, just inside the thicket of mangroves, are long flat stretches of sand, often sub- merged and always wet. On these grow little but samphire {Sali- cornia ambigna) Iresine vermicularis and such marine plants with fleshy, succulent leaves and insignificant flowers. But over these in the hot sunshine at midday were always flitting tiny Lyctznas and Theclas. Here I took the little bronzy L. isophthalma, L. filenus, L. theomts (a lovely little species, the female with wings almost white), Thecla pccas, T. M-albiDn and T. melimis (this last name is given me by Dr. Henry Skinner). There were so very few blossoms that I knew nearly every plant which bloomed, f and could visit each one as I made my collecting rounds. One large thistle (C. horriduluni) with several heads of pale yellow flowers was always a favorite spot for insects, and wherever a plant of the ugly fireweed {Erechthites) lifted its greenish, com- monplace heads of flowers they were surrounded by little gay- winged lovers. Seeing at a distance one day what looked like a patch of large white blossoms I went towards it only to find a mat of the little creeping hyssop (Herpestis monnierd) with tiny lav- ender flowers covered with the Southern cabbage butterfly (P. monuste). There were at least twenty on a patch not two feet square. Hesperidae abounded, skipping jerkily about the grounds of the hotel and over the palmetto scrub; Paniphila brettus, P. fusca, P. phyla:us (Dr. Skinner gives me these names), P. arpa, P. maculata and several others yet unnamed. Calcphelis ccenius was also abundant. The evenings were generally windy and cool, not favorable conditions for moth hunting, but we met with com- parative success. At light we captured many fine specimens, some still unidentified. Here we took Hyparpax aurichictus (I think that this is the name given last year by Mr. Graef, but I have no book for reference), Varina ornata Neumoegen, Lito- prosopus futilis G. & R., Byssodes obnissata Gr. , Lepiodes scolo- pacinaria Guen. , Dilophonota obscnra Fab. , Ellema coniferanaii A. & S. , Lagoa pyxidifera A. & S. , Platccccticus gloi'eri Pack. , 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 83 Trama hinna Gey. , Phurys vinculum Guen. , Euhalisidota longa Gr. and many other species. The true collector is always san- guine, and I have great hopes concerning my unnamed speci- mens. One large, oddly-marked sphinx fills me with visions of a new genus as well a£ species, and I have already selected its name. There is also a strange and beautiful moth, apparently one of the Zygaenidae, unlike anything I have seen or of which I have read. I found feeding upon the tomato vines in the hotel garden many larvae of Phlegethontius celeus, and upon the sweet potato and Ipom&a pes-capr(E, larvae of P. cingidata. These were all full grown; I placed several of them with their food- plant in a box of earth where they soon buried themselves and transformed, but though they have been in the pupa state nearly five weeks no moth has yet emerged. I also found feeding upon mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) and upon Conocarpus erecta young larvae of Hyperchiria io Fab. I have reared them and they are just spinning themselves up among some leaves. They do not differ in any respect, as far as I can see, from the typical form, and I am anxious to see if they will develop into var. lilith Strecker. (To be continued.) -o- Aculeate Hymenoptera new to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. BY WILLIAM J. FOX. The following list of Aculeate Hymenoptera may prove of in- terest to some readers of the NEWS, as it adds a few more species to the fauna of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The majority of them were collected at Westville, N. J., several miles belou Philadelphia, during 1889. The localities in parentheses signify where the species was recorded from before publication of this article. Mntilla ornativentris Cress. Several specimens, Westville, N. J. , 1889 (Southern and Western States). .Mutilla dubitata Sm. Several specimens taken with the pre- ceding species (Florida, Georgia, Colorado). Mntilla thoracica Blake. One specimen of this small species was captured Oct. 29, 1889 (New York). 84 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, Sph&rophthalma cypris Blake. This species was moderately common at Westville during the summer of 1889 (Georgia). Sphcsrophthalma canadensis Blake. About a dozen specimens were taken in the same locality (Canada). Tachytes mandibularis Patton. Taken at Westville, N. J., 1889. One specimen (Connecticut). Philanthus Sanborni Cress. Westville, N. J., August, 1889. One female (Massachusetts). Crabro trapezoideus Pack. One male, Fairmount Park, Phila- delphia, September, 1889 (Illinois). Thyreopus cingulatus Pack. Westville, N. J., Oct. 29, 1889. One female (Illinois^. Anacrabro occellatus Pack. Three specimens, one male and two females, Westville, N. J., July and August, 1889 (Mass., 111. ). Vespa occidentalis Cress. One specimen, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, September, 1889. Flying in company with V. germanica, vidua and diabolica (Nevada, New Mexico). Nomada texana Cress. Two specimens, both females, Camden, N. J., 1889 (Texas). Nomada lepida Cress. Three specimens (males), Franklinville, Pa., April 20, 1890. Flying over and alighting on dry sunny paths in the woods (Illinois, Colorado, T^cas). Mellissodes compta Cress. One female of this handsome spe- cies taken in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Sept., 1889 (Ga.). Apathus variabilis Cress. Gloucester, N. J., August?, 1889. One specimen (Texas). All these species were compared with those in the collection of the American Entomological Society, which contains the types of nearly all the insects mentioned. -o- GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION. BY HENRY SKINNER, M. D. Dr. John Hamilton, in a recent paper (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. vol. xvi, p. 88), gives a list of the Coleoptera common to North America, Northern Asia and Europe, and Mr. Cockerell (Ento- mologist's Record and Journal of Variation vol. i, No. i, p. 9) a list of the " American Species of Lepidoptera Representative of European;" also on page 13 of same work, " American Varieties 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 85 of British Species (Lepidoptera)." These papers are very in- teresting and instructive, and suggest many other lines of investi- gation of a similar character. When the Lepidoptera have been more exhaustively studied after the plan adopted by Dr. Hamilton in the Coleoptera, I have no doubt the results will be interesting, and a number of species now considered distinct more on account of difference of locality than anything else, will be amalgamated. It has been noted that the Pacific coast fauna more nearly ap- proaches that of Europe than the Eastern, but I do not know that in a species common to both countries a greater similarity has been noticed between the Western specimens and those of Europe than the Eastern. Last Summer I had sent to me a number of chrysa- lids of Vanessa antiopa from San Jose, Cal. , and when they dis- closed the perfect insects I found them all to be intergrades be- tween the specimens found here (Philadelphia) and those of England and Germany. I had previously noticed that the Eu- ropean antiopa could always be distinguished from the American example by the less irrorate character, and usually lighter color of the yellow border of the wings, the former of which is gen- erally most markedly illustrated on the little tail to the inferior wings and the similar projection on the superiors. The European specimens are also usually smaller. The Calitornian examples are intermediate between the Eastern and European as far as the dark peppering on the border is concerned, and could be readily picked out from the others. I leave it to some one else to point out the significance of the observation. Among the chrysalids there was one, three or four shades lighter in color than the rest, and perhaps also a little larger, which disclosed the rare and in- teresting variety hygicea Hdrch. (Verz. Eur. Schmett. p. 7, 1851), of which lintnerii Fitch (3d Rep. Trans. N. Y. State Agr. Soc. p. 485, 1856) is a synonym. It will be interesting to know whether a very much lighter colored chrysalis is an indication of a coming hygi&a. In Mr. Cockerell's list of "American Species Repre- sentative of European" he omits Vanessa Californica and V. polychloros, which are probably one and the same thing. It would be interesting to know whether Californica produces anything analogous or the same as the varieties of polychloros, testudo and pyromelas given in Kirby. I do not know of any described va- riety of the American species. Grapta faunus and G. C-album are undoubtedly identical, as has been pointed out by Strecker. 86 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, To the list of American varieties of British species may be added P. rapes, var. immaculiita (Can. Ent. July, 1889, p. 128); this makes five in all. I hope that some one will give a list with the bibliography, of the Lepidoptera common to Europe and America, and when a new list of the North American Lepidoptera is pre- pared the whole geographical range of the species (when found outside of America) will be given. -o ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY. Second Paper — THE GENERAL STRUCTURE OF INSECTS. In those papers of this series which treat of the anatomy of Insects in general, we have largely drawn, with the author's per- mission, from Prof. J. H. Comstock's excellent '"Introduction to Entomology."* Thanks to the kindness of Prof. A. S. Packard, we have also made use of his well-known " Guide" f and his valuable " Ento- mology for Beginners. "J » As stated in the first paper the body of an Arthropod, and consequently that of an Insect, is made up of a series of rings or segments, within which are the vital apparatus and muscles. Con- fining our attention to insects, it is to be noticed that even young larvae§ just hatched from the egg show this segmentation of the * An Introduction to Entomology by John Henry Comstock, Professor of Entomology and General Invertebrate Zoology in Cornell University, and formerly United States Entomologist. With many original illustra- tions drawn and engraved by Anna Botsford Comstock. Ithaca, N. Y. Published by the author 1888, pp. iv, 234, 201 figures. Price $2.00. t Guide to the study of Insects and a treatise on those injurious and beneficial to crops for the use of Colleges, Farm-schools and Agriculturists by Alpheus S. Packard, M.D., with fifteen plates and 670 woodcuts; ninth edition. New York, Henry Holt & Co., 1889, 715 pp. (first edition, 1869, Salem) J Entomology for Beginners. For the use of Young Folks, Fruit- growers, Farmers and Gardeners, by A. S. Packard, M.D., Ph. D.; second edition, revised. New York, Henry Holt & Co., 1889, 367 pp. 272 figs. £ It is hardly necessary to remind the reader that an Insect is an Insect, whether it is an unhatched egg, a growing larva, an apparently lifeless pupa, or a flying or creeping imago. Images being so much more con- spicuous than the preceding stages, have naturally received both common and scientific names first. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 8j body. If such a young larva be examined* the jointed appear- ance of the exterior will be seen. The skin of this young larva is quite soft, but becomes harder as the larva grows. This hard- ening- is due to the deposition in the outer layer of the skin (called the cuticle) of a horny substance — chiiine. The chitine is deposited in the cuticle of the different segments, but there is left a narrow space around the body between each segment, in which there is little or no chitine. These narrow rings of unaf- fected skin divide the segments from each other, and are termed sutures. Remaining soft, the sutures permit a freedom of motion of the hard segments upon each other. In larvae the sutures are usually wider than in the correspond- ing imagos. Very often the sutures themselves become hardened by chitine, so that the line of separation between two segments disappears. Such an obliteration of sutures occurs very fre- quently in the head and fore-parts of imagos, and less frequently in the hind parts. We have spoken of the segments as hard, but the hard part of any one segment is not a continuous ring. On the contrary, the hard part of a segment consists of several pieces which are more or less free to move upon each other. These pieces are the sclerites (from the Greek yk/eros, hard). Some of the soft cuticle remains between the sclerites, and this separating portion also receives the name of suture, and like an inter-segmental suture may also become " obsolete" (/. e. obliterated). The skin, originally soft, but now with its cuticle hardened in the segments, the hard part of each segment consisting of several sclerites, forms the body-ivall of the Insect. The reader of this series already knows that all an insect's growth is completed in its larval state. As a larva grows quite rapidly, and as chitine is being constantly deposited in the cuticle, the cuticle thus hardened loses its elasticity and is soon too small for the increasing size of the body. Consequently it splits along the middle line of the back, and through this fissure the insect withdraws itself from its chitinous coat. Or, in other cases, the cuticle comes off gradually in thin shreds. The "new skin" contains very little chitine as yet, and being quite elastic, stretches to accommodate the size of the body. This skin (cuticle) in turn • The student cannot be too strongly reminded that he should compare these papers with some insect, say a grasshopper. 88 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, becomes hardened, is likewise cast off, or moulted, and succeeded by others, varying in number in different species of insects. Very often there are changes in the shape, color, etc. , of the larva after successive moults. Technical names for the process of moulting are ecdysis and exuviation, and for the moulted skins, exuvics. In the case of those insects passing through a complete trans- formation, when the larva moults for the last time, it becomes a pupa, usually of quite dissimilar shape from the larva, and usually quiet, that is, does not move from place to place. The last moult of the insect's life is when the cuticle of the pupa splits open and the imago emerges, and, after a short period, spreads its wings and begins its aerial life. Where the insect undergoes but an incomplete transformation, when the nymph moults for the last time, the imago state is en- tered at once. Hitherto, in speaking of the segmented form of an insect's body, reference has been made solely to the body-wall. So far as the internal organs are concerned, the muscles, the nervous, circulatory and respiratory systems, at least, are more or less arranged in correspondence with the segmentation of the body- wall/ P. P. C. o "SPORTS" IN VENATION. BY A. B. CORDLEY. Some time ago while studying the Hymenoptera collected during the seasons of 1888 and 1889, I found three specimens which puzzled me very much. They apparently belonged to the genus Nomada, but differed from all the specimens of that genus in our collection in that the anterior wings had but two submar- ginal cells. I sent one of the specimens for determination to Mr. E. T. Cresson, who replied as follows : " The bee you sent is one of the varieties of Nomada macidata Cress. , a very variable spe- cies. I have seen specimens in which the first transverse cubital nervure was obliterated in one anterior wing, but not in both as in the specimen you sent. Are these nervures absent in both wings in the specimens you have? If so it is both curious and interesting. Such ' sports' occur frequently among the Saw-flies, but rarely among bees." On referring to the specimens retained 1 890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 89 I found that the nervure in question was totally obliterated in both anterior wings of both specimens. I also found that both specimens did not belong to the same species, one of them prov- ing to be Nomada imbricata. Of the other thirteen specimens of maculata, and seven specimens of imbricata, taken during the same time, all have the three submarginal cells complete, there being no apparent tendency of the first transverse cubital nervure to become obliterated. I have, also, one specimen of Collete.s Sp. and one of Andrena Sp. , which have three submarginal cells to one anterior wing, but only two to the other. -o- ON THE HABITS OF SOME MELOINI. BY H. F. WICKHAM. Some of our large Western Meloini make striking additions to any cabinet by their bright colors and curious forms. Of these the most beautiful is, in my estimation, Cysteodemus wislizeni: This species, with its small head and thorax and immensely in- flated elytra which give the hinder part of the body a globular outline, is rather a clumsy object, though its bright blue color more than compensates for any inelegance of form. One who had seen only dead specimens would naturally suppose that it was slow in movement when in fact the exact reverse is the case. In 1888 I spent a few days at Luna, N. Mex., a nominal station twenty-two miles west of Albuquerque. Near the switch the grass was growing very luxuriantly, and here I had the good fortune to find a colony of this pretty beetle. We arrived in the early morning, and just as I was getting up from the breakfast table in our car, one of the men who had gone out a few minutes before me stuck his head in the door and deposited a " bug" on the floor, which he said he had found running around just out- side the car. He looked on it with suspicion, for it had exuded a quantity of yellowish liquid which stuck to our friend's fingers and smelled something like an infusion of all the different vege- tables one can think of. I didn't let this prevent me from picking up the "bug," which proved to be the Cysteodemus mentioned above, and after a few moments spent in admiration of the brilliant colors, started out to find some more. I was not yet familiar with its habits, and got only two or three in the few minutes I had to spare before leav:ng for the scene of QO ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June,. our work through the day, but on coming back about six o'clock P. M., I saw a few more running around. They hold the body high up from the ground and get over the ground at a good rate, looking as if they ran on tiptoe, if we may use such an expression in speaking of insects. I gathered these into- the fold, and, as soon as supper was over, a search in the grass disclosed a num- ber of them hanging to the blades a little distance from the ground, apparently feeding, and others taking their evening exercise. Before I left the place I had an opportunity to spend an entire day collecting, and I found that they were all hidden during the middle of the day, but came out to feed or run around in the morning and evening, staying out in the morning until about nine o'clock and coming out again about five o'clock P. M. I never saw this species at any other place, though I looked for it care- fully in many different localities. The captures were made early in August. Another ugly species, from an aesthetic point of view, is Megetra vittata, a near ally of our Cysteodemus, but with shorter and less inflated wing covers, which do not cover the abdomen. Dried specimens do not give a good idea of the clumsy unwieldliness of the living females of this species, which are so distended with eggs and food, that it seems almost impossible for them to move. They do move, however, though they have not the speed of the preceding species, the abdomen dragging on the ground. The males are more active, and in running lift the body high up like the Cysteodemus. The first specimen I saw of Megetra was a male, which ran across the platform at Coolidge, N. Mex. , July 4, 1888. Next year I looked carefully for the species for nearly a whole day without success, when about four o'clock P. M. I noticed some dark objects in a " greasewood" bush; I went over to investigate, and found a number of these insects feeding on the leaves and others just climbing up the stems. When I counted up the catch I found that I had over forty specimens of both sexes. This was about the i2th of September, and this month is probably their pairing-time, as I took only isolated specimens at other times. Melee sublcevis is found at the same time, and in company with the two species mentioned, but seems to be rarer, as I found only about a dozen in all. M. impressus I took in May at Cheyenne, Wyo. , feeding on low plants in the early part of the day. •'/• ainericanus occurred at Bismarck, Dak., in August, feeding in the middle of the day. iSgO.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 9 1 COLLECTING BY LAMPLIGHT. BY A. S. VAN WINKLE. (Continued from p. 69, vol. i.) Iii order to show the curious connection between the state of the weather and the degree in which moths were attracted to light I will now append the following table, which may prove of great interest to young entomologists, with a view that they may prepare tables in like manner: DATE. No. Moths. REMARKS. Dec. 13 i Fine starlight. 14 75 Drizzling and foggy. 15 4i Showers, cloudy. 16 158 (120 species) Steady rain. 17 82 Wet, rather moonlight. 18 9 Fine moonlight. 19 2 Fine, clear. 3i 2OO (130 species) Dark, windy and heavy rain. Jan. i 185 Very wet. 2 68 Cloudy and showers. 3 50 Cloudy and showers. 4 12 Fine. 5 IO Fine. 6 8 Very fine. 7 8 Very fine. 8 IO Fine. 9 36 Showery. 10 30 Showery. ii 260 Heavy rain all night and very dark. 12 56 Showery. 13 44 Showery, some moonlight. U 4 Fine, moonlight. 15 24 Rain. 16 6 Showers. i/ 6 Showers. 18 i Showers. Total, 1386 "Thus it appears that on twenty-six nights I collected 1386 moths, but that more than 800 of them were collected on four very wet and dark nights. My success here led me to hope that, by similar arrangements, I might, in every island, be able to ob- tain abundance of these insects, but strange to say, during the six succeeding years I was never once able to make any collections at all approaching those at Sarawak." 92 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, On reading the above I wished that we had a great many more Wallaces than we do have, i.e. if the entomologists of our own country would follow in the footsteps of this great English ento- mologist the progress of entomology would be much greater. A great many entomologists at present prepare large lists of insects, but probably one in a hundred cites the locality in which the in- sects are found; a great many on the other hand say North America, which means anywhere between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, or from the Northern border of Central America to the confines of eternal snow, or just give the separate States. This is a fine state of affairs, is it not ? This is also especially exas- perating to the student of geographical distribution of insects. The exact locality I think is as of much importance as it is to know what species of plant or plants this or that species of insect feeds on. I hope that hereafter entomologists will pay more at- tention to the citation of localities. We know what care botanists take when out collecting, they jot down notes of each and every species of plant that they find, of their habits, situation and lo- cality right on the spot. For a very interesting and instructive paper on this subject I would refer the reader to the March num- ber of the " Canadian Entomologist," page 46, where Mr. Cockerell expresses his views. Notes and. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit, and will thankfully receive items of news, likely to interest its readers, from any source. The author's name will be given in each case for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] In the future all papers received for publication in the News will be printed according to date of reception. Dr. S. W. WILLISTON, of Yale University, New Haven, Conn., the Dipterologist, has accepted a professorship in the University of Kansas, at Lawrence. INSECTS NAMED. — i. Penthe obliquata ; 2. Melanotiis cotninnnis ; 3. Holotrophus bifasc iatus ; 4. Aphorisfa vittata ; 5. Aphodius fimetarius ; 6. Eros aurora. \V. M. HILL, Chester, I'a. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 93 VERY COSTLY INSECTS. — Dr. L. B. Clifton, the well known naturalist, has succeeded in hatching out a rare species of moth, known to ento- mologists as Attacus luna. For a specimen of this moth Dr. Clifton was paid $100 two years ago by the Earl of Roseberry, who is quite an en- thusiast in that line. The present specimen is valued at $50. — From the N. Y. Telegram. — (More newspaper entomology.) POLYBIA CUBENSIS IN FLORIDA. — Among some Florida Hymenoptera received from Mrs. A. T. Slosson, of New York, were three specimens, with the nest, of a species of Polybia, which, on determination, proved to be P. ciibensis Sauss. As there is no doubt as to this species being an inhabitant of Florida, I see no reason why it should not be added to the fauna of the United States. Mr. Charles \V. Johnson, of the Wagner In- stitute, Philadelphia, has informed me that he has also taken this species in Florida. — WM. J. Fox. THAT observant naturalist, Cons. E. L. Layard, writing from New Caledonia, bears witness to the fact of rotten fruit being a very strong attraction to Lepidoptera. He writes: "At this moment I have in my verandah a parrot, which is daily regaled with a portion of banana. Every evening I see a dozen or more of the large Sphingidae and Noctuas trying to effect an entrance into the cage to get at the rotting fruit, which is gen- erally invisible from the outside. ... I always found bananas the best bait to attract the night flyers, but only when they began to rot (Rhopalo- cera Malay atid)."-— Try it. OF THE habits of the typical form of Charades athamas in N. W. India we have a few particulars from Capt. Lang. It is " an insect of extremely rapid flight, flashing like lightning up and down the rocky-bedded streams in the Himalayan glens (3000 to 5000 feet). It pitches on rocks in mid- stream and flashes off again if approached." Some Lepchas, who, in Sikkim, make what they can by catching insects, and selling them to visitors, take advantage of the known partiality of butterflies for wet sand. Mr. De Niceville states that " in one place upon a large flattish stone near the middle of the stream the men had put some sand and kept it watered, and it was surprising the number of butterflies that came to their ' trap' and were caught (Rhopalocera Malay ana)." WHILE VISITING at Sarver Station, Butler County, Pa., last July, I took quite a number of Colias philodice, Ab. alba, and among them was a fine, perfect male; this is the first white male that has ever been taken to my knowledge, so this note to the NEWS may prove of some interest to its readers. It is pure white on the upper surface, with a faint yellowish tint on the primaries; the black border, including both pairs of wings, is sprinkled with white scales; underneath it has a smoky appearance, and the sub- marginal row of orange spots is wanting, both on the primaries and sec- ondaries.*— GEO. A. EHRMAN, Pittsburg, Pa. * If the genitalia were examined this would probably be found to be a female. 94 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, DOLERUS ARVENSIS Say and DOLERUS UNICOLOR Beauv. — These flies have been plentiful in this vicinity for the past ten days or more, and are usually found resting upon dead weeds of all sorts. They have been es- pecially abundant among the branches and in the vicinity of a low spread- ing bur-oak tree, the buds of which are fairly dripping with a very sweet liquid that has oozed from them as the result of the myriad punctures inflicted by a minute gall-fly, Neuroterus vernus Gill. I visited this tree on the 26th of April in company with a student, Mr. H. H. Raymond, who called my attention to the mating of the black saw-fly with D. ar- vensis. A few moments later we both saw two more of these two spe- cies pair, and a day later we each saw the same thing repeated. The males in every case were D. unicolor, and the females D. arvensis. I had previously noticed that of about forty specimens of each of these species in my collection all of the former were males and all of the latter were females. Say also notes the fact that only the male of unicolor and the female of arvensis are known. These facts with the above observa- tions put it beyond a doubt that these two saw-flies are male and female of the same species. As unicolor Beauv. was first described (1805), this name will hold for the species, and arvensis Say will have to fall to the rank of a synonym. While mating the male and female face in opposite directions, and the wings and abdomen of the male are covered by the wings of the female. The union lasts but three or four seconds. C. P. GILLETTE. EXCURSION. — The committee from the Brooklyn, Newark and Philadel- phia Societies have decided upon Upper Jamesburg, N. J., as the place where the field-meeting of the entomologists of the three cities and neigh- boring points is to take place on the 4th of July next. Jamesburg is on the Amboy Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and may be reached from New York via Perth Amboy and Rahway at 9.10 a. m., Newark at 9.36 a. m.; via Monmouth Junction, New York, 7.20 a. m., Newark 7.50 a. m. Leave Philadelphia from Broad Street Station at 6.50 a. m., zunker — Some experiences in Larvie Rearing 108 Notes and News no P. P. C. — Elementary Entomology 102 Dyar — Two species of Lepidoptera new to our Lists 105 Entomological Literature 112 Fox — Description of three new species Doings of Societies 115 of Hymenoptera 106 ! WINTER COLLECTING IN FLORIDA. BY ANNIE TRUMBULL SLOSSON. (Continued from p. 83, vol. i.) To attract moths at night we used a large lamp with Rochester burner, giving a very brilliant light. The first time we tried it very tew insects came, though the night seemed favorable, warm, dark and still. After waiting an hour or two, with little gain, we extinguished the lamp preparatory to going indoors, when, at once, moths began flying into the dimly-lighted windows and resting there. This occurred again and again, until we felt as- surged that our brilliant light frightened away rather than tempted the moths of Punta Gorda. It was not until some weeks after our discovery of this fact that we read in ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS for February of Mr. Doherty's letter as to his collecting in the Naga Hills. In this you will remember he expresses the opinion that "light used in out-of-the-way places repels rather than at- tracts." I frequently spent an evening in my room with a bright gas-light and a large kerosene lamp burning directly in front of the open window. No insects came, but when I had turned out the gas and lowered the flame of my lamp, moths would soon begin to fly in. IO2 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [September, At sugar, although the number of moths taken was large, the variety was very small. In a catch of fifty or sixty moths there would often be but two or three species. Eubolina stylobata was always at these sugar stations in large numbers, also Agrotis in- civis, A. malefida and various species of Homoptera, particularly H. edusina and H. benesignata. The colony of West Indian insects, of which Mr. Schwartz and others have written, is well represented at Punta Gorda. I found one night resting near a lighted window a beautiful specimen of the 'Spanish moth," Enthisanotia thnais Cram. It bore the bloom of extreme youth, and could not have emerged from the pupa many hours before. It is an exquisite creature, with its fore wings of carmine and orange and secondaries of leaden black. I took also one specimen of a Sphingid described and figured by Grote in his "Notes on Cuban Sphingidae (Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil. vol. v)," Hemeroplanes pseudothyreits. I do not recall its record from Florida previous to my capture, but it should have its place in our lists. It is a curious insect, much like Thyreus in general appearance, but with a peculiar discal mark, like a white arrow-head, with a small white dash above it. Many fine fresh specimens of the large geometer Oxydia vesuliata Cram, flew to the lighted windows at night. They are exceedingly variable, some very dark purple-brown, some uniformly light grayish drab, and others with median space of pale ochre, but all with the dis- tinctive large, black, diffuse patch on secondaries, near outer margin. I found also Uraptcryx floridata Gr. Doubtless many of my unidentified moths will prove to be West Indian forms. Although I found so many interesting spe- cies in Florida this Winter, yet insects were much less plentiful than in ordinary seasons. The long continued drought, with one or two severe freezes, interfered seriously with plant and insect life. In a dozen years I have never seen a Winter where butter- flies were so scarce; every one spoke of this, and even the ordinary tourist noticed it. ~r\ ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY. Third Paper — REGIONS AND APPENDAGES OF INSECTS. THE HEAD. As stated in the first paper of this series,* the body of a per- * ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, i, pp. 70 — 71. May, 1890. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 103 feet insect is divided into three regions, — the head, the thorax and the abdomen. This division into regions is not to be confounded with the di- vision into segments; each region consists of a number of seg- ments. In the case of those insects undergoing a complete transformation (butterflies, bees, beetles, etc.), it is only the imago whose body shows clearly this division into three regions. On the other hand, the larvae of such insects as dragonflies and grasshoppers, whose transformation is incomplete, show a very marked division into three regions, even when just hatched from the egg. The tri-regional division of the body may be more or less clearly perceived in those insects referred to in the first paper as passing through two states, — fish moths and spring tails. Many of the segments of an insect's body bear paired, jointed appendages, one pair to a segment. These appendages may be antennae (" feelers"), jaws, legs, claspers, etc. The wings, al- though often spoken of as appendages, do not anatomically cor- respond, or are not homologous* to the appendages just referred to. The form, proportion, shape and relative development of the different parts of the trunk and appendages of insects vary very greatly. Only the more general, typical arrangement of these parts will be described in these papers treating of insects in gen- eral. The modifications must be left to subsequent papers on the separate orders. In these general papers reference is usually made to the imago, when describing anatomical parts. THE HEAD of the imago is usually distinct from the rest of the body. The segments of which it is composed are not easily dis- tinguishable, owing to the sutures being more or less obliterated, and one might be tempted to say at first sight, that it consisted of but one segment. Comparative study, however, has shown that it is composed, not of one, but of several segments. The exact number is perhaps four, although this is not entirely certain. Prof. Comstock has adopted a convenient classification of the parts ot the head, which we cannot do better than follow here. He divides the parts of the head into fixed parts and movable parts. The fixed parts are the compound eyes, the simple eyes, the occiput, the epicranium, the clypcus, and the gula. * In the technical language of Comparative Biology, koin^li'fcm refers to a>ui! similarity, analogous to physiological similarity IO4 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [September, The movable parts are the antenna and the mouth parts. The compound eyes (fig. i, a) are quite conspicuous, and us- ually are easily seen and recognized as eyes. They are two in number, and are placed one on each side of the head. The sur- face of each compound eye is made up of a large number of hexagonal facets, fitting against each other like the cells of a honey-comb. Each facet is the cornea of a distinct simple eye. The number of facets in the compound eyes of different insects varies from 50 to 30,000 (Comstock). Sometimes the facets are quadrangular (Packard). The simple eyes (fig. i, e) are small and not very conspicuous. They are placed on the top (dorsal* surface) of the head, between the compound eyes. Ordinarily there are three simple eyes, but their number varies from one to four; they are usually wanting in beetles. Compound eyes are clusters of simple eyes. Larvae have only simple eyes, situated on the sides of the head. During growth they " increase in number, and finally coalesce to form the compound eye, or compound cornea, the surface of which is very convex and protuberant in the predaceous insects, or those requiring- an extended field of vision (Packard's Guide)." Usually the compound eyes are referred to as simply "the eyes," while the simple eyes are termed ocelli (singular ocellus) or stemmata (sing, stemma). The occiput is the rear or base of the head, and articulates with the first segment of the thorax. The epicranium (fig. i) is in front of the occiput, and, in gen- eral, forms the top or dorsal portion of the head, but it very often forms part of the sides of the head and even of the under (ven- tral) surface. On account of its extent, names have been given to different parts of the epicranium. The vertex is its topmost (most dorsal) part, fae front or frons is its most anterior part, the genes, or cheeks, its sides, or lateral parts. The ocelli are usually situated on the vertex. Fig. i, Front view of the Head of a Wasp. a, a, the compound eyes; b, theclypeus: c, the labrum; d, the mandibles ; e, three ocelli, or simple eyes \f,f, places of insertion of an- tennae. The letters is placed upon the vertex, _/ f upon the frons. * When an insect is standing in natural position, its upper surface is dorsal, its lower surface ventral. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. IO5 The normal position of the clypeus (fig. i, 6) is anterior to the epicranium. Typically, it is composed of two sclerites, the hind-, post-, or supra- clypeus, and the fore-, ante-, or infra- clypeus. The term epistoma is equivalent to clypeus. In some insects the equivalent of the clypeus is composed of two pieces, an upper called nasus, and a lower or rhinarinm ; again the rhinarium may be absent. To the lower or anterior border of the clypeus is attached the lab rum, or upper lip. The gula is in front of, or below the occiput, and is confined to the under or ventral surface of the head. To its anterior border is attached the labium, or lower lip. The sutures between the fixed parts of the head may be want- ing, and the shape and extent of the parts vary greatly. In many insects the fixed parts, excepting the eyes and ocelli, are more or less covered with hair, so that the shape of the parts cannot be seen until the hair is removed. P. P. C. -o Two Species of Lepidoptera new to our Lists. I BY HARRISON G. DYAR. While at Lake Worth, Florida, last Winter I captured speci- mens of two species not in our lists. They are the following: Calif dry as statira Cram. — The £ is of the color of C. eubide, but the border of raised scales extends more than half way across the wing, and there is a large spot of these scales in the end of the cell. The inner edge of this border is nearly straight, and it is very pale yellow, almost white. On the hind wings the border is narrower, more irregular, and ends before the anal angle. Below much as in C. eubule £ , but with only faint traces of any spots. Taken with Callidryas cubulc and C. agarithe, but less common. January. Composia fidelissima Herrich-Schaffer. — $ 9- Head black, with two white spots. Collar and thorax black, with small white spots. Abdomen black, with a very strong blue reflection and a double row of small white spots on the last segments in the £ • Below neatly banded with white; wings black, a strong blue re- flection at the base and end of the cell of primaries and on basal two-thirds of secondaries. On costa of primaries at base are io6 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [September, three subquadrate, crimson spots, more or less confluent. In the cell are two white spots, the outer continued on to the costa, but interrupted by the vein. A marginal and a transverse row of white spots, the latter from costa beyond cell to middle of outer margin composed of five spots the last small. The marginal row starts on costa before apex and has four intervenular spots, each nearer the outer margin than the last, and two more spots below, the last above the submedian vein, the one before it large and round. A small spot at base of the wing above submedian vein. The secondaries have a marginal row of nine white spots, the first at the apex, the fourth and the ninth at basal angle, small. Below as above, but the blue reflection on primaries is more ex- tensive. Legs marked and banded with white. This Zygaenid was taken abundantly towards evening flying with Syntomeida epilais Walk. , than which it was much more abundant. The flora of the strip of land between Lake Worth and the ocean, as well as that between Indian River and the ocean par- takes of a decidedly subtropical character, and many Cuban spe- cies find their homes here, of which the occurrence of the above- mentioned species is an example. -o- DESCRIPTION OF THREE NEW SPECIES OF HYMENOPTERA. BY WILLIAM J. FOX. Hoplisus foveolata n. sp. 9 . — Black, shining; head sparsely punctured, hardly as wide as the thorax; clypeus, labrum, basal half of mandibles, scape, first six joints of flagellum, thorax, spots on posterior tarsal joints near apex, and basal segment of abdomen, except ring at apical margin, dark reddish brown; clypeus covered with silvery pu- bescence in certain lights, with long golden hairs; labrum with a fringe of golden hairs on anterior margin; face with a distinct furrow extending from the lower ocellus to the middle of the face; metathorax feebly punctate, covered with pale brownish pubescence, a deep longitudinal furrow extending from base to apex, interrupted at tip of enclosed triangular space by a deep fovea, the oblique lateral furrows enclosing the triangular space foveolate; wings fuliginous-brown, iridescent; second recurrent 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. IO/ nervure received by the second submarginal cell before its apex ; line on anterior orbits, apical margin of scutellum, tarsi, and ring- on apical margin of basal segment, yellowish; remaining seg- ments of abdomen black. Length .55-. 60 inch. Two specimens, Florida. Collected by Charles W. Johnson, of the Wagner Institution, Philadelphia. This species resembles somewhat H. Smithii Cress. , from Illi- nois, but the wings are darker, the second recurrent nervure is not confluent with the second transverse cubital nervure and the basal segment with the largest portion of it brownish. Philanthus eurynome n. sp. 5 . — Black, shining, deeply, but not closely punctured; vertex, cheeks, thorax on sides and beneath covered with pale pubes- cence; spot on anterior part of raised space between antennae, sides of face, narrowed to emargination of the eyes; mandibles, except tip, scape, elongate spot beneath anterior wings, tegulae, postscutellum, large lateral spots on second segment, elongate spots on third and fourth, the latter with two elongate marks on apical margin yellow; first three joints of flagellum entirely and the remaining joints beneath, raised space between antennae ba- sally, broad band on occiput extending down to the centre of the cheeks, line, on collar, scutellum, first segment, except ex- treme base, above and beneath, second segment above and apical margins of all the segments dark reddish brown; the first dorsal segment with a deep, black, transverse furrow before its apical margin, the second having a black line before its apical margin; metathorax with a deep furrow extending from base to centre, where it is interrupted, the furrow continuing from a deep tovea and extending almost to the apex; wings yellowish hyaline, with darker apical margins, slightly iridescent, nervures and stigma yellowish brown, first recurrent nervure received by the second submarginal cell at the middle, the second received by the third submarginal cell a little beyond the base; legs brownish, a spot in front and on tips of anterior femora, base of anterior tibiae and medial tibiae in front and at base yellow. Length .57 inch. One specimen. Collected by Mr. C. \V. Johnson, in Florida. Coelioxys dolichos n. sp. 9. — Black, shining; head and thorax sparsely punctured; sides of the face, cheeks, thorax beneath, metathorax, legs, basal io8 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [September, and apical margins of first segment and apical margin of the second, third and fourth segments with pale pubescence; tegulae impunctured; prothorax produced into a tooth laterally; scutellum produced out over the metathorax in a sharp angle, the lateral teeth long, not acute, the disc of scutellum smooth, shining, im- punctured; basal third of wings hyaline, the remaining two-thirds fuscous, slightly iridescent; first recurrent nervure received by the second submarginal cell beyond its base, the second recur- rent nervure received by it before its apex; spines of the tibiae and the tarsi slightly brownish; abdomen sparsely punctured, more closely so on the sides, basal and apical margins of the seg- ments, basal segment concave in front, a distinct carina, beginning at the base of the second dorsal segment and extending to apex, the carina very strongly marked on apical half of last segment, the latter excavated on each side of the carina, compressed before its apex, beneath also carinated, the carina extending out into a point, which is plainly seen from above, the segments beneath with a well marked impunctured apical margin. Length .55 inch. One specimen, Collected by Charles W. Johnson, in Florida. This species can at once be distinguished by the carina on the dorsal segments of abdomen. -o- SOME EXPERIENCES IN LARV£ REARING. BY ROBERT BUNKER. If one wishes to gain a knowledge of the life history of a spe- cies, it is absolutely necessary to begin with the egg and follow it carefully through the different stages to the imago; and not only one season should be devoted to it, but the same species should be reared several years in succession in order to learn all the varieties of color ornamentation and deviations from the typical form. Such a course would be to the student or beginner like the turning of the kaleidoscope, every turn would bring to view some new variety, some new form, some new feature he had not seen before; and occasionally a veritable monstrosity would come to the front and startle him by its unique appearance. There are other advantages to be gained by rearing moths and butterflies from eggs, you get rid of that bane of the collector — the insidious parasite. One also stands a far better chance of getting rare spe- 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. IOQ cies, and we may add more perfect ones than by hunting up the images. I began rearing moths from eggs many years ago, but confined myself to eggs of foreign silk moths which I could ob- tain in no other way. Fortunately, a few years ago I iound a female Smerinthus nwdcstus on the Lombardy Poplar, she laid quite a number of eggs, from which I reared moths and wrote a description of their life history, which was published in the " Canadian Entomologist" at the time, so it is not necessary to re-write it now, but will mention one characteristic I have not noticed in any other species. While feeding, most larva clasp the leaf with their prolegs and manipulate with the mouth and true legs, the body being on a line with the edge of the leaf, but this species, while feeding, rests with its body stretched out at right angles to the edge of the leaf, and by reaching over and turning the head so as to face the edge of the leaf, feeds without inconvenience and as the leaf is eaten away moves up and down laterally. I was curious to know what the result would be when the leaf was eaten, so that there was no standing room, but the difficulty was overcome by abandoning the leaf when half eaten for a fresh one. A larva that has been attacked by pararsites may sometimes be resuscitated. On one occasion I found a half grown larva of Thyreus Abboti on the grape vine, and on the sides of the thorax were half a score or more of eggs; they had hatched out and the young worms had entered the body of their victim, but as the shells of the eggs had been recently broken I thought I would try the effect of chloroform upon the larva, so procuring a feather I swabed the parts thoroughly. Now, it is well known that this species and Deidamia inscripta are very sensitive to the touch, and will wriggle around in a vicious manner if touched with a straw or the tip of the finger, but when I applied the chloroform its contortions were violent, a regular cyclone; so violent were its movements that it would throw itself up clear from the earth at the bottom of the cage, and I began to fear the cage itself was in danger of being wrecked. It finally subsided and appeared to be dead. Two hours later, on looking into the cage, I found my sick patient had rallied and was crawling slowly about. I gave it another big dose, and after placing some fresh grape leaves in the cage, left it for the night. The next morning, to my surprise, it had fully recovered, and was apparently as well as ever, and no ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [September, was partaking of the aliment set before it in a very satisfactory manner. After the harsh treatment it had received it began to feed regularly, and in two weeks got its growth, buried itself, and came out a perfect moth the following June. (To be continued.) Notes and. Ne\vs. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit, and will thankfully receive items of news, likely to interest its readers, from any source. The author's name will be given in each case for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] In the future all papers received for publication in the News -will be printed according to date of reception. IN accordance with the notice on second page of cover, no numbers of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS were published in July and August, as every one is interested in collecting, and it is also the time when people take their vacation, the editior and advisory committee included. This is inserted for those who were looking for the NEWS during the last two months. A SPECIMEN of Papilio palainedes was captured in Philadelphia this Summer, it was bright and fresh. Virginia is the northermost point given in the catalogues. A SWARM of butterflies halted near Placervifle, Cal., the other day, and for a time "they were so thick about the springs and moist places that teamsters couldn't see their leaders." HEMIPTEKOLOGISTS will be interested to know that I took many speci- mens of both sexes of the winged form of JMetrobates hesperins Uhl. on the Tennessee River at Knoxville, Tenn., June isth. Hitherto, I believe, the winged form of this species has been found only in the West Indies. Prof. H. E. SUMMERS. MR. \V. F. KIRBY, author of " A Synonymic Catalogue of Diurnal Lepidoptera," will publish, shortly with Messrs. Gurney <.t Jackson, "A Synonymic Catalogue of Neuroptera Odonata, ' ' or Dragonflies. He hopes to bring out afterwards the first volume of his " Catalogue of Lepicloptera- Heterocera, " a work which has engaged his attention for nearly twenty years. As TO FLIES. — So you want to know where the flies come from, do you, Lucullus? Well, the cyclone makes the house fly, the blacksmith makes the fire fly, the carpenter makes the saw fly, the driver makes the horse fly, the grocer makes the sand fly, the boarder makes the butter fly, and if that is not enough for you you will have to pursue your future studies in entomology alone. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. Ill PROF. ANGELO HEILPRIN found two species of butterflies buried in the snow on the glacier he discovered on the volcano of Ixtaccihuatl in Mexico. There was a snow storm the previous night and the butterflies were evi- dently blown up to this height (15,500 feet). The species were Colias c&sonia and Terias sp. The specimen of Terias was in too bad a con- dition to identify. MR. PHILIP LAURENT found Pamphila panoquin fresh and bright on June 29th, at Anglesea, N. J. He succeeded in getting the eggs, but the larvce would not feed on ordinary grass. There is another brood on the Atlantic coast which appears about August 22d, having been found at this time at Cape May, N. J., by Dr. Skinner. The food-plant is supposed to be marsh grass which grows in the salt meadows. THE FIELD MEETING AT JAMESBURG, N. J. — A field meeting of the en- tomological societies of Brooklyn, Newark and Philadelphia, was held on July 4th at Jamesburg, N. J. The societies represented were the Feldman Collecting Club, American Entomological Society and Entomological Sec- tion of the Academy of Natural Sciences from Philadelphia, and the En- tomological Societies of Brooklyn and Newark. Jamesburg is situated in the Cranberry bog region of New Jersey, and is a very interesting locality entomologically. The headquarters of the meet was a very pretty grove, from which the members spread out in various directions in search of bugs. The object of the meeting was the fostering of scientific and social inter- course among the entomologists of the three cities. The Feldman Col- lecting Club was represented by Messrs. J. H. B. Bland (President), Wenzel, Dr. Castle, Laurent, E. Wenzel, Boerner, Hoyer, Schmitz and Tresher, and the American Entomological Society and Entomological Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences by Mr. 1. C. Martindale, Dr. G. H. Horn and Dr. H. Skinner; Brooklyn, by Messrs. Meeske, Leng, Davis, Dietz, Harbeck, Merkel, Beyer, Smith and Banks; Newark, by Messrs. Machesney, Stortz, Angelman, LoefHer, Hess, Leib and Crane. After collecting for a couple of hours a luncheon was served in the grove and a photograph taken of the party. A meeting was then called to or- ganize permanently. Dr. George H. Horn, President of the American Entomological Society and Professor of Entomology in the University of Pennsylvania, was chosen chairman. The chair nominated the following committee to confer with their respective societies in regard to the advisa- bility of holding an annual meet and to select the time and place. Mr. H. W. Wenzel, of the Feldman Collecting Club; Professor J. B. Smith, State Entomologist of New Jersey and Professor of Natural History in Rutgers College, for the Brooklyn Society; Mr. Machesney, of Newark, and Dr. Henry Skinner, Curator of the American Entomological Society of Philadelphia. Altogether, a very pleasant day was spent and the first meeting was a grand success. ii2 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [September, Identification of Insects (Jmagos) for Subscribers. Specimens will be named under the following conditions : ist, The number of speci- mens to be limited to twelve (12) for each sending ; 2d, The sender to pay all expenses of transportation and the insects to become the property of the American Entomological Society; 3d, Each specimen must have a number attached so that the identification may be announced accordingly. Such identifications as can be given will be published, accord- ing to number, in the issues of the NEWS. Address packages to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, Academy Natural Sciences', Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pa. W. M. HILL. — i., Sphcnophorus ij-punctatns; 2, Hister interrnptits; 3, Elater rnbricollis; 4, Gastrophysa cyanca; 5, Chrysopila thoracica; 6, Langnria inozardi; 7, Megilla macnlata; 8, Chlcenius cestii'its; 9, Lcbia grandis; 10, n, Chauliangnathusmarginatus; 12, Chalceniustormentosus. \\ . LOEWENSTEIN, JR. — i, Passci/iis conuitiis; 2, Necrophorus ameri- canns; 3, Calosouia U'illcoxi; 4, Nyctobates pennsylvanicus; 5, Rlegalo- dacne fasciafa; 6, Tenebriotenebrioid.es; 7, Cucujus clavipes; 8, Catogenus nifns; 9, Chaltznius solitarius; 10, Harpalus caliginosits; n, Diplochila major; 12, Dica*lits elongatus. Entomological Literature. BULLETIN FROM THE LABRATORIES OF NATURAL HISTORY OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOVYA contains: A Monograph of the Pselaphidse oi North America, by E. Brendel, M.D., and H. F. Wickham, vol. i, Nos. 3 and 4, June, 1890; 88 pages and 4 plates, 77 figs. Such works as these are very important, and greatly facilitate study. The authors say: " In preparing this monograph we hope to aid students of this large and inter- esting family, by sufficiently minute descriptions and synoptical tables, to recognize any species known to the fauna of the United States and British America, and to see the affinities of American species to the members of this family in other lands." CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD A MONOGRAPH OF THE NOCTUID^E OF TEM- PERATE NORTH AMERICA. — Revision of some Taeniocampid Genera In- form B. Smith. From Proc. U. S. National Museum vol. xii, pp. 455-496. A comparative table of genera is given, and the genera and species de- scribed. Two plates and two figs, are given, showing the genital structure of the TjENIOCAMPIN^E. PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY, vol. xxiv, p. 482. The Life-history of Drepana arcuala, with remarks on cer- tain structural features of the larva and on the supposed dimorphism of Drepana arcnata and Dryopteris rosea by Alpheus S. Packard. BULLETIN AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION OF NEBRASKA, vol. iii, art. 2. Insects Injurious to Young Trees on Tree Claims, by Lawrence Bruner, pp. 141. This essay is largely illustrated, and gives a history of the more important insects injurious to trees. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 113 TRANSACTIONS KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, vol. xiii, pt. i, 1889, p. 15. Note on the Oviposition of a Wood Borer ( Tragidion fitlripc tine) by Prof. E. A. Popenoe, p. 34. Experiments for the Artificial Dissemination of a Contagious Disease among Chinch-bugs, by Prof. F. H. Snow. Some Notes on the MALLOPHAGA by Vernon L. Kellogg. PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW, vol. ii, pt. 2. Parthenogenesis in HYMEXOPTERA by P. Cameron. A Contribution towards a Neuropterous Fauna of Ireland by James J. F. X. King. MARYLAND ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 1890, pp. 73-88. Observations of North American CAPSID^E, with descriptions of new species, by P. R. Uhler. Ectopioccrus, new genus; E. anthracinus, n. sp.; Teleorhinus, new genus; T. cyaneus, n. sp.; Closterocoris, new genus; C. oruata, n. sp.; Coquillettia, new genus; C. insignis, n. sp.; Xenctits regalis, n. sp.; X. sciitellatns, n. sp.; Rhinocaspis, new genus; R. Van Duzeii, n. sp.; JWinioceps, new genus; J/. insignis, n. sp.; J/. gracilis, n. sp.; Jlfacroty- lus r eg alls, n. sp.; M. tristis, n. sp.; M. vestitus, n. sp. ICONES ORNITHOPTERORUM. — A Monograph of the Rhopalocerous Genus Ornithoptera, pt. 2. This contains figures, descriptions, etc., of O. richuiondia, O. Platcni and Brookcana. We regret to see this subgenus cut up into subgenera. When in time we have a genus for every species we can conveniently drop generic names. THE ENTOMOLOGIST, London, July, 1890.— COLEOPTERA collected by Mr. Pratt on the Upper Yang-Tsze, and on the borders of Tibet, by H. W. Bates. Descriptions of new species of PHYTOPHAGOUS COLEOPTKKA received from Chang-Yang, China, by Martin Jacoby. Contributions to the Chemistry of Insect Colors, by F. H. Perry Coste. Two days' col- lecting in Normandy, by John Henry Leech. Contributions to the Ento- mology of the Portsmouth District, by W. T. Pearce. A successful Moth- trap, by W. M. Christy. Entomological Notes, Captures, etc. Doings of Societies. BULLETIN OF THE OHIO AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, vol. i, No. i, 1889. — Preparatory Stages of the 2o-spotted Lady bird. Studies in Pond Life, ist, On the Life-history of Arzaitia obliquata; 2d, On the Life-history of Chauliodes rastricoriiis; 3d; On the Life-history of Listro- notus latiiisculiis; 4th, On the Feeding-habits of Zaitha flumiiiea; 5th, On the Feeding-habits of Notonecta undulata; 6th, On Aquatic Leaf beetle (Donacia subtilis}; yth, An Aquatic Lady-bird (Hippodainia ij-piinctata}; 8th, On the Eggs of the Giant Water Bugs (Belostoina anicricaiiuin and Benacus griseus). A Partial Bibliography of Insects Affecting Clover, by Clarence M. Weed. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, pt. 4, 1889.— On new Indian LEPIDOPTERA, chiefly HETEROCERA, by Col. C. Swinhoe. On the LEPIDOPTERA of Japan and Corea. — Part 3, HETEROCERA, Sect. 2, Noctues and Deltoides, by J. H. Leech. ii4 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [September, TRANSACTIONS, PROCEEDINGS AND REPORT OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, vol. xii, for 1888-89. Description of a new genus and species (Hectoria pontoni] of Locustidas, by J. G. O. Tepper. Further Notes on Australian COLEOPTERA, with descriptions of New Species, by Rev. T. Blackburn. ENTOMOLOGISCHE NACHRICHTEN, vol. xvi, 10, May, 1890. — Studies on Ichneumonidse,* by Dr. Kriechbaumer; Isclinogaster n. gen. NATURALISTE CANADIEN, May, 1890. — HEMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA of Quebec; Fam. Tettigonidae, with i plate and Additions and Corrections; Deltocephalus supcrbus, D. chlainidatus, Thyphlocyba nnica n. sp. NATURALISTE CANADIEN, June, 1890, gives a list of insects from the Madeleine Isles, including the following new species: Ana.v inarifiiniis (no description), Ichneumon magdalensis, Glypta tricincta, Eubadizon basilare. COMPTES-EENDUS DES SEANCES DE LA SOCIETE ENTOMOLOGIQUE DE BELGIQUE, April 5, 1890. — Ethiopian Rhynchota,* by W. L. Distant. Sandehana n. gen. COMPTE RENDU, SOCIETE ENTOMOLOGIQUE DE BELGIQUE, June 7, 1890. — Aenictus-Typhlatta, discovered by M. Wroughton, New Genera of Formicidie,* by A. Forel. New genera: Hitbcria (type striata Smith), Triglyphoth'rix (type T. Walshi n. sp.), Trigonogaster (type T. rccnrvi- spinosus n. sp.), Enieiyia (type E. Wronghtonii n. sp.), Ophthahnopone {type O. Berthoudi n. sp.). The new species are from India and South Africa. SPECIES DES HYMENOPTERES D' EUROPE ET D'ALGERIE, E. Andre, 366 fascicule, July i, 1890, pp. 493-572, of vol. iv, 4 pis. Treats of the genera Microplitis, Microgaster, Elasmosoma and Agathis. TIJDSCHRIFT VOOR ENTOMOLOGiE (Hague), xxxii, 3d AH., 1889. — The spiral muscle and the vesicle of the palpi of male spiders, by A. \V. M. Van Hasselt, 2 plates. Systematic and Synonymic Catalogue of the Neu- roptcra observed in the Low Countries and their borders, by H. Albarda. Some notes on Cidaria and other Lepidoptera, by P. C. T. Snellen. ANNALES DE SCIENCES NATURELLES, 586 Annee, Ylle Serie, ix, i.— Memoir on the venom and sting of the Bee, by Dr. G. Carlet, i pi. Zo- ological and anatomical monograph of the genus Prosopistoma Latr., by A. Vayssiere, i plate. ARCHIV FUR MIKROSKOPISCHE ANATOMIE xxxv, heft 2. — The Develop- ment of the Wall Bee (Chalicodoina miiraria Fabr. ) in the Egg, by J. Carriere, 2 plates. ME'MOIRES DE LA SOCIETE ROYALE DES SCIENCES DE LIEGE, Series 2, xvi, April 1890. — Alphabetical Repertory of the specific names admitted or proposed in the subfamily Libellulinae, with bibliographic, iconographic and geographic references, by A. P. de Borre. * Contains new species other than North American. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 115 A NE\V METHOD of rearing the Silk Worm (Bombyx nwri L.) on a herbaceous plant, by Dr. C. O. Harz, Stuttgart, 1890. The plant is Scor- zonera hispanica L. Doings of Societies. PHILADELPHIA, MAY 22, 1890. — A regular meeting of the Entomological Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences was held at the Hall S. \Y. cor. i gth and Race Streets. Meeting called to order at 8.20 o'clock. Mr. Martindale in the chair. Members present: Ridings, Cresson and Skinner. Associates: Calvert, Fox, Westcott, Seeber, Castle and Welles. Mr. Calvert stated that he had recently caught a male specimen of Anoinal- n^rion hastatum Say, for which species he had been on the lookout for three Summers. It can readily be distinguished from all others by the anomalous shape of the pterostigma of the anterior wing, which is also separated from the anterior margin. The specimen was caught in Dela- ware County, Pa. Mr. Seeber exhibited specimens of the rare and pretty beetle, Buprcsfis nltrainarina, which he had found near Red Bank, N. J.; also a specimen of Belostoma auiericaniun. Mr. Martindale called at- tention to some cocoons of Callosomia promethia, which were found on Wild Cherry, and which were peculiar and interesting on account of their very small size. The cocoons had disclosed a pair of moths which were about one-third smaller than normal specimens. He discussed their pos- sible relation to angit/ifera, and the full sized form of the species. Mr. Welles spoke of the habits of allied species in regard to the spinning of cocoons. Dr. Skinner described a caterpillar (unknown species) collected by Mrs. J. P. Ballard, at Easton, Pa. Mr. Blake thought it might be Ceratomia amyntor. JUNE 9, 1890. — Meeting called to order at 8.30 o'clock. Director Dr. G. H. Horn presiding. Members present: Martindale, Laurent, Ridings and Skinner. Associates: Calvert, Liebeck, Fox, Castle and Haimbach. The reports of the joint publication and the executive committees were read and received. The committee reported favorably on papers Nos. 237 and 238. Donations to the Library were read. Verbal communications being in order, Dr. Horn stated that he had lately been engaged on a study of the EUC.NEMI.X.K of Mexico and southward, the results of which were to be published in the " Biologia Centrali Americana." They are very rare, and usually but few species represented in collections. Being so rare and difficult to study, very few have attempted it. He remarked, in addition, that he had twenty-four types of Bonvouloir and all but three or four of the forty-two species known, which latter number would probably be doubled. The meeting adjourned to meet on the fourth Thursday in September. HENRY SKINNER, Recorder. n6 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [September. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. — April 3, 1890. Mr. B. E. Fernow was elected an active member of the Society. Mr. Fox read a paper on a small group of spiders forming the subgenus Ceratinella of the genus Erigone. The subgenus includes about seven- teen species distinguished by the presence of a shield on the abdomen. All the specimens were collected east of the Alleghenies by Messrs. Marx and Fox, and were found fully developed at all seasons of the year. The paper was illustrated with drawings, and a collection of the spiders was shown. Discussion followed by Messrs. Marx and Fox. Mr. Schwarz read a paper entitled " Labeling Specimens," in which he described the systems of labeling employed in the case of entomological collections; dealing particularly with the systematic collection of the spe- cialist. The various labels employed were described, and examples of some of them were shown. The paper called forth considerable discussion, which was participated in by Messrs. Riley, Mann, Schwarz, Marx and Fox. MAY i, 1890. — The committee having in charge the preparation for pub- lication of a list of the insect fauna of the District of Columbia, made a partial report, which was discussed at length. The name of Mr. Townsend was added to the sub-committee on Dip- tera, and that of Mr. Marlatt to the sub-committee on Hymenoptera. A revision of the sub-committees will be made at the next meeting. Mr. Townsend read a list of eighty-seven species of Heteroptera col- lected by him in southern Michigan, with some brief notes and dates of occurrence. One species, Corinielfcna tiitiduloides Wolff, was taken in a nest of Formica schaiifitssi Mayr. Mr. Townsend also presented a paper on '' Some Insects affecting cer- tain Forest Trees, mostly from Michigan," recording towards a hundred Coleoptera and a few of other orders, affecting either the foliage or the sound or decaying trunks of Oak, Hickory, Elm, Beech, Linden, Butter- nut, Ironwood (Carpinns], Willow, Hazel, etc. These papers were discussed by Messrs. Schwarz and Riley. Mr. Dodge read a paper on Artificial Silk, describing the Count de Chardonnet's method as exhibited at the late Paris Exposition of making from cellulose a substance closely resembling silk. A detailed account of the process of manufacture was given and illustrated with a figure of the device for producing the thread, and a sample of the silk was ex- hibited. Discussions followed by Messrs. Philip Walker, Riley, Amory, Austin and others. Mr. Marx presented some "Arachnological notes," in which he discussed the comparative anatomy of the spinning glands of spiders. The relation of those to the external spinning organs or spinnerets, and the importance of both in classification were explained. Careful drawings of the parts discussed were shown. C. L. MARLATT, Rcc a i -ding SCOT fa ry. ENTOMOLOGICAL XE\VS for June was mailed May 27, ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION, ACADEMY NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. i. OCTOBER, 1890. No. 8. CONTENTS: Bunker — Some experiences in Larvae ] Martindale — A new form of Cabinet 126 Rearing 117 Blake — Collecting in Pennsylvania 127 P. P. C. — Elementary Entomology 119 ! Notes and News 128 Goding — A new Apple Pest 123 Entomological Literature 131 Ballard— What can it be? 124 Doings of Societies 135 SOME EXPERIENCES IN LARVAE REARING. BY ROBERT BUNKER. (Continued from page no, vol. i.) Occasionally we find a rare larva that has been stung by some saucy ichneumon fly, and if we can save it in the manner de- scribed on page 109, it will certainly be a great gain. Of course it must be done within a few days after the young worms have entered the body of their host, or it will be of no use. The in- ference to be drawn from this kind of treatment is that the chlo- roform penetrated the body of the larva and destroyed the young- parasites, but was not in sufficient quantity to injure the larva. Can the pupa of Darapsa versicolor remain under water two weeks without injury ? The past two years I have bred this fine species from eggs found on the button bush ( CephalantJnis occi- dentalis) and last year's catch of eggs was a surprise to me, be- cause the low ground where the bushes grow was submerged for two weeks, and of course the pupa must have been under water that length of time, and yet when the proper time came around I found eggs. Some may say the eggs may have been laid by females that came from a distance, but that could hardly be, as the nearest bushes are six miles distant. Mr. Hulst has written Il8 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [October, up the life-history of this species, so I will only add that the larva vary from a maroon-brown to a light green, are very domestic in their habits and extremely interesting. Darapsa chhvrilns dif- fers from the foregoing in depositing its eggs. They are some- times laid singly and sometimes en-masse, I once found twenty- two in a cluster on the Azalea {Azalea nudiflord). Smerinthus myops varies principally in the number and color of the sub-dorsal spots; some have eight, four on each side, some six, more often four, and not unfrequently two, and one specimen, a regular unique, had but one spot, and that was situated on the right side of third segment. But the climax of all was a brood of nine I raised two years ago, which were destitute of spots. I examined them very carefully, and not a vestige of a spot could be seen. These immaculate specimens were light green without the bluish tinge characteristic of most of them. The diagonal lateral lines were very indistinct. When this unique group came out winged flies I found the sexes about equally divided, and was in hopes to get a pairing and thereby ascertain whether the larva would inherit the characteristics of their progenitors, but I failed. Another characteristic of all I have bred so far is the spots were cardinal or shumach-red, instead of rust-red. In most cases the larvae of a species varies far more than the imago, but in Smerinthus geminatus the reverse seems to be the order of things, and no doubt the food-plant has something to do with it; the eggs are found on willow and on poplar. The eggs found on poplar are larger than those found on willow; the imago is proportionally larger, the shading much deeper, and on the whole a much finer insect than the willow feeders. Many more instances of marked varieties might be mentioned, but this paper is now longer than was at first intended, and I will close by a few remarks on the larva of Smerinthns astyhis. Last Summer, after four hours' search on the high bush huckleberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum) I found a young worm, half an inch long, of a bright green color. It moulted three times, but supposing the species had been described, I did not make a description of it till after the last moult, which runs as follows: Larva bright green, 2^ inch, long, 3/g inch, diameter, uniform in size, with seven, oblique, lateral, red lines, margined with yellow on the under side; caudal horn black, base greenish yellow, nearly straight and smooth. Head with a pea-green stripe on the side; under side below the stigmatal spots sea-green, thickly studded l8gO.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 1 19 with very small, blue-black rings, extending the entire length of the body, and covering the upper as well as the lower part of the thorax; spiracles red. It will be seen by the foregoing that my description differs very materially from that of Mr. Jones, and is either a marked variety or a distinct species. o ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY. Fourth Paper — THE MOVABLE PARTS OF THE HEAD. The antennae or feelers, are jointed appendages inserted on the epicranium between or in front of the eyes. Regular antennae have the joints of similar shape; irregular antennae have the joints of dissimilar shape; intermediate forms of antennae of course occur. Technical names are applied to the different forms of antennae. Of regular antennae the more common forms are: Filiform (thread like), having the joints of uniform thickness, or nearly so. Seliform or setaceous (bristle like), having the joints succes- sively more and more slender from the base* of the antenna to its apex. Subulate (awl shaped), similar to setaceous, but the transition from the thick basal joints to the slender joints is more abrupt. Moniliform (necklace like) having the joints globular. Serrate (saw like), having the joints triangular, arranged like the teeth of a saw. Pectinate (comb like), each joint having a long process or pro- jection on one side, the whole arranged like the teeth of a comb (%. 2). Pinnate (feather like), each joint having one or more projections on each of two opposite sides, the whole looking like a feather. Of irregular antennae, the more common are: Clavate (club shaped), having the apical joints somewhat more enlarged than the others. Capitate (with a head, knobbed), having the Fig. 2. Part of a / \ . . S pectinate antenna terminal (apical) joints greatly enlarged to form (Chant 'iodes pectini- cornis L.). a kllOb. * The base of any limb or appendage is that part by which it is attached, directly or indirectly, to the trunk, the apex is the opposite end, farthest from the trunk. I2O ENTOMOLOGICAL N7EWS. [October, Lamellate (plate like), having the terminal joints extended on one side into broad plates (figs. 3 and 4). An irregular antenna may often be divi- Fig. 4. A lam- ded into por- tions of a va- rying number of joints. Fig. 3. A lamel- late antenna (Pleo- ellate antenna coma, Rickseckeri {Pleocoma. hir- Horn, male). ticollis Horn, female). d. e. a. Fig. 5. An irregular antenna T., of a Hymenopter. a, scape, followed by a small such an antenna as that shown in fig. 5 joint— the pedicel ; b\ ciavoia, the first or basal joint is the scape, the °f ten joints. second joint is the pedicel, all the remaining joints compose the clavola or flagellum. The clavola may itself consist of several portions (fig. 6); its apical joints may be enlarged to form the dub; its proximal* joints may be very short and small, and are then termed ring-joints; between the ring-joints and the club is \h&funicle. The mouth parts or trophi, differ to a very great extent in the various groups of insects, so much so that Fabricius, the celebrated entomolo- gist of the last century, founded his classification of insects almost entirely on the modifications of the trophi. These modifications result from the nature of the food. Many insects living on liquids, such as the nectar and honey of flowers, suck up those liquids through a tube or proboscis. Others, feeding on animal or vegetable solids require hard cutting parts to tear those solids in pieces. But however much these modifications existing in different insects may differ from each other, there is one general, typical form and arrangement of the mouth parts, to which all the modi- fications may be referred. This typical arrangement is as follows: The mouth opening is situated between the front edges of the clypeus above and the gula below. Attached to the lower (front) part of the clypeus is \he/abriun or upper lip (c, fig. if; d, fig- 7). To the fore part of the gula is attached the labium or lower lip * Proximal in treating of a limb or appendage refers to parts or joints nearest to the trunk as distinguished from distal, farthest from the trunk, t Page 104 of this volume of ENTOMOLOGICAL \K\VS. Fig. 6. Antenna of Chalcis fly. a, scape; b, pedicel; c, two ring- joints ; d, funicle of five joints ; e, club ; c, d and e together, form the clavola. i8go.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 121 Fig. 7. Typical arrangement of moutli parts. Under side of head of Tiger-beetle (Cicindela). a, gula ; t, />, gense ; c, c, compound eyes ; d, front margin of labrum ; e, e, e, labium ; f, mandible, showing four teeth; g, four-jointed maxillary pal- pus ; /;, two-jointed galea ; z", lacinia ; k, four-jointed labial palpus ; g, h and /, are all parts of the maxilla. (, stipes; c, paipifer; d, four-jointed maxillary palpus; e, sub- galea ;_/, two jointed ga- lea; g, lacinia; //, digitus. The suture between the subgalea and the lacinia is obliterated. The fig- ure gives the galea the appearance of being at- tached to the stipes ; its real attachment is to the subgalea, as stated in the text. 122 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [October, ing part of the maxilla and is often furnished with teeth or spines;" .sometimes it bears a terminal joint — the digitus. As often hap- pens in the case of other appendages, the sutures separating con- tiguous joints of the maxilla become obliterated and the joints unite. In such cases the maxilla appears to be composed of a less number of joints than here described. Careful comparative study alone will show where such obliterations and unions have taken place in any one insect. Unlike the labrum, the labium, or lower lip, is quite complex. It so much resembles the maxillae as to have received the name of second maxilla. The labium is to be regarded as a pair of appendages united to each other on the middle line of the body. A comparison of fig. 8 with the right side of fig. 9, will show the correspondence between a maxilla and half the labium, the homologous parts being lettered alike in the two figures. The basal joint of the labium is \\\esubmentum, which articulates with the gula; it is a single median piece and corresponds to the united cardos of the right and left maxillae. The second joint, also a single median piece is the mentum* corresponding to the united stipes of the right and left maxillae. At each outer apical angle of the mentum is the palpiger, the homologue of the palpifer. The palpiger bears the la- bial palpus, whose similarity to the maxillary palpus cannot be mistaken. The joint marked e in fig. 9 is apparently unnamed; it corresponds to the subgalea, and bears two lobes, an inner (g~) \he glossa, and an outer (_/) the paraglossa, corresponding to the laciniaand galea respectively. Excepting the submentum, men- tum and labial palpi, all the remaining parts of the labium con- stitute the Hgida. Few insects have the joints of the labium so distinct as the Black Cricket (fig. 9). Thus in the labium of the * Some confusion exists as to the use of the term incntinn. Ky some it is applied to the part described above as the submentum, in which case that described above as the mentum receives the name oUiypoglottis. We have followed Cotnstock and Packard in the text. Fig. 9. Ventral side of labium of Black Cricket (Gryllus). a, submentum ; b, b, mentum ; c, palpiger; d, three-jointed labial pal- pus ; e, (unnamed, = subgalea);/", two-jointed paraglossa ; g, glossa. The parts of the labium are here marked with the same letters as the corresponding parts in fig. 8. The inentum is one piece, but there is a line across it. The glossas are not two.jointed, as the figure might seem to show, what looks like a terminal joint is a thin, membranous portion. The suture between each palpiger and mentum obliterated. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 123 Tiger beetle (e, e, e, fig. 7) the sharp pointed middle piece (marked by the middle parapterOH. Their apteron ; z, sternum ; a, 6, c and d, _ _ _ taken together form the tergum ; position IS shown in fig. IO. The par- e, f and g, taken together form apteron in different groups of insects the pleurum. has also been called the tegula, scapula and patagium. The thoracic spiracles* pierce a small piece of the pleurum called the peritreme. Attached to the thorax are the organs of locomotion — the legs and the wings. The leg, or the foot of an insect, as it is indifferently called, consists of five parts, the coxa, trochanter, feimir, tibia and tarsus. The coxa, or hip joint, is the basal part, and is attached to its thoracic segment near the lateral border of the sternum, sometimes so firmly as to be im- movable. A small sclerite is sometimes found between the coxa and the epimeron, called the trochantin. The trochanter is between the coxa and the femur, or thigh. The fourth part is the tibia, or shank, and the terminal or fifth part is the tarsus, consisting of from one to six joints. Usually the leg of an insect is armed with spines, or clothed with hairs. The spines at the apex of the tibia are usually longer than the others, and receive the dis- tinctive name of tibial spines, or tibial spurs. The last joint of the tarsus bears one or two tarsal claws, nails, or unguiculi. On the ventral surface of the joints of the tarsus are often ' ' cushions of short hair or of membrane, capable of Fig. ii. Leg of an insect. a, coxa; />, trochanter; c, femur; d, tibia; e, tibial spurs ;_/", tarsus of five joints; g, tarsal nails. : See page 71 of this volume of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 142 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [November, inflation, or concave plates, which act so as to produce a vacuum and thus enable the insect to walk on the lower surface of objects (Comstock)." These cushions are termed pulvilli, or onychii. The pulvillus of the last joint very often projects so as to appear between the tarsal claws; it is the pulvillus. When, as sometimes is the case, the last tarsal joint has two pulvilli, one under each claw, there may be between them a third piece of similar structure —the empodium. The first pair of legs is directed forwards, the other two pairs backwards. The first pair of legs is sometimes aborted, in which case the second pair is directed forwards. The true, or thoracic legs, may or may not exist in the larva. When they do exist they are jointed. False, or abdominal legs, are found both in larvae and images, and will be referred to in treating of the abdomen. P. P. C. -o — ENTOMOLOGY AT LONGPORT, N. J. BY JOHN HAMILTON, M.D. Longport is on the southern end of the island on which Atlantic City is situate, from which it is distant about six miles. This part of the island is narrow, and the space between the ocean and the bay is a succession of sandhills without any extensive salt marshes. The sides of many of these dunes and intervening depressions support an interesting flora, much of which is strictly maritime, and blooms during this month, attracting several spe- cies of Lepidoptera and many beautiful Hymenoptera. The native species of Coleoptera are few in comparison with the num- ber on Brigantine Beach, where there are extensive salt meadows, and where I could have taken two hundred or more species with no more labor than was expended in collecting the forty-seven at Longport. The species not formerly taken at Brigantine, for which see Smith's Catalogue of the Insects of New Jersey — were Cicindela marginata Fab. , which was somewhat abundant among the sand-hills with repanda and hirticollis; two forms of Cercyon occurring together in great numbers in and under decaying sea- grass deposited on sandy places by the bay tide, one of which, on comparison with Swedish specimens, seems to be C. littoralc Gyll. , and the other apparently only differing by having the apex 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 143 of the elytra pale; Xantholinus pusillns Sachse, which greatly re- sembles an undescribed maritime species from Florida, but which, like emmesus, has only five punctures in the dorsal series of the thorax; and Geotrupes Horni Blanch., dug from holes under mushrooms on the main land. Several examples of Euphoria areata Fab. were taken on the wing among the sand-hills on the gth, loth and nth, but none afterward. The Lepidoptera and Orthoptera are the same as on Brigantine, but here seems to be a metropolis of the larger aculeate Hymen- optera — Apidse, Andrenidae, Vespidae, Sphecidae, etc., but not having studied this order much, I know few of the species.- In- spired with a sudden interest by reason of their great variety, activity and beauty, I collected them one sunny afternoon, and found I had twenty-seven species from one-half to two inches in length — a beautiful collection. Stung? Of course I got stung; in fact, I was stung, I think, at least once by every species col- lected, but the fascination of capturing such charming creatures is so great one does not greatly mind this after the first three or four stings, as the sensibility of the thumb and finger of the hand used in transferring them from the* net to the bottle becomes greatly obtused. The sensation produced by the sting of each species is mostly appreciatively different, so much so, that with a little experimenting, without seeing them, their differentiation might not be difficult. The sting of such species as use this organ merely defensively causes simply pain in varying degrees, while that of such as use it in addition in the capture of prey, produces, after the momentary pain of the thrust, a numbness more or less paralizing to the hand, and often lasting a whole day. To this class belongs the beautiful Mutilla occidentalis , whose sting is near half an inch in length, and the feeling it causes so painful and persistently benumbing that, I confess, I would not care to come in contact with it at close intervals. Unlike the honey bee, these insects never leave a sting in the wound, and the same individual can use this weapon any desired number of times, an accomplishment that might be of some prac- tical use in*case stinging should be adopted as a remedial meas- ure in Legitimate Medicine, as is quite possible. The honey bee has often been used by empirics with good results, it is claimed, in the treatment of rheumatism, neuralgia, forms of local paraly- sis and various diseases, and cases have lately been reported in 144 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [November, medical journals by legitimate practitioners to the same effect, but the honey bee might not be the most efficacious; in fact, each species may be possessed of a different potentiality and better adapted to the treatment of one disease than to that of another, which might be readily determined by a little empirical experi- menting, and quite probably the greatest remedial virtues would be found in the species producing numb and paralyzing effects. Treatment of this kind can best be conducted in a hospital, and as Hymenoptera of the most desirable species are abundant in many places on the coast and easily cultivated, the establishment there of an enkentric sanitarium is not a future improbability, and in connection with pure ocean air, hot or cold sea-water baths and other adjuvants, could scarcely be else than meritori- ously popular. -o- DESCRIPTION OF THE PREPARATORY STAGES OF DATANA CONTRACTA Walker. BY WM. BEUTENMULLER. EGG. — Same as that of Datana ministra Dr. Laid in masses of twenty-five to fifty, on the underside of leaf. YOUNG LARVA. — I have made no record of this stage. AFTER FIRST MOULT. — Head jet-black, shining, as is also the cervical shield. Body brown, with four very pale yellow stripes along each side and three beneath. Abdominal legs dull orange with darker bands. Thoracic feet and anal clasps and plates jet- black. AFTER SECOND MOULT. — Appearance yellow. Head same as in the previous moult. Body more reddish brown, also the cer- vical shield. The stripes are comparatively broad, the space between being somewhat narrower. The feet are also reddish brown, also the tips of the abdominal legs. AFTER THIRD MOULT. — Head and cervical shield jet-black, shining. Body color pitchy brown, covered sparsely with sordid white hairs. The stripes are now sordid white and equidistant, and as broad as the intervening spaces, except the dorsal space, which is the widest. Body beneath concolorous to the above, with the three stripes much narrower than the intervening spaces. On the 4th, 5th, loth and nth segments are two reddish brown 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 145 patches. Abdominal legs reddish brown with black corneous bands. Thoracic feet and anal clasp jet-black. Length 30 mm. AFTER FOURTH MOULT — Mature Larva. — The cervical shield now becomes orange-yellow and the stripes creamy-white, other- wise the same as in the previous stage. Length when full grown 55 mm- FOOD PLANTS. — Various species of Oaks {Quercus) Chestnut {Castania) and Hickory {Hickoria). Single brooded. Notes and. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit, and will thankfully receive items of news, likely to interest its readers, from any source. The author's name will be given in each case for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] In the future all papers received for publication in the News will be printed according to date of reception. NOTICE. — Those who wish to continue their subscriptions to Ento- mological News for the coming year, will please indicate their desire to the Treasurer (see second page of cover) before January ist, next. The price will be the same — One Dollar. \Ve hope to make volume 2 even better than i, and trust that our readers will do what they can to help us do so. — ED. THE following four species of Pompilidse were captured in the act of carrying off spiders during the last season, viz.: Pompilits cethiops Cr., digutfatus Fab., marginatus Say, Priocnemis pomiliiis Cr. — W. J. Fox. WE have received from Mr. Wiley, of Miles City, Mont., a fine photo- graph of what is supposed to be the larva of Coloradia pandora Blake. The caterpillar was found feeding on sage brush. Mr. Wiley describes it as follows: Mature larva. — Color all black, spines shiny and sting the hand like Hyperchiria io. Pupa somewhat resembles io, but smaller, and not so robust. Pupa nearly black. Pupa rotted. THE second annual meeting of the Association of Official Economic Entomologists will be held at the University Buildings, Champaign, 111., November nth to isth, proximo, at the same time and place as the meet- ing of the Association of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations. The committee on Entomology of the latter association will meet at the same time. Members expecting to attend will confer a favor upon the officers if they will announce the fact, and will send titles of papers to be read, or topics they desire discussed, to the Secretary. All are earnestly urged to be present if possible. — J. B. SMITH, Sec., New Brunswick, X. J. 146 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [November, ALLOW me to call your attention to an error which appeared in ENTO- MOLOGICAL NEWS for May, and which I think is worth correcting. The Erebia which Mr. J. D. Evans collected at Sudbury, in 1889, was not epip- sodea, but discoidalis, a much rarer species, and hitherto only taken many degrees further North. Mr. Evans took five specimens in all, and all on the same day, and one or two were also taken by Dr. E. D. Peters, Jr. I have recently heard from Mr. Evans in reference to his collecting during the past season, but no specimens of this interesting species were obtained there this year. H. H. LYMAN. 1 DESIRE to state in regard to my own observations of the cocoons of Callosomia angulifera, that during the Winter of 1889-90, I collected, on the Catawissa Mountain at an altitude of 1800 feet, 77 cocoons of what I supposed to be C. proniethea, all of which were suspended on Sassafras and Wild Cherry by a silken cord covering the foot-stalk of the leaf and firmly attached to the twig. Of these 12 did not hatch; from 29 there emerged ichneumon parasites, and from the remaining 36 I succeeded in obtaining 27 promethea and 9 angiilifera, all females.' I never looked for or found a cocoon of angulifera on the ground. STEPHEN BALDV, Catawissa, Pa. DRAGONFLIES CONGREGATING AT NIGHT.— Prof. D. S. Kellicott, of the Ohio State University, Columbus, O., writes, in a letter of Sept. 16, 1890, " In your observations of Dragonflies, have you found them congregating at night? In July last I met, several times, with an interesting case. Hetcsrina americana, as I suppose, I have not compared the descriptions of Walsh's species, along the Shiawassee 'River, Michigan, gathers in great numbers on plants overhanging the river. I often gathered from twenty to thirty by one sweep of the net. Sexes mingled, males more numerous." (with Prof. Kellicott's permission. — P. P. C.) EDWARD BAMBRICK, 32 years, of Lagrange, near Bustleton, died on Wednesday, of blood poisoning, caused by the bite of a green caterpillar, Nearly a fortnight ago Bambrick told Policeman Ashton, of Bustleton, that he had been bitten on the neck by a green caterpillar as he lay on the grass in front of his own home. The creature inflicted what seemed an insignificant puncture, which bled freely. He did not heed the wound until some time after, when Dr. Beyer was called in. Medical skill failed to overcome the poison, and the patient died. — Philadelphia Press. ANY other irritant would have acted in the same way, the fault was in the individual. — ED. OBITUARY. PETER MAASEN, of Elberfield and Dusseldorf, died on August 2d, in his eightieth year. Mr. Maasen was well known through his writings on Saturnidae, of which he made a specialty. Mr. C. G. HALL died September 3d, at Bucland, Dover, England. WE have received notice of the death of Mr. C. Zeiller, of Regensberg, Bavaria. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 147 Identification of Insects (Jmagos) for Subscribers. Specimens will be named under the following conditions: ist, The number of speci- mens to be limited to twelve (12) for each sending ; 2d, The sender to pay all expenses of transportation and the insects to become the property of the American Entomological Society; 3d, Each specimen must have a number attached so that the identification may be announced accordingly. Such identifications as can be given will be published, accord- ing to number, in the issues of the NEWS. Address packages to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, Academy Natural Sciences, Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pa. EDritorriological Literature. JOURNAL OF THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL, vol. xix, part 2, 1890. — Suppl. No. i, Catalogue of the Insecta of the Oriental Region. No. 2, Family Carabidse, E. T. Atkinson. PROCEEDINGS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, vol. iv, pt. 3d. — Rhopalocera from Mt. Kosciusko, New South Wales, by A. Sidney Oliff. New species of Lampyridse, including a notice of the Mt. \Vilson Fire-fly, by A. Sidney Oliff. Further notes on Australian COLE- OPTERA, with descriptions of new genera and species, pt. 4, by Rev. T. Blackburn. DIPTERA, pt. 7, the Tipulidae brevipalpi, by Fred. A. A. Skuse, vol. iv, pt. 4th. A revision of the Australian species of Euploea, with synonymic notes and descriptions of new species, by W. H. Meskin. On Queensland and other Australian MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA, with localities and descriptions of new species, by Thomas P. Lucas. Descriptions of additional Australian Pyralidina, by E. Meyrick. Revision of Australian LEPIDOPTERA, pt. 3, by E. Meyrick. Revision of the genus Heteronyx, with descriptions of new species, by Rev. T. Blackburn. Notes on Aus- tralian COLEOPTERA, with descriptions of new species, pt. 4, by Rev. T. Blackburn. Studies in Australian Entomology — No. 2, Six new species of Carabidae, by Thomas G. Sloane. ANNALS AND MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY, vol. vi, No. 33. — Notes on Longicorn COLEOPTERA of the group Cerambycidae, with descriptions of new genera and species, by Charles J. Gahan. Descriptions of new species of African Lycaenidse, chiefly from the collections of Dr. Staud- inger and Henley Grose Smith, by W. F. Kirby. THE APPLE MAGGOT, Trypeta pomonella. — A consideration of the lit- erature, history, distribution, transformation, life-history and habits of this insect; also remedies. The results of investigations made in 1888-89, by F. L. Harvey, M. S. This interesting paper is fully illustrated by four plates, with a number of figures. NEW TYPES OF COCKROACHES FROM THE CARBONIFEROUS DEPOSITS OF THE U. S. — New carboniferous Myriapoda from Illinois. Illustrations of the carboniferous Arachnida of North America, of the orders Anthra- comarti and Pedipalpi. The insects of the Triassic beds at Fairplay, 148 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [November, Col., from Memoirs Boston Society Natural History, by S. H. Scudder, 72 pages and 12 fine plates ; new genera and species are described. THE ENTOMOLOGIST, October, 1890. — Additions to the British list of Deltoids, Pyralides, Crambi, since 1859 (with plates), by Richard South. Abundance of LEPIDOPTERA in New Zealand, by \Y. \Y. Smith. Notes on Teniocampa opiina, byj. Arkle. Contributions to the chemistry of insect colors, by F. H. Perry Coste. The \Yestman Islands, by Rev. Dr. F. A. \Yalker. The alteration of the name of Indian Geometrid Moth, by A. G. Butler. Entomological papers in Continental Periodicals, by \Y. \Yarren. Entomological notes, captures, etc. Doings of Societies, Reviews. THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE, October, 1890. — Classifi- cation (concluded), by A. F. Griffith. Occurrence of Plusia moneta Fab. in Great Britain, by C. G. Barrett. Eulepia cribrum. by Rev. E. N. Bloomfield. Apatura isis by J. E. Mason. Note on the food of Drymo- nia dodoncea, by \Y. R. Jeffrey. Re-occurrence of Epischnia Bankesieila at Portland, by N. M. Richardson. Occurrence in Dorset of .5". subse- qitatia, H. and Jf. rufimitrana H. S., id. Notes from the Red Sea, by J. J. Walker. The life-history of the new Tinagma ( T. betide?} of the Birch", by J. H. Wood. Description of T. betulcz n. sp., by H. T. Stainton. Some remarks on the genus Xylophilus, with descriptions of two new species from Japan, by G. C. Champion. Two species of Psocidae new to Britain, by R. McLachlan. ^Eschna juncea L. near Ringwood, id. Gymnancyla canella in September, by A. E. Hall. Aplota palpella in Wilts, by E. Meyrick. Hybernation of bimtzthis pariana, by B. A. Bower. Gyrinus urinator at Swange, by C. H. Goodman. Carabns glabratus Payk. in Ireland, by Rev. Canon Fowler. Creophilus maxil- losus v. ciliaris Steph., by H. S. Donnisthorpe. Athous rhombeusQ\. at Cobham Park, by J. Malings. Note on Scopceus erichsoni and Hodro- poms dai-isii, by \Y. G. Blaurh. Coleoptera in the New Forest, by Rev. Theo. Wood. Quedius tristis predaceous, by Prof. W. R. Kilburne. Obituary-. Societies. THE YOUNG NATURALIST, October, 1890. — The Pterophorina, byj. \Y. Tuft. Coleoptera at Guestling, by A. Ford. Pieris brassier pupae lying over, by James Dixon. Lithosia sericea, by Joseph Collins. Nonagria typhe, by G. Pullen. Hydcecia petasites, by Joseph Collins. Noctua dohlii, by A. E. Hall. Agrotis agathina, by Joseph Collins. Rumia cratcegata, var., by A. E. Hall. Hawk moths, by C. \Y. Dale. MEMOIRES SUR LES LEPIDOPTERES REDIGES par N. M. Romanoff, tome 4. Le Pamir et La Faune Lepidopterologique par Gr. Groum-Grshimailo. Illustrated with 21 magnificent colored plates with many figures, 575 pp. St. Petersburg, 1890. RECUEIL ZOOLOGIQUE SUISSE, v. No. 2, July, 1890. — The histological disposition of the pigment in the eyes of Arthropods under the influence of direct light and of complete obscurity, by Mile. M. Stefanowska, 2 pi. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 149 ZOOLOGISCHER AxzEiGER, Sept. i, 1890. — On a peculiar organ in the embryo of Locustidse, by \V. M. \Vheeler. JAHRBUCH DES XATURHISTORISCHEN LAXDES-MUSEUMS vox KARXTEX 20 heft, Klagenfurt, 1889. — The Lepidoptera of the Lavantthal, and of both Alps Kor and Saualpe, by G. Hofner. On Carinthian Hymenop- tera,* by E. Liegel. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR \VISSENSCHAFTLICHE ZOOLOGIE, L, 1890. — Re- searches on the Structure of Spermatozoa: The spermatozoa of insects (I. Coleoptera), by E. Ballowitz, 4 plates. The development of the sexual organs and the intestine in Chironomus, by R. Ritter, i plate. KNTOMOLOGISCHE XACHRICHTEX, xvi. Xos. 17 and 18. September, '90. —New West African Orthoptera from Kribi, collected by H. Lieut. Mor- gen,* F. Karsch; 4 woodcuts; Morgenia, Matczus, Chondrodera, Licheno- chrtts, Jlonnotus, Liocentrnin, Opisthodicnis, Toinias, Lagarodes, Sten- ainpy.v, Pantecphylus, Polyglochin, Habrocomes, new gen. Synopsis of the trispinous species of Sphenoptera of Europe and the Caucasus.* by E. Reitter. A Review of Scudder's Butterflies of the Eastern United States and Canada, by A. Speyer. SlTZUXGSBERICHTE DER X'ATVRFORSCHER GESELLSCHAFT BEI DER UXIVERSITAT DORPAT, ix, i heft (18891, 1890. — Four papers on Livonian Diptera, by H. Sintenis. Observations on Tardigrada, by H. Rywosch. MlTTHEILL'XGEN" DER ScHWEIZERISCHEN EXTOMOLOGISCHEN GESELL- SCHAFT, viii, Xo. 5, August, 1890. — Three papers on Swiss Bombus. by Frey-Gessner. Xotes on Swiss Xeuroptera, by F. Ris. Two new genera of Tryphonidae,* by Dr. Kriechbaumer; Aethalodes, Bremia n. gen. (from Europe). Diptera Helvetiae, by Dr. G. Schoch; ist part. Coleoptera Helvetiae, by Dr. Stierlin (continued). BOLLETIXO DEI MUSEI DI ZOOLOGIA ED. AXATOMIA COMPARATA DELLA R. UXIVERSITA DI TORINO, X. 78. — Diagnoses of new species of Diptera [from Italy]*, by Dr. Giglio-Tos. Xo. 84. — Xew species of Diptera from the Zoological Museum of To- rino,* by Dr. Giglio-Tos; i plate; Ditoinyia zonata, D. ine.vicana, Orizaba, Mexico, n. sp., figs. 6 and 7. Xo. 85. — On a mode of preserving the larvae of Lepidoptera with their colors, by F. Crosa. ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER, Sept. 15, 1890. — Some observations con- cerning the closed tracheal system in insect larvae by Dr. H. Dewitz. YERHAXDLUXGEX DER K. K. ZOOLOGISCH-BOTAXISCHEX GESELL- SCHAFT ix \VIEX xl, i quartal, 1890. — Monograph of the Proscopidae,* by C. Brunner. v. \Vattenwyl; 3 plates; Prosarthria, Apioscelis, Cory- norhynchus, Tetanorhynchus, Stiphra, Tairiarchus, Anchotatus, Epi- grypa n. gen.; all the species are from South America. A new species of Tenthredinid,* and Apidae frequenting Brassica ofcracca L, by Dr. R. Cobelli. Determination table of the Parnidae of Europe, the Mediterra- nean fauna and the bordering districts, by A. Kuwert. * Contains new species other than North American. - 7 NTOMOLOG ::.-.i s - "X Doings of Societies. t Entomological Section of th- of 5c:rr.;T- ••->- - - :•- Meeting ore- : sence of the P.--. - Dr. Hc- - - - - - ::aner. Associates: \Yelles, C t, West - ~r of specimens amongtber . . nutntims and C. r>: ~ •: S.FLS — ration- - - ~A Odonofa bra . ^ t to ] .-. - ' - : .--_r - - reported firtrfmg; p. afmr and : ':^. H: _ : - . - , - - - ~'-5ttnt and d/. uxijitgc \ / :: - ' - Mr C. \V. Johns MI. of . - - Instir. -- Hi - Re - _ — - -v>rr rraiiiuiHiiratifv- - ' - -« inann spoke c: ~ence of Cylapus tom: - -ear - ~ - - •:::. strict, also a branch -ins - ' -Vr;.~r ------- . the sl Dr. Mai a - - - - — - " - - - "- - - " - " " -- - ~ _ - - - • - - - - ghtl - - •-'-- - -esponsible for Ais work. ; - . 5- : . - - - - - "d cocoons. C rawii^s appearance of I m. whether Spk--: - Ithat : - :r^r^ 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 151 Mr. Howard exhibited specimens of sand cricket, Stenopelmatus fas- i'ia/us, which had been recently sent to Prof. Riley by one of the corre- spondents. Mr. Howard stated that they occurred abundantly in the southwest, and are reported erroneously to be extremely poisonous. A- stated by Prof. Riley, in the "Standard Natural History," they are car- nivorous in habit. Mr. Mann described some observations and experiments relating to the longevity of decapitated specimens of Cahptenus, and the vigorous re- sistance of such specimens to the attacks of ants. Mr. Schwarz, "On Black Locust Insects," presented a list of twenty- four species of Coleoptera bred by him in May from dying trunks of Black Locust, and spoke of the principal insect enemies of this tree in the Dis- trict. Discussed by Messrs. Riley and Howard. Mr. Schwarz also read a paper on the food habits of some Scolytidc-e observed by him during the Summer. Galleries of the following species were exhibited and explained: Xylo tenis politus in Acer dasycarpum; Xylcborus furcatus and pubescent in Walnut; Cnesinus strigicollis in /./- quidambar styracifliia. C. L. MAKLATT, Recording Secretaiy. PROCEEDINGS OF THK ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF THE A. A. A. S. OF INDIANAPOLIS, 1890. — The Club met in regular session on August 2oth, 9 A. M., room u, in the State House. President, Prof. A. J. Cook, in the chair. There were present through the meeting, Messrs. Chas. Robertson. Clarence M. Weed, E. W. Clatpole, James Troop, F. S. Earle, L. H. Pammel, Herbert Osborn, John Marten, H. Garman, Geo. F. Atkinson, Charles W. Hargitt, Thomas Hunt, John W. Spencer, W. B. Alwood, J. Fletcher, F. M. Webster, W. W. Norman. S. G. Evans. W. S. Blachley. Truman P. Catter, Ralph St. F. Pern-, Miss Mary E. Murtfeldt, Miss Augusta Murtfeldt, Mrs. K. B. Claypole, Mrs. O. Hanney. The President proceeded to deliver a most interesting address upon Teaching of Entomology. Dr. C. Weed then read a paper upon the life-history of the evening Primrose Curculio ( Tyloderma fo~ceolatum\. He reported breeding a species of Bracon from the larvae of the Curculio, and recorded observa- tions upon the habits of both insects. At the request of the President, Mr. Fletcher presented some notes upon the injuries caused by the Hessian Fly, the wheat stem maggot and an undetermined species of Oscinis. He stated that he had been studying these insects at Ottawa, Can., during the last four years. A paper on the subject of American Silk Spinners, by Mr. Edward L. Graef. was read by the Secretary, of which the following is an abstract: " Refers to the periodical, phenomenal increase of some species of in- sects and their sudden disappearance. Speaks of the adaptability of the •ons of L. cecropia Linn, tor the manufacture of silk, and of the firmer belief of the writer in the possibility of the creation of an American in- dustry in the rearing of their larva1 for manufacturing purposes. Solicits 152 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [November, plans for the profitable rearing of the larvae of this, or other American silk spinners. Also for preparing their cocoons. Offers a prize ($50.00) for this purpose." An interesting paper was read by Dr. C. M. Weed, the subject of which was "The food plants of the Clover Stem Borer (Languria moxandi). Fifteen species of the plants were reported on which the larvae is known to feed. Prof. Osborn followed with a paper on a peculiar Coleopterous larva infesting the stems of plants. Dr. Weed presented a short paper upon the oviposition of Listronotus latiusculus. The eggs are laid in bunches of five to ten on the leaf stalks of Sagittaria variabi/is, and are covered with bits of epidermis chewed up by the adult beetle. Mr. Charles Robertson made some remarks upon the habits of Emphot bombiliformis, which he stated was apparently a special visitor of Hibis- cus. The nests were constructed by burrowing in the ground, and, in order to facilitate the excavation, water was frequently carried to the hole with which the bottom was moistened. Sometimes but one pellet of earth would be carried out after an application of water, while in some cases he had observed as many as four of these pellets thrown out immediately following an application. Miss Mary E. Murtfeldt read a charming paper entitled, "Some expe- riences in rearing insects." In this paper some valuable hints were given as to the best way to manage larvae so as to carry them to maturity, and the most frequent causes of failure were mentioned. The paper was listened to with great attention by all present. The Secretary proceeded to read the following paper upon "The Pre- paratory Stages of Eustrotia cadiica," by D. S. Kellicott, of Columbus, O. Prof. Cook presented a note upon a new breeding habit in Agrotis C- nigrum. He had found the eggs on the foliage of currant .bushes and reared the larvae thereon. Prof. Osborn read an interesting paper on the period of incubation of Mallophaga. Mr. S. F. Earle presented several interesting notes on some injurious insects of southern Mississippi. Diabrotica iz-punctata was a very abun- dant insect, and, in addition to its well-known food-plants, it also fed to an injurious extent upon the foliage of peach and also cabbage. Cut- worms were very injurious in gardens. A species of Aphis worked seri- ous injury to the cucumber and melon veins. Pieris rapes is exceedingly destructive. Doryphora w-lineata had not yet reached southern Missis- sippi. Sphinx larvae were very destructive to the foliage of tomatoes and the boll worm to the fruit. (To be continued.) F. H. WEBSTER, Secretary. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS for October was mailed October 2, 1890. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION, ACADEMY NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. i. DECEMBER, 1890. No. 10. CONTENTS: French — Another Tropical Species of Liebeck — Cicindelidae of a Season 158 Lepidoptera in Florida 153 Notes and News 160 Holland — African Hesperidae 155 Entomological Literature 162 P. P. C.— Elementary Entomology 157 Doings of Societies 167 ANOTHER TROPICAL SPECIES OF LEPIDOPTERA IN FLORIDA. By G. H. FRENCH, Carbondale, 111. In the September number of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, p. 105, Mr. Dyar describes two species of insects new to our fauna, Cal- lidryas statira and Composia fidelissima. I have had for about a year another species of Composia collected in Florida by Prof. Velie, of Chicago, during the Winter of 1888 and 1889, and sent to me by my friend, Mr. W. E. Longley, of the same city. Not having the means of identifying the specimen I sent a colored print of it to Mr. A. G. Butler, of London, who writes that it is Composia olyuipia Butl. From comparison of Mr. Dyar's de- scription with my specimen it seems to be closely related to C. fidelissima. The following figure and description will show the points of difference. Composia olympia Butl. Expanse 2.5 inches. Black, the fore wings with three bright scarlet, nearly quadrate spots between the costal and subcostal veins, extending from the base to the middle of the cell; a square white spot beyond the third scarlet one; just beyond the end of the cell a transverse row of six white spots of varying size, the last the largest and a little below the 10 154 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [December, line of the others, the fifth the smallest; beyond this row and about half way to the apex is another row of four white spots, the last out of line of the others; a small spot at the posterior angle; all of these transverse spots more or less rounded. In the cell are two nar- row bars that do not quite reach from vein to vein, the outer white, but the inner w h i t e , strongly washed with scarlet. The hind wings have a subterminal row of nine white spots, the first, fourth and ninth, small; the second largest. The fore wings show blue reflection in oblique light in the cell up to near the first bar, in the outer part of the cell about the end, at the base below the cell and along the posterior margin. In the same light the hind wings show blue reflection above the sub- costal vein almost to the apex, in the cell to its end, below the cell and lower branch of submedian vein to the outer margin. Head with eight white dots; back of antennae, below antennae, above the eye and back of the eye. Collar with a row of six white dots. Thorax with six white dots on the anterior part and a row of four pale yellow dots across the posterior. Abdomen blue by reflection. Beneath, the white spots of the upper side repeated, the space of the scarlet spots solid scarlet and confluent with the first bar in the cell, this bar having no white in it as it has above. The blue reflection is more pronounced than it is on the upper surface. The abdomen is banded with pale yellow and black, the terminal pale band whitish. According to Mr. Butler this seems as yet to be a rare species, though Prof. Velie took about a dozen recently. The type speci- men was from Brazil; it has been taken in Central America and once before at Key West, Fla. ALETIA ARGILLACEA Hiib., was seen sparingly the last week in Sep- tember at Columbus, O. I have not yet seen it in abundance here, whilst at Buffalo, N. Y., scarcely an Autumn passes without the appearance of many. If my observations accord with facts, why the greater abundance at the point so much further from the cotton fields? — D. S. KELLICOTT. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 155 Description ofthree new species of African Hesperidae. BY REV. W. J. HOLLAND. The appended descriptions are all of species belonging to the genus Proteides Htib. I hope shortly to be able to publish figures of these and a number of other species. i Proteides margaritata n. sp. Allied to P. erinnys Trim. Upperside: Anteriors broadly dark brown, clothed with greenish yellow hairs at the base, and having the following markings: three small subapical spots arranged in a series curving outwardly from the costa toward the external margin, a quadrate spot at the end of the cell, a square spot beyond the end of the cell between the second and third median nervules, below this between the first and second median nervules a spot resembling an hour-glass, and between the first median nervule and the submedian vein two triangular spots, of which the one nearest the base is obscure, being overlaid by the green- ish hairs which cover the base. All of these spots are vitreous. Posteriors with the outer third and anterior margin broadly dark brown, cell and middle area pale orange, covered with greenish hairs at the base and intersected by the dark brown nervules. The outer margin at the anal angle is broadly orange red. Underside: Anteriors fuscous, clouded with deep black at the apex and the middle of the disc, and broadly stramineous on the inner margin. The subapical area is irrorated with minute white scales. The spots of the upper surface reappear, but are not so distinct and sharply defined; the subapical series and the spot at the end of the cell are surmounted toward the costa by broad spots of nacreous. The end of the cell is also defined by a very narrow line of the same color. Posteriors of the same color as the primaries, clouded with dark brown on the outer third, and having the middle area ornamented by a very broad and irregular spot of pearly white. The anal angle is more narrowly orange than the upper surface; the upper surface of the abdomen is fus- cous, annulated with pale yellow; the lower surface of the abdo- men is not so distinctly annulated with pale gray. Antenna- black upon the upper side, fuscous below. Expanse of wings 48 mm. Hab,- — Valley of the Ogove. Type in coll. Holland. 156 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [December, 2. P. iricolor n. sp. Upperside uniformly dark brown, showing in certain lights a golden-green gloss. Fringe at the anal angle of the posteriors broadly white. Underside: Anteriors with the anterior margin and the apical third violet-green. The lower half of the cell and the middle third of the wing is brown without any iridescence, and the pos- terior margin is very broadly pearly-white. There is a crimson spot on the costa at the base. Posteriors violet-green, with a beautiful iridescence in certain lights, the violet tints deepest to- ward the inner margin and the anal angle, where the wing inclines to black. There is a crimson spot at the base, two longitudinal spots of velvety-black in the cell, and a discal series of rounded spots of the same color, of which the one nearest the anal angle is bifid. The fringes at the anal angle are white, as upon the upper surface. The head, thorax and abdomen are of the same color as the wings upon the upper side; the lower side of the ab- domen is ochreous. The antennae are black above and ochreous below. Expanse of wings 55 mm. Hab. — Valley of the Ogove. Type in coll. Holland 3. P. laterculus n. sp. Allied to the preceding, but smaller. Upperside: The entire upperside of the wings, head, thorax and abdomen, is dark brown. The fringes of the posteriors near the anal angle are light fuscous. Underside: The ground color is the same as upon the upper surface; the inner margin of the primaries is broadly white. The base and middle area of the secondaries is brick-red; there is a large circular spot of velvety-black at the end of the cell in the secondaries, and a series of five discal spots of the same color following this. The series is interrupted opposite the cell, the three largest spots being placed after the third median nervule. The fringes at the anal angle, and the tip of the abdomen on the underside are stramineous. Expanse of wings 38 mm. Hab. — Valley of the Ogove. Type in coll. Holland. (To be continued.) 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 157 ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY. Sixth Paper. — THE WINGS. The wings of an insect are membranous expansions of the body wall. They first appear in the pupal or later nymphal stages as flat, sac-like projections near the lateral borders of the terga of the meso- and metathorax. As the wings develop, the greater part of the dorsal and ventral walls of this flat sac become closely united. Along certain lines, both the dorsal and ventral walls become thickened. These lines are so situated that when the union of the two walls takes place, those on the dorsal wall coin- cide with those on the ventral wall; they thus form the frame-work of the wings, and are called veins, nerves, or nervures. Many veins enclose a tube formed by the union of two grooves, placed one on the inner or opposing side of each of the two thickened lines. Through these tubes blood circulates; often a trachea exists in the centre of this tube. The veins or nerves of an insect's wing- do not correspond to the similarly named parts of higher animals. That part of the wing by which it is attached to the thorax is the base. The shape of the wing is roughly triangular; its three edges, borders, or margins, receive distinctive names; the front edge is also called the costal margin, or simply the costa; the outer edge is also termed apical, the remaining border is known as the inner, hind, or anal margin. The apex of the wing is the angle where the front and outer margins meet. The inner and outer margins meet at the hind or anal angle. All the veins of a wing taken collectively constitute the venation, neuration, or reticulation. The venation is regular, and although differing very much in various groups of insects, is based on a general plan. Five (or more) large veins run from the base towards the apical border, diverging from each other. These veins branch ; at right angles to these large veins and their branches are other short veins. The branches of the large veins are sometimes known as sectors. Each litttle area or space of the wing, bounded by veins, is called a cell, or cellule. No general nomenclature has yet been established for the venation of all the groups of insects; for each group a special nomenclature is in use. The front wings may be specialixed so as to form protective covers for the hind wings. In beetles and earwigs tin- front wings 158 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [December, are thick and horny, and are termed elytra. In water-bugs and others, they are similar to elytra, but the apical part is membra- nous, hence their name of hemelytra. In grasshoppers and katy- dids they are leathery, or parchment-like, and are called tegmina. Many insects, even of those groups which, as a general rule, undergo a complete transformation, are wingless. Sometimes only the front wings are present; the hind wings are then usually represented by a pair of small club-shaped organs — the halteres, balancers, or poisers — as in the common house-fly. Rarely the hind wings only are present, in which case the front wings are represented by organs similar to the halteres, but distinguished from them as pseudo -halteres. P. P. C. o CICINDELID>£ OF A SEASON. BY CHAS. LIEBECK. This has been the most successful season for Cicindelce that has occurred during my experience in Coleoptera collecting. Of nineteen species and varieties occurring in eastern Pennnsyl- vania and southern New Jersey, fourteen have been taken by me this season. The species follow in order as they are listed, with some refer- ence to their occurrence during former years. Tetracha virginica Linn. — Nocturnal in habits, a few specimens being taken in open fields under boards and fence rails, middle of July, at Abington, Pa. Cicindela unipunctata Fab. — Reported as occurring at Atco and Woodstown, N. J. One of the species not taken this season. C. modesta Dej. — Not taken as abundantly this season as in previous years, but scattered individuals taken in May, June and July, in all sections df southern New Jersey, in which any col- lecting was done. Two days in May, 1887, over one hundred specimens were taken in a space, not more than sixty feet square, below Gloucester, N. J. A second brood appears in September. C. 6-guttata Fab. — Twelve or fifteen specimens were taken under the bark of fallen trees along the banks of Cobb's Creek, Philadelphia, early in April, and a number on the wing the first week in May. Some have also been taken in July. C. patruela Dej. — Occurs at Lancaster, Pa.; not taken this season. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 159 C. consentanea Dej. — Occurred several years ago below Glou- cester, N. J., but none taken in that locality recently. Collected by Dr. Hamilton, at Absecom, N. J., in September. C. purpurea Oliv. — A common species occurring in May and June in almost every locality. Several specimens were captured on the wing at DaCosta, N. J., March 15, 1886, on sandy spots along the line of the railroad, when ice and snow still lay un- melted between the ties. C. generosa Dej. — Taken during May and June at Westville, Atco and Hammonton, N. J. ; most abundant the last week in May, but few being taken the latter part of June. C. vulgaris Say. — Isolated specimens taken at different times during the season at Philadelphia, Pa., and Landisville, N. J. One specimen was taken in company with C. purpurea at Da- Costa, March 15, 1886. C. repanda Dej. — An early species common everywhere. C. 12-guttata Dej. — Usually found on the banks of small streams early in May; abundant locally. C. hirticollis Say. — Found on a small beach on the Delaware River below Gloucester, N. J., and everywhere along the beach at the sea-shore, where the white sand mingles with the mud of the meadows and forms a composition of a dark hue. May, June and July. C. punctulata Fab. — An abundant species throughout the whole season everywhere. Taken without intervals from May to Sep- tember. Often attracted to the electric lights at night. C. tortnosa Dej. — I know of but two specimens ever taken in New Jersey several years ago at Atlantic City, one by Dr. Castle and the other by myself, and have not yet been able to determine whether they actually inhabit this district, or were only accidental introductions. C. dorsalis Say. — A very common species at the sea-shore, along the water's edge, where sometimes hundreds can be seen within the scope of the eye. Most abundant in July; sometimes an all white variety is taken. C. marginata Fab. — I found these on the meadows between Sea Isle City, N. J., and the main shore, inhabiting the dry, bare spots, quite abundant in the latter part of July. Have never noticed this species in the sand-hills or on the beach. C. lepida Dej. — A species peculiar to the sand-hills along the 160 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [December, New Jersey coast. It has, to my knowledge, been taken in all the hills from Atlantic City to Cape May; occurs during the latter part of July, and is, owing to its color and the intense whiteness of the sand, both difficult to see and to capture. C. marginipennis Dej. — A species occurring in the mountain districts of eastern Pennsylvania, of which I know very little, not having taken any specimens. C. abdominalis Fab.— Has frequently been reported as occurring at DaCosta, N. J., and although I have made it a point for several years to be in that neighborhood at the time of its appearance, have never, until this season, been fortunate enough to see any. During the last week in June ten or twelve specimens were seen between Hammonton and DaCosta, N. J., the majority of which were captured. It frequents the wagon-roads through the woods, and does not confine itself to any particular locality as other Ci- cindelae do, those that were observed being scattered in ones and twos over the entire distance. Notes and. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit, and will thankfully receive item of news, likely to interest its readers, from any source. The author's name will be given in each case for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] In the future all papers received for publication in the News will be printed according to date of reception. NOTE ON THE MOLTING OF PHO^ETRON PiTHECiUM, S. and A. — A larva of this species was observed to molt in the following manner: When pre- paring to cast its skin it rested on a leaf, the head withdrawn beneath joint 2 in the usual position of rest of larvae of this group. The skin ap- peared loose, the long subdorsal processes shrunken, especially at the bases, there tips transparent from the partial withdrawal of the inner part. The larva jerked itself and rocked from side to side till the skin broke along the dorsal line from the head to the last segment simultaneously. As the chitinous part of the head of this insect does not extend up as far as in other subfamilies of Bombycidae; the new head was readily with- drawn and the larva extricated itself from its skin by a lateral oscillatory movement, at the same time walking forward a little, which served to draw out the subdorsal processes from their old enclosing skin. They were bent backward by the operation nearly in line with the body, and were seen to be attached to the body by a slight white filament, but it 1 890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. l6l was not observed whether they were attached to the anterior or posterior edge of a segment (they are situated over each segmental suture between joints 3-13 inclusive, the last pair very small). As the new processes are withdrawn from inside the old ones and not formed under the body skin like the hairs of the Arctiinas, it will be seen that a process once lost can- not be replaced, and, in the present instance, four of the normal twenty were lacking both before and after the molt. As this larva is well known, I will not enter upon a detailed description of it here, but will remark that the ends of the three pairs of long processes (the third, fifth and seventh pairs) appear to be slightly moveable at the will of the larva. HARRISON G. DYAK. THERE is a form of Ergates spiculatui, Lee. ($), which occurs in \Vet Mountain Valley, Colorado, differing from the type as represented in the British Museum collection from the Pacific region, and figured by LeConte in having the elytra marked with whitish between the veins, and pale about the apices, where the dark color gradually becomes subobsolete. The thorax on the other hand, is quite dark. This form perhaps indicates a tendency to that sexual dichroism which is, as pointed out to me by Mr. Gahan, so well marked in certain other Longicorns; or, it may be a climatic race, a product of the drier central region of North America. In structure this species already presents secondary sexual characters which have led to the sexes being described as different species, but nor- mally the sexes do not differ in color. This pale-marked 9 form of E. spic/i/atus has been mentioned by Leng, but apparently it has received no name; it may be conveniently known as var. marmoratus. From one of my specimens of this variety (now in the British Museum) I extracted an egg, which, in its dried state, is pale amber color, elongate, subcylindrical, atten- uate at the ends; length, 2^ mm.; breadth, i mm. — T. D. A. COCKERELL. THE fact mentioned above is by no means rare in its occurrence in the specimens received from Oregon and Washington, nor is it by any means peculiar to the female. The discoloration is not due to climatic influences, as it is equally observed in specimens from the dry regions of the centre of the continent and the notoriously damp climate of the Northwest. They seem to me merely imperfectly chitinized specimens, hardly de- serving a varietal name. Such discolorations seem quite common in those Coleoptera with a coriaceous elytral texture. They are probably the result of a reduction of temperature during the evolution of the imago. GEO. H. HORN. STINGING POWERS OF YESPA YUI.GAKIS AND ICHNEUMON SnrKAi.is. —A few days ago Mrs. Gillette called my attention to a dead (?) wasp upon the window that she had killed, so that it would not sting our little daughter, who would be sure to try to catch the " bug" if she saw it. The wasp -was a specimen of Vespa vulgaris, and the blow that was supposed to have killed it had entirely severed the abdomen from the rest of the body. Nothing more was thought of the wasp until the next day, twenty- 1 62 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [December, four hours later, when the screams of the little girl called her mother to the scene. The child had picked up the pretty abdomen of the wasp and had received a severe sting to pay her for her curiosity. The abdomen at this time seemed thoroughly alive. How much longer it would have retained its power to sting, had it not been destroyed, I am unable to say. STINGING POWER OF ICHNEUMON SUTURALIS. — While collecting a few days since a female /. suturalis lit upon a bush just in reach of me. With a quick sweep of the hand I caught it, and held it, while, with the other hand, I got out my cyanide bottle. As I was about to bottle my capture I received a thrust in the palm of my hand that led me to suspect that in my haste I had mistaken a wasp for an Ichneumon, and I quickly dropped it. The culprit was recaptured and proved to be, as stated above, /. suturalis. The sting was like the thrust of a pin, there being no swelling of the part and no pain after the first two or three seconds. I had, previous to this, watched Ichneumons in their attempts to sting while holding them in my hand, but this is the first time that one has really succeeded in producing anything like a sting. — C. P. GILLETTE. Identification of Insects ( Images) for Subscribers. Specimens will be named under the following conditions: ist, The number of speci- mens to be limited to twelve (12) for each sending ; 2d, The sender to pay all expenses of transportation and the insects to become the property of the American Entomological Society; 3d, Each specimen must have a number attached so that the identification may be announced accordingly. Such identifications as can be given will be published, accord- ing to number, in the issues of the NEWS. Address packages to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, Academy Natural Sciences, Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pa. EUGENE R. FISCHER. — i, Episcopus ornatus; 2, Proconia sp. (coii- fluens?\, 3, Proconia (confluensf); 4, Stenarops malinus; 5, Xysins calif ornicus. ^O. S. WESTCOTT. — r, Ccendvympha ochracea; 2, Rheitinaptera hastata; 3, Melipotis sp. ; 5, Megachile latimatnis; 6, Sparnopolins fulrus; 9, Scatophaga stercoraria; 10, Scatophaga squalida; n, Dendroctomts sp.; 12, Dendroctonus sp. F. S. DAGGETT. — i, Chalcophora virginicnsis; 2, Rhaginin lineatitni; 3, Cryptns nunrius; 4, Buprestis fasciata; 5, Hannouia ij-gnttata; 6, Coccinella monticola; 7, Coccinella transversoguttata; 8, Hannouia 12- maculata; 9, Hippodamia parenthesis; 10, Hannouia picta; n, Pogono- cheriis i)ii.\-tns; 12, Hippodamia ij-punctata. Kntomological Literature. TRANSACTIONS ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY LONDON. Part 3, 1890.— On the structure of the terminal segment in some male Hemiptera, In Dr. David Sharp. On the classification of the Pyralidina of the European fauna, by E. Meyrick. Additions to the -Cicindelidoe fauna of Mexico, with remarks on some of the previously recorded species, by Henry Walter Bates. A Catalogue of the Rhopalocerous-Lepidoptera collected 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 163 in the Shan States, with notes on the country and climate, by Neville Manders. Notes on the species of the families Lycidae and Lampyridae, contained in the Imperial Museum of Calcutta, with descriptions of new species, and a list of the species at present described from India, by Rev. Henry S. Gorham. On some new species of African diurnal Lepicloptera, by Philip Crowley. THE WEST AMERICAN SCIENTIST, September, 1890. — New Coccids from California, by D. W. Coquillett. PROCEEDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS OF THE LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY, vol. iv, p. 170. — The post-embryonic development of a gnat (Culex^, by C. Herbert Hurst. ANNALS AND MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY, vol. vi, No. 34. — De- scription of some new species of African butterflies in the collection of Capt. G. E. Shelley, by E. M. Sharpe. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. Pt. 3, 1890. —On some new' moths from India, by H. J. Elwes. On a collection of Acarina found in Algeria, by A. D. Michael. Descriptions of new species of Lepidoptera-Heterocera from Central and South America, by Herbert Druce. On a collection of Lepidoptera made by Mr. Edmund Reynolds on the rivers Tocantins and Araguaya in the Province of Goyaz, Bra/il, by Emily Mary Sharpe. BIOLOGIA CENTRALI-AMERICANA. Part 87, August, 1890.— Coleoptera: vol. iv, pt. 2, by G. C. Champion, pp. 185-216, plates 8, 9; vol. vi, pt. i, suppl., by M. Jacoby, pp. 201-208. Lepidoptera :-Rhopalocera: vol. ii, by F. D. Godman and O. Salvin, pp. 185-208, pi. 65. Rhynchota-Heterop- tera, by W. L. Distant, pp. 345-352, pi. 32. Diptera: vol. ii, by F. M. Vander Wulp, pp. 177-200. ESSAY ON THE DESTRUCTION OF THK MOSQUITO AND HOUSE FLY, by William Beutenmiiller, 180 pp. 2 plates. This interesting essay was pre- sented in competition for the prize offered by Dr. Lamborn, of New York, for the best on the subject. It gives an account of the anatomy, life-his- tory and development of the mosquito, remedies against and an account of its natural enemies. A catalogue of the described transformations of the Odonata of the world is appended. BERLINER ENTOMOLOGISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT xxxv, heft i, 1890. — Lepid- opterological notes from Sumatra, by Dr. L. Martin. The Bee genus Dasypoda Latr.,* by A. Schletterer; i pi. African Fulgoridse,* by Dr. F. Karsch; i pi. Paropioxys, Metopotritys, Anecphora, Faratwtns, Eitry- prosthius, Phcrdolus, Conoprosthius, Anlophorus n. gen. Contributions to the knowledge of the Lepidopterous fauna of Amurland, iv,* by I,. Graeser. Contribution to the knowledge of the singing Cicadas of Africa and Madagascar,* by Dr. F. Karsch; 2 plates; 74 species are enumerated; Luce/as, Ligyinolpa, P&ctira, J\fusoda n. gen. Description of the colors * Contains new species other than North American. 164 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [December, of the larva of Papilio o.rynins, by Dr. J. Gundlach. Two new Bupres- tids from the Malayan Archipelago,* and Agestrata lata n. sp., by Dr. Richter. A new Buprestid from East Africa,* and a new Cetonid from East Africa,* by G. Quedenfeldt. Akis Schweinfnrthi n. sp., by M. Que- denfeldt; from Egypt. ANNALEN DES K. K. NATURHISTORISCHEN HOFMUSEUMS, v, No. 2, YVien, 1890. — The Hymenopterous group of the Sphecinse I. Monograpli of the natural genus Sphe.v L.* (sens, lat.), first part, by F. F. Kohl; 5 plates; S. morio, Brit. Columbia; S. prccstans, California; 6". neo.reiuis, Vancouver island; S. e.vcisus, Vancouver Island; .S1. clavipes, Cuba; .5". chrysophorus, Mexico; S. Ma.viniiliani, Mexico; >S". spiniger, Mexico, Brazil; new species from North America. MATERIAUX POUR LA FAUNE ENTOMOLOGIQUE DU LIMBOURG, Coleop- teres 36 centurie, Hasselt, 1890. — Materiaux pour la Faune Entomolo- gique de la Province de Brabant. Coleopteres, 5e centurie, Bruxelles, 1890; both by A. P. de Borre. BULLETINO DELLA SOCIETA ENTOMOLOGICA ITALIANA, Xxii, 1890.— Oil a series of newly discovered secretory organs in the silk worm, by E. Vernon; 4 plates. Notes on some epizoic insects, by M. Bezzi: Pulex tuberculaticeps n. sp. on Ursits arctos L. Studies on some Formicidae of the Neotropic Fauna, by C. Emery; 5 plates; I. Formicidae of Costa Rica, a list of 107 species, with notes, 18 of them new species or races; II. On some new species of the genus Pseudomyrma, including new spe- cies from Central America, etc.; III. New American forms of the genera Strumigenys and Epitritis, etc. ARCHIV FUR NATURGESCHICHTE, Ivi, i band, 2 heft. Published Aug., 1890. Contains the bibliographical summary for Entomology for 1889, by Dr. Ph. Bertkau. IL NATURALISTA SICILIANO, ix, 9. — Supplement to the Review of the Milabrida? (Bruchidae), by F. Baudi. Cons-pectus of the Scymaenidae col- lected by Lotharius Hetschko in Southern Brazil near Blumenau, by E. Reitter and F. Croissandreau. COMPTE RENDU. SOCIETE ENTOMOLOGIQUE DE BELGIGQUE 6 Sept., 1890.— Psychidological Notes,* by Dr. F. J. M. Heylaerts. Note on the Chrysobothridas,* by C. Kerremans; Psendactenodes n. gen. Description of a new species of Elateridae of the genus Dicronychns (Eschscholtz),* by G. Dumont. Descriptions of four new species of the family Chryso- melidae,* by A. Duvivier. Notes on the Elateridae of Chota-nagpore,* by E. Candeze. Causeries Odonatologiques, No. 2, by E. de Selys-Long- champs. REVUE BIOLOGIQUE DU NORD DE LA FRANCE, October, 1890. — Mate-- rials for the Entomological fauna of Flanders; 4th century. Coleoptera, * Contains new species other than North American. 1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 165 by A. P. de Borre. Acarinae observed in France (first list), by R. Monirz. Galls observed in the North of France, by H. Fockeu (supplementary list). SlTZUNGSBERICHTE UNO ABHANDLUNOEN DER NATURWIS. GESELL. Isis IN DRESDEN, 1890, January-June. On mimicry, by Dr. J. Thallwitz; contains a number of references to insects. BULLETIN DE LA SOCIETE PHILOMATHIQUE DE PARIS, 8e serie, II, No. 3, 1890. — Note on some fossil insects of the coal measures which bear aliform appendages on the prothorax, by C. Brongniart. ZOOLOGISCHER AxzEiGER, Oct. 13, 1890. — Analytical chemical re- searches on living larvae, pupae and butterflies, by E. Verson. ANNALES DE LA SOCIETE ENTOMOLOGIQVE DE FRANCE, 6e serie, ix, 1889-90. — Coleoptera of the interior of China,* fifth part, by L. Fairmaire;. Stenonota, Cor . .... .:'.i palmii ... -:.... . .: ..... S . . . . 121, ........ ...... ..... \tus ...... V in Missouri . val.e. Hunting .... is, larva ..... Cit/:. gaits . i. 13. -i, ...... - . ..- fidelissima vs. L". 107 - s 100 12 207 175 122 121 149 117 62 94 151 133 49 123 Mimicry of ISO n. sp. A s :.':.'<7/tV/// . New l.epidoptera ..... H\ - lafestata . . . Lf moulds nia.viina . . . Fbt :.: : .:/i7ic > .... P. turn us ........ /'. c>:'oi:s, fooJ plants of P/i: - : :.':'s .-.::. US . . . . _ tns . 02, w ..... 15° Early stages of some Moths . 152 . . . 76 Electric lights. L. at .... -\; Elementary Entomology 89, no, --. 157- J77- 196- Effects of storms on larva* . . 51 .... 122 I *::>SJ . . 1,122 ...... 76 ....... 02 Eiiclca. H. nc.nc. n. sp. . . . 61 Chip-: > -' n. sp. . 155 ta n. sp. . 156 Hesperida.-, new African . . 3 ^j/itij .... ; P. &-;/£-td tatipCHtiis, early stages ........ Tele a polypheiniis on \\"hite IMroh ........ Terias nicippeon Long Island. ] 'anessa cdli/orniea .... 13 102 104 6r 175 175 52 •« ^ 33 01 - -- 1 ^ 139 33 152 122 3o 13 190 13 "5 94 . . 12;, • • 53 NEUROPTERA. . /;/i?.r /n>i::ts. early stages . .179 Contribution to Maine Odonata 5°, 73- Pragonfly with abnormal wing. 35 List of Maine Pragonrlies . . 11 Mt. Desert Dragonflies ... 93 Ortholcstes n. gen 199 i \ dara n. sp 199 ORTHOPTERA. < 'amiibalistK: I labits of Cri< k<:t -, 180 Lot lists in Algeria . . '82 !..,• usts in Morocco .... 162 CONTRIBUTORS TO VOL. II. An.^ell, G. \V. J., . . "'r> Athlon, T. B., . . «2 Baldy, S., . . - '3 Banks, N., • «4, '93 B< utenmiiller, \V., . . 152 Blaisdell, F. E., • "2 Blake, C. A., . . 33 Braun, C., 87, 109 Bruce, D., . . - .190 Bullock, D. J., . - 93 Bunker, R., . . . . -94 Culvert, P. P., 8, 12, 17, 27, 35, 46, 51. 66, 199. Caracciolo, H., 52 Cresson, C. C., 200 Davis, W.T., 77 Ijyar, H. G., . -49, 61, 115, 156 K<1 wards, H., . 71 Fisher, P., . . . 180 Fox, W. J., --- 3i, 42, 194 Coding, F. \V., 161 Hamilton, J., . . 54, "3, *35 Harvey, F. L., . - 50, 73 Holland, W. J., . . . 3, 156 Hopping, R., . . .121 Horn, G. H., . . 6 Hudson, G. H., 155 INDEX. Johnson. J. S., in .... 51- '>2 ,> Kellirott, 1). S., 33, 122, Run/". P. I-., '3, 93, 94, 121, 122, 171, 207, 208, 209. Laurent, P., . . 32, 33, 180 Lieb"£. BY REV. VV. J. HOLLAND. (Continued from vol. i, p. 156.) 4. Proteides galua n. sp. Upperside: Ground color dark brown, fading into slightly paler fuscous at the apex of the primaries. The thorax and the base of the wings clothed with a vestiture of greenish brown hairs. Primaries ornamented by a series of subapical spots, of which the one furthest from the costa is the largest. The outer third of the cell is occupied by a large trapezoidal spot. Near t In- junction of the second and third median nervules is a much smaller subquadrate spot, followed in the next neural interspace, between the first and second median nervules by a very large sub- 4 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [January, trapezoidal spot, which is succeeded between the first median nervule and the submedian vein by a small triangular spot. This last spot is followed upon the same neural interspace by a still smaller spot lying near the base, and partly concealed by the hairy vestiture. Secondaries ornamented by a band of five yel- low spots separated by the nervures and traversing the wing for about half its diameter in a line nearly at right angles with the posterior margin. The three outermost of these spots gradually diminish toward the interior, the last two are much longer, and the band has thus imparted to it a sinuate appearance. There is also a small yellow streak in the cell partly concealed beneath the vestiture of the wing. All the spots in the anterior wing are yellow hyaline, except the small triangular spot near the base above submedian vein. This spot and all the spots in the secon- daries are opaque. The fringe of the secondaries near the anal angle is white. Underside: The primaries are rich maroon, interrupted on the costa at the end of the cell by a pearly gray patch, and by the hyaline spots which reappear as on the upper surface. The apex is lavender, with three oval spots of maroon on the outer margin. The posterior margin is broadly ashen gray; the costa at the base is white. The secondaries ape dark lavender-gray, orna- mented at the base by an oval spot and in the middle by a very large and irregular spot of deep maroon margined with pinkish gray; the palpi are white beneath. The thorax and abdomen are dark brown; the antennae are dark above and light beneath, as in most of the species of this genus. The female does not differ materially from the male, except in being larger, and the markings more sharply defined upon the underside. Hab. — Valley of the Ogove. Types in coll. Holland. I give this species the name Galua after the tribe of the Galwas. 5. P. benga n. sp. Upperside: The body and wings are uniformly brown, slightly paler on the outer margin; the fringes of the secondaries are narrowly white. The middle of the primaries is adorned by a broad subquadrate band of hyaline yellow divided into three spots by the nervures. Of these three the uppermost, situated at the end of the cell, is outwardly bifid, with the tips of the bi- 1891.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 5 furcation rounded. A round, velvety, sexual band occupies the centre of the secondaries in the case of the male. Underside: The lower side of the wings is as the upper, save that the costa of both the primaries and secondaries is washed with ochreous. Palpi pale gray beneath. The female does not differ from the male, except in having a small lanceolate hyaline spot on the middle of the upper side of the submedian vein in the primaries. Expanse 9,45111111.; 9, 48 mm. Hab. — Ogove Valley, Benita. Type in coll. Holland. I name this species after the Benga, a tribe on the mainland near Benita. 6. P. balenge n. sp. One of the largest species of the genus. Upperside: Head, thorax, abdomen and wings, rich dark brown throughout, only fading a little at the apical extremity of the primaries into paler brown. Anterior wings ornamented as follows: at the costa, about one-third from the tip of the wings, there is a subapical series of four small white hyaline spots, the first of which is short, the second elongated, the third like the first, and the fourth, which is slightly removed from the rest, small and quadrate. There are, further, four large yellow hyaline spots, the largest, which is quadrilateral at the end of the cell, and the other three, which are subquadrate, arranged in a series upon the limbal area, on the interspaces between the median nervules. Upon the posterior wings there is a triangular spot of the same color as those upon the disc of the primaries located beyond the end of the cell. Underside: The ground color is fuscous, clouded at the base of the primaries and upon the secondaries by dark brown. The spots of the upper surface all reappear upon the lower side, and there are in addition the following markings: Upon the primaries at the base upon the costa a white spot, beyond it about one-third of the distance from the base a white mark, at the middle of the costa above the large quadrate hyaline spot in the cell two small sagittate white marks, and at the apex a series of poorly denned lunulate marks also white; upon the secondaries there are two very small and indistinct white spots at the base, one small and sharply defined spot on the disc between the costal and subcostal ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [January, nerves, a similar spot in the cell, and one like it between the second and third median nervules. The fringe at the anal angle is narrowly white; the underside of the palpi is cinereous, and the lower side of the abdomen is annulated with white. Expanse of wings 68 mm. Hab. — Benita. Type 9 in coll. Holland. I name this species after the Balenge, a tribe found near Benita. — o — TRICHODES ORNATUS Say. BY GEO. H. HORN, M. D. In consequence of some correspondence lately had in refer- ence to this insect and the apparent incredulity that two forms seen, which differ less than any two figures on the subjoined il- lustration, were merely varietal differences, I have thought it desirable to select a few forms illustrative of variation in two directions from the typical form. The thorax varies in color from blue to green, through brassy and cupreous. The elytra are usually deep blue or blue-black, but may be bright blue or green. The pale bands are of a Cicindeloid type, and may be bright yellow or orange-yellow. The legs are blue, the anterior four tarsi pale, but those specimens with the wider bands of yellow often have pale tibiae also. On the accompanying illustration are five specimens selected from my series showing the extent of variation in the markings. The central figure is the common form in the region from which Say obtained his specimens, near the base of the Rocky Moun- tains. The humeral and the median band are often united along the outer side. Fig. 2 represents a form quite usual in Owen's Valley, Cal., and western Nevada, the yellow being quite equal to the blue color. Fig. 3 shows a form from Utah in which the J ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 7 humeral and median bands have coalesced into a large pale area enclosing but slight trace of the blue in the form of a spot and two short lines. This is the most extreme form I have yet seen in the direction of the expansion of the yellow bands. Fig. 4 represents a contraction of the bands, the humeral breaking up, while the other two do not reach the lateral margin, several specimens from Oregon illustrate this. In fig. 5 the elytra are entirely blue or green, with a small post-median spot of ob- liquely oval form. The spot varies in size and position, and from the indications I have no doubt that specimens will occur with elytra entirely blue. These one-spotted specimens must not be mistaken for bisignatus, which has quite a large spot of red color contiguous to the margin and other specific characters. As a rule, the hotter the climate in which the specimens were native, the greater the extent of the yellow color; those repre- sented by fig. 3 are from the extreme southwest of Utah. In colder, and especially damper climates, the blue color predomi- nates; figs. 4 and 5 are from Oregon, although typical forms occur abundantly there also. The variety tenellus is from San Diego and Fort Yuma, in California. Its form is more slender than normal, and the mark- ings are as in fig. 2, although a little wider, showing less blue. In continuation of the same idea I reproduce the illustrations _ of the variations of the elytral markings of two species of Psoa published by me in the "Trans. Am. Ent. Soc." 1886, p. xv. 8 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [January, The upper line represents P. metadata; the lower, P. quadri- signata. The genus Psoa, although belonging to the Bostri- chinae, resembles Trichodes in form, the elytra having a ground color of blue or green, the markings yellowish to red. The markings of quadrisignata are suggestive of Trichodes ornatns in the fourth figure, while maculata is rather of a vittate type. It is hoped that these notes and figures will be at least caution- ary to those who see in slight differences of the metallic surface lustre, or the extent of markings a sure indication of a new species. o ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY. Seventh Paper. — THE ABDOMEN — INTERNAL ANATOMY. The third and last region of the body is the abdomen. The abdominal segments are not so closely united to each other as are the segments of the head and the thorax; they consequently .possess a freedom of motion between themselves not to be found in the two former regions of the body. The abdominal segments sometimes receive the special name of urites. Their typical number is eleven (Packard), but in different insects varies from three to eleven. Besides the three pairs of jointed legs, situated near the front end of the body, and which correspond to the (thoracic) legs of the imago, many larvae have other thicker, fleshy legs, termed prolegs, prop-legs, o? false legs. The prop-legs are not jointed, and end in a circle of minute hooks; they are placed on that part of the larva corresponding to the abdomen of the imago, in which state they are not usually represented. The nymphae of those insects which undergo only an incomplete transformation have six jointed, thoracic legs. Of the larvae that undergo a complete transformation, some have no legs, as maggots; others have six jointed, thoracic legs; others still, as caterpillars, have six jointed, thoracic legs, and from ten to sixteen jointless, ab- dominal prop-legs. Some of those insects which do not pass through any transformation have jointed abdominal legs; in this particular they differ from the definition of an insect as given in the first paper. In many insects which have an incomplete transformation, there is in the nymph a pair of jointed appendages to the last 1891.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 9 abdominal segment. These are represented in the correspond- ing images, in which state they much resemble antennae; they are called anal forceps, cerci, or caudal setts. Male insects have sometimes one or two pairs of jointless claspers at the apex of the abdomen. Female insects may have the abdomen furnished with a sawing, piercing, or boring organ— the ovipositor, by which the eggs are implanted into various substances. A sting is an ovi- positor modified to form an organ of defence; it exists in females only, of some insects. Cornicles, nectaries, siphnncles, or honey tubes, are small tubes, two in number, found on the abdomen of plant-lice and certain other insects, through which a liquid (" honey-dew" ) is secreted. With this we complete our sketch of the external anatomy of insects. Their internal anatomy is hardly an elementary study, owing to its difficulty, but from its importance it cannot be over- looked here. If a cross-section were made of the body of a cat, or other back-boned animal, the relative positions of the main nerve (spinal) cord, the main blood vessel (aorta) and the alimentary canal would be seen to be as follows. The most dorsal of the three would be the nerve cord; below it, that is, on its ventral side, would be the main blood vessel; below the latter would be the alimentary canal, the most ventral of the three. These po- sitions would, of course, be equally true for the human species. But the relative positions of these three great organs in Ar- thropods (and consequently in insects) is different. Here the main blood vessel is the most dorsal, below it is the alimentary canal, below the latter is the nerve cord, which is here the most ventral of the three. The body wall of an insect is made up of three (microscopic) layers, - 1. An outer chitinous layer, or acticle. 2. A median cellular layer, or hypodcrinis. 3. An inner layer, or basal membrane. The alimentary canal has its beginning at the mouth opening and extends as a more or less convoluted tube, divided into va- rious parts, through the length of the body, to its external open- ing (amis) in the apex of the abdomen. The principal parts of the canal are the pharynx, situated within the head, connected io ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [January, by the slender cesophagiis with the crop, situated in the thorax, or more posteriorly. Following the crop is the proventriculus, or gizzard, a grinding organ with strong muscular walls. The stomach, ventriculus, or chylific ventricle succeeds, situated in the abdomen. After this is the intestine, which may sometimes be subdivided into three parts, the ileum, or small intestine (imme- diately following the stomach), the colon, or large (thicker) in- testine, and the rectum, or terminal part. The crop and gizzard are sometimes absent. The alimentary canal is composed of three coats, the outer, GV peritoneal, the middle, or muscular, and the inner, or mucous. The canal is held in place by retractor muscles, but principally by exceeding numerous branches of the main tracheae (Packard). The appendages of the alimentary canal are the salivary, the ccecal, and the anal glands, and the malpighian vessels. The salivary glands open near the mouth. In some larvae (caterpil- lars) they are the source of the silk. The caecal glands open into the stomach ; their secretion resembles the pancreatic secre- tion of backboned animals. The anal glands open into the hind part of the intestine; their secretion is usually offensive and con- stitutes an organ of defense. The malpighian vessels are long, slender tubes opening into the fore part of the ileum; they are analogous to the kidneys of higher vessels. Insects have no true liver, its functions being performed by the walls of the stomach (Siebold quoted by Packard). The circulatory system consists of a dorsal vessel or heart, an aorta, and a few branches of the latter. The heart is a jointed organ of a varying number of chambers, one behind the other, corresponding in position to the segments (of the fore part of the abdomen) in which they are situated. The chambers are sepa- rated by valves permitting motion in but one direction — from behind forwards. A pair of lateral valves in each chamber allows entrance, but prevents exit. The heart is contained in a cavity- \\\e pericardial sinus , separated from the other organs by a mem- brane— the pericardial diaphragm, pierced by many openings. At its fore end the heart opens into the aorta, a simple tube run- ning to the head where it may or may not divide into short branches. In either case the vessels apparently end in the head as open tubes. The circulation is believed to be as follows: Bv the successive contraction of the chambers of the heart, the 1891.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. II blood is forced forwards from the hind into the fore chambers and thence into the aorta. When the blood reaches the end of blood vessels in the head it passes from them directly into the body cavity, bathing the internal organs, flowing in regular cur- rents, but not enclosed by walls. Finally, it passes through the openings of the pericardial diaphragm, and enters the heart through the lateral openings of the chambers. The blood consists of a usually colorless, or sometimes yellow- ish, greenish, or reddish liquid, in which float colorless, some- times nucleated corpuscles. P. P. C. -o- Additions and Corrections to the list of Dragonflies (Odonata) of Manchester, KennebecCo., Maine. BY MISS MATTIE WADSWORTH. (See ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS vol. i, pp. 36, 55.) la. Calopteryx sequabilis Say. 1890, June 21, one £ taken near brook. liu. Enallag-ma ebrium Hagen. A single £ taken several years ago, recently identified. 66. Enallagma civile Hagen. One £ , also recently identified. 16«. Neuraeschna vinosa Say. 1890, August ii, one £ flying over brook. 18(i. Gomphus (Undetermined species). One 9 taken several years ago. 32. This species given as " Cordulia new? species" is C. cynosura variety. 1890, June 21, one 9> one 9, near brook. June 28, one £ in pasture. 37«. Plathemis trimacujata De Geer. 1890, June 18, 21, £ £ seen near woods; 28, one 9 in woods; June 30, July 2, 18, 29, near woods, brook and roadside. Au- gust 4, one 9 in woods. 43. Diplax new? species is D. ornata Eatnb. 1890, July 9, one £ by roadside; August 6, one £ in meadow; August 7, one £ , three 9 9 in pasture; August 12, one seen flying; August 20, one $ in pasture. 44. Diplax semicincta Say. One £ taken some time ago, recently identified. 12 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Junuary, The total number of species from Manchester known to me, including the undetermined Gomphi(s, is now fifty species. Of these two are Calopterygina, eleven Agrionina, seven ^Eschnina, eight Gomphina, nine Cofdulina, thirteen Libellulina.* As before each species has been identified by Mr. Philip P. Calvert, of Philadelphia, who has given me much assistance in the study of the Odonata. Notes and Ne^vvs. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit, and will thankfully receive item of news, likely to interest its readers, from any source. The author's name will be given in each case for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] In the future all papers received for publication in the News -will be printed according to date of reception. See change of wording in notice of Identification of Insects. WE give as a supplement to the present number an exchange list, which will save the entomologist the trouble and labor of making out written lists, either of duplicates or desiderata, to send to correspondents. Num- bers are also unsatisfactory, as they have to be copied from a list and re- ferred to a list by the recipient. The editor has often been in need of such a list, and thus it originated. All that is necessary is to mark the list and put it in an envelope and send it on its way, hoping thereby to receive many fine additions to one's collection. — ED. ALETIA ARGILLACEA Hub. — Apropos of a note on this insect in the December number of ENT. NEWS (p. 154) by Prof. Killicott, I wish to state that argillacea has been very rare the past season, if indeed it has appeared at all, at Buffalo, N. Y. About October ist, when it should be most abundant, I was frequently out after moths, but failed to detect a single example of this species. — E. P. VAN DUZEE. We have recently heard from Mr. Win. H. Ashmead, who writes from No. ii W. Alvensleben Strasse, Berlin, that he. is having a good time studying the large collections in the Museum. "The collection of exotic Lepidoptera is simply grand, and, for a lepidopterist, is simply a paradise. The Hymenoptera, especially in the micros, are poorly repre- sented, but I find a good many interesting forms in what they have among the macros." * In a letter dated November ri:tni I^9o]i accompanying the MS. of the above " Addi- tions," Miss Wadsworth writes: " Some species quite common before have been much less so this season, particularly Anax j'uniu s, which, in 1889, was one of the most common species. This'year I saw but one specimen, and that on June joth." So far as my obser- vations go, this remark is also true for the relative abundance of junius in Delaware County, Pa., in 1889 and 1890.— PHILIP P. CALVERT. 1891.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 13 MR. C. \V. JOHNSON'S report of capture of Neonympha Milchcllii at Dover, N. J., in rocky and hilly territory, leads me to make a correction as to its habits in Michigan. When first found I took only a few speci- mens, and all on a rather dry meadow, near a wet meadow and marsh. Since then I find that they are much more common in the marshy portion of the territory referred to. I have taken many specimens of Neonympha Cant/ins, N. eurytris, N. sosybiiis and N. Mitchellii, — the sosybins in Florida — and find Mitchellii much closer to sosybius in habits of flight than to either of the others. It flies low, for short distances, in a weakly manner, and is best started by beating up, or by walking rapidly and noisily through the grass. Sosybius is stronger and quicker on the wing, is a more "artful dodger," and flies a little farther. If there is more than one brood of Mitchellii in a season, the last one begins to fly July ist. I have taken it from July ist to loth. As far as I can tell it conies in quickly and goes off the field rather abruptly after a short period of life. I. N. MITCHELL. DEVELOPMENT OF DIBOLIA /EREA. — The habits of this little beetle ap- pear to be familiar, but the following notes on its period of development may be of interest: The larvae were found abundantly on Plantain (Plan- tago major] at LeClaire, Iowa, about Aug. i, 1890. They make an open, ing in the epidermis of the leaf which they enter, gradually eating their way. Sometimes a larva makes a tunnel, then goes back and starts a branch to it. If the leaf becomes too dry, some will leave and enter a fresh one, but in ordinary cases they remain in their leaf until they are ready to pupate. When full grown they are 3-4 mm. in length. The period of pupation is fourteen days. Up to the twelfth day the pupa is yellow, on that day a slight coloring of the eyes is noticed, the following day the tarsi become black, and the fourteenth day the beetle appears, becomes entirely black and begins to move about. Eight beetles lived five days after emergence without food; after Plantain leaves were intro- duced they ate freely. — P. H. ROLFS, Ames, la. I HAVE observed this past season an unusual number of the larvae of Sphinx qninqnemacnlata on the tomato vines. In the Summer of iSSi they were a veritable pest in this locality, but since then they were scarce, only an occasional isolated specimen being found until the late Summer, when they were again abundant. The country people are very much afraid of them, and one frequently hears extravagant tales of horrible suffering from the effects of their sting. I find the observations made relative to the limited range of Satynts a/ope (January number) corroboraU-d by my own knowledge of the spe- cies in this locality as I have observed the same individuals in the same locality until they died. On August i2th I took a larva of C. rega/is feeding on a plum tree; I fed it plum leaves for a week when it pupated. This is, to me, a new food-plant for C. regalis, as I have never found it on any thing but the walnut. — STEPHEN BALDY, Catawissa, Pa. 14 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [January, Identification of Insects (Imagos) for Subscribers. Specimens will be named under the following conditions: ist, The number of speci- mens to be unlimited for each sending ; 2d, The sender to pay all expenses of transporta- tion and the insects to become the property of the American Entomological Society ; 3d, Each specimen must have a number attached so that the identification may be an- nounced accordingly. Twelve names, if possible, will appear in each issue of NEWS according to number. Address packages to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, Academy Natural Sciences, Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pa. H. MEESKE. — i, Cicindela i6-punctata; 2, Cicindela vulgaris, var. ; 3, Macrodactylus subspinosa; 4, Cicindela pusilla, var. cyaiiellus; 5, Epi- tragus canaliculatus; 6, Necrophorus marginatus; 7, Chrysochns auratus; 8, Trox sonora:; 9, Hippodamia convergens; 10, Chrysomela scalaris. E. WILKINSON. — 2, Carpophilus palilpennis; 4, SphccropMhalma or- chis; 5, Bombus pennsylvanicus <^; 6, Orthosoma britnnciiiii; 7, Necro- phorus americanus; 8, Solpugidae (belongs to); 9, Allorhina nitida? 10, Eleodes longicollis; u, Hippomelas ccclatus; 12, Psiloptera dilaticollis. CHAS. FUCHS. — i, Eleodes hispilabris; 2, E. carbonaria, smooth var. ; 3, E. quadricollis 9 ', 4, E. obsolefa, var. ; 5, E. carbonaria, var. soror; 6, E. extricata; 7, Discogenia marginata; 8, Eleodes cordata; 9, E. con- sobrina; 10, E. cordata; ir, E. parvico Us; 12, E. obscura. G. D. B. — i, Catocala concumbens; 2, Ctemicha virginicafs, Micro- * ccelia obliterata; 4, Heliophila unipiincta? $, Hadena sputatrixf f>, Ag-^ rotis messoriaf 7, Plusip contexta; 8, Eustrotfacarnepla; 9, Hypena sp. ;"3 10, Tetrads cKOcallata; u, Pyrophila pyranndoides; 12, Metayema quer- civoraria. d- " From Haddonfield, N. J., wingless females of a Geometrid moth, per- haps genus Anisopteryx. Entomological Literature. BULLETIN FROM THE LABORATORIES OF NATURAL HISTORY OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, vol. ii, No. i, contains the continuation of the monograph entitled, "The Pselaphidae of North America, by E. Brendel, M.D., and H. F. Wickham (concluded), 85 pp., 3 plates, 63 figs. Full descriptions with synoptic tables of the species are given. THE ENTOMOLOGIST, November, 1890. — Additions to the British List of Deltoids, Pyralids and Crambi since 1859 (with plates), by Richard South. The sexes of LEPIDOPTERA, by T. D. A. Cockerell. Contribu- tions to the Chemistry of Insect Colors, by F. H. Perry Coste. Entomo- logical notes, captures, etc. Doings of Societies. THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE, November, 1890. — Hon- do Coccids produce cavities in Plants? by W. M. Maskell. Notes on the LEPIDOPTERA of Digne (Basses Alpes), by A. H. Jones. Entomological iSgi.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 15 notes from Aden and Colombo, by J. ]. Walker. Notes concerning Psocus quadrimaculatus Latreille, of which Ps. subnebulosus S&epti. is a synonym, by Robert McLachlan. Aculeate HVMKNOPTERA collected by f. }. Walker at Gibraltar and in North Africa, by Edw. Saunders. Notes and Captures, Doings of Societies, etc., finish the number. TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA vol. xiii, pt. i. — Descriptions of Australian LEPIDOPTERA, pt. i, by E. Meyrick. Further notes on Australian COLEOPTERA, by Rev. T. Blackburn. A CONTRIBUTION TOWARD A KNOWLEDGE OF THE MOUTH PARTS OF THE DIPTERA, by Prof. J. B. Smith (from Trans. Am. Ent. Soc.). This is an interesting essay of twenty pages with twenty -two figures; very little has been written on the anatomy of the mouth parts of DIPTERA, and Prof. Smith's paper is an important addition to the literature of the sub- ject. He states that he studied each organ in its entirety, in its rela- tion to others, and in its development, and that the studies were morpho- logical rather than anatomical. THE ENTOMOLOGIST'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE, December. 1890. — Notes on the British species of the genus Anthonomus, with a description of a species new to Britain, by Rev. Canon Fowler. Hymenopterological notes, by P. Cameron. Description of a new species of the genus/% ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [January, officers to serve for the coming year: Director, Dr. G. H. Horn; Vice- Director, H. C. McCook, D.D.; Treasurer, E. T. Cresson; Recorder, Henry Skinner, M.D.; Publication Committee, Philip Laurent and Henry Skinner, M.D.; Corresponding Secretary, Angelo Heilprin; Conservator, Dr. Henry Skinner. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 1890. — Mr. Ervvin F. Smith was elected a member of the Society. Mr. Schvvarz exhibited a larva of the genus Carabus with deformed maxillary palpi. The right palpus is normally formed, except that the suture between the first and second joints is nearly obliterated; the left palpus is only 3-jointed, with the joints nearly transverse, as in Calosoma. Mr. Marlatt exhibited three female specimens of a species of the Try- phonid genus Metopius. The strikingly large and peculiar ovipositor of this species was described, and reference was made to the literature re- lating to this genus, from which it appears that the female has never been properly characterized, if indeed it has ever been described at all. Dr. Marx gave some additional notes on his experiments with the bite of Lath rode ctus, but stated that the results had been wholly negative. Mr. Howard read a paper entitled, "The Habits of Pachyneuron," in which he referred to the breeding records of this genus of Chalcididae, recording twenty distinct rearings in North America, and made a number of interesting deductions therefrom. Mr. Schwarz read a paper on the food habits of Cprthyluspunctatissimus. This Scolytid, previously known to infest the subterranean part of the stems of Sugar Maple saplings, was found in large numbers in the roots and subterranean stems of the common huckleberry, Gaylussacia resinosa , in the vicinity of Washington during September and October. In this connection Mr. Schwarz presented the description of a second North American Corthylus, C. spinifer, from semi-tropical Florida. Mr. Marlatt presented a paper on the Final Molting of Tenthredinid Larvae, in which he described the molting undergone by the larva of nearly all saw-flies after full growth is reached and just prior to spinning up or entering the ground to pupate, describing also the accompanying change of color. Reference was made to the scanty literature of the subject and the explanation of this molt by Cameron on the ground of protection. Mr. Townsend read a paper on the Leptid (Dipterous) genera Tripto- tricha Lw. and Agnotomyia Will. Mr. Townsend does not believe that the species of Triptotricha, with only one front tibial spur, should, with- out other distinguishing characters, be generically separated from those possessing two. Mr. Fernow called attention to the ravages of Gastropacha inonacha, particularly in Bavaria, stating that it has probably been introduced in the present instance from Italy. General discussion followed on a novel method employed in Europe of collecting and destroying this Bombycid. C. L. MARLATT, Recording Secretary. Compiled by Dr. HENRY SKINNEK. List of duplicates and desiderata of Duplicates marked + Desiderata marked - For Sale by ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. Apply to the Editor. PRICE.— Single copy, 5 cents; two to ten copies, 3 cents each; over ten copies, 2 cents each- Papilio ajax a abbotii b walshii c marcellus d telamouides americus asterias a asteroides b calverleyii c alumata bairdii brevicauda cresphontes daunus eurymedon a albauus indra macliaon a aliaska mylotes nezhualcoytl nitra palamedes pe.rgainus philenor pi lu mu us ])olydamas rutulus a arizonensis b ammoni si non tlioas troilus turn us a glaucus zolicaon clodius a menetriesii eversmani a thor nomion siuintheus a behrii b hermodur c nanus nielite Neophasia meuapia a sufl'usa terlooii I'ieris amaryllis beckerii ilaire monuste a pbileta napi a acadica 6 bryoniae c borealis d flava e frigida / hulda g oleracea h pallida i venosa nelsoni occidentalis a calyce protodice a vernalis rapse a immaculata b c manni d nov-auglise e yreka sisymbri virginiensis Nathalie iole a iri'iie A ul lux- ausoiiides a coloradensis cethura creusa genntia hyantis julia lanceolata morrisoiii olympia pima reakirtii rosa sara Stella thoosa agarithe argante cipris eubule pbilea seiinge statira Kricogoiiia fantasia lanice lyside a terissa tioiicpteryx mserula clorinde Meganostoma csesonia eiu-ydice a amorphge Colias alexandra behrii boothii a cliione clii]ti)ewa Christina o astrsea edwardsii elis emilia eurytheme d ariadnc b oripliylc c keewaydin harfordii hecla a glacialis b liela interior meadii moina nastes » occidentalis a clirysuinelas palseno pelidne philodice « an thy ale b albinic c melauic d "ig e virida scudderii Tori as damaris delia elathea guudlachia jucuuda linda lisa a flava mexicaua iiicippe a flava proterpia westwoodii Thecla acis acadica affinis adenostomatis alcestis apama augustus auretorum antolycluis behrii calanus « lorata californica a cyan us castalis clialcis clytie col inn el la rr\ sal us a citima dryope dumetoruni edwardsii eryphon favonius fotis f'uligiuosa 11 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS — SUPPLEMENT. grunus ammon halesus ajina benrici annetta bumuli antiacis ines a bebrii iroides b mertila irus aquilo a arsace ardea 6 mossii aster itys battoides Iseta clara leda comyntas m -album couperii melinus cyna a pudica dsedalus nelsoni exilis a exoleta ful la 6 muirii fileuus niphon ghuicon Ontario gyas pceas beteronea putnami icaroides sfepium a maricopa a fulvescens isopbthalma sheridauii kodiak siva lot is smilacis lycea spinetornm lygdamus spadix a oro strigosa marina sylvinus monica tacita pembina tetra pberes titus pbileros witfeldii podarce pseudargiolus Feniseca a arizoueusis tarquiuius b ciuerea c lucia Chry sophaii us d marginata a rota e neglecta cupreus / nigra dioue g violacea dorcas rustica editba saepiolus epixantbe sagittigera floras scudderii gorgon shasta helloides sonorensis bermes speciosa liypophleas striata a americana theonus a fasciata xerxes c feildeni mariposa 1, vision J:is rubidus ares sir ius a cleis snowi cythera tbce duryi virginieusis mormo xantboides nais zeros palmerii virgulti Lycrena borealis caenius nemesis Etimciiia atala minyas Libytliea bach man i carinenta larvata charitonia Daiiais archippus berenice strigosa Ceratiiiia lycaste a negreta Median itis californiea l>i !•<•<> 11 11 a klugii delila julia Agraulis vanillse Kuptoieta claudia hegesia electra epithore a kreimhild eurynome a erinna freya a tarquinius frigga a saga halcyone helena liesperis hippolyta idalia a ashtaroth improba inoruata lais laura leto liliana a baron ii macaria montinus monticola a purpurascens montivaga my rin a nausicaii nevadensis a meadii uitocris nokomis opis polaris rhodope rupestris a ireue semiramis triclaris zerene acnion afra alee arnica amyutulal Eurygona abreas C'alephelis austral is Argynnis adiante Melitrca acastus alberta alcestis albiplaga alma aphrodite artonis anicia arachne atlantis atossa augusta baroni bebrensii bollii bellona brucei bischoffi chalcedon boisduvallii « dwinolh-i bremnerii chara butlerii colon calippe carpenterii cbariclea a obscurata cooperi definita dymas editha chi tone ful via clio Columbia gabbii harrisii coronis lielvia cybele bofnianni cypris diana « helcita leanira I'dwardsii a obsolcta egleis incgliisbiiiii ENTOMOLOGICAL XKNVS — sri'PI.F.MKXT. Ill mimita nubigena a wheeleri iiympha pal la perse phteton « superba 6 quino rubicunda sterope taylori theckla Ulrica whitneyii wrightii I'hyciocles batesii caruillus a pallida b rnata carlota montana mylitta nycteis a drusius orseis phaon picta pratensis tharos a marcia 6 morpheus c packard i vesta Eresia frisia punctata ianthe adjutrix crocale erodyle janais mediatrix Cystiiieura amymone Grapta comma a barrisii b dryas faun us gracilis by las interrogationis a fabricii 6 umbrosa j -album progne rusticus satyrus a marsyas sileuus a oreas silvius zephryus Vanessa antiopa a hygirea californica milberti Pyrameis atalanta cardui a elymi b ate carye buntera Jmioiiia coeuia a orythia genoveva Aiiartia jatropbte Eii 1*0111:1 letbe Euiiica monima C'allicure clymena Timetes chirou coresia eleucba petreus Diatlema misippus l,i DK'il Bl is artbemis a lamiuia 6 proserpina disippus a floridensis eros a obsoleta hulstii lorquini nrsula' a arizonensis weidemeyerii a sine-fascia Meterocbroa californica A pat lira alicia antonia a montis celtis clytori 6 ocellata codes flora leila Papliia morrisonii troglodyta Ageroiiia feronia foruax Victoriua steneles Diadcma Debis portlaudia areolatus cantbus eurytris gemma bensbawi mitchellii rubricata sosybius C'oeiiouynipha ampelos brenda California a ceres 6 eryngii c galactinus d pulla elko inornata kodiak ocbracea pampbiloides Erebia disa a mauciuus discoidalis epipsodea a brucei fasciata haydenii magdaleua rossi i sofia tyndarus a callias vesagus tritonia Hippatrchia dioiiysius ridingsii « texana b maritima c nephele r/ olympus e boopis / hicana ariane ash ta roth baron i charon gabii meadii oetus paulus pegala silvestris sthenele wheeleri Calais californica crambis chryxus gigas iduna ivallda jutta macounii iievadensis norna semidea subbyalina tarpeia taygete ubleri varuna Carteroceplialus mandan omaha Aiicyloxypha numitor alope Satyrus arene euuus rnyrtis procris a waco wrightii Tliymelicii* garita p