ser caer SL pesusevy tir en ss Raat wm p. we Peles 24 sare | ee . crane: gigi: Repnsabtweareg Sabi 2 : so 4 Es ee rs on a : caer tS % : 3 | eet ae deseatataers Sy iets pattre: Pee ese Sie ey he: a = rit: soeeeirsste Restate pgreeegMr a angr perintgey eimeca ss : poset + veer eins = 3 aa S dea zr ase § : prea 3 wis : : oe eat bets Sool Bive-ver rt? ?- “i ie F ) ae AS Lip, OLOGICAL. S _Spctiox i Poy, At)" ois cel SCIENCES 6" HAUS 5 ADVISORY COMM CHARLES A. BLAKE. _ Puivip P. (CALVERT. nic Entomologists - ~ Colle ing in Pennsylvania . ~ Collecting by Lamplight . . 69, 91 i P “Doings of Societies 3I, 48, 63, 79 115, 135 150% 167-. = ta ntomology 70, 86, 102, 57- rical Literature 13, 29, 44, 7, 95, 112, 131, 147, 162. nology at Longport, N. J. 142 cursic ‘to Jamesburg . 94, 111 >-made Cork .: 12 ‘ter to Editor ay 27 oD tallic Colors in Insects, nara lution of ia o% a? 3 - and News 10, 26, 4I, 57 74, » 110, 128, 145, 160. 2s from Colorado . 75 1a) . 146 phia’s 5 White Pathe II »s and Answers 62 atific Research in Mexico. 41 carried off by Pompi- See . 128, 145 _ Spider’s Web, ‘balls of 44 Whistling Trees . . 28 COLEOPTERA. 57 cinclus 58 . idze of a season . 158 ’ Siautes on 53 pasty: Sspiculatus 161 Fond of Grammar 38 Jewels that are Alive . 28 _ Notes on Coleoptera . 9, 52 Notes from the Northwest . 33 oh the Habits of some Meloini 89 alone punctatus 12 — on the N. J. coast 12 , Ont., Beetles at 43 INDEX TO VOLUME I. DIPTERA. - Interesting Method of Egg De- position .... . 39 _ Mosquitoes at Cape May . 128 Mosquitoes, Exterminating . 76 s HEMIPTERA. Acanthia papistriliain the nests of Barn Swallows : 26 Apple Pest, a new . mee Empoasca birdii n. sp. 19 Metrobates hesperius . ae 6 (0) Siphonophora or Nectarophora? 20 Timothy Bugs . 75 HYMENOPTERA. Aculeate Hymenoptera new to Pennsylvania and N. Jersey. 83 Bombus, notes on . Ae ee, | Dolerus arvensis, D. unicolor. 94 Ichneumon suturalis . SGI Inhabitants of a Hickory Nut. 49 New Hymenoptera 106, 137 Celioxys dolichos . . 107 Hoplisus foveolata . . 106 Miscophus americanus . 138- Philanthus eurynome . . 107 Photopsis Cressoni . 2k, 138 Sphex (Isodontia) macro- cephalus . 137 Oviposition of itriaion . 139 Pimpla grapholithe n. sp. 50 Polybia cubensis in Florida... 93 @ethiops catching a se 128 mitiiidee carrying off Spiders 145 Spain Venation 88 Vespa wulgaris. . . . 161 W at are the Uses of Bright lors in Hymenoptera . 65 Yucca Insects 75 | LEPIDOPTERA. Actias luna . £,976;.93 Aletia argillacea . . 154 Bananas as Bait 93, 129 ashe) ii Bite of Caterpillar as Cause of Death . 146 Butterflies found at icipe May’. 6 Butterflies on Ixtaccihuatl . . 111 Butterfly bathing . 130 Cabinet, A new form of . . 126 Callosamia angulifera . 58, 146 Canonympha eggs 75 Charaxes athamas 93 Coliasinterior’. . 43 Colias philodice var. ste p 93, 130 Coloradia pandora, \arva of . 145 Datana contracta, preparatory stages of . 144 Erebia discoidalis . po eraG Erebia epipsodea a: See Geographical Variation . 84 Glanville Fritillary 75 Gortyna nitella, larva of . 136 Hesperidz, New African . 155 Proteides margaritata . 155 P. iricolor . . 156 P. laterculus . f . 156 Hesperidz, North picavicen ar Hop Worms. ;? + Larve rearing, Somer giperi- ences in. 108, 117 Lepidoptera New to Our Lists. 105 May Moths in New Hampshire 17 Neonympha Mitchelli in N. J. . 129 Notes on Lepidoptera 51 Papilio macleyanus . 130 Papilio palamedes . . . Te Pamphila Aaronin. sp.. . 6, 128 Pamphila panoquin . TE Phobetron pithecium . : 160 Random Notes on Lepidoptera 19 Smerinthus astylus 21 Swarm of Butterflies . . 10 Teinopalpus imperialis . 57 Terias nicippe . . 129 Tropical species in Plarida . . 153 What can it be? 124 Winter Collecting in Florida Sr, 1O1 NEUROPTERA. Dragonflies at Night . . 146 INDEX. List of Maine Dragonflies . 36, 38 Notes on N. Am. Odonata. . 73 Virginian Dragonflies . . . 22 CONTRIBUTORS TO VOL. I. Aaron, E. M., . I, 12-15, 23, 29, 30 Sa » aes 6 Ballard, Mrs. J. P., . aca. Beutenmiiller, W.,. . . 58, 144 Blake, C. A.., ae 44, 58, 127, 1 136. Bunker, R., . 108, 117 Calvert, P. P.,. . 14, 22, 70, 73, 86, 102, 119, 140, 157 Cockerell, T. D. A., 3, 27, 58, 65, 75) 161 meeiey, A.B... «>. es ee meeason, E. T.,.. 2.) See Dyar, H. G., . 105, 160 Ehrman,G.A., . . . «93, 130 Fox, W.J., . 83, 93, 106, 137, 145 meeech, G. H., ... +, See Gillette, Prof. C. P., 26, 94, 139, 161 Goding, F. W., . 123, 129 Hamilton, Dr. J., 12, 49, 142 Hill, W.M.,: . ,.; << ee Holland, Rev: W. Hy : 155 Horn, Dr. G. H., 9, 53; is: 99, 160 eS Re 39 Kellicott, D. Sy ae ae fomes, F.M., . -.- Sg Kunze, Dr. R., . aha Liebeck, C., . . « 32a tse Lugger, Prof.O.,. . . +. + 38 Lyman, H. H.,. . 146 Martindale, I. C., a ae Peters, E. D. jr., . - = Seas Robertson, C., . a Slosson, Mrs. A. T., 17, 81, 101 Skinner, Dr. H., 6, 10, 11, 12, Gis, 31, 51, 58, 76, 84, 129 Smith, Prof. J. B., . Summers, Prof. H. E.., Van Winkle, A. S., Wadsworth, Miss M., Weed, Dr. C. M., Wickham, H. F., : Williston, Prof. S. W., 99, 145 «280 a an aie ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION, ACADEMY NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. I. JANUARY, 1890. No. 1. CONTENTS: Announcement : 1 | Notes and News : 10 Cockerell—On. Metallic Colors..........0+. 3 | Entomological Literature..............0..06 13 Skinner—On Collecting at Cape May... 6 | ExchangeS...cssssecssessssseeresrscesescssvenseess 16 Horn—Notes on Coleoptera.......sesssseees 9 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, Mass. 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. News 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- I 2 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ Jan. mologists 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 its way 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 1st 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 résumé 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 receive from its readers, at any time, criticisms of its work and suggestions for its improvement. 1890. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 3 Scientific papers, news-notes, reports of societies, etc., are needed from all sources to make this journal just what its name implies, a compend of entomological news. EuGENE M. AARON. The Evolution of Metallic Colors in Insects. BY T. D. A. COCKERELL. Metallic coloring in insects cannot be a very recent develop- ment, for we have good evidence that it existed in later Eocene or Miocene times, a Chryszs having been discovered in the Flo- rissant fossil-beds in Colorado. Nevertheless, probably no one would propose that the earliest insects, even of the orders now presenting metallic species in abundance were metallic. There 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 the insect which we might suppose least specialized as regards 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 insects. The primitive color is probably ¢esfaceous, with variations to rufous, orange and yellow. The legs and under parts are often so colored where the upper parts are darker or metallic. Pale legs not unfrequently have dark joints, and this may be related to stimuli due to the motion of the parts. Pimpla conquisitor well illustrates the dark- ening about the joints, as well as the difference between the color of legs and-body. Sometimes, however, these conditions are reversed, as in pio coloradensis, which is a reddish orange species with the legs mainly black. From testaceous there is variation to dark brown of various shades—rufous-brown and black. It has been noticed how often phytophagous, and especially wood-eating beetles are brown, and there is good reason to suppose that tannin has influenced their color. Mr. Slater (Ent. Mo. Mag. 1887, p. 72) remarks on the presence of tannin in the tissues of phytophagous beetles, and M. Villon (Atheneum, 1887, p. 787) found tannin in corn-weevils. The non-metallic series of colors, then is something like this : 4 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ Jan. pale rufous, testaceous, orange or yellow,* 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, Lacnea, Dermestes, etc. Metallic colors seem to have their beginning at either end of the series, but it would seem that, whereas testaceous insects vary to metallic yellows and yellowish greens, black insects vary to blue. If black is highest in the non-metallic series, so we might expect that blue, to which it varies, would be higher than yellow or green in the metallic series, and this, I believe, is precisely the case. Harpalus eneus is sometimes dull and sometimes metallic green, or coppery. The green form, being the commonest, is regarded as the type, but no doubt the dull variety is the oldest, and the green the newest, or highest. The dull forms, then, are atavisms. The same sort of thing occurs in Meligethes rufipes, and a speci- men was even found (Ent. Mo. Mag. 1885, p. 217) with one ely- tron dull reddish, and the other with a slight greenish metallic tinge. This case of partial or unilateral atavism is not unique. I have recorded a parallel case, though not relating to metallic colors, in Dermestes fasciatus (Entom. 1889, p. 119). Trirhabda convergens has a variety which I call vivescens, common at West Cliff, Col., in which the elytra, except a yellow costal or outer border, are rather dull metallic green. Here we see the tendency of the edges of the elytra to keep the original color, a very common thing with many beetles, and often a fixed specific character. Dark species in the genus Lougifarsus sometimes tend to be- come bronzed. Cvrepidodera longula, as described by Dr. Horn, is rufo-testaceous, with a greenish lustre. These are the beginnings of metallic colors at the lower end of the series. The paler the non-metallic form, the yellower its metallic variety, and herel am ~ assuming that all metallic forms were once varieties. In Haltica we have beautiful series of variations and changes from metallic golden to blue. From the distribution given by Dr. Horn (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1889, p. 219, ef seg.) it would appear that golden, green and bronzy forms are more * And the yellow varying and changing, as it does throughout organic nature, to scarlet, but this is beside our present purpose. cenit ath teen: el At aianetenaiiee teaming: aes = eer: Bae 3 1890. | _ ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 5 \p e - E prevalent in the mountains and to the north, while blue is a south- ‘ern characteristic. This, however, isnot an invariable rule. In iy Hi. ignita there is a regular geographical sequence southward from ft" golden through green to blue. The cupreous and greenish varie- ties of H. chalybea mentioned by Dr. Horn I regard as atavisms. Here, though, it becomes necessary to define one’s notion of atavism. Commonly, it is said to be 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. e- (2) Due to arrest of development and consequent resemblance - to a less-developed or differentiated ancestor. The first class is due to abnormal development, the second to 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 Chrysomele. C. gettingensis, which lived concealed at the roots of herbage, was dark blue. C. hyperic’, on Hypericum, and more exposed, is green. Here seems protective adaptation to circumstances ; or perhaps we may say that C. hyperici would have developed in time to blue, but natural selection prevented it. C. gettingensis has beautifully pink wings, but these need not be considered in the present connection. Dr. Hamilton found a variety of Calosoma wilcoxi, varying from its normal green 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. welcoxi. In Carabus we have C. nitens with something the color of Cad. wilcoxi, and the coloring of Dr. Hamilton’s variety is a permanent institution in C. véolaceus. A. Bergé found he could actually manipulate these color changes in Carabus by chemical means, and produce certain “ varieties’’ at will. 8 LK pe EN mF: 6 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. , [ Jan. Metallic-blue grades into black. Pecilus mauritanicus looks black, but shines a brilliant blue-green. Perilampus cyaneus is blue, but P. Aya/inus, 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. ignifa. 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. But 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. Ly) Vv 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.—Antenne, 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 discal 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 for about one-eighth inch and covering only the lower half of the base is 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. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 7 of the exterior margin, but widens considerably as it approaches the apex; this border and the immaculate secondaries are of a light cinnamon-brown color. There is a brownish black streak running along the interior margin of underside of primaries. 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 ?. hobomok, and beneath P. delaware, except in color. Largest specimen 9 expands 1¥% inch. and the smallest $ 1 inch. De- scribed from 7 8 $ 1 9. It is no 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 Statice limonium var. America- num, which grows in the salt meadows, but was quite rare and exceedingly wild and difficult to capture, making off in a straight line when any movement was made near it. The seven specimens represented about ten days careful collecting. THE LIMITED 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 of 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 alope, which 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 same a/ofe 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 were rubbed, etc., as most of the specimens at this time were badly flown. I made this species the subject of some study at the time, and came to the conclusion that it undergoes its trans- formations and lives its entire life in a very restricted area. A form with one ocellus is found at Cape May, which Mr. Edwards thinks is not pega/a, but a variety of alope. 8 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ Jan. EGG-LAYING OF TERIAS LISA. The female Zerias /isa deposits its eggs in a very systematic and uniform 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 the plant and walks up the leat 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 upperside of the stem or mid-rib that runs between the leaflets. It moves with great 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, N. J., in September. THE FIRST STAGES OF PAMPHILA PANOQUIN. August 22d, Pamphila panoguin was exceedingly abundant on the meadows flying about and feeding on the flowers of Statice. They were fine, bright specimens. This species does not seem to have as much of the jerky flight as most species of the genus, 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 few eggs in the paper in which it was confined, not having been pinched hard enough to — cause immediate death. One hatched August 27th, and the young larva was about one-eighth inch in length and was different ~ from any Hesperid larva I had ever seen in being cream-white in color. Under the microscope it showed six or eight small point- like warts on each segment. The head was of a light coffee color darker toward the front. It entirely devoured the egg shell. The eggs were of the usual form in the genus and of a pale greenish white color. I tried to rear it on lawn grass, which it absolutely 5 en, 1890. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. | 9 + refused to eat, and thus suicided. The remaining eggs I sent to Mr. W. H. Edwards, but they failed to hatch. The female pano- qguin differs from the other sex in being larger, several shades darker in color, and in having the maculations on the superior wings much more sharply defined and brighter in color. There 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 Junonia cenia larve were found feeding on Gerardia tenutfolium, which, as far as I know, is a new food- plant for the species. vat Vv NOTES ON COLEOPTERA. BY GEO. H. HORN, M. D. From the remarks of Mr. Fauvel (Revue Ent. 1889, p. 142) it is evident that two species of Cryptohypnus have been confounded under one name by many of the Coleopterists of Europe, notably by Dr. Candéze, whose work has been accepted as authority on the family ELATERID#@ 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 homes. €. pulchellus Linn., exiguus Rand., guttatulus Mels. The above line appears in Dr. Hamilton’s paper on the Cole- optera of the sub-arctic regions common to both hemispheres. From the remarks of Fauvel two species have been confounded under pulchellus, which have a great superficial similarity ; these are: C. pulchellus Linn.—Thorax with posterior angles sinuate, di- vergent and acute at the apex, the strize of the elytra obsolete at the tip. C. sabulicola Boh.—Thorax with posterior angles arcuate, rather incurved, obtuse at apex, elytra deeply striate, the inter- vals subcostiform. : Any one who will read the descriptions of Randall and Mels- heimer, which are remarkably good, will see that we have in our fauna pulchellus as described by Fauvel. 10 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ Jan. C. guadripunctatus Fab., does not occur in our fauna, although we have a representative species in perflexus Horn, which has a longer thorax and the humeral elytral spots only. C. dermestoides Hbst. var. guadriguttatus 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 Candéze, 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 News. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE. [The Conductors of ENTOoMOLoGICcAL 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 ‘cr the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] a A Roya. ENTomo_Locist.—Recently the Grand Duke Nicholas, of Russia, was elected a corresponding member of the Acad. Nat. Sci. of Philadelphia, in recognition of his services to Entomology. He is one of the few men of science of royal rank, and is editor and part writer of one of the finest works of recent years on Lepidoptera. The work was commenced in 1884, and at present consists of five handsome volumes, the last published recently. They are profusely illustrated in the most sumptuous manner by the best artists of Europe. He has sent out several collecting expeditions under a guard of Cossacks, which turned up many new and rare species. The work is entitled ‘‘ Memoirs sur les Lepidop- teres rediges,’’ par N. M. Romanoff (Grand Duke Nicholas), of St. Peters- bourg. The first article is ‘‘ Les Lepidopteres de la Transcaucasie,”’ by 1890. ] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. II N. M. Romanoff, and is continued in the succeeding volumes. He has a collection of Lepidoptera, and has corresponded and exchanged with Dr. Strecker, of Reading, who has received many finé specimens from him. H. SKINNER. PHILADELPHIA’s “‘ WHITE PasHa.’’—Dr. W. L. Abbott, an ornithologist and entomologist, well known in Philadelphia, is making quite a reputation in East Central Africa as an explorer and naturalist. Before leaving this - country he presented his fine collection of birds to the Philadelphia Acad- -emy. He also possessed a fine collection of Lepidoptera, mostly local species. Dr. Abbott is a life member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, a graduate of the Towne Scientific School and the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, and member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of England. He collected birds in the far West in 1881, and birds and insects in Hayti in 1883, and presented the latter to _ the American Entomological Society; among these was a new species of _ Anartia and other rarities. He was with Herr Ehlers, who 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 fever. More birds have been collected by him than by any one who has visited the Kilmanjaro region (550 species). At last accounts Dr. Abbott was preparing a large expedition into Masai land. Stevens, the round-the- world bicyclist, alludes to him quite frequently in his letters to the New York World. He describes the natives as singing his praises as follows : “Our Wanyamwezi, marching together in the same regular order as yesterday, struck up a vociferous and truly African refrain, while the rest of the caravan sung the chorus. No matter’ how hot the day or how tired his limbs, the porter seems always ready to split his throat in singing and shouting. For this or for dancing he seldom gets too tired. The Wan- yamwezi are noted shouters. They commenced a song in praise of the white man, and-many joined in heartily. “Great is the mzunger! Woh! woh!” sung the melodists from the Land of the Moon. _ “Woh! woh! woh! the Mzu-u-gu-u-u! woh!’ chorused the caravan. “The Mzungu is great! woh!” “Woh! woh! woh! the Mzu-u-g-u-u! woh!” . “Great is the Merikain! (Dr. Abbott, who is widely known by that proud title among the natives of East Central Africa) woh !”” “Woh! woh! woh! the Merikain, woh!” *‘Our food is rice and fish! woh!” ‘Woh! woh! woh! rice and fish !”’ *‘Woh! our food is rice and fish !”’ ‘Great is the Mzungu! woh!” “Woh ! woh! woh! the Mzungu woh!” ‘“ He gives us rupees! rupees !’’ “Woh! woh! woh! he gives us rupees! rupees! woh !’,—H. SKINNER. 12 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ Jan. PHyToNomus Punctatus FaB.—The appearance of this weevil in this vicinity for the first time and in numbers, is one of the remarkable inci- dents in Coleoptera occurring during the year just ended. The first speci- mens were taken about the first week in May and the last the early part of November. At irregular intervals itappeared very abundantly, and but few days passed without at least one or two specimens being observed. It is singular that, when this insect makes its appearance in any locality, it is always in numbers. Mr. Reinecke, of Buffalo, in August, 1884, recorded an invasion of this species at that place, in the Buffalo Freie Presse, which was reprinted in the ‘‘ Brooklyn Bulletin’? of September, 1884. . Ne er CHARLES LIEBECK. A Cocoanut 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 the 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 size, barely visible to the naked eye, and probably 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. AARON. EREBIA EPIPSODEA var. Sine-ocellata described in Can. Ent. Dec., 89, p. 239, by Dr. Henry Skinner, the author informs us, is probably a synonym of Epipsodea var. Brucei described in a few words by Mr. Elwes, Trans. Ent. Soc., London, June, 1889, p. 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 the editor of the “Canadian Entomologist’’ at least six weeks before Mr. Elwes’ descrip- tion was received at the libraries in Philadelphia. E. M. AARON. HOME-MADE Cork.—Mr. F. M. Jones, of Wilmington, Del., describes a very good lining for insect boxes as follows: ‘‘I made a rough wooden press and procured about a barrel of the fine cork which white grapes are packed in, mixed it with weak glue and pressed it into sheets between white paper. The sheets when pressed must be about three-eighths of an inch thick to turn out properly. It answers very well and costs almost nothing.’’ H. SKINNER. RARE BEETLES ON THE NEW JERSEY COAST.—Among many good things taken on Brigantine Beach, N. J., just after the September storm, by which the whole island, except a few of the coast sandhills, was submerged, may be specially noticed : =< crn ae: 5 I 1890. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 3 Cafius sericeus Holme, two 2 examples. This fixes an American lo- cality for and decides in favor of the successful colonization of this Euro- pean species. It appears slender and delicate compared with the abundant Cryptobium pusillum Lec., two examples, f and Q, .25 inch. long. The only specimen seen by Dr. Horn, when preparing his Cypéobium paper, was the type in the LeConte collection, a