Ly Hig Gy yy ee we tips os oF, Ls A s Cy, ie wo Z ye YY Gey ep ee of ty i EEG Lies Mats fy He, gy oy Ee, Mee ILCs, ry ey! IG 4, es ey eS ey eae egg eioe Sas Sees SS = : We Le Z LG Wy, SS os = — So iy ae as) . NEN ote GUE d ies GUMMY ee tip BODE MEE es iis Mey os ee 4 Hy: oh thy 7, Ss y, Cieiag oy ie y thy My sa Ge oe ey y Yi Wy SS SV SS AS SA SN SESS 3 AS SS SS: IAS Sas Se SS < SS Lay 7, LOGE i W4 Se ts uy, RA MS iy Ce Ye ee, ey Se ~ ~ yyy Uy Wy i ti ae Ls tig patyy ie, he y the Internet Archive re ~ in 2009 with funding Iniversity of oy Me et i rays n ots ae Yael lanenic bt ee a yy ENTOMOLOGIST. VOLUME XVI. — Edited bu William Saunders, Ff. H. S. €. LONDON, ONTARIO. ASSISTED Bx, Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, D.C. L., Port Hope; J. M. Denton, London, Ont., | and E. BAYNES REED, London, Ont. #Hondon : PRINTED BY THE FREE PRESS ?RINTING COMPANY 1884. y ae ’ LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS VOLUME. DIN, A PO Te i ee We ew ae ea aa ots GALENA, ILL. BPS? Gee orion eens iat MONTREAL, QUE. = BRUNER, LAWRENCE....... oe eeee 2 eae West Potnt, NEBRASKA. RRP LD, FS Bay. os codes cen gee MONTREAL, QUE. PARISON, FREDERICK ........... .NEW York CITY. MAVis, WM. -L.:......': Pgs a ean TOMPKINSVILLE, STATEN ISLAND, N. Y ROVE GAD A Wes oe Oe CLYDE, NEW YorK. Meee Oe GF LORGE. 5.048 ss ocak CAMBRIDGE, MAss. mOWARDS, W. H... . 306: ae aks (see ou COALBURGH, WEsT VA, SEAL), CTs is. ane oy 0.0.05) se es ORONO, MAINE, muerte, MRS. Go Ms oe ey ewe ORONO, MAINE, I BENG eG sh bs Sapey yt ores eee BuFFALO, N. Y. Pemetee att, JAMES. series eek OTTAWA, ONT, ee et CARBONDALE, LLL. MN TE CARL Le VV aes ci set elem SOUTH QUEBEC. Mmpens GAMELE:...@...3 ee Toronto, ONT. Eee RIG EE AN. oe can cb ee eis oF os CAMBRIDGE, MAss, Beet ON, DR. JOHN G25 Sons ce. ALLEGHENY, Pa, Dee, Be OW oes eke vied ss awe HAMILTON, ONT. Sea L ON, We Fs cae... i ORTAWA, ONT. Ree OR, ee Es os dies Saye vs owas PHILADELPHIA, Pa. 8 Bag) “igh | Cee a Rae Sen PT .. RACINE, WIs. ees UGEENE Be. ee ee ak. fe PHILADELPHIA, Pa. DE APT ts 0p i bb eek se eet ak Ce BUFFALO, N, Y. DCRR Pi Eas se a Ba eu y amy alee RIDGEWAY, ONT. MN NG Rees ee ia an ein oe ws LONDON, ENG. MUG A Mes ks ce tie iene: “lod ds received by post, September 1st last, from a friend at Clermont, New York, who informed me that it was found by his gardener, and was thought to be a great rarity, as that important functionary had declared that he had never seen the 24es before. Strange that so ponderous a caterpillar should have escaped the gardener’s more ponderous foot! Luckily it was not thc ught to be.a-snake; or for — the love of St. Patrick he would have counte: a Piong his squashes. It burrowed into the earth on the 6th of September, and in a few days the pupa appeared upon the surface. It would seery’rom these facts that it matters not at what time the larva pupates, th. :mago appears at the end of May. It is also made evident that the pupa remains upon the surface of the ground during the winter. CORRESPONDENCE. ON THE BREEDING OF LEPIDOPTERA. On the 5th of December, 1883, I took from a room which had not yet been warmed up, this winter, a number of pupz (Heterocera) of dif- ferent species. These I took to a room having a warmth of from 64-80 degrees Fahr. (16-20 Reaumur), to ascertain the amount of. warmth the different species of Lepidoptera need to reach the imago state, with the following success. On January 16th, ’84, the first imago disclosed a fine ~ specimen of Hemaris tenuis. On January 27th, another H tenuzshatched in good condition ; also a Zelea polyphemus, and on February 4th a large female of Apatela lepusculina also disclosed. Ihave yet a number of | pupze exposed to the same warmth, and will report of further success. _ A NOTE ON VANESSA (AGLAIS) MILBERTI. In September, 1883, on a Thursday, I took a number of caterpillar of Vanessa Milperti on the common nettle, which were full grown, On THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 17 the morning following three were suspended and the same day pupated. On Tuesday next, when putting fresh food in the box for the few which had not yet pupated, I was astonished to see an imago of V. Milbertii in the box, and on examining I found the empty pupa case suspended on one side of the box. From that day they gradually hatched, until two weeks after [ found the caterpillars quite a number of imagoes had dis- closed ; the balance I found, after. waiting another week, to have died in the pupa state. What do you thin has been the cause of such a hurry ? WILLOW AND POPLAR, ALSO FOOD PLANTS OF PAEONIAS (SMERINTHUS) | EXCECATA. Last fall (1883) I found the larve of a Sphinx quite abundant on _ willow, which were uniq,..in color and markings, with the caterpillar of P. excecata. Reaching,..ome I put them on the same kind of plant in my garden. I then »lso took some caterpillars of P. excecata, which I had found feeding on. Ins ten, and tied them in a. gauze bag on a willow branch, on which they readily fed and afterwards pupated, this assuring me that the first mentioned were of the same species. Early in August I also found a number of small caterpillars of the same species on poplar (P. monolifera ?), which I also fed on willow and on linden. The cater- pillars of P. excecata have been very abundant here last season, on wil- low, whilst Sm. geminatus, which I have not yer noticed on any other plant, has been very scarce. In Vol. iv., No. 2, p. 62 of the Bulletin of ie Society of Natural Sci- ence, Buffalo, N. Y., I stated in an article never to have caught the imago of Darapsa myron on strings of dried apples, soaked in stale beer and sugar ; this I wish with this to recall, as I caught a specimen on it last season. J. versicolor and D. choerilus especially come frequently, and have been taken by me quite often. Pu. FISCHER, 528 High St., Buffalo. Dear Sir,—Mr. John D. Evans, on page 237, describes an unusual gathering of Coleoptera on the shore of Weller’s Bay, and desires to know if others have observed similar instances. On 3rd June last, I saw an almost equally numerous collection of insects near this city, between the Chaudiere Falls and the Canada Pacific Railway bridge across the Ottawa. A long boom-log fixed almost at right angles to the shore, formed with it a pocket into which were swept by the swift current chips, bark and other 18 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. small drift-wood. The accumulation was literally swarming with insects which had evidently fallen, or been blown, into the river, and had sought safety upon the drift-wood floating with them. Having floated into a haven of refuge, they were crawling upon the most elevated places and drying themselves in the sun preparatory to flight. In many instances, however, they were doomed to disappointment, as sudden changes in the current and eddy would every now and then violently agitate the accumulation, wash off many of the insects, and send portions of the drift-wood again into the current to be carried further down. Beetles were most numerous, but there were also large numbers of Diptera and some Hymenoptera and Hemiptera. The Coleoptera were principally comprised of Chrysomelide, Coccinellidz, Histeridee, Nitidulide, Lampyride and Staphylinide, and were generally the smaller and commoner species. Ottawa, 18th Feb’y, 1884. W. HaGuEe HARRINGTON. | THE DUNG PELLET MAKERS. BY FREDERICK CLARKSON, NEW YORK CITY, The term Scarabaeus, as applied by the ancients to the Sacred Beetle of Egypt, and afterwards by Linnaeus as comprehending the great division of the Lamellicornes of Latreille, is derived from Khepra, an African word, which means cipher or circle, and has reference to the orbicular shape of the pellet of dung that contains the deposit of ova. Khepr is no doubt the root word, and is analagous with the Greek word Kapobos, the Latin word Scarabaeus, and the English word Crab. Any ordinary scholar can follow the slight linguistic change that produces one from the © other. The Scarabaeus is imaged amongst the hieroglyphics of the Egyptians, and was regarded by those ancient people as a symbol of the world and the sun. It is not improbable that the term Scarabaeus is associated in the minds of the many with the idea of a Crab, not only because the Sacred Beetle of Egypt is represented under that form, as a_— sign in the zodiac, but also from the peculiar conformation of the clypeus and thorax of the beetle to the shell-case of that Crustacean. Scarabaeus evidently means a ball. It seems to the writer that we apply this term to cover a larger class of beetles than the signification of the word will admit, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 19 This article, however, is not intended to suggest any limitation in the classification, but merely to ascribe to these indefatigable laborers the designation which they nave earned in the very infancy of human obser- vation. BOOK NOTICES. Bulletin of the United States National Museum, No. 22. Guide to the Flora of Washington and vicinity. By Lester F. Ward; 8vo., pp. 264. This is the twenty-sixth of a series of papers intended to illustrate the collections of natural history and ethnology belonging to the United States and constituting the National Museum at Washington. In the introductory remarks which precede the list proper, the author gives a great deal of useful general information relating to the Flora of Washington and vicinity. In the list the common as well as botanical names of the plants are given, with dates of flowering and localities for the rarer species. This general list is followed by a check list, including 1,384 species. The report closes with an instructive appendix in which many useful suggestions are given to beginners in the study of botany. Proceedings of the American Society of Microscopists ; 6th meeting held in Chicago, August, 1883 ; 8vo., pp. 275. We have been favored by the Secretary, Dr. Kellicott, of Buffalo, with a copy of the above work, which contains a number of very interesting papers on natural history and other subjects. So energetic an organization as the American Society of Microscopists cannot fail to greatly stimulate microscopic research in all directions in this country. The volume referred to gives abundant evidence of the good work being accomplished. The Number of Segments in the Head of Winged Insects. By Dr. A. S. Packard. We are indebted to the author for a copy of this paper, recently pub- lished in the American Naturalist. 20 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. A Revision of the Lysiopetalidze, a Family of Chilognath Myriopoda. By Dr. A. S. Packard. In studying the cave fauna of the United States, the author of this paper found it necessary to work carefully over the structure of the Myriopoda. In this paper he gives a systematic account of the genera and species pertaining to this group, describing also the characters of a new genus, Cryftotrichus, followed by a chapter on the Morphology of — the Myriopoda, with a plate illustrating the mouth parts. The North American Species of Conops; by S. W. Williston. From the Transactions of the Conn. Academy; 8vo., 18 pp. : f . In this paper the American genera included in the Conopidz are tabulated, also the described species belonging to the genus Conops. Following these tables are descriptions of six new species. ee Cold-blooded Vertebrates and Lepidoptera of Wisconsin; by Dr. P. R. Hoy. Irom the Report of the Geological Survey, lge. 8vo., 30 pp. Our thanks are due the author for the above paper, containing a very full list of Wisconsin Lepidoptera, followed by one of Reptiles and Fishes. Human Parasites; by Dr. F. W. Goding. From the Chicago Medical Journal and Examiner for Dec’r, 1883. In this paper the author notices all the different species of para- sites known to affect the human body both internally and externally, grouping them in accordance with the latest system of classification, and briefly giving the life history of each species as far as known, adding the appropriate remedies and methods of treatment for each. The list is a formidable.one and goes far to confirm the statement made by the author in his introductory remarks, that ‘scarcely any portion of the human body is free from parasites, and each organ and system has its own special parasites.” Che Canadran Entomologist. VOL. XVI. LONDON, ONT., FEBRUARY, 1884. No. 2 NOTES ON SPHINGIDA! CAPTURED AT ORONO, MAINE, AND VICINITY. BY MRS. C. H. FERNALD. Lepisesia flavofasciata, Barnst.—Very rare, taken in the hottest part of the day, on lilac and apple blossoms; also on Amelanchier Cana- aensis. Hemaris difinis, Boisd.—Common on Tartarian honeysuckle and lilac, in the middle of the day. Hemaris gracilis, G. & R.--Quite rare, found on the same flowers and at the same time as AZ. diffinzs, and also flies about sunset. Hemaris thysbe, Fabr.—Very common, flying in company with ZH. difinis. Amphion nessus, Cram.—Quite common in company with the last named ; species. Deilephila chamenerii, Harris.—Some seasons quite common on Tar- tarian honeysuckle and lilac, at twilight. Deilephila lineata, Fabr.—Taken on @nothera Lamarckiana just after sunset, in September. Philampelus pandorus, Hiibn.—One example bred from larva on grape vine. Philampelus achemon, Drury.—Larve found on grape vine, but failed to emerge. Euveryx cherilus, Cram.—Rare, at sugar, in July. Smerinthus geminatus, Say.—Quite common at light, in June. Smerinthus cerisyt, Kirby.—Very rare, at light, last of May. Paontas excecatus, A. & $.—Quite rare, at light, in June. Calasymbolus myops, A. & S.—Two examples taken at light. Lriptogon modesta, Harr.—Rare, at light, first of July. Ceratomia amyntor, Hiibn.—Quite rare, on climbing honeysuckle. Daremma undulosa, Walk.—Quite common, at light and on flowers in June. 2 Phlegethontius cingulata, Fabr.—Two examples on flowers of Wicotiana afjinis, quite late in the evening, in the first of Sept. "oD THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Sphinx drupiferarum, A. & $.—Common at light, and on several kinds of flowers. 3 Sphinx Kalmia, A. & 8.—Found with S. drupiferarum. Sphinx chersis, Hiibn.—The most common Sphinx in this locality ; taken at twilight on Qunothera Lamarckiana and JVicotiana affinis ; also bred on ash; July. Sphinx gordius, Cram.—Found on lilac and Tartarian honeysuckle, early in the evening. . Sphinx luscitiosa, Clem.—Rare, on climbing honeysuckle, at twilight. Dolba hyleus, Drury.—Rare, on CEnothera and honeysuckle, at twilight. Ellema Harrisit, Clem.—Rare, on honeysuckle, at twilight ; also at light, in June. ABNORMAL SPECIMEN OF THE GENUS SAMIA. BY W. F. KIRBY, LONDON, ENG. This remarkable specimen, which has puzzled every entomologist who has seen it, was bred by M. Alfred Wailly from a cocoon received from some part of North America. It may be a hybrid between S. cecropia and some other species, but if so, it is so different from all the other known species, that it is difficult to guess with what it could have been crossed. It is equally difficult to imagine that it is a new species. The specimen is a female, and equals the largest specimens of |S. cecropia in size, mea- suring fully 634 inches in expanse ; and the wings are more rounded and less oblique than in cecropia. ‘The body resembles that of cecropia, except that the abdomen is banded with yellowish gray and black. The base of the fore wings is brown, thickly scaled with white towards the costa; below this is a brick-red blotch, longer and narrower than in cecropia. Beyond this is a white space, extending nearly from the base to one third of the length of the wing on the inner margin, but curving up to the costa in a rather narrow stripe. This is followed by a large irregular black blotch, broad at the costa (where it is thickly dusted with gray) and the narrow end extending to beyond the middle of the wing. On this stands the large white kidney-shaped central spot, which is surrounded with red, and divided by a reddish stripe at the outer end of the black blotch; it extends beyond it into a broad red white-dusted band, followed by a black one, so very thickly dusted with yellowish gray that it appears of that THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 23 color. This is succeeded by a gray space, divided by a black line (much less indented than in cecropfia) into darker and lighter ; above is a lilac space ; on the inside is a row of rather large spots, the uppermost and the 4th and sth being the largest. Hind wings white at the base, followed by a broad dark slate-colored space, on the outer half of which stands a large oval white spot, slightly surrounded with red, the outer part being incom- plete, and it rests on a white band, much broader than in cecropia, followed by a broad red band, 3 or 4 times as broad as in cecropia, but followed - outside by similar markings, only paler. The under surface differs from cecropia chiefly in the much paler color, and in the different position of the central spots. . [Mr. Kirby has kindly sent us a beautiful colored plate, prepared by Mr. Wailly, of this very interesting insect.—Ep. C. E.| I = NOTES ON A VARIETY OF ANTHEREA (TELEA) POLYPHEMUS. _- BY ADOLPH CONRADI, BETHLEHEM, PA. During the early part of last spring I obtained from a small maple tree three cocoons of Anth. polyphemus. In due time two fine females made their appearance, and a few days later, on examining the box again, I found suspended from the lid (wire gauze) a black looking specimen, which at first sight appeared to bea f promethea. On closer inspection, _ however, I found it to be a beautiful aberration of Anth. polyphemus f. As it is the first one I ever found or heard of during nearly twenty years’ collecting, I send you herewith a meagre description, which may be the means of bringing another specimen like it to the notice of the entomo- logical world. | Antherea (Telea) polyphemus, L., var. ¢. _»Antennee very dark brown. Thorax and body a shade darker. Ground color of primaries same color. Upper margin gray with minute white spots. A white band running near outer margin from the base to tip of wing, terminating in a black oblong spot, surrounded by an irregular white narrow band. In the centre of primaries another very dark line running from upper to lower margin. Towards the inner margin an irregular white line, shaded with black. Near the centre there is an ocellate, transparent 24 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. spot, bordered with a double ring of ochre and blue. Secondaries, ground color same as primaries, with a narrow marginal white band bordered with blue. In centre there is an ocellate transparent spot bordered with ochre, shaded towards the inner margin with a blue spot, the whole surrounded by a black band terminating in a white line towards the inner base. Raised from the cocoon taken in spring of 1883. SPINNING CATERPILLARS. BY FREDERICK CLARKSON, NEW YORK CITY. Milton, when he wrote of Nature’s bounty, and referred to the . ‘ : . ‘* Millions of spinning worms That in their green shops weave the smooth-hair’d silk,” had thoughts no doubt of the obedience due from Nature’s subjects to Nature’s King. A work ordered and a work performed. Were men as loyal to their King, what a garment of righteousness would each man weave wherein to appear, amid the flood-light at the Court on high! The ~ caterpillar, at the sighing of the autumnal wind, enfolds itself in its silken shroud, preparatory to a winged flight, leaving to the world the record of a life well spent—an unbroken thread of duty done: a treasury of silk to deck the sons of men ‘«In courts, in feasts, and high solemnities.”’ To grace man’s outer life, and if in proper mood and contemplation, his inner life as well; for Nature’s lessons are not learned under their external forms, but under the spiritual beauty and verities they represent. ‘* That not a natural flower can grow on earth Without a flower upon the spiritual side, Substantial, archetypal, all aglow With blossoming causes—not so far away That we, whose spirit-sense is somewhat cleared, May not catch something of the bloom and breath.” Nature has many voices. She speaks to us in joyful song amid the activities of the day, and in saddening dirges during the still hours of the night, while throughout her wide domain, in song of life and dirge of death, she whispers Resurrection. ; Among the multifarious forms of insect-architecture, all of. eh are of absorbing interest, I purpose at this time to record a few notes relating THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 25 to the cocoons of the Bombycidz. The cocoon made by the Worm of the Orient has, from the circumstance that its silk is so extensively used in manufacture, been fully described. This paper concerns those of the Polyphemus, Cecropia, Cynthia, Luna and Promethea caterpillars, and it may be regarded as an endeavor to foster an organized system of silk culture with these worms, the Cynthia worm especially favoring cultivation, as it is double brooded, and since its introduction from the East, together with its food plant, the Ailanthus, it has become largely distributed throughout the country. The habitat of some of these species is co- extensive with the Union, and silk culturers are alike advantaged in every section of the country with an abundance of food plant in our native trees. The silk produced by them, though not of as fine a texture as that spun by the Mori Worm, is yet abundant and of much greater strength. Notwithstanding the fact that the pointed end of the cocoons of the Cecropia, Cynthia and Promethea worms is left open for the exit of the moth, the threads are unbroken and the cocoons can be unwound. The Mori Worm covers the interior lining of the cocoon with a gummy secre- tion, and when the moth escapes, the threads, if not broken, are thought to be in such danger that cultivators of silk destroy the pupa before the period of emergence. ‘There are Entomologists, however, who deny that the threads are broken at all, for they admit having succeeded in unwind- ing cocoons from which the moths have escaped. ‘The Cecropia, Cynthia and Promethea worms line each layer of silk, as well as the interior of the cocoon, with a gummy secretion, leaving the silk at the exit opening free of agglutinating properties. This allows of a ready escape of the imago without danger to the thread. If the cocoons of these worms be divided lengthwise, and immersed in boiling water for a few seconds, a careful manipulation will permit the separation of the several layers of silk, when, by the aid of a lens, the life work of the caterpillar is beautifully presented and the continuity of the thread can be discovered. The exterior section of the cocoons of the Cecropia and Cynthia worms can be easily divided into three layers of silk, while the interior portion is divisible into six. The Luna and Polyphemus worms construct cocoons somewhat similar to the Mori Worm, and as all parts of the interior lining are sealed, it becomes prudent, perhaps necessary, to destroy the pupa. 26 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. NOTES ON THE LARVA OF PANTOGRAPHA LIMATA, GroreE. BY PROF. C. H. FERNALD, STATE COLLEGE, ORONO, ME, On the 27th of September, 1882, while riding through Mt. Hope ° Cemetery, near Bangor, the leaves on several trees of Basswood ( Zz/za Americana) were observed to be rolled in a peculiar manner, and to con- - tain a green larva with a black head, which I supposed at the time to be ~ that of some Tortricid ; but it quite puzzled me, as it was larger than the larva of any Tortricid in this region with which I was familiar. Miss Murtfeldt, who was riding with me at the time, said that she had seen the leaves of Basswood attacked.and rolled in precisely the same manner in Minneapolis, but failed to secure any of the larvee. : A large number of the rolled leaves were obtained and brought home from Mt. Hope,.but the larger part of the larvee had been destroyed by _ parasites or had escaped from their domiciles. Miss Murtfeldt took home with her a part of those remaining, but they failed to emerge. Of those which I retained, three pupated, one Oct. roth, and the others a little ‘later. They were kept in a warm room, so that without doubt the results — are not the same as would have taken place out of doors. The one which went into the pupa state Oct. roth, emerged Nov. 3rd, and proved to be Pantographa limata Gr. A few days later another emerged, but was ~ crippled. The third failed to emerge either then or the following summer. I have little doubt that if left to themselves they would have changed to pupz among the leaves on the ground, and remained in this state dur- _ ing the winter, emerging the next season ; for no thoughtful insect would emerge in such cold weather as we usually have here in November, but — the facts must be learned hereafter. | The larva cuts the leaf across from near the middle of the side, past the midrib nearly an inch, in the larger leaves. This cut, which is about an eighth of an inch wide, first starts directly across the leaf, then curves gradually towards the apex, then back to the former direction, so that the entire cut is nearly in the form of the letter S, somewhat straightened out. The part beyond the cut is rolled over so as to form a cone with the apex towards the base of the leaf, and when enclosing a larva, both ends are turned in, so as to close the openings. In drawing the parts of the leaf — together, the larva spins the thread from side to side—from the side of the cone to the surface of the leaf beyond, about forty times in a place before moving to another. The second set of threads, which is from a fourth to THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 27 a half an inch from the last, frequently draws the parts of the leaf together so much that the threads of other bundles hangin a loop. The larva deposits its excrement within the cone, towards the larger end. The full grown larva is 25 mm. long, when at rest, and 30 when in motion ; fusiform and somewhat stout in proportion to the length. The body is pea green, about the color of the under side of the leaves of Basswood. ‘The usual warts are present, of a dull brownish color and emitting pale hairs. The head, thoracic shield and legs are pitchy black, while the mouth parts are a little lighter, and there is a small black spot on each side of the first segment back of the head, just in front of the spiracle. The anal plate is dull brownish. ’ When preparing to change to the pupa state, the larva draws a portion of a leaf around it, lining it with silk, thus forming a delicate cocoon. Three species only are at present known in the Pyralid genus Panto- grapha. The first two, scripturalis, of Brazil, and anastomosalis, of Java, were described by Guenee under the genus Pionea, the second one with doubt, and there was-even doubt as to the locality. When Lederer made his revision of the Pyralide of the world, he established the genus Pantographa for these two species. Later, Mr. Grote described the - species /imata from North America, and I must confess that it is wonder- fully near the Brazilian scripturalis, and may eventually prove to be the same species. While the imago of Pinkisriphe’ limata Gr. is a typical Pyralid, the larva is so very much like Tortricid larve, both in structure and habits, that I unhesitatingly referred it to the Zortricide@ till it emerged, and I could discover what it really was. WEEVIL VERSUS CURCULIO. BY W. L. DEVEREAUX, CLYDE, N. Y. | Curculio is an ancient Roman word, not at all used to denote a plum insect. It is slightly difficult to pronounce, and it certainly fails to inform the popular mind as clearly as the eee Ave: old Anglo-Saxon word, ** weevil.” Weevil, in its original and right use, designates only insects of the’ snout-beetle kinds, like the plum weevil, bean and pea weevils, corn or 28 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. granary weevil, rice, pine, nut, water, and other weevils. Perhaps the only erroneous use of weevil made in this country was with the little yel- low maggot of the wheat fly. Entomologists most often write s/um weevil, and pomologists use curculio, which is the name generally used by farmers and others. Evi- dently this name was adopted from its scientific generic title, as then known in the early part of this century, but almost before its adoption into common parlance, it was removed from scientific nomenclature. Had it not been introduced then, it would hardly be found in the English vocabulary now. It is in use nowhere else at the present time, being an obsolete technical word, known only in the books of the earlier writers on insects ; and in its original use by Pliny and the Latins, over 1800 years ago, it was applied to the corn worm, which by the English was called zeevz/, and by the French cadendre, since Latinized into Calandra by Clairville for the name of a genus, containing our corn and rice weevils. The word curcudio reached its greatest ascendancy when Linnse 120 years ago, transferred the name from the Romans into his natural system, employing it in a generic sense to designate all snout beetles. Westwood,* in 1839, states that ‘‘In this tribe of insects, as else- where, from the multiplicity of named groups into which the old Linnzan genus has been separated, without the adoption of any principle regulating the retention of the old generic name, it has been entirely sunk, so that we find no modern genus Curculio.” It has, however, been retained by some classifiers for a few beetles, not including the plum weevil, until now, while all writers employ a family name, Curculionide. The plum weevil was first described by Herbst, in 1797, under the name Curculio nenuphar. The specific name xenuphar is the French name for the great European water lily (Vymphea alba). About 1830, Schonherr erected the genus Conotrachelus, meaning conical thorax or throat. At the abandonment of the name Curculio, our plum weevil fell into this genus, and hence is known as Conotrachelus nenuphar, Herbst. There are about thirty species of Conotrachelit in N. America, all agreeing in structure quite closely with the plum Conotrachelus. The * Westwood, Introduc. Mod, Classif, Insects, 1., p. 348. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 29 butternut weevil appears so closely like it that it has often been pronounced a large plum weevil. - No other member of this genus has been found attacking as. many fruits as this plum weevil. Most species confine their depredations to a single kind of plant, like the quince weevil, Conotrachelus crategi, which deposits its eggs in that fruit. The plum weevil is, however, a general fruit weevil, attacking, with only an occasional marked preference, every species of fruit in the botanical genera, Prunus, Pyrus, Cydonia, and some other species in other genera of the Rose family ; and Miss M. E. Murtfeldt states* that she has bred them from gooseberries. In this connection it is singular that the grape has not suffered from its crescent thrust. Finally, from its habit of breeding in the “black knot” of the plum, it must be considered the most omnivorous of all the 1050 species of weevils now known in N. America. LIFE HISTORIES OF FIVE SPECIES OF SCOPELOSOMA. BY ROLAND THAXTER, KITTERY POINT, MAINE. During the spring of the past year I was fortunate enough to procure eggs of the following species of Scofe/osoma, and succeeded in rearing a sufficient number of each to ensure an accurate observation of their larval differences. The matter is of some interest, as it settles beyond question the specific difference between the two species known in collections as S. Watlkeri and S. vinulenta, which have been enumerated as varieties of the mythical szdus in recent lists. That one of these species is really sédus I think there can be little doubt ; but which should be referred to it is somewhat uncertain. My friend, Mr. Chatfield, has had the kindness to send me for com- parison with my own material, a specimen of a Scopelosoma taken by him at Albany, which, he informs me, has been pronounced by Mr. Grote to be with little doubt ‘a veritable sédus.” On comparing my material of Waikeri (determined thus by Mr. Grote) with this specimen, I find no essential differences between the two, Mr. Chatfield’s specimen being somewhat moré clearly marked and darker than usual, and most decidedly not “ d’un rouge de brique * uni, avec les lignes a peine distinctes.” * Rept. Entomologist U. S., C. V. Riley, 1881-1882, p. 66. 30 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. If Mr. Grote is correct in referring this specimen to sidus, we must consider Wa/keri asa synonym. A comparison of Walkeri and vinu- Jenta with the European sated/itza and Gueneé’s description of sidus, leads me, however, to think that the latter species may be more properly identi- fied with winulenta than with Wadkeri, for in vinulenta only are the primaries noticeably broader and shorter and more rounded at the apex than in satel/itia; and the even brick-red color is very characteristic of vinulenta, while Walkeri has a decidedly purple cast, blackish in Mr. Chatfield’s specimen, with the lines much more distinct. For these reasons I feel very decidedly inclined to consider vinulenta = sidus, although I retain the old name in speaking of this species in the sess, descriptions. The larvee of these five species all have the same form and habit; are omnivorous, and live in a case between two leaves, or within the fold of a single leaf—when young making a silk-covered burrow between two ribs or eating outa cavity ina bud somewhat after the manner of a Tortricid. When fully matured and somewhat soiled, it is hardly possible to separate the ~ species. Devia and vinulenta are very nearly related in this (the larval) stage, and separable at a glance from the others, when in good condition. TZristig- mata is readily separable from the two remaining species by the yellow tinge of the lateral line, which I found characteristic of all, without excep- tion, of a very large series of specimens. Jorrisoni and Walkeri are the most difficult to separate, but the more even and richer color of the sub-dorsal and dorsal regions, together with the obliteration of the dorsal and sub-dorsal lines and the clear white lateral line, render the latter species sufficiently recognizable when fresh. The lateral lines are sub- stigmatal, the stigmata black, the body sparsely covered with minute tubercles bearing short colorless hairs in all the species. Form cylin- drical, tapering very slightly, head moderate. Scopelosoma Morrisonz, Grote. Eggs laid on oak twigs April 22. Straw color changing to reddish ; flattened inferiorly, a central superior depression from which radiate beaded ridges. ‘Transverse diameter about .6mm. Hatched May 4. First Stage-—When just hatched, color livid yellowish green with blackish superior and anterior tinges. Head large, jet black. Legs and prolegs black. A frontal semi-circular black plate on seg. 1. After feeding and when nearly grown, indications of a dorsal, sub-dorsal and lateral streak. Color light green, darker superiorly. L. 2-3 mm, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 31 Second stage May 15. Above dull purplish, darker in the subdorsal region, with a greenish tinge. Dull yellowish inferiorly, except on seg- ments 1-4, which are tinged with purplish. A dorsal, two sub-dorsal and a sub-stigmatal whitish line, the two sub-dorsal ones less clearly marked, especially the inferior. Setiferous tubercles, which bear short colorless minute hairs, blackish, indistinctly ringed. A few whitish mottlings between the longitudinal lines. Stigmata blackish, indistinctly ringed. Legs and prolegs black, L. 6mm. Third stage May 22. Much as before; the markings more distinct, especially the dorsal and lateral lines. Purple shades most prominent in region of stigmata. L. 10 mm. Fourth stage May 28. Color above and below on segments 1-3 dull purple tinged with green dorsally. Below light greenish; a patch of pur- plish in the sub-stigmatal region of each segment. Dorsal line with a bluish tinge. Head light brown. L. 16 mm. Fifth stage June 2. Marked as before, but less distinctly. Colors duller and darker. L. 25 mm. Sixth stage June 8. Mature larva. Dull blackish with a slight bluish green tinge and lateral dull purplish shades, obscurely mottled. Dorsal streak indistinct, bluish white, somewhat irregular. Sub-dorsal lines broken, but tolerably distinct, the superior edged with blackish. Lateral streak white with a bluish tinge. Stigmata black. Setiferous tubercles minute, black, ringed with bluish white ; those below the lateral line more distinct. The superior sub-dorsal line cuts the frontal plate of segment 1 very clearly, and is there tinged with yellowish. Rather stout, slightly tapering. L. 35 mm. Scopelosoma Walkert Grote. Eggs as in Morrisoni. \ Laid April 25 ; hatched May 6. First stage May 6. Not separable from Morrisonz. Second stage May 16. Not separable from Morrisoni. _ Third stage May 23. Somewhat darker than Morrisonz, and more distinctly purplish. Head much darker and inferior sub-lateral line less distinct. But varies so as to be hardly separable. Fourth stage May 29. Somewhat darker and less distinctly marked than Morrisont. : Fifth stage June 5. Much darker than Morrisonz and more evenly colored, being of a rich, velvety black-purple. The sub-dorsal lines 32 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. hardly visible. The lateral line clear, contrasting white, tinged with purple on segments 2 and :. Setiferous tubercles smaller than in J/o7- risont. | Sixth stage June 10. Mature larva much darker and more richly colored than Morrisonz. Above velvety black with a purple shade and some greenish tinges. The dorsal and sub-dorsal lines barely indicated. ° Setiferous tubercles barely visible, those below the lateral line more dis- tinct. Lateral line clear white, contrasting, somewhat obliterated on seg- ments 2,3, 4, 11, 12. Superior sub-dorsal line is clearly marked through frontal plate of segment 1, and is tinged with yellow. Beneath bluish green. The sub-lateral region has a few pinkish shades, as does the ven- tral portion of segments 1 to 4. Form somewhat stouter than Morrisoni. Head more broadly edged posteriorly with light brown. L. 30 mm. Scopelosoma vinulenta Grote. Eggs as in Morrisont. Hatched May 9. First stage May 9. A little lighter than the two preceding species, but hardly separable. Second stage May 18. Light green with slight lateral purplish shoe Head black. Third stage May 24. Purple shades, except on segments 1-4, con- fined to the region included by the lateral and superior sub-dorsal lines. The inferior sub-dorsal line hardly visible. Dorsal parts distinetly blue- green. A continuous whitish dorsal line, broader, though less well defined than in Morrisont of same stage. Beneath light green. Head light brown, darker anteriorly. L. 10 mm. Fourth stage May 30th. Much as before ; the purple antics and clearly defined. Dorsal and lateral lines more distinct. Inferior sub- dorsal line merely indicated by a few whitish mottlings. Head shining — brown. L. 16mm. Fifth stage June 6th. Darker. Dorsal parts tinged with purple. Lateral line distinct, whitish contrasting above. Beneath light bluish green with purple tinges on segments 1-4. Sub-dorsal line visible on See 1-3. Head more red brown” L. 25 mm. Sixth stage June 13. Mature larva. Dorsal portion dark olive green — ‘mottled with darker shades. Region between superior sub-dorsal and lateral lines dirty wine color, somewhat mottled. Dorsal and superior sub-dorsal lines moderately distinct. Inferior sub-dorsal line marked by a A i a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 3a few dots. Lateral line less distinct and suffused with purplish. Beneath livid ; red-purple on segments 1-4. L. 32 mm. Scopelosoma tristigmata Grote. Eggs as in Morrisonz, laid April 24. First stage May 5. Not separable from MJorrisont. Second stage May 16, third stage May 22. In neither separable from Morrisoni. Fourth stage May 28. Colored and marked as in Morrisoni, but the colors decidedly brighter and the lines and setiferous tubercles more dis- tinct. L.15 mm. Fifth stage June 3. Somewhat lighter and more clearly marked than Morrisoni. ‘The setiferous tubercles of dorsum decidedly larger, affording a reliable character for separation in this stage. . L. 25 m m. Sixth stage June 8. Mature larva. Much like AJorrisoni and readily mistaken for it, but differing in the richer color, the more indistinct dorsal and sub-dorsal lines ; but especially by the lateral line, which is broader posteriorly, and differs in every instance by a distinct orange-yellow tinge, which, though not particularly noticeable, is never present in Morrisonz. Moreover, the superior sub-dorsal line does not extend to the head, and is much less distinct. L. 30-35 mm. Scopelosoma devia, Grote. Eggs as in Morrisoni. First stage. Milky white. Head, legs, prolegs and anterior plate of segment 1, black. L. 2mm. Second stage. Milky white, clearer than before. Setiferous tubercles black. A faint purplish lateral and dorsal tinge. Third stage. Much as in the same stage of vénu/enta, though paler. Fourth stage. Paler than any of the preceding species, but nearest to vinulenta, from which it differs by a tolerably distinct sub-dorsal line, and by the absence of any purple shades on segs. 1-3, except above the lateral line, which is white. Dorsum light bluish green, mottled with whitish. Beneath very light colored. Prolegs black. Head black anteriorly, brown posteriorly. Fifth stage June 10. Very near vinudenta, but much paler. Above greenish white, with a bluish tinge and darker olive shades. Dorsal and superior sub-dorsal lines distinct, contrasting with their edging of dark - Olive. The region between the superior sub-dorsal and lateral lines is 34. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. dark dull olive green, tinged with purple ; darker inferiorly, with a few white dots. Lateral line broader than in vinu/enta, but less clear. Purple — tinges at base of prolegs, which are black. Head much lighter than wzzu- Zenta, black anteriorly. Sixth stage June 15. Nearest viézu/enta, but a darker or blacker look- ing larva. A broad dorsal blackish band attenuated intersegmentally, and including the hardly visible median dorsal streak, which terminates in an oblong spot on anal segment. The remainder of dorsal surface is mottled greenish, gray and blackish. Superior sub-dorsal line broadly edged with black; but inconspicuous, except on first and last segments. Lateral line broad, more or less clearly defined, whitish, with blackish shades. Be- neath light greenish. Else as in preceding stage. L. 30 mm. The larvze of all these species entered the earth during the second and third weeks of June, spinning a slight cocoon, in which they remained without changing until August, the imagoes appearing during the first week of September. ‘The pupa is light yellow brown, rather short and stout. The larve of devia were more delicate than the others, and only a few. were brought to maturity and inflated, so that no imagoes were obtained. Although Morrisoni and vinulenta are such abundant species in most localities, I have but once found the larva of any Scopelosoma when col- lecting, and I now recognize this to have been vinulenta, tsi was feed- ing on Azalea viscosa. It will now be of interest to breed the four remaining species of this genus, which are of a somewhat different type, and especially Moffatiana and Grefiana. It is a question which can only be decided by careful breeding whether these two are identical, as some Entomologists suppose. For my own part I am still inclined to think them distinct, as I have found no difficulty in separating the two species in a large series of speci- mens, although breeding from the egg may show them to be varietal forms. I may add that any one intending to rear larve of this genus will do well to keep the imagoes frozen on ice until spring is far enough advanced to furnish tolerably mature leaves, since handling the young larve among small, sticky, immature leaves and buds is a most tedious operation, which is rendered still more difficult by the habit of concealment peculiar to these larve. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 35 NOTES ON A FEW SPECIES OF COLEOPTERA WHICH ARE CONFUSED IN MANY COLLECTIONS, AND ON SOME | INTRODUCED EUROPEAN SPECIES. BY JOHN HAMILTON, ALLEGHENY, PA. In exchanging Coleoptera it is common to find many erroneous determinations of species. | While these errors are for the most part indi- vidual, several are wide spread and seem to be perpetuated by tradition from the older collections. The object of this paper principally is to direct attention to a few of the latter. 1. Zriplax thoracica Say, and ZT. flavicollis Lac. ‘These species are often found in colonies feeding together on the same fungus, and have the same appearance. The separation of mature specimensis easy, the under side of ¢horacica being entirely rufous, while the metathorax and abdomen of flavicollis are black or piceous. 2. Brachyacantha indubitabilis Crotch. Several exchange lists con- tained this species ; but when it came to hand, in every instance it proved to be Ayperaspis signata Oliv., which is of a similar size and appearance. Apart from generic characters, indubitabilis is more convex and the elytra are not compressed at the sides. The elytral yellow spot is noticeably nearer the base, and there is a smaller one near the apex, which is wanting in stgnata. The latter is widely distributed, while Illinois is given as the habitat of the other. 3. Lpierus pulicarius Er. ‘The insect usually sent by this name is the common /Yister subrotundus Say. A glance at the head is instantly decisive. In the former the front is convex; in the latter, broadly con- cave ; otherwise there is great similarity. 4. Anomala minuta Burm. This I have never seen, nor x at a descrip- tion of it. All the specimens reeeived in exchange so named have proved to be the black form of varzans. 5. Dromeolus striatus Lec. Ihave not yet succeeded in obtaining this from any of the lists. There was sent to me twice cy/indricollis Say, and six times Vematodes penetrans Lec. The species of the genus Nematodes should be of easy recognition, as in all of them the last abdom- inal segment ends in a spine, and on the thorax there are two, or four, deeply indented impressions or punctures. : 6. Calopteron reticulatum Fab., and typicum Newm, Collectors seem 36 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. to think these names represent two species. Those having reticudatum are always endeavoring to obtain ¢yfzcum ; while those having the latter are always seeking for the former, without either of them succeeding sat- isfactorily. The literature of the subject is, perhaps, answerable for the confusion. The catalogue of the species of Calopteron (by Crotch) is now erroneous and obsolete. Dr. Leconte, in his recent Synopsis (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., vol. 9, p. 63), corrects certain errors that occurred in his former Synopsis (Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci., ser. 2, vol. 1, p. 74). He now makes ¢erminale Say a species, and places ¢yfzcum Newm. as a synonym of reticulatum Fab., referring to these two names all the forms now known east of the Rocky Mountains, regardless of the color of the thorax and elytra—to reticulatum, those having two elevated elytral coste ; and to terminate, those with four. By reference to the foot note (2. p. 63) it will be seen that two unfortunate errors occur in the text at page 20, which, if not observed, would lead to great confusion. 7. Euderces pint Oliv. Five times this has appeared on the lists of some of the more accurate of my correspondents, and as many times, instead, have I been sent Psenocerus supernotatus Say. I could scarcely account for this, and for the great demand for so common and so widely distributed an insect as P. supernotatus, till an appeal for the correctness of the determination fizz was made to the Journal of the Acad. Nat. Sci., ser. 2, Vv. 2, p. 158, the writer stating that Dr. Leconte had several years ago so named his insect. Reference to the place cited shows that Dr. Leconte then regarded the Cad/idium pini Oliv. and the Clytus super- notatus Say as one species, which he placed in the genus Psenocerus. Subsequent investigation proved that fzzz (which had been unknown in nature to Dr. Leconte) was different from supernotatus, both as to species and genus. ‘The error was corrected in the books, but it has given rise to a great mistake in the tradition of the insect. I have not yet seen pzmz, but from the description of Dr.» Leconte (Smithsonian Misc. Coll. 1873, — vol. xi., p. 202), it certainly resembles P. supernotatus. To distinguish — them at a glance, it is only necessary. to remember that the thorax of the former, instead of being pitted, is longitudinally rugose, and that there is on the elytra anterior to the middle a smooth, ivory white, obliquely trans- verse line which is wanting on the latter. Z. pimi seems rare. P. super- notatus is one of the few Cerambycids that occasionally hybernate. In February of the present year, I found three in the folds of a Cecropia cocoon taken from some currant bushes, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 37 8. Dermestes Frischit Kugel. No notice of this species as having been found in our Fauna has been observed. It occurs in great abund- ance on the Atlantic coast at Brigantine, N. J., on sand-hills among fish refuse from the hotels. Till recently I regarded it as a variety of vzd- pinus Lin., but the receipt of #7zschzz from Europe enabled me to correct the error. Specimens sent to Mr. C. Spiess, Switzerland, labeled vudpinus, were also recognized at once as Frischii. It belongs to the division of the genus with yu/pinus, from which it differs in being smaller, more scaphoid in outline. and in the last abdominal segment having only the ¢7p and a spot on each side denuded. The under side is densely clothed with pure snowy pubescence, except the usual row of denuded spots on each side of the abdomen, and a smaller one on the episternum of the metathorax close to the elytra. The basal half of the femora is covered with the same white pubescence, and is not annulated. The pubescence on the _ sides of the thorax is the same as in vu/pinus, though the triangular black spot has sparse semi-erect grayish pubescence, like the elytra. 9. Dermestes murinus Linn. Mr. H. F. Jayne, in his Revision of the Dermestidz of the U.S., Proc. Am. Phil. Soc., 20, 350, describes murinus Linn., placing under it as varieties canznus Germ., and rattus Lec., and making synonyms of wudi/us Say and dissector Kirb. With about fifty European specimens before me, and omitting the synopsis which is not applicable to the European murinus, I would call the description fair, pro- vided “cinereus” is interpreted strictly to mean gray tinged with black; but in that sense, it does not apply to zubi/us, in which fudvus takes the place of cinereous. If considered wise to unite in one species the above named forms, it might give better results to make mubz/us a variety also, the differences between it and murinus being quite as appreciable as those of caninus or rattus. Murinus is black—has black antenne, the mottling is of a different pattern, and it has not on it a fulvous hair or scale, except on the scutellum. VubiZus is blackish brown—has rufous antenne, and the fulvous pubescence rather predominates over the dark. Blaps mortisaga Linn. By whose authority this has been placed on our Catalogue is unknown to me. Ihave three insects from West Vir- ginia, so called ; but Mr. C. V. Riley, in a late number of the American Naturalist, says the Virginia species is simi/is Latr. It is greatly to be regretted that introducers of species frequently neglect to characterize them, so that when found by others they may be recognized. A name without a description is only an aggravation. In the present instance I 38 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. have Trans-Atlantic specimens of both species, and the American form differs from either of them fully as much as they do from each other. The European mortisaga and similis seem to vary much within specific limits ; ~ and had my American forms occurred in localities remote from one another, species-makers would doubtless have given each a_ distinct name. One has the thorax smooth, sparsely pitted, and the elytra sulco-striate ; another has the former uneven with shallow depressions, and also the elytra similarly sculptured and without the faintest appear- ance of striation or indentation ; while the third is intermediate. From the material before me I would say that the Virginia insect is as likely to be mortisaga as similis, with the chances in favor of some other of the ‘numerous European species. The species of Donacia are greatly confused, and as sixteen new species have been added since the last Revision (by Crotch), fourteen of which were described in Europe, a new synopsis accompanied by good descriptions is greatly desired. The same may be said of several other genera, especially Brachynus, Bembidium, Heterocerus and Lachnosterna, for all of which it is almost useless to exchange. . GLAUCOPTERYX CUMATILIS AND MAGNOLIATA. BY J. ALSTON MOFFAT, HAMILTON, ONT. Cumati.is, G.. & R. Color of front wings greenish white, with heavy black markings ; in one light the whole front wing is suffused with a rich smoky brown, whilst in another it has a_ beautiful green gloss deepest in the centre. Hind wings brownish gray. ‘Two specimens. a MAGNOLIATA, Guen. Color of front wings white with black and light gray markings. Five specimens, varying considerably from one another. Hind wings white, more or less pure. The markings in both forms are identical, but differing greatly in depth and distinctness. In Cumazz/is there is a sinuate liné across the centre of the front wing of a buff color, quite distinct. In A/agno/iata it is so faint as to be scarcely perceptible. Zagnoliata has a conspicuous black THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 39 spot in the centre of the front wing, which is obscured in Cumatilis by its heavy black markings. I have not seen the description given with either name, but in a foot note to Cumati/is in his Check List, Mr. Grote remarks: “ Dr. Packard calls this species Gueneé’s Magnoliata ; Gueneé’s descr., x., 455, calls the fore wings ‘white, with black lines dividing the wing in five spaces,’ with a ‘thick cellular spot.’ The hind wings are called ‘ white,’ and there is no ‘green’ mentioned. I think it is probable I have both forms in these specimens which I captured here last summer for the first time. I have no doubt they are one species, but so distinct in their appearance as to make the use of both names desirable and convenient ; whilst from the boldness of its markings and the superior beauty of the insect, Cumatilis seems metucally to claim the precedence. KIRBY’S “INSECTA.” We are glad to be able to announce that we have reprinted from the pages of the Canapian Entomotocist, the “Insects of the Northern Parts of British America,” compiled*by the Rey. C. J.5. Bethune, M. A., formerly the Editor of the Can. Ent., from “ Kirby’s Fauna Boreali- Americana : Insecta.” The volume contains some 170 pages, and will be found of great assistance to Coleopterists. The price is $1. CORRESPONDENCE. RARE MOTHS AT MONTREAL. Dear Sir: Last fall an important addition was made to our list of _ Sphingide. A number of larve of Phi/ampelus achemon were discovered on cultivated grape-vines growing in the open air, at a gentleman’s resi- dence in this city. Another western Sphinx, Declephila lineata, is taken here, but very rarely. I have heard of only two specimens in ten years. Last year, a specimen of Samza columbia was brought to me, captured in a central part of the city. A few days afterwards I received a Hepialus thule, Strecker, described by him in No. 12 of his ‘‘ Lepidoptera,” from a specimen sent him from here by Mr. Caulfield. Mr. J. G. Jack, of 40 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Chateauguay Basin, also has a very beautiful specimen of this moth. These three are, I believe, the only specimens in collections. Montreal, February, 1884. ; G. J. Bowtes. ENEMIES OF PIERIS MENAPIA. Dear Sir : The determination of the Hemiptera collected in Wash- ington Territory permits me to give the following notice. /Podiscus crocatus Uhler (MS.) is a very eager enemy of the pupa and the caterpillar before pupating, when it is very sluggish. The P. crocatus was every- where common in the devastated forests, and observed in the act of sucking caterpillars. Ve¢des muticus Say was seen near Loone Lake on the freshly laid eggs ; one specimen, together with the eggs, is before me. Cambridge, Mass., Feb. 27, 1884. H. A. HAGEN. BOOK NOTICES. THe GEOLOGICAL AND Natural History Survey or CanapA.—The last volume issued by the Department is full of interest, and betokens — much care and skill in its preparation. ‘The maps are excellent. A new feature is a separate Catalogue of Canadian Plants, by Prof. John Macoun, the well-known Naturalist of the Survey. Part I.—Polypetale— is the first of this proposed publication, and it will be a source of great gratification to all our Naturalists to know that a commencement has been made in this desirable undertaking. We learn from Dr. Selwyn, the Director of the Survey, that “‘it is intended to enumerate systematically the plants of the Dominion of Canada, and to define their range in so far as the knowledge at present available enables this to be done. This, the first part of the Catalogue, will be followed by others as it is possible to complete the necessary examination of collections and authorities. We venture to express the hope that in due time the “Fauna” of the | Dominion may be catalogued in a similar manner, and that the Natural History Survey will be carried on with energy and skill in all its branches. THE CANADIAN RECORD oF NaTuRAL HISTORY AND GEOLOGY.— This magazine is published by the Natural History Society of Montreal, and takes the place of the Canadian Naturalist, formerly published by the Society. The Record will be published quarterly.—E. B. R. (December, ’83, No., mailed February 20, ’84.) (January, ’84, No., mailed March 4, ’84.) Che Canadian Entomalogist. VOL. XVI. LONDON, ONT., MARCH, 1884. No. 3 TWO NEW MYRMECOPHILA! FROM THE UNITED STATES. : BY LAWRENCE BRUNER, WEST POINT, NEBRASKA. Before describing these interesting little crickets which have been neglected or overlooked so long in this country, it becomes necessary to enter somewhat into details. The group being one not often written ‘upon, or the specimens often met with, they are therefore rare to. collec- tions. Prior to this account but two authentic notices of their capture in the United States have ap- peared, viz., the one referring to a specimen taken in Georgia by H. K. Morrison, and the other a reference to the pres- ent described species, one from the vicinity of Washing- ton, D. C., andthe other from , the Pacific coast, at Portland, Oregon, the former of which is herewith figured (fig. 4), @ representing the female, and bthe male. This is undoubt- edly the largest yrmecophila known, being fully 4 m. m. in length, while the largest European species measures nearly one fourth less. The habits of our two species, as far as known, agree well with those of the Orient. They are to be met with in the nests of various species of ants, and especially such as live in rotten stumps and logs or under stones in damp localities. Among these may be mentioned Camponotus pennsylvanicus, Formica rufa, and Cremastogater lineolata. This being the first description of insects in this country belonging to the genus Myrmecophila, it would not be out of place here to give a short diagnosis of the genus before proceeding to the species. Fig. 4. 42 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Generic Characters of AZyrmecophila :— Body ovate, greatly convex, apterous. Occiput entirely hidden by the pronotum, vertex depressed. Eyes ocelliform. Furrows of the antennz greatly impressed. Antenne as long as the body, thickest at base, apex pointed. Pronotum large, wide, narrow in front, wide behind with’ the front and hind margins usually straight, lobes deflexed but not contracted. Meso- and meta-notum not differing from the segments of the abdomen except in some instances where they are wider. Anterior feet small, sub- compressed. Anterior tibize without tympanz, unarmed. Posterior femore greatly enlarged, dilate ovoid. Posterior tibize shorter than femore, stout, compressed, with the upper margin ciliate, internal margin with four movable spines, external margin with two spines, and with four long, terminal spurs. Abdomen short, greatly depressed, and attenuate or tapering. Cerci strong, as long as or longer than the abdomen. Ovi- positor short and quite stout. The male differs from the female in its more slender form and its smaller size. MyYRMECOPHILA PERGANDEI, N. sp. General form looking from above oval, smallest at the head. The latter depressed, deeply sunken into the front margin of the pronotum. Basal joint of the antennez very large and globular, with a few short bristle-like hairs encircling the insertion of the second joint, remaining joints gradually decreasing in size toward the apex. Antenne as long as body, pale yellowish at base, remaining portion rufous. Eyes small, black, composed of a group of ocelli-like cells, which are situated immedi- ately behind the base of the antennze—in dried specimens partly concealed by the front margin of pronotum. Anterior legs small, slightiy compressed, unarmed. Posterior femora greatly enlarged, compressed, ovate incras- sate ; tibiee stout, also slightly compressed, shorter than femora, and fur- nished with four movable spines on the inner and two on the outer edge ; apex with four long spurs. Tarsi plain. Cerci stout, acuminate, slightly thickest in middle, as long as the abdomen, quite hairy ; a trifle heaviest in the male. Ovipositor slender and larger than usual, with the valves of equal lengths, as shown in the accompanying illustration (Fig. 4, a). Pronotum large, wide and greatly deflexed ; narrow in front and wide behind ; front and hind edges straight. Meso- and meta-notum equal, — much larger than first abdominal segment. Color, ochraceous and pice- ous. Front margin of pronotum and hind margins of thoracic and THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 43 abdominal segments, with apex of ovipositor, piceous brown. ‘The char- acteristic feature of the species is, however, the two light colored ellipti- cal markings upon the disc of the pronotum, as shown in the figure. 2 4m.m.and f 3.85 m. m. in length. Habitat. Atlantic States, from Maryland southward. MyYRMECOPHILA OREGONENSIS, 0. sp. Elongate oval, body somewhat contracted at its junction with the pro- notum, which latter is slightly narrowed at its posterior edge, making its sides appear bulging. It is a more slender species than the preceding, the female of this insect being very similar to the male of that species. _Pronotum small, with the sides rounded, posterior edge very slightly arcuate ; meso-, meta-notum and first abdominal segments equal. Cerci or anal stylets comparatively slender, 1.2 m. m. in length. Ovipositor 1.5 m. m. in length, medium stout, with the external sheaths slightly longest and pointed, with the points directed outward ; internal ones acuminate. Color, piceous brown above, with the under side and base of segments lighter. Antenne concolorous. Disc of pronotum also light colored, but without the two elliptical spots, which are present in 17. Pergandet. Female 3.90 m. m. in length, male unknown. One mature female and a pupa of this last species were collected at Portland, Oregon, in the summer of 1882, by Mr. Samuel Henshaw, of Boston, Mass. The-types are deposited in the Museum of Comp. Anat., Cambridge, Mass. 4 OBITUARY NOTICE. Mr. Anson Allen died at his home in Orono, Feb. 8, 1884, in the 55th year of his age. He was, without doubt, one of the best collectors, and one of the most careful, accurate and acute observers of insects, their habits and transformations, that we had among us. For a number of years past he spent nearly all the time he could spare from his business in _ collecting, breeding and exchanging Lepidoptera, and many collections, both in this country’'and Europe, have been enriched by additions from his exquisite preparations. Mr. Allen would never save an insect unless it was absolutely perfect, except such as were very rare. For several years he bred from the eggs, 44 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. columbia, cecropia and many others in large numbers, and although he could not be prevailed on to publish his observations on the early stages of these moths, the conclusion he reached, that columbia is a good and distinct species, is worthy of careful consideration. He corresponded with very many of our prominent Entomologists, and made extensive exchanges ; and many, when they read these lines, will be pained to learn that he is with us no more. Mr. Allen was one of the most unassuming of men, and was appre- ciated at his best only by those who knew him intimately. He did not confine himself to insects, but made a fine local collection in other departments of natural history. C. H. FERNALD. ADDITIONS TO CANADIAN LISTS OF COLEOPTERA. BY W. HAGUE HARRINGTON, OTTAWA. In a list which is now being published by the Ottawa Field Natural- ists’ Club, of Coleoptera collected in the vicinity of Ottawa, I have indicated a considerable number of species which appear not to have been hitherto included in our Canadian lists. As a record of these species may be of some interest to readers of the EnromoLocisr who may not see the above mentioned publication, I send you a list in which I have also incor- porated a few species (distinguished by an *) which, while already recorded, are of unusual rarity or interest. About twenty per cent. of my species are yet unnamed, and a vast amount of work remains yet to be done before the Coleoptera of this district can be considered as satis- factorily known. CARABID. *Blethisa guadricollis Hald. ‘Two specimens taken under wens on shady shore of the Ottawa, in June. Clivina americana Dej. Common, and the only species found. Dyschirius hispidus Lec. Taken in swampy meadow. Pterostichus diligendus Chd. Rare, under driftwood. Amara exarata Dej. Two or three specimens only. polita Lec. Rare, under stones. Platynus propinguus,Gemm. Rare, in damp pastures. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 45 _ Cymindis borealis Lec. In dry pastures, in July. Brachynus americanus Lec. Common under stones along the river, with perplexus Dej. and medius Harris. Having had but little opportunity for the collection of water-beetles, my species are not numerous, and I can say little as to their relative rarity or abundance. As soon as the ice melts I will endeavor to gain a fuller knowledge of our Hydroporini and allied tribes. DYTISCID#. Hydroporus hybridus Aubé. Not rare in the Ottawa in May and Oct. dichrous Mels. One specimen. americanus Aubé. One specimen. notabilis Sharp. One specimen. HYDROPHILIDA. Helophorus obscurus Lec. (var.) One specimen. Hydrochus rufipes Mels. Common. Hydrobius feminalis Lec. One specimen. Cercyon pygmaeum Ml. Rare. SILPHIDA. Fydnobius substriatus Lec. One specimen in October. Dr. Leconte informed me that this beetle was exceedingly rare. Liodes geminata Horn. In fungus. SCYDMAENID. A large number of beetles belonging to this, and to the following three or four families, as well as species from many other families, were secured from moss and swamp grass collected in several localities immediately before the setting in of winter. Although I have only four species belonging to the Scydmzenide, one of these is considered by Mr. John B. Smith to be perhaps a new species. Scydmenus n. sp.? Of same size as fatuus Lec., but easily separated from that species by its pale antennae and legs. PSELAPHIDA. Bryaxis Brendelit Horn. Rare. puncticollis Lec. One specimen. tomentosa Lec. Very rare. 46 : THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. STAPHYLINID#. Many of my species in this troublesome family are still undetermined, ~ but there are a few to record, including some which are MSS. species of — _ Fauvel (determined for me by Mr. John B. Smith). Aleochara gracilicornis Fauvel MSS. Oxypoda tenebrosa Fauvel. Gyrophena corruscula Ex. a *Staphylinus cesareus Cederh. In “New Species of North American Coleoptera,” Part I., Dr. Leconte described as SS. ornaticauda a specimen of this beetle from Canada (collection of Mr. Uhler), locality not stated. Whether the species, which is a European one, has been since taken in Canada, I do not know, but it has been found at Detroit. The single specimen taken by me was captured on znd June last, under a log in very moist ground, at — Billings Bridge, two miles from the city. Philonthus niger Mels. | letulus Say. Rare. Perhaps confused by our collectors with blandus. Occurs in Lower Peninsula of Michigan. | agilis (?) guadricollis Fauvel MSS. Dianous cerulescens Gyll. One specimen. This is also a European ~ species, but is recorded from Lake Superior (as D. chalybeus Lec.) Lathrobium rubripenne Fauvel. Bryoporus cribratus Fauvel. Mycetoporus lepidus Grav. Trogophleus nitellus Fauvel. Geodromicus nigrita Mull. Occurs in Lower Peninsula of Michigan (= Anthophagus verticalis Say). TRICHOPTERYGID&. Ptenidium evanescens Msh. One specimen from moss. Nephanes leviusculus Matth. This minute species is apparently not rare in moss, and may be taken as so well described by Prof. Bell in ENTOMOLOGIST last year. COCCINELLIDA. Hyperaspis bigeminata Rand. Rare. This beetle is recorded from Lake Superior, Michigan and Buffalo among other places, and being so widely distributed, it seems strange that it is not in our lists. at ee Se ae Seas Sk eee THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 47 Scymnus fraternus Lec. ? * CUCUJID&. Lamophleus convexulus Lec. Rare. DERMESTID#. Dermestes bicolor Fabr.. One specimen. Cryptorhopalum ruficorne Lec. Rare. Orphilus glabratus Er., var, Rare. HISTERIDA. Fister defectus Lec. exaratus Lec. BYRRHID. Syncalypta echinata Lec. Very abundant a few years ago on the Parlia- ment Buildings, but rarer of late. DASCYLLIDA. Scirtes orbiculatus Fabr. Several specimens of this pretty species were taken last summer, on weeds growing along a stream flowing - through an old beaver meadow, but owing to the variety of plants growing intermingled, I cannot say on what species it occurred. Previously to last year only one specimen had been taken by me. Cyphon collaris Guér. ‘This species is rare, not more than half a dozen specimens having been captured. (Zo be Continued.) CERATOCAMPA (CITHERONIA) REGALIS, Fas. BY JOHN HAMILTON, ALLEGHENY, PA. In the first number of this volume one of your contributors, Mr. Clarkson, writing about C7theronia regalis, infers that the moth always appears about the end of May, regardless of the time at which the larva enters the earth, and that it is the habit of the pupa to work out of the earth and lay on the surface of the ground during the winter. The first statement is correct in a certain sense. The insect in question is not un- common here, and I have had them in numbers. Take a larva captured the first week in August and another the last in September, and allow them 48 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. spelen to pupate in the same box and to remain together—they will disclose within a day or two of each other ; but whether at the last of May or at some other time, depends on the temperature at which they have been kept. Keep the pupa of the one taken in August at a temperature a few degrees lower than that of the September one, and it will disclose much later, perhaps about the time the offspring of the other are entering the earth. I had one pupa that did not disclose till June of the second year. The time of development seems to largely depend on the temperate that — surrounds the pupa—a fact that is well known. The coming of a pupa to the surface is the exception, and not the rule. Those of several other earth-inhabiting species do the same when the ground selected or forced on the larve is unsuitable. This occurs in nature as well asin confinement. ‘Take two parts of sandy loam, such as is used by plasterers, and one part of black, friable soil from the woods ; mix together, put, to the depth of eight inches, in a good sized tin or iron box, and when the larve disappear cover over with a layer of moss, and then no pupe will come to the surface. | As soon as the pupa is fully formed it commences a series of gyrations ; that result in the formation of an earthy cell, roomy, much larger than itself and impervious to ordinary moisture. This prevents it from being crushed by the expansion of the surrounding earth by freezing, and also from shriveling up by the absorption of its moisture in time of drouth ; or. from drowning from excessive wet. In hard ground the larva cannot penetrate deeply, nor make a wide excavation, and in endeavoring to enlarge its narrow surroundings it wriggles itself to the surface, where it stands small chance to survive to the time of disclosure. ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES. BY PH. FISCHER, BUFFALO, N. Y. I have often read articles about keeping parasites out of cabinets, and have seen in many entomological papers different remedies suggested to keep them from destroying, in a very short time, even the largest collec- tion. I will now add my own experience, and remedy which always proved to be efficient during my 14 years’ collecting, in which time I haye not even lost one specimen. It will especially prove of interest to the { Ey one THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 49 beginner. In the first place I would advise all those who cannot afford a a large cabinet with good fitting drawers, to go to any good joiner and have ~gome boxes made after the following pattern: Take the lumber about three-sixteenth inch thick for top and bottom, for the sides quarter of an inch. Have the box about 15 inches long by 12 inches wide, and 4 inches thick outside measure, and shape it book form, the bottom and top a quarter of an inch projecting. That portion which represents the cover of the book is cut into lengthwise, so as to make two receptacles, each about two inches high. The back is made of three-quarter inch lumber, in the shape of the back of a real book, which is covered with some strong cloth or thin leather outside, and cloth inside, to act as hinges. The two parts will have to be constructed so that they will, by closing them, fold together about a quarter of aninch. Have this neatly covered and lined with a suitable soft material, and it will be a tight and handy box for any kind of insects. Before transferring insects in a new box, I put them on cork and expose them to a moderately hot oven, which I also invariably do with insects received through exchanges. After a certain time, say half an hour, I take them out, and they are placed in the box, in which is pinned a little sponge the size of a small nut, saturated with carbolic acid (crystallized), which has to be renewed every 6 or 8 weeks. Old cabinets infested with parasites, when once introduced, can be cleared by the same method, only that the drawer or box, before pinning back the specimens, also has to be exposed to the heat of the oven. I promised you my further success in hatching Lepidoptera with arti- ficial heat. Pupz of Hyperchiria io taken to a warm room, 64-80 degrees, on Feb. 10, 1884, came out as follows :— Feb. 24, one ¢ and one 2. ‘<} 90, OMe a Feb. 27, one @. “ 28, one. zs Mch. 1, one ~. tat AoE. ae _ Of the lot taken to the room on December 5, a 2 of Z: polyphemus hatched on Feb. 16, depositing 142 eggs within three days, commencing laying the first night; eggs, of course, were sterile. 50 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. BRIEF NOTES OF A TRIP TO POINT PELEE, WITH ADDITIONS TO OUR LIST OF CANADIAN BUTTERFLIES. ~ BY THE EDITOR. During the summer of 1882, we paid a flying visit to Point Pelee, in company with some friends who were interested in Botany. This point of land extends directly south into Lake Erie, near the eastern boundary of the County of Essex, and is among the most southerly points in the Province of Ontario. On the west side of the Point the land is chiefly marsh until near the extremity, and is a prolific hunting ground for sports- men in search of water-fowl; it is also a breeding place for millions of Neuropterous insects. The east shore is sandy, and between this and the marsh are several farms and a considerable area of uncultivated arable land more or less covered with woods. 3 We reached Essex Centre, on the Canada Southern Railway, the nearest point of access by rail, at 7 p. m., on the 28th of June, where we hired a vehicle and driver for three or four days, and drove that evening over an excellent road 18 miles to Leamington. The night was spent here and an early start made the next morning for the Point. A drive of about three miles brought us to the base of the Point, and after a journey of about eight miles farther, we reached the upper extremity. The day was warm and pleasant, and during the last portion of this drive we saw more Dragon-flies and other Neuropterous insects than we had ever seen in our lives before; they literally swarmed everywhere, especially in sunny spots. They flew in our faces and buzzed about our ears as we were driving, and settled on our clothing in considerable numbers. After catching all that could be conveniently carried, we amused ourselves by swinging the net in different directions, catching a few dozen and then letting them fly again. Among the most numerous species were Libellula basalis, L. trimaculata, L. exusta, Diplax intacta, and D. rubicundula, with some others undetermined. During the drive there also floated past us on rapid wing several specimens of Papilio cresphontes and one or two P. marce//us, but they flew with the prevailing wind directly over the swamp, where pursuit was impracticable. As we passed a sunny spot in the woods, approaching the end of our journey, a small dark-colored insect was seen hovering about some flowers growing THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. | 51 by the road-side, which from its peculiar jerky flight, was evidently a Zhec/a. A brief chase resulted in its capture, when it proved to be Zhecla smilacis Boisd., = auburniana Harris, never before, to our knowledge, recorded as occurring in Canada. As we approached the extremity of the Point, we left the swamps behind us and with them the multitudinous hosts of the larger Neuropterous insects, but several of the smaller species were present, associated with Dipterous insects, in prodigious numbers, flying in clouds from every tree and bush we touched, the vibration of their many wings causing a loud roar or buzz. ‘The sides of houses and barns were so thickly covered with them as to almost hide the wood they rested on, but they did not venture inside the buildings. The next day was unfavorable for collecting; the rain poured in tor- -rents until early in the afternoon. As soon as it had ceased, we wandered several miles along the sandy roads and shores, and found many inter- esting plants and trees, but there were very few insects on the wing, excepting those belonging to the Neuroptera, which were everywhere. in abundance. Late in the afternoon, while beating about among the bushes on the sand hills on the eastern shore, a yellow butterfly started up which at first was thought to be a pale C. philodice, but there was something unusual about its appearance and manner of flight which led us to pursue it until captured. Imagine our surprise when we found it to be a female specimen of Zerias Mexicana Boisd. In W. H. Edwards’ Catalogue of Diurnal Lepidoptera, 7hecla smilacis _ Boisd. is said to be found in the Atlantic States, Mississippi Valley and Texas, while the localities given for Zerias Mexicana are Texas to Arizona ; California, occasionally in Kansas and Nebraska. Since both these butterflies are new to our Canadian lists, we append descriptions of them. LThecla smilacis is thus described by Boisduval: ‘ Upper side blackish brown, with a pale whitish spot near the middle of the costal edge ; the secondaries have two thin tails as in the analagous species. “Under side greenish, often washed with a little reddish, with a trans- verse whitish ray sinuous on the primaries, tortuous on the secondaries, bordered in front by a ferruginous tint. Between this ray and the base, the secondaries have another short transverse sinuous ray of the same color. The extremity is marked by two or three ashy crescents, of which ‘the intermediary is black in front, and the third in a line with two or three 52 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. small ferruginous spots, more or less distinct. The anal palette is black, and near the fringe there is a small white marginal line. “ Larva, which feeds on Smilax, is green, with the head and feet blackish. It has four rows of red spots, of which the -two dorsal are formed of smaller spots, and one on each side composed of spots some- what larger. “Chrysalis grayish-brown, with the abdomen more clear and reddish.” Harris, who regarded this species as distinct from smdZacis, thus describes it under the name of auburniana, and Harris’ description agrees more closely with the specimens captured by us than does that of Bois- — duval. Harris says: ‘The outermost of the tails of this insect is very short, and often nothing remains of it but a little tooth on the edge of the wing. It varies considerably in color; the females are generally deep brown above, but sometimes the wings are rust-colored or tawny in the middle, as they always are in the males; the oval opaque spot which characterizes the latter sex is ochre-yellow. Upon the under side the wings in both sexes are green, the anterior pair tinged with brown from the middle to the inner edge ; externally next to the. fringe they are all margined by a narrow wavy white line, bordered ‘internally with brown ; this line on the fore wings does not reach the inner margin; on the hind wings it consists of six spots arranged in a zigzag manner, and the last spot next to the inner margin is remote from the rest; besides these there are‘on the same wings three more white spots bordered with brown between the zigzag band and the base ; and between the same band and the margin three black spots, behind the middle one of which is a rust-red spot with a black centre. The wings expand from 15 to 11s inch. This pretty species is found on the mouse-ear (Guaphalium plantagineum) in May, and on the flowers of the spearmint in August.” | “ Terias Mexicana Boisd. Boisd. Spec. Gén. 679. Figured on pl. 3, C. fig. 1, of Boisd. Spec. Gén. ‘Wings brilliant citron yellow ; primaries with a black border at the extremity, rather wide, ending squarely at the internal angle, showing near the middle a rather deep quadrangular sinus; the outer edge slightly sinuate, and whitish ; secondaries, with the middle of the exterior edge prolonged to a prominent angle, in the form of a tail ; a black border of moderate width, a little dentated on its internal side, not reaching the THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 53 internal angle ; costal edge washed with orange yellow, mingling with the ground color. ** Under side of the primaries sale citron yellow, with a black central point, the edge intersected with Drown points ; the outer edge reddish near the fringe. ** Under side of secondaries yellow, sprinkled with ferruginous atoms, with a blackish central point ; edge intersected with ferruginous points, and marked near the external angle with a spot of the same color; the posterior half having four or five other spots of the same color, of which two or three are in a line, and tending to form a transverse band ; the middle of the outer edge more or less washed with ferruginous. ‘Female differs from the male in the upper side being yellowish white, with a wider border, the quadrangular sinus more profound ; the anterior edge of the secondaries widely orange yellow, and below, three ferruginous posterior spots form on the secondaries a narrow, transverse, ferruginous ‘band. ~ * Texas—Louisiana— Mexico.” Among the other insects taken were Papilio cresphontes, P. turnus, f. troilus, Colias philodice, Terias lisa, Argynnis cybele, Phyciodes tharos, Pyrameis huntera, P. atalanta, Anchyloxypha numitor, Pholisora catullus, Eudamus tityrus, Eudryas grata, Leucania unipuncta, Lucanus lentusand Macrodactylus subspinosus. The latter species was very common on the flowers of the tulip tree (Zzriodendron tulipifera), which was then blooming freely ; also on the sour gum or Pepperidge tree (Vyssa multi- frora). _ The next morning we started early on our return journey and reached Essex Centre in time to take the afternoon train home. Had the weather been favorable we should doubtless have reaped a much richer harvest. THE HAIRY LARVA AND THEIR PARASITES. BY FREDERICK CLARKSON, NEW YORK CITY. It is generally acknowledged by Entomologists that the hairy larve, such as the Arctians and their allies, very commonly escape parasitic attack, a circumstance attributable to the fact, that in order to permit the deposit of ova, these caterpillars must be discovered by the parasites in favorable postures, or else worried by them into such, that the spines separating, give the only opportunity for the insertion of the ovipositor, 54 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. This was clearly demonstrated in an attack made by an Ichneumon upon a larva of Apatela Americana Harris, which came under my observation in the early part of last autumn. This genus belongs to the family of the Noctuide, the larve of which, like the Arctians, are clothed with dense spinular hairs. ‘The caterpillar had secured itself by its abdominal legs to the midrib of a maple leaf, having the fore part of its body elevated, similar to the attitude common to the larve of the Sphingidz. The para- site displayed great energy in the effort to deposit, seemingly as if to com- pel the caterpillar to change its position, but as the caterpillar remained immovable for many minutes, probably a quarter of an hour, I was led to the conclusion that it realized its security in the position it had taken. After driving the parasite away, I discovered that the caterpillar, though perfectly life-like in form, was dead, and as hard as if petrified, and that the parasite, guided, as it would appear in this case, solely by sight, had been, like the Entomologist, thoroughly deceived. In view of the com- -monly accepted opinion, that insects are attracted by odor, not only to their own food, but to the proper food for their progeny, whether it be animal or vegetable, I have referred to this incident, as contributing to the theory that the parasite, in providing food for its progeny, seeks it by sight ; for it would seem most improbable that a dead and dried caterpillar should retain a sufficiency of its natural odor to attract. The incident also illustrates, by the mode of attack and the prolonged effort at ovi- position, that the caterpillar must be brought into an attitude favorable for the reception of the egg. I am inclined to the opinion that the reduction of these moths through the instrumentality of parasites, is largely effected while in the pupa condition, having noted this peculiarity of habit during our recent extraordinary visitation of the O. Zeucostigma Smith. ‘The full grown larvee of this species, collected by me, developed into moths, while from cocoons gathered it was not uncommon to obtain parasites. The — cocoons of the hairy larve commonly consist of loose interwoven hairs, and are not so dense but that the pupa is readily discoverable by the parasite, even if the cocoons themselves do not attract them. LARVA OF DOLBA HYLAUS? BY W. HAGUE HARRINGTON, OTTAWA. On the 29th July last, while beating along the margin of a small stream, I found on my net a larva which had apparently fallen from an alder- THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 55 bush and which was unknown to me. _ I took it home, but it refused to feed upon alder, and I was unable to identify it and find out upon what to feed it. The only descriptions I had at hand were those of Mr. Reed in Annual Report for 1881, and no one of these seemed to answer. Finding that it refused every plant which I offered to it, and yet did not seem pre- pared to pupate, I put it in spirits, which, however, so discolored and shrivelled it that I threw it away. While it was alive I made the following brief note of its appearance: Light green, whitish on back, covered all over with white dots edged with black, but these most conspicuous on thoracic segments and substigmatal surfaces. Head granulated, margined by yellow and black line. Legs pink, stigmata orange fawn-color. Seven oblique white lines edged with rose and black, the last line prolonged to the caudal horn, which is long and slightly curved, with black sides and rough. It was my intention when jotting down this memorandum (to , assist me in identifying the larva) to make a more full and minute descrip- tion, which unfortunately I neglected to do. Recently in reading in Psyche the descriptions of larve of Sphingide, I came across one (Vol. II., page 77) which immediately recalled to me the larva I had taken in the summer. It is the description of a larva considered to be probably that of Do/ba hyleus, and of which the food is sweet fern. The principal points in the description of the mature larva are as follows: Head scabrous ; sphingial bands yellow or white edged with crimson, and this crimson often followed above by a narrow margin of black; horn black on the sides, with slight lateral yellow stripe, green above and beneath ; the whole body profusely sprinkled with circular white dots having a black areola ; spiracles testaceous, afterwards bright reddish, prolegs light brown. On turning to Mr. Reed’s paper I find for this species: ‘‘ Head green, with a pale blue line on each side; body pea-green with lateral oblique pink bands edged below with white ; caudal horn crimson.” (Abbot and Smith.) My object in sending this note is to find out whether it is now definitely known that the larva answering to these descriptions is that of the species to which it is referred. The moth has not been taken here yet so faras I know. I found last summer several other species in early stages, but did not attempt to rear them. Among them was one less than an inch long taken on button bush ; thoracic segments lessening to head, which was small ; general color pale green; covered all over with minute prickles or granules ; horn very long and prickly. 56 - THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. TO OUR MEMBERS. Ottawa, April Ve 1884. Gentlemen ; Waving been honored by the Council of the Entomologi- cal Society of Ontario by being nominated as the delegate to represent that Society at the approaching meeting of the Royal Society of Canada, I shall feel obliged if any members who are desirous of availing them- selves of the privilege extended by the Royal Society of having papers read before that learned body, will correspond with me without delay, so that I may make the necessary arrangements. “is I would also draw attention to the last clause of No. 11 of the Reiat lations of the Royal Society, by which it is intimated that the Royal Society will receive suggestions from associated Societies on any matters — in which the Royal Society may be of assistance in carrying out the objects of the Society. It was under this clause that your delegate last year brought before that Society the advisability of having a more liberal int ‘“»retation of the postal laws regulating the transmission of natural hist°y specimens between students in Canada and those in the United States and Europe, and also suggested that the Government should be petitioned to allow scientific bodies to import free of duty all illustrations, etc., needed for their publications. I am, gentlemen, 7 Yours very truly, , J. FLetcuer, V. P. Ent. Soc., Ont. ' i LIST OF DIURNAL LEPIDOPTERA COLLECTED IN THE _ NORTH-WEST TERRITORY AND THE ROCKY “) * MOUNTAINS, DURING SEASON OF 1883, WITH LOCALITIES. ‘BY CAPT. GAMBLE GEDDES, A. D. C. TO LIEUT.-GOVERNOR OF ONTARIO. (Continued from Vol. xv., Page 223.) 93. Argynnis Leto 2, Behr. Fort Macleod. 94. " Bellona, F. Fort Ellis. 95. Lycena Fulla, Edw. 96. n Melissa, Edw. Oxley Ranche. ~ 97- » Neglecta, Edw. Fort Ellis. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 57 oo 9 99: " : Lycaena Lygdamas, Doubld. Fort Ellis. Icaroides, Bd. Red Deer River. too. Pamphila Nevada, Edw. (?) Fort Macleod. : Iol. "! 102. " Colorado, Scud. Medicine Hat. Idaho, Edw. Moose Jaw. 103. Phyciodes Camillus, Edw. Edmonton. 104. " 105. " Marcia, Edw. Edmonton. Nyeteis, Doubld. Edmonton. 106. Argynnis Nevadensis, Edw. Calgarry. LIST OF ZYGA-NIDA AND BOMBYCIDA TAKEN AT ORONO, MAINE, AND VICINITY. BY MRS. C. H. FERNALD. ZYGENIDE. Alypia octomaculata, Fabr. «¢ Langtonii, Coup. 1 ex. Eudryas unio, Hubn., Scepsis fulvicollis, Htibn. Ctenucha virginica, Charp. Lycomorpha pholus, Drury. BOMBYCID&. Nola minuscula, Zell. Rare. Argyrophyes _ nigrofasciata, Rare. Clemensia albata, Pack. Crambidia pallida, Pack. Hypoprepia fucosa, Hubn. Lithosia bicolor, Gr. 1 ex. -Euphanessa mendica, Walk. Crocota rubicundaria, Hiibn. “* quimaria cr. Rare. eh ODeiay Sars Utetheisa bella, Linn. Rare. Callimorpha Lecontei, Boisd. Rare. Rare. Zell. Platarctia borealis, Moeschl Arctia virgo, Linn. *‘ Saundersii, Gr. 3 * figurata, Drury. R: “ -virguncula, Kirby. — ! Pyrrharctia isabella, A. & ¢ . Phragmatobia rubricosa, Hr. Leucarctia acraea, Drury. Spilosoma virginica, Fabr. Hyphantria cunea, Drdiy. Spotted form, rare; pure white tm, common. | Euchaetes egle, Drury. Oregonensis, Very rare. Halisidota tessellata, A. & S. . caryz, Harris. re maculata, Harris. Orgyia nova, Fitch. “¢ _ leucostigma, A. & S. Parorgyia Clintonii,G. & R. Rare. Stretch. 58 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, Parorgyia parallela, G. & R. Very rare. Dasychira Lintneri, Gr. 1 ex. Euclea querceti, H.-S. Limacodes biguttata, Pack. 1 ex. ¥ fasciola, H.-S. Rare: Packardia ocellata, Gr. 1 ex. Tortricidia testacea, Pack. Rare. Ichthyura inclusa, Hiibn. Rare. ‘¢ — albosigma, Fitch. 0 Ove Magen, Datana ministra, Drury. = integerrima, G. & R. Nadata gibbosa, A. & S._ Rare. Gluphisia trilineata, Pack. Notoronta stragula, Gr. Rare. Loph lonta ferruginea, Pack. au angulosa,A.&S. Rare. Pheos} rimosa, Pack. Very rare. Neric¢ >identata, Walk. Edem; albifrons, A. & S. Seirod ta bilineata, Pack. Oeden. sia badia, Pack. Rare. Dasylo hia interna, Pack. 1 ex. Ccelodasys unicornis, A. & S. Tanassa lignicolor, Walk. Rare. Heterocampa marthesia, Cram. Heterocampa cinerea, Pack. “ subalbicans, Gr. _ Cerura occidentalis, Lintn. Rare. Platypteryx arcuata, Walk. Prionia bilineata, Pack. Rare. Dryopteris rosea, Walk, Rare. 6 irrorata, Pack. Very rare. Actias luna, Linn. Telea polyphemus, Cram. Platysamia cecropia, Linn. Af columbia, Smith. Rare. Hyperchiria io, Fabr. Dryocampa rubicunda, Fabr. Rare. . Clisiocampa americana, Harr. disstria, Hiibn. Gastropacha americana, Harr. 2 ex. Tolype velleda, Stoll. Rare. Prionoxystus robiniz, Peck. Very rare. ; Hepialus argenteomaculatus, Harr. Rare. ii Hepialus quadriguttatus, G. Very rare. | Hepialus mustelinus, Pack. Very rare. bs Hepialus gracilis, Gr. Rare. BOOK NOTICES. Proceedings and Transactions of the Royal Socieiy of Canada. The first volume of the Transactions of the above Society, covering the work done during the years 1882 and 1883, has been received. It is a handsome quarto volume of 720 pages, illustrated by 13 plates. The first 71 pages is devoted to an account of the Proceedings of the Society for the years 1882 and 1883; the remainder is divided into four sections —uist, French Literature, History, etc., occupying 165 pages ; 2nd, Eng- ie THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 59 lish Literature, History, etc., 96 pages; 3rd, Mathematical, Physical and ‘Chemical Sciences, 98 pages; 4th, Geological and Biological Sciences, 286 pages. The matter is well printed and on excellent paper, and the whole work—notwithstanding that the lists of errata are rather longer than they should be—is a credit to the country and an evidence of solid progress in scientific research in Canada. Ottawa Field Naturalists Club, Transactions, No. 4, 1882-188} ; Svo., pp. 89, with one plate. This number, although somewhat late in being issued, is highly credit- able to the Club, and shows that its members are still actively engaged in working up the natural history of their locality. Following the Report of the Council is the excellent and instructive address of the President, Mr. James Fletcher, who is also Vice-President of the Ent. Soc. of Ontario. Next in order are valuable papers on the Laurentian System, the Fishes of the Ottawa District, the Ducks of the locality, etc. There are also reports from the general branches of Geology and Mineralogy, Paleontology, Botany, Conchology, Ornithology, and Entomology, the last occupying six pages with the record of its excellent work. We heartily congratulate our fellow laborers in natural science belonging to this Club for the excellent example they have set their sister cities in Ontario by their thoroughness and enthusiasm. The Butterflies of Maine; by Prof. C. H. Fernald. 8vo., pp. 104; illustrated with 28 figures. Our thanks are due Prof. Fernald for a copy of this work, designed more especially for the use of students in the Maine State College, but one which will be found very useful to all who take an interest in our northern butterflies. In the introduction, which occupies 18 pages, brief reference is made to the classification, transformations, external and internal anatomy of, insects, followed by an accentuated list of the names of butterflies and an artificial key designed to aid in determining the 59 species which are recorded as found in Maine. The descriptions are written in a plain and practical style, as free from technicalities as the subject will admit of. 60 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Papilio: A Monthly Journal Devoted Solely to Lepidoptera. This excellent publication, which has been so ably conducted for the past three years by Mr. Henry Edwards, of New York, has passed into the hands of Mr. Eugene M. Aaron, Curator of the American Entomo- logical Society, Philadelphia, who will continue to publish it as heretofore. The enthusiasm and ability Mr. Aaron brings to the task will, we have no doubt, enable him to fully maintain the good name this journal has already acquired. We sincerely hope that entomologists generally will aid this useful work by subscribing for it, and we trust that under Mr. Aaron’s able management the career of Papi/io may be an eminently successful one. Mr. Aaron’s address is Lock-box 2,500, Philadelphia, Pa. The Canadian Sportsman and Naturalist. We regret to learn of the demise of this useful journal. Three volumes have been published, containing much valuable imformation concerning the natura] history of Canada. CORRESPONDENCE. The Entomological Society of Washington has organized with the following officers: President, Dr. C. V. Riley ; first Vice-President, Dr. J. G. Morris ; second Vice-President, Geo. Marx; Recording Secretary, E. A. Schwarz; Corresponding Secretary, L. O. Howard; Treasurer, Ben. P. Mann ; Executive Committee, the officers and Dr. W. S. seibncth P. R. Uhler aha Dr. A. J. Shafhart. The first regular monthly meeting of the Society was held April 3rd, in the Council Chamber of the U.S. National Museum. The following papers were read :— 1. Some New Facts Concerning the late Townend Glover—C. V. Riley. 2. On Insect Collecting at Pt. Barrow, Alaska—Jno. Murdoch. 3. On the Insect Fauna of the District of Columbia—E. A. Schwarz. 4. On the so-called ‘* Mistaken Parasite.”—L. O. Howard. The active membership list of the Society numbers over twenty names. Regular meetings are held on the first Thursday evening of each month. L. O. Howarp, Corresponding Secretary. — CHANGE OF ADDRESS.—The. Rev. F. W. Fyles has removed from Levis, P. Q., to South Quebec. Parties sending him communications will please bear in mind this change. ; The Canadian Entomologist. VOL. XVI. LONDON, ONT., APRIL, 1884. No. 4. NOTES ON THE ENTOMOLOGY OF VANCOUVER ISLAND. BY GEO. W. TAYLOR, VICTORIA, B. C. Since I came to this island, a couple of seasons ago, I have made a practice of capturing any insects that came in my way, and I have some- times made an expedition purposely in pursuit of such prey. The result is an accumulation of about one thousand species of all orders, which pro- bably represents not more than five per cent. of our insect population. _As my favorite studies are in another department of Zoology, I have neither the inclination nor sufficient knowledge to work out all this material myself, but with the help of entomological friends, resident, alas! sadly, too far off, I am gradually making progress with the naming of my captures, and I propose, with your permission, to publish from time to time in the CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, lists, with notes, of the species that have occur- red tome. I hope that this will be both useful and interesting to Eastern entomologists, as I notice that hardly more than one half of the insects I have already identified are named in the recently published check list of Messrs. Brodie & White, and many of them will prove, I think, new to science. This month, however, I will content myself with a few general and preliminary remarks. Our climate (I am speaking only of the south-east- erly portion of Vancouver Island) is supposed to resemble that of the south of England, but I should call it decidedly milder. Our spring is warm and early, and the summer hot and dry, but with cool nights and copious dews. On the other hand, the winter is mild, and for about three months exceedingly wet. All kinds of vegetation are very luxuriant.. The uncul- tivated lands are thickly covered with heavy timber, and the cultivated lands are at present few and far between, which makes it easier to combat the attacks of our noxious insects (and of these we have not a few). All our climatic conditions, except perhaps the wet winter, are favorable to abundant insect life, and this undoubtedly exists here. There are several points about our insect fauna that cannot failto strike anobserver. In the 62 . THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. first place the extreme abundance of Diurnal Lepidoptera must attract attention. Nearly 4o species may be marked abundant. A patch of blossom in May, covered with Blues and Frittil/aries, with an occasional Colias and two or three magnificent species of Pafilio, is a sight such as an English entomologist, at least, never sees at home, and later in the year the hundreds of Vanessa, Chrysophanus, Pamphila and Limenitis make a very different but not less beautiful picture. The Orthoptera, too, intrude themselves upon our notice. Grass- hoppers in thousands exist in some localities, and do considerable mischief, and large and gorgeous species, with red or yellow under wings, astonish the uninitiated by their sudden appearance or equally sudden vanishing. Two kinds of Cricket fill the air with music in early summer, and a couple of species of Cicada lend them most efficient aid. Of Hemiptera, Neu- roptera and Diptera I have not collected many, perhaps only 200 species in all, but they include some remarkably fine kinds. Among the Coleop- tera I am struck with the abundance of Adephaga, many of them, too, being of large size. ‘The genera Cadosoma (e. g. tepidum Lec.), Cychrus (marginatus Dej. and angusticollis Fischer), Carabus (tedatus Fabr.), Omus (Dejeant Reiche and Audouini Reiche), Holciophorus, Promecog- nathus, &c., being represented by very fine species. The Longicornes, too, are abundant, and most of them are absent from Brodie & White’s list. The Elateridze and Buprestide are also numerous ; in fact all wood- feeding insects seem to abound, as do carrion feeders, while on the other hand, Lamellicornes are very scarce. Our Hymenoptera are fine and interesting; the Vespas are in fact decidedly zoo fine. V. maculata Fab., V. media Oliv., and a supposed new species, being remarkably plentiful and pugnacious. Less plentiful, but no less conspicuous and interesting, are the Uroceride, my first five specimens proving to belong to as many different species. Nearly one hundred species of Hymenoptera (about half my collection) have been identified for me through Mr. Brodie, of Toronto, and they are consequently most of them included in his check list. These shall form the subject of my next communication, and in concluding for the present, I may mention that my duplicates and the loan of my type specimens in any particular family or order will be accorded with very great pleasure to any specialist who will favor me with a request for the same. . ra s CS ee, ar ae ee ae ee en a) THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 63 NOTES ON THE TORTRICIDA. BY PROF. C. H. FERNALD, STATE COLLEGE, ORONO, MAINE. At the time when my Catalogue of the Tortricidze was published, I was inclined to believe that Cacecia transiturana Walk., and C. obsoletana Walk., were the same species, for they were taken in the same localities, and only females of the former and males of the latter species were to be found in collections. Prof. Forbes has recently sent me two examples for determination, which he bred from two lots of leaf-rollers on the strawberry, in Illinois, and from each lot he obtained males and females, all the males being obsoletana, and all the females ¢ranstturana. We may, therefore, con- sider the question settled by Prof. Forbes, and these two insects are only the two sexes of our species, which should be known as Cacecia obsoletana Walk. . When I was examining these insects, I was struck by the close resem- blance which the males bore to Cacwcia zapulata Robs. Of this species only two examples, both males, are at present known; one, the type, taken in Illinois, and the other, now in Prof. Riley’s collection, taken in Missouri. C. zapudata is considerably larger than obsoletana. It is hoped that Prof. Forbes will be able to settle the question whether these two are distinct from each other or not. He will undoubtedly give us the early stages of obso/etana in his report. In the Bulletin of the Entomological Commission, No. 6, page 82, Prof. Riley expresses the opinion that Zeras oxycoccana Pack., 7: cinder- ella Riley, Z: malivorana LeBaron, and 7: vacciniivorana Pack., are dimorphic forms of one species. At the time when my Catalogue went to press, I thought it better to allow them to appear as distinct, but made the statement in a foot-note that ‘surely oxycoccana Pack. must be distinct.” I-had the type of oxycoccana, and did not feel prepared to admit that an insect so unlike the others could be the same thing. _ During last summer Mr. J. B. Smith collected and raised a large num- ber of the so-called cranberry worms in New Jersey, and many were sent to the Department of Agriculture and bred there, so that there seems to be no doubt that Mr. Smith and Prof. Riley have proved the dimorphism of the insect. Mr. Smith had the kindness to send me a considerable number for examination, but they were all the slate-colored form, or 7. cinderella Riley. I therefore wrote to Prof, Riley, who sent me a gener- 64 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ous supply of all the forms bred. There were the plain slate-colored form, the slate-colored with red scales mixed in, and the orange-colored form, the malivorana of LeBaron, which, without much doubt, is identical with vacciniivorana, though the type of the latter is lost, and we now have only a brief description to determine it by. Now, what greatly surprised me in the examination was to observe at once that the orange forms were Zeras minuta Robs, which was re-described by Zeller as Zeras variolana. 1 have, for several years past, taken a Zeras here in considerable numbers, late in September, which I have sent to several correspondents in Europe, who have written me that they were quite unlike anything there. These proved to be like the slate-colored and red mixed form mentioned above, except considerably larger ; I can see no difference except in size. There is no cranberry growing where these are found, but other related plants, as blueberry, upon which they might have fed. My impression is that they hibernate in the imago state, but of this Iam not sure. A few years ago I received several specimens from Mr. G. M. Dodge, of Glencoe, Neb., ‘‘ bred on wild rose,” which are so like those taken here that I could separate them only by their greater depth of coloring and their much larger size, for they are as much larger than those taken here, as these are larger than those from Prof. Riley, and others from Texas. I received T. minuta from Mr. Dodge, and also from Mr. Morrison, taken in Nevada, and they were also unusually large. Iam, therefore, inclined to believe them all the same species, but I am not yet ready to concede that oxycoc- cana is the same thing. It will be better to allow it to remain separate till it can be proved to be the same, rather than to unite them now, and have to separate them later, should they prove distinct. The synonomy is as follows : Teras minuta. Tortrix minuta, Robs., 1869. Tortrix malivorana, LeBaron, 1870. Tortrix vacciniivorana, Pack., 1870. Teras variolana, Zell., 1875. The above are the orange forms. Tortrix cinderella, Riley, 1872. Riley’s name may be used to indicate the slate- biome form. Robinson’s Z: minuta was published in F ebruary, 1869, and Packard’s T. oxycoccana not until April, 1869. In December, 1878, I visited Prof. P. C. Zeller, and oniiiied ssi THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 65 types of his N. A. Tortricids. At the time, I did not feel satisfied that Sericoris argyralana Zell., was distinct from S. coruscana Clem., but allowed both names to remain. After Prof. Zeller’s death, his collection passed into the hands of Lord Walsingham, and I wrote to him about the matter. He made an examination and wrote me that they were identical, and that Prof. Zeller had evidently reached that conclusion, for he had placed them together in his collection. I have recently examined a large number of examples of the European and American Phoxopteris comptana Frol., and compared them critically with Phoxopteris fragarie Walsh & Riley, and I am convinced that they are the same thing. They are structurally identical, and my European specimens shade off into cinnamon-colored forms, so that I can find no line of distinction between them. ‘The insect must, therefore, be known hereafter as Phoxopteris comptana Frol. SOME FRAGMENTS OF INSECT STATISTICS. BY THOS. E. BEAN, GALENA, ILLS. * PUPAL TERM OF ARCTIA NAIS. ? found June 16, 1875, laying eggs in a depression in ground recently dug. Total number of eggs obtained about 500, 16th to 19th of June. Larve began to appear June 24th. They were fed chiefly on Poly- gonum acre, and one or two species nearest allied to acre, partly on Poly- gonum aviculare, var. erectum, and partly on red clover. Pupation began July 23rd, and continued daily to August 8th, inclusive ; a few more pupz formed to the 16th inclusive, when pupation practically ceased. Only 5 pupations occurred later; two about 2oth of August, one about rst of October, and two in the last ten days of October. | After losses from larval mortality and escapes, there remained August 16th nearly 200 larve, almost mature. These shortly made final moult and early in September almost ceased feeding. The hybernating dispo- sition took possession of them, and out of nearly 200 mature larvae remaining Sept. rst., not more than three formed pupa before winter. .* Gladly giving some attention again to entomology, after several years neglect, I find a few of my former notes, which, as far as they extend, were carefully made, and may be of some use in supplementing other records, or for comparison of localities, 66 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Pupal mortality, none. Pupal hybernation, none. Of the outcome from the pupae thus obtained previous to winter, the sex was noted of 196, 115 being males, 81 females. The pupal term and mature sex of 165 were carefully recorded, sum- ming up as follows :— Pupal term nearest 10 days, 2 males, 8 females. " " UGH a I4 " 34 " " " 12° 40 " 21 " Wee: " eee | 37 " 3 " " " ifn 6 " no " Average pupal term of 99 males, closely 12% days. " " 66 females, " 11% " The pupations of early dates produced a large excess of males. The earliest 10 pupae, July 23rd and 24th, gave 9 males and 1 female. From 43 pupations dating July 23rd to 27th inclusive, resulted 32 males and 11 females. Pupae of intermediate dates, especially from July 28th to August 3rd inclusive, gave about equal numbers of both sexes. In the later dates the males were again considerably in excess. In spring of 1876 two Arctia nais larvae were collected; one gave pupa May 18th and male imago May 31st—pupal term 13 days; the other pupated June 15th, and female moth emerged June 27th—pupal term 12 days. HYBERNATION OF SPILOSOMA ACRZEA. This moth was rare in vicinity of Galena in 1875. Three larvae col- lected Sept. rgth and one Oct. 21st. One made pupa Oct. 8th, the others Oct. 23rd to 25th. Moths appeared the following April, 17th to 26th, 2 males, 2 females. The larvae showed no disposition to hybernate, although reaching mature stage so late in the season. SPILOSOMA VIRGINICA. Larve collected in September, 1875, spun up late in Sept. and during Oct., and moths emerged the next spring in cool room April as to May gth. No observable tendency to larval hybernation. Extreme color-variation found among the larve ; from pale yellow to dark red-brown, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 67 SPILOSOMA ISABELLA. | About 70 eggs were found June 7, 1876, in a compact group on a leaf of Zriticum repens. ‘The larve were fed on folygonums and native asters. Record made July rath of several larvee of sizes from 1 inch to 13% inch, which differed from the ordinary pattern by being almost entirely black, and thus nearly lacking the red-brown area usually seen on the intermediate group of segments. Nine pup were carefully recorded, with dates from July 15th to August 3rd :— Pupal term 11 days—one. " ED sens three. " i300 three. " 14 nm two. Average pupal term, 1234 days. The remaining larve were apparently all mature by August 1st, and on September 3rd there were still 22—none having pupated since August 3rd. Only one more pupation occurred before winter, dating Sept. 12th, and imago was disclosed not long after. CATOCALA GRYNEA. Larva found June 1st, 1876. Began forming pupa the same day. Moth emerged June 24th. Another larva found June 11th, pupa formed June 12th, imago dis- closed June 3oth. : : - Another pupa dated July rst, imago July 17th. Pupal terms approxi- mately 16, 18 and 22 days. CATOCALA ULTRONIA. Larva found on apple-tree trunk June 5, 1876; began forming pupa June 6; imago appeared June 27. - Another larva was taken on native plum tree in garden; pupa formed June 9; imago appeared July 2. Pupal terms approximately 20 and 23 days. HYDROECIA SERA. Larva found June 11, 1876, on native anemone, Anemone pennsy.- vanica, or Closely allied species. Pupa June 15; imago June 28. - 68 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. MAMESTRA ADJUNCTA. Larva, half inch long, found Sept. 16, ae 5,0n Celeriac. Was fed up partly on Celeriac and partly on Weigelia rosea. Pupated about Oct. 5, and imago appeared about 6th of following May. Another larva was taken on Weigelia rosea, Oct. 4, 1875, being then 1¥% inch long. Pupated Oct. 13, and the moth appeared May 14, 1876. VANESSA ANTIOPA. Seven larve, nearly mature, were taken from a poplar tree late in June, 1875. Two pupated June 3oth, the other five July rst; all disclosed imago July 12. Pupal term of two, 12 days; of five, 11 days. CHRYSOPHANUS THOE. Female taken June 25, 1876. Placed with twigs of dock, Rumex crispus, one twig having a flower panicle, and upon the flowers the eggs were chiefly deposited. Eggs laid by 28th June, and larve began to appear by 4th July. Earliest pupations July 16th, others to July 21st inclusive, 29 in all. Imagines appeared from July 24th to August rst inclusive, 16 males, 13 females. Pupations of earlier dates gave chiefly males; later dates gave an excess of females. Pupal term :— Term 8 days, 3 pups, produced 3 males. " Go LO: i " Yi ars 5 females. " FOS SH iM " pares I 8 " " sg " I "W " tg " ~BOOK NOTICES. Notes on the Rearing of Silk-producing Bombyces, in 1883, by Alfred - Wailly. From the Journal of the Society of Arts, 8vo., 6 pp. Mr. Wailly has devoted much attention for the last ten years to the rearing and study of the various silk-producing Bombyces of China, Japan, India and America, with much success, the recent results of which are given in this report. ‘The American species he has experimented with are Lelea polyphemus, Actias luna, Samia promethea, Platysamia cecropia, and Hyperchiria to. Ee EW a ene vOtR, ee THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 69 _ NOTES. ON PEGOMYIA BICOLOR (Wiepemann), A LEAF- MINING FLY NEW TO CANADA. BY REV. THOMAS W. FYLES, SOUTH QUEBEC, Egg laid on the under side of the leaf of the Dock (Rumex obtusi- folius). Newly hatched larva bites through to the upper surface of the parenchyma, and works under the epidermis, until the leaf presents a blistered appearance. Sometimes three or four larvee are found in one leaf. Full-grown larva, four-tenths of an inch long, white, semi-transparent. Segments marked with greenish yellow. Head retractile, furnished with a snout-like process, the apparent use of which is to raise the epidermis as the creature feeds. Mouth set back. Alimentary canal visible under the microscope, also two ducts terminating in spout-like organs protruding from what appears to be the upper edge of the somewhat truncated last segment of the larva. The tuberculose spiracles on the second segment very conspicuous ; on the third, less so, and so on diminishing. The insect left the leaf and pupated on the 22nd of September. Whilst undergoing the change it assumed a leaden-blue color. Pupa, two and a half tenths of an inch in length ; chestnut-brown ; ovate. Segments slightly marked. Two considerable prominences at the head. The anal protuberances, as above described, hardened and con- spicuous. Perfect insect appeared in a warm room early in April. It presents a bristly appearance. Head, large. Front, white. Palpi, red. — Eyes, full, madder brown in color. Large joint of antennz sienna-colored, infuscated. Thorax, large and rounded, rich dark brown. Legs, sienna- colored. Wings medium sized. Costal margin thickly set with short hairs. Veins broadly marked, dark brown. Wing-sockets furnished beneath with a white fibrous edging. MHalteres small and light-colored. Abdomen small compared with head and thorax, and long as compared with its own diameter, cylindrical, truncated, sienna-colored, set with long brown bristles. _ I am indebted for the identification of this insect to Mr. Meade, who says: ‘I belive that this species has not been recorded as an inhabitant of North America, but it is very common in the north of Europe. Ihave bred numerous specimens from the leaves of both Rumex obtusifolius and R. crispus. Zetterstedt says it is equally common in the north of 70 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Scandinavia as it is in England. There was no specimen of this species in the collection of American Anthomyide which I received some years ago from the Museum at Cambridge, Mass. “Your specimen exactly corresponds with some of the English ones which I possess. It is rather a variable species ; the 1st and 2nd joints of the antennae are sometimes nearly black, when it has been named J. mitis by Meigen; but they are mostly rufous. One characteristic point is that the palpi should be entirely yellow or red, zof black at the tips as in Pegomyia nigritarsis Zett., a species which also mines the leaves of the Dock, in the larva state. I have bred both species from the same leaf of R. obtusifolius.” ADDITIONS TO CANADIAN LISTS OF COLEOPTERA. BY W. HAGUE HARRINGTON, OTTAWA. (Continued from page 47.) CoRRECTION.—Page 46, line 9, for “‘ Uhler” read Ulke. ELATERID&. Fornax badius, Mels. One specirnen. The only list in which I have found this species recorded is that by Mr. Schwarz, of Florida — Coleoptera. Hornii By. One specimen. Hypocoelus frontosus, Say. One specimen (given to Dr. LeConte). Sarpedon scabrosus, By. One specimen of this very rare species was taken by me while beating shrubbery (June, 1880), and another was captured about the same time and given to me by Mr. Fletcher. Both were 2, this sex having been previously unknown. They © are now in the respective collections of Drs. LeConte and Horn. Elater nigrinus, Payk. One specimen. Recorded from Michigan and Lake Superior. oe * Megapenthes stigmosus, Lec. ‘This species is by no means rare, yet I do not find it in any of the lists which I have at hand, except that of Lake Superior species. } Agriotes oblongicollis, Mels. Rare ; same localities. Limonius aeger, Lec. Rare. A Lake Superior species. crt Atle THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 71 eCorymbites vernalts Hentz. This pretty species is some seasons quite common on the flowers of Choke-cherry, and is also found on those of Hawthorn. *fallax Say. Captured by beating oak, etc. Occurs with Oxy- gonus obesus, which it much resembles, but which may be readily distinguished by the elytra being spinose at tip. *cructatus Linn. (=pulcher Lec.) This handsome beetle is taken occasionally upon Beech, and it is probable that the larvee live in the decaying trees. BUPRESTID&. The, species of this family, as of the preceding one, are well repre- sented here, and the individuals of some of them are very abundant. *Anthaxia inornata Rand. I find no record of this species in any of my ’ lists, so that it must be rare. Three or four specimens have been taken here, but unlike wiridicornis and viridifrons (which occur abundantly on various trees in June and July), it appears early in the spring, and is found on such flowers as Trillium. Chrysobothris floricola Gory. One specimen. The species is recorded from Buffalo, Lake Superior and Florida (rare), so that it is widely distributed. : pusilla Lap. The only mention I find of this pretty little species is in LeConte’s “Revision of the Buprestide of the United States,” 1859, where it is given as from the ‘“ Middle and Southern States. Rare.” Only one specimen taken by me; date not recorded. * Sexsignata Say. Rare. * Agrilus interruptus Lec. Rare. Occurs at Buffalo. putillus Say. One specimen of this diminutive species, which I find also recorded from Michigan. Sp. ? A specimen easily distinguished from any other small species by its less elongated form. I was informed by Dr. Leconte that it was unknown to him, and Dr. Horn states that the species is not in his cabinet. LAMPYRID&. Podabrus nothoides Lec.? My determination of this species is by Dr. Leconte’s “Synopsis of the Lampyride of the United States,” where it is described as a new species, occurring in Mass. and at Lake Superior. Rare, 72 . THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. MALACHID&. Matachius Ulkei Horn. Three ~ specimens captured while beating bushes. Dr. Leconte, on seeing these beetles, considered them to belong to a new species, but Dr. Horn, on examining one, imme- diately recognized it as belonging to the above species, which was founded by. him upon a specimen from Dakota, loaned by Mr. Ulke,: in whose collection it now is. With the exception of JZ. eneus Linn. (an introduced species in the Eastern States) the members of this genus were formerly considered peculiar to the Western fauna, being found chiefly in California. I now find that there is a specimen in the collection of the late Mr. Billings, labelled “ Anthocomus latera/is,” making four specimens ( f) from this locality. The female yet remains to be discovered. PTINIDA. Lemiptychus punctatus Lec. Rare. Dinoderus punctatus Say. Rare. SCARABAEID. The species of this interesting family are not numerous in these northern latitudes, nor are the individuals, except of the commoner species, in any way abundant. Aphodius hyperboreus Lec. A dead specimen (¢) found floating on the South Nation River at Casselman. The species was described by Leconte in Agass. Lake Sup., p. 225, and occurs from Lake sup: to Oregon. CERAMBYCID. Phymatodes thoracicus Muls. I am indebted to Mr. Fletcher for a pair of these longicorns, which I believe are an introduced European species. Mr. Fletcher was fortunate enough to obtain several of them from an old wine-cask. Callidium aereum Newm. I am also indebted to Mr. Fletcher for a fine specimen of this beetle taken upon pine at Hull. * Purpuricenus humeralis Fab. This handsome beetle is already recorded from Canada, but from what localities I have not been able to find out. In the classification of Leconte and Horn it is stated to occur in the Middle and Western States. None of the lists which I have contain it, so that it must be comparatively rare. I was THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 73 therefore much pleased to capture a pair lastsummer. The 2 ‘was taken near Rideau Hall on 27th June ; the 2 on Sparks Street in the centre of the city, on 11th July. _Microclytus gazellula Hald. is also a species belonging to the Middle States, and is given in my Michigan and Buffalo lists. Itis an elegant little beetle with the ant-like form and movements of : Cyrtophorus verrucosus, which it closely resembles. Only three specimens found, on Hickory and on Sumac flowers in July. Leptura saucia Lec. This Leptura occurs on flowering shrubs, and is . the smallest species which I have taken. It is rare here, and is not given in any of my lists. | Monohammus maculosus Hald. A fine f of this species was captured late in September three or four years ago. As it resembles pretty closely the very common beetle, AZ. confusor, I thought I might have overlooked specimens previously, but a careful watch since then has not revealed any. It is recorded from Lake Superior. Goes pulverulentus Hald. ‘This fine insect is rare on Hickory during July. Occurs also at Buffalo. Leptostylus. parvus Lec. One specimen of this rare beetle. Liopus punctatus Hald. Rare, only three captured. Neither this nor the preceding species is included in any lists to which I have referred. Saperda mutica Say. On the 15th July, 1882, I captured a pair of these , prettily marked beetles on decaying willows. It is recorded from Buffalo. (Zo be Continued. ) THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST AMONG CERTAIN SPECIES _ OF PTEROSTICHUS AS DEDUCED FROM THEIR HABITS. BY JOHN HAMILTON, ALLEGHENY, PA. The ultimate extinction of many species of Coleoptera in the vicinity of large cities is unquestionable, especially of the larger Carabide. The conditions of life with some are such as admit of no adaptation to the methods of civilization, and for them no refuge from the encroachments of agriculture will eventually remain, They are now retiring, retiring,and 74 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, in time the last goal will be reached. In localities where the population is becoming dense, andall land available placed under cultivation, many fine species that once were common are now rarities and others fast becoming so. It is less than half a century since Mr. Randall described eighty four species from localities in Maine and Massachusetts, most of them com- mon ; but, according to Mr. Austin, in the same places several of these species are now extinct and many of them have become rare. The Cole- opterist of Cincinnati, or of Buffalo, of a couple of hundred years hence, who shall be fortunate enough to possess one of Mr. Dury’s, or Mr. Reinecke’s lists of local Coleoptera, will no doubt have occasion to mourn over the absence from his Fauna of many of the choice forms there registered. And, by the way, the value of local catalogues would be greatly enhanced by indicating the comparative abundance of the indi- viduals and other matters, as is done by Mr. Schwartz in his “ List of Species Collected in Florida.” The foregoing is preliminary to a consideration of the probable future of several species of Pterostichus of wide distribution occurring here, as deduced from their respective habits of life and powers of ae aes 44 The references are to this locality only. 1. P. adoxus Say occurs commonly eastwardly of the Mississippi and northwardly from Tennessee and Carolina. Here it is moderately abun- dant, being usually found under the bark of fallen timber, or under chips and stones in its vicinity. The larvae probably live about decaying wood. This species is not likely to become entirely extinct. 2. P. rostratus Newm. has the same range as adoxus, extending further south. It is much less abundant. It seems to have similar habits. Here it is about extinct, only three specimens having been taken in ten years ; but fifty miles south-east, along the base of the Allegheny Mountains, it is not uncommon. 3. P. diligendus Chand. occurs from Virginia to Canada, eastward of the Mississippi. It is very abundant here, and, from its habits, will likely survive. It is found in many of the ravines on hill sides formed by springs, following them to their origin, and when found on low ground it is owing to their having been brought down in freshets. It is a moisture lover and is never found in dry places. Its larve live in the banks of these hillside rivulets in ground that is constantly damp. - 4. P. honestus Say is not often found here, and then either under the bark of fallen timber in wet places, where it probably feeds on small fiat lig ae be NE ae es gist tic Ak t 34 a PPG ae eee ee THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 107 without the specific characters. Detroit and Marquette are given as the places of its occurrence. | find it here very abundantly in June on a species of small willow _ growing in upland thickets, and its identification I owe to the kindness of Dr. G. H. Horn. The genus in which it is placed is sufficiently defined under the name AZyca in the monograph of the Rhyncophora. The _ species is of easy recognition. It is about 2 mm. in length; the color at maturity is dark brown to black when deprived of vestiture; the elytra are finely striate, with the intervals wide and almost plane ; the whole insect _is densely clothed with a grayish, prostrate, scaly covering, easily rubbed off, which on the elytra is longer and hairlike. The insect takes its name from two black denuded spots on the elytra at the middle ; they are shaped _ like a horse shoe with the convexity anterior, and are formed by two _ longer denuded parallel lines on the second and fourth strize, united at the apex by a shorter one on the third. With age other spots are formed by abrasion, mostly near the base and apex, thus giving a tri-fasciate appear- ance. Specimens entirely nude would be difficult to determine, but fortunately for the collector, when found, the individuals are abundant. Xyloryctes satyrus Fab. This large beetle is widely distributed, being _ found in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas to Canada, and southward, and probably occurring wherever the ash and liquidambar grow. So far _as known to me, but little has been written concerning it, and its life- history as given is mostly surmise. There is a wood cut of it in the U.S. Agricultural Report for 1873, with some remarks; and Mr. B. D. Walsh, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., v. 9, p. 287, states that the larve, which he briefly describes, live on the roots of grass. In this latitude it emerges the latter part of June and beginning of July, and immediately resorts to the (white) ash, especially such as grow in open grassy places, at the roots of which it burrows, and may be taken in large numbers. The disparity between the sexes as to number is noticeable. _ On July 2nd fifty-five were taken at the base of a single tree, all of which were males except three. Thinking the females, as in some other species, would appear later, the same tree was again visited on the roth, and forty- seven taken from the ground formerly dug over, thirteen being females. Whether they eat anything is unknown, but being nocturnal, provided _ with well developed wings and having short, but sharp, toothed mandibles, it is probable they feed by night on the foliage of the ash. Certain it is they do not feed on the roots nor damage them in any way, and why this par- 108 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ticular tree is selected, and for what purpose, is as yet unknown. Several times the eggs and young larve have been unsuccessfully sought for at the roots of the tree; and on the first of May this year a man was employed to dig at its roots ; long trenches were cut in several directions, and ‘to the depth of two feet, without finding larve or pupz. The larva, which re- semble those of Lachnosterna, but are distinguished by their “coal-black heads,” as stated in the places above cited, are often found in grassy places, where I have also taken the beetle after disclosure. Now, since neither eggs, nor larvee, nor pupz, are found at the roots of the ash, and considering the comparative fewness of the females taken, Is it not prob- able that, after pairing, the latter resort to grassy places to oviposit ? At the place first cited is an extract from a letter from Mr. P. H. Foster, near Babylon, Long Island, who had a grove of over six thousand young ash trees, and from these it is stated his foreman dug up one bushel of these beetles, and that they had destroyed a number of his trees. The beetle itself is in this case certainly wrongfully accused, for it neither eats nor wounds the roots ; but in case of small trees like these—“ about eight feet in height”—the larve might have been so numerous in their vicinity as to have devoured the rootlets, by which nourishment is derived from the soil. Just what connection there is between the beetle and the ash and the liquidambar remains to be discovered, and it is to be hoped some entomologist residing in the country may be incited to a suc- cessful investigation. Stridulation is effected in a manner I do not remember to have seen noticed, namely, by an arrangement within the acetabulum of the middle cox. This is very deep, and in the portion of the cavity belonging to the mesosternum is a large, polished, smooth space, divided by an acute carina ; by rotating the coxz the insect has the power at will to bring a certain part in contact with this carinated line, producing a shrill squeaking sound audible at a considerable distance. I have not succeeded in in- ducing them to come out of the ground to see what was going on, as narrated by your correspondent, vol. 12, p. 139. To sum up, all that is now positively known of the life history of this bettle is, that in season it is taken burrowing at the roots of ash and liquid- ambar trees ; that it exists in the larve state more than one year ; and that some of its larve live on the roots of grass, and transform under stones, &c. All else is conjecture. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 109 NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES, WITH DIRECTIONS FOR BREEDING THEM FROM THE EGG. BY W. H. EDWARDS, COALBURGH, W. VA. (Continued from page 89.) The eggs of butterflies are very interesting objects. As a rule, those of each natural genus (I speak of the North American fauna, for I know nothing of the eggs of tropical butterflies), are closely alike, as in Pieris, _ - Anthocharis, Colias, Terias, Callidryas; and so, while each genus has peculiarities of its own, there is a family resemblance between these’ genera (of the sub-family Pierine). They are all of one general shape, long, slender, sub-conic, or spindle-shaped, set on end, but differently ribbed _ according to the genus. So the eggs of Danais and Heliconia and Agraulis each have their own pattern. All Argynnis eggs, whether of the large or small species (Groups 1 and 2), are thimble-shaped. On the other hand, _ Euptoieta, by its egg, is allied to Argynnis, while by the chrysalis, it is allied to Melitea. It links the two genera, and in my Catalogue of Di. Lep., I place it between these two, instead of before Argynnis, as has usually been the arrangement. So Melitea, Phyciodes, Limenitis, Apatura, _ Paphia, Satyrus, Neonympha, Chionobas, may all be distinguished as ‘readily by the eggs as by the butterflies. Lyczna, Lemonias, Thecla, -Chrysophanus, so far as I know them, all show generic peculiarities in the egg stage. So does Papilio, though some of the species, as Philenor and ‘Cresphontes, have the surface covered with a rough crust, the usual type being smooth-surfaced. Now Parnassius is ranked as belonging to the _ Papilionide and to the sub-family Papilioninz, which includes the genus _ Papilio. And here alone among the American butterflies, so far as the early stages are known, is an anomaly. By the egg, Parnassius should _ stand near Lemonias and Lycena, while by the chrysalis it, is near the -Hesperide or some of the Heterocera. By the caterpillar, it is widely separated from Papilio, having a resemblance to that genus in but a single character, the tentacles on second segment. So it is that I am confident that in a proper systematic arrangement of families and genera, where the preparatory stages were taken into consideration, Parnassius would stand _ near Lemonias. _ The eggs of Hesperide are largely dome-shaped, either sub-conic or half a sphere ; of the latter type is Ancyloxypha Vumitor, of the former 110 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. most of the Pamphilas, and these last are usually smooth, but some, like P. Napa, are indented like athimble. Of this shape also are the eggs of Megathymus and Pyrrhopyga Araxes; others are melon-shaped and ribbed, : as Nisoniades and Eudamus, and the egg of Parnphila Zadu/on (an abund- ant species of its genus), is of this type. Pholisora Catu//us has a thimble-shaped egg, ribbed vertically and crossed horizontally by lines, while the top is curiously indented in rounded ridges. It looks much like a confectioner’s jelly-mould. Dr. Weismann, Descendence-Theory, English edition, shows that the larvae of butterflies in nearly all genera have a morphological congruence with the imagines. ‘‘ The morphological congruence between larve and imagines declares itself most sharply in genera, where it is the rule almost without exception. Inthis case, we can indeed be sure that a genus or sub-genus founded on the imagines, will, in accordance with correct : principles, present a corresponding difference in the larve,” p. 444. This is just as true of the egg stage of the American species, with fully 150 of which I am acquainted. Therefore this congruence makes the study of the preparatory stages important. Until recent years, very little at- tention has been paid to this matter, and Dr. Weismann is the first author so far as 1 am aware, who has treated the larval and pupal stages philo- sophically. Whenever eggs are obtained they should be described from the fresh éxample, the form and markings noted down, and whenever possible they should be examined under a powerful microscope. By all means, if it is practicable, a drawing should be made on a greatly enlarged scale. Two or three of each species should be preserved in alcohol or glycerine for future reference. Probably glycerine is best, as eggs taken out of alcohol are apt to collapse when dry, and ribbed eggs, like those _ of Colias, sometimes change in shape in alcohol, expanding in diameter, with flattening of the ribs. Small glass tubes are better than narrow- 4 necked vials for keeping examples of eggs or young larve. From these ~ last it is rather difficult to remove objects. . Most eggs are green when laid, yellowish, as in Pieris, Colias, and — many Papilios, bluish, as in Grapta, grayish, as in Limenitis. Lyczena has a deep green surface concealed by a white net work, but which can be ~ peeled off. Parnassius is white, Pholisora Catudlus is brown; the Hes- q perian eggs as a rule are white. Many eggs turn red a few hours after — deposition, as Colias, Anthocharis. Mel. Phaeton turns lake-red. And A all these, as well as most other species, change to black before hatching, : THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 111 as the dark larva can be seen through the transparent shell. The larva eats its way through the top or side of the egg, and sometimes makes _ its first meal from the shell, devouring more or less of it. The larve _ which go into lethargy directly from the egg seem to eat nothing but the _ shell before they descend to the base of the plant and range themselves fora long sleep. In this way behave all the larvee of the larger Argynnids, _ of the fall brood, when there are two broods ; so do the larger Satyrids, as A/ope. Other larve hibernate after 2nd and 3rd moult, usually the 3rd, as the smaller Argynnids, Wyrina and #ed/ona, Phyciodes, Melitza, ‘Apatura. Others hibernate at any stage where cold weather catches them, as Colias. Mr. Mead found hibernating larve of Colias under boards, in Illinois. In the arctic regions, the larvae of Colias never can _ reach chrysalis, the same season in which the eggs are laid. Indeed, I do not see why larve might not be frozen for an indefinite period and come to life at last when weather was favorable. I have found that the best way to keep hibernating larvae in confinement alive through the winter months is to freeze them in the ice house, or in a snow-bank. The loss, after six months of this treatment, has been very light ; whereas before I tried this method, very few and frequently no larvee at all could be got through. They died from mould in the cellar, or from heat if in the house ; if out of doors, they moved about on warm days and perished from starvation. I have found small paper boxes excellent to keep them in, druggists’ pill boxes. And these are set in a tin box and placed direct- ly onthe ice. ‘The rough surface of the box allows good foot-hold to the larvee, and the boxes have not moulded. I carried some 60 larve of _ M. Phaeton through last winter, and with them larve of Ap. Zora, all of __ which were half-grown, or past the third moult, with no loss to speak of. And Argynnids Diana, Cybele, Satyrus Alope, and other species, which hibernate direct from the egg, have been carried with trifling loss. And the later the larve are left on ice the healthier they seem to be. It is better to rouse them when the weather is settled and mild, than earlier, when violent changes of temperature will occur. Most larve pass four -moults, but in case of hibernating larve, there is an additional moult. So that the summer brood of a species, as of Apatura, will have four, ‘while the winter brood will have five, three before hibernating and two after it. Great care is necessary with the young caterpillars. Many _ $pecies are apt to wander, and must be confined from the first, but others, _as Limenitis, move very little, and may be trusted to remain always at 112 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. will wander. For convenience of observation, young Limenitis may be left on branches set in bottles of water, with no covering. So many Papilios move very little, resting in one spot for hours, but the larvae of Philenor are particularly alert,and must be shut up. Most larvee, in the younger stages, should not be touched by the finger or forceps, especially when they are nearamoult. If it is necessary to change them from one leaf to another a bit of the leaf with the larve may be transferred, or the larvee, if not near a moult, may be taken up by acamel’s hair pencil. The habits of different species even from the moment they are hatched, are very interesting. Lyc. Pseudargiolus at once fixes itself on a flower bud of its food-plant, and bores a hole with its strong mandibles into the side large enough and no more to admit the head. The head is set on a long extensile neck, and the contents of the bud can be completely re- moved. According to Mr. W. G.. Wright, the larve of Lyc. Amyntula eats into the pods of Astragalus, and lives on the young and immature seeds. The egg of Thecla Henrici is laid at the base of a flower stem of wild plum, and the young larva at once makes its way up the stalk and fastens on the young plum, boring into it just as the Lycaena bores into its bud, and till maturity eats nothing but the contents of plums, growing as they grow. Lemonias /Vazs, in confinement, stitched two leaves to- gether and lined them with silk, came entirely out to feed and returned again to its nest. When about to moult, it closed the nest and was not seen for some days and till its new coat was fitted. All the species of Limenitis make perches by stripping bare the mid-rib of the leaf at the top. This would naturally curl up if left to dry, but the larva coats it with silk and stiffens it by binding on morsels of chewed leaf, and the perch remains straight. On this the larva rests the day long except when it goes to the leaf edge to feed, and feeding done it returns to the perch. This is the habit of the larva when first hatched, when its length is but one tenth inch, and the habit is kept up through the earlier stages. And con- — nected with the perch is accumulated a little packet of scraps of leaf, just at the base of the perch, and as the substance of the leaf is eaten, the - packet is rolled back so as to be kept pretty close to the cut edge. ‘This rolling is done partly by pushing, what is gained at each effort being secured by threads, or successive threads are attached from the farther side of the packet to the edge of the leaf, and the thing is so turned over. After the second stage, that is, from 2nd moult, the packet is let alone, ~ home, provided their food plant is kept fresh ; otherwise they certainly i, SA ate SIN tar CS ope THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. L113 and falls behind, as the perch lengthens. Now the object for which this _ packet is made, with all this labor, is yet unknown. These larvee, when of the hibernating brood, in fall, make to themselves a close fitting jacket out of the leaf, snipping away here and there all superfluous parts till the pattern is cut out. Then the sides are drawn together by spun threads and held fast, and the whole interior is covered with a coating of silk. Moreover, the larva provides against the fall of its hibernaculum, by care- _ fully weaving threads from leaf to stem and around the stem, so that the _ winds and storms of winter cannot possibly tear the case away. Now, the _ larve of the summer broods do not make any such cases, there being no need of them. Of all our larvee, those of Limenitis show most of what _ in human beings would be called intelligence, working for a definite end, and varying their contrivances according to circumstances. Compared with them the larva of Argynnis, and Danais, and most other families are stupid. Paphia Astyanax, makes for itself a hibernaculum a good deal _ like that of Limenitis, but I have never had an opportunity of observing that species, and can give no description of its habits at work. Almost as intelligent as these case-makers, are some of the tent-makers, as Melitea Phaeton, whose work is most finished of all its class. The eggs are laid in clusters of one hundred to three or four hundred, and the larvze as soon as _ hatched knot their leaf into a nest the size of a small filbert. In course of the next two or three days they make a common web, taking in any leaf that lies convenient. As they grow they enlarge the web, all working for the common good. Especially, as each moult approaches, all wanderers come home, and the web is made tight, and into it they retire and pass the moult. Which over, the web is extended again ; and so on, till finally when the third moult approaches, the web is often as large as a man’s open hand made of closely woven silk, two and three coats of it, capable of resisting storms and all the wear and tear of winter. Up to this time a few holes have been left for egress, but at last these are closed up from the inside, and the larve are seen no more that year or after the third moult. If at any time from the hatching the web is injured by storms, the caterpillars _ forthwith set at work repairing, and do not rest, whether it rains or shines, till the work is done. And they have a prevision of storms and all hands may be seen working at their dwelling industriously, strengthening it here and there, even when the sky is clear, and there appears no reason for. work. The food-plant is always in swampy places, often half under water, and the webs are beaten down by snow and rain, but the inhabitants get 114 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. through safely. When spring comes and the Chelone stems begin to sprout, these larvae come forth and return no more to their old web. They — now lie exposed to view on the plant, or on stumps, chips, fallen branches, enjoying the sunshine ; pass two moults, and pupate. The butterflies are sluggish, but are not caught by birds, probably having some quality ob- noxious to smell or taste,and the caterpillars seem to have a similar immunity. I accidentally discovered this season that they will bear con- _ siderable drowning, having left several in a glass of water for five hours. When I came back all were lying on the bottom of the glass, and I re- moved them to a piece of blotting paper under a tumbler. In another hour every one of them was crawling about, and they afterwards pupated. Meliteea Chalcedon makes a web in which it hibernates, much like that _ of Phaeton, but by the observations of Mr. Wright, it varies the nature of it according as the species lives in the valleys or at high elevation in the mountains. And in the valleys, the caterpillars go to ground to hibernate, while in the mountains they live in the webs. Phyciodes. Ziaros is very near Meliteea Phaeton, and the eggs are laid in-clusters, but the larvae do not cover themselves with a web, but lie naked on the leaves, coming gl and forming clusters when the moults take place. The eggs of Apatura CZyton are laid in large clusters, 200 or more, and the young larve are highly gregarious but are not protected by a web. After the third moult, in the summer brood, however, they separate, each one living henceforth singly, and then it draws the edges of its leaf together and forms a loose case in which it is hidden. Apatura Ce/¢is, on the other hand, is nothing like so gregarious as Clyton. The eggs are laid in clusters of 5 to 20, so far as I have observed, though in confinement the females may lay in one bunch 50 or more. But the larve after third moult scatter, and hide themselves as do those of CZyton. Grapta Comma, in the larval stage, lives singly on the under side of a hop or nettle leaf, which it draws down till it becomes like the roof of a house, affording complete shelter from rain or snow. On the edges of > this roof it feeds, and when the supply fails seeks another leaf. Grapta _ Satyrus has precisely such a habit. But the allied species, G. Zuterroga- _ tionis, lies naked on the under side of a leaf, with no effort at further pro- tection, several larvze often on one leaf. P. Atalanta is solitary from the start, the egg being laid on the terminal tuft of nettle or its other food plant. The young larva at once stitches the leaf together and lies in a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. £15 _ closecase, This is shifted frequently as the larva grows, and affords - food as well as shelter. Papilio Z7oz/us, when it issues from the egg, proceeds to cut a slit at the edge of the leaf and folds down a bit thereof, stitching it closely ; it lines the interior with silk and on this les con- cealed, going out when forced to feed. ‘This feeding is done at the upper end of the leaf, and when the shelter gets to be insufficient, another leaf is sought and treated in same manner. P. Padamedes has exactly sucha habit. On the other hand, P. Zurnus lies exposed to view on the upper side of a leaf, on a bed ofsilk, which forms a sort of bridge as the leaf is Somewhat drawn together, permitting water that falls on the leaf to pass beneath it. The larva of P. Asterias rests on the stem of its plant entire- ly unprotected. The larve of Colias lie extended on the leaves, on the upper sides, along the mid-ribs, well protected by the resemblance in color to the leaf they feed on, clover or Astragalus, or Amorpha. And so each species has its larval peculiarities which repay study. I usually confine young larve, particularly when careful examination of ‘them is desired, in glass tubes, and later transfer them to half-pint jelly glasses (tin-topped). These tubes are corked tight, and the leaves will keep fresh a long time in them. But they are usually examined once in 12 or 24 hours, and the larve removed to fresh tubes. The date of hatching is noted on a slip of paper, also the length of the larva, and this paper is pinned to the cork. Every morning a measure of length is taken and noted down. So the moults successively, and every moult’ is described, and all the changes set down in a note-book. If the larve are in a glass, a slip of paper is held down by the cover with all particulars written on it. Sometimes the individuals of a brood are kept singly through all their stages, but most often it is only necessary to watch for the successive moults, and to note the first and last larva to moult in that particular stage. The approaching moult may always be known by the swelling of second segment, and when any larva is observed in this condition it is separated from its fellows. While moulting injuries are apt to be received, which invariably result in the death of the larva, and therefore it is best to separate the subject to prevent disturbance from other larve. Many larve are cannibalistic, and if out of regular food and hungry, will devour their next neighbor without compunction ; of this sort is P. Philenor. As I make alcoholic examples of each species at each moult, when possible, so I save the casts of faces at each moult for future reference and study, using small homcepathic tubes for this purpose, 116 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Larvee bear confinement in tight glasses well, and I often receive them from correspondents as distant as Florida, or California, through the mails, in good condition. The plants keep well in this sort of confine- ment also. I have never used what are known as “breeding cages,’’ which are expensive if purchased, and are troublesome to make at home. The entomologists at the Agricultural Department, Washington, have large numbers of these cages, for all order of insects. The frames are of wood, about 18 inches high by 12 wide, one side opening on hinges. © All the sides and the top are filledin with fine brass wire netting ; the top fits over like the cover of a bandbox, as it is often desirable to lift it off, and the whole thing rests on a tin base, so made as to hold earth, in case it is desired to have growing plants in the cage. So larvee of Noctuinide, etc., may have earth in which to bury themselves. If the sides were not of wire, but of cotton netting, many’species of larve would eat their way out, especially when about to pupate. On a recent visit at the Depart- ment, I could not leart the cost of such cages, but should suppose three — or four dollars at least would be required for them. I found that the entomologists spoken of used tubes and glasses much as I have done for the younger larval stages ; also they tie bags of guaze over growing plants in flower pots, as I often do. The bag should clear the top of the plant and leave a few inches to spare, and it is held up and spread by three sticks setin the earth. In raising the large Argynnids, Diana, Cybele, etc., violets are planted in the pots, and the larve do well confined by bags in the manner described. As fast as the plant is consumed another must be substituted. These larve make no effort to escape, rest on the earth or on the sticks, and pupate from the top of the bag. So all Satyrid larvee are easily reared in this way. I make constant use of tn pails with tin covers, one and two quart, for many larvae. Now, as I write, I have Grapta Comma, Melitea Harrisiz, Limenitis Désippus (nearly mature), and P. Philenor feeding in pails. They do perfectly well with- out light or sunshine. So do Apaturas, and in fact most larve. The food.must be changed daily and the pails washed out. and dried. As for large larvae, as of the Papilios, I generally use powder kegs (wood) or nail kegs, one or the other of which can be had anywhere. Remove the top hoop, and use the second one to bind down the cotton cloth cover ; put a little earth inthe bottom, and in it set a two quart glass fruit jar filled with water, in which branches of the food-plant are placed. No farther care is required than to substitute fresh branches for the old ones THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 117 as the leaves are consumed, and the larve will go on to pupation. This is when it is desired to get chrysalids by wholesale. So larvae may be left during several stages in bags or branches in the open, care being taken to protect them from the direct rays of the sun, or from the assaults of birds or other insects. This last may be done by a second bag outside the first, _or by a screen of paper or cloth. But larve so treated must be brought in before they prepare for pupation, else many will eat their way out and escape. But where observation of the larve is necessary, glass tubes and tum- blers, and guaze-covered flower pots, and tin pails and nail kegs, will an- swer all the purposes of elaborate and expensive cages, and be more a satisfactory, I apprehend. At any rate all my work is done in this way. There are many northern species of butterflies, the history of which re- mains to be learned. Several species of Colias, Jntertor, Occidentalis, Christina, Pelidne ; several Argynnids, all the boreal species, and most from the Rocky Mountains, also A¢/antis, Grapta Faunus; and little is known of J. d/ébum; the species of Erebia, Chionobas, Ccenonympha ; nearly all the Lycanide and the Hesperide. I should be greatly pleased at receiving eggs or larve of any of the species mentioned, and would exchange larve of eastern species, or butterflies from any quarter for them. ADDITIONS TO CANADIAN LISTS OF COLEOPTERA. BY W. HAGUE HARRINGTON, OTTAWA. (Continued from page 98.) Rigas ANTHICID. Corphyra terminalis Say. This is a species with reddish thorax, which, from its representation in my collection, appears to be one of the commoner species of the genus. Anthicus fulvipes Laf. On plants in low wet localities. cinctus Say. Rare, under bark of old saw-logs, etc. MELOID&. Meloe n. sp.? A very small f found in early spring under a stone. It differed somewhat in sculpture and puncturing from axgusticollis and americana, and also apparently in the structure of the antennz, so that Dr. LeConte thought it might perhaps be a new species. 118 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. RHIPIPHORIDA. This family contains a number of species formerly included in Mor- dellidz, and of some the larve are known to be parasitic on Hyena and Orthoptera. * Pelecotoma flavipes Mels. On 30th July, 1882, I captured several of these rare beetles on an old beech tree at Chelsea, Que, They were all g and were exceedingly active, running upon and flying about the dead trunk, end were very difficult to — capture. RHYNCOPHORA. The remainder of my additions are included in this great division of the Coleoptera. The difficulty in the past of determining species has so shortened the lists of the families represented in Canada, that I find a large percentage of my named species to be unrecorded. RHYNCHITID&. Rhynchites eratus Say. One, on hickory, 12th July. CURCULIONID#, Apion herculaneum Smith. ‘Three or four specimens. Occurs in Penn., N. Y., D. C., Mass. Walshii Smith. Several in July and August. ‘This appears to be a common and widely distributed species. segnipes Say. Not rare upon willows, especially when in flower, Habitat given as Middle and Southern States. The above three species were named for me by Mr. John B. Smith, who has recently (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., vol. xi., pages 41-68) revised the extensive and difficult group of the Apionine, and described many of the species. I have other species which, for want of time, a i not yet been determined. Dorytomus longulus Lec. Three or four specimens. July. Grypidius equiseti Fab. Not rare. Taken on different trees. Procas picipes Steph. Several specimens. Captured in October nearly "every year on fences, etc., about the city ; may perhaps feed upon potato. ! Anchodemus angustatus Lec. Abundant in July on Sagittaria along the canal, feeding on the leaves of the narrow-leaved form. Otidocephalus chevrolatii Horn. On elm, hickory, etc. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 119 _ Orchestes niger Horn. A small, black hopping beetle, abundant in spring ’ upon willows, and frequently on other plants. subhirtus Horn. This is a pretty species, with white bands across the elytra, of which I have taken three or four upon willows when in bloom. One captured later (15th July) is slightly larger and differs in elytral markings and in color of legs. Lilleschus bipunctatus Linn. Rare on shrubbery. » Pseudomus truncatus Lec. Abundant in June on dead limbs of old but- | ternut trees. (See CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, Vol. xv., p. 79.) Acoptus suturalis Lec. On hickories in June; larve evidently bore in bark, and adjacent wood, of old or dead trees. Ceutorhynchus decipiens Lec. Rare on Sagittaria in July. Stethobaris tubulatus Say. Rare. Found in the flowers of orchids in June by Mr. Fletcher ; also (by myself) in July on Had- enaria psychodes. Rhyncholus oregonensis Horn. Rare under bark of hardwood trees. _ As a large proportion of my weevils are still undetermined, it is proba- ble that I will be able, on some future occasion, to make further additions to our present record. ( Concluded.) . CORRESPONDENCE. Dear Sir: I have the pleasure of informing you of a somewhat important addition to the Canadian list. When on a visit recently to my friend, Mr. Kilman, of Ridgeway, in the Co. of Welland, whilst looking over his Lepidoptera, my attention was arrested by the unusual appear- ance of some specimens labeled Callosamia promethea. As I was pon- dering and puzzling over them, it began to dawn upon me that it was not promethea 1 was looking at, but angudifera, and upon enquiring, he in- formed me they were his own captures in that locality. _ A few years ago I was put in possession of two pairs of angulifera through the kindness of Mr. James Angus, of New York, the first I had seen of them. You are aware how marked the difference is between the males of the two species, the male augulifera bearing a strong resem- blance in both form and color to the female promethea, with the addition of the heavy whitish angular mark in the centre of the wings, from which 120 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. I presume it obtained its name. Mr. Kilman had three specimens, two males and a female. He gave me a male, and on comparing it with the N. Y. specimens, I find it two sizes larger, and with less yellow in the general coloring. The locality where Mr. Kilman resides is particularly favorable for entomological pursuits—sandy hills and gravelly ridges, with their appropriate vegetation—marshy flats full of flowering shrubs and _ weeds—virgin forests with an abundance of decayed and decaying tim- ber—belts of young second growth trees—swampy and dry ground, and long cultivated fields with their diversity of vegetable productions, all in close proximity to Lake Erie shore, whilst any and all of them are within easy reach of a few minutes’ walk, making an exceedingly attractive and productive hunting ground for the collector. Mr. Kilman is working it up with considerable industry, and has secured many rare and desirable things, and when he gets them correctly identified, will be able to present a most creditable list. J. Atston Morrat, Hamilton, Ont. Dear Sir :—Some two or three years ago I reared from the egg several hundred caterpillars of the Promethea moth. They were feeding finely upon the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris), the leaves of which they ate readily. The third moult had been reached and they had attained to an inch or more in length, and there seemed every prospect of their reaching maturity, when in an evil hour an oriole discovered their whereabouts. The bird was soon joined by a companion, and the pair proceeded to kill and eat with the greatest possible avidity. Discovered in their work by persons in the house, they were several times driven off, but quickly returned with increased zest to the work of destruction. On my arrival an hour later there remained but a few of the smallest specimens, which had either been overlooked or left to grow fatter. W. W. Hitz, Albany, N. Y. Dear Sir: Chrysomela scalaris—I am not able to ascertain why in Crotch’s list C. mudtiguttis Hal. is accepted—is never rare in Cambridge. But this year, during May, it has been so unusually common that in certain localities a pint could be collected in a very short time on — elm trees. I was told that some trees here have suffered, but I was not able to see them. At least the beetle was so exceedingly numerous that it was everywhere exciting attention of non-entomologists by the armies mounting the trunks of elm trees. Cambridge, Mass., June 15, 1884. SINE Se, ee ee Le The Canadian Entomolorist, VOL. XVI. LONDON, ONT., JULY, 1884. No. 7 NOTES ON ANT LIONS. BY J. ALSTON MOFFAT, HAMILTON, ONT. One day on my late visit to Ridgeway, a party of four went on an entomological excursion by boat to a place about four miles west, called Point Abino. After taking a survey of the situation and lightening our unch basket, we went to work. Each had his specialty; one desired beetles, another butterflies. Seeing M/yrmelion on the wing, I turned my attention to the Ant Lions. I did not succeed in securing many of them, for although the funnel-shaped pits of the nymphs were in surprising num- bers, very few of the mature insects were to be seen, it being probably a little too early forthem. I captured but four specimens, one odsoletus, and three of what was kindly determined for me by Dr. Hagen, of Cam- bridge, Mass., as IZyrmelion abdominalis Say, whose figured-gauze wings are charming objects seen through a lens. The slight acquaintance I have with them has been acquired during my visits to Ridgeway, none of them having ever been seen about Hamilton so farasI know. Mr. J. Pettit secured an obso/etus while he was collecting at Grimsby, but I think he never got a second, although no doubt they were there to some extent, but probably very scarce. Fine loose sand is evidently a necessity of their existence in any locality, and'I would suppose comparative seclusion; both of these they have in perfection at Point Abino. I saw large patches of sand so loose that weeds could not take root upon it, and which had not been disturbed by the foot of man or beast probably for weeks, and some of these places were so occupied with their pits that it did not seem ‘possible to get another one in without interfering with those already there. __ These pits were about three inches across the top, and two or two and a half deep. Their width must be in exact proportion to their depth, for the slope of the sides is just what will support the particles of loose sand. They must have their pits to make frequently during their larval existence, for every heavy shower will fill them all up. They never expose them- selves to view except by accident, but lie just immediately under the 122 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. surface. The larva is provided with an apparatus for throwing up the sand, which it can do with sufficient force to scatter it for four or five inches around, and with the rapidity at times of the tick of a watch, working itself downwards as it throws off that above it, the sand flowing in as it deepens, which it jerks up again, the most of which falls outside | the range of the pit ; and so continues the operation until the required dimensions are obtained, when it lies perfectly still at the bottom and awaits events. An industrious ant out on a foraging expedition, in the hurry of its eager search runs over the edge of the pit. The lion at the bottom. seems to be instantly aware of the fact, and begins throwing up jets of sand with great rapidity, which come showering down, frightening - the ant, and it makes frantic efforts to get out ; but the mere vigorously it . scrambles for the top, the more rapidly it slides to the bottom, where it is at once seized. The struggle ensuing dislodges the loose sand, and a miniature avalanche pours down from all sides, which materially assists the lion to secure its victim, and the ant is soon taken out of sight. Iam not aware that it has any means of enticing its prey, and as it does not go © searching for it, but is entirely dependent on what happens to come in its ~ way, I suspect it must have many a long wait between meals. The mature insect is neither a rapid nor a graceful flier, but flaps its wings in a heavy, clumsy manner, quite different from what one would — expect in so exquisitely delicate a creature. It prefers to alight in an up- right position, and rests with its wings folded close to its sides. AN ICHNEUMON PARASITE OF MAMESTRA PICTA. BY F. B. CAULFIELD, MONTREAL. On July roth, 1881, a caterpillar of this moth was found on a cauli- flower which had been brought from market, and was placed in a tumbler | with some of the leaves. By the 21st it had shrunk considerably in size, 4 and was greatly changed in appearance, the black and yellow markings that make this larva so conspicuous an object having faded to a dull whit- i ish color. , On the 22nd it was lying on the bottom of the glass and was revolving continuously. Under natural conditions it would, I believe, have entered the earth to go through its transformations, and the curious 3 revolving motion might perhaps have been for the purpose of forming and 4 smoothing its cell, On looking at it on the morning of the 23rd, a soft. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 123 white flattened ichneumon larva had issued from it, and had commenced the construction of its cocoon by spinning a few white threads. By even- _ing it had surrounded itself with a thin egg-shaped cocoon of a yellowish white color, through which the movements of the enclosed grub could be seen. On the morning of the 24th the cocoon was finished and was dense | ‘and firm. It was of a reddish-brown color in the middle, blackish-brown at each end. The perfect insect emerged on September 13th, 1881, and proved to be Ophion purgatus Say. Mamestra picta is a well known insect, and is treated of by Harris, Riley, Lintner and others, but I do not remember seeing any account of its being attacked by a parasite, THE PARASITISM OF EUPELMUS ALLYNII, Frencu. BY G. H. FRENCH, CARBONDALE, ILL, The fact that this species is a parasite in its larval state does not seem _ to be questioned, but that it is a parasite on one or more species of | Isosoma is, I understand, doubted by some entomologists. For the past - two years the writer has had no doubt that such was the case; but it is possible the evidence upon which such a conclusion is based may not be generally known. For this reason a brief summary of observations may not be out of place. | That it is a parasite on /sosoma hordei seems evident from the follow- ing: A single joint of rye containing several galls formed by Jsosoma Aordei was put into a bottle and corked up so that no insects could get out orin. In due course of time a specimen of £. A//ynii was found in the bottle, and the hole from which it had gnawed its way out of one of _ the galls was plainly to be seen. Afterward the other galls gave forth J. _hordei. In this case there could be no question but that the specimen of £. Allynit came from the gall made by /. hordet. If no hordei had hatched from the other galls, this would have been evident, for the galls made by this species aré..too characteristic to be mistaken by any one at all familiar with their work. I have bred quite a number of this species from the inside of the stems of wheat; and in all cases they came from the cavities inside the stalk that had been gnawed by /sosoma tritici. Though this species of Isosoma makes no gall, its manner of eating the tissue around the inside cavity is rather characteristic, so much so as to be readily recognised after a 124 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. a little observation. I have found a species of grass worked in by another species of an allied insect, but the manner of work is so different as to be unmistakable. lsosoma elymi makes a cavity on the inside of Elymus Canadensis that is more nearly like that made by J/. ¢r7#ic¢ in the wheat, but they differ somewhat. In the fields I have found specimens of Z. Adl/yniz ohana from the pupa skin, but still inside the cavity of the stem; others with the hole by which they expected to emerge gnawed so that they could almost get out, and they still there with the body partly protruding, and others when they had gone, the clean cut hole indicating where they had obtained their freedom. Ihave bred many specimens from the straws after they had been collected, and the conditions were the same as those in the field, the inside of the stems in all cases being examined before putting tem into the breeding jar. From these facts I do not see how I could avoid the conclusion that Lupelmus Allynii was a parasite on the two species of /sosoma. I may say that my breeding jar in the case of such small insects is a jelly dish, where there is no chance for anything outside to get in. GALERUCA XANTHOMELAENA, ScHRANK. BY FREDERICK CLARKSON, NEW YORK CITY. I visited Flushing, L. I., July 8th, to examine the insect reported to be infesting the noble old English elms which adorn the principal streets of that villaze. Three weeks ago these trees were in luxuriant foliage ; they have now the appearance as if they had been scorched by fire. I discovered them to be attacked with a countless host of the larvae of this beetle. The American elm and other indigenous trees have thus far ~ — escaped, but it is not improbable, as this beetle is double brooded, that the numerous larvae will from the force of circumstance attack them. The eggs are laid in clusters along the veins of the leaves, on their under sides. The larvae, as soon as hatched out, begin to devour the leaves, which they render lace-like, and when full fed they do not undergo trans- formation by fastening themselves to the surface of the leaves, as is the habit with other species, and as I have seen recorded of this, but transform within the crevices of the bark. At this time, July 8th, the trunks of the trees are covered with the larvae seeking places to transform, and there is * ae ee ee ey SYS: | ee bas ee : ME AS ay gt ee a ee a Ne ee de eS THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 125 scarcely a crevice of the bark but what is filled with the yellow pupal - forms which will in a few days disclose the imagines. The ground imme- diately surrounding the base of the trees is covered with the pupae, which _ have been dislodged from their positions in the bark by the eager efforts of larvae crowding in the crevices to undergo transformation. As this change occurs within the crevices of the bark of trunk and limb, it _ becomes impossible, unless at great labor, to apply means for extermin- : ating the pest. The evil, however, is likely to cure itself, for the larvae are sO numerous, and such insatiate feeders, that starvation will probably end thé visitation. Much good, however, can be done by brushing down _ the trunks of the trees, sweeping the ground immediately beneath, and _ destroying the entire mass by fire. Q FURTHER REMARKS UPON THE VARIATION OF THE _ ELYTRAL MARKINGS IN CICINDELA SEX-GUTTATA. BY C. H. T. TOWNSEND, CONSTANTINE, MICH. Having been away from home the greater part of the summer, I regret _ that I have not been able to collect some of these beautiful beetles this season, so as to further observe the interesting relation between the varie- ties in number, as I should like to have done. I hope, however, that - some one has made observations upon them, and will favor us with an account, which would, no doubt, be very acceptable to those interested in the genus. | _ Since contributing the first notes upon this subject, I have noticed that _ Say has described two varieties of C. sex-guttata in his monograph of the genus Cicindela, commencing on page 415, vol. ii., of the American Entomology, edited by LeConte. The first is “Var. a. Elytra each with an additional spot, which is fulvous or _ white, and generally inconspicuous, placed behind the middle triangularly - with respect to the two anterior, marginal ones.” This additional spot is the one I have called the fourth, and var. a of Say therefore includes the second and third varieties given in my table (Can. ENT. Xv., 208), as the description says that this fourth spot is *“‘ generally inconspicuous,” implying that in occasional specimens it is _ conspicuous; in the second variety of my table this spot being rudi- _ mentary, while in the third it is well developed. This phrase also implies 126 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ee at the same time that the specimens with the additional spot inconspicu-— _ ous were of much more frequent occurrence than the others, thus proving — that Say also found the second the most numerous form, as I have shown — to be the case out of forty-nine specimens taken last summer, in the table — just referred to. That it was more numerous than his second variety, now to be given, we shall see to be evident, as the latter was probably described : from one specimen, the form being very rare. k “Var. d. Each elytron with a single marginal spot, the two posterior © ones wanting.” ; This description coincides exactly with that of the two-spotted speci- — men taken by Mr. Harrington (whose words upon this variety I have 4 already quoted, Can. ENT., xv., 207). I notice that Mr. Harrington very — kindly records having since aan that his specimen, believed to be only — two-spotted, has also rudiments of the posterior spots (CAN. ENT. xv., 239), which, however, makes it none the less interesting a form. It isnot impossible that Say may have overlooked the very rudimentary dots which — his var. 6 perhaps possessed, since in many cases they are perfectly indis- j tinguishable without a glass, unless the elytra be opened and held up to 7 _ the light. Though his specimen may not have had the rudiments of the ~ _ game spots as Mr. Harrington’s possesses, still, from the markings at once . discernible upon both, the two may without impropriety be said to be the _same. Speaking further of this variety, Say tells us that it was brought by Mr. Thomas Nuttall from the banks of the Missouri, above ‘the con- — | fluence of the Platte, the region which produced many of his species of q Cicindela. Thus we find that the present form has occurred in two dis- tinct and widely separated localities : near Ottawa, Ont. (Mr. W. H. Har- rington, latter part of May, 1881, Can. Ent. xiv., 8) in the great St. Lawrence Basin; and many years before that up the banks of the Mis- souri, which river constitutes the western portion of the great Mississippi System. We may notice also that in each case the locality of occurrence was situated upon the opposite side from that upon which the other great river system bordered, and at about the centre of farthest removal from - it. This proves without a doubt that the variations are wide-spread. : But we have yet another early record upon the subject. In Harris’ Entomological Correspondence there is a letter in which Hentz wrote to Harris the following from Northampton, Jan. 1, 1826 :— “a “ Cicindela sexguttata I have frequently observed, and have man accidental varieties. The color varies from a deep blue to a bright green THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 127 have several with the additional spot which you mention; but if you examine your specimens with care you will, I think, discern that mark, or faint trace, in most of them.” ' Itseems that Harris had previously called the attention of Hentz to an additional spot (probably the fourth) in this species, the above being sreply. Thus was this same variation in the elytral markings observed — early sixty years ago by Hentz and Harris ; the former leaving us to infer from his last sentence that Ae a/so found the variety with the rudimental fourth spot of the most frequent occurrence. Hentz also observed, as others, myself included, have done, that the ground color of the speci-— “mens varies from the typical bright green to a deep blue. ___ One word more as to the same peculiarity of which our subject treats having been observed in foreign species. Wood gives us some interesting ‘information in his Insects at Home, page 16, upon the variation of the _élytral markings in C. campestris of England. He says :— “The color of this beautiful beetle is gold-green above, and shining copper. green below ; and there are several yellowish spots on the elytra, arying much in shage mune: and hue. Sometimes there are only three, but in many specimens there are six. In former times the variety in the anmber of spots was thought to indicate that the beetles belonged to lifferent species, but it is now decisively ascertained that they are only arieties of one single species.” Many other species of Cicindela are known to vary considerably in their elytral markings and coloration, some much more than others, _Cicindela is indeed a variable genus. NOTES ON CHRYSOMELA. BY GEO. H, HORN, M. D. Chrysomela scalaris Lec. The question asked by Dr. Hagen in the June number concerning the name of this insect, is more easy to answer _ than to arrive at a definite conclusion. Stal, in his monograph, did not recognise many of the genera into which Chrysomela had been divided ; among them were Doryphora and Leftinotarsa. Finding that Olivier in 1807 had described a D. sca/aris, and that Maj. LeConte in 1824 a era scalaris, Stal superseded the latter name by mudtiguttis. Recent _ authors are in accord in adopting many of the genera rejected a Stal, 128 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. and the name originally given our species becomes valid and has been ~ adopted by Jacoby (Biol. Cent. Am., vi, pt. i, p. 197, pl xi., fig. 6). That the name should remain in future Cal/igrapha scalaris is fortunate, since we have lately received from Arizona a specimen of Cadligrapha multi- guttata Stal (in cab. Lec.), which is well figured in the work above cited, pl. x., fig. 5. Calligrapha opifera Stal. To this species I refer some specimens collected by Morrison in Arizona. They differ from the figure given by — Jacoby (Biol. loc. cit., pl. 12, fig..10) in having the elytral markings nar- rower, so that the sigmoid band does not unite with the sutural stripe. In all other respects there seems to be no difference; the markings are of the same type and occupy the same relative position. Calligrapha labyrinthica Lec. Under this name specimens have been distributed in many cabinets, based on a name long existing in Dr. LeConte’s cabinet, and which has never been published. The markings so exactly reproduce those of C. pnzrsa Stal (Biol. loc. cit., pl. 11, fig. 18) that I have no hesitation in referring our specimens to that species. My specimens are from Canada. I have no memorandum of the locality of those in LeConte’s cabinet. | Calligrapha limbaticollis Stal, should be omitted from our lists. ‘The species was added by Crotch on the authority of several specimens marked _ “Chicago” in the cabinet of Dr. LeConte. On inquiry by me concerning these specimens, Dr. LeConte told me that the source from which he ~ obtained them had proven very unreliable in other cases, and headvocated _ removing the above name from our lists. oo ’ Doryphora (Leptinotarsa) melanothorax Stal. A specimen collected by Prof. Snow in New Mexico is in LeConte’s cabinet, and has been identi- __ fied by the latter with, this species. It is of the form and size of Halde- mani, etc., head and thorax black with a slight tinge of green, the Bosse es vittate nearly as in decemdineata. | Plagiodera flosculosa Stal. A specimen of this species is in my cabinet from California. Body’ oval, not very convex, beneath aeneo- piceous. Head piceous, front testaceous. Antennae with the five basal joints testaceous, the outer joints black. Thorax sparsely finely punctate, © piceous, the apex and sides testaceous. Elytra coarsely sparsely punctate without order, yellowish, suture black, except a short distance at base, a median transverse black band, sinuous on its margins and wider exter- THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 129 nally, an oval humeral black spot, a smaller one within, a large triangular black spot, which is emarginate in front, near apex. This species is well figured in Biol. Cent. Am., vol. 'vi., pt. 1, pl. x., fig. 1, with the name aenezventris by mistake. LIST OF GEOMETRIDA CAPTURED AT ORONO, MAINE, AND VICINITY. BY MRS. C. H. FERNALD. Choerodes clemitaria, A. & S. " transversata, Drury. Tetracis crocallata, Guen. 1 lorata, Grote. Metanema quercivoraria, (Guen. Very rare. " inatomaria, Guen. Rare. ' carnaria, Pack. Caberodes confusaria, Hiibn. " majoraria, Guen. Rare. Ennomos alniaria, Linn. Eudalimia subsignaria, Hiibn. Azelina hubnerata, Guen. Endropia serrata, Drury. ; 1 obtusaria, Hiibn. n effectaria, Walk. » bilinearia, Pack. “u armataria, H.-S. » vinulentaria, G. & R. | Very rare. " marginata, Minot. " Warneri, Harvey. 1 hypochraria, H.-S. » duaria, Guen. Epirranthis obfirmaria, Hiibn. Therina fervidaria, Hiibn, Rare. Metrocampa margaritata, Linn. Antepione depontanata, Gr. Rare. " sulphurata, Pack. Very rare. Sicya macularia, Harr. Hesperumia ochreata, Pack. Rare. Angerona crocataria, Fab. Nematocampa filimentaria, Guen. Plagodis rosaria, G. & R. Very rare. " keutzingaria, Gr. Very rare. " fervidaria, H.-S. Very rare. Hyperetis amicaria, H.-S. | Aplodes packardaria, Gr. Nemoria subcroceata, Walk. 4 gratata, Walk. Eucrostis chloroleucaria, Guen. Ephyra pendulinaria, Guen. Acidalia inductata, Guen. 1 quadrilineata, Pack. " enucleata, Guen. Asthena lucata,Guen. Rare. Stegania pustularia, Guen. Gueneria basiata, Walk. Rare. Deilinia variolaria, Guen, 130 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Deilinia erythemaria, Guen. Eudeilinia herminiata, Guen. Corycia vestaliata, Guen. n semiclarata, Walk. Eumacaria brunnearia, Pack. Semiothisa bisignata, Walk. n enotata, Guen. " granitata, Guen. Phasiane orillata, Walk. Rare. » mellistrigata, Gr. un _ trifasciata, Pack. Thamnonoma wavaria, Linn. " sulphuraria, Pack. Rare. i" brunneata, Thun. Rare. " argillacearia, Pack. Lozogramma lactispargata, Walk. 1 detersata, Guen. " atropunctata, Pack. Rare. " defluata, Walk. Eufitchia ribearia, Fitch. Orthofidonia exornata, Walk. Rare. Caripeta divisata, Walk. Rare. 1 angustiorata, Walk. Ematurga faxonii, Minot. Fidonia truncataria, Walk. 1 notataria, Walk. Caterva catenaria, Drury. Cleora pulchraria, Minot. Cymatophora larvaria,Guen. Rare. " humaria, Guen. Rare. a pampinaria, Guen. " crepuscularia, Tr. Tephrosia canadaria, Guen. " cognataria, Hubn. » anticaria, Walk. LX. Paraphia subatomaria. Guen. Rare. Biston ursarius, Walk. 1 ex. Eubyja cognataria, Guen. n quernaria, A. & S. Hybernia tiliaria, Harris. Anisopteryx autumnata, Pack. Operophtera boreata, Hiibn. Heterophelps triguttaria, H.-S. Baptria albovittata, Guen. Lobophora geminata, Gr. rare. " vernata, Pack. " montanata, Pack. Triphosa indubitata, Gr. Hydria undulata, Linn. I Oka. Very. Phibalapteryx intestinata, Guen. Anticlea vasaliata. Guen. Rheumaptera ruficillata, Guen. " fluctuata, Linn. Rare. " lacustrata, Guen. " unangulata, Haw. — Rare. | " lugubrata, Schiff. " hastata, Linn. Ochyria ferrugata, Linn. n» designata, Hiibn. Petrophora diversilineata, Hibn. " ‘testata, Linn. " prunata, Linn, Rare. " albolineata, Pack. " hersiliata, Guen. " truncata, Hufn. Hydriomena trifasciata, Borkh. Epirrita perlineata, Pack. Rare. © Plemyria fluviata, Hiibn. _ 1. multiferata, Walk. Rare. Glaucopteryx cumatilis, G. & R. Eupithecia miserulata, Grote. N" two undescribed species, _ {HE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 131 ATTACUS CINCTUS, Tzpper. BY MARY E. MURTFELDT, KIRKWOOD, MO. A friend of mine—Mr. R. J. Mendenhall, of Minneapolis, Minn.— while travelling in Mexico last winter, collected from a tree, supposed to be the wild olive, a number of the cocoons of some large Bombycid. On his return home he kindly gave these cocoons into my keeping, with the information that he could easily have collected hundreds had he had con veniences for carrying them, as the trees on which they were found had been ruinously defoliated by the insect in its larval state. The cocoons were about the size and somewhat resembled those of Zelea polyphemus, but were rather more elongate and were not intermixed with the chalky substance seen on the surface of the latter. They depended from the twigs by bands or cords of silk from five to seven inches long. When I received them, about the last of March, several of the moths had already attempted to make their escape, but owing to close packing had died in the act, and all that I could determine was that the colors were similar to those of cecrofza. The cocoons that were yet intact were placed in a large rearing cage and sprayed with water, and on the 4th of April I had. the pleasure of beholding for the first time a perfect specimen of the striking and beautiful species named above. Every entomologist will understand my delight as I examined its rich coloring, the large, tri- angular mica-like plates with which the wings were ornamented, and the band of bright colors laterally encircling the abdomen. In the course of the following two weeks fourteen or fifteen perfect specimens emerged, as well as some that were imperfect. They exhibited considerable variety in shade. In the majority the general color tone was a rich brown inclining to olive, others were suffused with red, while a few were of a cold gray tint. There were more males than females, and quite singularly, the former were in nearly all cases larger than the latter. Desirous of seeing the larve, I used every device of which I could think to obtain fertile eggs, but without success. Many eggs were scattered about on the sides of the cage and on twigs of cherry, plum and apple to which the moths were confined, but none of them hatched. I also liberated all crippled or injured specimens on various trees where I could in a measure keep guard over them, but they refused to adapt themselves to their new environment and perished without progeny. 132 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. As soon as the first specimens were dry, I sent examples to Prof. Riley, who determined them as Az¢tacus cinctus Tepper. first described and figured in the ‘ Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society for January, 1883.” One fact in connection with these specimens struck me as singular, viz., that not one of my thirty or more pup were parasitized. With us so large a proportion of Bombycid pupe, under natural conditions, are destroyed by /chneumonide and by Chadlcis and Tachina flies, that I con- fidently expected to get something new in this line also. Mr. Tepper’s types were collected in Southern Arizona, but he does — not tell us the species of tree on which they were found. « Neither was Mr. Mendenhall quite certain that he had been correctly informed con- cerning the Mexican tree from which he made Ais collection. Conse- quently the food plants and larval history of this magnificent species still remain to be investigated by some entomological explorer in southern latitudes. CITHERONIA REGALIS, HuBner. BY FREDERICK CLARKSON, NEW YORK CITY. In a late number of this journal, Mr. Hamilton makes some criti- cisms upon an article contributed by me to the January number, having reference to the transformations of this moth. That article was prepared having regard, as a matter of course, to the climate of this locality, and as the specimens referred to were developed in the one season, the © question of variation of temperature was not under consideration, ‘That the transformation of the pupa can be furthered or delayed by atmospheric conditions, is well established ; a warm room developing the imago at an earlier period than natural, and an ice-house holding it in check over one season, to be developed when restored to the climatic influence of another. My point was, from facts ascertained by rearing in confinement, with sur- roundings as near natural as possible, that the period of pupation, whether early or late, did not create an earlier or later development of the imago, which commonly occurred at the end of May. ‘The history of the trans- formation of this moth under natural conditions, would be more satis- factory than that which results from rearing in confinement, and I regret that my town residence in winter denies me this study, That extraordinary THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 133 _ seasons further or hinder the advent of insects, is undoubtedly true, but as a general rule their time-table is quite as exact as the migratory birds. I think it may be problematical as to whether the pupa remains Deneath or upon the surface of the ground during the winter. My experi- ments, after having made the most natural provision at hand, have resulted in the pupa appearing upon or near the surface, and I would add that I find by my records that a larva obtained the previous season to that mentioned in the article already referred to, transformed in the same man- ner, the moth appearing on the 28th of May. My theory, in the absence of more essential data, is that the pupa of this moth, in its natural state, seeks the surface and finds security under the winter leaves. I have read ___with much pleasure what Mr. Hamilton writes with regard to this question, ___ but it seems to me that the only satisfactory test, other than natural, would be in the use of soil common to the growth of the hickory, as that which is the most likely habitat of this species at this period of its history, giving to the pupa when thus conditioned the full serviee of all climatic changes. The provision as recommended by Mr. Hamilton is somewhat in agree- ment with what I have stated. He writes: “Take two parts of sandy loam, such as is used by plasterers, and one part of black friable soil from the woods, mix together * ™* and when the larva disappears cover over with a layer of moss, and then the pupa will not come to the surface.” This effectually imprisons the pupa, and it becomes a matter of curious enquiry if the larva, in order to transform, could have selected a spot similarly conditioned. : ON TROGODERMA ORNATA, PHYSONOTA UNIPUNCTATA Be AND TANYSPHYRUS LEMN. BY JOHN HAMILTON, ALLEGHENY, PA. _Trogoderma ornata. Since the publication of the remarks in vol. 15, p. 91, more has been learned concerning this pest. That it disclosed without entering the earth was eventually made evident by several of the beetles being found in a large, close box, just emerging. Why they should disclose in a large box and not ina small one was not very obvious. At last the thought occurred that hygrometric differences in food and atmos- phere might account forit. Having some of the larve reared in a small wooden pill box, .at the usual time for pupation some of these were placed " 138 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. crystalized white napthaline in a paper and pin it in each box, renewing in another box of the same size, and their food moistened. In a few days they were found to have pupated, the beetles emerging about ten days thereafter. Their companions left unmoistened in the other box never developed. This is sufficient demonstration. Their entering the ground to pupate is exceptional, and the inference that they do so nor- i mally is erroneous. | Anthrenus varius is quite innocent when compared with this pest, the larva usually staying where the parent deposits the egg. But it is quite otherwise with our 7: ornata. The female oviposits wherever she finds - a dead fly, moth, or other insect ; and when the young, after hatching, have devoured this, they travel off in every direction, gliding into boxes through the minutest crevice, often effecting an entrance with their jaws. Last summer a couple of small exchange boxes containing a few beetles were wrapped in four thicknesses of paper and stowed away. Later, the paper was found to be riddled with minute holes and these larvee were in possession. An effectual mode to keep them out of boxes is to fold some it yearly. This preventive is reliable. I have some boxes made of Red Cedar, in which there are open seams, but no museum pest ever enters them. The introduction of this insect into my premises has been traced _ to a lot of moths, crickets, etc., sent me from West Chester, in Eastern Pennsylvania, and last year it had so increased as to give great annoyance, Having observed its habits as above, I applied vigorous treatment early — this season, which I am satisfied has resulted in its absolute annihilation. — As a knowledge of the method may be of advantage to some unfortunate entomologist, the outlines are given. About the first of April I saturated — some two inches of the borders of the carpets around my rooms with a | solution of corrosive sublimate in alcohol-—two drachms to. the pint. Then, in the corners and out-of-the-way places, powder and pill boxes were placed containing dead flies, moths, and small insects. The beetles oviposited in these, avoiding altogether such as occurred on the carpet along the walls, About the first of June it was considered safe to remove the traps and consign the whole to the flames. In connection with this, all refuse material in boxes, etc., not insect proof, was destroyed, and places that alcohol would not injure received a brushing with the solution. Result—not a single larva has been observed this season. Physonota unipunctata Say. ‘Three years ago, in the month of July, I found a colony of these beetles on the river bank feeding on Monarda THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 135 _ fistulosa L., taking over fifty individuals. They almost wholly stripped the mint of its leaves. A few of the larve were feeding with them—a curi- ous object indeed ; bright yellow, its body depressed, oblong oval, with " serrate spinose margins and a long bifurcate caudex turned over its back, reaching nearly to its head. I regret a more minute description can not be given, as I neglected to take any of them at that time, and none could be found when again sought for. This species had not previously been observed here and has not been since. ‘The whole colony was no doubt _ the progeny of one beetle transported from some more northren region by _ the Allegheny during the annual spring inundation. They were all taken ona patch of mint not two rods square, none occurring on neighboring patches. With age the elytra become too hardened to pin in the usual way. All taken were of Say’s type—namely, pale above with one black spot on the thorax. Mr. Randall, in the Boston Jour. Nat. Hist., vol. 2, p. 30, describes a variety (Cassida helianthi) with three black spots on the thorax and with the elytra in life “blackish, irregularly spotted with _ white,” which he found on a species of He/éanthus. Messrs. Walsh & _ Riley describe another variety (Cassida 5-punctata) found in Northern _ Illinois, the food plant of which has also been discovered to be a He/i- anthus. Mr. Say mentions still another variety occurring in Mexico of a _ smaller size and with a transverse, arcuated, black line on the thorax __ behind the abbreviated one. Thus it appears that the species as a whole is very variable as to color ornamentation. It would be interesting to learn whether the races breed true to their types, or whether like Anomala undulata Mels., color varia- tions occur in the same brood. And further, whether each race has a food plant of its own. Perhaps some of your readers living where the species occurs frequently could give the desired information. The colony that was found here must have fed on the AZonarda of choice rather than of necessity, because three species of Helianthus (decapetalus L., giganteus L., divaricatus L.) grew with it and were not 3 eaten by either larve or beetle. Mr. Riley in his Second Annual Report on the Insects of Missouri, p. 59, gives a wood cut of a larva of Ph. 5-punctata W. & R., distended, classifying it with the me[r|digerous larve. The ones I saw must have been nearly mature and were all clean, their furcate tails turned forward over their backs and not loaded with stercoraceus matter and cast skins, 136 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. however it may have been with them when younger and in greater need of protection. Tanysphyrus lemne Fab. This is a very small thing, being among the minutest of Rhyncophora, about .o5 inch in length, though this does not d«tract from its interest. Its trivial name is derived from the plant on whi: ? it feeds, Zemna (minor), Duckweed, the little plant that floats on stagnant waters in the summer, mantling them with green, and like the insect, common to Europe and America. Though exceedingly abundant, it does not seem to be generally known, appearing on few catalogues. It occurs in August and September, and its presence may be known by observing the little circular hole it has eaten through the centre of the Lemna frond. They stay beneath the leaf as it lies on the water, or liquid mud, and come to the upper surface when this is agitated. Such as emege ~ from clear,water are entirely black, but those from the mud appear mot- tled ; the dorsum of the thorax and elytra from which the mud is wiped as they come forth between the contiguous edges of the fronds, is black, while the other parts are more or less gray from the dried mud. No other Rhyncophorus insect being found on this plant, this alone will suffice for its identification when found. It has very long legs, and unlike most Cur- culionides, the insect in death does not fold them under its body, but spreads them out on either side. LIST OF DIPTERA TAKEN IN THE VICINITY OF MONTREAL, P. Q. , BY F. B. ‘CAULFEILD. Determined by Dr. S. W. Williston. BIBIONID&. Bibio albipennis, Say. Common, end of May and beginning of June. TIPULIDA. *Bittacomorpha clavipes, Fabr. Several specimens taken in a damp meadow, June. XYLOPHAGID&. Xylophagus rufipes, Loew. Not common, June 7, 1877. CGINOMYID&. Ccenomyia ferruginea, Meig., ad/zda Say. Not rare on parts of Montreal Mountain, June, 1883. I found them sitting on ferns in open aes = Sy ee a Ee atte Se oe Se ee ts aaa Stratiomyia obesa, Loew. Not rare, on flowers. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. I3T places. I did not observe them in the more heavily wooded portions. STRATIOMYIDA. TABANID. ar | _ Chrysops callidus, O. Sacken. Not uncommon in woods. u fugax, O. Sacken. Common. Therioplectes socius, O. Sacken. Rare, one ~ taken on blossoms of an umbelliferous plant, July. " septentrionalis? Loew. " lasiophthalmus, Macq. May 19, 1877. Tabanus catenatus, Walk. Rare, one specimen taken resting on a stone by the river side, Lachine, July 15, 1877. LEPTID&. Leptis punctipennis, Say. ASILID. “ Dasyllis flavicollis, Say. n thoracica, Fab, Not common, open woods, July. Laphria bilineata, Walk. Rare. « gilva, Wilstn. Rare. BOMBILID&, Anthrax alternata, Say. vw fulviana, Say. “ sinuosa, Wied. Bombylius fratellus, Wied. Common on the border of a birch wood, Hochelaga, May 6, 1877. THEREVID&. Thereva candidata, Loew. SCENOPINID&. _ Scenopinus fenestralis, Linn. : SYRPHID&. _ Chrysotoxum ventricosum, Loew. Rare. Syrphus ribesii, Linn. Common. Sphaerophoria cylindrica, Say. Xanthogramma flavipes, Loew. _ Rhingia nasica, Say. Not uncommon. Volucella evecta, Walk. Not rare. Sericomyia chrysotoxoides, Macq. Rare. i" militaris, Walk. Not common. 138 : THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, Eristalis Bastardi, Macq. Not uncommon. n tenax, Linn. Common. 1 transversus, Wied. Common. » brousi, Wilstn. Common. Helophilus similis, Macq. Syritta pipiens, Linn. Common. Somula decora, Macq. Rare. Chrysochlamys dives, O. Sacken. Not common. Spilomyia fusca, Loew. Not common, on umbelliferous flowers, July. » quadrifasciata, Say. Common on blossoms of Solidago, Aug. Temnostoma aequalis, Loew. Rare. — Sphecomyia vittata, Wied. Rare. CONOPID&. Conops furcillatus, Wilstn. Rare. : ne Zodion fulvifrons, Say. TACHINIDA. Hystricia vivida, Harris. Common. : ia MUSCID&. *Musca domestica, Linn. Abundant. CORDYLURIDZ. Scatophaga stercoraria, Linn. Common. SCIOMYZIDE. Tetanocera pictipes, Loew. " plebeja, Loew. ORTALIDA. Pyrgota undata, Wied. Not rare. Ceroxys similis, Loew. Seoptera vibrans, Linn. Rare, one specimen taken. Chaetopsis aenea, Wied. Rare. TRYPETIDE&. Straussia longipennis, Wied. Not uncommon. Tephritis albiceps, Loew. PIOPHILIDE. *Piaphila casei, Linn. Common, bred from cheese. DROSOPHILID&. “aa Rs *Drosophila ampelophila, Loew. Common. With the exception of those marked with an *, all the species in the above list were submitted to Dr. Williston, who kindly named them. As THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 139 I only took such Diptera as chanced to come in my way while collecting Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, the list is a very incomplete one. But as it contains some species not on the Society’s List, I thought it better to give it, imperfect as it is, rather than wait until further collections would enable me to extend it. NORTH AMERICAN TORTRICIDA, BY LORD WALSINGHAM, M. As Fob 84 &c, BY C. H. FERNALD, STATE COLLEGE. ORONO, MAINE. | The above is the title of a very interesting paper which his Lordship had the kindness to send to me, and which was published in the Transac- tions of the Entomological Society of London for April, 1884. a This paper of 27 pages and one colored plate contains descriptions of y 24 new species and one new genus (Pseudoconchylis ), with copious notes on others. These insects were collected by Mr. H. K. Morrison in Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Florida, and the paper is also of value in giving the distribution of many well known species. His Lordship calls attention to the fact that Conchylis bimaculana Robs. is distinct from Hiibner’s Pharmacis sartana, although placed as a synonym in my Catalogue of the Tortricide. I[ had already reached the same conclusion from material which I received from Florida, but had not published the fact. ; _ The generic names Bactra and Aphelia are both used, inadvertently, without doubt, for I have already shown (Ent. Month. Mag. vol. 20, p. 126) that they are synonymous and only one can be used. Lord W. speaks in his introductory remarks as follows: ‘“ The great dividing range of the Rocky Mountains exercises, as might have been expected, a very important influence upon the Micro-Lepidoptera of North America, forming a barrier over which these delicate insects are apparently unable to pass. The proportion of eastern species found on the western side of this barrier is remarkably small, although the same genera are for the most part represented more or less abundantly in both parts of the continent.” While these remarks are certainly true, it is a noticeable fact that quite a number of species have actually distributed themselves all over the country and occupy the territory on both sides of the great mountain 140 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ranges, but they are all species, so far as I know, which are quite poly- phagus, or such as have been distributed through the agency of man. This paper, together with others which his Lordship has previously published, has done much to advance our knowledge of the North American Micro-Lepidoptera, and we sincerely hope that he may continue his very valuable work. : CORRESPONDENCE. Dear Sir: Hickory, walnut and sweet gum have generally been given as the food plants of Citheronia regalis, but I have a caterpillar nearly ready to pupate which has been raised on sumach (Rhus copallina). I offered it Rhus glabra, but it only nibbled the edges of a few leaves and finally abandoned feeding until the other species was restored. bility in ether and chloroform. A single nest will seldom contain less than 500 eggs, and sometimes upwards of 2,000.. The female begins to lay eggs in the latter part of May, and continues laying from five to seven weeks, until she dies from exhaustion, her entire life continuing for about thirteen months. During the laying and mi hatching of the eggs she secretes a quantity of a sweet Fig. s. liquid known as honey-dew, which attracts ants, flies and other insects, and it often happens that the young lice crawl up the legs and bodies of these visitors, by whom they are thus carried to other trees. The newly hatched, yellowish-white lice soon distribute themselves over the branches, and attaching to the succulent portions, pierce the tender bark with their sharp beaks and subsist upon the sap. They shortly become stationary, when they gradually increase in size and finally reach maturity. The scale of the male insect is very different from the female. It is 4 longer in proportion to its size, and there are no waxy filaments projecting from it. When fully mature the insect escapes from its scaly covering and ~ appears as a minute, beautiful and delicately formed two-winged fly, marked with yellowish and chestnut brown, with brilliant rose-colored wings which also reflect the colors of the rainbow. These flies do not appear until August and September, and their lives in the winged state are very short, not exceeding two or three days. Besides the Maple and the Grape, these insects are, as already stated, q also found on the Linden or Basswood, and sometimes on the Elm. Par ee ee eee THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 143 Where permitted to continue their depredations undisturbed, they weaken _ and injure, and occasionally destroy the trees attacked, They affect _ chiefly the under side of the branches and twigs. é REMEDIES. The branches of the infested trees may be vigorously rubbed with.a _ stiff brush or broom, which will dislodge many of the insects, and then - coated with a strong alkaline wash made by melting either soft or hard _ soap and diluting it to the consistence of paint with a strong solution of _ washing soda; or they may be destroyed with an emulsion of coal oil made by agitating vigorously and for a considerable time one pint of coal oil with an equal quantity of milk, until the mixture assumes a creamy _ appearance, when it should be diluted with about ten times its bulk of water and applied with a brush or syringe. , - DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA OF HEMARIS TENUIS, Gr. BY PH. FISCHER, BUFFALO, N. Y. Head light green, around which is a ring of bright fine yellow granu- lations. Body light green whitish at the dorsal region; a whitish subdorsal _ line on each side running from caudal horn to third segment, also a dorsal _ green line running from caudal horn to 3rd segment, where they both become indistinct. Under side and legs chocolate brown, prolegs black, with a narrow white band near base. Caudal horn thin, slightly curved forward, flanked at base with bright yellow. Stigmata on first, and from third to tenth segments, dark blue. Length about two inches. Larva finely granu- lated with white. It is found from middle of June to end of July. Of _ these, some of the earliest larve will, after pupating, hatch within about two weeks, (the balance staying over till next spring) which will deposit their eggs and also grow to maturity towards the latter part of September ; so that the larve may be found almost continually from June to October. The eggs are small, round and green, and hatch in about ten days; they are found on the under side of the leaves of Symphoricarpus, _ Lonicera (different species), and Triosteum perfoliatum, its food plants. The color of the larve of this latter brood varies considerably, some being a reddish brown with a slight purple tint, the head sometimes being __. yellow like the ring around it, sometimes brown ; others when young are _ green above and black below, with a black head ; others again have the normal color and other characteristics. : 144 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. PHYTONOMUS PUNCTATUS, Fapsrictus. The Punctured Clover-leat Weevit. BY A. H. KILMAN, RIDGEWAY, ONT. A curculio new to Canada has appeared in this locality. Prevailing east winds about Aug. 1oth wafted this new clover pest to our shores. This beetle, as far as I know, has not been mentioned in the ENTOMOLO- GIst. It was introduced from Europe little more than three years ago. Appearing on the eastern seaboard, and taking the continent in the inverse order to the movement of the Colorado Potato Beetle, it is working rapidly westward. Last year no specimens were reported west of Rochester, while in Eastern New York the clover crop was destroyed by this insect. On the date above mentioned it appeared in Buffalo in such numbers that thousands were crushed on the pavements by the feet of passers-by. Simultaneous with this was its appearance in Ridgeway. I picked them from the fences and sidewalks, and found them in the grass on my lawn. Mr. Reinecke could have gathered them by the quart along the lake shore at Buffalo, where they had stranded after being carried by — the wind far out upon the water. They have the extraordinary faculty of closing their tracheze and suspending respiration while in the water, and an hour’s sunshine on the sandy beach leaves them none the worse for a good soaking. : The beetle is two-fifths of an inch long, has a stout body of a dark brown color ; sides of thorax and elytra dull yellow, a central yellow line on thorax, rows of black raised points along inner half of elytra with dashes of the same muddy yellow towards the rear. Each female has a ‘depositing power” of from 200 to 300 eggs. She punctures the clover stem and places an egg therein. or sometimes attaches it to the surface of the stem. The larva feeds upon the leaves, which it destroys rapidly, eating only during the night and hiding in the day time. I am of the opinion that the advance guard of this insect invasion arrived last year, and it is the main body now; and further that those now arriving will go into winter quarters and open up a lively campaign in the spring. I am led to these conclusions by the fact that many clover fields in this and adjoining counties failed this season to blossom fully, the Clover Midge getting the blame. Whatever the sequel iipe show, we fear 2. EN a a tl aaa 2 fort ESN ee ae De ae etl aa ee “THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 145 that these invaders will prove of better staying qualities than those who crossed the border in ’66, and turned to the right about at Ridgeway, | because Canada was not the “clover patch” they were looking for. 4 LIST OF SYRPHIDA TAKEN IN FAIRMOUNT PARK, PHILADELPHIA, PA., DURING THE SUMMER OF 1884. | Den ie BY E. L. KEEN, PHILADELPHIA, PA. The species in the following list were taken in Fairmount Park during the past summer, and mainly during May and June, which is the best time for Syrphidz ; then there are some which only appear in the fall months. Of all families of Diptera the Syrphidz seem to be better represented in the Park than any other families of this order, perhaps with the exception of the Dolichopodide. The Syrphidz seem to prefer damp and somewhat open woods, especially a small wood that has a small rivulet running through, near the border, and where there are patches of May apple, with the sun shining through the trees on the plants. This only applies to some species, for others prefer the borders of woods, fields, etc. I never found many Syrphidz in a hot and sandy county, for instance like New Jersey, but what it lacks in Syrphidz it makes up with the Bombylide, for last - summer I took about ten species of the latter family in one day, while I ~ only took about seven species the whole summer in Fairmount Park. The present list does not represent all the species found in the Park ; it only includes the collecting of the earlier part of the summer, for during the fall months I did little or no collecting. Paragus bicolor, Fab. Quite common during July and August. Pe ptt tibialis, Fallen. " " " Pipiza femoralis, Loew. Very rare; took one specimen May 3rd near a small creek. | : —. albipilosa, Willist., n. sp. Rare; two specimens May 15th in damp woods. -Chrysogaster nigripes, Loew (=Orthoneura ustulata, Loew). Not very common. on nitida, Wied. All summer. 146 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Melanostoma obscura, Say. Quite common in damp situations. " mellinum, Linne. Very common in spring. _ Platychirus hyperboreus, Staeg. Common. : " quadratus, Say. All summer in damp situations. " peltatus, Meig. Common in spring. " coerulescens, Willist. Rare in spring. Syrphus abbreviatus, Zett. May and June. "1 americanus, Wied. May and June; very common. 1 Lesueurii, Macq. All summer; common. 1 Ribesi, Linne. Common. 1 arcuatus, var. lapponicus, Zett. Rare; took a specimen on April 27th and May 3rd. | " Sp. NOV. Mesograpta geminata, Say. All summer; very common. r marginata, Say » not quite so plentiful as the above. © r polita, Say. Quite rare in comparison with the above two species. Serene cylindrica, Say. All summer; very plentiful sree May and June. Picchu: obliqua, Say. Quite common. Xanthogramma emarginata (Say) Willist. Not very common. | " flavipes (Loew) Willist. Not very rare; took four speci- mens this year. Ascia globosa, Walk. One specimen Aug. 25; quite rare. Sphegina lobata, Loew. In spring, May 15 and 21, took several speci- mens in a damp woods ; not very common. ~ 1 Keenii, Willist., s. nov. In company with S. lobata; took this species May 21; very rare. : Ocyptamus fuscipennis, Say. All summer, very common. -Baccha aurinota, Walk. Quite rare; took only one specimen in July. i" Keenii, Willist., sp. nov. Very rare ; took this species in a path going through an open woods. | Rhingia nasica, Say. Very common in both sexes in woods. Eristalis aeneus, Scop. All summer; commonest of all the species of Eristalis. 1 Bastardi, Macq. Quite common during June. » dimidiatus, Wied. Not rare; June and July. 1 tenax, Linne. Very common all summer. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 147 Eristalis transversus, Wied. All summer. _ Brousii, Willist. June; very common last year; only took two specimens this summer. Helophilus similis, Macq. Quite common. 1 latifrons, Loew. " Pterallastes thoracicus, Loew. Not very plentiful ; only two or three specimens are generally taken during a season. Mallota posticata (Fabr.) Willist. Quite common. » Bautias, Walk. Quite common. Tropidia quadrata, Say. In damp and shady situations ; common. Criorrhina analis, Macq. Common in woods during May and June. 1 intersistens (Walk.) Willist. Very rare; took three specimens May 23rd in a woods. Brachypalpus frontosus, Loew. Very rare; I reared this species from a as larva which I found between some loose bark on a stump of a tree. Sericomyia limbipennis, Macq. Common in woods during spring and fall. - Xylota ejuncida, Say. Common. " angustiventris, Loew. Not very common. 1 pigra, Fab. Not very common in this locality. Syritta pipiens, Linne. All summer; this is about the commonest of all Syrphide. ie Somula decora, Macq. In spring and fall in woods ; quite common. Spilomyia longicornis, Loew. In September ; not very plentiful. Temnostoma alternans, Loew. In spring in woods ; rare. " bombylans. Quite common during May. " . pictulum, Willist., sp. nov. June; very rare. Milesia ornata, Fabr. August ; rare. SYNONYMICAL NOTES. BY GEO. H. HORN, M. D., PHILADELPHIA, PA. Lamesis Westw. Tijdschr. voor Entom. xxvi., p. 67. I would call attention to the possible identity of this genus and Xenorhipis Lec. The figure given by Westwood (pl. 3, fig. 8) certainly bears a very close 148 | THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ba un | resemblance to that published by me of Xenorhipis (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. 1882, pl. iv., fig. 7, 8). If the two should prove identical, the name given by LeConte (Proc. Acad. 1866, p. 384) should have priority. L. suturalis Westw. occurs at Cordova, Argentine Republic. Cyrtophorus gibbulus Lec. (niger { Zec.) On examining this insect with Dr. LeConte, we were convinced that it does not differ in any respect from Microclytus gazellula Hald. 3 Leptura coccinea Lec. After refreshing my memory by a glance a the type in Mr. Ulke’s cabinet, I visited the Agricultural Department and from force of habit glanced over the plates.of Ratzeburg’s Forst-Insecten» and I at once recognised a great similarity between my mental image of coccinea and rubrotestacea. On comparisons being made by Messrs. Ulke and Schwarz, the two were found identical. As the specimen was reported to Mr. Ulke probably in error as from California, the name should be placed as a synonym of ¢estacea Linn. (= rubrotestacea Ul.) and dropped from our lists. L. atrata Lec. After a careful examination of the very old unique in the cabinet of Dr. LeConte, the latter agreed with me that it was a speci- men of sroxima in which the customary black tip had extended, covering the whole elytra. THE ASH SAW-FLY (Selandria barda Say).* BY HERBERT OSBORNE, AMES, IOWA. Allantus barda, Say. Bost. Jour. 1 (1835) 218. 7. Selandria barda, Norton. Bost. Proc., viii., 220, 3. " " " Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., iii., 9, 14. ¥ Mie. » Cresson " " " " iv., 244, I. Ses " » Norton, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., i., 247, 4 3 During the summer of 1882 a few of the ash trees-on the college lawn became infested with a Saw-fly worm which for a few days threatened to be quite serious. I made a few trials of London purple on the trees most seriously infested, but before I had gained results from many trees or had completed a study of the larve, they suddenly disappeared... So * Reprinted from Bulletin of the Iowa Agricultural College, from. the Depart: a ment of Entomology, 1884, No. 2. ra ‘THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 149 far as my experiments went they showed the London Purple to be a suc- cessful remedy and as applicable to these worms as to any of the Saw-Fly _ group. No adults were observed, and none of the larve I had under my observation matured ; so the matter necessarily came to a rest. During the summer of 1883 the worms appeared in much greater num- bers and distributed over many more trees. At the same time and upon the same trees with these worms I observed adult Saw-Flies that I-could 1 _ have little doubt were the mature worms, although I did not succeed in finding the eggs and obtaining the larve from them, nor have I reared them as yet from the immature stage. Their presence in large numbers at the time when newly hatched larve were appearing plentifully day after day, and the fact that the adult sst be an insect of this particular kind, left little doubt as to their connection. During the present season I have observed these adults as early as April 15th, and the larve but little later, while the eggs from which the larve hatch were found deposited in the petiole of the leaf. The adults are the Se/andria barda of Say,* the food plant of which, so far as I can find, has never been recorded. No account of the larva or of its work is given in any of the works that I have been able to consult, and as it seems to me of too much importance to remain unnoticed, I venture to give what I know of its history with the practical results of my study, notwithstanding the doubt that rests over some parts of its life history. The pressure of other duties at the time these worms were at work prevented me from giving them the time they certainly deserved. LIFE HISTORY. _ The eggs are deposited in rows along the sides of the petiole just beneath the outer bark, and so neatly that it is almost impossible to detect any break in the epidermis. Usually there are from six to ten on a leaf. They evidently increase much in size before hatching, pushing the bark up in a blister-like elevation, and if cut out of their covering are found to be very soft, the outer membrane exceedingly delicate and easily ruptured. * In order to be certain that my determination of the species was correct, I sent specimens to Mr. E. T. Cresson, of Philadelphia, and he has kindly compared them _ with the specimens in the collection of the Am. Ent. Soc,, and pronounces them identi- cal, except a slight difference in size. 150 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. The larvae are evidently hatched within two or three days after ee is v are deposited, and are at first slender, whitish worms with black heads — and thoracic legs. ‘They crawl at once to the leaflets and appear to select the more tender ones for the commencement of their work. They grow quite rapidly and reach the first moult on the third or fourth day. Before moulting they are. more whitish in color, and the head particularly loses. its ordinary color. After the moult the head is jet black and glistens like 4 a glass bead ; the six thoracic legs have also the same jet black color ; e. otherwise the larva is clear green with a slightly darker dorsal line. There a Fig. 6.—Selandria barda (Say). Leaf of ash showing position of eggs in ae petiole and work of larvze. ere’ are seven pairs of pro-legs or false legs along the abdomen nd coe | at the tailend. The body is not hairy, neither is it slimy as in some a members of this genus, but the skin is somewhat wrinkled. Heol The worms are mostly found adhering to the under surface of pie: leaves, and forming a coil, though sometimes extended, especially when feeding, and as they eat away the entire leaf, cutting away at the edges or at the holes entirely through the leaf, they obtain any poisonous substance . sprinkled or dusted on the upper surface, {HE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 151 When young they usually keep pretty well clustered together or on the same leaf, but later scatter quite generally, the early clustering being due no doubt to the eggs being laid near together and on the same leaf. The - worms moult at least three or four times before reaching maturity. _ The worms leave the trees before entering the chrysalis stage, and while I have not succeeded in tracing this stage, it is reasonably certain that it is passed under ground, or at least below the surface mould. It is - quite certain also that the winter is passed in the chrysalis stage. e The imago has been observed abundant from April 15th till into the month of May, and also in the month of June. Whether these are two distinct broods or simply the result of great irregularity in appearance, | cannot say. It is certainly po.sible, however, considering the time that the first larve require to attain their growth that they may pupate and issue as a second brood in the month of June. These adults are black throughout, except the upper part of the thorax, which is honey yellow or sometimes orange or reddish, the amount as well as the shade differing somewhat in different individuals. The males are more slender and shorter than the females. In some specimens the front legs are partially yellowish. _ They appear to be most active during the heat of the day, and can be caught without much difficulty in the hand during cool evenings. ~ PARASITES. Lachina Flies. On trees where these worms were plenty I observed ‘numerous specimens of the friendly Tachinas, and I also found their eggs on great numbers of the worms. So numerous were they indeed that I : ‘felt that the worms could safely be left to their attention. Lchneumon Fly. A small /chneumon occurred also in pretty good numbers, and though I obtained no direct evidence of their preying upon the worms, the habits of the _Ichneumons are so well known that there can be little doubt of the meaning of their presence. The Spined Soldier Bug (Arma spinosa) was observed with the Ash worms impaled.on its beak, so it can be counted aes to assist in destroy- ing them. REMEDIES. London Purple. ‘Vhe trials I made with this substance proved that it is deadly to these insects, and where it can be used without too great 152 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIS‘. ar expense, it may be considered a certain remedy. On all small shade trees it can be applied as readily as to orchard trees, and even on trees of con- siderable height a good force pump will suffice to thoroughly sprinkle the leaves. Hellebore is also very effective for these and other Saw-fly larvee, but as it is no better than the preceding and much more expensive, there is no need of considering it here. | | Arsenic may be used in solution like London Purple, but must be boiled to dissolve it. REMARKS ON THE FAMILY BOMBYCIDA:. BY G. J. BOWLES, MONTREAL. In the American classification of the Lepidoptera, the Bombycidz occupy a place between the Zygzenidz and the Noctuidz. They include a large number of genera and species, and are well represented on this continent. The principal characteristic of the family is that from which it derives its name of Bombycidz,—or spinners,—the power the caterpillars. have of producing a silken fibre, which they use in spinning a cocoon in which to pass the pupa stage of their existence. The Silk-worm moth, Bombyx mori, is the typical species of the family. Some genera, how- ever, do not produce silk in any quantity. They are also remarkable as a family for the imperfectly developed mouth parts in the perfect insect. In nearly all of them the tongue is short, and in some species wanting, and the other parts of the mouth so imperfect that it is not probable the insects feed at all in the perfect state. | As the family now stands in our classification, it not only comprises genera and species of very dissimilar habits, but also includes insects of many sizes, ranging from small to very. large. The largest moths in America belong to the Bombycidz. It also includes various forms, some very low in the scale. The great majority of the larve live on the leaves of plants, principally of trees, but some are root feeders, and others bore ! even into the solid wood. There are probably no other larvee that enjoy such a range of food plants as some of the Bombycidz.. To some species almost anything in the shape of a green leaf is acceptable and nourishing ‘food, and they are consequently among the commonest of our moths, Others again are restricted to a single plant. 4 ? eee, DET eT eT eet pe eae ee a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 153 _ Some of our finest moths, both as regards size and beauty of form and decoration, belong to this family, while it includes many small and plainly colored insects, some of which have females which never possess _ wings, and never move away from the cocoons in which they have passed _ through the pupa state. 3 - These facts seem to show that the Bombycide, as classified in America, are rather a heterogeneous collection of insects, whose claims to __ be included in one family are open to question. Packard, whose synopsis __ is the best so far published, divides it into the following sub-families ; some of these, however, in Europe are given the family rank. Lirnosun&. All small moths, with the wings finely scaled, and gen- erally day-fliers. Zzthosia, the typical genus, is but poorly represented in _ Eastern America, there being only one or two species found here, while _ fourteen are found in England alone. The larve of this genus usually feed on lichens. To this sub-family belong the Crocotas, also Euphanessa _mendica and Deiopeia bella. ‘The caterpillars are generally a little hairy, and most of the species spin thin silken cocoons. Arctiupé&. A large and well known group. The moths are of medium _ size, and some of them beautifully colored, hence their common name of __ Tiger Moths. Caterpillars generally very hairy, and make soft cocoons, in which they interweave their hairs with silk. Their supply of the latter is not large. The principal genera are Arctia, Spilosoma, Callimorpha, Hyphantria, &c. Some of the larve are injurious to fruit trees. Dasycuira&. The Liparidz of European authors. Packard restricts _ this sub-family to Orgyza, and a few other genera. The caterpillars of _ Orgyia are highly ornamented, and spin thin silken cocoons. ‘The female moths are wingless. Cocuiipi#. Cochliopodide of Europe. Small moths with curious -slug-like larvee, which spin cocoons almost globular in form, and of a gluey appearance, the silk being more of a gum than a fibre. This sub- family has some fourteen genera and twenty-eight species in Packard’s Synopsis, but only a few of them are found in Canada. Psycuip#. A small group of diminutive moths, not found in the Eastern States or Canada. They are closely related to the preceding sub-family. ; _ Pritoponres.. A numerous sub-family, answering as a whole to the _ Cuspidates of Newman’s British Moths, although the larvz of some of our 154. ‘hi CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. species do not resemble those of the latter family. The caterpillars of the Cuspidates are singular in form, many of them being without anal pro-— legs, and others being bifid at that extremity. Very few American species have this formation, but some of them are humped; and are otherwise of a uncommon shape, while others have the cuspidate habit of raising the anal extremity in the air while feeding or moving about. The sub-family includes the well known genera, /cthyura, Datana, Wotadentts, Cerura and others. ‘ae PLatrypTreRIcip&. ‘This division is included in the European family : Cuspidates. The moths are small, and all have falcate or hooked wings. In England the caterpillars of these moths are not hairy, but are metal. oe with colored lines and spots, and some are without anal prolegs. | _Arraci. Comprises our largest and most beautiful moths, as well as. those which produce the best and most plentiful supply of silk. Both moths and larve are well known. ms _CreratocamMpip&. The genera Dryocampa, Hyperchiria, Anisota and 4 others belong to this sub-family of large and handsome moths. Some of — the larve make no cocoons, but bury themselves in the earth like he Sphingide, and there become pupze. LaCHNEIDES. Includes Gastropacha, Clisiocampa and Tolype, moths of medium or small size, with hairy bodies. The larvz are smooth, shu 4 few hairs, and spin slight cocoons of silken fibre. f HepiaLip#. A group of wood or root-boring moths, some of whieh af are large and robust, others small and delicate in appearance. _ A glance at the foregoing sketch will show the variety of insects we include in this family, and also the widely differing habits of the larva. And it is both curious and interesting to note the analogies which many of the species bear to the other divisions of the Lepidoptera, and even to _ the other orders of insects. In some cases the resemblance is so close that it is doubtful whether the species is rightly placed, and we might be- justified in removing it to some other family of moths, perhaps a long way _ from the Bombycidz. Thus in the first sub-family, the Lithosiine, the’. genus. Crambidia very much resembles the genus Crambus among the Tineide. Euphanessa mendica is very like a Geometer, not only in the perfect state, but also as a larva, as stated by Mr. Saunders, who calls it a ‘true looper.” In a classification based on larval characteristics, this” moth would therefore be ranked with the Geometride. Crocota Serru- THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. © 155 ginosa is a well known species of this sub-family, and might also be taken for a Geometer. I have captured it flying in the sunshine, in company with Nemoria, a small Geometer which much resembles it in form, but is different in size and color. /erruginosa does not make a cocoon, the chrysalis being found under stones, with the larval skin generally adhering to its extremity. In the sub-family Cochlide, one of the genera is named - Tortricidia, from the great resemblance of the moths to those of Zortrix, ’ they having narrow wings, slender bodies and filiform antenne. The ' Psychidz also contains some remarkable species. The genus Phryganidia _ has many analogies with the Phryganide, a group of water-flies in the us Neuroptera, not only in appearance, but even in the neuration of the wings, according to Packard. A European species of this sub-family, Psyche helix, has been known to produce young froin eggs not fertilized _ by the male. The larva lives in a case made of grains of sand arranged in the form of a snail shell, thus resembling the Phryganidz in habits, as it also does in structure. : The sub-family Ptilodontes includes moths which are very ae mis- _ taken for Noctuas. Indeed in some instances it is almost impossible to tell the difference, and, wice versa, there are moths classed among the - Noctuide which, in the opinion of first-rate judges, should be ranked with this family. The first division of the Noctuas is styled the Bombyciz or Bombycoides, from the resemblance of the insects to the Bombycide, not _ only in the perfect, but in the larva state. Acronycta is very like Hetero- campa and the kindred genera in the Bombycide. ‘The colors are similar _and the larvee are hairy, like those of Avctia. I notice in the American Lntomologist for 1880, page 49, that these facts have engaged the attention of Mr. Butler, a high English authority, who communicated a paper to the London Entomological Society on the subject, illustrated by an exhibition of preserved larvee from the collection.of Lord Walsingham. He ana- lyzed the genus Acronycta, as represented in England, with the following result: Rumicis and auricoma should be transferred to the Arctiide ; leporina and aceris to the Liparide ; megacephala, psi, tridens, strigosa, etc., to the Notodontid, leaving only a/ai and /igustri among the Noctuas. If the life history of our Acronyctas were worked up, and their larvz all known, it would be an interesting task to trace the similarities of the species to the Bombycidz, and might result in equally remarkable conclusions. One suggestive case might be mentioned. The larva of Apatela (or Acronycta) Americana is a large, woolly, yellowish caterpillar 156 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. with long slender pencils of black hairs. There is a Bombycid moth found in the Eastern States, Apatelodes torrefacta, whose larva, judging from Smith & Abbot’s drawing, bears a striking resemblance to that of Apatela americana. It is also a large moth, and the two may be more closely connected than is at present admitted. One of them is placed in the Noctuide, the other in the Bombycidz, with a number of genera between. The larve of the Noctuan genera before Acronycta, in their bizarre appearance, also resemble those of the Ptilodontes more than — those of the Noctuide. Newman states that /chthyura (Clostera) is closely allied to Cymatophora, a Noctuid genus, and should be placed near it in a natural classification. In the small and beautiful sub-family Platyptericide, the moths are very like Geometers, their bodies being slender and the wings broad and finely scaled. They also rest with their wings expanded, as many Geometers do. The last sub-family in the Bombycidez is so different from the rest in structure, appearance and habits, that it should be separated from them and given the family rank, as in England. These insects, the Hepialide, are borers, the larve living either in the roots or the stems of plants, and although they make cocoons, these are hidden in the earth or the stem of the plant in which they have fed. In their structure the perfect insects resemble Neuroptera. The body is long and soft, the antennz small, and the places of attachment of the fore and hind wings to the body widely — separated, as in Dragon Flies and other aquatic insects. Both larva and pupa are also different in form from those of the remainder of the Bom- bycidee. The foregoing notes go far to prove that our Family Bombycidz is at present too comprehensive. A future revision should raise a few of its subdivisions to family rank, which would make the classification more simple and more natural. BOOK NOTICES. Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club—Transactions No. 5 (Volume IL., Novcty bea The Transactions of this active Club have just been received, and bear testimony to the value of the scientific work which is being done by our Ottawa friends, The number consists of 152 pages, is well printed THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 157 and has been carefully edited. We are glad to learn from the report of : the Council that the annual membership has steadily continued to increase from the inception of the Society in 1878, and now is 128. Several valuable papers in different branches of natural history which were read during the winter of 1883-4, have been printed, ‘among which we find a capital and very appropriate Inaugural Address from the President, Dr. H. Beaumont Small, in which the history of the Club is briefly sketched and present events of immediate interest to the Club referred to, after which the different systems of classification in the animal kingdom are treated of. There are tables given of the different systems of Linnzus, Dawson, Cuvier and Haeckel. The President states that the system - taught by Principal Dawson (of McGill College) is included as he is our _ Jeading Canadian authority, and his system is a fair example of many in vogue at the present day. This is followed by ‘“ Notes on the Flora Ottawaensis,” which specially refers to introduced plants. Prof. Macoun contributes a paper upon ‘‘ Edible and Poisonous Fungi.” This is fol- lowed by perhaps the most valuable paper of all, “‘A List of Ottawa Coleoptera,” by our esteemed correspondent, Mr. W. Hague Harrington. _ This list shows not only great care on the part of the author in preparing it, but remarkable diligence and assiduity in making the collection of which it is a record, all of which are available for reference. The list contains no less than 1,003 species, 110 of which are new to Canada; all of these were collected within a radius of 12 miles from the City of Ottawa, chiefly by Mr. Harrington himself. This list is remarkably free from errors, and unusual care has evidently been taken to have the nomen- clature correct and all synonyms eliminated. Altogether this list forms an important addition to our entomological literature. Following this is a paper by Mr. J. B. Tyrrell upon Suctoria. This gentleman has by taking up the systematic study of these insects and the Acaride, already done important work in Canadian entomology. It is upon these tribes _ particularly that the student has difficulty in finding information. A paper upon Canadian Phosphates by Dr. G. M. Dawson will be read with interest by many. There are also papers on the Fossils from the vicinity of _ Ottawa, by Mr. Henri Ami; on the Sand Plains of the Ottawa, by Mr. _ E. Odburn; and the Deer of the Ottawa Valley,#by Mr. W. P. Lett. These papers are followed by the reports from the leaders in -the several _ branches of Geology, Botany, Conchology, Entomology, Ornithology and _ Zoology. The plan adopted in this Club of having the work divided up 158 {THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. into separate branches under leaders, who are responsible for the success- ful working of the department under their charge, is an excellent one, and — might be copied with advantage by other similar organizations. Seventh Yearly Report on Injurious Insects in England ; by Eleanor A. Ormerod, pp. 98, 8vo., London, 1884. | RTM ee PRS ra. nee eet ee REN hs eee 2 It is always a pleasure to read Miss Ormerod’s reports; but that for 1883, which has just come to hand, is of particular interest to all engaged in the study of injurious insects in Canada, from the fact that it treats of many of the same and closely allied species which are now attracting attention in North America by their depredations. During the past season an enormous amount of damage has been done to our crops by the Fly-maggots, or the larve of Diptera. Unhappily very little is known of _ the life histories of these insects. Miss Ormerod is one of the few who : have done valuable work in this line, and she is still directing special attention to them 5 she asks for information and records of observations which may elucidate some of the unknown stages of their existence. A suggestive fact is drawn attention to, in the presence of the grubs of vari- ous kinds which infest root and other farm crops, being also found in manure, and thus carted on to the fields. This important discovery opens up a new sphere where valuable work may be done by Canadian economic entomologists and agriculturists. On this continent undoubtedly one of the chief causes for excessively severe attacks by insects is the abundant food supply provided by the large areas of the same crop under cultivation ‘at one time, and our insect visitations have, from this cause, been gener- ally more disastrous than in Europe ; we have thus the advantage (per- haps somewhat doubtful) of greater opportunities for thoroughly investi- gating them. ‘There is no doubt that interesting results will follow if the same insect be simultaneously examined in America and Europe, and exact notes be taken of all the different stages for subsequent comparison. A fact. which must have. struck every one as peculiar'is the small amount of systematic work which has been done in Europe, and par- — ticularly in England, in the study of injurious insects. With the exception of the Phylloxera in France, no investigations of any importance are recorded until the last few years. Curtis’s magnificent work, “ Farm Insects,” is of course known to all, and until Miss Ormerod began her series of yearly reports, was the only work the farmer had to refer to,and _ even this from its price was inaccessible to many who needed it most. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 159 — These reports are issued annually at a very low figure (the present one being one shilling and sixpence) and are besides forwarded free to all con- tributors. In them is given a record of the insects which have been most noticeable during the period which each one covers, and together with a plain and easy description of each species, and figures of many, precise instructions are given as to the best remedies and the means of employing them. ‘The talented authoress must be congratulated on the skill she has displayed in treating her subject. While scientific exactness and precision have been maintained, the different insects have been described in such a manner that any agriculturist into whose hands the reports may come will be able to recognise his insect foes with ease. The knowledge accumu- lated during the previous year is arranged under the heads of the different _ plants infested, after the same convenient plan as that followed by our worthy President in his invaluable work, “ Insects Injurious to Fruits.” In the report before us we have an account of observations on insects attacking the apple and pear, the cabbage and turnip, with special mention of some Anthomyians, from which we also suffer, and concerning which it would appear that the attack is worst where rank, fresh farm manure is used, and that the best remedy is gas-lime. We then have carrot and celery insects, also a long account of the pests attacking cereals and grasses, of which the Crane Flies (Tipule) seem to have been the. worst depredators, followed by the Wheat Midge (C. ¢rticz) and Wire Worms (Elateridz). Some insects which more or less attack the gooseberry, raspberry and strawberry, are treated of, and under mangold wurzel we find an account of the Beet Fly, Anthomyia Beta, which has been very prevalent in Canada during the ‘past. season, attacking the leaves of the beet-root by burrowing large unsightly burrows beneath the epidermis. Under onion we find an account of another of our too well known ene- mies, the Onion Fly (A. ceparum), and the simple remedy of keeping the bulb well covered by earthing up is recommended. The Hop Aphis, which has been the cause of very heavy expenditure in England during the past summer, is treated separately in an appendix which had been distributed sooner than the general report, so as to elicit as much infor- mation as possible at the time when it would be most useful. In addition to the above there are articles on False Wire Worms (Julidz), which had been found injurious to beans; and on Slugs (Limacide), which eat everything, and lastly, there is an attack on that poor, but self-assertive scape-goat, the English Sparrow. 160 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Although it is acknowledged by all that the quality and quantity of the agricultural produce of any country is an enormous influence affecting its prosperity as a whole, and notwithstanding that there is no cause which so materially lessens this supply as the ravages of noxious insects, yet we cannot find that the English Government has done anything to encourage or foster this or similar efforts,even though there are such vast interests at stake. It is, however, pleasing to find in the preface to the report under consideration, an account of an important experiment which has been tried at Aldersey Grammar School, situated in the heart of an agricultural district in the County of Cheshire, as to the possibility of teaching boys as much entomology as is needed for common farm use, without inter- fering with their other studies. This experiment has now been tried for three years, under the efficient direction of the Head Master, Mr. W. Bailey, with the co-operation of Miss Ormerod, and the results have been most satisfactory. The boys received a course of lessons on insect life, illustrated by living specimens and diagrams; they also collected and bred, so as to watch through their different stages the injurious insects of the neighborhood, and by this means soon became acquainted with the common types. ‘In fact, ¢#e great step was made; by the simple but sound method of teaching pursued, the boys had learnt to know the crop pests by sight, without doubt or mental worry, just as they knew ¢he crops that the insects infest.” J. FLETCHER. Montreal Horticultural Society, Ninth Annual Report, pp. 154, 8vo., Montreal, 1884. This pamphlet contains much interesting and valuable information for horticulturists. ‘‘ Notes on the Treés and Shrubs of Northern Japan,” by Prof. D. P. Penhallow, gives a list of the most useful trees of those islands and compares them with some of our own species, with a view to suggesting which might be successfully cultivated in Canada. A most important paper is contributed by Mr. Chas. Gibb on the Russian apples imported by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in 1870. Descriptions, and in many cases, good illustrations, are given of the best sorts of these valuable apples, and Mr. Gibb here supplies that authoritative information which is needed in reference to those Russian apples likely to prove suit- able to our climate. ‘The Cultivation of the Cabbage,” by Mr. R. Brodie, jr., gives the best varieties, and the best way to grow them on the Island of Montreal. In addition to these papers, there are reports from judges and from four local branches of the Society. sh heey ha a a + Oh Canadian Entomolonist. VOL. XVI. LONDON, ONT., SEPTEMBER, 1884. No. 9 SCOLYTUS RUGULOSUS IN BRANCHES OF PEAR TREES WHICH WERE KILLED BY PEAR-BLIGHT. BY DR. H. A. HAGEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. During the years 1882-4, large branches of young pear trees in Cam- bridge, Mass., were killed by pear-blight. The next year other branches were affected and killed, and finally the whole tree succumbed. Ail trees had been in good and healthy condition. The branches were more or less densely covered by a Coccid, determined by Prof. J. H. Comstock as Chionaspis furfurus (A. Fitch), described and figured in his Report for 1880, p. 315, pl. 17, f. 1. The Professor thinks it much more probable that the branches were killed by the Scolytid (directly to be mentioned) than by the Coccids, and I believe this opinion is justified by the fact that other pear trees and apple trees near by are also covered by the same Coccid and are nevertheless in a healthy condition: The branches were densely inhabited by a Scolytus, which Dr. G..H. Horn determined as Scolytus rugulosus Ratzeburg. I was able to com- pare the beetle with specimens from Germany, which proved to be identi- cal. ‘The species was first mentioned by Dr. J. L. LeConte as introduced from Europe into the U.S., Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc., vol. xvii., p. 626, No. 79. The specimens were received from Elmira, N. Y., attacking peach trees. His collection contains, besides those from Elmira, N. Y., several specimens from Hillsboro, Md. Prof. Chas. V. Riley informs me that he has ready for publication an extended article, with illustrations, upon S. ruguldosus, and drew my attention to his note in the N. Amer. Entom., 1880, vol. ili., p. 298. -The beetles were sent by Mr. J. L. Ben- net, Red Bank, N. J. They had for several years destroyed all cherry, peach and-plum trees set out on a particular lot at Fair Haven. They did not appear to injure seed fruit as yet, and are confined to a small section. They bore little holes in the trees, which holes fill with gum, and the tree soon dies. Mr. H. Boy’, Coopersburg, Pa., communicated that the same beetle had so profusely stung a, young cherry tree, trunk and branches, that it will not recover. Prof. Riley has received it from Hills- 162 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. boro, Md., and from Williamsport, Md., where it attacked the peach, and from the District of Columbia. As far as known to me, the N. American literature contains nothing more concerning this beetle. In Europe the beetle is first quoted by F. Sturm (Catalog. meiner Insecten Sammlung, 1826, p. 194), with the manuscript name, Scolytus haemorrhous Megerle. In V. Kollar (Naturgeschichte der schaedl. In- secten, 1837, p. 270, and English transl. p. 263) the co-editor, J. Schmid- berger, gives about the best account in existence of the beetle and its habits, with the same name, S. haemorrhous. ‘Professor Ratzeburg, 1837, Forstinsecten, vol. i., p. 187, and Ed. 11, 1839, p. 230, gives in a note a description with the name Lccoptogaster rugulosus Koch, and quotes as synonym, Scolytus haemorrhous Ulrich. A good figure of the beetle is given pl. x., f. 10, and of the craddle and galleries in the bark, pl. 17, f. 4. The name Ulrich is explained by Schmidberger’s statement that the beetle had been determined for him by Mr. Ulrich as S. haemorrhous Megerle, and the article begins with this full name of the beetle. The name Koch, used by Ratzeburg, is a manuscript name. Mr. Koch, probably a student of the Professor, has nothing published. Nevertheless the beetle has. been often quoted as S. rugulosus Koch, and only in later years as S. rugulosus Ratzeb. Ido not understand why Ratzeburg has not adopted Schmidberger’s name. That he has known this publication — (though of the same year) is proved by the quotation of Ulrich’s name. I am not able to see Schmidberger’s work (Beitraege zur Obstbaumzucht und zur Naturgeschichte der—schaedlichen Insecten, 1827 to 1836), which probably contains the same statements as in 1837. The description by Ratzeburg without the figures would not allow a surer determination than those of Schmidberger, who gives besides a full history of the life and habits of the beetle. During the following time the literature on S. rugu- Josus is large. I have compared Noerdlinger, Letzner, Chapnis, Eichoff, Chapmann, Schmidt-goebel, for the observations on its habits. It attacks the branches, and often mere twigs, of living trees belonging to the genera Pyrus and Prunus, in great numbers, so that the infested part of the tree must perish, because it cannot continue to grow with injured bark and strongly pierced sap-wood. It appears to multiply very fast, and a double brood is supposed to occur. A few females laid so many eggs that the larvee produced from them destroyed the bark of the stem, nearly a foot long. They cannot easily be eradicated, or at least diminished in num- bers, but by removing and burning the trees attacked by them, i ia a TEs see we’ ae THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 163 As I believe it to be unfair to anticipate knowingly a communication which is near its publication, I would only give a short notice.of some facts which may perhaps serve Prof. Riley in bringing to the front, at least for the cases observed by me, the connection of pear-blight with this beetle. The twigs were attacked about two feet above their origin out of the trunk, where they are about two inches thick, and higher up to half an inch thickness. The next year, if the dead branch is not removed, the beetle goes further down. The craddle is perpendicular in most cases, except where it begins just below the base of a bud, and is about an inch long. The galleries are to four inches long, and rather deeply injuring the sap-wood. The hole for the pupa goes deeply, to 4 millim., in the wood. I have observed the beetle only in pear trees, but I possess it from Europe on Prunus domestica. I know Mr. F. J. Burrill’s papers in Proc. A. Ass. 1880, p. 583, and Amer. Nat. 1881, vol. xv., p. 527. I failed in trying to repeat his obser- vations, what I consider of no importance against Mr. Burrill’s conclu- sions, aS just such observations need a trained skill not at my command. But I know that other scientists perfectly trained for such observations have also failed. As bacteria are everywhere to be found, we will have to wait for other reaffirming observations before we are able to accept Mr. Burrill’s views. I should add that I am acquainted with the older litera- ture on pear-blight, and with the different hypotheses about its causes. HISTORY OF THE PREPARATORY STAGES OF PHYCIODES PICTA, Epw. BY W. H. EDWARDS, COALBURGH, W. VA. EGG.-—Sub-conic, truncated, the top convex, the upper part from one fourth to one third the length marked by low vertical ribs, about 24 in number ; below these the surface is shallowly and irregularly indented ; top similarly indented, convex ; color when laid yellow green. Duration of this stage about five days. ~ YOUNG LARVA.—Length .o4 inch at 12 hours from egg, cylindri- cal, each segment a little rounded; color yellow-green; a few long black hairs spring from minute black tubercles ; these are in longitudinal rows, two being dorsal, and two sub-dorsal (one on either side) ; these rows run 164 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. from 5 to 13 inclusive, the dorsals placed on the front of each segment, the sub-dorsals on the posterior part, and all are turned forward exeepton — II, 12, 13; between these rows on either side from 4 to 12 is a veryshort — hair on the posterior end of each segment ; the number and arrangement of hairs on 2 to 4 is different from that of the succeeding segments ; 2 has a chitinous dorsal patch, long oval, on the front of which are six long — hairs bent over the head, and on the rear are four straight short hairs turned back ; below are four short hairs to foot, one above, one below spiracle in vertical line, and two near together before the spiracle ; 3, 4, 12 have each a straight cross line of long hairs, four on either side the dorsal line and down to middle of side, part of these being in the dorsal rows before spoken of ; below spiracles on 5 to 12 are two short hairs to each segment, the posterior one always a little higher than the other; and a row of short hairs along base, one to each segment from 2 to 13; head _ sub-globose, rather broader than high, slightly depressed at top, the vertices rounded ; color black, smooth; with a few short fine hairs. To first moult about five days. | ee After First Moult.—Length .13 inch at 12 hours from moult; color all dull yellow-green, with a brown band on upper part of side from 2 to 12; armed with longitudinal rows of spines, of which seven are large, one dorsal and three on either side, besides a row along base of much smaller -size—in all nine rows; these spines are concolored with the body, long, - slender, tapering, thickly beset with short hairs, the whole forming a dense — covering ; on 2 is a chitinous dorsal patch from which spring many black hairs, the front ones long and falling over the head ; under side, feet and legs yellow-green ; head obovoid, the top considerably depressed, the — vertices rounded; color black, smooth, with many black hairs. Duration of this stage three days. . After Second Moult.—Length .18 inch at 12 hours; color yellow- a green; a faint brown line runs with the dorsal, and another just inside each sub-dorsal row of spines ; a dark brown band on upper part of side é : j from 2 to 12, and on this the tubercles and spines are brown; all others — 4 greenish-yellow ; head as before. To next moult five and six days. After Third Moult.—Length .24 inch at 12 hours from moult ; scarcely: different from last stage described ; the brown lines on dorsum more dis- tinct ; the black band as before, as are all tubercles and spines. To next moult five days. : ere THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 165 After Fourth Moult.—Length .36 inch at 12 hours; color in June dark brown, dotted with sordid white on dorsum ; in October more white _ on dorsum than brown, the white sordid, the brown restricted to lines or " narrow stripes, one of which runs with the dorsal spines, and one just | inside the base of each upper lateral row; in both a whitish stripe runs _ with the upper laterals, and next under that is a broad dark brown band, in the summer larva, darker or more blackish than the dorsal color ; under this band, in June, is a broad brown space much dotted and mottled with whitish, and next a basal whitish stripe; in the October larva the lower part of side is sordid white, mottled with pale brown to the yellow-white basal stripe ; the June larva is more brown than white, the October larva 4 more white than brown. To next moult in June about nine days, in _ October thirteen days. _ After Fifth Moult—Length in July .42 inch at 12 hours ; as in pre- vious stage in same month, except that the side below the dark brown band is lighter, more white, less brown. MATURE LARVA.—Length .6 inch; cylindrical, even, armed with seven ,principal rows of short stout tapering spines, one dorsal, three | lateral ; the five uppermost rows thickly beset with short stiff brown hairs; the lower row with fewer, and these are yellowish ; besides these is a row of small, similar spines over feet and along base; in June the spines are light brown, or yellow-brown in the five uppermost rows, the others yellowish ; in October the spines of all the rows are yellow-green, from yellow bases ; color of dorsum in June brown dotted with whitish ; a narrow whitish stripe runs with the upper lateral spines; next under this and extending to the lower edge of middle lateral row is a dark brown band, a little dotted with whitish , from this to the whitish basal stripe the side is pale brown, dotted and mottled with whitish ; in October the dor- sum is yellow-white, with three pale brown stripes, one mid-dorsal, one just inside each upper lateral row of spines ; the band as in June, but -chocolate-brown ; the lower part of side nearly white, the two or three anterior segments mottled with pale brown; on 21s a black chitinous dorsal oval patch, from the front of which black hairs bend over top of head ; under side, in June, greenish-brown, in October, yellow-green ; feet and pro-legs concolored with under side; head cordate, the vertices rounded, shining dark brown; most examples have a yellowish bar on each vertex from back to front; in some this is partly or altogether want- 166 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ing ; surface much covered with long bent black hairs. From last moult 4 to pupation nine days. SS. CHRYSALIS.—Length .36 to.4 inch; shape of P. Zzaros; abdomen — swollen, anterior parts narrow ; head case transversely compressed, the ; top rounded, corners rounded, sides excavated ; mesonotum rounded, not — carinated, rather prominent, followed by a shallow depression ; the wing — cases slightly raised at margins ; color uniform yellow-brown ; or the wing — cases, head and mesonotum are yellow-brown, a dark brown patch on — either side of mesonotum toward the front; the abdomen mostly dark brown, mottled a little with yellow-brown ; two yellow-brown sub-dorsal 4 stripes from the length of the abdomen, and two others sub-vertical; no tubercles apparent; surface granulated. Duration of this stage about : seven days. 3 This pretty species flies in Colorado, abundantly in the southern pane : also in New Mexico and Arizona, and more or less in Nebraska. Mr. Nash obtained eggs by confining the female on Aster and also on Alfalfa. — They are laid in clusters, as with the other species of this genus. i received from Mr. Nash, at Pueblo, So, Colorado, two clusters of eggs, — 11th June, 1884. They began to hatch a few hours after arrival. — There were about 75 eggs, in some parts three deep. On 18th came another lot of larvee just hatched. I gave them leaves of various species - of Aster. In all respects their behavior was like that of Zaros, and they are as hardy and as easy to rear. The first chrysalis formed gth July,and the butterfly came from it r5th July. On 21st August I received from — Mr. Nash another lot of larvae just hatched. These passed first moult — 27th, the second 3oth, the third 4th Sept.; after this they eat little and I F supposed would hibernate ; but one passed 4th moult 27th Sept., and the rest passed same before 4th Oct. One passed the 5th moult 11th Oct. Up to this time the weather had been warm, but on 16th to 13th Oct. th nights were cold, nearly at frost, and the larve went into lethargy. These fall larve differ considerably in color from those of mid-summer, being lighter, less brown, as I have set forth in the description. On 6th June, © 1884, I received one larva from Mr. Nash, which must have hibernated. | It was .4 inch long, and past third moult. On 15th passed fourth moult, and 2sth passed fifth moult, but died without disclosure of imago. Ther would seem to be two annual broods of the species at Pueblo. Th female of Picta was described as Canace, Tr. A. E. Soc. 3, 206, from . ‘Arizona. The male described. was taken in Nebraska by the late Mr. — THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 167 —_—__ James Ridings in 1864 (Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil. 4, 201). The female is larger than the male and much more inscribed on under side. This species does not seem to be seasonably dimorphic, as are Camillus and Tharos, but the early and late examples are of the same pattern of marking. ON THE COURTSHIP OF THE SEXES IN GDIPODA CAROLINA. BY C. H. T. TOWNSEND, CONSTANTINE, MICH. For several seasons past, along in the latter part of summer (August and September) I have noticed certain peculiar actions on the part of the - large flying locust, @dipoda carolina Linn. I have always suspected that these actions have something to do with the union of the sexes. In the _ warm parts of the days at this time of the year individuals of this species _ may frequently be seen rising from the ground, and, hovering several feet in the air, rapidly vibrating their wings and making a peculiar flapping or beating sound, the while keeping nearly the same relative position in space. Although my notes on this subject are rather imperfect, I think they may be of use. I can not find that the subject has ever been touched upon before ; such may be the case, but I have not been able to discover record of it in any reports, periodicals or works on insects. Still these actions must have been noticed by observers, as they are of common - occurrence. | On the 14th of August last, in the afternoon, I saw one of this species fly up from the dry parched grass, and remain nearly stationary about two feet in the air for some time, by means of a rapid beating of the wings. Presently it flew back to the ground. Ina few minutes another one, which __ had witnessed the performance at a short distance, flew quickly over and _ alighted by the side of the performer. They ran by each other several _ times, occasionally touching each other, but did not make any further _ manifestations, and finally the last one flew away, leaving the other motion- less in the withered grass. Though it is probable that the females are attracted by these performances of the males, and that the males vie with each other in their exhibitions, still I think that the two just spoken of _ were both males and were disposed to fight from a feeling of rivalry, the _ One that flew off having been beaten, On the 24th of the month I noticed Ne ee ek 168 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. the same thing over again. An individual performed three times in su C sion, and then another alighted on the ground by its side ; they ran b each other several times, apparently clasping, probably in conflict, iy am quite sure they were both males. At last one of them flew away, and - the other soon after renewed the performing. I regret to say that I did not capture specimens to ascertain the sex ; but, judging from size, I do not think I have ever seen any but the males taking active part in these ~ aerial exhibitions. In going through with the performance they rise at first generally about three or four feet, making a light purring or beating sound, and then, rising higher, change the motion of the wings, when a curious, sharp, see-sawing sound is produced. Some rise even higher than six feet in the last act ; others rise only one or two feet. Of course some excel others in the beauty and ease with which they accomplish the feat many do not remain in just the same place while hovering, but vary, falling or jerking about while endeavoring to keep the same point*in the air. _ am of the opinion that the females are sensitive to the grace with which this is performed. ou THE CROTON BUG IN QUEBEC PROVINCE. BY REV. THOMAS W. FYLES, SOUTH QUEBEC. One morning last November I went to the Chaudiere Curve, to ‘meet the train from Halifax, which had been delayed for some hours. - I found two men in the waiting-room who had spent the night there. They com- plained that swarms of black beetles had troubled them all night so that they could not sleep. Upon my questioning the correctness of the state- ment, they said, ‘‘ Well, here they are in all the cracks,” and they forth- with commenced to poke the creatures out. The insects were numerous enough, but they were not beetles, nor were they black. They w specimens of the German Cockroach, Ectobia Germanica. I afterwa enquired of one of the railway employes as to the time of the first appe ance of the insects. The man told me that he first noticed them in 1882. I asked if they had appeared anywhere else in the neighborhood. “ Ye Ree he ahswered, ‘in my own house last winter ; but,” headded, “I amnot ~ there in the day time, so I left the windows open and froze them out.” The enquiry is interesting, How did £ctobia Germanica get to 4 Chaudiere? At that place, which is nine miles from Point Ley. ES epete orate Df tian) ah ae Pini oe ea Pee es RE ae Bala eer, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 169 luggage is transferred from the Grand Trunk to the Intercolonial, and vice versa; and the creatures might have been brought by American tourists from Boston (where it abounds), or by immigrants from Germany, or other parts of Europe. The latter supposition is the more likely, inasmuch as the immigrants far exceed the tourists in number, and also are of a differ- ent class—a class less likely to be careful as to their properties and equip- ments. No doubt the “bug” was carried to Boston by a ga It is not a “ Yankee invention.” MEETING OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCE- MENT OF SCIENCE. Pursuant to notice, the members of the Entomological Club of the A. A. A. S: met at 2.30 p. m., September 3, 1884, at the Hotel Lafayette, in Philadelphia. Present: Herbert Osborn, Ames, Iowa; Dr. John G. Morris, Baltimore; Dr. G. H. Horn, Dr. Henry McCook,. Eugene M. Aaron, E. T. Cresson, Philadelphia, Pa.; C. H. Fernald, Orono, Maine ; Rev. G. D. Hulst, John B. Smith, E. L. Graef, Brooklyn, N. Y.; C. V. Riley, B. P. Mann, Washington; J. H. Emerton, G. Dimmock, Cam- bridge, Mass. ; L. M. Underwood, Mr. Larkin, Syracuse, N. Y.; Dr. P. R. Hoy, hich, Wis.; Wm. Saunders, London, Ontario; J. ss Lintner, Albany, N. Y, ; Dr. Mabe Princeton ; Dr. Harte Merriam, Locust Grove, N. Y.; H. H. Lyman, G. J. Bowles, Montreal; Prof. Martin, Messrs. Moore, Hunt, Casey, Wenzell, and others. In the absence of the President, D. S. Kellicott, of Buffalo, N. Y., the Vice-President, Herbert Osborn, was called to the chair. A letter was read from Mr. Kellicott, regretting his inability to attend. The election of officers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows :— Pireteeie ts Os. Gs. vee i Pee ke Dron, G. Morris. Nite eteMGent, 2). 4. sida. 2 i Herbert: Osborn. OCLOUNNE Jae fit... es PE: John B. Smith. Dr. G. H. Horn made some remarks on the historic associations con- ~ nected with the spot where the present meeting was held. Many years ago when this site was far out of the City of Philadelphia, the Museum of 170 : THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Natural History was there erected, and in the corner occupied by Parlor — C of the hotel, stood the skeletons of a horse, ox or other large mammal. — Here Thomas Say, poor in pocket, though rich in brain, having no other — place to go, put up his bed under these skeletons, and that for many months was his only home ; there also he contracted the illness which eventually caused his death. The Secretary then read a short paper by D. S. Kellicott, as follows : A NOTE: OVIPOSITING APPARATUS OF NONAGRIA SUBCARNEA. At the Minneapolis meeting of this Club, I read a note on the life history of this species, the substance of which, together with a brief description of the moth, has since appeared in the American Naturalist. Since then I have ascertained how the eggs are placed and protected through the winter, and have examined somewhat the structure of the _ ege-placing apparatus. I have submitted an account of this moth to the Publication Committee of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, from which I am permitted to extract the following remarks. I enclose also a © tin-type of the drawings accompanying the paper mentioned, together with a fragment of a Zypha leaf with the edges rolled over rows of eggs. Figure 2 represents the ovipositing apparatus as seen from one side and below. Explanation is scarcely necessary. The last two abdominal joints are strangely modified, constituting a complex apparatus. ‘The last — joint is laterally broad, chitinous, except at base, terminating in two finger- like processes (c),; these are rounded at the apices and curved down- wards as represented in the drawing ; at 4 are two concave discs with a, deep groove (g) leading up to the anal orifice ; it is evidently along this channel that the eggs are passed by the ovipositor; on either side and below the groove there is a strong chitinous ridge with saw-like teeth pointed backward (¢). The other modified ring consists of a heavy hard band (a) with stout posterior processes for muscular attachment ; below are two stout chisels (2) pointing backward and overlapping the first basal teeth of the “saws” of the last ring. I have not succeeded in witnessing the act of oviposition. Numerous females were kept in an abandoned aquarium with Zyp/a leaves, and the same watched faithfully ; it was approached by day and by night, but all were concealed and quiet whenever observed. Day by day I could find additions to the stock of eggs, but the manner of performing the delicate operation of folding over and cementing down the leaf edge, forming a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 172. secure tube for the eggs, I was not permitted to see. The eggs laid in September remained unhatched in the tubes until spring. Fig. 3 of the tin-type represents the remarkable frontal “ spine ” of the moth, by means of which it rips open the pupa cell in the stem of the Typha and escapes. Fig. 4 represents the same of JV. typha, and fig. 5 that of JV. subfava. That of the last is hardly bilobed; under an inch objective, however, the apical notch appears. Only one examined. The tin-type showing the structural details was examined by the members. | _ Mr. J. B. Smith said that the clypeal modification referred to was not peculiar to this species, but was shared by all others of the same genus. Clypeal modifications were very common throughout the Noctuidz ; indeed almost universal in species living in the stems of plants where the insect had obstructions to overcome in emerging from the pupa. Mr. Smith exhibited six large photographic plates of Agrofis, illus- trating a large number of species, and made some remarks on the great structural variability of the group Agrofzs. Fully 26 groups based mostly on structural characters were indicated. Spinulation of tibiae, structure of front, vestiture, form of wings, antennal structure and general habitus, all are variable, and so gradual are the gradations that generic types can not be well founded on them. The plates were examined by the members, and it was agreed that they were fine specimens of the photo- grapher’s art as applied to this branch. Dr. Morris asked whether the tendency had not been of late to an unnecessary increase of genera in all orders, Mr. Smith said that as to the Noctuidz undoubtedly genera were based upon apparently insufficient characters, but less so than in Coleoptera. Dr. Horn said it was a principle long since laid down by Lacordaire that characters scarcely of specific value in one group formed excellent bases of even higher divisions in others ; in his view genera are established for convenience merely and have no existence in nature. Nature has only species, and genera were simply useful in dividing the mass of species to facilitate recognition. However, of late, as new material was becoming more scarce, persons seized with the mzfz itch were taking to describing genera ; for some 12,000 species of N. A. Coleoptera, fully 2,000 genera were described. Dr. McCook said that in ants and spiders there is plenty of oppor- tunity for persons afflicted with that itch, as there was a very large un- ‘ 172 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. worked field there, and plenty of new forms. About 200 species ie (American) are thus far described. Of spiders a somewhat larger number. — Mr. Emerton said there were some 4oo described species, and that naturalists generally had no idea what a very great variety of spiders really existed. . Mr. Mann read a letter from O. S. Westcott, of Maywood, Ill, sug- gesting the formation of a stock company for the purpose of publishing an American entomological journal, and after a lengthy discussion the question was referred to a special committee consisting of Messrs. Mann, Osborn, Horn, Aaron and Smith. Prof. Fernald presented an invitation from the Agassiz Association, received by him, inviting the members to be present at a lecture by Dr. McCook, in Franklin Institute this evening. This invitation was accepted by the Club. Prof. Fernald then asked for the opinions of the members on the sce points : — . Where a name has once been published by an author, shall we ance the mode of spelling to one more consistent with the derivation ? e. g., Treitschke, Schmet. viii., established the genus Cochyd/is. Shall we adopt his spelling, or the more correct Conchylis ? Dr. Horn said he would not change it; that generic names are mere aggregations of letters representing a living thing, arid that at least one well known entomologist habitually formed generic names by coining words without any meaning whatever, merely with a Grecian sound, and generally euphonious. If such names were accepted, so should misspelled names be. Some purists would make every name correspond with its origin, and it had been proposed to change the well known and universally accepted term, Lembidium, into Bembicidium, this was displaying learn- : : ing without adding to knowledge. Mr. Mann agreed with Dr. Horn. Dr. McCook thought a raaeitiet ‘ error might be corrected, but would not make the correction if thereby an author’s right of priority were destroyed, 1. e., if the name thus changed © : ; were pre-occupied at the time it was originally proposed. 2. When an author once publishes a name which is manifestly incor- — rect in orthography, and in a later work corrects his own error, shall we adopt his correction? e. g., Treitschke published the genus seit ani but later corrects it to Penthina. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 173 Dr. Horn thought that where the derivation of a name was stated, a manifest error might be corrected by the author, but it would depend somewhat upon how general the use of the name had become ; he was inclined to adhere to the name as originally written. Mr. Mann also thought it would depend upon how much the name had entered into use. If it had not become known or used as erroneously written, and the author’s correction was made in a reasonable time, it should be adopted. 3. Should the termination of the specific name be made to agree with the generic in gender? e. g., Zeller and some others write Zortrix virid- ana, Exartema permundanum, and Lophoderus ministranus. Shall this rule be adopted, or shall we adopt the ending ava irrespective of the gender of the genus ? Dr. Horn said that in Coleoptera the rule was that specific and generic names should agree in gender, and he thought the rule should be universal. Where, however, a termination had some special signification, where it indicated the group to which the species belonged, there, if it had come into general usage, he would favor uniform terminations. Mr. Mann did not believe in uniform terminations. : 4. When a Tortricid species is described with a name not ending in ana, should this be changed to ava? e. g., Carpocapsa pomonella Linn. Prof. Fernald himself was opposed to such a change. Dr. Morris sug- gested that Linne’s names be left as he made them. 5. To what extent should the law of priority be made use of ? Shall we make use of the’ oldest name, even if the species has been known under another for a long time? If not, for how long a time must a name universally or generally be in use to take precedence over an oldername? _ The sentiment of the meeting was strongly expressed that so much discussion without agreement had been hitherto had on that question, that no universally accepted conclusion could be reached. 6. What should be taken as the starting point in nomenclature? Some have taken the 12th Ed. of Linne’s Syst. Nat.,. while others have taken _ the roth Edition. Dr. McCook thought the rules heretofore adopted by the British _ Association covered that point in favor of the r2th Edition. . Prof. Fernald replied that many of the subscribers to that rule had now changed their opinions on that point, and had taken the roth Edition aS a Starting point. 174 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Mr. Smith said, the Noctuidz alone considered, it made no practica difference which edition was used, and so far as Tortricidae were con- cerned, he did not think that any practical difficulty would arise, whic - ever edition was used. : : Prof. Fernald expressed surprise that so much discussion should have arisen over Hiibner’s works, and that his names should have been so uni versally rejected, while Gueneé’s names in the /ndex methodicus, unac- companied by a word of description, were recognised and used without question. | Hiibner at least gave some sort of definition to his divisions 3 _ genera or coztz, so called. : Dr. Horn suggested that there might be some analogy to the cases of Erichson and Motschulsky ; both of these had created some genera, not, ; or incompletely described, but while Erichson’s genera had been uni- versally adopted, those of Motschulsky had been as universally discarded The reason was, Erichson’s genera usually meant something and had some solid foundation, and he himself had credited to Erichson some gener. first described by him (Dr. Horn) under the names proposed by Erichson. : Motschulsky’s genera, on the contrary, were based upon the flimsies characters as a rule, and had no value whatever. Mr. Smith said that as to the Noctuidz at least, the parallel would | hold. Hiibner’s genera were very largely devoid of all foundation, whil : Gueneé, as a rule, made pretty good genera and mostly described them Prof. Fernald thought this not true of the Tortricide ; that quite as” many names of Gueneé were baseless as of those proposed by Hiibner. Mr. J. H. Emerton announced that the types of a large number of the species described by him in his work on the “‘ New England Spiders fe) the Family Therididz,” and all the types of a paper now in press, we at the Academy of Natural Sciences, and he would be happy to exhil them to any who would make an appointment with him for that purpose. On motion, the meeting was adjourned until 2.30 p. m., Sept. 4th, t meet then at the Entomological Rooms in the Academy of Natural Scie ences, the use of this room having been offered by Messrs. Horn and Aaron on behalf of the A. E. S. Pursuant to adjournment, the Club met at the rooms of the Am. En Soc. at 2.30 p. m., Sept. 4th, Dr. Morris in the chair. The minutes of ‘the previous meeting were read and adopted. The committee appointed at the last meeting reported that they-did THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 175 —_— ~ not consider that the scheme proposed by Mr. Westcott for the publication of an entomologieal periodical, a practicable one for the Club to under- take. Mr. Smith gave an account of the secondary sexual characters of the - Noctuidee, illustrated by blackboard sketches, showing peculiarities of leg structure in the male butterflies and some analogous variations in the Deltoids, in which latter group the tibize often become aborted, while the _ first tarsal joint is often so abnormally developed that it is usually mistaken _ for the tibia. The peculiar brushes of the fore legs were noticed and some modifications commented on. The abnormal development of the last tarsal joint of Pa/this was illustrated, as was also the peculiar palpal structure of the ¢ of that genus ; so of antenne, the peculiar bends and tuftings of the ¢, especially of the group Herminiing, were noted, as were the more usual pectinations. In conclusion, Mr. Smith mentioned the varying practice of systematists as to what generic value these char- - acters should have. In some instances these male characters were wanting, while in all other respects the species agreed with others in which all these peculiar structures were well developed ; on the contrary, occa- _ sionally a species would be found which offered some peculiar character inthe { not usually found in its near allies, instancing H. paradoxus, in which the # has a pellucid impression in the fore wing, around which the _ venation is somewhat modified. What shall we do with such a species? The 2 well fits into Heliothis. Shall the ¢ then authorize a genus where the 2 offers no basis for it? Students of other groups should give their experiences. , Prof. Fernald said that in the Tortricids, generic, and even higher _ value, had been given to these characters. ‘The costal fold was a pro- -minent @ character, abnormally developed in many exotic forms. In a South India form it extends fully two-thirds across the wings, while in _ other Indian and Japanese species it is very wide, but not so abnormally developed. Families have been based upon these characters, and one genus has been based upon a character peculiar to the 2 only. This genus he thought would have to be abandoned. Dr. Horn said that in systematic work and in characterizing a species _ both sexes should be considered. It requires two individuals, a f anda _$, to make a single complete example of a species, and classification - “should consider these individuals together in assigning positions to them. 176 - THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Synoptic work has a higher purpose than a mere aid toa tecogmias of : species. a Prof. Fernald was interested in Dr. Horn’s view of the case; he had: “ been interested in the view that nature had no genera, but species only. For his part he thought he would be satisfied if he had a good definition — of a species. ie Dr. Maclosky said that birds sometimes offer remarkable differences in sex, and species can be distinguished only by a reference to both. The flickers, for instance, of the two sides of the continent were very distinct, but in some intermediate localities the species approached so closely that aa it was difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish the females, while the males were separable. There was no anatomical difference between the species, but he thought there must be physiological characters not yet discovered which separated them. Dr. Morris thought it a curious classification that would place male and female in different genera if separately considered. Mr. Osborn read a paper on Aallophaga and Pediculide of N. A., — illustrated by drawings of specimens and slides containing specimens mounted for microscopic examination. (This paper will appear separately. in the C. E.) Miss Cora H. Clarke exhibited a specimen of the work of some Caddis Fly larve (Hydropsyche), consisting of an aggregation of mud cells on a small stone, beyond which were the nets spread by the larve. They were always found in running water, and always had an opening ~ toward the current, probably to enable the larva to catch the food coming down the current. In reply to a question from Dr. Morris, Miss Clarke said the nets were often solitary, but not unfrequently aggregations were found. Another species, of /Vectrocnemia, builds a vertical tube of mud, — sometimes with a number of branches ; a specimen was exhibited. Dr. — Hagen thinks it an undescribed form. Reference was made to figures in — a paper entitled “‘ Description of two interesting houses made by Caddis — Fly Larvee, by Cora H. Clarke.” ‘The larvee living in running water were difficult to raise. Mr. Mann remarked that aprofos of raising larve living in running water, Prof. Barnard, of the Dept, of Agriculture, had contrived an — arrangement with which he had great success with larve of that kind. It _ consists of a glass tube, the bottom closed by a porous cloth, the other — ee! y az - iy a: 3) Ns zi 3 % THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 177 end fastened to a faucet ; the water could be thus kept steadily flowing with any desired rapidity. : Dr. Morris exhibited a gall recently collected, the inclosed larva not bred, and asked for information as to the probable producer. Mr. Mann said the subject of galls had puzzled him in his biblio- graphical work, especially as to the proper method of indexing them. He had referred to them under the head of systematic botany, but doubted his correctness. Dr. Morris asked what orders of insects contained gall producers. Mr. Osborn thought about all orders except Neuroptera and Orthoptera. Mr. Smith said that at least one American species of Afzon is known as a true gall producer, and in Europe several species are known to produce root galls. Mr. Osborn said that many plants, especially the Rosacea, were much subject to galls, while others were rarely if ever so infested. He thought them abnormal products so far as plants are concerned, and as rather belonging to insect economy since they are caused by insects ; not only that, but insects were often most readily distinguished by the form of the galls, and in the case of mites those of the maple and ash were much alike, but produced very easily distinguishable galls. Dr. Hoy thought the galls were pathological appearances, and were rather diseases of plants and should be classed as such. In descriptive botany they had no place, any more than in a description of the lips _ cancer should be treated of. ‘Mr. Mann stated he had also indexed them under pathological botany and under insects, but the chief difficulty had arisen through a descriptive paper treating galls from a botanical standpoint. Dr. Morris said that he had seldom seen such a dearth of larve of all kinds, and butterflies were exceedingly scarce. Mr. Saunders thought there had been no unusual want of insects in Canada. Zurnus has been common, and so was cardui,; the latter, indeed, had been extremely abundant in Manitoba, where it had destroyed large quantities of thistles, and caused great alarm on the part of farmers, who thought it would also attack their crops. TZhecla niphon, usually ‘rather a rare form, was found in some abundance this season, and in the early part of May quite a number of specimens were captured. _ Dr. Hoy said that as compared with previous seasons, cardui has appeared in immense numbers, fifty for one. It had never previously to his knowledge attacked the hollyhock or sunflower. ‘This season it has 178 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. “+ litterally stripped the leaves from these plants, preferring them = . to thistles. Other butterflies had been scarce. Prof. Osborn said in Iowa butterflies had been unusually common. Mr. Underwood said he had found butterflies unusually common in Central N. Y, ¢snus especially, but for five weeks spent in Conn. every- thing was scarce excepting cardut. Prof. Fernald said in the first part of the season insects were very rare. Butterflies alone appeared about as common as usual, ¢urmus unusually common ; carduz had been rare until this summer, when it was common. Last season Mrs. Fernald had collected both at sugar and at flowers cultivated because of their attraction to insects, and flowers had proved most productive ; this season the reverse has been the case. Mr. Mann, referring to a remark made that cold winters were favorable to insect life, said that seemed to be the generally wes Be theory now, and appeared borne out by facts. Mr. Aaron said that everywhere insects are reported as $ exceedingly scarce. His brother from Texas so writes; from Florida, Arizona and California come the same complaints. The remarks on the abundance of cardui reminded him of a saying of Mr. Ridings that he was always afraid of a season in which carduz was common, for then nothing else would be found. Mr. Smith said he believed cold winters favorable to insect life, but this year there was not only a cold winter, but there were several very severe frosts late in spring, one as late as June 14th-15th ; it was rather these late frosts that were to be blamed for the dearth of insect life. On Cape Cod insects were unusually rare ; in Vermont, where hundreds of © 4 good insects were last year taken at sugar, scarcely one fourth the number of common forms were this year found. Dr. Hoy said that in his vicinity, far north as it is, he has taken many insects usually considered southern—more than were taken on the east of — 4 the lake. There seems to be a northern extension of the thermal line on — a the west of the lakes. Last season he found four specimens of the black variety of ¢urnus; before only a single specimen had been found. _ Mr. Saunders had never known this black variety to occur in Canada. __ Dr. Merriam had found ¢wrnus in the central Adirondack region nearly as far north as Racine, three to four thousand feet above the sea, There were often hundreds at puddles, and among them many of this black .. variety. . : ae THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 179 Prof, Fernald reported the capture in Maine of a suffused form, par- tially yellow and part black. Dr. Hoy asked whether all the food plants of P. ajax were known. He has found perfectly fresh specimens, and no pawpaw within 200 miles of the place. The butterfly is often common, but he has never found the - food plant of the larva. Mr. Larkin had noticed at his station south of Syracuse that insects were unusually scarce. The potato beetle even was very rare—not found at all in some fields. He had noticed that when they have winters that - kill wheat, then usually the apple crop is good and there are few insects. Mr. Aaron said in reply to Dr. Hoy’s query, that a7ax would feed on either spice-wood or upland huckleberry, as well as pawpaw. Dr. Hoy said they had the huckleberry, not the spice-wood. Mr. Osborn said he had seen ajax in Iowa where they had neither pawpaw nor the huckleberry, and he thought no spice-wood. He also reported a statement from Sioux City that there, Chrysochus auratus was so common that they were crushed under foot on the streets. Was not this unusual ? Mr. Mann said in the woods he had seen them piled in great heaps upon the stones. (Zo be Continued. ) NEW CATALOGUE OF BUTTERFLIES. We are glad to learn that a new edition of the Catalogue of the Diurnal Lepidoptera of America north of Mexico, by Wm. H. Edwards, is now in press and will shortly be issued. Since the last edition was _ published in 1877, a large number of new species have been described, -and much information gained with regard to the geographical distribution of our butterflies. A work so much needed, prepared by so competent an authority, will be of great value to all who are interested in this depart- ment of Entomology. CORRESPONDENCE. Dear Sir: Mr. Lyman’s objection to my statement of the size of angulifera is quite correct. No one could tell by it whether it was one inch or five in expanse of wing, and is only excusable from the nature of the communication, which was not a description of the insect, but only 180 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. the announcement of its having been found in Canada. I had the pleas- ure of several calls from Mr. Angus whilst he was on a visit to relatives in this neighborhood the latter part of the summer. The June No. of the Enromotocist having just appeared, I gave it him to read. He said he had noticed in looking over my collection that the specimens of angudifera he had sent me were small in size and light in color ; that they were bred specimens, which would account for that fact, and that he had full-sized insects in his collection. So that I presume that in nature angu/ifera will correspond in size with promethea, which is itself a rather variable insect, I having specimens ranging from 234 inches to 4% in expanse; the Ridge- way specimen of angudlifera being 41%, whilst one of the N. Y. specimens is only 314. I may mention that Mr. Angus said the caterpillar fed on the White-wood. J. Atston Morrar. — Dear Sir: Uenclose a few lines from a letter received from Miss Annie M. Wittfeld, of Indian River, Fla., written 23rd Sept. last, showing one of the trials a lepidopterist is sometimes subject to. Coalburgh, W. Va., Oct. 1, 1884. W. H. Epwarps. “Yesterday about day-break the weather was clear; about twenty minutes later a small black cloud arose in the south-east, and came along very fast, although with us there was a dead calm. We took little notice of it, till all of a sudden a terrible flash of lightning came down, followed instantly by a fearful clap of thunder and a puff of wind that took every- thing with it. It all lasted but a second, and then the sky was clear and calm again. Shortly after I went to the glass where I had had six full grown caterpillars of Limenitis Zros feeding, and I found them all dead ~ and stiff. At the same time all my other larvae, which were in wooden . boxes, were unhurt.” OCCURRENCE OF THE BASKET-WORM IN ONTARIO, Dear Sir: Some time ago Mr. A. H. Kilman, of Ridgeway, Ontario, paid me a visit, and brought some of his moths with him which he had collected at Ridgeway. Among them was one which I have no doubt 2 was the imago of the basket-worm, Zhyridopteryx ephemeraformis Haw, It was injured, and I had no example at hand for comparison. Has any one reported it from Canada, or from any place in New York north | of Staten Island ? iit |e Ne rage Buffalo, fies The Canadian Entomolonist. » VOL. XVL LONDON, ONT., OCTOBER, 1884. Nav ss MEETING OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCE- MENT OF SCIENCE. (Continued from Page 179, Sept. No.) Mr. Saunders said Hyphantria textor had this season been found in great abundance on all kinds of trees. Van. progne had been sent from one locality in West Ontario, where it was so common on currants that. . fears had been entertained for the crop. No great damage had been done, a howevel® E Mr. Graef exhibited some species of Lepidoptera, rare, or typical of recently described forms. : On motion, the oe adjourned to Monday, Sept. 8, at 2.30 p. m., same place. Sept. 8th, 1884. Pursuant to adjournment, the Club met at 2.30 p- m., President Morris in the chair. -The minutes of the previous meet- ing were read, corrected and adopted. _ Prof. Martin exhibited some insects imbedded in copal, all representing types of post-tertiary forms, mostly small Hymenoptera and Diptera, but some Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hemiptera. The specimens were obtained by seekers of the resin of which copal varnish is made, not far from the sea coast, a little north and south of the equator. The same sort of gum is now found on growing trees, but soft, and not good for varnish, used only for the purposes of adulteration. The true gum in _ which these insects were found was obtained in districts where the trees had long been extinct, and was found only by digging. All the species were post-tertiary forms, and he had especially noted types of C/eri. _ The specimens, which were very clear, were handed to the members for examination. _ Dr. Horn said that the Coleoptera all represented existing generic types: 1 Carabid, allied to Ca//ida; 2 Chrysomelids, 2 Clerids, C/erus ocymatodera; 2 Longicorns allied to CZytus and Leptura, and an Elaterid much like one of our species of Cardigphorus. 182 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Mr. Smith said the Lepidoptera were all of very recent types ; one specimen was almost surely a MZamestva. The Hemiptera were also very like species known to him, and at least one Dipteson represented a very common Muscid type. Prof. Lintner gave some notes of observations made during the past year. Orgyta leucostigma, else very common and destructive at Albany, was this season very rare, and did no damage. Usually they defoliated the elms and horse. chestnuts, and sometimes when a heavy storm came on so- many were destroyed that they became offensive. This rarity is explained by a severe frost which occurred in spring just as the larvee were hatching. An interesting note came from Prof.. Cook, of Michigan, where thousands of .a Noctuid larva created fears forcrops. The larva was bred, — and proved to be Agrotis fennica, usually considered rather a rare insect. So common were they that they were called the black army worm. From Jamestown, N. Y., an Hemipterous insect, Podisus cynica, has been received, and it was there observed destroying.the currant worm in numbers. Its variety, P. bracteata Fitch., was associated with it. From the vicinity of Rochester Lygws Zincolaris has been recorded as — injurious to young peas, piercing and blotching them, a fact not eiborssc' noted. At Geneva, N. Y. | Poebornpals lineatus has ference 8 injured goose- ’ berry plants, stinging the branches at tip so that they died off two or ape inches downward. In Coleoptera, the Clover-leaf Beetle has spread westward, and has nearly reached the western limits of the State. Some three years since it : was recorded from Yates and adjoining counties, and since has spread rapidly ; moreover a new habit has been acquired, 2. ¢., it now has attacked beans. The insect is Phytonomus punctatus, an imported species. The Asparagus Beetle, Crioceris asparagt, has made its appearance at : Geneva, N.Y. Heretofore it has been confined pretty closely to the sea ae shore, and though known for many years on Long Island, it tas ans before manifested any tendency to spread. a From Sycamore, Oswego Co., an interesting attack of Otiov ayndias ligneus was reported ; there a house which for four years had been closed, — was opened and found swarming with these beetles ; they were every- — where, and in many rooms nearly a quart was swept up. What did they — feed on? There was nothing eatable in the house; they had been re- Foo Nl aeals as a ea aa Sa wt ac in te THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 183 corded as feeding on the roots of strawberries, but what they could find in the house puzzled him. The Elm-leaf Beetle, Galerucella xanthomelaena, has been very destructive in Long Island and in West Chester, many of the noble elms being so entirely stripped that their death is expected. Nothing entirely © new has presented itself during the year. : From Mexico had been received specimens of a seed, probably of a Euphorbia, known as the jumping seeds. The seeds apparently are formed in a pod, three in one inclosure. When placed on a hard surface they begin a series of the most erratic movements, tumbling from side to side, and sometimes making leaps of an inch or more. Inclosed in the seeds is a white, somewhat flattened larva, and the seed itself, a mere shell, is lined with reddish silk. Westwood has raised the larva to maturity » and found an insect very closely allied to Carpocapsa pomonella, which he called C. saltitans. At about the same time Mr. Lucas, in France, also received the insect, and not knowing of Westwood’s work, re-named the species. The entire life history of the species is not yet known ; it is supposed that the insect deposits its egg on the young seed, and the larva when very small makes its way into it. No trace of an opening was now visible. | Westwood and Lucas report the insect as obtained in February, but only a few days ago a specimen was caught flying in the room. The curious thing is the close resemblance to our C. pomonella, which has no such habits. Referring to Mr. Smith’s remarks on tuftings of the feet of Noctuide, C. sa/titans is peculiar in having the tarsi hidden oy long tufts of scales. Mr. Dimmock says that O. deucostigma has not been abundant near Boston, and that the spring frosts affected the eastern rather than the western portions of the State. Mr. Smith replied that on Cape Cod he had found the larvee so abund- ant that they stripped the trees everywhere, and there had been frost enough to kill a large quantity of vegetation. Dr. Horn said it is a remarkable fact that all of the Coleoptera men- tioned by Prof. Lintner are imported species, and for the most part they have kept pretty close to the sea shore. It is interesting that they have commenced their journey toward the interior; it was to be expected, however, that eventually they would travel along the lines of their food plant, as did the potato beetle from west to east. At Washington he had noticed the elm trees stripped of their leaves. Another species, Criocerts 184 3 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ere) 12-punctata, has of late been taken by Mr. Lugger around Baltimore. It is rather curious that the neighborhood of Baltimore and Alexandria, with comparatively a very limited commerce, should still have yielded a pro- portionately very large number of imported species. Two species of Bilaps have been introduced and first found near those cities, one mortisaga, and another not yet determined. Of &. mortisaga a friend said that a : bushel could be taken from a single cellar in Alexandria. Another very ; curious matter is the very sudden spread of insects. When working over the Rhyncophora some years since with Dr. LeConte, every collector was applied to for material, and from Mr. Fuller was obtained a little species, marked Montana, which was named Avamigces Fulleri, and was then the only known specimen. Suddenly, a year or two afterward, specimens were received for determination from all parts of the country, and every- where complaint was made of injury caused by the species, especially in hot houses. How happened it that for ages the beetle was unknown, an inhabitant of some remote locality, and suddenly it should — all over the States ? a Prof. Lintner said he had known the species since 1876; that year ie was abundant in green houses. | Mr. Dimmock had known the species for some years as very destruct- ive to roses in hot houses. . Dr. Horn said he first obtained the beetle in 1874, or perhaps alittle earlier. Mr. Hulst, referring to Prof. Lintner’s remarks on 0. leucostigma, hae noticed its comparative scarcity on Long Island. The elm beetle was common. Another pest not mentioned was a small insect apparently of the frog spittle nature on maple. Sometimes the trees were white with it, and many appeared dying ‘off. A species of Cirysopfs was also common, and seems to have been destroying the pest. t : Prof. Lintner had noticed the same insect ; it is a Coccid, Pulvinaria tnnumeravtlts. Prof. Osborn said it is very abundant on maple. It can be abated by cutting the infested branches before July. The young go first to the leaves. The female lives until spring, the male dies in the fall. No less than seven different species of insects prey upon this form. | * Mr, Saunders said the insect had appeared in Canada and Michigan in large numbers, the trees being sometimes completely covered.’ On some trees the larvee of Chzlacorus bivulnerus were found feeding on them ee ae os ee Re et Re ST é + Sard joi ie as me A a eS eRe oe ag, ee Se ee ia agi HE GANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 185 _ in such numbers that they had caused alarm ; persons finding them sup- posed that they were the parents of the pest. Mr. Underwood inquired whether this insect was not also found gen- erally on elm. Mr. Rathvon had published an article on the subject, and had referred to its feeding on elm as a rarity. It had been observed also on grape and Ampelopsis. Mr. Saunders had not observed it on elm in Canada. Dr. Horn made some observations on secondary sexual characters of Coleoptera. He had been interested in Mr. Smith’s studies on the external anatomy of Lepidoptera, and especially in the remarks on secondary sexual characters. Somewhat similar antennal structures were sometimes found in Coleoptera, but their uses in this order seemed better known. In Co//ofs was a structure closely resembling that of Renza. Here there was the. same excavated curved joint, at the base of which was an articulated slender spine-like appendage, and the upper part of the antenne was capable of being folded backward. ‘The use of this was in copulation ; the 2 antennz were grasped in this curve, the articulated spine closed the curve by being directed forward, while the anterior part of the antennz was folded backward, thus tightly holding the 9 antenne. The form in.JZe/oe is similar to that of Herminia, and without the articu- late spine still serves the same purpose. In Sphalera and Zomoxia there is a double jointed appendix to the last-joint of the maxillary palpi which probably served the same purpose. ‘These structures are explainable. Others are more obscure and not yet explained. For instance, Zedia has a notch on the inside, near the end of the middle tibia in the #. A species of Aphodius has a very curiously hooked first tarsal joint to the hind leg. Another species has a peculiar club-shaped appendage to the inner side of the fore tibiz. What use these served was not yet satisfac- torily ascertained. _ Mr. Cresson said that except in the parasitic forms, there were no such characters in the Hymenoptera, and that group he had not studied. Mr. Osborn stated that very interesting characters occurred in the Mallophagide, and especially one in Lipeuris, which much resembled that of Zomoxia. ; Mr. Smith moved the appointment of a committee of three to arrange a programme and secure papers for the next meeting ; seconded and car- ried. The committee appointed consisted of Mr. J. B. Smith, chairman ; 186 THE CANADIAN . ENTOMOLOGIST. retin rrtpn epee ~ a . —o a tae BF - é = rine nnn nt-+ poe hace and Messrs. Herbert Osborn and 8B. Pickman Mann. On motion the Club then adjourned, to meet again under the rules at the next lin = ms the A. A. AS. : (The above has been compiled chiefly from the excellent report of 6 | anak Mr. John B. Smith.—Ep. C. E.) | . ‘ COLEOPTERA IN SEPTEMBER ON BRIGANTINE BEACH, N. J.. ON THE ATLANTIC COAST. BY JOHN HAMILTON, ALLEGHENY, PA. cc ie Coleopterists accustomed to collect on the sea shore may find little that is new to them in this article ; but to those from the interior, making : only occasional short visits, it may be useful-in directing attention to some of the less common insects, and to some not likely to be found by one unacquainted with their habits. Brigantine Beach is somewhat insular, being six or seven miles off from the main land, yet none of the Coleoptera mentioned are peculiar to it, and, being mostly maritime species, probably occur in suitable situations all along the coast from New York southward indefinitely. This beach is nothing more than a succession of sandhills elevated _ from five to ten feet above the line of high tide, two or three hundred yards wide, fronting on the ocean and extending from inlet to inlet about six miles. Some of these hills are thinly overgrown with coarse grasses ; and others with thickets of J/yrica cerifera (Bay berry), interspersed — with Rosa lucida and clumps of Baccharis halimifolia, so conspicuous in x this month by its abundant, very long and white pappus. Back of these — hills to the Bay are the salt meadows, from five to seven hundred yards in. width ; they are overflowed by the high tides in spring and autumn, though several inches above the ordinary ones of winter and summer ; they are always damp, and support a growth of coarse grass, sedge, etc. At first sight this does not appear to be a very promising field for the Coleopterist, and yet the catalogue contains nearly three hundred species. | Panageus crucigerus Say annually rewards the careful searcher with a few specimens, occurring mostly on the little circular elevations on the meadows under pieces of wood and the debris left by the high tides. Phithydrus reflexipennis Zimm. is found in the shallow fresh water pools that are formed at the base of the sandhills, together with Aydro- THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 187 _ philus glaber, while P. ochraceus is abundant on the meadows under : boards and pieces of wood. _ Emplenota maritima Casey. ‘This minute insect has only recently received a name, generic and specific. It is found in moderate abund- ance on the coast under the debris cast up by the waves and left by some of the higher tides along the high-water line, after it has remained undis- turbed for three or four days. It is readily recognized by its great resem- blance to a small Aleochara ; length, .12 to .16 inch ; head deflexed; sides of abdomen strongly margined ; color piceous black ‘with the anterior border of the abdominal segments.pale. It is usually found in company with Cafius bistriatus and Phaleria testacea, without vigilance it will be overlooked. (See Number I., Contributions to the Descriptive and Sys- tematic Coleopterology of North America, by Thos. L. Casey, Lieut. of Eng’rs, U. S. A.) : -— Quedius brunnipennis Mann. is sparingly found under the debris left by the high tides along the margins of the meadows. Staphylinus pre- longus Mann. occurs in the same situations much more abundantly. 5S. vulpinus, S. tomentosus and Ocypus ater are found with it rarely, and more ‘properly belong to the main land. Cafius bistriatus Er. is met with as stated under £. maritima, and is rather abundant. The debris should be shaken over the white sand, on which the insects may readily be seen as they fall. It is easily known by its brown color and bistriate thorax. : Bledius mandibularis Lec. is* exceedingly abundant in the meadows on bare sandy places not often covered by the tide, but kept constantly _ damp by capillary attraction. One, as in the case of the writer, might , ‘pass over them for years unconscious of their presence till discovered by accident. They live in galleries at a depth of from six to ten inches beneath the surface, the entrance to which is surrounded by castings similar to those made by earth worms. ‘The upper portion of these open- ings is used by two or three species of small crustaceans for a retreat, and _ when the novice scoops over the wet sand, finding these and considering them the excavators, he goes no further, and the real architect several inches deeper escapes detection. The species is one of the finest of the genus. | | x Lledius cordatus Say, though existing in countless multitudes, is not _ often found, being small, and mostly inhabiting the grassy parts of the meadows, They occasionally fly at night in swarms, but whether this , 188 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. occurrence is periodically habitual, or accidental from some local cause, is” not known. I obtained nearly an ounce bottle full of them on the night of Sept. 28th, 1883, and could easily have procured half a pint. The e evening was warm and sultry, and exceptionally calm. When the central chandelier in the parlor of the hotel was lit, my attention was directed to a fall of smail insects from the lights to a marble-topped table beneath. I saw they were brachelytra, and in a couple of hours (the duration of the ce 3 flight) had taken from this table the: quantity stated. They invaded all the lower parts of the hotel where there were lights, occasioning no small annoyance. They proved to be of this species. No one connected with the hotel had ever noticed them before ; none occurred the next, or sub- sequent evenings. This year I left on the 26th without having observed a single one, though they were doubtlessly present in millions. Rhypobius marinus Lec. is met with abundantly on the elevated places: on the meadows under debris that lies on dryish sand. It is interesting chiefly on account of being so minute. The only other species of the - genus known to me is found here on leaves, generally hickory and walnut ; it is much larger and as yet undescribed. With marinus is found in great abundance Anthicus formicarius and Bembidium constrictum. Antsosticta seriata Mels. is usually taken about the remains of dead animals, but not plentifully. Whether it is carnivorous, or only resorts to such places for shelter, is not known, but I never found it elsewhere. The ornamentation of the elytra is a little variable. Normally there are three large common sutural spots connected by a line, and three marginal spots slightly connected on the margin, black ; these spots, however, may all be isolated ; or the marginal ones become confluent, and also unite with the posterior sutural spot which usually extends to the margins of the elytra. The amplification of Melsheimer’s description by Mr. Crotch in the Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., vol. 4, p. 369, is quite misleading. ; Dermestes Frischii Kugel occurs on the sandhills among the refuse of fish. This year only a few specimens were obtained on account of the food supply having been minimized. _ es Hister arcuatus Say. Specimens of this beautiful species are occasion- : ally taken on the sand, but I could never find its habitation. Monotoma producta Lec. occurs in the same situations as R. marinus, where it is difficult to see, as it feigns death, and then resembles fine par- ticles of the debris, A good way to obtain it is to examine the underside THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 189 of chips and pieces of wood, to which it often clings in considerable _ numbers, and where also will be found Mantura Floridana. Aphodius phalerioides Horn is rare, for during eight years only three specimens were found, and the circumstances of their occurrence were not noticed, as they were in the collecting bottle with the superabundant Phatleria testacea, from which they can only be separated by careful examination. Ataenius. An undescribed species is found on the meadows under moist decaying debris. This species is about the size of stercorator, and one of the finest of the genus. It may be known by its fine, narrow elytral strize, with small, close tranverse punctures; broad, flattish intervals, and deep piceous black color. Trox scabrosus Beauv. is rare, being met with in dry sand under desic- cated human excrement, or under boards in its vicinity ; and here it may be remarked that no Coleopterous insect in any stage seems, on this island, to inhabit the ejectamenta of herbivorous animals. 7: asper and T. suberosus may be found sparingly about the remains of dead animals, but such are rare. Ligyrus gibbosus DeGeer comes at night to light in vast numbers. In the office of the hotel in less than one hour, one evening, over a hundred specimens were taken. It seems to be distributed in the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Euphoria areata Fab. is likewise a widely actabaed species in the warmer arenaceous districts, but not recorded as occurring west of Texas. What its habits are in other places and at other times is unknown to me, but my experience with it is this: Sept. 9th, 1877, about ten o’clock in the forenoon, five specimens were taken flying about a small sand hill crowned with wild rose bushes ; next day about roo were taken from ten to twelve, and the succeeding day five or six at the same hours, but none on any subsequent day. The next year I reached there on the 15th, but saw none that season. The third year I came on the 5th, but none appeared till the roth, when about thirty were taken, and on the next twenty, but none thereafter. From that year till the present I was never there previous to the 12th of September, and no specimens occurred. The present year I came on the oth, and took two specimens at the usual hour on the r1th, but none thereafter. Back of this sand hill, in 1877, was about half an acre of cultivated ground, which was abandoned three years ago. I infer from all this that the insects I met with were bred in 190 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. that garden ; that they completed their transformations annually about the same day, and emerging from the earth about the same hour imme- diately resorted to the nearest sand hill to find a place suitable for social hybernation. a Galeruca maritima Lec. is more abundant on the meadows earlier i in” the season, though a number may still be found under any stick or board — that affords them shelter. Their color varies from pale to brownish black. Epitragus arundinis Lec. is found in warm days on the sand, or on the board walks, but not plentifully. hc yeet Anthicus pallens Lec. is rarely found. It occurs on the said hills ae ") cee Pees, © eis THE CANADIAN ENTOMOOGIST. , 9 and then to make the slightest and most trivial character serve as a basis for a new species, even when it is known that the character is elsewhere _in the genus a known variable one. In my Satyrus paper I termed “forms” what I here term “ races.” The latter is more expressive and more in accordance with the nomen- ‘clature in other departments of zoology. ‘ CONTRIBUTIONS TO. THE NORTH TRANS-CONTINENTAL | 3 SURVEY. BY LAWRENCE BRUNER, WEST POINT, NEBRASKA. ORTHOPTERA. Herewith is presented for publication a partial list of the Orthoptera collected by Dr. H. A. Hagen and Samuel Henshaw during the summer of 1882, along the line of the Northern Pacific Railway. | The collection, although not an extensive one, contains some new forms, as well as several _ interesting varieties of well known species. The collection is also of much interest in extending the range of quite a number of species heretofore - recorded as occurring only on the eastern slope of the continental divide, or at the extreme eastern edge of the great interior basin, to the western slope. | _ Taken as a whole, this collection of Orthoptera is very complete for - the regions in which it was made, and shows careful work both in its formation and preservation. Itis to be regretted, however, that so few _ specimens of some of the more interesting forms were taken, a feature : which, no doubt, might have been remedied to some extent had their value _ been known at the proper time. _ There still remain a few species which are to be more carefully studied _and compared before they can be properly placed. These, when I have _ the time to do so, will be worked up, and, in connection with the doubtful ones here enumerated, will form the subject for a future paper, when, it is hoped, I will be able to add such points as have been carelessly over- : looked here. 10 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ACRIDID#. Stenobothrus equa/is Scudd. Quite a large series of what appears to be this insect were taken July 16, at Yakima River. The specimens differ from eastern ones in several respects, but not enough to warrant describing them as new. The occiput is a trifle longer than usual, and the middle row of spots on the tegmina extends almost to the tip. There are males and females of both greenish and brownish-gray colors. _ Stenobothrus coloradus Thos. A few examples of the ordinary form on Yakima River, July 16. Stenobothrus curtipennis Scudd. This trim little species is represented by quite a large number of specimens, among which at least three well — marked varieties occur. They were taken at various points along the — Yakima River in July. 3 | : Stenobothrus sp.? A single specimen of a species resembling S. brunneus. and perhaps that species, but so badly damaged that it is difficult to place it with a certainty. Same locality as the preceding. _ Chioealtis abdominalis? Thos. The collection contains a single male which is doubtfully referred to this species. Locality not noted. Aulocara elliottii Thos. This species was numerous at Yakima and Ellensburg, as well as at many other points in eastern W. T. Among the specimens examined I find two well marked varieties which agree with Mr. Scudder’s description of 4. ceruleipes sufficiently close to be referred to that species, which is a synonym of Stauronotus elliottii Thos. Dissosteira carolina Linn. Three specimens of this wide-spread species were taken at Portland, Oregon. Circotettix undulatus Thos. ‘removed to its proper place when the section of the family to which it belongs has been properly worked up in this country. Pezotettix washingtonius, n. sp. Yellowish white beneath, ferruginous above. ‘Tegmina pointed, ncaa two-fifths as long as the abdomen. Head rather small, short; seen from the front somewhat aaa Vertex between the eyes a little wider (male), or, once again as wide (female) as the first antennal joint, much depressed ; deeply sulcate inthe male, scarcely so in the female ; sides nearly parallel, broadening slightly anteriorly ; front margin not closed. Frontal costa rather prominent, nearly equal, contracted a trifle at the fastigium, edges rounded, not sul- cate, rather coarsely punctured above the ocellus. Eyes large, rather prominent, rounded posteriorly, straight in front ; equaling in length the portion of the cheeks below them. Face slightly arcuate, somewhat oblique. Pronotum with the sides nearly equal (male), or broadening — slightly posteriorly (female) ; median carina distinct on the posterior lobe ~ and the front margin of the anterior lobe in the male, and on the posterior _ lobe only in the female; lateral carinz, or rather the lateral angles, mid- me dling sharp, nearly equal throughout, cut by the middle and last transverse incisions ; disk punctulate ; the three transverse sulci or incisions deep, — the middle and last passing the lateral angles to the sides, posterior one — about the middle. Sides of the pronotum somewhat gibbous, appearing — as if composed of three well-defined lobes or segments when observed — from above, most apparentin the male. Front margin nearly straight, very — slightly truncate ; posterior margin obtusely rounded. Meso- and meta- ai NO tie RRR eT ue Ot ae eS a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ee f femora about (female) or back of the middle of the body (male), and iving it a rather ‘“long-waisted” appearance. ‘Tegmina extending upon 1c second abdominal segment, ovate-lanceolate, meeting upon the dor- _ Abdomen carinated, rather slender ; the last ventral segment of the daale upturned, prow-shaped, with the point produced into a blunt pro- jection ; cerci rather long, the width about one third the length, directed a little backward and inward with the apex rounded and curving slightly forward; supra-anal plate triangular, the apex rounded and minutely ched, with a long, deep central foveola ; marginal apophyses of the ceding segment small, wart-like projections. Posterior femora inflated the base, rather smooth, extending beyond the apex of the abdomen. osternal spine large, conical, transverse, rather long, and directed back- ward. Antenne normal, a trifle longer than the head and pronotum com- pace _ The general color is testaceo-ferruginous above, yellowish beneath. Pace, occiput and disk of the pronotum flecked with numerous minute fuscous dots, which run together in some specimens and form rather large irregular blotches ; a broad piceous band extending from the posterior © edge of the eye along the upper margins of the lateral lobes of the pro- notum to the last transverse incision. Meso- and meta-pleura dark brown black with a stripe of the light color extending from the base of the mina to the insertion of the posterior femora. Tegmina dark brown ‘with a few irregular, fuliginous dots along the middle area ; nerves a little hter. Posterior femora testaceous, with the base and. two rather dim ds fuscous, these bands being plainest on the upperedge. There are Iso a few black dots along the lower edge of the disk and about the apex. Posterior tibiz bright red, with the knee and spines black. An- enn testaceous, becoming slightly infuscated apically. Length of body, male 18.5 m.m., female 22 m.m.; of antennz, male ind female 8 m.m.; of tegmina, male 5.5 m.m., female 6 m.m.; of hind femora, male to.5 m.m., female 12 m.m. i A large series at Loon Lake, Colville Valley, Washington Terr., July 5th. _ ~Pesotettix enigma Scudd. . Yakima River, July 16, and other localities EW. T. _ Bradynotes opimus Scudd. Ten specimens of this clumsy, wingless cust were taken on Yakima River opposite Ellensburg, July 8, 9. 16 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, Bradynotes montanus, n. sp. Small, comparatively slender, dark reddish brown, with livid yellow : and white markings ; tegmina sometimes obsolete, when present as in Pesotettix gracilis. Vertex between the eyes very broad, slightly deflected, scarcely aa ; cate, with a very faint though perceptible transverse depressed line j joining the upper extremities of the eyes, this line bending forward so as to form a gentle arc with the convexity to the front. Frontal costa moderate, nearly equal throughout, expanding a little at the ocellus, where it is very shallowly sulcate. Pronotum simple, expanding equally and rapidly pos- teriorly in the female, nearly equal in the male; front margin straight, posterior margin slightly but broadly truncate ; median carina of the pro- notum slight, visible throughout, on the anterior lobe as a mere smooth © line not elevated in the least, in some specimens represented by a very — faint depressed hair line, on the posterior lobe slightly elevated, the sides gently tapering ; lateral carinz obsolete, except in some specimens where . they are visible on the extreme front edge of the anterior lobe as blunt shoulders. Anterior lobe coarsely and somewhat distantly, and the pos- terior minutely and thickly punctate, rugulose. Abdomen carinate, taper- ing gently and evenly backward, Tegmina situated low on the sides, — small, straight, narrow, three times as long as broad, the apex rounded. Posterior femora short,.somewhat tumid, nearly (female), or just reaching — the tip of the abdomen (male). Last ventral segment of the male abdo- men upturned, prow-shaped, entire ; cerci elongate conical, with the tips : directed backward and gently downward, reaching a trifle beyond the tip — of the supra-anal plate. This latter very similar to that of B. obesus, but _ proportionally broader apically. Female cerci mere rudiments, while in — B. obesus and B. opimus they nearly equal those of the male. ae The general color is dark reddish brown with livid yellow and white ae markings above, flavous beneath. ‘ace griseous yellow, becoming darker _ above, the vertex and occiput brownish fuscous ; a very narrow but sharply ‘s defined yellow line commencing near the upper posterior angle of the eye, separating the occiput from the gene and extending backward on to : the pronotum, where the lateral carine would be if present ; in some s specimens a third line of a similar nature is present, beginning at the ver- — tex and extending backward along the middle of the occiput. Sides of : pronotum yellowish white, with a broad brownish piceous band extending * from near the middle of the anterior lobe obliquely upward to the posterior THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. | if transverse incision; posterior lobe with the dorsal surface much lighter colored than the anterior lobe. Abdomen with a bright yellowish white line following the dorsal carina its entire length, this line bordered below by a black line followed by a medium broad band of the general color - above; below this last band the sides of the abdomen are dull blackish or fuliginous. All these lateral lines and stripes fade away apically. Posterior femora brownish testaceous above, with the upper carinz and inner and outer upper half of the apex black; there are very faint traces of the usual dusky bands present on the upper surface. Tibiz yellow, spines black-tipped, tarsi yellowish with a lurid tinge. In the living insect the colors are much brighter and contrast very strongly. The yellowish hair lines and dorsal line of the abdomen are _ glossy white, while the front and lower surface. are of a bright lemon yel- low. The brown is a bright hazel. Length of body, male 17 m.m., female 22 m.m.; of pronotum, male 3.85 m.m., female 4 m.m.; of antennez, male 6 m.m., female 6.75 m.m.; of tegmina (when present), male 2.25 m.m., female 2 m.m.; of hind femora, male 8.5 m.m., female ro m.m. Habitat.—Colville, Loon Lake, Washington Terr., July 23-25 (Dr. H. A. Hagen) ; also near Helena, Montana, among the trailing junipers on - north mountain slopes at moderate elevations (L. Bruner). There were a few pairs in the present collection taken as cited above. _ Melanoplus atlanis Riley. The collection contains quite a number of _ Specimens that must be referred to this wide-spread and everywhere abund- ant species, although they vary considerably from typical specimens taken at the east. At various points in Washington Territory. Melanoplus cinereus Scudd. Lone Tree, Yakima River, July 18. . Melanoplus infantilis Scudd. The collection contains a single female of this small species, which was taken at some point in eastern W. T. Melanoplus curtus Scudd. A pair of shért-winged Melanopli which are referred to this species without hesitation. This species is very closely _ telated to AZ. rectus, an insect found in the mountains of New England. | Melanoplus femur-rubrum DeGeer. The collection contains but a single male specimen of this species, which comes near AZ. interior Scudd. Melanoplus minor Scudd. ‘There are two males of this well-marked _ Species, which has, at various times, been referred to Caloptenus ocet- _ @entalis Thomas, but which is quite distinct from that species. They were taken in eastern W. T. | ; : ar, i SS > ESO Agi eee aio Ree Fy Pe Cee as ESET PR oe NMR eine er 18 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. : ds 4 : F Na od Pre aie os Yael SE WR a % ss Melanoplus Packardii Scudd. There are quite a number of this species — in the collection, taken at Umatilla, Oreg., and also near Ellensburg. . These specimens are interesting since they all have the hind tibiz red instead of bluish, as in the typical specimens from Nebraska and neigh- boring States. ae Melanoplus extremus Walker (?). The collection also contains a few specimens of a MWelanoplus which is referred with some doubt to this species of Walker’s. The insect in question is somewhat closely related to M. atlanis Riley, but differs from this species in its larger size, more robust form, comparatively shorter tegmina and wings, the much longer and more upturned last ventral segment of the male abdomen, and in the - longer and broader cerci of the male. The general color is a dirty yellow- ish with markings of dull brown’ ahd black, arranged much as in JZ. atlanis. The female can be distinguished from that of a¢/anis in its more ‘robust form and the much heavier and more rounded prosternal spine. Hind tibize dull yellow, with a very faint brownish tinge in some specimens. — J There are also specimens of this insect in the collection of the U.S. National Museum from Ft. McLeod, British America, and Helena, Ft. Ellis and the Madison Valley, Montana, and also Salmon City, Idaho. Melanoplus femoratus Burm. specimens were taken and very w notes made. Diurnal Lepidoptera (with the single exception of 7. wdut, which had been rare for some years) were unusually scarce. Pieris rape is becoming less numerous every year, owing, probably, to its Many parasites. Moths were not so abundant as usual, and the only cap- re worthy of notice was the re-occurrence of A/etia xylina Say (the -cotton-worm moth), a single good fresh specimen of which was taken October 26th, in the woods, among leaves near’a butternut tree. There had been severe frost the night before, but the moth was quite lively when und. Looking through my note book, I find the following entries : garding this insect :-— “October 1st—15th, 1881. Found Adetia xylina Say quite common, especially in open barrels or heaps of decaying apples left in the orchard.” Sent os, 1882, Aletia xylina Say taken at decaying fruit,” “rising only when the larger insect takes to flight again. Is this for ae 30 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. * Oct, 12,2883; Ate xylina Say taken at cscay Re antigen tae a very common this year.” Sa The decaying apples mentioned were windfalls that had been penis c eaten by other insects before they were gathered, and ‘put into heaps or old barrels to be fed to cattle. When these apples had stood in the sin 8 _a few days, the smell of ripe fruit from them became quite strong, and at many moths, flies, etc., were attracted. It was here I found Aleta xylina most common, resting quietly on the bitten apples, and easily taken with ' the hand. They are nearly always in good condition, and although they — i: are not easily “rubbed” and have the power of long sustained flight, Ls find it hard to agree with Professor Riley’s opinion that they flyhereevery autumn from the Southern cotton fields. I sans we will 1S find there is 2 a Northern food plant. sites Dec. 30th, 1881. Found more dion one hundred pupe of Dede erechtea Hub. in a hollow piece of wood. They must have been collected and placed here by some small animal, possibly a wood-mouse. See Jan. 9, 1882. Found several examples of hybernating V. milberti under stones in a stone fence. I thought it worth noting that two or more> were almost always found under the same stone or near together, and a considerable distance might intervene between each lot of specimens. _ July 25, 1882. Several specimens of V. antiopa taken hovering over bushes of choke cherry (P. virginiana), the leaves of which were much infested with aphides. The butterfly would alight on the curled leaves 2 containing the aphides, and extending its tongue, insert it among them, and when engaged drinking the sweets furnished by the aphides, it could readily be taken with the hand. Limenitis arthemis and L. disippus were observed and taken similarly occupied. At a meeting of the Cambridge Ent. Club (Jan. 12th, 1883) I asked the members present if they had observed or known of such habits in these butterflies before, and received : a negative reply. Also notice that PAyciodes tharos and other small red butterflies sometimes persistently follow D. archippus and other large ; butterflies of the same color. They alight when the large butterfly does sake of protection from some enemy ? The following note was made at the Experiment Grounds of the ; “Rural New-Yorker,” River Edge, Bergen Co., N. J.: | : & “July 7, 1883. Found Pronuba yuccasella Riley in ‘flowe: “ Yud jilamentosa. They are quiet during the day time, but become active in THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ie 31 evening. Have not found them anywhere except in or upon flowers this plant. Also observed a Humble-bee succeed in entering two or ree of the flowers, and, clasping the stamens firmly with its legs, it ached the base of them with its tongue and usually went two or three around. It had much difficulty in getting into the flowers. No insects were observed aba them. Could this bee fertilize Yucca rs? une 25,1884. Found a young pear tree almost entirely defoliated ) larvee of Vanessa antiopa. I have never heard of the pear as a food ay Bad Aseed an ichneumon fly ( Ophion ) attempting to deposit in or upon a larva of Notodonta concinna. After finding the position ilar with its piercer, but for what purpose I could not make out. The oe was very much excited. For want of time I was alnere to cl nsiderable i injury. a 22, 1884. Found a, larva of 4S. drupiferarum which was infested i ‘ for two days, when I found it still living, but weak, and with circular rks on its back showing where the parasites hag made their exit. In BZ THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Sime DESCRIPTION OF LARVA OF AGROTIS DECLARATA, WLK. — ae if BY THE EDITOR. Agere k Several specimens of the larva of this insect were received on the 8th of July, 1884, from Mr. Acton Burrows, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, 3 Winnipeg, Manitoba. They were reported as seriously injuring Yesene ae and field crops in that Province. ; Length, one and one half to one and three quarter inches. Head medium in size, yellowish brown, with a polished surface, dotted and streaked with dark brown. Form nearly cylindrical, tapering a little towards the head. - 7 Body above dull grayish brown, in some specimens tinged ve red- ae dish ; skin semi-transparent, showing the movements of the internal — organs ; cervical shield on second segment similar in color to the head. A pale dorsal line, a subdorsal and a stigmatal line of the same color. — Below the stigmata and close to the under surface is a whitish band. On i each segment there are a few small shining black dots which are arranged in a single transverse row on third and fourth segments. On the segments behind these there are additional dots forming an imperfect second row, but less regular in their arrangement. On each side of the middle seg- ments, near the spiracles, there is a cluster of two or three of these black. dots. No hairs proceed from any of these dots, but there are a few very — minute short hairs scattered over the surface of the body, ne visible a without a magnifying lens. Spiracles oval, black. en Under surface paler and greenish, with whitish streaks, semi-trans- parent. FO ie One specimen eed itself ends the earth soon after they 9 were received ; shortly it became a chrysalis, and produced the imago August — 23rd. All the others died before completing their transformations. The moth was kindly determined by Mr. John B. Smith, of Brooklyn, N. ne : EUMACARIA BRUNNEARIA, PaAckarp. BY D. Ss. RELLICOTT, BUFFALO, N, Y. I have recently obtained this elegant Phalenid from its ira: hie feeds on the wild red cherry (Prunus Pennsylvanica). July 8, several nearly mature caterpillars were discovered on the twigs of their food THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 33 Fat They were an inch in length ; color dull red, closely simulating ‘the bark of the branches; and to more effectually conceal themselves by mimicry, they hold on, when at rest, by their pro-legs only, the body ‘standing out like a short branch, or they hold to a leaf by their fore legs, ‘making their bodies appear like a petiole. - The hemispherical head is red, with the edges along the fork of the epicranial suture white ; the usual body stripes are represented by very faint, white lines ; there are also faint whitish spots on the sides of the body. The spiracles are nearly round, situated on small black tubercles. __ The pupz formed under the leaves in the feeding cage, without cocoon. ‘They were rather stout, front rounded and smooth ; the last segment ends in a rather long spine with terminal hooklets. The surface of the abdom- inal rings with small alveoli. Pupa, July 12; moth, July 25. A NEW PAMPHILA. BY G. H. FRENCH, CARBONDALE, ILL. Pamphila myus, 0 sp. _ Male.—Expanse .95 of an inch. Upper surface dark olivaceous brown, with a slight vinous reflection, about the same shade as cernes, which it much resembles. The primaries have the discal cell and the area ‘in front of the cell like cernes, heavily washed with yellow of a little darker shade than that species, the same color extending beyond the cell along the costal area three fourths the distance from the base to the outer mar- ‘gin (as the wings are spread); below the cell the same shade of yellow extends along the median vein the same distance, the area below this to the margin rather heavily sprinkled with yellow scales, except the space beyond the lower half of the stigma. This varies but little from the yel- low of cernes. In cernes there is a quadrate sinus of the terminal dark brown of the wing dipping into the yellow beyond the cell, coming up to the cross vein. In this species the sinus is of the same width, but extends inward above the median vein, ending in a point half way to the base of the wing. The stigma is black, narrow, oblique, entire, though constricted below the middle, shorter than in cernes, does not reach the submedian below, and the upper end only reaches the second branch of the median, while in cermes it passes beyond this veinule, the lower third bent a little 34 : _ THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. towards the base, in width not more than half as wide as in cernes ; bel the stigma an oblong patch of blackish scales that are bronzy in ce ain lights. Secondaries sprinkled with yellow scales, the inner half with y el- lowish hairs that are less olivaceous than in cernes. . -One specimen has on the primaries, marking what is above deere as the outer boundary of the yellow, five small yellow spots that are paler ‘than the yellow along the costa, three in a line back from the costa | two in the median interspaces ; and the yellow washing does not quite reach to these spots, there being less yellow also at the base ; varying n - amount of yellow, as is sometimes seen in different specimens of cernes. Under side of primaries much as above, the yellow orange-tinted, the _ row of slightly paler spots at the end of the yellow showing more tinctly than above, the apical half of terminal space sprinkled with ’ low, the posterior half of wing blackish, the sinus beyond the cell hea y sprinkled over. Secondaries dark brown with the vinous reflection, sprinkled with pale yellow scales, a narrow discal band of small conflue whitish spots marking the outer third, much as in the species of Amb, scirtes, not very distinct. Female.—This lacks the stigma of the male, is marked above much as the female of cernes, but is a darker and brighter yellow, the whole area in front of the cell and to the ante-apical spots nearly clear yellow, the rest of the basal twe thirds sprinkled with yellow much as in the male. On the under side the obscure band on the secondaries is a little mo! distinct than in the male. Body concolorous with the wings above, the thorax with see ous hairs, the abdomen sprinkled with yellow ; beneath yellowish white, about the shade of cernes. Boe. Described from fonr males and one female taken by H. K. Mor ‘in Florida. NOTES ON APATELODES ANGELICA, Grorz, BY J. ALSTON MOFFAT, HAMILTON, ONT. Being on a visit to Ridgeway in July, 1882, when out one with Mr. Kilman on a hunt, as I beat a high branch for bee large moth new to me dropped into my umbrella. Having secure my poison bottle and remarked that I must now find its mate, ee THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, : oD stroke, and sure enough, I got it. I took a third at that time sitting on the trunk of a tree, which I left with Mr. Kilman. The. following season he took one or two, and last spring he found some chrysalids under moss, from which he raised a pair. On visiting Prof. Kellicott, of Buffalo, Mr. Kilman left with him an example, that he might obtain its name. Mr. Kilman now writes to me that Prof. Kellicott has identified it as the Apatelodes angelica of Grote’s Check List, with hyalimopunctata Pack. as a synonym, which latter name would have been more appropriate. Prof. Kellicott conveys the information that it is described and figured in the Pi IC. of the Ent. Soc. of Phil. iii., 322, plate iv., fig. 1. It is quite a fine th. Of my pair the female measures 17 ‘iched | in expanse at the apex, 2% at the sub-apical angle; the sub-apical is excavate. Edges of wings toothed, color of front wings lavender, with two light brown bands across them, the outer one continued on the hind wing ; outside the latter are a row of brown dots on the nervules of the front wings. Near the apex are two transparent spots square in form, the one nearest the costa _ more than double the size of the one behind it. Color of hind wings _ light brownish-gray, with a heavy marginal band approaching the color of the front wing ; an elevated longitudinal brown stripe in the middle of the thorax. ‘ The male is but 134 the apex, and 11%. at the apical angle, in expanse of wing; it is the same in color as the tes but less distinct in its markings. _ The attitude of the one I found sitting on the trunk of the tree re- ‘minded me very much of Paonias excecatus when at rest. It stood high ‘upon its legs, with its wings slightly spread and its-abdomen elevated if above their level. _ Ishould mention that Mr. Johnston, of Hamilton, took a specimen in the season of 1881. - HIBERNATION OF COLEOPTERA. BY JOHN HAMILTON, M. D., ALLEGHENY, PA. _ The condition in which Coleoptera pass the winter is a subject on which there are in American literature but few recorded observations. That no. hae hibernates in the egg stage is highly probable, though in all the 36 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. others it occurs—some wintering in the perfect state alone, some in ‘the a larva and the imago condition, and others as larva and pupa. Ae a Many of the species appear to make some preparation, retiring to % situations that will more or less protect them from intense.cold ; others — seem to have power to survive without any practical protection, as Linus ny concavus and Megilla maculata, to be mentioned further on. The majority are apparently subject to conditions that correspond to » what is observed in warm blooded animals in a state of complete tor- — ' pidity, namely : the absence of all detectable respiration ; a temperature - equal to that of the surrounding atmosphere till near the freezing point, — and the power to survive a long entire deprivation of air, and even sub- mersion in carbonic acid gas. There is no well substantiated case, that I — have seen, of any of the above class reviving after a few hours submerg- ence in water, except in that of certain swallows washed from their winte quarters in the low banks of streams by freshets ; and while some of these appear to have resumed the functions of life partially, none have been resuscitated completely. i Many, if not all Coleoptera in the hiemal state in whatever states . possess this latter power in an eminent degree, as is very evident fron observations on the effects of winter inundations, as in the instance f lowing. In February, 1884, a section of bottom land over one mile in length and one quarter in width, was entirely overflowed by the Allegheny to an average depth of five feet, and remained totally submerged — seven days. This is famous ground for Cicindelidz and Carabide. ' sands of C. repanda are on the shore from April till November. Car vinetus, Platynus melanarius, picipennis, extensicollis and anchomenoides Pterostichus lucublandus, Sayi and luctuosus ; Be i discon Baltimorensis, &c., &c., abound. Pees week longer; and yet, when the warm days of April came, her Ww C. repanda as numerous as ever ; later appeared the various sp Carabidee, many with the elytra encrusted with mud ; and all k was in no wise affected; nor was Saperda concolor. whi ch inha canes of a dwarf willow, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 37 _ In the active state the species mentioned are readily drowned. In ‘some experiments made to determine this point I found that few survived submersion in water for half an hour, and none for over an hour. _ The degree of cold that can be endured without death is probably variable according to the species, the more tender retiring on the approach of cold weather deep into the earth, or into substances that are poor con- ductors of heat, as*leaves; moss and decaying wood. Others that can sustain low temperatures without injury seem rather indifferent about the ‘matter, crawling under any covering that happens to be convenient. : _ Some of the European entomologists by experiments seem to have satisfied themselves that the larvee of some Lepidoptera may be congealed into masses of ice and fractured as readily as glass, and yet revive and regain their full activity. Though hard to believe, the statement is as worthy of credence as any that depends on human testimony. However, all the observations I have made on Coleoptera and their larvze go to show the contrary, having never succeeded in reviving any in which there was _ absolute certainty of the tissues being frozen. The larve of Urographis fasciatus and Dendroides Canadensis, which live within or just beneath the bark of fallen timber, were examined recently with reference to determining this question. They were found in their shallow excavations, the most of them surrounded by glittering cry- stals of ice. Nearly all were flexible and the tissues unfrozen, and mostly revived. A few were frozen solid and broke readily, none of these giving evidence of life. _ A large number of the larvee of Dectes puns inhabiting the stems of Ambrosia artemisifolia (rag-weed) at or just below the surface of the ground, were taken out of their quarters. In many instances the stems had been filled with water and the larve were enclosed in cylinders of ice. The greater number were flexible and mostly regained activity on a rise of temperature ; such, however, as were evidently congealed could not be resuscitated. In the torpid ENedibon some species of Coleoptera certainly have the power of sustaining vitality while exposed for a long time to a temperature below, or but little above the o of Fahr. The first week of this month (F ebruary) I found a large collection of Alegi//a macudata in a field, near tree ; they had congregated on the ground under and around a small piece of shingle that did not cover the half of them, and were massed t ether on top of one another to a considerable depth—all apparently 38 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, dead. Several were examined when found, and about one third of these proved to be entirely congealed, the remainder being flexible and showing signs of life when enclosed in the hand for a short time. The temperature to which these had been exposed was several degrees below zero, and for a couple of weeks scarcely ever more than 16 degrees above. Such collec- tions of this species are not uncommon. “I gathered up the full of a half ounce collecting bottle, leaving fully as many behind.» In the warmth of my Office, in a couple of days, about one half of those collected became active, though none that I regarded as frozen ever gave evidence of the slightest vitality. : During the very cold weather of last winter I found five specimens of Lixus concavus embedded near one another in ice in a patch of Rumex on low ground. A couple taken out without thawing appeared to be dead ; sections were made in these in different directions with a sharp knife with- out detecting any frozen tissue, or any frost in the cavities of the bodies. The others were allowed to thaw out gradually and then they were dis- covered to be alive. Their after history is somewhat curious. The tenacity of life possessed by this species has often been the sub- ject of remark, and appears, from the following, to be greatly intensified by the mysterious changes that accompany the condition of torpidity. These three were thrown into strong alcohol, and on the third day were taken out and pinned, the time they were in it being over sixty hours. Five days afterwards they were observed to be alive and wriggling, their limbs quite lively ; then they were pinned to the inner end of the cork stopper of a bottle containing cyanide of potassium, and when examined — four days afterwards appeared to be as lively as when first pinned. How long afterwards they lived is unknown, as a long interval occurred before the next observation, and then they were truly dead. By the foregoing it must not be inferred that I maintain the freezing of the tissues of torpid Coleoptera to be incompatible with the resumption of the functions of life—an opinion that would be, to say the least, pre- sumptuous in the face of the many opposite experiments and observations by distinguished men. The subject is one full of mystery and deserves the most careful attention. ; THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 39 CORRESPONDENCE. XYLORYCTES SATYRUS AND STRATEGUS ANTAEUS. Dear Sir: It must be assumed that Dr. H. A. Hagen was caught napping when he penned the note published in the Can. Entom., Dec., 1884, vol. xvi, p. 239-240, for otherwise, with his predilection for the “literature” of entomology, he would not have failed to note that the capture of Xvloryctes satyrus north of Pennsylvania had been several times recorded. Presumably the reference to that species in the Am. Entom., Nov., 1868, vol. 1, p. 60, was to specimens taken on Long Island, N. Y. This species is included in Mr. J. Pettit’s “‘ List of Col- eoptera taken at Grimsby, Ont.,” (Can. Entom., April, 1870, vol. ii., p. 86), and in Mr. W. H. Harrington’s “ List of Ottawa Coleoptera,” (Trans. Ottawa Field Nat. Club, 1883-4, vol. i., No. 1, p. 80), and further, Mr. John Hamilton (Can. ENToM., June, 1884, vol. xvi., p. 107), writes of this species: ‘This large beetle is widely distributed, being found in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas to Canada, and southward, and probably occurring wherever the ash and liquidambar grow.” My mention, in 1884, of X. satyrus and Strategus antaeus, in the chapter “Coleoptera,” of vol. ii, of Cassino’s Standard Natural History, might readily be overlooked, since that work is of a somewhat popular nature, I there wrote, p. 370, “S. antaeus . . . . is found near the Atlantic coast of the United States as far north as Massachusetts. . . . . xX satyrus is found in the same regions as is Strategus antaeus.” These state- ments were based upon specimens in my own small collection, which includes ten specimens of X. satyrus, from localities. north of Penn- ‘sylvania. These localities are Cambridge, Springfield and Amherst, Mass.; Suffield, Conn.; and Montauk Point (the extreme eastern end of Long Island), N. Y._ I have seen specimens of this species in abundance on the sidewalks of Sag Harbor, eastern Long Island, and will take care that even a Cambridge representative of the species is deposited in the entomological collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, of which Dr. Hagen takes such excellent care. Of Strategus antaeus, my - collection has only a small series, as follows: Several specimens from Springfield, Mass., one from Michigan, and one from Cumberland Gap, Kentucky. GEORGE DIMMOCK. Cambridge, Mass., 16 Feb., 1885. 40 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Dear Str: I was particularly interested by Dr. Horn’s remarks. y1 labyrinthica or puirsa in his notes on Chrysomela in a recent number the Can. Ent. When on the 23rd of May, 1881, I captured my fi S specimen on the wing, I regarded it with great satisfaction. The pure white of a fresh specimen contrasted with the glossy greenish black of its peculiar markings, makes it an exceedingly attractive object to the eye when first seen. I secured thirteen that season. Being eager to ‘obtain: its name, I sent specimens where I thought it likely to be got; they in’ turn applied to others, and then informed me, to. my no small disappoint- ment, that it was mu/tiguttis. We find it restricted here exclusively to one locality, and that not extensive. In 1882 I searched carefully’ for it, and secured nineteen. On one occasion I found one paired with e scalaris, but scalaris is rarely met with there. In 1883 I took over eighty puirsa without any special effort, and did not see half a dozen ‘scalaris that season in that locality. My first capture of pnirsa in 1883 1 Is dated r2th June; on the-16th I took nineteen, on the 21st, twenty-one. — last noted is the 9th July, but they were seen after that. Being from oti during their season in 1884, I saw nothing of them, but was informed they were quite scarce. I have inferred that it cannot be a very abundant form from the fact that when it was sent to collectors in Buffalo and New York who have extensive collections and much experience in exchange, it was. unknown to them. I find it very liable to discolor when drying, the white becoming rusty, which detracts much from the beauty of its appearan: J. Atsron Morrat, anise big : Dear Sir: In reply to the question of Dr. Hawes (CAN, Ean Pp. 239-240) concerning the distribution of Xyloryctes satyrus, it may of interest to note that the species has been recorded from various - pa of Canada by Bell, D’Urban, Hamilton, Harrington, Pettit, Reed, Ritck and Saunders ; from Mass. by Harris (specimens from Martha’s Vine and New York are in his collection); from Long Island, N. Y. Illinois, by Walsh ; near Buffalo, N. Y. (Lesch & Reinecke) ; ‘near cinnati, Ohio en Lower Michigan a Ghee & pear ; Da (Ulke). I have sbllisnted it in Wicdar Mabtankuactis and Rhoc le and have specimens from Pa., Md., Wisc. and Mich. Che Canadian GEntomolorist. VOL. XVII. LONDON, ONT., MARCH, 188s. No. 3 “PREPARATORY STAGES OF ICTHYURA PALLA, FRrencu, WITH NOTES ON THE SPECIES. BY G. H. FRENCH, CARBONDALE, ILL. _ Ecc.—Globular, a little flattened at base, smooth; color orange yel- low. Duration of this period, 24 days. ee Young Larva.—Length .o8 of an inch. Color pale brownish green. i Head and a small cervical shield jet black. Each segment has about six ‘blackish tubercles from which arise rather long gray hairs, the dorsal tubercles on segments 5 and 12 a little more prominent than the others. Duration of this period, 3 days. After First Moult.—Length .14 of an inch. Color pale: yellowish green. Head black, as also a plate and a small spot on the top of the second segment. To each segment six purplish black slightly tubercular spots ; those on the dorsum faint except those on 5 and 12, which are prominent, each pair confluent ; a few hairs from each spot. Thoracic feet black. Duration of this period, 4 days. _ After Second Moult.—Length .25 of aninch. Color green, with a yellowish tint ; head and thoracic feet jet black, the spot on the middle of the second segment and the plate black, but slightly purple tinted ; the _ rest of the markings dark reddish purple. These consist of a dorsal line, _ with a very faint line each side ; a more prominent subdorsal line, with a _ line each side composed of elongate spots, the breaks being at the ends _ of the segments, each spot a little broader in the middle than at the ends. _ The upper of these bordering line of spots contains the posterior dorsal - piliferous spots, the anterior of each joint being in the line bordering the dorsal line. The line below the subdorsal contains the row of supra- _ stigmatal piliferous spots. There is a faint stigmatal line with some mot- _ tlings below. Segments s and 12 slightly elevated, the anterior pair of me spots closer together and colored ; a spot on each abdominal leg. Dur- ation of this period, 4 days. hae After Third Moult.—Length .40 of an inch. The stripes remain the | -Same as during the preceding period. The ground color of the dorsum 42 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. is bright yellow, reaching to the line containing the outer row of dorsal — piliferous spots; below this line. to the line below the subdorsal, pale . | whitish ; below this the color is yellow. Duration of this period, 4 days. — Oe After Fourth Moult—Length .55 of an inch. The plan of colorand markings unchanged save that the subdorsal color is grayish white, the 3 elevations on joints 5 and 12 more prominent, and in same the dorsal - yellow brighter. cans After Fifth Moult.—Length 1 inch. Similar to the preceding stage, but varying a little in color. Dorsum clear yellow with three dark reddish purple stripes ; below this grayish yellow, the two broadest of the three — lines mottled, the upper one the most ; below this, including the stigmatal line and the substigmatal space, reddish yellow ; the stigmatal line red, much broken ; venter concolorous with the substigmatal space. Thoracic feet, head and two spots on the neck jet black ; joints 5 and 12 have each a two prominent velvety black papille ; a white hair from each piliferous” spot, and in addition to this a fine short white pubescence covers the whole body, but not so thickly as to obscure the color. Mature Larva.—Length from 1.10 to 1.20 inches ; width of head .15 of an inch, of body.z0. Dorsum lemon yellow with three purplish black _ stripes arranged as in preceding stages, Just above the stigmataisa — narrow yellow line ; between this and’the yellow of the dorsum the ground : color is gray, in some examples tinged with yellow on segments 2 to 5, in : others it is a paler yellow ; in the centre of this space is a purplish black — line, and on both borders or edges of the space is a mottled stripe of the ‘same hue. The stigmatal, substigmatal and ventral spaces, with the pro- — legs, somewhat carneous, the slight fleshy ridge below the stigmata being most so. In the upper part of the stigmatal space is a mottled line, the stigmata black. . Head, thoracic feet and spots as at the first of the period. In some examples the stripes are more of a dark purplish red than black. Duration of this period from 4 to 7 days. i 7 Chrysalis.—Length .55 of an inch ; cylindrical ; depth through thorax : and the first abdominal segment .18 of an inch; through joint 3, .20; joint 4524s joint 5, .21; from here tapering gradually to the end, which is rounded, smooth, ending in a stylus with a hook at the end on each side. es Surface smooth, shining, a few punctures between the joints, and the upper - part of head and thorax a little roughened. Color dark chestnut brown, . the eyes and a little shading at the end of the wing cases darker. Wing THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 43 . cases extending back to posterior part of joint 5, leg and antennz cases not so far. Duration of this period from ro to 13 days. _ For several years the larvae of this species have been taken from the willows here, when nearly full grown, in September, and the moths obtained from them in the spring, but not till last spring (1884) did I _ succeed in taking the larve through all their stages. In 1883 eggs were _ obtained in large numbers, but they did not hatch, not for lack of being | fertilized, because the larva developed inside the eggs to near the time for hatching, as could be seen through the shell. Two or three of them even came out, but in so weak a condition that they did not eat. I think they must have been affected by the disease that seemed to affect all Lepidop- eral life that year. ae These eggs were obtained May 11th, and the | imagines were produced from July 7 to 13.‘ There are two broods in a season, the larvee feeding . on willows (Salix nigra), the last brood hibernating in the pupa state. Tn feeding they fasten the leaves of the ends of a twig together and feed in this larvarium, usually several feeding together. They do not pupate _ in this, but in the breeding cage spin close cocoons of brown silk in the corners of the box. 3 __ As aspecies this stands close to zzc/usa. There are several points of _ difference that seem to be permanent. It is of smaller size, out of a large series of reared and captured specimens none of the females being as _ large as all my females of imc/usa, the most of them smaller than the ~ males of that species ; the males being proportionally smaller than the males of ‘zc/usa. In color the females are lighter than the inclusa— - females, the oblique transverse shades more brown tinted and less orange _ tinted ; the ante-apical orange that in izc/usa is a distinct patch across _ four or five subcostal interspaces separated by the veins, is in pad/a a mere stain, in no examples a defined patch, and in some scarcely dis- tinguishable. The males average darker than the males of zzc/usa, both fore and hind wings being more of a brown of the vandyke-brown order, rather than umber, being more the shade of the male of indentata. In this sex the ante-apical orange is more distinct than in the female, but in _ _ about nine examples out of ten is still a stain instead of a patch, occa- sionally one showing about two very small spots that are fairly outlined. ¥ Palla seems to be the species distributed over this portion of the United States. I found larve in Nebraska in 1882 that produced this species, and have had a number of specimens sent me from Central 44 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. . Illinois, but have never seen z#c/usa in this region, though I have looked carefully for the larve in both willow and poplar for several years. If palla breeds as true to type in all localities where found as it does here, we _ shall have to regard it as a good species. PROBABLE ORIGIN OF THE WORD BUTTERELY. BY FREDERICK CLARKSON, NEW YORK CITY. The transformation of a grovelling worm to the glory that attaches to 3 the winged aspirant of the heavens, has won for this insect from remote antiquity the appellation of Spirit or Soul, as typical’of the resurrected human body. There is, I think, good reason to believe that the root meaning of the word Butterfly dates back to early Egyptian history, and as a hieroglyphic it is synonymous as representing the qualities of com- pleteness and perfection which characterize the soul. I have supposed that it might serve the interest of this journal to record such historical gleanings bearing upon this subject as have come within my reach. It is said that in Yorkshire in England, the country folk call the night-flying white moths, Souls. This restricted application of the term very forcibly expresses what had been traditionally received by these people, and which they unwittingly have applied to certain white winged species. The Eng- — lish word Moth is said to be the Egyptian MUT or MAT. MAT is to — i pass; MUT to die; MATT, unfold, unwind, open, as thé chrysalis- entered the winged state and passed. The winged thing was a symbol of the Soul ; it appears in the hieroglyphics as the Moth or Butterfly. The common view, we know, originates the word with the yellow Diurnae as illustrated in the butter-colored wings of the genus Co/ias. The word ~ Butter is supposed-to be derived from PUT (Eg.), food ; and TER (Eg), made, fabricated. The Butterfly may be the type PUT (Eg.), TER, complete, perfect. Thus in death (MUT) the Soul passed, unfolded like the Moth, whose chrysalis showed and was the type of the process, whence the Butterfly. Calling the Moth a Soul identifies the imagery as Egyptian. In. Cornwall, in England, departed souls, moths and fairies are called — Piskeys. Piskey is the same word as Psyche, and both are derived from the Egyptian, in which KHE is the soul, and SU is she; hence the fem- HE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 45 inine nature of the Greek P-SU-KHE. Without the article, SAKHU is the understanding, the illuminator, the eye, and soul of being, that which inspires. The ancients evidently were not very good Entomologists, for this original meaning, beautiful as it is, is altogether incompatible with the. teachings of the modern science, for in these days we realize that the so- called spiritual life, as represented by the butterfly, is but a span in com- parison with the earthly life, as illustrated by the larva, and that the heavenly aspiration and grace which mark the shorter life are the outcome of a comparative eternity of rioting and waste; yet, be it said, the silk ; worm at the eleventh hour makes a good record. ‘* Well were it for the world, if all Who creep about this earthly ball, Though shorter-lived than most he be, Were useful in their kind as he.” Moreover, who that has ever attempted to capture a Limenitis arthemts, but has learned to his cost, that though a thing of beauty, and its posses- sion a joy forever, its habits are deceitful. Well do I remember a chase_ for this butterfly — the first that I had ever seen on the wing. It was a royal game of tag, with hide-and-go-seek variations. We see-sawed up and down a ravine for nearly an hour. When first discovered it was _ regaling itself in the sunlight, upon a leaf about half way down the oppo- ‘site bank, all the while jerking its wings, after a fashion, as if beckoning me over. By the time I had worked my way down over the rocks and _ through the briers, it was spreading its wings on the bank I had just left, and when I returned it was away again to its favorite leaf on the other side. Tired and heated, I gave up the chase, when the arthemis, in a - most provoking way, lit upon a shrub beneath my very nose. This coquettish insect apparently realized my discomfiture, and after repeated ee aces and withdrawals, it rose on wing, and with ** The light coquettes in sylphs aloft gel And sport and flutter in the fields of air.’ SHORT NOTES ON COLEOPTERA. BY JOHN HAMILTON, M. D., ALLEGHENY, PA. FMololepita fossularis Say. The habitatio of this insect is usually under _ locust bark in the first stages of decay, a fact so well known that collectors 46: THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, would look for it in no other place. But last summer I found a number > “ of them under the bark of U/mus fuiva (slippery elm), the odor of which in the same state of decomposition is as rank as that of Robinia. With them were several . /uctda. The individuals of these two species so approximate as in some examples to be scarcely separable; and indeed there is a reasonable doubt whether any of them are instinctively conscious of being specifically different. | [ps fasciatus Oliv. This well known species is very variable in size, color and sculpture. Several of these color variations have been described as species, as: ¢-guttatus Fab., g-signatus Say, bipustulatus Mels., 6-pus- tu/atus Reitter. Quadriguttatus Fab. is the European form, and though described subsequently to fasciatus Oliv., is still retained in the European catalogues, as the form /ascéatus does not occur there, as I am informed. The form fasciatus is the most common here, and is that into which all the others are resolved; in it the elytra are black with an irregular broad basal, and a sub-apical fascia, yellow ; individuals are met with totally black without any spot; others have only a small basal and sub- — “ apical spot yellow (more often reddish) ; others add to these a humeral lunule ; others have various other spots, and by the gradual dilation and coalescing of these through a series of specimens, the full form fasciatus is reached, which can be readily verified by any one who takes the trouble. The point I wish to present is the seasonal character of the melanism. I have never met with these black and spotted forms at any other time than in early spring, usually during April, at the sap of trees, especially birch and maple: As the season advances. these entirely disappear, and the fasciate form alone remains, continuing till autumn. Some of these © probably hibernate (though this is not established by observation), and appear in the spring among the recently developed imelanotic variations. Whether the fasciate form decreases northwardly and increases south- — wardly has not been ascertained, but two specimens from Mt. Washington and two from Montana are of the form ¢-guttatus. As the species in the north extends across the continent, northern collectors might easily deter- mine the matter. This insect is often found in the green ears of maize; but only in such as have been injured by birds or animals, which scarcely entitles it to be classed among the injurious. Gaurotes abdominalis Bland. This graceful Longicorn occurs from Massachusetts to Western Virginia, but in restricted localities, which accounts for its being met with by so few collectors. It usually affects THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 47 wild places along streams that flow between rugged hills and mountains. ere it appears early in May on the blossoms of the wild plum, and a little later in more abundance on various species of Cornus (C. circinata, <. paniculata and C. alternifolia), popularly known as swamp dog-wood, ough the species mentioned do not usually grow on wet ground. It is so fond of laurel blossoms (Kadmia J/atifolia and K. angustifolia). 1 have never observed it later than the first week in June. It is exceedingly wary and active, not being easily taken by beating. After a sudden noon- lay shower I took over twenty specimens, by hand, from a low Cornus bush, into the cymes of which they had crawled for protection. It greatly resembles G. cyanipennis, and like it, varies in color from bright green to copper and golden; but is always to be known by its fous abdomen. The structural differences, notwithstanding the close imilarity, are so great that eventually the two species may be placed in different genera. See Bulletin of Brooklyn Ent. Soc. v. 7, p. 107. _ Saperda discoidea Fab. According to all the observations on record that I have seen, the larva of this beetle lives under the bark of diseased or deadened hickory and walnut, and before transforming penetrates the solid wood and there undergoes its changes. My own observations are not in accord with this. I once took from the thick bark of a hickory log in some cordwood, four mature individuals, the larve of which had fed partly on the bark and partly on the wood, and when approaching maturity had entered the bark and there disclosed. The past year, I found in May more than twenty of the full fed larve, pupz, and beetles yet immature, in the bark of a large standing hickory that had been deadened about two years previously; they were all on the north side of the tree and none ver fifteen inches from the ground. After feeding on the outer layers of wood till they had nearly attained their full growth, the larve had bored, instead of the wood, into the thick bark, closing their burrows in the usual way, and there transforming like ei species of Urographis do in oak bark. . ; Where the larva selects the wood it may be legitimately inferred that ' the bark is not thick enough for its purposes. But how does it know whether the bark is thick or thin? This instinctive versatility in ‘adapting its If to circumstances is only another of the mysterious things that meet the i investigator of Nature at almost every step. Dioedus punctatus Lec. is abundant here from April to September. It habits decaying oak (mostly of the red and chestnut species) that is 48 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. almost changed to humus, It is found in all its stages at the same time, and seems to have no other business than to hasten the destruction of its habitation. I have never met with a specimen elsewhere. Heretofore its habitatio has been given as under the bark of yellow pine. Scolytus rugulosus Ratz. I have obtained this insect twice from hickory twigs placed ina box. ‘The color of these is black, like S. g- spinosus. have others that are reddish-brown, said to be from peach trees. I have carefully looked for it several times in diseased trees of the last mentioned species, and also in pear trees affected by blight,- but _ always with negative results. Macrobasis unicolor Kirby is found here in countless numbers from the middle of July till the middle of August, on a leguminous plant (Baptisia australis) growing abundantly on the river shore, the foliage — of which it eats with great avidity and entirely destroys. In Economic — Entomology it is classed among the insects injurious to vegetation, accord- ing to Riley in the Missouri Reports, devouring potato vines, beans, the — foliage of the apple and the honey locust; and on Mount Washington was found by Mr. F. Gardiner, jr., on Pyrus americana. Here it has not been observed to have such tastes, nor to eat any other than the plant mentioned, though potatoes, beans, &c., are cultivated very extensively close by. From the observations of Mr. Riley as given in his paper, “‘ On the Larval Characters and Habits of the Blister-beetles,” &c., it is probable © the young of this beetle live on the eggs of Caloptenus femur-rubrum, which is also very abundant on the river shore. The gray race is the only one occurring here, and fortunate is it for the farmers along the river that the insect prefers a useless weed to his beans and potatoes. I have experimented with them, and find they possess vesicatory properties equal to the imported C. vesicatoria, a fact, however, that is not new. In the larval state of Coleoptera many live in decaying bark and wood, some confined to a single species, or the species of a genus and — perhaps its allies. _ Hickory and beech are more palatable to a greater number than any other wood. The following seem to be omnivorous :— Cucujus clavipes feeds on locust, maple, sycamore, wild cherry, hickory, white oak, elm ; C/inidium sculptile on spruce, hemlock, tamarack, black 2 oak, hickory, chestnut, ash, gum, poplar, birch; Syuchroa punctata on — all species of oak, hickory, apple, cherry, mulberry, osage orange, chest- 4 nut ; Dendroides canadensis on nearly everything. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 49 LIST OF STAPHYLINIDA TAKEN AT BELLEVILLE, ONT. BY PROF, J. T. BELL, SC. D. Palagria dissecta. - Philonthus cyanipennis. « venustula. " eeneus. Homalota—ro species not yet " palliatus. determined. , coe micans. Aleochara lata. _ Xantholinus cephalus. . brachypterus. " ~ obsidianus. -bimaculata. | Tr obscurus. Oxypoda sagulata. Leptacinus flavipes. yllzna dubia. Diochus Schaumii. ea silphoides. wee Lathrobium grande. homus ventriculus. " punctulatum. ‘achinus pallipes. i simile. » fimbriatus. | \" nigrum. fachyporus brunneus. — ant tenue. elegans. — no) eollarée: osoma. crassum. - on othioides. litobius cinticollis. wots debile. dimidiatus. Cryptobium bicolor. ; anticus. _ - §tilicus biarmatus. oporus rufescens. Lithocharis obsoleta. eens lepidus. _, Sunius binotatus. americanus. uu longiusculus, flavicollis. Peederus littorarius. eterothops fumigatus. Dianous ccerulescens. reophilus maxillosus. Stenus juno. eistotrophus cingulatus. 1 8 species undetermined. cae! vulpinus. Eueesthetus americanus. E fossator. Bledius semiferrugineus. -badipes. “4 emarginatus. cinnamopterus. Oxytelus rugosus. violaceus. Trogophloeus 4-punctatus. pater, Le Olophrum obtectum. 50 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Omalium rufipes. Pycnoglypta lurida. Protinus atomarius. " convexa. Micropeplus tesserula. And about 6 species not yet identified. A NEW TENTHREDINID. BY L. PROVANCHER, CAP ROUGE, QUEBEC. Genus Syzairema, Hartig. This genus was detached from Zenthredo by Hartig in 1837, for an insect described in 1793 by Panzer, under the name of Zenthredo rubi, — found in Germany, Sweden, France, Tyrol, &c. In 1849, Bremi described a new species found in Helvetia, which he named SS. a/pina. It has not yet been recorded as met with in America. Synairema differs only from Zenthredo by its lanceolate cell, highs is largely contracted in the middle, while in the last it is separated by a straight nervule. Synatrema Americana, Nov. sp. 2 .—Length .46 inch. Black ; face below the antenne, inner orbital lines reaching the occiput and thence curving inwards, mandibles, clypeus, palpi, genze, scape underside, a spot on each side of the median lobe of mesothorax, a spot on tegulz, scutel, a point before and another one behind, apex of basal plates, pleura and pectus in parts, white. Antenne long, slender, black with a white spot on the scape underneath. Wings hyaline, nervures and stigma brown black. Legs white, including coxze and trochanters, the two anterior pairs with a black line exteriorly on their femora,, tibie and tarsi; the posterior pair black, with coxa, except a — black spot outside, trochanters and basal third of femora, white; the spines of their’ tibiz, except the tips, and a ring at the base of the first joint of the tarsus, also white. Abdomen elongated, black, shining, — venter more or less whitish on the sides. Valves of the terebra black, — shortly exserted. | Captured one female at Cap Rouge. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 51 LIST OF DIPTERA TAKEN IN THE VICINITY OF PHILA- | DELPHIA FROM 1882 TO 1884, INCLUSIVE. BY E. L. KEEN, PHILADELPHIA, PA. The object of giving this list in its present imperfect form is to call the attention of our Entomologists to this greatly neglected order of insects, and as most of the families are still in an unworked condition, to “call especial attention to them; of course, the named species represent only about one fourth of all the species taken by me during my three ears collecting, and were mostly taken in Fairmount Park, and a few at Delanco, N. J. it a few of our many Entomologists would turn thaw attention to the ict there would be room enough for ances! a dozen Scieiitec workers in this order. _ At present the Diptera are receiving great attention from Dr. S. W. Williston, who has already greatly advanced the study of the order, and if we had a few more such workers, the Diptera would soon rise to as onorable a rank as is held by Coleoptera, etc. ¥ Cecidomyide. Took : a few species, but none are determined. ne: 2 Mycetophilide. Species undetermined. Simulide. - Simulium venustum (?) Say. : Bibtonide. _ Bibio albipennis, Say. Bibio articulatus, Say. 1 femoratus, Wied. . Scatopse atrata, Say. _ And several undetermined species. : | Culicide. ‘ Culex ciliatus, Fabr. : Anopheles quadrimaculatus, Say. 1 taeniorhynchus, Wied. _ Several other species were taken, but are undetermined. : Chironomide. There are a large number of species of this family, but they are not cit up. 52 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. | Psychodide. Took six species of this family on the bark of trees last summer ; there are only two recorded in Osten Sacken’s Catalogue. LTipulide. Geranomyia canadensis, Westw. Bittacomorpha clavipes, Fabr. " rostrata, Say. Tipula abdominalis, Say. Rhypholophus nubilis, O. S. - on -bella, Loew. Erioptera straminea, O. S. " _ costalis, Say. " venusta, O. 5. "1 cunctans, Say. Chionea valga, Har. n fasciata, Loew. Symplecta punctipennis, Meig. u . ftliginosa, Say. Epiphragma fascipennis, Say. 1 hebes, Loew. Limnophila montana, O. S. 1 Infuscata, Loew. Eriocera fuliginosa, O. S. 1 tricolor, Fabr. " spinosa, O. S. Pachyrhina collaris, Say. Amalopis inconstans, O. S. Besides the above there are quite a number of undetermined species. Rhyphide, Rhyphus alternatus, Say. Rhyphus punctatus, Meig. Stratiomyide. Metoponia fuscitarsis, Say. Sargus decorus, Say. 7 Beris viridis, Say. u elegans, Loew. ‘ Clitellaria subulata, Loew. Chloromyia viridis, Say. : Stratiomyia marginalis, Loew. Stratiomyia norma, Wied. Also a number of undetermined species. : : Tabanide. ; Chrysops callidus, O. S. ° Chrysops vittatus, Wied. ; w- eeler, O.S. Therioplectes lasiopthalmus, Macq. . " excitans, Walk. Tabanus atratus, Fabr. ‘ » flavidus, Wied. " costalis, Wied. F n frigidus, O. S. " lineola, Fabr. n fugax, O. 8S. " nigrovittatus, Macq. " miger, Macq.» " stygius, Say. 1 Obsoletus, Wied. " sulcifrons, Macq. 1 plangens, Wied. " trimaculatus, Palisot-Beau. 1: univittatus, Macq. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 53 opila ornata, Say. propinqua, Walk. quadrata, Say. ygaster flavipes, Loew. hopogon trifasciatus, Say. pees, abdominalis, Say. fi calva, Loew. myia discolor, Loew. - umbrinus, Loew. sia glabrata, Say. puella, Wied. inia macrocera, Say. Allis flavicollis, Say. - thoracica, Fabr. : - tergissa, Say. »soma dorsata, Say. clavatus, Drury. oprosopa fascipennis, Say. nthrax ; alternata, Say. | * aalenn Say. oe omiegh Wied. - Gidipus, F ae Docete Fabr, Leptide. Chrysopila thoracica, Fabr. Leptis punctipennis, ane Took qnite a number of undetermined species of this family. Astilide. Laphria sericea, Say. Mallophora laphroides, Wied. -orcina, Wied. Promachus Bastardii, Macq. quadratus, Wied. Erax aestuans, Linn. Bastardi, Macq. ; lateralis, Macq. | furax, Will. Proctacanthus brevipennis, Wied. Philadelphicus, Macq. Asilus Nove Scotie, Macq. sericeus, Say... i a " We ihe " Midaide. Bombylida. Bombylius fratellus, Wied. pulchellus, Loew. validus, Loew. varius, Fabr. Sparnopolius fulvus, Wied. Geron calvus, Loew. Systropus macer, Loew. " ’ "! Therevide. but I have 54. - THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Dolichopodide. ae A large number of species are found here of this large family ; only: a few of mine are determined. : Dolichopus batillifer, Loew. | Scellus exustus, Walk. on bifractus, Loew. — Psilopus patibulatus, Say. " eudactylus, Loew. 1 sipho, Say. Diaphorus spectabilis, Loew. Syrphide. (See Vol. Xvi, No. 8, pp. 145-147.) Conopide. Conops tibialis, Say. Stylogaster neglecta, Will. Have quite a number of undetermined species. Pipunculide. 4 a Took two or three species of this family, which are not as yet deter a Y mined. ah Tachinidae. Took about 50 species of this large family, of which the following a are determined :— _ Trichopoda pennipes, Fabr. Hystricia vivida, Hae Exorista flavicauda (?) Riley. Belvoisia bifasciata, Fabr. Of Dexidae, Sarcophagide, Muscide, Anthomyide, 1 took a very tate amount, but for the most part the species are unnamed. Cordyluride. Rasaplil bimaculata, Loew. Scatophaga stercoraria, Linn. " setosa, Loew. © Lelomyzide. Helomyza quinquepunctata, Say. Sciomyside. | Tetanocera arcuata, Loew. Tetanocera saratogensis, Fitch, " pictipes, Loew. | Sepedon armipes, Loew. " plebeja, Loew. a fuscipennis, Loew. Psilide. Loxocera cylindrica, Say. Micropeside. Calobata antennipennis, Say. Ortalide. Pyrgota undata, Wied. Callopistria annulipes, Macq. : Rivellia viridulans, R. Desv. Seoptera colon, Loew. == 3 3~— ) THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. | 55 - Camptoneura picta, Fabr. Cheetopsis aenea, Wied. _ Stictocephala vau, Say. Trypetide. Straussia longipennis, Wied. _—‘Euaresta bella, Loew. Oedaspis polita, Loew. " festiva, Loew. Eurosta solidaginis, Fitch. . | Loncheide. _ Palloptera superba, Loew. te Sapromyzide. _Sapromyza compedita, Loew. Sapromyza philadelphica, Macq. a : —— Diopside. ck pracephala brevicornis, Say. Liphydride. -Paralimna appendiculata, Loew. _ Ochthera mantis, Deg. 3 Also several other species. - Ephydra atrovirens, Loew. | u Oscinide. _A few species around decayed fruits. NORTH AMERICAN PYRALIDA. bad BY PROF. C. H. FERNALD, STATE COLLEGE, ORONO, ME. Crambus zeellus, n. s. Expanse of wings, from 18 to 24 m. m. Palpi, head and thorax, pale leaden gray. ‘The labial palpi extend srward as far as the length of the head and thorax. The maxillary palpi e as long as the head. Fore wings dull leaden gray, mixed with ashy and phish, especially the outer part, and crossed beyond the middle by two angulated dull hre yellow lines, overlaid more or less with dark brown.. The first line ysses the end of the cell where it is angulated. The second crosses the 1g about half way between this last and the end. ‘The terminal line is ark brown, and a dark brownish cloud extends obliquely in from the sx to the second line, but does not reach the costa. A narrow ochre llow line, somewhat curved, extends from the middle of the base of the g to the second line near the anal angle, and a similar line, though less * 56 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, plainly marked, runs parallel, between this line and the hinder margin. The terminal space is more or less gray. The outer margin is regularly excavated below the apex. Fringes pale metallic lead color. Hind wings pale fuscous with lighter fringes. | Under side of the body and all the wings pale fuscous. fates as Habitat.—Me., Penn., W. Va., Ill, Mo. oe a Bred from corn by Prof. S. A. Forbes. | I am under obligations to Lord Walsingham for comparing specimens of this and other species with the collections in London. Crambus hulstellus, Ni. Ss. Expanse of wings, 26 m. m. Head, thorax and fore wings, chalky white: The palpi are somewhat fuscous on the outside, but white on the rest of their surface. Antes fuscous. ie The fore wings are crossed by a twice angulated, brown, median line, ‘s much darker and heavier on the angles. ‘This line starts from a point a little beyond the middle of the costa and runs out beyond the end of the cell where the first acute angle is formed. From this angle the line runs obliquely across the wing to the middle of the hinder margin forming the second angle just below the cell, beyond which the line is nearly obsolete. A double, yellowish line starts from the costa a little beyond the outer fourth, and curving downward runs nearly parallel with the outer margin, ‘to the hinder margin a little within the anal angle. The terminal space is yellowish and this color fuses with the line so that it does not appear — double except at the costa, and there is a row of seven black points along the outer margin. ‘The space between the median and subterminal lines has six longitudinal, geminate brown dashes on the veins. The surface of the wing inside of the angles of the median line is covered with silver colored scales, and there are three dark brown dashes, one near the base above the hinder margin, the second outside of this and a little above, and the third extends along towards the second angle of the median line ; and the costa is more or less sordid. Cilia white with a silvery base shit is broken by the white opposite the second and third black ney au the apex. ae The hind wings are sordid white, with a narrow tarde bo slightly darker. Cilia pure white. Under side of the hind wings lig THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 57 than above, under side of fore wings sordid white, with the subterminal line and terminal black points reproduced. Received from Texas by Rev. Geo. D. Hulst, for whom I take great pleasure in naming this species. Eurycreon perplexalts, n. s. Expanse of wings, 22 m. m. Palpi and head mouse-colored. ‘The base of the palpi beneath and a superciliary line, white. Thorax and fore wings pale mouse-colored, the latter overlaid more or less with whitish scales. The space between the reniform and oblique orbicular is whitish. The inner line is obsolete ; the outer line starts at right angles from the costa, has a re-entrant angle out- side of the upper part of the reniform spot, thence it is outwardly rounded and dentate with five teeth, down to vein two, where it sends a long blunt angle in towards the base of the wing, then turns and forms a similar but shorter outward angle, then runs to the hinder margin at right angles with it. This line is bordered on the outside with a narrow whitish shade, most | prominent on the costa and before the hinder margin. The terminal line is dark and composed of confluent semi-lunate spots. The fringes are paler than the wings. Hind wings pale gray, darker terminally, with the faintest indication of an extra median line. Fringes paler with a basal darker line. Under side of all the wings pale yellowish fuscous, with the markings of the upper surface faintly indicated. Received from Texas by Rev. Geo. D. Hulst. Botis inornatalts, n. s. Expanse of wings, 13 m. m. The head and palpi are pale snuff brown, the latter extend forward as far as the length of the head in front of it, and they are whitish under- neath at the base, and the superciliary line is white. _ The thorax and fore wings are of a light vinous red or reddish pink color, very near the color of Botis signatadis, but without markings of any kind. Fringes paler than the wings at the base, but whitish on the outer part. Hind wings pale fuscous, lighter at the base, and stained with vinous red along the outer margin. The abdomen is concolorous with the hind wings. : 58 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, - Under side of the fore wings silky, fuscous and stained with vinous along the outer part of the costa. Under side of the hind wings lighter than above. Under side of the body, middle and hind legs, white and silky. The fore legs are pale fuscous. | This beautiful little species was collected in Florida and sent to me by Rev. Geo. D. Hulst. CORRESPONDENCE. XYLORYCTES SATYRUS. Dear Sir: In answer to Dr. H. A. Hagen’s query in the ENToMoLo- cist for Dec., 1884, I have to say that some four years ago a boy brought me a living specimen, a fine male, of Xy/oryctes satyrus, which he had taken in Bleecker’s Woods, just outside of the city limits. | ; James T. Bett, Sc. D. Belleville, Ont., Feb. 17th, 1885. Dear Sir: Dr. Hagen asks in Dec. No. (Vol. xvi., p. 239) whether this beetle occurs further north than Pa. I find it recorded by Zesch and Reincke in their list of species captured within fifteen miles of Buffalo ; by Howard and Schwarz in list of Coleoptera of lower peninsula of Michigan, presumably from Detroit ; by Pettit, as captured at Grimsby, Ont., and by Prof. Bell, as taken near Belleville, Ont. It also occurs here—and this is probably the most northerly record for it—but is appar- ently rare. The only specimen I possess is a ¢ which was brought to me alive by a friend, but I have several times met with the elytra and other fragments of dead specimens in or under decayed logs. It is of course noticeable as being our largest representative of the Scarabzeidz, which in these colder regions only muster about forty species. W. HaGuE HARRINGTON. 5 4 : % 4 Ny P = Ottawa, 25th Feb., 1885. Dear Sir: Yam able to add to the kind answers to my query by Messrs. G. Dimmock and S. Henshaw, two more. Prof. Chas. V. Riley writes me that August 18th, 1871, he found larvee, pupe and fresh beetles of X. satyrus quite common at Ridgewood, N. J., under old leaves in the a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 59 woods, especially in moist hollows ; August, 1878, he found the beetles quite common, and in fact injuring the roots of ash trees in Babylon, -L. I. Miss Emily L. Morton, Newburgh, N. J., states the frequent occur- rence of X. satyrus on Long Island at various. places, but has never seen a specimen of it taken in her own collecting grounds, New Windsor, N. Y., or vicinity. I have never made any lists of the distribution of insects except, of course, for some orders which belong to my special studies ; but I have many times missed such a reference list for Coleoptera. I have ‘been now informed that such a list is in the way of preparation. Even if I had time enough to undertake such a large work, I would have been prevented from doing it for a certain reason. If local lists should be taken as a basis for such a reference list of N. Am., it would be necessary to assume that the determinations of the species are unquestionable. That this is not the case in some lists of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, I have been shown by specialists. Therefore if such a reference list should be of value, it must be worked by specialists who are able to control care- fully the determinations. As in my large correspondence I am often asked to give information of the occurrence of species in certain localities, my way to answer these queries is to consult the collections in my care. So for beetles, the N. A. collection formed out of the collections of Mel- sheimer, Ziegler, Lewis, A. Agassiz, and all other beetles, formerly belong- ing to the Museum. Further, the collections of Dr. LeConte, Lt. Casey, and of the Peabody Academy, the two latter ones now belonging to the Museum ; and finally of the general collection. If the result is not suffi- cient, I would like to apply to the knowledge of specialists, and the prompt answers now given will mostly settle the question. I should add that at least for Lepidoptera, I did begin the arrangement of the collection in a way to form a reference list, in placing a specimen of every State and of other important localities in the boxes, to have a graphical view of the _ distribution of each species. I have retained for this purpose specimens _ often in a very bad condition. But this plan, by which sometimes a whole box was needed for one species, outgrew the given limits of space. Never- ‘theless, for Odonata and some other families belonging to my specialty, I still retain this arrangement, which has given for some species of large _ distribution two closely filled boxes, and even more. When such species __ are studied and finally outworked, it will be of course possible to diminish the number of specimens. It would be an error to believe that I could do all this myself. My intention is to bring all specimens present in the 60 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. collection together in such a manner that the monographer or the student can find now or in later times the material which he needs for his study. To draw the attention of students to parts of the collection which are arranged as far as my knowledge goes, I did begin to publish during the — last year lists of the contents of the collection, and will go on with such publications if they should prove to be useful. Through the addition of the collection of the Peabody Academy, the Museum possesses a very large number of types for Heterocera and Micro-Lepidoptera of N. Am., and a very large number of types of Europe. I have during many years. given especial care to bring together a collection of types of the European fauna for comparison with the fauna of N. America. Concerning my list of the Phytoptoceridia, I was most agreeably sur- prised by a letter of Prof. S. A. Forbes, and by a copy of the r2th Re- port, in which Mr. H. Garman has given an excellent paper on the Phy- topti and other injurious plant mites. The copy of this Report which he has formerly forwarded to me has never reached my hands. As this paper is not quoted in Justis Jahresharict, it is new to me, and I am glad that the list is now directly advanced by such a prominent paper. H. A. HaGen. © EUPTOIETA CLAUDIA. Dear Sir: In reply to the letter of Mr. Thos. E. Bean, in the Jan’y number of the Enromoxocist, I took several specimens of Luptoieta 2 claudia last season in the Calgarry and Goose Lake, region, and Pyrameis cardui was so plentiful from Toronto to Br. Columbia that I hardly con- - sidered it worth while to publish it on the list. . claudia is added to my list in the Dec. number. I took the larve of cardui on both thistles and nettles all along the route, Yours truly, GAMBLE GEDDES. — Government House, Toronto, 2 5th Feb., 1885. : [Z. claudia was also among the insects collected by Miss F. M. Pierce, of Moose Mountain, N. W. T., last year, and forwarded for our Society’s collection.—Ep. C. E.] : Che Canadtan Entomolomst. FOL. XVI. LONDON, ONT., APRIL, 188s. _ No. 4 ESCRIPTION OF SOME OF THE PREPARATORY STAGES a OF PARNASSIUS SMINTHEUS, Dovus.., AND OF . P. CLODIVUS,; MEN. BY W. H. EDWARDS, COALBURGH, W. VA. -P. SMINTHEUS. ‘Mr. W. L. Courtis, in 1883, sent me many. eggs of this species, laid by females confined with Sedum. All the butterflies were of the variety _Hermodur, H. Edw., the females being very black. I related Mr. ourtis’s observations in Papilio III., p. 158. The eggs were forwarded Dr. H. S. Jewett, Dayton, Ohio, in default of ice here, and were placed an ice box in that town, and so remained till late in Jan.,’84. I eived them 28th. Two days after, several of the eggs were found to ve hatched, the day being warm, 55° Far. atnoon. I gave the larve ves of our wild Sedum, and also of some cultivated sorts that I had ught together for the purpose. Three days later the wild leaves were noticed eaten or nibbled a little, the.other sorts not all. In former years, least twice, | had had these larvz out of egg, and they refused our Sedum and starved. In the present case, little holes were eaten on the upper side of leaf, half way through the fleshy part. Several larve died peedily, but a few did well. On 5th Feb’y, two were visibly stouter than he rest. On 6th, I happened on some larve feeding, this time at the dges of the leaves. On 8th, the two largest began to swell at second - gment ; on roth, one of these died in the effort to moult, the time from egg being 11 days. On 12th, the other larva passed rst moult, at 13 ys. On 15th, a third passed same moult ; next day another, and I was rtunate in seeing the process. Before this moult I endeavored to make larvee disclose the tentacles on second segment, and did so in some ses by pressing on the dorsum of segments after 2 with flat side of a _ Teasing with the point of the pin effected nothing. ‘The tentacles re stubby and very short, a mere lump of brownish-yellow color, with- ut prongs. It was rather a tentacle, than tentacles. On 18th, another passed ist moult. By pressing on dorsum, the tentacles after first moult 62 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. were brought out, two short stubby horns, bifurcated low COW EE: color greenish-yellow, with a tint of brown. : On 22nd, the first larva which passed first moult was swollen for second ; remained in that condition a long time, and finally passed second moult 27th. On 6th March, another was swollen for same moult. There were then but half a dozen left out of perhaps three score larve from the egg. Day after day they died, and by 11th every one had died. So that only one passed 2nd moult. This is but a melancholy showing, but it was much to get descriptions of three larval stages, and greatly enlarged drawings by Mrs. Peart of the first two stages. I learned something by the experience, and with another opportunity, I may perhaps reach pupa and imago. I got from Dr. Staudinger a beautifully prepared blown skin of Parn. Afol//o, and from that could see that the larva of Smintheus at maturity would be closely like it. It was like it at the second stage, that is, with the first moult the larva had put on the characters of ma tibnity: very nearly. | | I will give herewith the description of the stages obesteds as it may be long before any thing more is known of this species, or of the pre- — paratory stages of any of our Parnassians. Ecc.—Flattened, depressed at summit about the micropyle, the sides curved ; the surface encrusted in hexagonal pattern, at each angle of every — figure a minute cell; color chalk-white. Figured and described in But. N. A., vol. 1.. The shape is like that of a Lycaena. Younc Larva.—Length .o8 inch; cylindrical, tapering both on dor- © sum and sides from 3 or 4 to last segment, each segment well rounded; — much covered with long, stiff, black hairs, or bristles ; on dorsum are four rows of these, each hair springing from a little tubercle ; on 2, 3, 4 these _ are arranged in a cross row, on the middle of the segment, on 2 they are — equidistant, but on 3 and 4 there is a wider space between the 2nd and 3rd tubercle than the others ; also on 2 is another cross row of 4 near the — front, the pair on either side mid-dorsal line nearer together than the posterior tubercles on same segment ; segments 4 to 13 inclusive have these hairs disposed in two rows, one being on the front part, the other on posterior part, and more widely separated; so that on these segments there are formed two dorsal longitudinal rows, and two sub-dorsal; the hairs on anterior segments are curved and directed forwards, from 5 to 10 are nearly erect, but still turned forwards ; on the last segments turned back ; high on the side is a row of large, flattened tubercles from 2 to 11, and | Bx: THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 63 from each spring four hairs, separated at their bases, turned forwards and downwards ; on 2, 3, 41s a demi-row, mid-lateral, of similar but smaller and flattened tubercles, each bearing three hairs ; lower down, and just below spiracles, on 4 to 13, are 2 hairs to each segment, from little tuber- cles not in line, but placed obliquely, so that the posterior tubercle is _always a little above the other ; along base, over feet and from 2 to 12, are 2 fine and short hairs to each, near together, turned down; some larve have all the large tubercles black, others have them light gray ; the hairs e all light but black at base ; under side and prolegs greenish-brown, the feet black ; head obovoid, long, broader than high, depressed at top, the : rtices rounded ; black, the surface rough, with many fine black hairs ; he larva from the first is able to project its tentacles, very short, pale brown-yellow, and so far as observed not bifurcated. Duration of this stage from 11 to 15 days. _ After First Moult——Length at 24 hours, .18 inch; shape as in first " stage ; color velvet-black, the lower part of side and under side greenish- brown ; the processes on body are much as at first stage, but instead of ‘single hairs from minute tubercles over dorsum, there are now four rows of small glossy black flattened tubercles, placed just as were the others ‘mentioned, namely, two straight cross rows on 2, one row on 3, 4 each, in : all these four in the row ; in the following segments two cross rows each, two tubercles to the row, on front and rear, the former near together, or - dorsal, the latter more separated and sub-dorsal; each of these tubercles years four short hairs, separated at their bases ; the upper lateral tubercles are large, rounded, flattened, running from 2 to 12, and bear from six to eight hairs ; the demi-row on side of 2-4 is nearly in line with the tuber- sles below iikenclis from 5 to 13, and this may be considered as a con- uous lateral row, the lower lateral ; on 2-4 there is a single tubercle to ach, size of the dorsals, but the succeeding segments have two each, aller, close together, the posterior one of the pair always a little higher han the other ; the first three have five hairs each, the rest four, except 0n 13, where the tubercles are very small, and bear one or two hairs only ; the hairs vary in length on each tubercle over the body, and in addition there are scattered hairs from the surface everywhere ; on the dorsum of 2 the interior tubercles coalesce and are enlarged, and the hairs therefrom bend forward over the head ; from 2 to 12 inclusive, in line with the upper lateral tubercles, on the posterior part of each segment, is a deep yellow val or rounded spot ; and on dorsum, between and in line with the sub- 64 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. dorsal tubercles, from 5 to 12, is a small and paler yellow oval spot ; SO that in all there are four longitudinal rows of these spots, the outer pair large, the inner small ; legs black, pro-legs greenish-brown ; head shaped as before, black, rough, with many scattered short hairs. Duration of this stage 15 days, in the only example which reached 2nd moult. After Second Moult.—Length at 24 hours, .24 inch; in all respects as" ‘ at second stage, except that the spots which were dee yellow are now — | white. Before the third was completed the larva died. The inflated skin of Parnassius Apollo spoken of above “will serve to show what the mature larva of Smintheus would be like. The A pollo is black, covered thickly with short stiff black hairs. Where in the larva of Smintheus at 1st moult, is a row of yellow spots, in Apollo there is a row of large red ones, extending from 2 to 11, with smaller ones on 12 and 13. Instead of a dorsal row of smaller spots as in Smintheus, in Apollo the small spots are in line with the large ones, one on the front of each segment, and between 2 and 3, 3 and 4, is a small spot in addition. _ It is possible that the spots of Siinthews may again change color (having ’ once changed from yellow to white, at 2nd moult) but I apprehend the — white spots will remain till maturity. , The larva of Parnassius at every stage is unlike that of a Papilio, the E only resemblance being in the presence in both of the scent organs, and 4 the young larva seems to me more like that of certain Erycinide, for example, Lemonias /Vais, as figured in But. N. A., V. 2. The egg is like — Lemonias and Lycaena, and as is well known, the chrysalis is like that of 3 -a Hesperid, or some of the Heterocera, and very unlike the typical | Papilionide. The more I see of the Parnassians, the more Satisfied am I _ that their place is not with the Papilionide, but at the other end of the series, and near the Erycinidz, where they should rank as a Family. J believe that the egg, larva in its stages, and the chrysalis is a better guide to the relationship of butterflies than the characters of the imago. P. CLODIUS, Méa: Ecc.—Nearly plano-convex, the top being arched, the base fat, the edge about base rounded; at the summit a depression about the micro- pyle ; when magnified to one inch diameter, the shape is very like that of ~ a wooden button ; color diluted coffee-brown ; the upper surface covered by a crust, which is pitted with little round cells. (This egg much ~ THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 65 resembles in shape and ornamentation that of Chrysophanus Zoe, where- as the egg of Smzntheus is like a Lycaena, as L. Pseudargiolus ). -Younc Larva.—Length at a few hours from egg, .o8 inch; shape and ‘markings of Smintheus at same stage ; tapering on dorsum and sides from 3 or 4 to 13; the segments well rounded ; color black, legs black, under side and pro-legs dark greenish-brown ; on dorsum and sides black hairs, which spring from tubercles just as in Smintheus, the arrangement being of same description; head ob-ovoid, depressed at top, the vertices rounded ; surface rough; color black; much covered with short black The larve refused to eat Sedum, and soon died. In 1878, Mr. Mead brought from Nevada a large number of these eggs, obtained by confining . the females on Sedum. I kept them in a cool room till last of Jan., ’79, when they were placed in a warm one. A few larve hatched 31st Jan. ~ A NEW ARCTIAN. BY HENRY EDWARDS, NEW YORK. _ NEMEOPHILA SELWYNII, 0. sp. - Head, thorax and abdomen, dull sooty black. Palpi, collar sed tip of abdomen pale dull orange. Tegulz, sides of abdomen and upper side of the tip of antenne sordid white. Wings dull sooty black. At base of primaries a very distinct and clearly marked short white streak, and an oblique band (also cream white) from behind the middle of the costa to near the internal angle. This band, which is excavated at its junction with the cell, gradually narrows to a point as it reaches the outer margin. ‘The fringe is white on the apical half of the margin, black elsewhere, and there is a small orange dash at the base of the costa. Secondaries wholly sooty black, fringe white, a little below the apex. Beneath the wings have a slate-colored shade, the markings of the upper surface repeated, the costa of primaries stained with orange at the base and at the edge of the white oblique band, while that of the secondaries has two whitish triangu- lar blotches. _ Expanse of wings, 35 m.m. Length of body, 13 m.m. _ From 7 examples, # 2, taken by Prof. Macoun at Nipigon, Ont. Though the species of the genus emeophila are subject to consider- able variation, I can but believe that in the form before us we have to do 66 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. with a distinct and permanent species, the whole of the examples captured agreeing exactly with each other. It differs from JV: petrosa Walk., V. | : geometrica Gr., and lV. Geddesit Newm., in the shape and position of the bands on primaries, while in all the specimens examined there is on the secondaries an entire absence of white marks. ; I have dedicated this interesting insect to Dr. Alfred R. C. Selwyn, LL. D., F. R. S., F. R. S..C., the distinguished Director of the Geol. and N. Hist. Survey of Canada, whom I have known for many years, both in Australia and America, as a close and careful student, and who has already taken important steps which cannot fail to promote a love for Entomology throughout the Dominion, and to produce the most valuable scientific results.” A LIST OF COLEOPTERA COLLECTED IN LOUISIANA, ON OR SOUTH OF PARALLEL 30°. BY C. H. T. TOWNSEND, CONSTANTINE, MICH. The following species were collected, from 29th March to 21st June, — ; 1884, along the thirtieth parallel in two neighborhoods, New Orleans and environs, and a district on Bayou la Fourche extending from a little above Napoleonville a few miles south along the bayou. The latter is in Assumption Parish, and at the time of my visit was partially overflowed from the great crevasse of March, 1884. Though many of the species here given are well known to occur in the South Louisiana fauna, I give them all just as I collected them, with the view of noting their relative abundance or rarity, dates of occurrence, localities, etc., all of which together may contribute to make our knowledge of the fauna more com- plete. But it must be remembered that this is merely a record of how the species occurred to me during my stay, in which I collected only a small part of what might have been taken, could I have given my entire atten- tion thereto. Nearly all those of the N. O. neighborhood were taken — between the city and Lake Pontchartrain. | Some observations and notes on a number of the species in this list — have been published in Psyche (“Notes on Some Coleoptera Taken in * The exact locality and date of capture of this Arctian are thus given by Prof. — Macoun: ‘In open grassy woods along an old road between the Hudson Bay Store — and the C. P. R. track, three miles east of Red Rock Station, and one mile west of — Nipigon Bridge, June 26th, 1884.” THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 67 P south Louisiana,” Psyche, vol. iv., p. 219-222). For the identification of the species (except those marked with an asterisk) I am indebted to Dr. -G. H. Horn, who kindly examined them for me. ae CICINDELID&. ' Tetracha carolina (Linn.) One full grown larva dug from its hole, roth April. . Milnburg Road.* ? Cicindela repanda Dej. One specimen seen (not taken) in an ieaaied side street in New Orleans, first part of April. Same species seen also at the mouth of the Red River in Louisiana, 22nd June, and taken at Vicksburg, Miss., 23rd June. " tortuosa Dej. One specimen taken on a low, sandy mud-flat of the Mississippi just below the mouth of the Red River in Louisiana, 22nd June. In company with repanda. This is the only species in the list which was not taken (or seen) on or south of parallel 30°. ) CARABID/A. Scarites substriatus Hald. Of occasional occurrence under logs in moist | places, N. O. 1 subterraneus Fabr. Same with preceding, N. O. Brachynus lateralis Dej. A number taken under old wood on the edge 3 of a wet forest, B. la F. i" tormentarius Lec. In _ colonies, iiten in company with : Galerita, under logs (old railroad ties) and pieces of wood in low, moist places, on the edge of the swamp especially. + . 1 fumans (Fab.) A number taken under logs in drier places ca than preceding. N. O. Panageus cru.igerus Say. One specimen under a log on the edge of a muddy, wet forest, 4th May. B. la F. ‘Galerita janus Fabr. This and the next species in same places with Brachynus tormentarius; often found in company with that species.t Also overtaken running through passages made in a , _ * There are dummy roads running through the swamp from New Orleans to Miln- urg, Spanish Fort and West End, three resorts on Lake Pontchartrain. __ + Where no locality is given, the species will be understood to have been taken both in vicinity of New Orleans and on Bayou la Fourche. + Where no date is given, unless otherwise stated, the species was more or less common during the time of my stay, 68 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, dry, rotten stump, probably by ants. Once attracted to lamp in a: the evening. fae bicolor Drury. With Seeding. : 3 Casnonia ludoviciana Sallé. ‘Three specimens taken from the insid of. 3 my canoe while out in the flooded forest; two of theee) bs June. Probably came from foliage. B. la F, Leptotrachelus dorsalis (Fabr.) Two specimens taken separately. on ‘the | heads of a wayside herb, 15th May, B. la F. They emitted a scent peculiar to many Carabs when disturbed. eh Lebia viridis Say. One, B. la F. n analis Dej. One, B. la F. Apenes sinuata (Say). One, B. la F. | Callida decora (Fabr.) Several taken on foliage of elder hunting for oe prey, 23rd May. One at lamp in the evening, 15th May. ‘Two | 4 others seen on the ground in the sun, first part of May. B.laF. | Platynus decorus (Say). One under old wood. N. O. | a Loxandrus rectus (Say). pe 2 Pterostichus chalcites (Say). Several taken under old wood and clods of dirt, also running ; uncultivated land and plantations, Diplochila laticollis (Lec.) Several under old wood. . Dicaelus purpuratus Bon. Several under wood or logs. B. la F. 1 elongatus Dej. One, same as preceding. B. la F. Chlaenius fuscicornis Dej. Under logs and drift-wood. " laticollis Say. With preceding. Also once attracted to lampin the evening. " nemoralis Say. With preceding, but occasionally in drier places and away from woods. Not many taken. | Anisodactylus dulcicollis (Laf.) Selenophorus patliatus (Fabr.) One, B. la F. Stenolophus ochropezus Say. One, B. la F. 2 " dissimilis Dej. Attracted to lamp in the evening. B. la F. DYTISCID#. Cybister fimbriolatus Say. Several taken from a pool of water, 17th April, N. O. A pair (same species ?) seen 7” coitu swimming on the edge of an overflowed forest on Bayou la Fourche, 23rd Ma Thermonectes bastlaris (Harr.) One specimen in pail of water drawn from a cistern, 3rd May. B, la F. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. : 69 " ‘Megilla maculata (DeG.) Hippodamia convergens Guér. B. la F. voccinella afinis Rand., and var. *venusta Mels. Two specimens of the * Passalus cornutus Fabr. B. la F. " GYRINID&. Dineutus oc alee Say. STAPHYLINIDA Lapaylinus cinnamopterus Grav. One or two under old wood. B. la F. Palaminus parcus (Lec.) One under wood, N. O. EROTYLID. Languria mozardi Latr. Several from plants. angustata (Beauv.) One on foliage (of elder?), 23rd May. B. la F, NITIDULIDZ. “arpophilus dimidiatus Fabr. Two, B. la F. COCCINELLIDA. species, three of the variety, on. foliage. B. la F. WP icloneda sanguinea (Linn.) LUCANIDA. SCARABAEID#. Canthon perplexus Lec. One, B. la F. hudsonias (Forst.) One, N. O. } iplotacis harpert Blanch. One, B. la F. : nomala undulata Mels. One or two, B. la F. Yyscinetus trachypygus Burm. ‘Two, one from each neighborhood. es gibbosus (DeG.) One specimen in a cell in the earth in a sugar- cane row, about the first of May. B. la F. rugiceps Lec. One specimen in a cell in a cane row same as pre- ceding, 2nd May. B. la F. Ligyrus did no injury to young cane about Napoleonville this season that came to my knowledge. uphoria melancholica (Gory). Quite abundant in flowers of thistles, also in some other flowers. BUPRESTID&. Dicerca obscura (Fab.) Several specimens taken in the heat of the day on heads of wormwood and the common ragweed, zoth to 22nd May. B. la F. 70 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, ELATERIDA. Drasterius dorsalis (Say). Several under old wood. B. la F. ; Monocrepidius lividus (Deg.) One taken on the head of a stalk of worm- wood, 21st May. B. la F. LAMPYRID&. Lucidota atra (Fabr.) B. la F. Pyropyga minuta Lec. One on foliage. B. la F. Photuris pensylvanica (DeG.) TELEPHORID&. *Chauliognathus marginatus (Fabr.) Abundant on patches of a low, yellow-flowering herb ; also on daisies and some other flowers. Jn coitu, 30th March to 17th April. . CERAMBYCID&. Elaphidion mucronatum (Fab.) One specimen, 21st May. B. la F. " incertum Newm. ‘Two taken on pine boarding, 5th and oth ~ June ; and one attracted to lamp in the evening, 21st — =) B. la F. 3 ae Xylotrechus colonus (Fab.) One attracted to lamp in the evening, sath q June. B. la F. : Neoclytus erythrocephalus (Fab.) One specimen taken in the heat of the — “ day on the ane -cut foliage of the common ragweed, 18th May. B. la F. * Desmocerus palliatus (Forst.) On shrubs of elder bordering ditches on plantations, 21st to 27th April. Jn coitu 22nd to a Apnil. — B. la F. oe Bellamira scalaris (Say). Several taken on elder and the common rag weed, 2oth to 22nd May. J coitu same dates. B.laF. Typocerus zebratus (Fab.) One, B. la F. : Leptura abdominalis Hald. Three specimens taken in the flooded forest ona pine or cypress stump, over a mile back of the levee, 6t June. One of them flew from the stump and alighted upon the foliage of a young tree, where it was captured. B.laF. Acanthoderes quadrigibbus (Say). Several specimens taken on an un- painted, weather-beaten fence made of big, rough- -hewn pickets, also one on a flour barrel and eS on bee? boarding, 16th to 25th May. B. la F. | : Mecas inornata Say. Taken in considerable numbers exclusively upo THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. fa. the leaves of the ‘ wild artichoke,” 25th Mayto 7th June. 77 coitu end to 6th June. B. la F. BRUCHID&. - Caryoborus arthriticus (Fab.) Four dead and dried specimens found in September among some seeds of the scrub palmetto gathered hear New Orleans in the first part of April, and with them were the hollow seed-shells from which they had emerged. CHRYSOMELID. Lema 6-punctata (Oliv.) One taken upon the leaves of some weeds along : a low levee bank, 23rd May. BB. la F. : *Chlamys plicata (Fabr.)? One larva, a case-bearer, on foliage. B. la F. _ Monachus saponatus (Fab.) Several. B. la F. —Cryptocephalus leucomelas Suffr. One specimen on a weed, 17th April. : Spanish Fort. | Myochrous denticollis (Say). Two, B. la F. _ Colaspis brunnea Fab. One perfect and one injured imago. BB. la F. * Plagiodera scripta (Fabr.) In abundance on sprouts of cottonwood or poplar, both larvee and imagines, and pairs zz coztu, on the : young and tender leaves, 4th May. BB. la F. _ Cerotoma caminea (Fab.) Several. B. la F. _ *Diabrotica 12-punctata (Oliv.) _ Galeruca integra (Lec.) One. B. la F. _ Disonycha pensylvanica (Illig.) One from each neighborhood. _ Lactica ocreata Say. Several, B. la F. _ Systena elongata (Fab.) One, B. la F. _ Chelimorpha cassidea (Fab.) One specimen taken on a wild plant, 17th BE April. Spanish Fort. _ Coptocycla aurichalcea (Fab.) One on a leaf of elder, 28th April. B. la F. Noda convexa Say. Several, B. la F. TENEBRIONID&. . Mettobates pensylvanica (DeG.) Two or three under dead bark, 27th . Apal, 28) la F. _ Opatrinus notus (Say). Plentiful under old wood in dry places. Tribolium madens (Charp.) One, N. O. | Alphitobius piceus (Oliv.) Several under old wood, N, O. _ Strongylium tenuicolle (Say). One, B, la F, 72 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. MELANDRYID&. Penthe obliquata (Fabr.) Three under a log, 27th April. B. la FL MORDELLIDZ. Rhipiphorus pectinatus (Fabr.) One on leaves of a wayside herb, ith | May. B. la F. MELOIDZ. *Epicauta vittata (Fab.) One running on the ground, rst May. B. F. OTIORHYNCHID&. Tanymecus confertus Gyll. ‘Two, B. la F. pe Eudiagogus rosenschoeldi Fahrs. Two, one taken crawling on theground = by a road-side, 11th May, B. la F.; the other from N. O. CURCULIONID&. Listronotus tuberosus Lec. Quite a number of this species taken clinging on the under side of railroad ties lying on the ground not in > use, or pieces of wood in dry places, in company with the 3 three following, first part of April. Milnburg one " callosus Lec. With preceding, plentiful. un nebulosus Lec. With two preceding, quite numerous. "1 frontalis Lec. A number with the three preceding. Macrops delumbis (Gyll.) One or two with Listronotus. Eudocimus mannerheimii Boh. One pair in cottu taken in the flooded — forest on a pine or cypress stump, over a mile back of the levee, 6th June. They were lying under a chip in a4 crevice - on the top of the newly-cut stump. B. la F. | a Lixus terminalis Lec. Two taken on stems of weeds, 27th April wae > , 25th May. B. la F. oe Lissorhoptrus simplex (Say). Several attracted to lamp in the evening, oe 14th and 23rd May. BlaF. © | Conotrachelus cribricollis (Say). One, B. la F. Chalcodermus aeneus Boh. Abundant on stems of elder along ditchexb on. plantations, also taken on some young sprouts of cotton- : _ wood or poplar. B. la F. oe Baris nitida Lec. One, B. la F. a. *Unknown Rhyacophor. Larve taken, 18th April, from tamarind seeds found strewn over the planks of the “levee” at New Orleans, where the Central American and Mexican steamers come i One seed contained six or eight small, white larvee, “nea spherical, At same time some of the larve were found in Alni. Funeralis G. & &. ‘Odd Dagger.” Larva on hickory, (Thaxter). Subgenus Lepztoreuma. Gr. Type: A. Hamamelis. 40. Ovata Gr. “ Oval Dagger.” 41. Exilis Gr. 42. Hamamelis Guen. ‘‘ Hazel Dagger.” Larva on chestnut, oak, (Goodell, Thaxter). . Haesitata Gr. . Increta Morr. . Dissecta G. & F&. ‘Frail Dagger.” ‘The flimsiest, smallest species. Subgenus Arctomyscis Hubn, Type: A. Euphrasie. . Sperata Gr. Subgenus JZastiphanes Gr. Type: A. Xyliniformis. . Xyliniformis Guen. ‘Sleepy Dagger.” Larva on birch, blackberry, (Thaxter). . Pallidicoma Gr. . Extricata Gr. . Edolata Gr. . Lithospila Gr. ‘“Streaked Dagger.” Subgenus Ludonche Gr. Type: ‘‘One of them spun itself up July 26th, changed 27th, and came out Aug. sth. Some that enclosed themselves in Sept. and Oct. did not come out till the 22nd of March following.” Abbot, in Ins, Ga., figures no Nison- _ ’ iades but /uvenalis. His larve behaved very differently from this of Zcelus, or from the account given by Mr. Scudder. By the time Zce/us was hibernating, the /zvena/is had pupated, and the late brood, Sept. and Oct., Abbot says, pupated and passed the winter in chrysalis. : The only satisfactory description of a Nisoniades caterpillar published is that of Zuctlius by Prof. Lintner, Ent. Cont., 4, 67. He in fact describes all stages, egg, four moults and chrysalis. His larva fed on Aquilegia Canadensis, pupated 6th August, and the imago came out r2th — August. Two other larve pupated 8th and oth August, and both gave. butterflies on 15th of same month. Mr. Lintner says that there are two. annual broods of the butterfly, and possibly a third. So far as I know, © the references to the life-history of our Nisoniades above given embrace: everything that has been published. | ye The behavior of Zce/us is therefore peculiar to itself so far as anything — is known of the genus in this country ; the larva going into lethargy so early in the season, the last of July, and that when fully mature and when ; pupation might naturally be expected ; spending eight months in that con- — dition, eating nothing in the spring, but pupating several weeks after mild — weather had come. There might have been an earlier brood than the one — of July, but probably there was no later one, and the two, if there be two, must be the limit. \ — Ohe Canadtan Entomolonst. VOL. XVII. LONDON, ONT., JUNE, 188s. No. 6 ENTOMOLOGICAL EXHIBITS AT THE NEW ORLEANS EXPOSITION. BY THE EDITOR. The United States Government exhibit, and those of several of the _ States, at the New Orleans Exposition, included many features of interest to the Entomologist. The Entomological Bureau of the Department of Agriculture had a very fine display illustrating Economic Entomology, which was brought together and arranged under the direction of Prof. Riley, and was not only interesting, but very instructive. The first thing that caught the eye of the visitor on cuiering this section was a series of large diagrams on cotton, illustrating the life history of a number of injurious insects, such as the Plum Curculio, Cono- | trachelus nenuphar, and its parasites ; the Chinch Bug, Aficropus leucop- _ terus; the Jumping Sumach Beetle, Blepharida rhois; the Boll Worm, | Heliothis armigera; the Round-headed and Flat-headed Apple-tree Borers, _ Saperda candida and Chrysobothris femorata ; the Codling Moth, Carfo- : capsa pomonella ; the Peach Borer, Aegeria exitiosa; the Grape Phylloxera, na Phylloxera vastatrix, and a large number of other well-known injurious species. The insects themselves were arranged in cases near by, and _ grouped so as to show those injurious to the apple, pear, peach, orange, strawberry, raspberry, currant, gooseberry, melon, cranberry, persimmon, ‘grape, sugar cane, hop, rice, Indian corn, small grains, cotton, grass, __ Clover, pea, bean, cabbage, potato, tomato, tobacco, asparagus and onion. _ Many of these groups were very complete, having’ along with the perfect insects the pupz and blown larve, with specimens of the articles injured, also the friendly insects which aid in subduing those which are injurious. _ There was a very interesting section relating to bees and bee-culture, — ineluding all sorts of-hives and apparatus, specimens of the different races of bees, with dried specimens of the plants and flowers from which honey is chiefly extracted. A large department was filled with every kind of spray apparatus for 102 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, weit Li at applying liquid poisons to growing crops for the purpose of destroying injurious insects. The silk exhibit was also very instructive, showing this substance in all stages of manufacture from various species of silk worms, inglucig: some of our natives. A very complete catalogue of the exhibit had been prepared, covering 95 pages. 8vo., which was freely distributed to those specially interested in the subject. In the Florida exhibit there was one case of insects containing a num- ber of butterflies and beetles, including some beautiful Papilios, the only familiar species being cresphontes. There were no names to the speci- mens, and nothing to indicate who they were collected by. North Carolina shows four cases of insects without names, including | some very handsome species of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Neuroptera. In the Texas department there was a gorgeous display, the collection | of L. Heiligbrodt, of Bastrop, Bastrop Co., Texas, consisting of twelve. 4 cases of Coleoptera and twelve of Lepidoptera, classified and named, including some of the most brilliant and perfect specimens ever seen by the writer, with wonderful metallic lustre. Mr. H. also exhibited forty- three cases of European insects. : The State of Mississippi shows one case of insects fancifully arranged, collected by Miss P. Crump, including all orders, among them some rare and interesting butterflies. In the Maryland exhibit, Mr. E. Louis Graf, of Baltimore, has a very singular looking display consisting of several cases of insects with the specimens arranged in fanciful designs and representing objects such as the American eagle, etc. _ In the woman’s department there was a collection of galls by Miss” Cora H. Clarke, of Boston, in eight cases; also a series of excellent drawings of insects and parts of insects by Wis A. B. Comstock. ee Among the exhibits from Japan there were quite a number of insects : shown by the educational department, consisting of four cases of Lepi- _doptera, including some very beautiful diurnals and handsome moths. The only familiar butterfly here was that cosmopolitan species, the Painted - Lady, Pyrameis cardui. There were two cases also of Coleoptera, con- | taining some handsome longicorns, one case each of Neuroptera, Hemip- tera and Orthoptera, and one of mixed Hymenoptera and Diptera. In addition to these there were two large cases where the specimens THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 103 fe Were: grouped so as to show those injurious and those beneficial to agrt culture. | There were probably other collections of insects in the buildings, but _ there being no official catalogue to guide the visitor, there was great diffi: culty in finding them. — a REMARKS ON SOME SPECIES OF COLEOPTERA, WITH. SUPPLEMENTARY DESCRIPTIONS. BY JOHN HAMILTON, M. D., ALLEGHENY, PA. . | Many of the species of Coleoptera have been described from single, or, at the most, two or three specimens ; these often imperfect, immature, or with individual peculiarities. Owing to this, those who undertake to determine their insects by descriptions, even allowing a wide latitude of interpretation, are frequently in doubt and uncertainty. Where families and genera have passed through recent monographic -review, the re-des- cription of the species from better preserved or more abundant material usually obviates the difficulty, but enough still remain'to give trouble. Among these, the ones here introduced seem deserving of notice, as some further description is necessary for their identification without having recourse to friendly aid. Loxotus Schaumii Lec. The first difficulty is the feebleness of an important generic character ; to be a Toxotus the eyes must be emarginate, and they are so obsoletely so in the few individuals of this species that _ have come under my observation as to make this character opinionative. There are two forms of this species so unlike in color, that unless taken in close relation, they would scarcely be recognized as belonging to the same species. __. When Dr. LeConte described this species (Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phil., 2d series, vol. 1, p. 320), he seems to have only known one of these forms, characterizing it as “black, with whitish pubescence, legs black, femora _ yellowish, with base and tip black.” ‘This seems to apply to both sexes. _ And if the specimen in hand is of this color and recognized as a Toxotus, there is no further trouble. But should the specimen be reddish yellow, _ with black elytra so closely clothed with whitish grey pubescence as to _ conceal the color, antennze black, with yellow basal joint, and tarsi piceous, 104 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. the diagnosis might be incorrect and induce the collector, were he am- bitious in that direction, to add another synonym. | It is true, Dr. LeConte mentions, in a two-line notice, that this is a male form (Proc. Acad, Nat. Sci., 1862, p. 41) ; but, as the volume is not indexed, unless stumbled on accidentally the reference would escape notice. This appears to be a rare Cerambyan, and among the choicer. The specimen taken here was of the last mentioned form, being in length 1.20 inch. Heretofore it seems to have occurred only in Ohio, (LeConte, Dury). Leptura vibex Newm. A color variety of this caused me some trouble, notice of which, if any, has escaped my attention. Dr. Horn described the species under the name z/7tidico//is, giving a fine colored figure (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci, Phil., 1860, p. 570 and plate 8). Normally itis black, with the mouth parts and a narrow marginal and medium stripe (subject to variation) yellowish ; legs rufous; femora with the distal end black, or not. This describes the form found here. The other form previously alluded to corresponds also with this description, except that the thorax is entirely yellow. I took it in Ohio, forty miles westward from here, but did not find the other form there, so that perhaps it is a local race. The species appears to be distributed from Northern Michigan through Canada and southward to Virginia. The variation in the extent of the elytral stripes is considerable ; in some individuals the marginal one is obsolete and the dorsal reduced to a mere line ; in others they are dilated so as to leave only a narrow sutural and lateral stripe black; and some may possibly be found with the elytra entirely black, or entirely yellow. . Rhinoncus longulus Lec. is common and very abundant, occurring from Florida to Michigan, and also in California (LeConte.) Here it feeds exclusively on Polygonum virginicum Lin., a plant growing in open woodlands, the leaves of which it perforates. Its season of greatest abundance is late in June, but it may be found sparingly till September. | a Though so common, it does not seem to be well recognized, no insect being oftener given in exchange. ‘This is probably because the descrip- tion (Rhyncoph. N. A., p. 284) only applies to rubbed or alcoholic specimens, omitting much of the vestiture as met with in life. In addition to Dr. LeConte’s description—‘“ thinly clothed with small white scales ; more dense, forming a short posterior-dorsal line on the prothorax, and an elongate sutural spot at the base of the elytra”—there is also an elon- i soe 5 Soom Same BR) estos 2 = ¢ he RO ey: Boge ih 0, 8. abet’ ers eee ee THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 105 gate sutural spot extending from the middle till near the apex, the anterior and posterior extremities of which are more or less connected with arcuate transverse lines extending to the margin, enclosing on each elytron a black ‘spot nearly destitute of white scales; the humeri are also similarly encircled; the sides of the thorax and abdomen are likewise moderately densely clothed with white scales ; the striz are deep, wide and coarsely punctured, with narrow rugose intervals. When first taken the insect has a very pruinose appearance, but rough handling or immersion in alcohol removes nearly all the scales, except the basal spot. Piazorhinus pictus Lec. is not very common. I have taken three 4 specimens and have seen three others. It probably lives on Ostrya Virginica (known here as Iron-wood). It is excessively variable in the color and ornamentation of its vestiture, no two of the six examples being alike, and only one of them approximating that of the type. Dr. LeConte described the species (Monograph Rhyncoph.) from a single insect taken in Georgia, as ‘‘ Testaceous, clothed with pale yellowish pubescence ; head and beak dusky. Elytra with a large, rounded, common, dusky spot, extending from the base to the middle, paler within ; and a dusky, oblique band more or less interrupted on the seventh interspace, which attains the suture about one-fourth from the tip.” Of those I have seen, one has the beak and head leonine yellow, like the thorax; the elytra being of the same color, mottled uniformly with brown ; another has the beak, head and thorax typical, but the elytra are dusky brown with a streak along the - external margins and an irregular fascia near the apex, tawny yellow ; another has the beak and head typical, but the thorax has a dark spot in front of the scutellum and there is a small dark spot on each elytron near the middle. ‘The others are still differently ornamented and need not be described, as the above shows sufficiently the variableness of the species in this respect. This species is likely to prove difficult for the collector to determine so long as he has the description of only one insect to refer to, and perhaps only about one in ten of his insects agreeing with it. This is one of the many cases that goes to show that, unless to meet urgent systematic requirements, it would give better results and prevent much confusion to await the accumulation of several specimens before attempting to describe a species. Among the errors that have become widespread in exchanges it may be of advantage to notice the following : _Microclytus gazellula Wald, has lately appeared on several exchange 106 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ARRAS Tee lists, but in every instance (four) the specimens sent me were Cyrtophorus — verrucosus Oliv. The descriptions of C. gaze//u/a Hald. and of C. ‘yrtophorus | Sibbulus Lec. (Lake Sup. p. 234 now united with it), show the color and markings to vary greatly individually, and to so closely approximate C. verrucosus as to be doubtfully distinguishable, and the separation must be made by reference to generic characters. In Microclytus the second joint of the antennz is as long as the fourth; while in Cyrtophorus the : second joint is short, and the third is longer than the fourth, (Class. — Coleopt.) No weight should be attached to color or grr 3 spe Bois a separation of these two species. | Anthonomus crategi Walsh, which is common and abundant on many : kinds of blossoms, especially wild cherry and laurel, is always sent me for A. rubidus Lec., which species I have not yet obtained. There should — not be much trouble in distinguishing them, as crategi has only six joints in the funicle of the antenna, while rusidus has seven—a matter ea determined by counting them under a microscope. | Oy Llater protervus Lec. has been united with semicinctus Rand fea 2 Cryptobium latebricola Nord. with padlipes Grav., both of abcde: have : always been troublesome to collectors. 3 There are many other names on the list that deserve the same treat: ment, and will, no doubt, eventually be united as the variations in ae size and sculpture within specific limits become better known. 4 a ‘ (. SEASIDE CAPTURES. BY FREDERICK CLARKSON, NEW YORK CITY. I @isited ire Island, Rockaway Beach, Long Beach and Cot ey Island during the seasons of 1883 and 1884. Found myriads of Cicindela hirticollis and dorsalis, Say. ‘The beaches were fairly alive with these beetles. The Zzrtico/lis were most abundant in the latter part | June and early part of July, and dorsadzs at the end of July and beginning ; of August. These beetles may be found throughout the length of ~ these beaches. ‘They have a singular habit of collecting in great numbers at certain points, where in spaces of about fifty feet square they are as numerous as flies about a stable. This was frequently observed, and so far as the general character of the beach and the surroundings were col THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 107 cerned there was nothing to favor the particular locality. My activity and success in taking these interesting hexapods at the seaside excited on many occasions the curiosity of some equally interesting bipeds, who, barefooted and wading through the surf, doubtless ridiculed my energy and thought me mad. ** Let Hercules himself do what he may, The cat will mew, the dog will have his day.” At the last of spring and in the early summer, Ca/osoma scrutator Fabr. can be found at these beaches. The past seasons, however, gave me but few specimens. Doryphora decem-lineata lined the shore during both sum- mers, having been developed in great numbers in the many potato fields of this island-garden of New Vork. Cofalpa lanigera Linn, and P. humeralis -Fabr. were found during the month of June among the sea weed; the former : readily discovered by its brilliant coloring of green and yellow, and the _ latter by its scarlet spot in a setting of dull blue. A wrecked dark furnished me with good specimens of Wecrophorus Americanus Oliv. and other genera of the Silphidz family, together with an occasional unpleasant reminder _ of the dog that had hadhis day. Of the tribe Cetoniini only a few specimens were obtained ; Euryomia fulgida in June, Al/horina nitida in July, and £. inda at the last of summer. Harpalus caliginosus Say was captured in September hid away in the drift at the tide mark. Of this species I would : _ note here the suddenness of its appearance in Columbia county, this _ State, in the autumn of 1882. In the early part of September I found a single specimen. under a stone. On the 13th, a dark and misty day, I captured twenty, and could have taken hundreds feeding upon the seed tops of a common weed, Ambrosia artemisiefolia. The day before and for several days thereafter until the 27th, when I returned to town, only an occasional one was seen. Among the treasures of the beach I collected several shells, perforated in every part by the young of one of the lower order of Crustaceans, and rendered immaculate by the washings of the tide and the sun’s rays. The minute winding galleries, not larger than pin holes, displayed exquisite workmanship, resembling the most delicate lace. The mouth parts of these Sea Worms, or Barnacles, are strong and corneous, and are capable of excavating galleries in the hardest substances. I have in my collection a portion of - aslab of white Italian marble, recovered in 1878 from the wreck of the : io Grecian, from Leghorn, that foundered off the coast of Long Island 108 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. twenty years previous. The specimen measures fout by six inches, has a thickness of one inch, and is so thoroughly honeycombed_ by these Crustaceans as to have reduced its original weight nearly one-half. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES, HABITS OF LARVA, ETC. BY W. H. EDWARDS, COALBURGH, W. VA. MELITZA Harrisil, Scud. I described the stages of this species in Can. ENT., ix., 165,1877. In fall of 1883, I received several larvee from Mr. Chas. Fish, of Brunswick, Me., which were carried through the winter in ice house. They were brought into a warm room 29th April, 1884, and rst May, began to feed, the plant being wild Aster. On 4th May, some were passing the fourth moult, and these reached fifth moult roth May. The first larva suspended 17th, pupated 18th, and the imago appeared eight days thereafter, or on 26th May. All the larval stages, however, were irregular. One larva passed fifth moult roth May, but did not pupate till rst June. On 7th June, ’84, I received from Mr. Fish about 20 larve in last two stages, and on gth about 50 more. Some were in third stage from pupa, or between _ 4 2nd and 3rd moult. The species evidently hibernates after both 2nd and 3rd moult, as JZ. Phaeton does. Mr. Fish wrote that all were taken on Dipoplappus, and says: “I found them sometimes 4 or 5 on a plant, always on the upper side of the leaf in the most conspicuous position. I 3 have never found them making any attempt at concealment.” Prof. Fer- a nald also says, But. Maine, that they make no web over their food-plant. MELITAEA PHAETON, Drury. I related in Papilio, iv., 69,1884, how Phaeton had come to be ex. — terminated in this region, by reason of a flood in the Kanawha River, in 1878, which covered the river bottoms to a depth of several feet in many places, and especially in the swamp where I formerly used to find the 4 larvee, as related in But. N. A., Vol. II. The swamp was under ten feet of water for two days after the larve had closed their webs for hibernation, _ in August. For several years I had seen neither larva nor butterfly. I had near my house, on high ground, a plant of Chelone glabra, which . THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 109 years before had been brought from this swamp in order to have food convenient when I might have larve of Phaeton, and 25th June, 1883, a knot of twisted leaf enclosing eggs of PAaeton was found on this plant. Some straying butterfly had found the plant and laid a large cluster of eggs on it. The larve from these were carried through the winter, about 60 of them, and I determined to re-people the swamp. On 2gth April, 784, I had searched it for larvae, but found none. On 22nd May there- after, I turned loose 2 # 6 9, and 1st June, 12 ¢ 3 Y. On 17th July, I visited the swamp again and soon found five webs, with hundreds of _ ¢aterpillars. Mr. C. Troxley, of Louisville, Ky., wrote me that he had taken Phaeton feeding on Mimulus ringens, a plant not before recorded. _ Miss E. L. Morton, of Newburgh, N. Y., has fed the larve in confine- ment on the narrow-leaved Plantain. The other plants known are Chelone glabra, Gerardia pediculata, Lonicera ciliata and Viburnum dentatum. Couias EvrRyDICE, Bois. ‘ I raised a brood of larvee of this species in 1884, from eggs sent by _ Mr. W. G, Wright, San Bernardino, on Amorpha Californica. I have several of these plants growing in my garden, sent by Mr. Wright, and by covering them in winter, or moving them to the cellar, they do well here. I described the stages of Hurydice in CAN. ENT., xv., 224, 1883, and then stated that there was no generic difference between the larva, eggs or | chrysalis of this species and Pzlodice, belonging to Group 2. ‘There seemed however to be a difference in the food-plants of the two groups, Philodice and Eurytheme feeding on Clover and Astragalus, the other on - ashrub. But I separated part of the Hurydice larve in ’84, giving them _white clover, and though they at first seemed unwilling to eat it, they did _ become used to it and went to pupation on it. The Lurydice butterflies that I have had or have received from _ Southern California are nearly all quite different from those taken about San Francisco, inasmuch as the disk to base of fore wing is not violet- ‘pink, but yellow. Some have a little changeable lustre, but most have simple yellow. VICTORINA STELENES, Linn. st I have recently received a fine male of this species, taken March, _ 1885, at Indian River, Fla, by Dr. W. Wittfeld. A few weeks later _ another was seen, but flying high, and out of reach. These are the only 110 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, examples Dr. Wittfeld has seen since he has collected butterflies, that is, in course of five or six years. Ste/enes is Cuban, according to Gundlach’s. * list, Papilio, vol. i., p. 112. It is also credited to Jamaica by Chenu—per- haps on authority of Doubleday’s Genera, which I have not at- hand to refer to ; though Gosse in his Naturalist in Jamaica does not mention it. It is found on the Continent from Mexico to Brazil. In my Synopsis, 1872, I credited this species to New Mexico, but on what authority I quite forget. At any rate, it was erroneous. Nor has it been taken in S, W. Texas, as Strecker’s Cat., 1878, says. In my Cat., 1877, I rejected the species for want of authentication. Its capture in Florida is the first instance known to me of its having been taken in the U.S. The species is very showy, expanding nearly 4 inches. Color pale brown, or blackish- brown, with a broad belt common to both wings of yellow green, and with submarginal green spots. Victorina ranks between the genera Timetes and Diadema. Dr. Wittfeld has at Indian River, at one time or other, taken three species of Cuban butterflies in single instances, viz. Papilio Polydamas, Diadema Misippus, and V. Stelenes. LYCAENA PSEUDARGIOLUS Bois. Spring form, PSEUDARGIOLUS. In But. N. A., vol. 2, I stated that this form of the species must re- produce itself in May of the next year ; the chrysalids “ probably produce butterflies in small numbers in July and later, but most of them hibernate, and give Pseudargiolus (form) the following May, or earlier” ; and I said that I had never yet succeeded in getting a chrysalis completely through the winter. Some time in the winter, when the butterflies (in the house) were ready to emerge, the shell of the chrysalis proved too hard for them to force it open, and they died prisoners, but with full color and markings of Pseudargiolus in the wings. Observations in the field, as I related at length, supported the view I had taken as to this form of the species. he In May and June, 1884, I had got together 28 chrysalids of form ~ : Pseudargiolus. n July, I buried them under rocks in the forest, in a shallow box filled with leaf mould—first scalded to kill eggs or larvee of depredating insects—the upper and under side of the box being covered with fine wite gauze. This seemed to be as near as possible to the — natural conditions, consistent with protection against marauders, as I could get. On 27th October, I opened the box, and found 26 chrysalids - apparently alive (as they had on trial perceptible weight), and two 4 23 ia THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Lil crumpled butterflies, form JVeg/ecta. The box was then returned to its hiding place. On 26th March, ’85, I brought the box to the house, the day being warm and spring-like. In ordinary years spring is fully opened by end of March—fruit trees in blossom. I found several of the chry- salids dead, changed in color to yellowish-brown, and light in weight. But others had weight and were of good color. There were no indica- tions of the wing markings through the shells. Lest the warmth of the house should dry the chrysalids, they were placed on a shelf outside, shaded from the sun. For several days thereafter cold weather, frequently with snow, prevailed, but about middle of April pleasant days came again. On 18th, I saw the first Z. Violacea on the wing, and I then looked at the chrysalids. Several showed the black margins of female _ through the wing covers, and I expected the butterflies to emerge forth- with. But as none came, two days later I brought in the box and examined the chrysalids one by one. None of them now had any per- ceptible weight. On opening the shells, one after another, the butterfly was dead, but with full color of form Pseudargiolus, wherever there was any color at all. The bodies were exhausted of fluids and flattened, but were flexible, and the wings were not dry, but could be readily separated. One live butterfly only appeared, and on removal of the shell, it crawled up a bit of cloth on side of the box. But the wings did not expand and the insect soon died. Its body was as thin as the others, and plainly it would have quickly died in the chrysalis. It had not the strength to break out, and the shell, and all the shells, were hard. There was no example in these butterflies of form Vzo/acea. ‘The experiment was satis- factory, though I would have been glad of the perfect butterflies. As stated in But. N. A., Violacea, the earliest of these forms, originates Neglecta of July, and the late /Veg/ecta hibernate in chrysalis and give Violacea in March and April the next year. But the bulk of the Violacea chrysalids must hibernate, though the actual proof by the chrysalids is yet wanting. Ihave had the same difficulty in carrying them through the winter as with those of Psewdargiolus. The singularity of this compli- ‘cated species is that the form Pseudargiolus is stuck in between Violacea and /Veg/ecta, in the spring, with no direct relation to either. This form perpetuates itself, but gives rise to some /Veg/ecta in the late summer, and these last produce Vio/acea the next spring. If this late connection were severed, as is conceivable, Psewdargio/us would stand alone, separated , entirely from the other forms of the species, and there would be nothing 112 | THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. to show how it originated. No doubt that is one way in which species come to exist. NEONYMPHA CAaANTHUS, Bois.—Lec. Curysais.—Length .62 inch; breadth across mesonotum, .16, across abdomen, .17 inch; cylindrical, slender ; the edges of wing cases promin- ent on the dorsal side ; head case more produced than in Debis Portlandia (which species this chrysalis otherwise much resembles), bevelled trans- versely to a sharp edge, excavated roundly and shallowly at the sides, the top a little incurved, the corners sharp ; mesonotum prominent, carinated, the sides flat and sloping, the apex almost angular, being rounded but | slightly ; color green ; the top of head case and dorsal edges of wing cases buff ; a buff mid-dorsal stripe, and one on either side of this (sub-dorsal) ; © also a faint lateral stripe of same color. In Can. Enr., xv., p. 64, 1883, I described all the preparatory stages of Canthus, except the.chrysalis, which I had been unable to obtain, larvee which I had had at one time or other dying before pupation. I received the chrysalis described Aug. 22, 1884, from Mr. James Fletcher, at Ottawa. Mr. Fletcher writes: ‘‘ The larvee were quite common this spring in beating the high lake and swamp grasses.” It is probably because the natural food of Canthus is swamp grass that I have always had so much difficulty in rearing the larvee on meadow or lawn grass. The larva is in shape, and in most respects, closely like that of Gemma. Both are very slender and both carry on head a pair of conical horns, and the chrysalis of Gemma shows two long conical processes at end of head case. But in the chrysalis Canthus is like Portlandia, and of the Satyrus type (as in S. A/ope), stout bodied, with truncated head case. With this chrysalis we now know every stage of the several species of Neonympha which live east of the Mississippi River. Experiments with larve as to food plants. The larve of P. Rutulus feed on willow, and this seems to be the food they prefer, just as Zurnus prefers the Tulip tree where there is a choice. Rutulus was observed by Mr. Behrens, in 1884, on species of Populus. I received larvae just hatched from Mr. Wright, and lost one brood by giving them Tulip leaves. After two or three days the last one had died, with symptoms of poisoning. Having heard that apple and cherry were food plants of the species, I offered these and willow to the next lot of ; a Pe ad Uy Re ee Sig, | Sa i as, ‘ x PRESS CU a. SN eee Wee LM ing: Wee gt se ee ee ee” a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 113 -larvee, and found all gathered to the willow. Henceforth I had no diffi- culty, and found these larvze as easy to rear as larve of Zurnus. This suggested an experiment on Zurnus. There are several lists of food plants of this species, two of them by Mr. Scudder, and nowhere is willow mentioned. I was feeding a brood of these larve last year, and on 20th August, immediately after 4th moult, separated part of them and gave willow only. They nibbled a little now and then, but in effect eat nothing, did not grow, were flabby to the touch and empty, and all died of starvation by 2nd Sept. The remaining larve, on Tulip, reached pup 30th Aug. and rst Sept. On relaxing dried butterflies. I notice, ENT. xvi., 220, something on modes of relaxing insects. For butterflies, I formerly used an earthen jar, with cover, in which were afew inches damp sand, the insects being laid on the sand. But if the sand was at all too wet, the insects were liable to be saturated and much dam- aged, and if left too long, to mould. For many years I have used a towel, first dipped in water and wrung out, folded twice, and laid on a board. In the folds the papers are laid, or if the butterflies are removed from the papers, they are placed between layers of newspapers. Small species, as Lycaenz, relax perfectly in 5 or 6 hours ; most Hesperians -over night ; Colias and Argynnis within 24 hours ; and Papilios in from 24 to 48 hours, according to size of body. It may be necessary, and certainly will be in warm weather, to wet the towel again, and perhaps with Papilios more than once. On removal, when about to spread, if moisture shows on the under surfaces, remove it by blotting paper. The advantage of this mode is its convenience, and the fact that the insects will not become too wet, nor can they mould, as the towel becomes dry too soon for that. : Butterflies on pins I float on cork in covered tin pails—two quart is a 2 good size. In this case no moisture collects, and the relaxation is about as rapid as in the towel. Small species I often float in a tin-capped glass. If one has not the pail at hand, the floating may be done in anything, a bowl or a pitcher, but a wet cloth should then be laid over the top. On carrying hibernating larve through the winter. I have sometimes so carried larve in ice boxes, or in ice houses, or in _ snow banks, by aid of friends in the Northern States mostly, but last fall J heard of a large room called a “cooler” at the Sanitarium at Clifton 114 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, Springs, New York, in which meat and vegetables are kept, the tempera- 4 ture averaging 4o° all the year, and my application for a little space was 4 kindly received. In October, I sent on two boxes by express, in which — were a large number of larvae, some of them very rare. Of these were Argynnis Halcyone, just from egg ; Satyrus Charon, also just out of egg. These small larvee were in paper pill boxes, inside tin. There were also a few larve of Chionobas Chryxus, Hip. Ridingsii, Colias Alexandra, Phyciodes FPicta, in stages from second to fourth ; and several Melitaea Rubicunda, past third moult, from Vancouver’s Island, and Phaeton at same stage. Early in March I received the larve per express. On open- ing the boxes nearly every one of the young larvee first named were alive, and in a few moments were moving. The larger part of Rubicunda and Phaeton were in good condition. One A/exandra out of two was healthy, and one Picta out of three. The Chryxus, past third moult (one), and the Ridingsiz, past first (one) were dead. On the whole, there was — scarcely any loss from the four months seclusion. The Chionobas, I am | disposed to think, died in transit to me, from rolling about in its box, as it was stout and healthy looking when I received it. Probably all the — Satyrid larvee would have done better if they had not been allowed to feed in the fall, but had on hatching been subjected to the cold. Ihad no plants ready for these larve on their arrival except grass, and on this I — placed part of the Charon, who very soon began to eat along the edges of the leaves. The remainder of all species I put on ice, or under rocks ~ in the woods, to stay till I could force food-plants for them. : ADDITIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN HYMENOPTERA. | BY L. PROVANCHER, CAP ROUGE, QUEBEC. ICHNEUMONID&., In a lot of Hymenoptera captured in Vancouver Island, and sent me_ by Mr. Brodie from Toronto, I found the following new species:— Ichneumon Vancouveriensis, nov. sp. gf —Length, .62 inch. Black ; face with four dots white, one on Lo side near the clypeus and one under each antenna. These entirely black — THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 115 and sub-moniliform. One dot on the alar scales with a line before and another one under, the collar, and scutellum, white. Wings slightly infus- « cated ; the areolet pentagonal, the nervures black. Metathorax with the angles projecting, sub-spinose, the ventral area transverse, its anterior angles rounded. Legs black, the four anterior tibize with a white line -exteriorly, the posterior with a smaller one near the base. Abdomen _ elongate, with the peduncle slender and punctured, entirely black. Van- ~ couver. | Allied to Zech. subcyaneus Cress., but of a larger size, with crura entirely black, and white markings also different. PLATYSOMA, hov. gen. (From fatys, depressed, and soma, body.) Head large, much produced behind the eyes, these somewhat small. Antenne half the length of the body, setaceous, thick, with short articles sub-moniliform. Thorax long and depressed, the prothorax produced - anteriorly in the form of a neck, narrower than the head; the mesothorax é _ with its median lobe advanced and elevated upon the prothorax ; scutel- lum depressed, with a fossula before ; the metathorax elongate, bearing four longitudinal carine. Wings short, areolet wanting, the nervule dividing the two cubitals short. Legs with crura swelled, inermous, the _ tibize cylindrical at the base, thence enlarged and slightly compressed, the intermediate ones much compressed in the middle of their enlarged por- tion. Abdomen elongate, shortly pedunculate, the first segment depressed, bearing a carina on the lateral edges, the extremity slightly compressed and cleft under side for the reception of the terebra, which is as long as __ the body. | Allied to Xylonomus and Odontomerus, but differing from both by the _ shorter and thicker antenne, by the inermous crura, and by the form of - the tibize. — Flatysoma tibialis, nov. sp. 9 —Length .45 inch, length of the terebra .45 inch. Black, with legs rufous and abdomen brownish rufous. The head and prothorax strongly punctulate, the fossula before the scutellum striate. The metathorax transversely striated at the base between the carinz. The first abdominal _ segment finely aciculate between the lateral carinze. Valves of the terebra _ brown ferruginous. Vancouver. \ 116 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, Limneria compacta, NOV. sp. 9—Length .23 inch. Black, with the legs and abdomen rable Mandibles, palpi, and alar scales, white. Antenne filiform. Thorax short and thick, the mesothorax gibbous, the metathorax declivous. Wings | slightly infuscated, with a triangular sessile areolet. Legs rufous, the pos- terior coxee black at the base inside. Abdomen forming a small elongate — | club with a slender and elongate peduncle, black at the base and ex- tremity. Terebra about one fourth the length of the vpebetiey as re- i curved upwards. Vancouver. Peans Closely allied to Z. ruficoxa Prov., but differing by the sessile areolet,, the legs entirely rufous, etc. | Mesoleptus fasciatus, nov. sp. is FETS ta f qf — Length .2z0 inch. Black, the face under the antenng at haye not patch above their insertion, the palpi, the alar scales, the 1 cop eee edges of the prothorax, with the four anterior coxz and their trochanters, white. Antennz shorter than the body, setaceous, black, the scape obscurely whitish underneath. Metathorax large, with distinct elevated lines. Wings hyaline, without areolet, the stigma pale. Legs pale rufous, the posterior with the cox, and the extremity of their tibiae and tarsi, brown, more or less obscure. Abdomen rather stout, linear, black, obscurely white on the sides, the segments with a polished fascia at their 2 posterior edge. Vancouver. : Differs from AZ. decens Cress. by its white rata and the seulpture of its metathorax. . | LEchthrus Provancheri, Brodie. (Mr. Brodie having kindly dedicated to me this beautiful new species, : and not having seen its description published, I submit it here below.) | a 9 —Length .48 inch. Black, abdomen partly rufous ; head and thorax entirely black, very finely punctured ; the face with a stall tubercle in the middle under the antennz ; mandibles, palpi and antennee, all black. The mesothorax trilobed, the metathorax rugulose on the sides and pos teriorly. | Wings slightly infuscated, the nervures and stigma black, 1 areolet large, subquadrate. Legs rufous, the anterior coxee, the crura an tibiae of the posterior pair at their extremity, black, the posterior tarsi wit the first and last article black, the median ones white. Abdomen pedun culate, its peduncle polished and shining, the other segments punctu THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 117 a segments 1, 2 and 3 bright rufous, the rest black with the penultimate _ white. Terebra black, thick, very nearly as long as the body. 4 —With palpi and four anterior coxz and trochanters pale, no white patch on the penultimate segment of abdomen. Vancouver. This species is easily distinguished by its coloration. BRACONIDA. Phylax pacificus, nov, sp. g —Length, -35 inch ; terebra about the same length. Brown ferru- ginous ; the head, the pro and mesothorax with the last segments of the abdomen, black. Antenne black, long, setaceous. Head large, produced behind the eyes; vertex convex. Metathorax ferruginous, punctured. Wires *iscated. Legs ferruginous, all the tibize with a small pale ring “-e. Abdomen finely aciculate on the first segment and the Dasa. . the second, the other ones polished, shining. Terebra black, of the same length as the abdomen. Vancouver. Phylax niger, nov. sp. § —Length .23 inch. Black, with a whitish pubescence. The head much produced behind the eyes. Antennz long, slender, setaceous. Wings slightly infuscated, the nervures black. Legs rufous, coxe, tibize and the extremity of crura black. Abdomen elongate, black, the first segment with the basal half of the second aciculated. Vancouver. ENTOMOLOGY BY THE ELECTRIC LAMP. BY PROF. E. W. CLAYPOLE, AKRON, 0. ) During the past winter an installation of about too arc-lamps Was es- _ tablished at Akron,O, They hang as usual over the middle of the street. Early in the summer it was evident that they would afford a fine hunting- ground for the entomologist, and accordingly several members of the Natural History Society of Akron resolved to turn the opportunity to ac- count by making collections of the insects attracted by the light and com- paring and noting the results. 118 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. I have not yet ; ascertained what Siete have done, but the following. notes, of my own observations may interest some readers of. the ENTOMOLOGIST wy _ At the opening of the season the Cockchafer (Z, fusca) was almost the only visitant, but in such numbers that specimens might be collected, — by the quart for a few evenings. Gradually other species appeared. — Belostoma americanum and Calosoma calidum were conspicuous, the — former for its size, and the latter for its beauty. The former has obtained — the popular name of the “ electric light bug.” It is supposed to have ap- peared with the lamps, and is oftenest brought to. me for identification. The grave- digger beetles, Wecrophorus, Silpha and Hister, were not infre- 4 quent. Why they come to the light is not easy to say. ‘Possibly. the car; | rion which they usually seek is slightly phosphorescent, and attracts: them by jits glow, and, they are deceived by the brilliancy of the electric. BEE | Several.small Carabids were abundant about the same time, br nie yet been identified, at As June advanced moths became more abundant is bea not bed be . cause the latter fell off, but because the former largely increased. On: a warm evenings a perfect swarm played round the lamps; hour aft ei hour. | Every. now and then one and another dashed into the globe, ‘struck the glowing carbons, dimmed the light and was killed or consumed with ae hissing-noise. By morning a handful, sometimes a half pint, of dead it sects was accumulated at the bottom of the lamp-glass, mostly. scorched and burnt. In this way immense numbers are destroyed, but no apparent diminution ensued. One morning in June I obtained about a hundred specimens of the very abundant little grass moth (Crambus mutabilis — Clem.) from every lamp examined. This means a destruction of above — a ten thousand individuals nightly of this one species. As the process has been going on for at least a fortnight, the 102 lamps in this city have killed | = about 1,500,000 individuals. Yet still they come, and in undiminished a numbers. | Since then Dart-moths (Cut- soci of various species have begun to 4 appear. About the middle of June I collected above 50 specimens from — three lamps. It was apparently 4. subgothica Haworth, though Riley (Entomolog. Rep. of Mo., 1868, p. $2) says this species does not appear till September. Positive identification of these moths is often | difficult, ‘This implies the destruction of about 1,500 nightly. Other species: of Dart-moths not yet identified were equally numerous. One would think a such wholesale slaughter must diminish their numbers, and nerhaps the ie a : B el Sera re ree Pe epee ae ee ~ ‘THE ‘CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 119 ne ene ner oes = eee eee results will be seen in future. years. If..the eggs were laid previously no such result could be expected. But the frequent occurrence of 8s in the collecting boxées:shows that thiscig not the ¢ase 4 4% _. The Tiger:Moths (A7etia, etc.) have been equally abundant, iptdint Ae virgo, . Were all that have ‘collected identified, as I hope they soon will be, the list would be long. | . TThe- white-lined: Hawk Moth (D. lineata) with others of the same family, i is a frequent visitor, The Water Tiger, D. marginalis, with two or three smaller Dytiscids, are often taken. These and most of the heavy fliers strike the globe and fall stunned to the ground, but soon recover un- less boxed at once. ao The ‘Stag Beetle ( LZ..dama) and Fire ‘fly ( P. ‘soasylianica ) appeared later and less frequently with the great Lebia (Z. grandis) and Dichelony- cha eongatila, the latter for a few evenings in great abundance. A . single specimen of the Codling Moth was captured. 7 About the end of June a new fauna began to appear. The Cock- chafers had nearly disappeared. But the great Ground Beetle (ZH. cadigin- osus) supplied the place, and in so great numbers that one evening I filled ‘a four-once bottle in fifteen minutes. With it came two, to me, unexpected ‘Visitants, the Blister Beetles (Z. vittata and atria). _ This is but a partial list of the species already collected. Several of the large and conspicuous moths have been met with, and I hope later to send a longer catalogue. ; __. But we are not the only insect-hunters about the electric lamp. Every _ evening the toads congregate until the ground is alive with them, and food is so plentiful that they are sometimes almost unable to return to their holes and often past hopping. Several times also I have suspected the presence of skunks, but have never yet seen a frog. Small boys, too, flock to the lights for the sake of stamping on the cockchafers and other insects that lie disabled on the ground. Between the toads, the skunks and the small boys, the entomologist is sometimes hard put to it, and must work late at nights or betimes in the morning, or both. Could he only in _addition to the real insects make a collection of the huge phantasmagoric ‘spectres that fly and creep about the roadway projected by the intense light, he would have an array of ‘“ bugges” that might fairly be called ‘ terrors by night.” 120 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. CORRESPONDENCE. Dear Sir: The following insects have lately een bdetermined for me _ ' by Dr. H. A. Hagen, of Cambridge. As they are not includedin the Society’s published lists, I send them just as received for publication : in the ENTOMOLOGIST. J. ALSTON Morar, 1. Dicosmoerus (Stenophylax) argus 3 Warris. Desc. and fig. in Harris’s Ent. Correspond.; also by Provancher. 7 Oe 2. Pteronarcys proteus Newm., f. Also in N. Y. : 3. Leptoterus nobilis Hag. Nearly destroyed, but I think surely though there exist related species. . 4. Ctenophora frontalis Sacken, 2. In pieces. 5. Mallota posticata Fabr. 6. Epeolus, probably 3 in six or seven pieces. 7. Archasia galeata Fabr. For determination of the four non-Neuroptera, I have taken the names. out of our collection. The Aantispa—not Mantis—is a Hemerobid,and is MW. brunnea Say ; also described by Provancher as very common at te: aaa Hyacinthe. His specimen, 47. Burguei Prov., was a variety. | a H. A. Hee : ROCKY MOUNTAIN BUTTERFLIES. Dear Sir: Please add the following species to the list of diumals. collected by me in Rocky Mts., beginning at No. 123: : 123. Lapilio indra Reak. Seen but not taken at Koutanai Pass, ‘ afterwards identified from specimens received from the Pass. ) 124. Pteris vernalis Edw. Crow’s Nest Pass. 125. Colias elis, nov. spec., Strecker, Nite ef So 1884.) Kicking Horse Pass summit. 126. Colias chrysomelas Hy. Edw. 1 7 only taken. Calgary. GAMBLE GEDDES, Toronto, Ont. — & The Canadian Entomologist. VOL. XVII. LONDON, ONT., JULY, 1885. No. 7 * NOTES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF NORTH AMERICAN XYLOPHAGIDA: AND STRATIOMYID. BY S. W. WILLISTON, M. D., PH. D., NEW HAVEN, CONN. Soe rl dl ole Ae et ah eee eens g * 0 eee ent, SS eee are ae ae cael | pap DYNES 2a RA Se ae a ae pee bass Me oe Sb Lis is < Xylophagus decorus, N. sp. 2. Length 13 mm. Black, legs yellow. Front convex, but little shining, thinly brownish dusted. Antenne black, the tip of first joint and the second more reddish brown ; elongate, the first joint rather longer than the distance from the insertion to the ocelli. Proboscis black Dorsum of thorax shining on the sides, in the middle with two broad brownish pollinose stripes, separated by a shining linear space. Pleure shining black. Abdomen blackish brown, shining. Legs, including the -coxee, reddish yellow, the tips of all the tarsi black. Wings nearly hya- line, a broad brownish band, near the middle, narrowed and evanescent posteriorly, the outer cross-veins clouded and the outer part of the wing cinereous. _ One specimen, Washington Territory (H. K. Morrison). The abdo- men probably varies in depth of color. Xylophagus gracilis, n. sp. g, 2. Length 9-1o mm. Black, legs light yellow. Front grayish dusted. Antenne black, the third joint toward the base on the inside, yellowish ; only a little longer than the head; first joint only about three times as long as the second, considerably shorter than the distance from the insertion to the ocelli. Thorax shining, the dorsum with two broad, narrowly separated, pollinose stripes ; humeri and post-alar callosities ob- scurely yellowish. Halteres yellow. Abdomen shining black, white pubescent, rather slender and cylindrical in the male. Legs, including the coxze, light yellow ; outer end of all the femora, and the tip of hind tibiee, lightly brownish ; tip of the tarsi blackish. Wings hyaline, varie- gated on the outer half with brownish, the stigma narrowly brown, 122 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, | Two specimens, Washington Terr. and Mt. Hood, Oregon (H. K. Morrison). Coenomyta cineretbarbis Bigot. Annales Soc. Ent. Fr. 1879, 194. This species was described by Bigot from a specimen from Baltimore. As usual with this author, he does not point out differences, merely saying that this species resembles certain varieties of C. ferruginea in color. Now it is well known that C. ferruginea is very variable in coloration, so much so, in fact, that it has received twelve or thirteen specific names. — The coloration hence of Mr. Bigot’s specimen, from analogy, is compara- tively worthless as a specific character. Nothing else is mentioned except the villosity. From this, however, I believe I recognize the species in a male specimen caught in the woods near New Haven, in June. It is of a deep brownish black, the femora of the same color. The abdo- men above has the second segment. wholly black (shining), the third seg- ment with a large light yellow spot on the posterior angles, the fourth segment with a similar but smaller one, and with the posterior margin likewise yellow, the remaining segments chiefly yellow. The species will be best distinguished from C. ferruginea by the presence of rather long and abundant yellow pile on the dorsum of the thorax, whereas in ferru- ginea the dorsum is nearly bare. Subula pallipes Loew. This species has hitherto only been known from the Atlantic States, but specimens from Montana (Prof. Comstock, No. 50) and Southern California cannot be separated. ‘The western specimens show a broader yellow hind margin to the abdominal segments, but otherwise I can dis- tinguish no difference. Subula parens, 0. sp. a 2. Length 13 mm. Front black, light yellowish pubescent, shining — about the ocelli. Antenne black, the inner side from the base, except the — upper margin, yellowish red. Face black, proboscis and tip of the palpi reddish yellow. Dorsum of thorax black, the lateral margins, interrupted just behind the suture, and extending inwards a short distance in front, and a slender spot on the suture on each side, yellow. Pleuree and coxee black, the former with a median vertical spot, connected above with a slender stripe reaching from the humeri to the root of the wings, and a large spot on the sides of the metanotum, yellow. Abdomen brownish Ro eee Aone eR wea. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 123 red, black at the base. Legs yellow, a broad preapical ring on the hind femora black, the ends of the hind tibie brown, hind metatarsi a half longer than the remaining joints together. Wings strongly tinged with yellow, the veins a little darker. One specimen, Washington Ty. (H. K. Morrison). Beris mexicana Bell.? S, 2. Length 7-8 mm. Eyes pilose, broadly contiguous in the male, the frontal triangle small ; front in female rather broad, with parallel sides. Head black, shining, with luteous pile. Antenne black, the base of the third joint yellowish ; third joint. thick at the base, the whole antenna not longer than the distance from its base to the ocelli. Thorax and scutellum bright shining green, with a purplish reflection, pile in the male only moderately long, luteous ; scutellum with six blackish spines, and on each side sometimes with a rudimentary additional one. . Abdomen black, but little shining, along the sides with yellowish pile. Legs yellow; all the tarsi, except the base or, larger part of the first joint, black. Hind metatarsi in the male considerably swollen, longer than the remain- ing joints together. Wings strongly tinged with yellowish, the stigma large, brown. : Six specimens, Colorado (Morrison, Prof. Comstock, No. 47). Some 3 of the specimens have the hind femora above at the tip blackish. This species is most closely allied to B. mexicana Bell., but differs in the abdo- men being ney black. A comparison with Mexican specimens is needed. Sargus decorus Say. (=? S. xanthopus Wied.) Hab. New Eng., Colo., Wash. Ty. Sargus viridis Say. (Sargus nigribarbis Bigot, Annales Soc. Ent. France, 1879, 224.) Hab. Eastern, Middle and Pacific States. This species is a true Sargus; the eyes of the male are not contigu- e bis, and are bare. Macrosargus clavis, n. sp. : f, 2. Length 9-10 mm. Vertical triangle and the under part of the face in the male, and the upper two-thirds of the front and the face likewise in the female, bright shining green, frontal triangle and the lower part of the front (2) moderately projecting, yellowish white, front in the 124 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. female of moderate width, parallel. Antenne and proboscis yellow. Thorax bright shining green ; humeri and a slender line reaching to the root of the wings, and the sides of the metanotum broadly, light yellow ; pile of dorsum and mesopleurz yellow. Abdomen in the male pedicil- late, the second segment cylindrical, in the female moderately contracted toward the base; black, with a bronze lustre ; second segment in the female, except the lateral margins, yellow ; the posterior angles of the third and fourth segments narrowly yellow ; in the male the second seg- ment is obscure yellow ; pile golden. Legs, including the coxe, yellow. Wings nearly hyaline. Two specimens, Virginia (Theo. Pergande) and North Carolina (Prof. Comstock). Ftecticus Sackenti, n. sp. | Ptecticus testaceus Osten Sacken (non Fabr.), Cat. Dipt. 45 ; Lynch Arribalzaga, Catalogo, etc., 125 (17).| @. Length 11mm. Front narrow, shining black, the lower part and the face yellowish white. Thorax yellow, the dorsum with three broad, more brownish, stripes. Abdomen reddish yellow, the second, third and fourth segments with a black fascia, acute at each end and not reaching the lateral margin. Legs yellow, the hind tibize brownish, becom- ing black at distal end, hind metatarsi black, the following joints nearly white, last three joints of front tarsi blackish, of middle tarsi brownish, the third joint of all these tarsi less dark. Wings hyaline, with a light yellowish tinge. A specimen from Florida (Pergande) agrees with the ones men- tioned by Baron Osten Sacken in the note on page 45 in having the four last joints of the hind tarsi yellow, the terminal ones not being black, as described. Lynch says in regard to these species (1. c.): ‘‘ Los ejemplares de Nueva York de que habla Osten Sacken deben pertenecer a otra; todos los mios tienen los tarsos posteriores como los’ describe Rondani.” Ptecticus similis, 0. sp. ft, @. Length 11-12 mm. Head and antennz wholly yellow, the frontal tubercle below prominent, the smail ocelliferous tubercle black. The front in the female narrow ; in the male the eyes nearly contiguous above the tubercle. Thorax yellowish amber color, the humeri, postalar callosities, the sutures narrowly, and a large spot on the sides of the meta- notum, light greenish, two linear striges on the back part of the dorsum, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. oe bas less distinctly so. Knob of the halteres green. Abdomen brownish yel- low, the incisures and posterior angles of the segments yellow, the sides of the base greenish, across the anterior part of the segments the color ‘broadly brown. Legs reddish yellow, the hind tibize and tarsi brown, two last joints of all the tarsi blackish. Wings with a faint yellowish tinge. Three specimens, Virginia (Pergande), and Georgia. I would at first have identified this species with Sargus trivitatus of Say, but grass green - can in no wise be applied to my specimens, the color being so faint green _ that it is scarcely observable to the naked eye. The third joint of the -antennze is by no means rounded, but trapezoidal in shape. Hermetia aurata Bellardi, Saggio, etc. i., 27, tab. i., fig. 8; Loew, Centur. x., 11 (ZZ. chrysopila). A single specimen from New Mexico agrees very well with the des- criptions. ‘The first joint of the antenne is chiefly black. _ Hermetia lativentris Bellardi, op. cit., 27, tab. 1. fig. 9. A female from New Mexico. I refer to this with some doubt. The head is wholly yellow, except the ocelli; the first segment of the abdomen is not. black, the second has a narrow median black stripe. Bellardi’s figure shows but three posterior veins, probably an inaccuracy. Flermetia Comstocki, ni. sp. g, 2. Length 15-18 mm. Head reddish yellow, with yellow pile. ’ Antenne only a little darker yellow, the tip of the second joint and the lamella deep black; lamella rather broad. Dorsum of thorax blackish brown or black, the sides and the middle behind brownish red; the black ’ forms two rather broad median stripes, abbreviated behind, separated by a golden tomentose stripe; on each side there are two large indefinite black spots; on each humerus, running inwards and backwards for a short distance, a spot of golden tomentum. Pleurae, except above and the sides of the metanotum, black, a spot above, contiguous with that on the side of the dorsum, clothed with yellow pile. Scutellum yellowish red, the base narrowly black. Abdomen brownish red, but variable, some- _times brown or blackish, the second segment on its posterior border and the remainder of the abdomen, with short thick golden pile, changeable in different reflections. Abdomen elongate, broadest on the second segment. _ Legs wholly reddish yellow, front cox in front of the same color, the tarsi a little lighter, tibiee somewhat dilated, the hind pair very distinctly 126 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. bent beyond the middle in the male. Wings deep brown along the anterior half, broadly infuscated along the posterior border, leaving a space hyaline in the anal cell and the base of the fifth posterior cell. This is a handsome large species, rather larger than 2//ucens, which it resembles in shape, the abdomen being more convex. Two specimens, Arizona, from Professor Comstock (No. 46). Luparhyphus, 0. sp.? : 2. Length 6 mm. ‘The head and thorax of this species agree throughout with Loew’s description of Z. stigmaticalis, except that the scutellum is yellow, with the base narrowly black. The abdomen shows a distinct difference in that the first segment has a small lateral spot, and the second, third and fourth segments with a large green triangle on the posterior angles, extending to the front margin of the segment and touch ing each other behind on the fourth segment ; the inner margins of these green spots are yellowish. The fifth segment is wholly greenish and yellowish to the naked eye. The abdomen shows a broad greenish yellow margin. ‘The legs are wholly yellow, except the last three joints of the tarsi, which are black. The wings agree also, except that the veins and stigma are less dark. : One specimen, Washington Territory. Euparhyphus ornatus, 0. sp. 2. Length6 mm. Front and face yellow, with black markings, as follows: A spot on each side in front of the ocelli; a slender stripe from — near the ocelli to the oral margin, interrupted at the antenne ; a broader stripe (broader above) beginning a little lower on each side and reaching to the oral margin. First two joints of the antennz yellow, the third wanting. Occiput black. The lateral orbits yellow. The lateral margins of the face, and the posterior orbits below, white pollinose. Thorax black. Two very slender dorsal vittule, broadly separated, the humeri and a slender line reaching to the base of the wings, the postalar callosities, the margin of the scutellum and spines, a-spot in front of the wings on the pleurze, contiguous with the line above it, and a smaller spot below, yellow. Abdomen black ; the third segment on each side, with a rather large semi-elliptical spot, the slender lateral margin of the remaining — segments, and the broader hind margin of the last segment, yellow. Legs yellow ; the hind femora and tibiz in their middle infuscated ; the last a ea a aa a UN a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 127 three joints of all the tarsi blackish. Wings with the veins of the disk fuscous ; third vein furcate. One specimen, Washington Territory. Luparhyphus bellus Loew. Three specimens from Pennsylvania, all evidently of the same species. I identify as this, but the species is variable. The head in both females agrees with the description ; the head of the male likewise agrees with the specimen spoken of in the note. In one female there are two slender yellow vittulze in the front of the dorsum, in the other two it is wanting. The scutellum is wholly black in all, except the spines. The abdomen in all agree in having two small circular yellow spots on the disc of the third segment, a minute yellow spot on the posterior angles of the third and fourth segments, and a large semi-oval yellow spot on the fifth seg- ment, otherwise the abdomen is wholly black. In one of the females the first discal posterior vein is but the merest rudiment. I do not doubt but that Loew’s male and female specimens belonged together. A single male specimen from Connecticut is related, but it may be different. It is somewhat larger, and differs from my male of Z. de//us in having two larger yellow spots on the disk of the third segment, and two additional similar ones on the fourth segment. Clitellaria lata Loew. A male specimen from Washington is apparently this. A female from California has the pubescence of the head and abdomen more golden colored than white, and the third antennal joint is much more thickened. Clitellarza argentata, Nn. sp. Length 8 mm. {f. Black, with light colored pile and silvery pubescence. Eyes broadly contiguous, thickly fuscous pilose. Pile of the front and face light gray. Antenne rather slender; first two joints, tip of the third, and style black, remainder yellowish red. Thorax, with light gray pile and nearly uniform recumbent silvery pubescence ; a slender median stripe, a little broader, interrupted one, on each side, two small spots on the pleure, and the metanotum, glabrous ; spines of the scutellum yellow. Abdomen, with short recumbent white pile, nearly uniform, with small, oval, nearly glabrous spots on the front margins of the anterior 128 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, a, , segments. Legs with white pile, the color of the tarsi less dark. Wings nearly hyaline, the stigma luteous. One specimen, Arizona, (Prof. Comstock). Cyphomyta, n. sp. Five male specimens from Jamaica differ from the described species, except perhaps varipes Gerst., the description of which I do not have access to. The base of the third joint of the antenne, and the scutellum, are red, and all the metatarsi, except the tip, light yellow. Otherwise steel-blue black. The eyes pilose. Nemotelus unicolor, Loew. Two specimens from Pennsylvania. In one of them the two basal joints of the antennz are yellowish. Another from Arizona (Prof. Com- stock, No. 52) I cannot distinguish. Nemotelus crassus Loew. Three specimens from Western Kansas agree with the apy of this species, but are somewhat smaller. Pachygaster pulchris Loew. - Two females from Montana differ but little from eastern specimens. The femora have only a blackish ring in their middle. Odontomyia cincta Olivier. Encycl. Meth. viii, 432, 3; Macquart, Dipt. Exot. i. 2, 189; Day, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1882, p. 80 (O. extremis, type compared.) Atlantic and Pacific States. Odontomyta flava Day. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc., 1882, 76. The type specimen in my collection is partly destroyed by ek I give as complete a description as it will permit. g. Length 11mm. Head black, face of usual size, with two obeciie yellowish spots below, clothed with light colored pile. Dorsum of thorax — black, with rather long light pile. Scutellum black, the spines of the same color, rather small and approximate. Abdomen black, with a rather narrow yellow margin and with two slender, broadly interrupted, yellow. posterior cross-bands (on the second and third segments), venter yellow. Legs yellow ; femora at their base, and the distal part of the tarsi brown, the tibize in their middle with a brownish ring. Wing hyaline. Veins yellow, third longitudinal vein furcate, third posterior vein rudimentary. Como, Wyo. Resembles O. znegualis Loew, but differs in the scutellum a and abdomen. PEN epee ge ee ea | eae Oe ae ia! 3 i (DF GEL Ee ST EE AES eee aie ob bee ee Ce es Sane ae THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 129 ON THE HESSIAN FLY IN ITALY. BY H. A. HAGEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. As I have stated (p. 90, May, 1885), I had made inquiry of Dr. Anton Dohrn about the existence of the Hessian Fly around Naples, Italy. His kind answer, together with pens notes by Dr. Paul Mayer, gives the following information. From the two old books quoted by Sir J. Banks (p. 88), Corti is not represented in the library at Naples. Ginnani (Dr. Giuseppe Fatta writes Giannini), Part ii., cap. lx., p. 127-209, gives: ‘‘ Osservazioni ed esperi- enze particolari intorno all’infestamente degli insetti.” He speaks in this chapter on several flies which attack the grain, among them one which attacks the roots, but his statements do not allow us to decide with cer- tainty whether some of the flies belong to Cecidomyia. Dr. P. Mayer draws my attention to another work which was. entirely unknown to me ; the copies published are all lithographed: ‘4. Costa.—Lezioni di Ento- mologia agraria precedute da un quadro generale della classi del regno animale raccolte ed autografate degli alumni M. Pilato e M. Montanari. Portici R. Scuola Superiore d’ Agricoltura 1880, 4to., pg. 528, pl. 9.” “ Cecidomyia tritici, p. 514, Sp. *“‘ Body black, sooty ; wings blackish, a little paler towards the base ; legs brownish. ‘The females deposit the eggs near the joints of the plant and between the stem and the respective leaf. The larva, which are hatched, live gregarious near the lower joints of the plant between the leaves and the stem, in which they sometimes excavate niches by shaving the wall of the stem. The plants for this cause sooner or later grow sickly and never straighten themselves. When the larve have completed their development, while some give place to an agamous reproduction, others in the very place in which they find themselves are transformed into pupze, from which after a few days are hatched perfect insects, which lay new eggs.” It follows a short description of the larva. Tearing out the plants and burning them is quoted as a remedy. _“ Tn our province (Naples) the Cecidomyia is not frequent. Accord- ing to facts which are reported to us, they are abundant in the neighbor- hood of Brindisi, as Signor Montagna has also assured us, who has sent us specimens.” 130 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Dr. A. Dohrn has made inquiries in Rome about the Hessian fly, but without success. The passage quoted out of A. Costa’s lectures is of prominent interest. It proves without any doubt that the insect is wot C. tritici, which never lays the eggs between the stem and the leaf, and which has never the coloration of the imago as given in the description. Both facts agree perfectly well with C. destructor. The determination of a species of Cecidomyia of course can not be considered to be doubtless before speci- mens have been compared, the more as the short description contains some statements which if based on personal observation, are entirely new. One of them is decidedly startling, I point to the fact that some larvee after having completed their development, give place to an agamous re- production. {Compito che hanno, queste larve, il loro sviluppo, mentre talune danno luogo alle riproduzioni agamiche altre, nel posto stesso in cui trovansi si transformano in pupe delle quali dopo pochi giorni schin- dono gl’insetti perfetti che depongono novelle uova. | : I have purposely put the Italian text in brackets after the translation, as the end of the passage seems to state that the larve which have an agamous reproduction do not when full grown transform themselves into pup. A similar reproduction, as is well known, has been observed in several species of Cecidomyia by Nic. Wagner, Meinert, Leuckart and others—the so-called paedogenesis. It has never been observed till now for the Hessian fly, and the principal reason for doubt that Mr. A. Costa has really meant paedogenesis, is the fact that he has not expressed him- self in a more explicit manner, though he must have been aware of the importance of his statement. I should remark that Mr. Balt. Wagner speaks indeed of two different kinds of larve of the Hessian fly. The fact that females of the Hessian fly lay eggs without copulation was long ago published by myself. These eggs developed so far that the segment- ation of the embryo was visible. The glass tube containing the eggs having unfortunately been left in the sunlight, no further development could be observed. % | Mr. A. Costa states that the larvae sometimes make niches by shaving the wall of the stem. This is contrary to all other observations, which state that these niches are made simply by pressure. Asa Fitch is very explicit about these facts, but when he states that the larvae do not enter the central cavity of the stem, he is largely at variance with the direct observations of Mr. B. Wagner and myself. I have indeed still before me THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 131 stems with the flax-seed (pupa) in the centre of the stem. The larve live gregariously, according to Mr. A. Costa, but I have never found more _ than four pup at one joint. : _ After all, it would be of prominent importance to compare the species from Naples with specimens of the true Hessian fly, which was collected - there long ago by Prof. Dana. Af DETERMINATION OF THE 36 COLEOPTERA DESCRIBED BY D. ZIEGLER. BY SAMUEL HENSHAW, BOSTON, MASS. Re Descriptions of New North American Coleoptera,” Proc. Acad., 1844, V. 2, p. 43-473 1845, V. 2, p. 266-272. Oxyporus pulcher. 43° W. Pa. = O. femoralis, Grav. Diacanthus splendens. 44 " Belongs to Corymbites. Scyrtes suturalis. Pa. = S. orbiculatus, Fabr. : Hydnocera? longicollis. " 5 Spercheus tessellatus. " = Belongs to Hydrobius. _ Hydrophilus ovalis. 45 " Name || = H. ovatus, G. & R. _Coprobius obtusidens. " == Canthon laevis, Drury. Pandarus? brunneus. " Belongs to Anaedus. Cistela marginata. 46 " erythroptera. " ox. C. brevis, Say: Pedilus nigricans. " == Corphyra lugubris, Say. haemorrhoidalis. " micas. fr e 13 n elegans, Hentz. ee marginicollis. " Ss " labiata, Say. 15 Monohammus tomentosus. i" = Goes tigrinus, DeGeer. ~ Oedionychis ? hispida. " = Hypolampis pilosa, Illig. Philonthus ater. 266 Pa. = Quedius capucinus, Gray. Tachinus puncticollis. 267 i" == T. fimbriatus, Grav. ? : _ Phoenops luteosignata. ‘Geo. = Melanophila notata,L.& G, 20 Agrilus quadriimpressus. " == A. acutipennis, Mannerh. Limonius definitus. 268 = Car. 152 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Priocera albomaculata. U.S, == Crepya vetusta, Spin: ? maculata. Car: = P. castanea, Newm. Trogoderma pallipes. 269 Pa. | 25 Elodes debilis. Car. == Anchytarsus bicolor, Melsh fragilis. " = Cyphon ruficollis, Say. Eubria thoracica. ro, = E. nervosa, Melsh. Cis thoracicornis. 270 Car. Belongs to Ennearthron. Lathridius musaeorum. " == Silvanus advena, Walt. 30 unicolor. " = Cercyon castaneum, Say. Mycetophagus pini. " Monotoma opaca. ay Pa = M. fulvipes, Melsh. Psylliodes alternata. " Belongs to Longitarsus, Lycoperdina puncticollis. " = Phymaphora _ pulchella, Newm. 35 unieolor. 272 die Belongs to Rhanis. testacea, r 1 Mycetina. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF REV. D. ZIEGLER. BY DR. H. A. HAGEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. As I have stated in my notice on Melsheimer, nothing is known of his friend, Rev. D. Ziegler, except the publication of a paper on Coleoptera. Again I am indebted for a large part of the notice now given to the un- tiring kindness of Rev. J. G. Morris, of Baltimore, for many years a friend and correspondent of Rev. D. Ziegler. Nevertheless, desiring to find out something more of this father of American Entomology, I decided to go to York, Pa., and had the pleasure of seeing his wife, Mrs. Ziegler, his son, Dr. H. A. Ziegler, and the brother of Rev. D. Ziegler. Daniel Ziegler was born June 11th, 1804, in Reading, Berks Co., Pa. His father, and probably his grandfather, were born in America. There is nothing known by the family as to when their ancestors came to America. After he became of age he studied at the University of Penn- sylvania for some time. Later he studied Theology at York, Pa., at the German Reformed Seminary, under the presidency of Dr. Mayer. He was married to Miss Eve Eyster, and had ten children, of whom two sons are living. Kraeutz-Creek Church, six miles from York, was his first THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. . 133 pastoral charge, which he served 37 years. During 18 years he took care of 8 churches ; during 27 years of 6 churches. Later he retained only four. Afterwards he was elected to the German congregation in York, which he served about 13 years. During his ministry in Kraeutx-Creek he began to collect insects and to study Entomology. His son told me that he often accompanied his father, and that he collected insects principally by beating in the umbrella, : an excellent method, but very little used, as far as I know, in America. - One of his churches was very near to Dr. Melsheimer’s home. We owe to this circumstance probably the friendship and the zeal for entomologi- cal studies of both. To help Dr. Melsheimer in describing the new species of Coleoptera for the forthcoming Catalogue, Rev. D. Ziegler published in Proc. Acad. Sc. Philad., 1844, vol. ii., p. 43-47, his only entomological paper, containing 36 new species. His scientific correspondence, which was considerable, both American and foreign, cannot be found. His library contained some excellent works, all very much used. When 60 years old he sold, together with Dr. Melsheimer, his collection to Prof.. L. Agassiz, The collection was packed up and forwarded to Cambridge by Mr. Ph. R. Uhler, from Baltimore. The contents of the collection are given in my Melsheimer paper, p. 196. Rev. J. G. Morris writes: ‘I remember hearing Ziegler say that he sold his specimens of Hymenoptera to a Swiss naturalist who has written upon that order, perhaps to De Saussure.” This may explain the fact that the collection contained only 60 species of N. Amer. Hymenoptera and 14 from Europe. Rev. D. Ziegler died May 23, 1876, in York, Pa., 71 years, 10 months, 12 days old. “There was nothing whatever eventful in his life, and besides his few entomological contributions, he was nothing more than a plain, plodding, honest country parson.”—(J. G. Morris). DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW VARIETIES OF CATOCALA CEROGAMA, Guren., WITH NOTE ON A THIRD. BY PH. FISCHER, BUFFALO, N. Y. C. aurella, 2, new var. Primaries and thorax light gray, strongly shaded with yellow ; h. p. and t. p. line with t. a. line very distinct ; teeth below U somewhat 134 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. rounded ; reniform indistinct ; subreniform distinct ; a broad, pale, tan- colored line (outside of white shading of t. p. line) running parallel with t. p. line. . : meh Secondaries bright yellow ; median band black, narrow, even, not reaching inner margin, marginal band broad, black with a slight yellow tinge ; fringes dirty white ; abdomen ochre-yellow. | C. eliza, 9, new var. Primaries very dark, powdered with black, a large egg-shaped whitish dash near apex reaching costa ; another larger one, shaded somewhat with dark gray, extends from the elongated U to lower margin. Whitish, slightly powdered with gray at base. T. a. line edged with an unusually broad white dash reaching from costa to base of subreniform (on its inner side), from which it is divided by a narrow dark line. All these white dashes are very prominent and showy. Reniform not very distinct. Secondaries more like the typical form, with the exception of being lighter and more yellowish at base ; fringes white, except at ends of veins. The third specimen comes nearer the typical cerogama, and is a male. The primaries are strongly marked, slightly darker ; reniform distinct ; subreniform met by a heavy black dash on the side towards base, running along t. a. line to costa. There is the “slightly brown” of the var. Bunkerit. | Secondaries with a narrow yellow band, the black quite prominent and with a faint purple hue. Fringes white tipped with black. The aboue specimens are in my collection. WHITE ANTS DESTROYING LIVING TREES AND CHANGING THF FOLIAGE, IN CAMBRIDGE, MASS. BY H. A. HAGEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. The common white ant, Zermes flavipes, destroys dead wood, stumps of trees and timber, just as does its nearest relative, Z: /ucifugus, in Europe. Of the latter species some cases are reported where living pines and oaks have been destroyed in the South of France. For Z: flavipes, only one case is known, in which living grape vines in a hot house in ~ Salem were injured. (S. H. Scudder, Proc. Boston, N. H.S., vol 7, 9 © p. 287). Now the earth in the hot houses here in Cambridge is largely THE CANADIAN ' ENTOMOLOGIST, 135 infested by white ants, but as far as I know, no destruction of plants has been observed. I was very much interested by the information from Mr. F. W. Putnam that in a garden in Irwing street living maples were largely infested by white ants. The evidence of the truth of this information was apparent by the first glance at the trees. They were three in number, some few yards separated, more than 60 feet high, two feet diameter at base, and apparently in good condition, except that the bark was in cer- tain places affected or split. Those places had somewhat the appearance of the well-known winter splits of the bark of trees. In removing parts of the bark, directly living white ants, workers and a few soldiers, were found, collected, and proved to belong to Z! flavipes. Closer observation showed that small open gangs, covered outside by the loose bark, ran along the tree to a height of 30 feet or more. ‘There were on this estate no old rotten stumps, but some of the adjacent uninhabited estates con- tained them, where probably the nest may be found; neverthe- less the whole estate was so overrun by white ants that they had made _ along the fence a long track covered with the hard clay-like mud with which they usually fill the eaten parts. As the boards of the fence were thin, it was perhaps judged safer to build the canal outside instead of on the interior of the boards. The house, a framehouse, about 10 years old, the stables and the wooden sheds were entirely intact. The estate near to it seemed to be entirely free of the pest. The foliage of the infested trees looked very remarkable. Mr. Sereno Watson, the curator of the Cambridge Herbarium, was at first at loss to determine the leaves; the size, the shape and the venation would not agree with any known species. But when he saw the tree, he was directly sure that it was only the com- mon Acer rubrum. Some fresh shoots near the base of the tree had un- mistakably the leaves of the common red maple. All the other leaves were very small, mostly not more than two inches broad, the midian lobe often short, sometimes blunt and not longer than the side lobes ; the rips below were about yellowish and decidedly less dark than on the red maple. The owner of the estate had for ten years not observed any change in the foliage of the trees. During the last winter the upper part of one tree, some 20 feet, broke down in a gale, and proved to be not infested by white ants. Now it was considered safe to fell the whole tree. The bark was, in the place where the gangs went up along the tree, extensively bored and hollowed by the white ants. ‘The wood itself was only two feet above the ground, filled with the common white ant holes and gangs, but no 136 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, more than one inch deep around the stump. The inner part of the tree showed the wood perfectly sound for 30 feet, except a perpendicular hole of two inches diameter in the middle of the tree, going down to the root. This hole, perhaps made by squirrels, had black ants as inhabitants. The two other trees are still standing. In consequence of those facts, I looked around in Cambridge, and have now the suspicion that perhaps the injury done to living trees may be less rare than I had supposed. If similar observations are made by entomologists, I would be thankful to sect them communicated to me. ON THE RELATIONS OF FUNGI TO GALLS AND TO LARVA OF CECIDOMYIA LIVING IN GALLS. BY DR, FRIEDRICH THOMAS, OHRDRUF, NEAR GOTHA, GERMANY. [This paper, an excellent addition to an excellent American paper by Mr. W. Trelease (Psyche, vol. iv.,.p. 195), is published in the Jrmischia, Vol. v., No. 1, p. 4, 1885. As it will be difficult for American students to have access to this periodical, I have translated the substance. Dr. Thomas has seen only the record of Mr. Trelease’s paper in Botan. Cen- tralblatt, xx., p. 356, by Dr. Ludwig.—H. A. Hacen. ] Larvee of Cecidomyia living in the spore-layers of Uredinez are also found in Thuringia, Germany. In fact the discovery of the community in the same layer of two otherwise very different parasites is at first some- what wonderful and startling. The right explanation will be a double symbiosis of a phanerogamous plant and of a fungus, and of a fungusand _ an entomozoon. Years ago I received from Gotha such larve out of the rust-fungus of Rosa. A similar manner of living is known in Germany for Diplosis coniophaga, Winnertz, and for D. ceomatis, Winn. Their larvee were found by F. Loew in the rust-fungus of several plants (of Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien., 1874, p. 155). Iam able to add two new facts. I found larvee of Cecidomyia on Vaccinium uliginosum in the spore layers of Thecospora Myrtillina, Karsten (Melampsora vaccinii, Alb, et, Schn) on the Beerberg in the Thueringerwald. The other one was sent to me by Dr. E. Levier from Florence, Italy. ‘The leaves of Zanacetum balsam- ita, L. (Erba’di Santa Maria) had in the Puccinia Tanaceti balsamita, D. C., many small, red larvee of Cecidomyia. Iam not of the opinion Se 2 Arent THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 137 that this guard is of prominent advantage for the plant. The enormous numbers of the spores of the rust-fungus wlll scarcely be diminished by these larve to any extent, that the guard may be considered to be a prac- tical advantage for the plant. The second point of interest in Mr, Trelease’s paper is that the larvee open the way for the fungus in the plants. I may state as an analogous fact, that here the pustulae and pocks on the leaves of Pomacez, made by Phytoptus, are not rarely filled by fungi, especially by the carbonized ones. The last plant I received by the late Alex. Braun, in 1877, from Blankenburg, Hartz., was a leaf of Sorbus aucuparia, with fungus immi- grated in the galls of the mites. A NOTE ON SOME HYDROPHILID. BY GEORGE H. HORN, M. D. Hydrophilus, as heretofore recognized in our fauna, contains two sets of species, the one series large, the other relatively small. They also differ in the form of the maxillary palpi and should properly be considered distinct genera defined as follows :— HyproPuHiLus.—Terminal joint of maxillary palpi much shorter than the penultimate, the second joint long, arcuate. Claws toothed. TROPISTERNUS.—Terminal joint as long or even longer than the penul- timate, the second joint moderately long and straight. Claws not toothed. The large species belong to the first series, and but two have appeared in our lists. In the Biologia Cent. Am., vol. 1, pt..2, p. 54, Dr. Sharp mentions two others as occurring in our faunal limits, AZ zmsularis Cast. and H. ~ ater Fab. The former has long been known to us, but has remained without name in our cabinets. The latter, which I have never seen, is quoted rather indefinitely by Dr. Sharp, “ Philadelphia, Texas.” The species known in American collections are as follows :— fT. ovatus G. & H. (ovalis || Zieg.) Form more broadly oval, thorax more deflexed in front. Prosternal groove open in front. Abdomen opaque, densely finely pubescent, except a narrow space at the middle of the last three ventral segments. 138 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. The claws of the anterior tarsi { are very nearly equal, the last joint about one and a half times the length of the four preceding joints and not broader than these, as is the case in the next two species. The tooth of the tarsal claws is much longer than in either of the foregoing species. ‘This species is readily recognized. It is less widely distributed than the others, but specimens are known to me from Pennsylvania, Mis- sourl and Georgia. H. triangularis Say. More elongate and narrower than either the preceding or next species. Prosternal groove closed in front. Ventral segments smooth and shining, except for a narrow space on each side, each segment with a conspicuous pale spot. The male has the claws of the anterior tarsi very unequal, the anterior or outer being much larger and stronger, the last tarsal joint oblong, wider and a little longer than the preceding joints together, and much longer than wide. This species occurs from the Middle States to Oregon, southward into Mexico, HZ. insularis Cast. Larger than the preceding species and less slender. Prosternal groove closed. Abdomen smooth, the sides narrowly opaque, the yellow spots very indistinct or absent. a The male has the anterior claws very unequal, the last joint of the front tarsi as long as the preceding four, broadly triangularly dilated, slightly broader than long. When once the form of these two species is fixed in the eye, there is no difficulty in distinguishing them independently of the male characters, - which are very obvious. This species is known to me from Texas and Arizona. It extends to Guatemala, and occurs also in the Antilles. Tropisternus apicipalpis Chevr. This species should be added to our lists. It is much larger than our other species and more narrowed posteriorly. The terminal joint of the maxillary palpi is a little shorter than the preceding, thereby approaching Hydrophilus. The last ventral segment has a strong spiniform crest. It is more nearly related in our fauna to glaber and mixtus, and differs from both not only in its larger size and by being more narrowed posteriorly, but also by the middle and hind femora being very dissimilarly punctate. | Occurs in Arizona, the peninsula of California, and in Mexico. } = ‘ie: i THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 139 Berosus Salvini Sharp, Biol. loc. cit. p. 79. This species also occurs in our fauna. It belongs to the same series as punctatissimus and resembles it, but is rather more elongate, the sculpture smoother and the apical spines of the elytra more prolonged. Occurs in Texas and Mexico. BOOK NOTICES. Report of the Dominion Entomologist for 1884.—Department of Agri- culture. Ottawa. A long felt want has at last been supplied in the appointment of a Dominion Entomologist, and a well qualified expert selected for the work, Mr. James Fletcher, whose preliminary report is before us. His appoint- ment was made so late in the season that he has been unable to do more than furnish a brief report, in which reference is made to the organization of the department under his charge and the measures taken to interest all those engaged in agriculture and horticulture in the work. Following this is a report on the quality of the Paris green found in the market, with results of the analysis of six samples ; also reports on insects injuring _ grain crops, hay and clover, peas, root crops, fruits and forest trees; altogether a useful review of the chief injuries caused by insects to these several crops during 1884. We sincerely congratulate Mr. Fletcher on the good work thus far done, and earnestly hope that he may be able to carry to a successful issue the plans laid out for the present year. Eighth Report of Observations on Injurious Insects and Common Farm Pests, with Methods of Prevention and Remedy, by Eleanor A. Ormerod, Dunster Lodge, near Isleworth, England ; 8 vo., pp. 122, with 39 cuts. Published by Simpkin, Marshall & Co., Stationers, Hall Court, London, England. We are much indebted to the talented authoress for a copy of this valuable report, which is in no respect behind its predecessors. In the preface reference is made to the relations of birds to insects, wherein the sparrow is condemned very strongly. Its habit of driving away other and more useful birds, together with its grain-feeding propensities, are fully recognized in England as well as in this country, and fairly entitle it to” be regarded as an enemy rather than a friend. More extended reference is made to this subject in a chapter headed “Birds, Depredations of Spar- 140 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST’. rows.” The insects which have proved injurious to the following fruits, vegetables, trees, etc., during the past year, together with the best methods of preventing their ravages, are also treated of in the following order: Apple, beans, cabbage, carrots, corn and grass, gooseberry, hop, mangold, oak, onions, parsley, pine, potatoes, raspberry, turnip and willow. ‘The report also contains chapters on marsh snails and the ox bot-fly. Miss Ormerod has succeeded in awakening much interest in England on the subject of injurious insects, and by her careful observa- tions and experiments has conferred lasting benefits on the agricultural community. CORRESPONDENCE. Dear Sir: On page 113 of the present volume I stated Soneeiae that in neither of Mr. Scudder’s lists of food-plants was willow attributed to P. Turnus. In ‘ Butterflies,” p. 309, willow is given. It is however an exceptional food-plant. W. H. Epwarps. COELOPA FRIGIDA, FALLEN, Dear Sir; The occurrence of this fly (which is common along the shores of northern Europe) in N. America, was known long ago. It is always found where /ucus vesiculosus abounds. Nevertheless its previous stages seem to be still unknown, and it is the intention of this note to draw attention to this fact and to invite readers to fill this gap. Mr. J. H. Sears, of Salem, Mass., collected the flies in tide pools at Marblehead, Mass., Nov. 30, 1884. In 1877 I received a large number raised in the cellar of the chemical laboratory of Harvard College, Nov. 6. There had been stored a large quantity of fresh sea weeds for chemical examin- ation. I think it is to be supposed that the larva lives not only in the dry © dead sea-weed, but probably also in the living. The species would then be an addition to our known marine insects. After Zetterstedt, this species is identical with Doumerc’s Psallidomyia fucicola, but I cannot consult this paper. Schiner, vol. ii., p. 319, says, Wetamorphosis ignota. I would be glad to be informed about the previous stages of this species, or—if they are published - to know the author. What is known about the previous stages of the Diptera has not yet been collected, and is so scattered in different papers that it is very difficult to find if the metamor- phosis of a given species is known and published. H. A. Hacen, Cambridge, Mass. Che Canadian Entomologist. VOL. XVII. LONDON, ONT., AUGUST, 1885. No. 8 = MONOGRAPH OF THE EMBIDINA. BY DR. H. A. HAGEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 1. Oligotoma Cubana, Na. sp. Olyntha? spec. larva. Hag. Synops. Neur. N. Amer., p. 7. Olyntha Cubana, larva, imago, Hag. Psoc. Embid. Synops. Verh. Wien. Z. B. Gesell. 1866, p. 221, 223 (no description). eS Olyntha Cubana, McLachl. Linn. Soc. Jour. Zool., vol. xiii, p. 381. Male, dry. Length of body about 8 mill.; exp. of wings about 12 mill. Head light brown, little longer than broad, narrowed behind the eyes, convex above, without any impression, rounded at the sides, cut straight near prothorax ; labrum large, paler, rounded; antenne pale brown (only 13 joints present) ; 1st large, cylindrical; 2nd very short, as long as broad; 3rd as long as 1st, thinner, somewhat thicker at tip; all following similar but a little shorter ; antenne and head densely clothed with very pale hairs ; maxillary palpi 5-jointed, pale brown, apical joint long, conical; labial palpi small; tip of mandibles black. Prothorax light brown, narrower than head, somewhat enlarged to the mesothorax, one half longer than broad, flattened ; before the apical third with a trans- versal sulcus ; legs brown, paler on articulations ; fore legs with tibia and Ist joint of tarsus enlarged. Wings narrow, faintly rugose, very pale brown, with five longitudinal white bands ; radius yellowish ; sector bifid ; five transversals between the upper branch and the radius. Abdomen long, brown, hairy ; appendages long, slender, hairy. The specimen is carded, and the parts not very discernible. If there is a difference, the basal joint of the left appendage is larger, and the apical joint of the right appendage is longer ; between both above a short bent process, and on the left side of it a conical lobe, short, open at tip. Hab. Cuba. The only specimen I received May, 1865, from Prof. Poey. It is No. 8 of his catalogue, and was named as Olyntha probably 142 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, after the notice in my Synopsis, p. 7, where a larva from Cuba was men- tioned as perhaps belonging to Olyntha? I think the specimen, when caught, was young; it can not be decided if the colors are fully devel- oped ; it is carded and in a delicate condition. It is of the size of Z. Salvinit McLachl., dut directly to be recognized as a different species by — the bifid sector of the wings. Oligotoma Cubana, Female? about 7 mill. long; dry. Head light brown, sparingly clothed with pale hairs ; shape of the male ; antennz brown, densely clothed with pale hairs, 18 jointed ; 1st stout, longer, 2nd very short, 3rd longer, all the following shorter, equal; the last one pointed ; palpi as in the male ; pro- thorax similar to the male, light brown ; thorax and abdomen blackish brown (by exsiccation); meso and metathorax nearly equal, oblong, with- out any trace of wings ; legs dark brown, articulation and tarsi pale ; last ventral segment of abdomen not divided, lightly rounded on tip ; of the appendages only the left one is present, but the tip of the apical joint is broken ; the basal joint is not dilated; above, between the appendages, is a small, thin. elongated lobe. Hab. Cuba; only one specimen carded and in bad condition, No. 136 of Gundlach’s catalogue was received in 1866. If Mr. Wood-Mason’s statements are to be accepted, it can be the female to the male described before. Should it be a female larva, which I scarcely believe it to be, it must belong to another and much larger species. The small larva quoted in my synopsis, p. 7, 4 mill. long, from the Museum in Berlin, was also received by Gundlach from Cuba. Probably it belongs to the same species, and is a larva. | 2. Oligotoma Hubbard, n. spec. Length of the body 4 mill. ; length to tip of wings 6 mill.; exp. of | wings 8 mill. Maledry: Head very light brown, shining; on the sides very sparingly clothed with pale hairs; convex above, slightly narrower behind the eyes, which are black and comparatively larger than in O. Cubana, and less distant one from the other above; the part of the head behind the eyes a little broader than long, rounded behind, cut straight before the prothorax ; antennz (5 basal joints present) pale brown, densely clothed with pale long hairs ; 1st joint short, cylindrical, scarcely longer than broad; 2nd very small, thinner, annular; 3rd as long as the two THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 143 basals, thicker on tip; 4th and 5th similar to 3rd, but a little shorter ; prothorax very small, much broader near the wings, divided by an anterior transversal sulcus ; legs as in O. Cubana; wings very delicate (probably the specimen has been in alcohol, as the wings are crumpled) pale ; vena- tion as in O. Cubana, sector bifid; transversals not well visible ; only indications of the white bands ; abdomen pale brown ; appendages broken. From what is to be seen of the tip of abdomen, the specimen is a male. Hab. Entreprise, Florida, May 24, by H. G. Hubbard, to whom the Museum is greatly indebted for interesting specimens and other beautiful biological discoveries. This is, as far as I know, the only specimen of an Embid collected in the U.S. It isin bad condition, and the description will have to be completed from other specimens. Though the species is obviously related to O Cubana, I believe the differences noted in the shape of the head and the antenne, and the remarkably smaller size, justify the consideration of O. Hubbardi as a different species, till the contrary is proved. Differ- ence in size has been noted, but never to such an extent. I possess only of one species eight specimens, which show differences in size, but Sue small ones. a 3. Oligotoma insularis. O. insularis McLachl., Ann. Mag. N. H., 1883, vol. xil., D- 227. Length of body 8 miil.; exp. of wings, 12 mill. Male, in alcohol: Body pitchy-fuscous, clothed with fine whitish pubescence ; head a little longer than broad ; sides oblique ; occiput half as broad as the front part ; eyes black, a little more distant one from the other than its diameter ; in the middle, a little before the eyes, a small transversal impression, perhaps homologous to the obliterated ocellus in _ Blatta and Termes. Antenne (only to joints present) fuscous, the arti- culations pale, whitish; 1st joint stouter than the others, a little longer than broad ; 2nd very short, annular ; 3rd twice as long as 2nd, a little larger on tip ; 4th and 5th shorter than 3rd; 6th as long as 3rd, the fol- lowing ones longer, more enlarged on tip ; mouth-parts a little paler ; maxillary palpi fuscous, articulations pale, apical joint ovoid, longer than the other ones, which are of equal length; labial palpi similar, apical joint ovoid, longer than the two basals. . Prothorax oblong, as broad as the occiput, a little longer than broad, on each side notched after the transversal sulcus. Legs pitchy-fuscous, the articulations and tarsi pale, 144 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. except the enlarged basal joint of the fore legs, which is pitchy-fuscous. Abdomen pale dirty brown ; the ventral ganglions very visible ; last ventral segment dark brown, strong, ending in a bottle-shaped tube, somewhat contracted before its round opening ; this tube is turned to the left side and partly surrounded by a horny hook originating between the left ap- pendage and the tube, on which it is laying somewhat in the shape of a cornucopia. On the right side near the right appendage is a similar hook, but larger and more dorsal, as long as the tube ; the basal half of it forms a spoon-shaped lobe, the apical third is analogous to the left hook, the tip bent up sharply ; before tip inside a kind of blunt tooth; appendages long, the apical joint as long as the basal; the left appendage has the basal joint perhaps a little thicker at base.; there is very little asymmetry if at all, in the appendages. Wings narrow, pale fuliginous; radius dark fuscous, venation fus- cescent; sector bifurcated, four transversals between its upper branch and the radius ; three costals in the apical half of wing, the last one best defined ; there are five longitudinal whitish bands in the wing. | Hab. One specimen from Honolulu. Mr. Hoffman, who owns a very large botanical garden there, containing many species of palms and orchids, had given orders to collect insects in his greenhouses. Among this miscellaneous lot was one O/igotoma. McLachlan’s description is made from three carded specimens from the Hawaiian Islands ; though it is difficult to compare dry and alcoholic specimens, it seems to be very probable that my specimen is O. éusudaris. The only difference of importance, the shape of the prothorax, may be the effect of exsiccation. A specimen from Antigua, in McLachlan’s collection, is so similar to O. insularis that he hesitates to separate it therefrom. Perhaps the latter may be O. Cudana. Finally, a richer material will have to decide if O. Cubana is really different from O. énsularis. The only specimen of the latter species before me is more delicate, the wings narrower, the colors much darker, the prothorax larger and different. It could have been imported into the Sandwich Islands with plants, just as other American insects. 4. Oligotoma Saundersit. O. Saundersit, Westwood. Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xvii., p. 373, pi. @, tai QO. Saundersiz, Burm, Hde., vol. ii., p. 770. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 145 O. Saundersii, Walker. List. Neuropt. Br. Mus., p. 531. O. Saundersit, Wood-Mason. Contrib. Embid. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1883, p. 628-634, pl. lvi., f. 1-5. O. Saundersit, Conry. Ascension Isl. Zool. Ann. Mag., N. H., 1881, vol. vill., p. 346. Embia Latreilliit, Ramb. Neuropt., p. 312-2. E. Latreilii, Lucas. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 1883, vol. ii. Bullet, p. evi. The species was described fifty years ago by Westwood : ‘‘ Lutescenti- fuscescens, incisuris abdominalibus dilutioribus, alis pallide fuscescenti- bus, vittis 5 angustissimis albis longitudinalibus inter nervos longitudinales positis.” ‘The only known specimen from Bengal, formerly in W. Saunders’ collection, belongs now to the British Museum. Burmeister, who had not seen the specimen, changed the color to “ testaceofuscescens,” which was copied by Walker, though the type was accessible to him. Rambur remarks that he had separated his & Latret//ii with 18-jointed antennz from O. Saundersii with 11-jointed antenne, only for this difference. I believe that McLachlan is perfectly correct in assuming the antenne of the type imperfect and the identity of both species doubtless. (Journal Linn. Soc. xiil., p. 379.) He remarks, l. c., ‘in some examples there is a slender spiniform process between the articulate side processes (append- ages); in O. Saundersic this spiniform procéss has a small tooth before the apex on the lower side. I do not see the process in all the examples, hence it may perhaps be sexual, and possibly is the intromittent organ.” (McLachl. ) The 8 alcoholic specimens before me show all this process on the right side, but on the left side is a similar process, which in dry specimens is not well visible. Between both the last ventral segment is protruded asymmetrically to the left in a bottle-shaped cone, with a round aperture on tip. This is asin some Perlids and Phryganids the opening of the ductus ejaculatorius, representing the intromittent organ ; the spines or similar organs have the purpose to open the female valves and to keep them in place during copulation. In O. Saundersii these spines viewed from beside are small bands, rounded on tip, with a small hook outside before tip ; this hook is wanting on the left spine, which is also in other species more or less asymmetrical. McLachlan has not described O. Saundersii, but he notes (by O. insularis) that the body is testaceous. 146 _ THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, Mr. Wood-Mason found in July at Jubbulpore, E. India, a number of larve on a sandy spot, which were determined by McLachlan, Proc. Ent. Soc., 1879, p. 53, as possibly belonging to O. Saundersit. They show not the slightest traces of wings, although the asymmetry of the caudal appendages is quite apparent. Later winged specimens, being undoubt- edly O. Saundersii, were captured ; all were males of the same uniform brown color. The male sexual characters of alcoholic specimens are described. The abdominal asymmetry is carried to an extreme ; not only are the caudal appendages unequal on the two sides, but the tenth dorsal and the ninth ventral segment also depart widely from symmetry, especi- ally the former, which is incompletely divided by a deep angular notch into two unequal and greatly dissimilar parts (Wood-Mason, l. c., p. 632). _ The wings are described and figured in detail. : This is in fact all known about this species, except the communication by Mr. Lucas, to be recorded later. I received from S. E. Borneo eight specimens, collected in September and December. All are winged males. Their different color induced me to name them asa new species, O. Borneensis, especially as mine are well preserved in alcohol, and Wood- Mason’s, of the same uniform brown color, were also in alcohol. ‘Thirty years ago I twice studied the type of O. Saundersiz, which was in good condition, and also the type of &. Latreil/iiz, Ramb. As I do not find my notes, I believe it more prudent to unite the Borneo speci- mens with O. Saundersiz, the more so as Rambur’s description agrees. Male imago: Length, with wings, 7-10 mill; exp. of wings 11-16 mill. Head little longer than broad, behind the eyes rounded, about semi-circular ; lightly convex above, hairy ; yellowish-orange, the front part to behind the eyes dark reddish brown ; clypeus pale; labrum pale, with a large brown middle-spot ; max. palpi brown, articulations pale, the two apical joints a little longer than the three basals together ; these are equal, as long as broad; apical joint ovoid, a little longer than the pre- ceding one ; labial palpi similar in color, apical joint ovoid, larger and a little longer than the two basals together. Antennze much longer than the head, reaching the metathorax, densely hairy, 19-jointed (only one speci- men has so many joints), brown, articulations paler; basal joint blackish, a little thicker, cylindrical ; 2nd very short, 3rd longer than tst, ob-conical; the next two or three joints equal, shorter than 3rd ; all the rest as long _and thick as 3rd. Prothorax much narrower than the head, longer than broad, with a transversal sulcus after the apical third, where the sides are sd Metra Eso ee Set ae Mie, Ree Pt rere ene: othe . THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 147 notched ; yellowish, paler than the head ; the other parts of the thorax and the abdomen more or less dark fuscous, with paler articulations. Legs fuscous, the articulations, the tarsi except of the front legs, and beneath paler. Wings fuliginous, villous, with five longitudinal narrow white bands ; sector bifid ; in the cell four to two transversals, and mostly two between the costa and the end of the cell. Appendages fuscous, stout, two jointed, of equal length, hairy; basal joint of left appendage much thinner at base and strongly enlarged on tip internally ; basal joint of right appendage stout, cylindrical. ‘The last dorsal segment somewhat cleft and deeply notched from the middle to the right side margin ; in this place is inserted, with a largely inflated base, somewhat above the right appendage, a brown spiniform process ; viewed from above the base is membranaceous paler ; the process is horny, long, narrow (viewed from sides, rounded on tip), bifid at base, going outside of the membranaceous base, and sending the branch to the inner side ; the inner branch and the process form a crescent, which is filled with a pale membrane, which on tip goes outside upon the process and forms a small sharp tooth; near the left appendage is a similar horny process, but without an inflated base, originating directly from the apical border of the segment ; this process is shorter, a small lobe, similar to the other, ending (viewed from above) knife-shaped ; between and beneath these processes is the last ventral segment produced in a cone, turned to the left side, with a round open aperture on tip. _ Mr. Lucas, |. c., has given a very interesting note concerning the larve (?) and the habits of Z. Latred/diz. As Mr. Lucas, at the time of his publication, could not have had knowledge of Mr. Wood-Mason’s article, it is still uncertain if the so-called larvee were really larvae or females. As Mr. Lucas has not recorded the number of joints of the antennz, nor the asymmetry or symmetry of the appendages, we should better wait to ex- press an opinion till these gaps are filled. The size of the larva is just the same as the male imago (8-10 mill.), therefore too small for a female, if Mr. Wood-Mason’s suggestion is correct. The last dorsal segment is said to have a ‘petite fossette longitudinale,” which would agree only with the male, The detailed description of these larve agrees well with Z. Za- treil/iz, and as the author has found among them the winged (male) imago, it will probably be that the described wingless forms were larve of the male. They were found by Mr. G. A. Foujade among the detritus of Cycas sent from Madagascar to the Museum of Paris, Larva and imago . 148 - THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, live near the base of the leaves of Cycas, concealed in silken tunnels, woven by larve and imago. Mr. Lucas believes that this is the only instance known, that full grown imagos possess the power of spinning webs with the mouth; but the same fact is recorded long ago by P. Huber (Mem. Soc. Physiq. Genéve, 1843, vol. x., p. 35-47) and other observers for Psocus. This faculty of spinning speaks for a relation- ship of Embidee and Psocide. Hab. Bengal, the type of O. Saundersii; Jubbulpore, between Bombay and Calcutta, end of July, 1879, and Calcutta, flying to the light in the dining-room, by Wood-Mason. £. Latrie//ii is recorded from Bombay, Mauritius Isl. and Madagascar ; from Borneo, near Tumbang- Hiang, Sept., 1881, and from Telang, Dec, 1881. Both localities are in the south eastern part of Borneo. The insects were collected by Mr. Grabowsky. Both lots are in alcohol, and the specimens collected in December have exactly the same colors as those collected in September ; all are winged males, and apparently identical with Z. Zatrez//iz. Per- haps the Calcutta specimens of O. Saundersii belong to the same species (McLachl. Record, 1883, Ins., p. 259), nevertheless the statement “ all of the same wnzform brown color,” is rather suspicious. Mr. Corny, 1. c., says that O. Saundersii is doing much mischiefin Ascension Island ; it is to be regretted that not more of the kind of mischief is recorded. The distribution of the species is a wide one; the habits of the species are only recorded by Lucas. In Jubbulpore Wood-Mason recorded them running actively by dozens (all male larve) on a bare and sandy spot, beneath old bricks, or openly. A violent thunder storm prevented the examination of the nest or tunnels inhabited by the insects. Mr. West- wood, |. c., p. 374, has seen a small apterous specimen of a dark brown color with a fulcous head, collected by R. Templeton on the Island of Mauritius. Probably it belongs to £. Latrei//iz. 5. Oligotoma Michaelt. Embia spec.—Michael, Gardener’s Chronicle, No. 157, vol. vi. (n. ser.) December 30, 1876, p. 845, fig. 156, orchid root eaten; f. 157, Embia magnified, antenna ; f. 158, details of the structure of Embia ; follows a notice by Mr. J. O. Westwood. e McLachlan, Gard. Chronicle, in a following number. Oligotoma Michaeli McLachlan, Journal Linn. Soc, Lond. Zool., vol, 13, P- 373-384, ph. xxi. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 149 Oligotoma Michaeli Wood-Mason, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1883, p. 630, pl. lvi., f. 6, female. Mr. Michael, of Highgate, England, an extensive grower of exotic orchids, discovered in 1876 that a large mass of Saccolobium retusum, purchased from a London nurseryman, was apparently damaged by some insect, and examination revealed the presence of numerous Embidz on the roots, concealed in silken tunnels. A winged example was unfortun- ately lost. More specimens were found in the nursery whence the plants were obtained. Mr. Michael gave an account of the discovery, illustrated by magnified figures, and accompanied by notes of Prof. Westwood, in which a doubt was implied as to the damage to the orchids being occa- sioned by the Embide. Mr. McLachlan, l. c., stated that Prof. West- wood’s doubt appeared to be well founded. But the sequel proved, tolerably to his satisfaction, that the insects had eaten the roots to some extent. About the same time he received from W. A: Forbes a full grown larva without traces of rudimentary wings. Mr. Michael’s figure shows a larva with only short rudimentary metathoracic wings, and McLachlan supposes that the mesothoracic pair may have been accidentally destroyed. McLachlan describes the species as Oligotoma Michaeli, and figures larva, nympha and imago. I should remark that all the foregoing is copied from McLachlan’s excellent paper, though I have myself compared the quoted communications. Mr. Wood Mason, |. c., found in October, 1880, in the large plant house in the Botanic Gardens in Calcutta, a large wingless Embia crawling over the leaves of a plant, which he describes carefully and declares it to be the long sought for female. He does not give its name, except in the explanation of the plate, p. 634, where the figured abdomen, f. 6, is stated to be Embia (O.) Michaeli. He speaks, p. 631, of a black winged specimen different from his’ O. Saundersit collected in Calcutta, but he gives no description nor a name. I have received by Rev. C. C. Carleton, from Amballa, 4. Zndia, a female appar- ently identical with those described by Mr. Wood-Mason, and a small black-winged male. Both were in alcohol, together with numerous other insects, without any notes concerning their habits. I presume the male to be O. Michaeli. McLachlan’s descriptions are as follows : Male, imago: Length of body 10% mill.; exp. of wings, 18. Deep black, somewhat shining ; antennz 24-jointed, the five apicals yellowish ; legs black, knees and tarsi somewhat testaceous ; append- 150 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ages black, long, very asymmetrical ; the right with the basal joint very broad, nearly quadrate ; the left slender, and fully twice as long ; a slender process with piceous apex from the base of the right appendage ; ventrally is.a large triangular projection of the last segment, concave above ; wings dark smoky fuscous, with four very narrow longitudinal lines ; 4-5 pale costal veinlets and three between the radius and the upper branch of the sector. A well-grown larva is 12 mill. long; antenne much shorter than in the imago ; lurid-fuscous, the posterior portion of the head, the whole — prothorax and legs more or less testaceous ; underside pale ; appendages with just the same asymmetry as in the imago. A starved nymph g mill. long ; colors similar to those of the larva ; legs more slender, asymmetry of caudal appendages less striking ; rudimentary wings with evident neura- — tion ; fore wings reaching the base of metanotum ; hind wings the apex of 2nd dorsal segment ; the nymph when living was at least one-third longer. Hab. Among plants of Saccolobium retusum from East India in hothouses. - ae The three stages are described after single specimens. The color of the larva reminds strongly of the specimens from Borneo, described before as O. Saundersii. ‘The figure of the nymph in the Gardener’s Chronicle complicates things more. The hind wings cover only the anterior half of the metathorax, therefore the specimen was much younger than those described by McLachlan, in --which the hind wings reached the apex of the second abdominal segment. Nevertheless the size marked in the Gardener’s Chronicle is 16 mill., though McLachlan’s when living, was only 12 mill. The figure (Gard. Chr.) shows on the hind part of the head and thorax spots and patches similar to those in Sialis and Corydalis. Mr. Wood-Mason speaks in sev- eral places of O. Michae/i as if he knows thls species, and finally described and figured (only the abdomen from below) O. JZichaeli. Nevertheless his paper does not allow conclusions with certainty. The black male men- tioned by him can only with doubt be united with O. AZichae/i, as he does not mention the yellow apex of the antennz ; in fact he has not named it at all. ‘The female, of which I possess a specimen, seems rather gigantic compared with the described male, so that I had provisionally described it as O. valida. But as McLachlan (Zool. Rec., 1883, p. 259) by the words in brackets, “apparently O. MWichaeli McLachl.,” accepts this determination, I have followed him not to encumber synonymy. | THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 151 Female: Length of body 18 mill; breadth 2 mill. Head nearly ‘circular, convex above, blackish fuscous, reddish in the centre, densely covered with short reddish hairs; eyes very small, below and a little be- hind the antenne, scarcely visible from above, kidney-shaped ; facets less numerous, smaller and not convex, as in the males ; indeed the eyes of the female are compound, flattened eyes, though those of the males are nearly aggregated eyes ; clypeus short, transversal, somewhat reddish ; rhinarium large pale membranaceous ; labrum large, rounded, light brown, darker in middle ; maxillary palpi very pale brown, the two last joints longer ; labial palpi same color, last joint longer ; head beneath, blackish, fuscous reddish in the middle ; mentum transversal, quadrangular blackish fuscous. Antennz (only 21 joints present) short, perhaps as long as the head, blackish fuscous, hairy, articulations pale ; 1st joint thicker than the others, cylindrical, less than twice as long as broad ; 2nd as long as broad, 3rd very little longer, 4th to 6th very short, annular; the seven following alike, about globular, the rest longer, ovid. Prothorax about as broad as the head, quadrangular, a transversal sulcus after the apical third, and a smaller one on the base; mesothorax about twice as long as broad, a transversal sulcus near the base ; metathorax as long as broad, quadrang- ular; no traces of wings; the 1o dorsal segments of abdomen alike, a little shorter than broad, except the last one, which is longer, rounded on tip, obtuse, deflexed at the end. ‘The first 6 ventral segments alike, half as long as broad; 7th shorter, the apical margin widely emar- ginated, the middle forming a small transverse-oval plate, behind which is to be seen the large genital aperture in the articulation of the segments ; 8th segment a little longer; 9th split longitudinally in two lobes for the anus. Thorax and abdomen shining black and remarkable for its thick and firmly chitinized integument ; below a little paler, brownish, and as commonly the nerves of the chorda ventralis can be recognized through the integument. Appendages symmetrical, two-jointed, cylindrical, apical joint a little longer and thinner ; blackish fuscous, pale on articulations, femora and first joint of fore-tarsi strongly enlarged; middle legs less strong and smaller; the inflated 1st joint of the tarsus of fore legs with an external apical black spine, longer than the 2nd joint. Hab. Amballa, #. /ndia, by Rev. C. C. Carleton, one specimen in alcohol. ‘There can scarcely be any doubt that it is the female of QO. Michael described by Mr. Wood-Mason. ‘The ‘difference of the situation of the genital aperture at the base of 8th segment (he says the gth) is only 152 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. seemingly, as he counts the “segment médiaire,” of which he says, p. 630, ‘its sternum appears to be undeveloped.” He calls the antenne pale- tipped. Perhaps this belongs, as in the male, to the apical joints, which are wanting in my specimen. It is doubtless true that the specimen just described is a female, as Mr. Wood-Mason has well proven by the location of the genital aperture between the 7th and 8th ventral segments ; also that it is a full-grown female, as proven by the firmly chitinized integuments. How Mr. Wood- Mason arrived at the previous conclusion, that the females of Embia would be apterous, I do not know ; though his supposition that the female would be probably larger in size, was justified by related families. In accepting solely on the high authority of Mr. Wood-Mason and Mr. Mc- Lachlan that this female belongs to O. Michaeli, it seems important to point out the differences of the male (after the description and figure by McLachlan) and the female. 1. The difference in size is very great, body of the female being at least one third longer, and half broader. | 2. The female is perfectly wingless ; no traces of rudimentary wings to be found’ at the anterior angles of the two thoracic segments. There seems to be indeed at the anterior angles a little below the dorsal plate, a very small hyaline membranous sac, but the insufficient material at hand would not justify the accepting of these sacs as traces of aborted wings. 3. The difference between the eyes of the male and the female is very striking, though not noticed by the author. The male has large eyes, pro- minent on the sides of the head, very visible from above, kidney shaped, and the socket of the antennze placed in the emargination ; the facets are globular. The female has the eyes much smaller, scarcely visible from — above, below and behind the antennz, from which they are wider separ- ated ; the hind part of the eye is about half broader than the front part ; no inner emargination exists ; the facets are smaller and flattened. The eyes of the male are more like aggregated eyes (Stylops), the eyes of the female are like the common compounded eyes of insects. The conse- quences of these differences are very visible in the shape of the head. The largest diameter of the head of the males is situated between the eyes ; behind them the sides of the head slope down to the occiput. The head of the female is nearly orbicular, or at least very shortly ovoid. A sexual — difference of the eyes does not exist, as far as known to me, among the Perlids, but very often in Psocids and Ephemerids, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 153 4. The antennz seem to be shorter and the joints partly more globular in the female, a character not uncommon among the Psocids. 5. The difference of the meso- and metathorax among the sexes is not much marked, owing probably to the fact that the wings of the male imago are inserted with a very narrow base, which gives a very fine membranous fold farther down along the sides. The sternum of each of the three segments of the thorax is divided in three parts. The segment méddiaire is the last part of the metathorax, and the dorsum of this segment belongs to the metathorax. The abdomen has only seemingly 10 dorsal segments, 6. The apex of the first tarsal joint of the fore legs of the female has an external spine, longer than the second joint, conical, very sharp. I have not yet fouud such a spine in any male. 7. The anal appendages of the abdomen are symmetrical in the female ; asymmetrical in the male, similar to Blatta. I donot know that a similar asymmetry exists among Pseudoneuroptera. I am at a loss to understand where the larva described, p. 384, fig. 1, by McLachlan, belongs. The whole figure represents well a younger female only 12 mill. long, except that the eyes are a little larger and more visible from above. ‘The description states, “just the same asymmetry as in the imago.” This would indicate a positive difference. But there is not to be seen in the figure any asymmetry, and the segment before the last seems to be shorter. The description mentions not the ventral parts, which would be deciding. If it is not a female—and it can hardly be assumed that younger females should possess asymmetrical appendages— it can not be a male larva, being longer than the largest male imago, and not showing the slightest traces of wings. Perhaps a new examination of the type will solve the question. I can not accept the starved nymph, p. 384, fig. 2, asa nymph. The wing cases of nymphez in Orthoptera {and Pseudoneuroptera) are always more or less connected at base, and never entirely free as inthe figure. Perhaps the specimen represents a so-called short-winged form, which occurs not uncommonly among Perlids, Psocides and Termites. The figure in Gard. Chronicle (fig. 157) would represent a female (the external spine of the first tarsal joint of the fore legs is visible) if the wing sacs of the metathorax were not so well marked. There is apparently more detailed information needed on O. Michaeli. As the large orchid growers here are accustomed to buy their East Indian species mostly from London nurseries, I have taken steps to ascertain if any Embids have been imported with the plants, 154 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Male imago: Length 8%4 mill; exp. of the wings 12 mill. There is before me one specimen from Amballa, £. Zndia, by the same collector, Rev. C. C. Carleton. It did not arrive in the same lot with the female, but several years before in alcohol, together with many other insects. The very large discrepancy in size of the female, and the con- siderably larger size of the male described by McLachlan, though his specimen was dry, together with some differences with the description, seemed to justify my specimen as a new species, perhaps identical with -the black one from Calcutta, mentioned without description by Wood- Mason. Nevertheless, some of the differences may be the result of the drying up of the specimen described, and therefore I decided to accept the specimen as a small O. AZichae/i till the contrary is proved. It differs as follows from McLachlan’s description : There is no large, nearly circular, shallow depression on the ise of the head above ; but between the eyes is a short engraved furrow, similar to an aborted ocellus. Antenne brown with paler hairs, instead of black with black hairs ; what remains, 17 joints, is considerably longer than the head and prothorax together; shape of joints as in the description; I do not know if the five apicals were yellow, ; when I figured years ago the details of the specimen, and counted 21 joints, I did not note in the des- cription that the two last joints were yellow. The pronotum is not nearly twice as long as broad; after the straight front margin and transversal sulcus, there follows a somewhat diamond-shaped elevation, and the base after itis membranous. Legs, wings and veins as in the description ; the only black vein is the subcosta, which, as Wood-Mason justly remarks, is not coalescent with the radius ; all other veins are brown. The wings have indeed five white longitudinal lines, only the first one behind the costa is very narrow. Appendages long, asymmetrical, brown, with long black hairs, the basal joint of the right one long, broad, straight, but by no means nearly quadrate, as in the decription ; the left is a little longer, slender, thinner at base, curvated ; the apical joints alike, cylindrical, straight, about as long as the basal joint. The last ventral plate is asym- metrical ; somewhat more to the right originates with a larger base a cylindrical tube, straight, but turned a little to the left ; shortly before its apical opening it is a little constricted ; between it and the right append- ages is a slender process, as long as the tube, cylindrical, its apical half thinner, tip pointed ; on the left side, between tube and appendages, is a process with thicker membranous base, the apical half slender, much . Ss Re a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 155 twisted, sharp on tip, much shorter than the tube. I believe it probable’ that the difference mentioned may be explained from the fact that Mc- Lachlan had before him only a dry specimen, and I only one in alcohol. As soon as this species can be more easily got for study, we may hope to have detailed descriptions from a larger material. “DESCRIPTION OF THE LAST LARVAL STAGES AND CHRYSALIS OF MELITAEA RUBICUNDA, H. Epw. BY W. H. EDWARDS, COALBURGH, W. VA. On 13th Sept., 1884, I received from Mr. James Fletcher 22 larve in hibernation, part of a lot sent him shortly before by Rev. Geo. W. Taylor, of Victoria, V. I. The larve, on exposure to the light, moved about, but refused to eat Chelone glabra. I placed them in cellar, and in October forwarded to Clifton Springs, N. Y., with larvee of other species, to go in the “‘cooler.” On 7th March, I received them again, and found about one half to be alive. These I put in the ice house till I could get leaves of the food-plant. In last days of April they were brought to the house and given Chelone, the living larvee now being reduced to six. On the third day, I noticed that the leaves had been eaten, and three or four days later the larvee looked healthy and had recovered the length and diameter which they had on 13th Sept., larvee always shrinking much during hiber- _ mation. ‘The description then taken is as follows : After supposed third moult: Length +4 inch; cylindrical, rather thickest in middle, and tapering equally to either end; color black and gray-white ; a mid-dorsal band of the latter color, cut longitudinally by a black line; then a broad black band reaching to middle of side, dotted with gray on the tops of the cross-ridges ; below this to base about equally black and gray, sprinkled and mottled; the spines arranged as in the allied species, there being seven principal rows, one dorsal, and three on either side, besides a row of minute ones along base ; these upper spines are rather long, broad at base and taper to a blunt top, and are beset thickly from base to top with long black hairs; the dorsal row spring from large orange tubercles, and for a little distance above are orange, the rest black ; the other rows have black tubercles and the spines are black, 156 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, except that in the lower lateral row, from 6 to ro, there is a little orange on the outer side of each tubercle; the small spines of row along base are orange, from orange tubercles ; segment 2 has a black chitinous dorsal collar on which are many small black spines, with hairs; feet black; pro- legs black, the last joint yellowish ; head ob-ovoid, flattened frontally, de- pressed at suture, the vertices rounded ; color dull black, the surface rough, thickly covered with long black hairs. On 2nd May, one larva passed the first moult after hibernation, the supposed fourth moult. At 24 hours from the moult: length 7s inch, By roth May, this larva had reached maturity. MaturE Larva.—Length .g inch; cylindrical, thickest in middle; color black, with a slight dorsal band of gray-white, made up of white tubercles on the cross ridges, and a heavier band of same color along lower part of side, the black area between the two being thinly dotted white ; the spines long, stout at base, tapering, and thickly beset with long black hairs ; those of dorsal row black at tips, the rest and the large basal tubercles, yolk-yellow ; those of the other three rows black, the bases black ; the small spines along base of body yolk-yellow on 6 to 1o, the rest black; on 2 a chitinous collar with many small black spines with hairs ; feet black, pro-legs black, the last joint yellowish ; head ob-ovoid, flattened in front, depressed at top, the vertices rounded ; surface rough with many long, black hairs ; color dead black. On rath the larva suspended, and at 8 p. m., 13th, pupated. From last moult to pupation 1144 days. (In case of other Melitaeas, two moults have.occurred between hibernation and pupation.) CuHRYSALIS.—Length 7 inch; breadth across mesonotum and abdo- men zs in.; shape of Phaeton; cylindrical ; head case narrow, compressed transversely, excavated at the sides ; mesonotum not prominent, rounded, somewhat carinated, followed by a shallow excavation ; the tuberculations which correspond to the larval spines and tubercles rounded, raised but little above the surface ; color of anterior parts and wing cases dark pearl-gray, marked and spotted with black ; of abdomen diluted black ~ dotted with dull white, especially along mid-dorsum, and across same, on the posterior part of each segment, where the dots form parallel rows ; the mid-dorsal tubercles orange, making a round spot on the fore part of each segment, and on each spot are two small black spots in cross row ; in line with the spiracles, on the anterior side of each, is a slight orange discol- Gira Sei ae ap eee Bete hie ES ee eet Ne ae ey Nee ct ee ee pe THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 157 oration ; along ventral side two rows of small orange spots corresponding to the small basal tubercles of the larva ; the wing case shows a large black patch on disk, also irregularly serrated marginal black spots, and submarginal spots, rounded and sub-lanceolate ; head case largely black ; on anterior part of mesonotum a large black sub-rectangular patch, below which is an arched stripe of black, and under this, at summit, two spots ; on the posterior part two curved demi-bands meeting at the carina. From this chrysalis came a female butterfly 23rd May. Duration of this stage 10 days. | Another larva went to pupa and imago in Philadelphia, in Mrs. Peart’s care. The other larvee from the first eat little, and some became lethargic, and some of them died. But one seemed healthy and asleep, and 23rd May I returned it to the ice box. From time to time I looked at it ; on 6th July brought it to my room and laid it on Chelone leaf. But as by 8th it had eaten nothing, though it had moved a little in the glass, I re- _ placed it on the ice. As I write, 2oth Aug., it is sweetly sleeping. It seems odd that a larva in this climate should go over the second season, as this bids fair to do. Rubicunda belongs to the Anicia sub-group, flies from North California at least to Vancouver Island. I have had mature larve of Anicia and of Baroni (another of this sub-group), and the three species are distinctly different in this stage. They all have similar habits as far as I know them, and probably all will eat the plant of Phaeton, Chelone glabra, as Chalcedon also does. INSECTS IN ARCTIC REGIONS. [Extracted from ‘Das Insektenleben in Arktischen Landern, von Chris- topher Aurivillius,” forming part of Nordenskiold’s “Studien und Forschungen veranlasst durch meine Reisen im hohen Norden :” Leipzig, 1885. | ( From the LEntomologist’s Monthly Magazine. ) A special interest attaches to the question of the mode of life in insects in relation to their surroundings in high Northern latitudes. Knowing, as we do, that the time available for the development of an insect in the extreme North is limited to from 4 to 6 weeks in the year, one has felt 158 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. surprised how it could be possible for certain species to run through all | their transformations in so short a time. R. McLachlan, in his paper on the insects of Grinnell Land (Journ. Linn. Soc., Zoology, vol. xiv.), refers to the difficulties which the shortness of the summer interposes to the development of insects, and intimates his suspicion that a development which would with us take place in a single summer would there require several summers. The correctness of this suspicion has been completely established by the interesting observations on species of Lepidoptera in South Waranger, in latitude 69° 40’, made by G. Sandberg. He was successful in watching the development of some extreme Northern’ species from the egg. Let us take as an example Cineis Bore, Schn., a true hyperborean butterfly, which has never been found outside the Arctic circle*, and even there only occurs in places which bear a truly Arctic stamp. The imago flies from the middle of June onwards, and lays its eggs on various species of grass. ‘The eggs are hatched the same summer ; the larva hibernates below the surface of the earth, feeds and grows all through the following summer, but does not succeed in attaining its full size ; itthen hibernates a second time, and does not assume the pupa state till the spring of the following year. The pupa, which in the allied forms in more southern localities is freely suspended in the air to a grass-stem or some similar object, here reposes in the earth, which in so inclement a climate must evidently be a great advantage. The butterfly escapes from the pupa-skin after an interval of from 5—6 weeks, a period of unusual length for a diurnal Lepidopteron. In more southern lands the pupal repose of butterflies in summer rarely exceeds a fortnight. Hence, the entire metamorphosis is more tedious than in more temperate regions. By these and other observations, Sandberg shows that one Arctic summer, in latitude 70°, does not suffice for the development of many Lepidoptera, but that two or more summers are required for the purpose. If, therefore, more than one summer is needful for the development of Lepidoptera, it appears to me even more certain that Humble-bees must * Mr. W. H. Edwards informs us that Mr. David Bruce has taken Chionobas Taygete Hub., which is syn. of Oenets Bore Sch., in Colorado, on summits, at high elevation. Mr. Edwards’ Catalogue, No. 304, says Zaygete Hub. = Bootes Bd., and Staudinger’s Cat. says Bore Sch, is the same as these, that is, it is all one species.—ED. C.. EB, +): ae oe THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 159 require more than one summer. With us it is only the fully developed females which survive from one year to the next; in spring they form the new nest, lay eggs, and bring up the larve which develop into workers, and thus begin to contribute to the support of the family, whence at last towards autumn males and females are developed. It seems hardly credible that all this can happen each summer in a similar way at Grin- nell Land, in latitude 82°, especially as there the supply of food must be less than with us. Hence, the development of a colony of Humble-bees must there be something quite different. Were it not satisfactorily established that Humble-bees do occur in such high latitudes, one might, from our knowledge of their mode of life, be disposed to maintain that under such conditions they could not live. They seem, however, to have one advantage over their more Southern brethren. In the Arctic regions they do not seem to be troubled with parasites, such as Conops, Mutilla, which help to diminish their numbers in other countries. BOOK NOTICES. Revised Catalogue of the Diurnal Lepidoptera of America North of Mexico, by Wm. H. Edwards, 8vo., pp. 95. From Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 1885. This revised catalogue of American butterflies was greatly needed. Since Mr. Edwards published his first catalogue in 1877, much new material has accumulated, more than a hundred new species have been described, while a vast amount of information has been published on the preparatory stages and habits of these insects. Much of this has been communicated by the author of the catalogue himself, who has brought an amount of enthusiasm to bear on this interesting field of research exceed- ing that of any of his predecessors or co-laborers, while his full and accurate descriptions have been everywhere appreciated. Other excellent workers have also added to our stock of knowledge in this department, to all of which ready reference is had by the use of this catalogue. The new edition gives fuller references with dates, whereas the former catalogue gave no date. Many corrections are made in the synonymy, the result of a careful scrutiny by the author of every species in the entire list ; the localities also are given with greater fullness. A large propor- 160 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. tion of the additions to the list of new species are to be found in the Hesperidz, to which 56 have been added. Many additions have also — been made to Melitaea, Thecla and Argynnis. A new and excellent feature is a copious index of genera and species, which will be much ap- preciated by all who have occasion to consult its pages. In this cata- logue the author has given us the full benefit of his long experience and careful study, and has produced a work which will not only commend — itself, but will be indispensable to all who are engaged in the rae of American butterflies. CORRESPONDENCE. Dear Sir; In the last No. of the Enromotocist appears a description of £. Provancheri by M. L’Abbe Provancher, in which the species is credited to British Columbia. This is a mistake, as the specimens con- tributed to him, and from which the description was made, were bred from cocoons of A. Luna; collected in Muskoka, a little south of Brace- bridge, by Mr. R. Mosey, who handed them to me. W. Bropir, Toronto. Dear Sir; On page 107 of the present volume of the Can. ENT.; Mr. Frederick Clarkson gives an account of his “ Seaside Captures,” and © at the close of the paper says: ‘Among the treasures of the beach I collected several shells perforated in every part by the young of one of the lower order of Crustaceans, and rendered immaculate by the washing of — the tide and the sun’s rays.” A little further on he continues: “The mouth parts of these Sea Worms, or Barnacles, are strong and corneous, — and are capable of excavating galleries in the hardest substances.” < Mr. Clarkson is in error in ascribing this tunneling of the shells to a Crustacean, for it is the work of a species of sponge (Cliona). If some of the recently cast up shells are broken open, the sponge will be readily seen, and its structure may be examined. It burrows in marble, as he ‘describes, and particularly in the oyster, though also in other shells, ie as 3. Nation and Pyrula. Wn. T. Davis, Tompkinsville, Staten Island. a ha Che Canadian Entomologist. VOL. XVII. LONDON, ONT., SEPTEMBER, 1885. No. 9 LARVA OF PARASA CHLORIS, H.-Scu. ’ BY G. H. FRENCH, CARBONDALE, ILL. Length .50 of an inch, elliptical, as is the usual shape of the Lyma- codes group, nearly .20 of an inch high and about the same width. The dorsum has four lines of purplish black alternating with white, and bor- dered outside with yellowish white or pale yellow. The region of the subdorsal line is a bright vermillion ridge with yellowish white tubercles arising from joints 2, 3, 4, 7, 10 and 12, those on joint 2 moderately short, but those on joints 4 to 12 are nearly one fourth of an inch long ; all of them spiny. There are short bunches of spines on the intervening joints, as it were representatives of missing tubercles. In the subdorsal space are four scarlet lines alternating with lines of yellowish white, the middle yellowish line instead of being continuous, consists of alternate blotches of vermilion and yellowish white. The substigmatal line is ver- milion, bordered as the subdorsal with pale yellow, and this also has its a row of yellowish white spiny tubercles, each about one sixteenth of an inch long. Below this is a single dark purple line bordered each side with a lighter shade, and below this a vermilion line or rather a series of tubercles without spines in place of the prolegs. Legs 6, no prolegs, but the under side of the body consisting of a muscular pad upon which the insect glides along instead of walking. Head brown, retractile when at rest into the joint back of it. The food plants of this peculiar larva seem to be apple and rose. In 1880 one was brought to me on an apple leaf. This one soon died ; but last season, September 18, 1884, another was found on a rose leaf that soon spun its cocoon, but it did not change to a chrysalis till the following spring. As soon as found the larva was placed in a jelly glass, and it spun on the under side of the cover with the cocoon touching the side. When the cover was taken off this broke the cocoon, leaving a small piece attached to the glass. Through this small opening the larva could be seen every time the cover was removed to moisten the contents of the 162 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. dish, till after the warm spring weather had roused the most of insect life into activity. The imago appeared July 14, 1885. ‘The cocoon was .50 of an inch long, dark brown, smooth, egg-shaped like the others of the group, and smooth on the inside. The empty pupa skin is thin, pale brown. A PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE ARTHROGASTRA OF NORTH AMERICA (EXCLUDING MEXICO.) BY LUCIEN M. UNDERWOOD, PH. D., SYRACUSE, N. Y. The Arthrogastra of North America have scarcely been studied except in two or three families, the principal part of the American literature consisting of scattered notes and descriptions. Two or three more preten- tious papers have been published by Wood, Putnam and Hagen. A broad field for study is open for future investigators. In order to call attention to the group and secure such co-operation of collectors as may be possible, the following preliminary list of twenty genera and fifty-nine species has been prepared. A few forms are added from Lower California and Cuba which will probably be found within the limits of the United States. Additions and corrections to the list are solicited, as well as specimens from all parts of the country, for which a suitable return will be made. FAMILY PHRYNIDA. I. PHRYNUS, Oliv. 1. P. ASPERATIPES, Wood. Proc. Phila. Acad. 1863, 111: Jour. Phila, Acad. 2nd series, v., 375 (1874). Hab. Lower California. FAMILY THELYPHONID:. I. THELYPHONUS, Latr. 1. T. GIGANTEUS, Lucas. Magazin de Zoologie (Guerin) 1835. Wood, Jour. Phila. Acad., 2nd series, v., 374 (1874). T. excubitor, Girard, in Marcy’s Rep. Exploration Red River, 265, 4q Pl. xvii., fig. 1-4 (1854). Hab. Southwest United States. . BY of a ‘a ‘ re a ericonan bee le THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 163 FAMILY SOLPUGID/:. I. DATAMES, Simon. 1. D. FORMIDABILIS, Simon. Annales de la Soc. Entom. de France, *ix., 136 (1879). D. striatus, Putnam. Proc. Davenport Acad., iii. 255, 266, Pl. i., fig. 1, Pl. i, fig. 7 (1883). Hab. California, Arizona. 2. D. PALLIPES, Simon. Ann. de la Soc. Entom. de France, ix., 139 (1879). Putnam, Proc. Davenport Acad., ii., 184 (1880); Ibid., ii., 267, Pl. i, fig. 6 (1883). Galeodes pallipes et subulata, Say., in Long’s Exped. to Rocky Mts, (1823). ffab. Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada. 3. D. SULFUREUS, Simon. Ann. dela Soc. Entom. de France, ix., 142 (1879). Putnam, Proc. Davenport Acad., iii., un (1883). fab. Georgia, Texas, Colorado. 4. D. CALIFoRNICUS, Simon. Ann. de la Soc. Entom. de France, ix., 143 (1879). Putnam, Proc. Davenport Acad., ili., 266, 267, PI. iv., fig. 32-40 (1883). ffab. California, Arizona. 5. D. Girarpu, Putnam. Proc. Davenport Acad., iil, 257, 267, Pl, ii, fig. 12 (1883). Galeodes subulata, Girard, in Marcy’s Rep. Expl. Red River, 241 (1854). (Not G. subulata, Say.) fab. Texas, New Mexico, Arizona. 6. D. GENICULATUS, Simon. Ann. de la Soc. Entom. de France, ix., 136 (1879). Putnam, Proc. Davenport Acad. iii., 268 (1883). Gluvia geniculata, Koch. Archiv fiir Naturgesch , vili., 355 (1842). Hab. Texas. Il, GLUvia, C. Koch. I. G, ELONGATA, Koch. Archiv fiir Naturgeschich., viii, 350-356 (1842). Putnam, Proc, Davenport Acad., iii., 268 (1883). Hab. Texas. 164 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. III. CLEOBIs, Simon. 1. C. Cus, Simon. Annales de la Soc. Entom. de France, ix., 149 (1879). Putnam, Proc. Davenport Acad., iii. 268, Pl. i. fig. 5 (1883). Galeodes Cuba, Lucas, in Histoire physique, politique et naturelle de . Isle de Cuba, par M. Ramon de la Sagra, Pl. v., fig. 6 (1857). Cleobis Stimpsoni, Putnam. Proc. Davenport Acad., iii, 261 (1883). Hab. Florida, Cuba. FAMILY SCORPIONID:, 1. BUTHUS, Leach. 1. B, BIACULEATUS, Latr., in Coll. de Museum. Wood Jour. Phila. Acad., 2nd series, v., 368 (1874). Hab. Florida. 2. B. BoREUS, Wood, Jour. Phila. Acad., 2nd series, v., 368 (1874). Scorpio boreus, Girard, in Marcy’s Rep. Exploration Red River, 238, Pl. xvii, fig. 5-7 (1854). fab. Utah. 3. B. CaLirornicus, Wood, Jour. Phila. Acad., 2nd series, v., 364 (1874). Scorpio Californicus, Girard, in Marcy’s Rep. Exploration Red River, 240 (1854). Hab. California. 4. B. CAROLINIANUS, Wood, Jour. Phila. Acad., 2nd series, v., 363 (1874). Scorpio Carolinianus, Beauv., Insect. Rec. en Afrique et en Amerique, 190, Pl. v., fig. 3 (1805). Ruths vittatus, Say., Jour. Phila. Acad., ii., 61 (1821) : Coll. Writ. ings, ii., II. ? Scorpio Sayt. Girard, in Marcy’s Exploration Red River, ie (1854). ? Vejovis Carolinus, Koch, Die Arachniden, x., 7, fig. 759. Hab. So. States, Texas, Kansas. 5. B. EMARGINATICEPS, Wood. Proc. Phila. Acad., 1863, 109; Jour. — Phila, Acad., 2nd series, v., 367, Pl. 40, fig. 1, 1a, rb, 1¢ (1874). Hab. Lower California. ee A a ese ea eae ee SE I ee ee gy oe eye et ’ Cen ae ee pci di eae Ve E mn eS ee. COP ge Ba aes ee SL aD ee ae! CS OPE eT Vice ee De THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 165 6. B. EUSTHENEURA [v. S.] Wood. Proc. Phila. Acad., 1863, 109; Jour. Phila. Acad., 2nd series, v., 368 (1874). Hab. Lower California. 7, B. ExiLicaupa [v. s.] Wood. Proc. Phila. Acad., 1863, 107; Jour. Phila. Acad., 2nd series, v., 366 (1874). ffab. Lower California. 8. B. nirsutus, Wood. Proc. Phila. Acad., 1863, 108; Jour. Phila. Acad., 2nd series, v., 367, Pl. 40, fig. 1, 1a, rb, 1c (1874). Hab. Lower California. 9. B. Lesueuru, Gervais, Archiv du Museum, iii., 226, Pl. xi., fig. 27-29, (1844) ; Apteres, lil, 61, (1844) ; Wood, Jour. Phila. Acad., 2nd series, v., 365, (1874). fab. Cuba. 10. B. puNCTIPALPI, Wood. Proc. Phila. Acad., 1863, 109 ; Jour. Phila. Acad., 2nd series, v., 369 (1874). HTab. Lower California. 11. B. spInicERUS, Wood. Proc. Phila. Acad., 1863, 110; Jour. _ Phila. Acad., 2nd series, v. 370, Pl. 40, fig. 2, 2a, 2b (1874). Hab. Texas. II. CENTRURUS, Gervais. 1. C. pHalopactyLus, Wood. Proc. Phila. Acad., 1863, 111 ; Jour. Phila. Acad., 2nd series, v., 372, Pl. 40, fig. 3, 3a, 3b (1874). - Hab. Utah. III. SCORPIO, DeGeer.* 1. S. ALLENII, Wood. Proc. Phila. Acad. 1863, 107; Jour. Phila. 2 Acad., 2nd series, v., 372 (1874). Hab. Lower California. Iv. uRocToNuS, Thorell. 1. U. MORDAX, Thorell. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., xvii., 11. Hab. California. * I have omitted from the list DeGeer’s species, S. punctatus, S. maculatus, _ -S, testaceus, S. australis, as unrecognizable,—Cf, Memoirs Insectes, vii., 343-348, 166 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. FAMILY CHERNETID~A. : I. CHELIFER, Geoff. 1. C. CANCROIDES, Latr. Hist. Nat. Crust., etc., vii, 141, Pl. 6, fig. 2 (1804). Hagen, Record Amer. Entom., 1868, 51; Amer. Nat., ii., 216 _ (1869) ; Proc. Boston Soc., N. H., xiii., 264 (1870). Hab. U. S., generally to California (Simon). 2. C. MURICATUS, ‘Say. Jour. Phila. Acad,, ii, 63 (1821); Coll. Writings, ii, 11; agen Record Amer. Entom., 1868, 51; Proc. Boston Soc., N. H., xiii, 266 (1870). Hab. “‘ North America” (Say). 3. C. SCABRICULUS, Simon. Ann. de la Soc. Entom. de France, series V., Vill., 154 (1878). Hab. California. 4. C. AcuMINATUS Simon. Ann. de la Soc. Entom. de France, series V., Viil., 156 (1878). eS " ‘Hab. California. 5. C. atius, Leidy. - Proc, Phila. Acad., 1877, 261. Hab. Pennsylvania. 6. C. WricHTi1, Hagen. Record Amer. Entom., 1868, 52; Proc. 4 Boston Soc., N. H., xiii, 267 (1870). Hab. Cuba. Il. CHERNES, Menge.* 1. C. opLonGuUs, Hagen. Record of Amer. Entom., 1868, 51 ; Proc. Boston Soc., N. H., xiii, 268 (1870). | Chelifer oblongus, Say. Jour. Phila. Acad., ii. (1821); Coll. Writ- — ings, iL, 12. Hab. “ North America” (Say). 2. C. SANBORNI, Hagen. Record of Amer. Entom., 1868, 51 ; Proc. Boston Soc., N. H., xiii., 268 (1870). Hab. Massachusetts. * Simon reunites the genera Chelifer and Chernes, which were separated by Menge, who was followed by L. Koch. He claims that the characters hitherto regarded as generic, are merely gradal, and that while certain widely separated species have these characters clearly marked, in others they gradually approach each other. In deference to American writers I leave them for the present. Cf, Les Arachnides de France, vii. 19 (1879). THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 167 Ill. CHTHONIUS, C. Koch. 1. C. ca#cus, Packard. Amer. Nat., xvill., 203 (1884). Hab. Virginia. 2. C. Packarpil, Hagen. 3 3. C. PENNSYLVANICUS, Hagen. Record of Amer. Entom., 1868, 52 ; Proc. Boston Soc., N. H., xiii., 268 (1870). Hab. Pennsylvania. Iv. OBIstuM, Leach.* 1. O. BRUNNEUM, Hagen. Record of Amer. Entom., 1868, 52 ; Proc. Boston Soc., N. H., xiii., 269 (1870). Hab. “ North America.” 2. O. CAVICOLA, Packard. Amer. Nat., xviil., 202 (1884). Hab. Virginia. 3. O. THEVENETI, Simon. Ann. de la Soc, Entom. de France, series V., Vili, 156 (1878). Hab. California. 4. O. MACILENTUM Simon. Ann. de la Soc. Entom. de France, series -YV., Vill., 157 (1878). _ Hab. California. FAMILY GONYLEPTIDA. I. PHRIXIS. 1. P. toncipEs, Cope. Third and Fourth Geol. Rep. Indiana, 180 (1872). HTab. Indiana. : FAMILY PHALANGIDA, I. PHALANGODES, Tellkampf. 1. P. AarmATA, Tellkampf. Archiv fiir Naturge schichte, 1844, 320, _*~Pi- vii, fig. 7-12. Acanthocheir armata, Lucas. Annales de la Societt Entom. de France, vili., 977 (1860). Wood, Comm. Essex Inst., vi., 36. [Sep. 27] : (1868). me > ee fTab. Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. * This genus has usually been credited to Illiger, but as Simon shows (Les Arachnides de France, vii., 51) it properly belongs to Leach, 168 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 2. P. FLAVESCENS, Simon. Les Arachnides de France, vii., 156, note (1879). | Erebomaster flavesceus, Cope. Amer. Nat., vi., 420 (1872); Third and Fourth Geol. Rep. Indiana, 180 (1872). Scotolemon flavesceus, Packard. Bull. U.S. Geol. Survey (Hades) lil., 165 (1877). Hab. Wyandotte Cave, Indiana. 3. P. Ropusta, Simon. Les Arachnides de France, vii., 156, note (1879.) Scotolemon robustum, Packard. Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey (Hayden) iii. 164 (1877). fab. Utah. Il. PHALANGIUM, L. 1. P. BicoLtor, Wood, Comm. Essex Inst. vi. 28 [19]. (1868). Hab. Pennsylvania. | 2. P. catcar, Wood. Comm. Essex Inst. vi., 26 [17]. (1868), Hab. Virginia. 3. P. CINEREUM, Wood. Comm. Essex Inst. vi., 25 [16]. (1868). Hab. New York. ; 4. P. DORSATUM, Say. Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 66 (1821) ; , Coll. Writings ii., 13; Wood, Comm. Essex Inst. vi., 18 [9]. (1868). Hab. New-York, Pennsylvania, Dist. of Columbia. s. P. ExILIPES, Wood. Comm. Essex Inst. vi., 23 [14]. (1868). Hab. Nevada, California. 6. P. ravosum Wood. Comm. Essex Inst. vi., 28 [19]. (1868). Hab. Nebraska. 7. P. ForMosuM Wood. Comm. Essex Inst. vi., 30 [21]. (1868). Hab. Pennsylvania, Dist. of Columbia. | 8. P. GRANDE Say. Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 67 (1821); Coll. Writings ii, 14; Wood. Comm. Essex Inst. vi., 34 [as], (1868). FHTab. So. States. | g. P. macuLosum, Wood. Comm. Essex Inst. vi., gr [22]. (1868). Hab. Pennsylvania, Virginia. : 10. P. NIGROPALPI, Wood. Comm. Essex Inst. vi., 22 [13]. (1868). Hab. Pennsylvania. : 11. P. NIGRUM, Say. Jour. Phila. Acad. ii, 66 (182) ; Coll. Writ- ings, ii., 14; Wood, Comm. Essex Inst. vi., 34 [25]. (1868). THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, | 169 Hab. North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Nebraska. 12. P. prcrum, Wood. Comm. Essex Inst. vi., 30 [21]. 1868. Hab. Massachusetts. 13. P. veENTRICOSUM, Wood. Comm. Essex Inst. vi., 32 [23]. (1868). Hab. Pennsylvania, Nebraska. 14. P. vERRUCosuM Wood. Comm. Essex Inst. vi., 29 [20]. (1868). ffab. United States. "15. P. virrarum, Say. Jour. Phila. Acad. i, 65 (1821); Coll. -- Writings ii, 13; Wood, Comm. Essex Inst. vi, 20 [11]. (1868). Hab. So. States, Texas, Nebraska. III. CYNORTA. 1 C. ORNATA, Simon (?) Gonyleptes ornatum, Say. Jour. Phila. Acad. ii, 4 69.(2821) ;. Coll. _Wiitings ii, 15 ; Wood, Comm. Essex Inst. vi., 37 [28]. (1868). Hfab. Georgia, Florida. IV. NEMASTOMA, C. Koch. | 1. N. TROGLODYTES, Packard. Bull. U.S. Geol. Survey (Hayden) ‘lil., 160 (1877). fZab. Utah. 2. N. 1nops, Packard. ‘Amer, Nat. xvill., 203 (1884). fab. Kentucky. | : Vv. OLIGOLOPHUS, C. Koch,* 1. O. BICEPS. Mitopus biceps, Thorell. Bull. U.S. Geol. Survey (Hayden) iii, 525 (1877). flab. Colorado, Idaho. VI. PHLEGMACERA, Packard. 1. P. cavicoLEus, Packard. Amer. Nat. xviii, 203 (1884). flab. Kentucky. f VII. TARACUS, Simon. ___1. T. Packarpi, Simon. Comptes rendus Societe Entom. de Belgique, _ 2nd series, No. 64 (1879). fab. Colorado. ___* Mitopus Thorell is joined to Oligolophus C. Koch by Simon, Les Arachnides de haa vii., 239 (1879). 170 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENERA OF CARABID ALONG A RIVER SYSTEM. BY C. H. T. TOWNSEND, CONSTANTINE, MICH. The St. Joseph River runs nearly diagonally through the township of Constantine, from N. E. toS. W. A small affluent, called Fawn River, empties into it at the point where the town itself is located. The characteristic vegetation along the banks of the main river above _ town is beech, maple, elm, iron-wood, walnut, butternut, papaw, magnolia (or a tree very nearly allied), spice-bush, prickly-ash, sumach, witch-hazel, wild grape, ash, oak and hickory, with many quite rare and beautiful wild _ flowers, such as are found in rich and favorable places. But that of the affluent region is almost entirely oak and hickory (mostly oak), with hazel, — sumach, a few poplars, willows, and in some places cedars, but with few wild — flowers of any account. ‘The cedars are also found upon the main river, both above and below town. ‘This difference in vegetation is probably due to a difference in the nature of the soil, the lower and richer soil of parts of the main river producing a richer and more varied flora than the higher and poorer parts adjoining the affluent. Now I have noticed in collecting that the Carabide seem to Bé dis- tributed in a somewhat systematic manner along the main river and its _ affluent, genera occurring on the former which are not found along the — latter, and less frequently vce versa. On the main river I have taken a Omophron, Helluomorpha, Galerita, Brachylobus (Lithophilus {Say|), Dicaelus, Hestonotus and Amphasia, which I have not taken on the affluent. Galerita, however, I have taken on the prairie to the south, bu this partakes more of the nature of the main river region. While on the affluent I have taken JVotiophilus, Calosoma and Lastm- achus, which I have not taken on the main river. The JVotiophilus is a specimen which I have determined to be szbzricus Mots. It was taken on 1gth October, 1884, while I was chopping over some sod with a hatchet on an elevated grassy bank, which formed an open spot in the woods at this place. As this is the only specimen of the genus I have up to this time met with here, it may be found yet upon the main river. Of Cal osoma, 1 have often taken calidum (Fab.), and once scrutator (Fab, up the affluent. The latter, a very rare insect here, three or four speci mens only having been taken to my knowledge within the las THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 171 eleven years, I should have expected to find on the main river, as the rarer and more beautiful genera seem to be found there more a frequently. However, one or two of the specimens were taken in town, and may belong to either region; and I think very likely that ca/idum | (Fab.) is found up the river in the fields. __ The genera I have observed upon both the main river and the affluent are Scarites, Brachynus, Platynus, Pterostichus, Chlaentus and Harpalus. I think I have also taken Ga/erita on the affluent, but such occurrence is rare. Srachynus and Chlaenius are much more abundant on the main stream, as indeed are nearly all of those given. I know of only - two specimens of Brachynus being taken on the affluent, while in damp _ or wet places on the main river, which are much better suited to them, they are quite plentiful. Of the genera Carabus and Cychrus, I have _ never met with a representative here in any section. This distribution is undoubtedly due to the richer flora of the main _ fiver producing more varied species upon which the Caradbide prey, 4 and also to that to which in turn the richer flora is due, namely, the richer : soil and more favorable locality. MONOGRAPH OF THE EMBIDINA. (Continued from page 155.) BY DR. H. A. HAGEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 6. Oligotoma Westwood, n. sp. : O. Westwood: Hag., Synops. Embid., p. 222 (no description, not named.) Length of body 4% mill.; exp. of wings 7 mill. Male: As the specimen is enclosed in copal (Gummi anime), the colours are not certain, but the head, with antenne and palpi, the thorax _ and the legs in part, seem to have been blackish-fuscous ; head more 2 Raphidia-like than in any other species; more than half longer than broad; the rounded sides sloping down, the occiput less than half as broad as the front part with the eyes ; head above slightly convex, epistom _ large, convex ; eyes large, prominent, about orbicular, with a small ex. 172 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. cision for the insertion of the antennz ; facets large, globose ; antennze long, reaching the end of the metathorax, inserted in a longer socket, 15- : jointed ; 1st joint a little thicker, cylindrical, half as broad as long; 2nd as long as broad ; all others obclavate, to three times longer than broad, but the 3rd to 5th a little shorter than the rest, the last one more ovoid, with tip rounded; there seems not to be wanting any joint more. Labrum large, rounded, a little darker in middle ; max. palpi 5-jointed, the three basals alike, short, as broad as long ; 4th a little longer, 5th longer, ovoid ; labial palpi 3-jointed, apical joint longer, ovoid. Prothorax as broad as occiput, about quadrangular, broader near the mesothorax ; a deep trans- versal sulcus a little before middle, where the sides are notched; legs as usual, femoral and basal joint of fore legs elongate-inflated ; middle legs less strong. Wings very little longer than the abdomen, narrow, 34 mill. broad, four — times longer than broad, rounded on tip, hairy around and on the mem- brane, which is rugose, smoky, with four white longitudinal bands, the fifth near the costa being almost obsolete. Subcosta dark, ending uncon- nected after the basal fourth of the wing ; a little earlier in the hind wings. Radius a little before the tip of the wing connected below with one long vein, which runs parallel to the radius and ends on thetip. — This vein represents the sector and its upper branch (McLachl.) ; the ; sector itself is wanting from the place where the upper branch originates (it is marked by a small break of the vein) to the tip. There isno other — vein in the wing except the strong anal vein originating from the base of the sector shortly before a transversal between the sector and radius. I have for convenience always used McLachlan’s names of the veins, though _ it is obvious by this species that what he calls upper branch is really the — prolongation of the sector itself. I will try later to give a homology of — all the veins of the wing. ‘The hind wings have exactly the same very simple venation ; the discoidal cell is open. ‘The abdomen is not entirely visible from above, as a Hymenopterous insect, partly overlaying. The segments are equal, once broader than long, except the two last ones, — which are considerably shorter ; the apical margin of the last one is cut — asymmetrically, the right half of it considerably shorter than the left side ; _ appendages as long as the four last segments, stout, two- -jointed ; ‘the apical joints cylindrical, rounded at tip, as long as the basal ones ; the appendages are asymmetrical, the right one stout, straight, a little longer, the left one curvated, a little thinner. No side-view is possible. Between THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 173 the appendages is projected a broad inflation, narrower on tip, and just on its middle a spine coming from the right, as long as, the basal joint, cylin- drical, sharp on tip, somewhat curvated to the right ; a much smaller and shorter spine on the left side does not exceed the inflation. Abdomen from below with penultimate segment as long as the others, very dark, _ blackish ; last segment pyramidal, rounded on tip, the left side asymme- trical, stronger notched. In the same lot of copal I received another specimen of exactly the same size, but differing as follows: The whole insect has copal colours, ' less dark, only the head is dark brown. Both antennz are only r14- _ jointed ; the apical joint is ovoid, without any traces on tip of a broken- _ off segment. Wings pale, but with obvious traces of a smoky color and _ white longitudinal bands ; the discoidal cell is closed in all four wings by one strong transversal vein, and two in the left anterior wing ; all wings show 4 to 5 small costal transversals in the apical half, but these may also exist in the other specimen, the costal margin of which is not plainly r visible. * ‘The venation is alike, but all veins not developed are indicated by a series of small, darker hairs inserted in a more visible and deeper hole. I have formerly pointed out that just the same occurs in the wing cases _ of the Calopteryx nymphs. The appendages are to be seen well from below ; they are alike ; the right spine is longer, less thick, bifid on tip ; near by is a short, cylindrical, curvated tube, with open end; the left spine iS triangular at base, the apex twisted and sharply pointed. One joint more or less of the antenne, one transversal more or less in the wing, can of course not be a specific difference. The marked char- acter of the right spine between the appendages would be of importance, if it would be possible to examine the same organ in the other specimen. This is not the case, and therefore the existence of a similar character is* at least not impossible. : Hab.—I received both specimens forty years ago among other copal insects bought from the large Drogues House Gehe in Dresden, Germany. It was sold as East Indian copal. Later I discovered that all copal sold at that time as East Indian copal came from Salem, Mass. It is indeed probably Zanzibar copal; this trade was then entirely in the hands of Salem merchants ; the copal was brought to Salem by the extensive East Indian trade of this city, and sold to Europe. I request the honor of dedicating this gentle species, the smallest 174 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. known, to the first monographer of Embia, the Veteran Entomol Indefatigatus, Doctissimus ! | The rudimentary venation separates this species from all known, by i the want of the lower branch of the sector. Prof. Westwood in his monograph, l. c., p. 374, mentions two appar- ently distinct species in gum copal, probably from the eastern coast of Africa, in the collection of Dr. Strong, of Brook Green—‘ one which from its size may probably be the Amdza Savignyi; seemed to possess 14-jointed antenne.” The size of &. Savignyi is so much larger that this copal species can not be O. Westwood. The other species was of still larger size, with slightly stained wings and 24 joints in the antenne. Both are unknown to me. The published copal insects contain no Embia. A careful examination of the large collection of copal insects here did not give any more Embia. 7. Oligotoma nigra, N. sp. ~ Embia nigra Hagen, Synop. Psoc. et Embid., 1. c., p. 221-222 hi description). a Male, dry: Length of body 8 mill.; exp. of wings 13-15 mill. Head dark fuscous, a little shining, sparingly covered with small pale hairs ; head a little longer than broad; the part behind the eyes narrower, rounded, nearly orbicular ; above slightly convex; eyes large, black ; epistom quadrangular ; labrum large, fuscous in middle, rounded ; antennze longer than head and prothorax, 13 joints present, fuscous, very hairy, hairs long, brown ; rst joint cylindrical, a little thicker than the others, once longer than broad; 2nd cylindrical, short, as long as broad 3 3rd as eS long as 1st, larger on tip; 4th to 6th short, very little longer than broad, thicker on tip, 5th and 6th longer and thicker than 4th; 7th to 9th about ‘alike, similar to the preceding ones,.but longer ; roth to 13th longer, about 4 four times longer than broad, more cylindrical; rest wanting. Another 4 specimen has also 13 joints, but here the roth to r3thare not so elongated; _ perhaps the difference is caused by the preparation. Mandibles strong, a brown, with three black sharp teeth on tip; the right mandible has the inner teeth shorter ; max. palpi 5-jointed, the two apical ones longer, the last one ovoid; lab. palpi 3-jointed, fuscous, the apical longer, ovoid ; labium pale, rounded, bifid; head below brown, mentum blackish. Pre thorax brown, much narrower and shorter than the head, a little longer than broad, and dilated to the wings ; sides oblique ; a transversal sulcus THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 175 after the apical third ; the sulcus prolonged near the sides towards the base, inclosing an elevated part (les trois festons de Rambur). Wings'smoky fuscous, the median and the anal veins darker, blackish ; five longitudinal white bands ; four to five fine costals in the apical part ; two (in one hind wing, four) transversals in the cell. Legs brown, articu- lations paler ; dilated in the usual way, so far as it can be observed, the 1st joint of tarsi not very much dilated. Abdomen brown, last segment nearly cleft by a deep sulcus, nearer to the right ; appendages long, very hairy ; basal joint longer than the last segment, apical joint longer and thinner ; right spine long, slowly thicker towards the base ; tip sharp, bent up a little ; this spine is turned strongly to the left, as long as the intro- ‘mittant, cylindrical tube ; the left spine is half as short, the sharp apical end returned. I can not ascertain if there is any asymmetry of the appendages. | The description is made from three males, showing the smaller dimen- sions, collected in Upper Egypt; the fourth, a little larger and much _ darker, collected near Cairo, is alike; the end of the abdomen jis not visible. Female ? dry. Length of body 1o mill. The two females before me differ from the males by similar characters as O. Michaeli. The body is black, a little hairy, somewhat shining, except the head, which is finely aciculate above. Head more rounded, the eyes small, not prominent ; antennz (only 13 joints present) short ; 1st joint thicker, cylindrical ; 2nd very short, annular ; 3rd longer, larger at tip ; all the following alike, short, nearly globular ; the 2nd to 4th joint a little paler than the others, which are blackish. Prothorax a little broader than in the male ; mesothorax longer, narrower towards the pro- thorax, without any traces of wings; metathorax similar; legs black, articulations paler; the enlarged parts, principally the basal joint of the’ tarsus of fore legs, stronger developed and more enlarged. An external spine on the basal joint is perhaps present. Abdomen longer, black ; last segment rounded on tip; the appendages thick, very short, the apical joint a little longer; the abdomen of these carded specimens can not well be.examined, but I believe that I am seeing a female genital opening. _Ican not find any asymmetry. | Hab. ‘The larger winged male and the two females, called larva by _ Prof. Schaum, were collected by him on the island of Rhoda, near Cairo, Egypt, end of January, 1851, by beating the grass with the net in the 176 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. evening. ‘The winged one was very agile in flying. Of the wingless ones he never took more than two at one beat, and they moved around like a slow Staphylin. They were very rare in February. The smaller ones were collected by him in February, 1852, in Middle and Upper Egypt. | They are said to be very common in summer. is The winged O. nzgra is entirely different from 2. mauritanica Laine In 1857 I had the opportunity of seeing the only copy of the splendid and very expensive Explor. de l’Algerie then existing in Germany, belong- ing to the R. Library in Berlin. Even then, the copy being at the binder’s, I had only a hurried glimpse, together with the late Prof. Schaum, who believed his species to be identical with the species of Mr. Lucas. This explains the question mark after Z. nigra in my Synopsis. Now I have this expensive work in my room! I remark this fact only to explain the difficulties with which entomologists had to contend thirty years ago, — That the winged specimens are different from Z...Savignyé is directly obvious. I can not decide if the wingless form belongs to the winged one. Prof. Schaum considered it to be the larva, but as it is of the same size with the winged, this is scarcely probable, except (being females) by assuming that the female imago is much larger. The symmetrical appen- dages are very different from those of the males, and it could be presumed that the wingless form belongs to Z. Savignyi; but this species seems to be different. Therefore we have to wait for new observations, As I — received first the black wingless form, I applied to it the name Z. nigra, 4 which I would not change as the name had been quoted by several authors, A A wingless specimen collected by the late Prof. Loew in Asia Minor, probably near Kellemisch, is similar, but less dark. The pinned speci- — men, 8 mill. long (last segment wanting), may belong to O. nigra. Head — and prothorax similar, antenne short, with 17 joints. The color of the 4 abdomen below yellowish brown. ‘The condition ‘of the specimen is too indifferent to say more than to note the occurrence of a species similar to O. nigra in Asia Minor. . 8. Oligotoma antiqua. ae ea Embia antigua Pictet and Hagen. Berendt Bernstein Ins. ii., p. 56, : pl. 5, f. 7. : ; a Male? wingless. Length of the body ro miilim. ; : Body dark, sparingly villous ; head oblong, a little narrower behind 4 and rounded ; above light convex, smooth, depressed behind the er THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 177 which are small, not prominent ; antennz as long as head and prothorax, ¥8-jointed ; 1st cylindrical, thicker; 2nd very short; 3rd as long as rst, the rest shorter, thicker on tip, the last one ovoid ; max. palpi 5-jointed, the last one fusiform, longer; labial palpi 3-jointed, the last longest ; labrum rounded ; epistom short, broad ; prothorax narrower and shorter than the head, quadrangular, sides straight, front angles sharp, hind angles rounded, a transversal sulcus in the frontal third; mesothorax quadrangular, longer than prothorax, near the front margin on each side an oblique impression, and behind a small horizontal one ; metathorax similar, but shorter; no traces of wings. Abdomen with 9 oblong dorsal segments, the 8th shorter, apical margin notched ; gth large, conical, with a strong longitudinal impression, nearer to the right ; below 8 segments, the last large, ovoid ; appendages strong, very villous; apical joint thinner, cylindrical ; the basal a little curvated ; legs strong, villous, femora of fore and hind legs and basal joint of tarsi of fore legs largely inflated. Hab. Four specimens in Prussian amber ; I have little doubt that it belongs to Oligotoma ; the apparent asymmetry of the last dorsal segment _ makes me believe that the appendages are also asymmetrical, as I had seen them so when studying the specimens ; but these parts were not well visible. I have amended the description after manuscript notes, namely, the antennz, which are there given with rg joints, because the socket is counted as ist joint. Since then more specimens have been found, but no winged ones. 9. Embia Savignyi. Savigny Descript. d’Egypte Néuropt. pl. 2, f. 9-10 (no name). Embia Audouin Expl. sommaire du planches, p. 194. £. Savignyt Westwood, Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xvii., p. 372, pl. ii, f. 1. £.. Savignyt Burm., Handb. vol. ii, p. 770, 1. £. Savignyi Ramb., Neur. p. 311, 1. £. Aegyptiaca Blanch., Hist. Ins. p. 48. (Not seen by me.) L£,.. Savignyt Brauer., Neur. Europas, 1876, p. 32. Length of the body 9 mill.; with wings, 12 mil.; exp. of wings nearly 20. ‘The measures are only approximative, the condition of the specimen not allowing more. Male. Body leather-yellow, somewhat shining, villous ; head about quadrangular, rounded behind, rather flattened above, a little depressed transversely behind the eyes ; antenne broken (Burmeister quotes 17 joints, Savigny figures only 15) ; eyes large, black, notched before ; max. 178 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, palpi 5-jointed, brownish. Prothorax much narrower than the head, en- larged towards the wings ; a little longer than broad, sides straight ; in the anterior third a transversal sulcus ; behind convex, divided by an impressed middle line. Mesothorax with a transversal elevation divided in the middle between the base of the wings. Legs a little darker with the usual dilatation of femur and the basal joint of tarsi of fore legs. Wings longer than the abdomen, a little broader than those of Oligotoma, light brown- ish-smoky, with five longitudinal white bands ;'the inferior branch of the sector is again furcated (and occasionally a third time, as in one wing of Savigny’s figure and in the specimen before me). Four to five partly in- complete costal transversals, two in the closed cells, and several more in the two or three spaces between the sector-branches. Abdomen enlarged behind, last ventral segment larger, convex, shining, brown. Appendages broken ; two-jointed, long, thick, after Savigny and Rambur. I presume the specimen to be a male, because no female genital opening is visible. _ There exists no description of Savigny’s type except Rambur’s of the ~ incomplete specimen in the Jardin de Plants in Paris, which has probably been figured by Savigny. Burmeister has described some specimens in the Museum in Berlin, Prussia, and my specimen is one of them. Hab. Egypt, Savigny and Ehrenberg in Berlin Museum. The figures by Savigny are excellent, as usual; it is to be decnaciceld 8 that he has seen and figured f. 9, u. e., the opening of the gue. glands inside of the labium. Rambur, |. c., p. 312, carefully describes a larva which belongs very = probably to this species. The patria of the larva, which is now in De ~ Selys-Longchamps collection, is unknown. Perhaps it may be a female. — A wingless specimen collected by Prof. Schaum near Athens, Greece, — November, 1851, now in my collection, agrees very well with Ramburs — description; ro mill. long, brownish-ferruginous, villous ; the end of the — abdomen of the carded specimen is not well visible. The head isa little — more oval and not so distinctly quadrangular as in Z. Savignyi. Antennze short, 17 joints. The body is narrower than in Z. Savignyt. Otherwise ~ it has the characters described before as belonging to the-female, namely, the small, non-prominent eyes, and the external spine of the basal joint of tarsi of fore legs. Of course it can not be decided if this specimen belongs to #. Savignyi or not. Prof, Schaum had also collected a winged specimen at the samé place, which was unfortunately lost. Prof. Brauer l. c., quotes this species from Southern Russia with ? (authority not stated) A i a Be a hy THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. . 179 NOTE ON HABIT OF LARVA OF P. ATALANTA. BY W. H. EDWARDS, COALBURGH, W. VA. In C. EnT., 14, p. 223, I stated that Newman, in Nat. Hist. Br. But., described the mature larva as pupating in a case specially prepared for the purpose on the plant it had been feeding on: ‘from the roof of this the caterpillar suspends itself and becomes a chrysalls.” Also quoted from Harris, who says the larva “seeks a suitable place in which to undergo its transformations.” In the conclusion of the paper, vol. 15, p. 19, I said that I had never found a case with pupa in it, though I had often taken cases with the larvae in earlier stages, and I ventured the conjecture that both Harris and Newman were right, but that in our climate the larva pupated differently from its habit in England. On 24th July last, I received from Mr. Philip Laurent, of Philadelphia, about a dozen cases of Afa/anta, each made of a single nettle leaf and containing a pupa suspended from the top. Mr. Laurent wrote that in 1882 this butterfly was very common, and that in a short time, on one occasion, he found 125 pupae in leaf cases ; and that as far as observed, the larva selects a large leaf for its last case, in which it transforms ; that as a rule it makes its last meal out of the outer end of the case, eating about an inch thereof; that he has however taken many that were not eaten at all; has also seen several in which pieces were eaten out of the side of the leaf. Iam glad to have this positive evidence ; my opinion was based on the fact of never having found such a case, together with the testimony of Dr. Harris, as I understood it. But it is probable that I was wholly mis- taken, and that the American habit of the species is like that in England. Atalanta was abundant here in 1881, but I have seen few individuals since. Just so P. Cardui was the most common butterfly here all through the season of 1884, and this year I have not seen one. CORRESPONDENCE. Dear Sir: While out for an ornithological ramble here on Cote des Neiges Mountain this afternoon, I observed a large number of Danais archippus congregated together ; numbers were clustered on dead branches of trees and underbrush, also on ferns. I could easily have caught a 180 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. hundred without moving more than ten paces. I don’t remember having seen this species so abundant here for several years. Last year Pyrameis cardui appeared to me to be the most plentiful butterfly here, during August and September. I also noticed a large number of this latter species on the marshes of Lake St. Peter, about sixty miles down from Montreal. This was in the early part of September, last year. If you consider the above notes interesting enough to publish, I should like to know the cause of the above mentioned assemblage of arvchippus. The weather was showery in the morning, and sunshiny in the afternoon, with a stiff breeze blowing from the south. . Montreal, 22nd Aug., 1885. ERNEST D. WINTLE. CRYPTOBIUM FLAVICORNE, LEC, Dear Sir: In his recent very interesting “ A Study of the Species of Cryptobium of North America,” Trans. Am. Ent. Soc.,1885, Dr. Hom has united with pa//ipes the forms hitherto known as datebricola and flavicorne. “Having lately shown him a series of specimens in which the _ males have a denticle on the middle of the hind margin of the sixth (fifth visible) ventral segment, he writes that in none of the males of pallipes in his cabinet does this little tooth exist, and that he thinks it could not have existed in any specimens of the series which he examined while preparing his paper. He thinks, however, that the species thus indicated is the flavicorne Lec., and says the females are only distinguish- able by the very pale rufo-testaceous antenne of flavicorne and the more or less piceous antenne of pad/ipes. Immature females of the latter in Dr. Horn’s cabinet and in my own appear indistinguishable from /ffavi- — corne. FREDERICK BLANCHARD. Dear Sir: Whilst being out on a drive through the country last sum- — mer, I noticed a small yellow butterfly near the road side, too small to be ~ a Colias philodice Godt. 1 jumped off the wagon and captured it, after a brief chase. To my astonishment, it proved to be a fresh specimen of . Terias lisa Boisd., the first one ever taken in this locality. I think it will be well to remember the following: To prevent mould- ing of the sand used for relaxing specimens, put a few drops of carbolic acid in the water to moisten the sand with ; it also prevents the moulding of specimens should they be closed up too long. : Pu. FiscHeR, Buffalo, N.Y. ~, Che Canadian Entomologist. VOL, XVII. LONDON, ONT., OCTOBER, 1885. No. 10 7 HISTORY OF THE PREPARATORY STAGES QF VANESSA MILBERTI, Gopart. BY W. H. EDWARDS, COALBURGH, W. VA. _ EGG.—Conical, the base flattened, the top rounded; ribbed verti- cally, the ribs being either 8 or 9 in number; these rise from the surface at about one third distance from base, increase in elevation gradually, and end at the summit about the little flattened space which contains the - micropyle, with its rosette of minute reticulations ; the ribs meet the sum- mit at an angle of about 45°; in the last part of their course they are thin, and are grooved on both sides to the surface ; between them are many fine horizontal strie ; color green. Duration of this stage probably 407 5 days. YOUNG LARVA.—Length zis inch; color yellow-green ; cylindrical, _ nearly even from 2 to ro, the segments well rounded ; marked by rows of fine black tubercles, each of which gives out a black hair in length about - equal to the diameter of body and nearly all straight ; these tubercles are flat, like circular disks, and the hairs are barbed (as seen under a high _ power) ; 2 has a sub-oval chitinous black dorsal patch with two rows of tubercles, six in front row, and two behind, these last standing between _ the second and third from each end of front row; the hairs longer than _ elsewhere and bent over head; on 3 and 4 each is a straight cross row over dorsum of eight tubercles, four on either side mid-dorsal line, and __ the third tubercle from top has two hairs ; after 3 and to 13 are six tuber- cles each, disposed differently, four being on the front part of the seg- ment, but not in straight line, the lower one of either side being a little _ behind the upper one, and the third tubercle lying between the two others, on the last part of the segment ; these form three longitudinal rows from _, 3 to 13; on extreme end of 13 is an oval chitinous patch with several tubercles, the hairs straight and horizontal ; below the spiracles from 4 to I2 are two short hairs each, from minute tubercles, the posterior one we 182 | THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. raised a little above the other; on 13 but one; on 2 are three lateral tubercles, each of which gives two hairs, and placed, one above, one in front of, and one below, the spiracle ; on 3 and 4, in line with the lower tubercle of 2 and the lower of the pair on the segments after 4, is a single tubercle and hair; over the prolegs are two short hairs each, and in same ~ line, on 5, 6, 11, 12, is one hair; head rounded, a little depressed at suture, color black. shining ; surface much covered with fine tubercles and | bent black hairs. (The tubercles and hairs of this species are similar, and similarly placed, to those of V. Antiopa). Duration of this stage about two days. After First Moult.—Length at 12 hours, 74’s inch ; the middle of dorsum green cut by a brown line ; the junctions of segments also green ; the rest of upper half, black-brown, below this and the under side yellow-green (some _ examples are darker than others, more brown, less green) ; above the spiracles is a yellowish wavy line from 5 to 10 inclusive, and with the spiracles a brown line ; there are several rows of spines, one dorsal and three on either side ; these are disposed as described in last stage, arelow, _ rounded, with a small cone on summit; from the apex a single long black _ hair, and five or six short hairs around the basal part ; on the cross-ridges ‘ of each segment after 2 are many fine points, each with a short hair; 2 has a blackish dorsal patch, with many hairs, bent forward ; feet brown ; — pro-legs green; head cordate, shining, black, thickly covered with fine low conical tubercles, varying in size, each with its hair. Duration of this stage about two days. After Second Moult.—Length at 6 hours, x inch ; color black over dorsum to middle of side ; a mid-dorsal black line, with a pale gray-green line or stripe on either side of it ; on the cross-ridges many white points, each with long whitish hair ; in some examples the lower part of the black ~ area is mottled with green-yellow ; in one was a greenish patch on mid- — dorsum on front of each segment after 2; the lower half of side green- : yellow ; on this area, with the spiracles runs_a blackish line overlaid by a — yellow line; under side yellow-green; the spines now long, slender, tapering to a point, with a bristle at top and eight or ten about the sides ; color of the five upper rows black, of the lower laterals yellow ; head as at second stage, the tubercles more numerous, and more prominent, t one on each vertex a little largest, some white, some black, the hairs al black Duration of this stage less than two days. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 183 After Third Moult.—Length 12 hours after the moult, xo to xv inch ; ‘scarcely different as to color and spines from previous stage ; black, the lower part and under side olive-green ; the white hairs over surface give a _ hoary appearance to all the black area; the tubercles on head still more numerous, varying in size, more decidedly cone-shaped, the one on vertex largest. Duration of this stage less than two days. After Fourth Moult.—At 12 hours, # inch. Two days later full grown. | MATURE LARVA.—Length +s inch; slender, of nearly even thick- ness from 2 to 11; the upper surface black, thickly dotted with fine yel- low-white points or tuberculations, larger and smaller (some of the smaller white), the former placed on the cross-ridges of the segments, the others irregularly scattered on and between the ridges ; each of these gives out __ a white hair ; under side yellow-green ; a black stripe passes between the _ pro-legs ; 2, 3, 4 are black, and 5, 6, 11 to 13 have much black; in line ' with lower lateral spines a bright yellow line or stripe in long crenations, one of which extends the breadth of the segment, and another similar line is above spiracles, the two curves meeting at the spines ; under these is arusset space making a pretty wide band, not evenly colored, and varying in individuals ; a fulvous patch, always small, often a mere dot, _ above and back of each spitacle ; occasionally the upper yellow line is reduced to a patch on each segment, and sometimes this is enlarged and _ conspicuous ; spiracles sub-oval, yellow rings with black centres ; feet ' _ black, pro-legs green ; on 2 is a dorsal collar bearing several small white 4 _ spinose processes, and many white hairs, which are bent forward ; the a spines are in seven rows, one dorsal, three on either side, being upper, a _ middle and lower lateral ; the dorsals run from 5 to 12, the first laterals _ from 3 to 12, the middle from 3 to 13, the lower from 5 to r2; the lower laterals are greenish-yellow, with bristles of same color, the s upper rows are black, from blue-black bases ; all these spines are slender, tapering to point, with a white bristle at tip, and a few short black ones about the _ sides ; along base are bunches of small green irregular tubercles, with hairs ; head sub-cordate, black, shining, with many conical tubercles, large and small, mostly white but some black, the one on vertex a little larger _ than others, each with its hair; these hairs are black on upper part of — face, white on lower. The black changes to dark brown as the larva pro- _gresses, and the russet band loses its distinctive color, becoming olive- green. Duration of this stage about four days. 184 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. CHRYSALIS.—Length from 1% to rs inch; breadth across meso- notum 15 to oo inch; across abdomen 7s to 7%; head case much pro- duced, the sides either excavated from extreme ends of the processes, or not at all. but tapering to end ; these processes conical, rather short, the space between a little excavated ; mesonotum prominent, rounded, slightly carinated, with a very small three-sided pyramidal process at summit ; the excavation below mesonotum angular, the wing case considerably elevated, the process at base sharp, triangular ; abdomen conical, marked on dorsal side by three rows of tubercles, corresponding to the three uppermost rows of spines in the larva; the mid-dorsals low, rounded, the others prominent on middle segments, those on mesonotum small, but all the sub-dorsals are sharp and conical; color variable ; many examples are soiled white, with slight brown stripes on abdomen, one dorsal, one ven- tral, one on either side, the ventral extending from head case to posterior end ; the whole surface specked and finely streaked with brown ; and the whole, except the last 4 or 5 segments, bronzed more or less strongly ; some examples have the wing cases unicolored, others clouded in two shades ; other examples are wholly light brown, and largely bronzed ; others are dark brown, the whole dorsal area lighter, and mottled and streaked with yellow-white ; in these last is often no bronzing except of a few tubercles below mesonotum; others are blackish throughout, the bronzing confined to the tubercles last spoken of. Duration of this stage in July 5% days. Following one individual : Egg hatched, July 3rd. rst moult 1 5th—6th, in night. 2nd un i Sth, 10 a. m: 3rd on 1 goth—roth, in night. 4th uw n ith, 4 p. m. Suspended 1 15th, 6 a. m. Pupated n 15th, 6 p. m. Imago out n 21st, about noon. From hatching to pupation, 12 days; to imago, 17% days. The last imago came out on 24th July. | | Milberti does not live at Coalburgh, or so far as I know, to the south ~ of this; but is a common species in certain localities throughout the Northern States from New England and New York west; also in Colorado and Rocky Mts. northward, and in the Pacific States, and even British - a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 185 America. I used to take a few specimens in August in the Catskill Mts., but the species was rare there. I have had many eggs sent me from Truckee, Cal., and from Rochester, N. Y., the latter by Mr. H. Roy _ Gilbert. The larve sent me by Mr. Gilbert in former years refused our 5 native broad-leaved nettle, and starved to death on it, so that I was obliged to import several roots of the food plant, U. dioica, from Rochester, and grow it in my garden. I desired to see whether or no this species in larva behaved like other of our Vanessans. Although so common, very little has been published of J/7/berti at any stage, or of its larval habits. Say, under the name /urci//ata, figures the butterfly, 1825, and says it was » several times observed in the North-west territory during the progress of - the Long Expedition, but says nothing of the larva. Boisduval & Le- - Conte, 1833, also figure the imago, and say of the larve merely that they jive in cluster on a species of Urtica in the neighborhood of Philadelphia. _ Kirby, 1837, repeats Say, adding Canada as a locality. Harris, 1862, ta briefly describes the caterpillar and chrysalis ; says the butterflies are rare - about Boston, but common in north-west Mass. and N. Hampshire, and © appear in May and again in July and August. Prof. Lintner, Proc. E, Soc. Phil., 3, 61, 1864, describes the mature larva, in part at least from an alcoholic specimen, and the chrysalis ; and says there are two annual broods of the butterfly (at Schoharie, N. Y.), in April and August ; that the larve are usually very abundant on Urtica dioica, but that nearly all are destroyed by a parasite. Mr. Wm. Saunders, C. ENT., 1, p. 76, 1869, describes the adult larva, and says that the first brood of the butterfly appears (London, Can.) toward end of June, and again in August, but _ says nothing of larval habits. Mr. Scudder, in Syst. Rev., 1872, says of 4 Milberti, that the eggs are laid in clusters on some of the terminal leaves of the nettle, that the caterpillars feed in close company during the earlier j stages, but subsequently scatter. Mr. Henry Edwards, Proc. Cal. Ac. N. _ Sci., 1873, briefly describes the mature larva and chrysalis. Mr. T. L, Mead, in Report on Wheeler Expedition, 1875, says that A/z/berti larve ‘were common about Denver early in June on nettles, and that almost every plant had many on it, in various stages of growth, while the females were still depositing their egg clusters. Mr. Scudder, in ‘“ Butterflies,” _ 1881, p. 138, figures the butterfly, says there are two broods (in N. E.) in June and September; and on p. 99, gives figure of cluster of eggs on under side of nettle leaf ; says the eggs are laid upon the under surface in = large open patches, 7 which they are rarely if ever piled upon one 186 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. another, sometimes several patches upon the same leaf. On page 152, it _ is also stated that the species is trip/e-brooded in Canada. Finally, Prof. Fernald, But. Maine, 1884, briefly describes the mature larva, adding that — the spines are arranged as in V. Antiopa, which, as I shall show, is in : some degree erroneous. ‘That is all I have been able to find of the history y of this common butterfly, and that is very little. The egg of AM/i/berti, in shape and ornamentation, is like that of 4 Antiopa. The young larva is like the young of that species also in every particular, so far.as I can discover. Every hair in the one has its coun- terpart in the other. Of the second stage of Antiopa I cannot now speak, but of the third and subsequent stages, comparing them with J/7/- berti, there is a difference in regard to the dorsal row of spines. In — Antiopa these begin at segment 7 (head being No. 1) and end on 12, whereas in MWi/berti, as in Vanessa Urtica and Polychloros, also in all our — species of Grapta observed, the dorsal spines begin at 5 and run tor2. (A table of the spines of Vanessa and allied genera may be found in Weis- — mann’s Studies, English Ed., p. 448, with interesting remarks on auf E relationship of all these species). a I received 7th May, 1885, from C. F. McGlashan, Esq., Praca Cal, i a great cluster of eggs, on nettle leaf, mailed 30th April. There seemed — to be about 200 eggs, but they were piled so that it was not possible to | count them. . The bottom layer was right side up, and the eggs square on ~ their bases, so far as could be seen ; at each layer above there was wider — departure from this, till at the top the eggs were more or less on their sides. In the thickest part the cluster was five layers deep. These eggs 3 failed to hatch. On 2nd July, the same year, I received three similar — clusters of eggs from Mr. H. Roy Gilbert, of Rochester, N. Y., piled up in same way. I had a large plant of Urtica dioica in flower pot, th branches nearly two feet long, standing at an open window in my roo On the upper side of a leaf of this-I pinned one cluster. In about s hours thereafter the larvee were hatching, and a few hours later h gathered at the base of the leaf, on upper side, and were nibbling at an through the leaf. Therewas no web or shelter. The next day the larv were on same leaf, and had eaten it almost wholly, leaving the frame. There was still no web. The same afternoon they left this leaf, and had- got on the end of the next branch and were eating the terminal leave still without web or any shelter. They were in a dense mass, and wh not feeding, their heads were all protruded, and at the least alarm, as t. ns igaraae = THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 187 shaking of the leaf, all the heads wagged together. This would be a natural protection against ichneumon flies, etc. I have observed the same simultaneous wagging in young larve of JZ. Phaeton, as an ichneumon fly was hovering over them. ‘This habit my larve kept up through the second stage. The first moult was passed while they were all piled together. The habit in feeding during the second and third stages was as in the first, no web, no shelter, all in bunches. But after third moult part of the larvee protected themselves in the manner of Grapta Comma, eat- ‘ing off the main ribs at the base of a leaf on under side, whereby the leaf drooped. The edges were drawn together pretty closely and nearly ‘to tip, and several larvee, might be found therein. One small lot of larve were on upper side of a leaf at the base, and had drawn the edges together for a half inch from base, making an imperfect shelter, but the ribs were not cut and the leaf stood in natural position. _ At fourth moult I had a fresh plant ready and the larvee were crainis- ferred. They scattered about, bent and closed leaves as in previous stage, and in some of these were three and four individuals, in others but one. But sometimes the leaf was not bent, and was closed from end to end nearly, a single larva lying therein. _ The weather was clear while I was feeding this brood, and at no time vas there any spinning of a web, or spinning at all beyond what was lecessary to close the leaves. From what I saw, I should say that the arve in the early stages were highly gregarious, that after third moult they were much less so, and after fourth (and last) had lost most of that habit. But had the weather been cloudy, or stormy, they might have acted differently, and protected themselves more or less by a web. _ lasked Mr. Gilbert to observe what he could of A/z/derti in natural state. He wrote 15th July: ‘The eggs, so far as I have observed, are always eight or ten inches below the top of the nettle, and usually ‘in cluster on under side ; but on one occasion I found them loosely scattered over the upper side, covering nearly half the leaf. In rough, windy or howery weather, the young larve may spin a web on under side of the natal leaf. I have seen this twice, and it seemed to me only a temporary expedient to avoid the rain and to secure a safe foothold. But they gen- _ erally go to the top of the plant and spin a web which covers the terminal _ leaves, and by additions come to extend for three to five inches down. _ My opinion is that if the weather be rough when the larvze are hatched, ; _ they rest on the natal leaf; if fair, ascend. When very young there are 188 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ‘ no stragglers, but towards maturity the larvee scatter, the main body of the family keeping together till nearly grown. ‘The ‘nettles,’ as we designate a certain spot, is a patch of that plant covering more than three quarters of an acre, lying on each side of a lane. I have seen perhaps forty fami- lies of these larvee feeding there at one time, but never under the shade | of trees which cover much of that ground. The larvae were always out in the sun. I have found the larvae will starve rather than eat the broad- leafed nettle.” Again, 17th July: ‘I visited the nettles yesterday. Found but one. group of larvae, they about 34 inch long. A bright-colored bug (Hem- ipter) with a long beak was active in picking off the larvae. I found four in a bent and closed leaf with one larva of G. Comma, six in a similar leaf ; two in a leaf that was closed but not bent, two unprotected on the — under side of a leaf, and one in plain sight on upper side. Found alsoa — bunch of eggs just hatched, and the larvae had crawled to under ae of . the leaf and lay like a flock of sheep, heads up.” Again, 20th: ‘Found one group of about 200 larvae, all on upper — sides of two opposite leaves, and a few inches below a web at top of the — plant. These larvae measured ss inch” (at or about 3rd moult). | “ Another group, measuring 34 inch” (after 4th moult) “were hidden — in closed leaves on different stalks. Part of these closed leaves had the ribs cut, and these were crowded ; the closed but uncut leaves had from one to four tenants. I have often noticed and know that after the last moult, the larvae scatter and pte openly. Can see a family several rods away where they are numerous.’ - I separated several of my larvae at one stage or other of their growth and gave leaves of our common broad-leafed nettle. At first they refused the food, then nibbled a little, and finally eat some leaves. But none of these larvae reached pupation, nor even passed a moult. They dwindled away and died. The same thing happened with larvae sent me in 1884. Mr. Gilbert reports a similar experience, as before said. Specimens of the butterfly from the western plains and to Pacific have not the bright coloration seen at the east. They have a faded mee so a Si aes a ELAPHIDION VILLOSUM, Farr. BY FREDERICK CLARKSON, NEW YORK CITY. There is in the study of Entomology a fascination and delight t captivates the imagination, and renders the enthusiast liable to construct - THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, » 189 theories based upon such slender foundations that they fail to reach the dignity of assured facts. This, I think, may be said of much that has been written concerning the habits of this beetle. ‘The record which I have thought proper to make relates to veritable facts, but whether in the particular instance referred to they are to be regarded as extraordinary and not of common occurrence, may be a problem yet to be solved. I trust that in offering this paper I may not be thought presumptuous in differing with so distinguished Entomologists as Drs, Harris and Fitch, yet as my observations do not bear out the conclusions which they have reached, and apprehending that the best interests of the science are served by that record or enquiry which relates to the discovery of facts, I make no apology to these fathers in the science for transcribing in relation to this subject views somewhat dissimilar to theirs. Dr. Harris says that if a burrow be split open in winter, it will be found to contain the larva, which in the spring assumes the pupa form, and in June or July is changed into a beetle. He is in accord with Dr. Fitch concerning the periods of transformation, and holds similar views with him as to the habit of pruning. Dr. Fitch, I think, unduly exalts the instincts of these beetles as illustrated in their larval habit of pruning the _ twigs and branches of the oak, contending, as he does, that the twig or branch is eaten away by the young larva fora small space, and left supported only by the bark that the autumn winds may fell it to the ground, and that the environment of its new condition is necessary to the transformation of the included larva. This is substantially what each writer has to say upon the subject, though Dr. Fitch’s report is very lengthened and rather extravagant in imaginative conclusions. These oak pruners were very abundant in Columbia County, this State, in the season of 1878. The September winds brought showers of twigs and branches to the ground. I examined many of them, and found each to contain the larva, nearly full grown, in tunnels measuring from ten to fifteen inches long. I gathered five goodly sized branches just after they had fallen for the purpose of illustrating the burrows in my cabinet of nest architecture. The branches remained on a table in a room having _ very nearly the condition, thermometrically, of the temperature without, until the early part of November, when I opened them for the purposes already stated. I was astonished to find that every burrow contained the beetle ; the transformation, therefore, from the larva to the imago was completed in less than eight weeks—how much less I know not—and 190 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, without the surroundings as narrated by Drs. Harris and Fitch. I am therefore inclined to the opinion, born of these facts, that the transform- ation, barring strong winds, is as likely to occur in the tree as on the ground, and that the branch is éaten away by the young larva not for the extraordinary reasons as cited, but for the more probable one, to prevent the flow of sap, which, if not checked, may render the wood fibre un- wholesome to the larva, or possibly affect injuriously the later condition of pupa and imago. It would appear, moreover, that the beetle is devel- oped in the autumn, and remains within the burrow during the winter, MONOGRAPH OF THE EMBIDINA. (Continued from page 178.) BY DR. H. A. HAGEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS 10. Embia Mauritanica. E. Mauritanica Lucas, Explor. Alger., vol. iii, p. 111-114; Neur, pl. 3, £2, an. Cuvier, Edit. Masson, Neur., pl. 106, f. 8 (copy of bin! figure). E. Mauritanica Lucas, Ann. Ent. Soc. Fr., 1859, ser. iii., vol, Vii., Pe 440-444. Pe I have never seen this species, and give the substance of the very 4 detailed description of Mr. Lucas. ns Winged imago: Length of body 13% mill.; exp. of wings 16 mill. Body rufo-fuscous, rufous-villous ; head longer than broad, flat, smooth ; depressed transversally behind the eyes ; frontal part reddish ; eyes reni- form, black; antennz 15-jointed, smooth and not villous (as in Savignyi), a little paler than the head; the joints after the 6th succes- sively longer ; labrum and palpi dark rufous ; max. palpi thinner than in E. Savignyt, the two apical joints longer ; labial palpi also more slender and the apical joint longer ; prothorax a little longer than in 4. Savigny2, with a transversal sulcus in the apical third; mesothorax anteriorly between the wings on each side with a vellonanl transversal tubercle ; metathorax similar. Legs dark rufo-fuscous, with the usual dilatation of the femur and the basal joint of tarsi of fore legs. Wings as long THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 191 abdomen, light reddish brown, smoky; with pale longitudinal bands ; sector trifid, four transversals in the cell, and one in the space below (after the figure). Abdomen light rufous brown, smooth above and below, somewhat hairy besides ; appendages two-jointed, hairy, the apical one thinner, longer; the apical ventral segment below is to the left strongly truncated and excavated ; in consequence of this asymmetry the basal joint of the left appendage is very short, broad, flattened and somewhat abortive. Mr. Lucas found the same asymmetry in each of the dozen of specimens collected by him. To decide the sex of his specimens he cut open the abdomen of several of them, and found all to be females. Wingless larva (after Lucas): Length of body 13 mill.; breadth 2 mill. Rufo-fuscous ; head ovoid, smooth, sparingly villous, above some- what depressed ; eyes reniform, dark fuscous, not prominent ; antennz rufo-yellowish, with yellowish hairs, as long as head and prothorax (after the figure), 18-jointed, joints about alike, successively shorter, the last as long as the first, but thinner, rounded on tip; palpi yellowish. Prothorax very short, anteriorly with a transversal sulcus ; mesothorax twice longer, - anteriorly with a much deeper transversal sulcus ; base narrower ; meta- thorax very short ; no traces of wings (after the figure). Legs (after fig.) yellowish, the basal joint of the tarsi of fore legs dark fuscous, with the usual dilatations. Abdomen with nine. dorsal segments; appendages rufous, the basal joint a little longer ; the figure of the end of abdomen shows the last dorsal segment triangular. _ Habitat—Around Alger, especially near Milah and Constantine, the winged specimens living gregariously in sandy places in June on the stems of a dry Scilla maritima ; very agile; 12 specimens collected. The larva is not very rare around Alger during the winter, living in small silken tun- nels under humid stones ; the larva is carnivorous and very agile.* Mr. Lucas, in his paper, Ann. Soc. Entom. Fr. 1859,-l. c., states that he col- lected, April, 1850, at Medeah and Bogar, province Alger, some larve _ which were placed in boxes, but by chance forgotten till 18 se He found * McLachlan, Embid., p. 376, says rightly : igen; Stett. Zeit. 1849, p. 56, said that nothing had then hex recorded as to the habits. He (McLachl.) has over- looked the fact that my paper was written and delivered in 1848, and commenced to be printed in the same year. The continuation of Embide was printed February, 1849, before Lucas’ work was published. The report of Lucas by Schaum, in 1851, contains nothing about the habits of Embidz, nor any other report, as far as 1 know, before Lucas’ second paper in 1859. 192 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. the walls of the box clothed with a very fine white silk, the network con- sisting of very small meshes and representing circular tunnels, in which the dead larvee were found. Mr. Lucas has observed in the field threads of silk arranged near the entrance of the tunnels, and believes them to serve as traps or to give notice of the presence of insects. He believes the Embia to be carnivorous. The larve live isolated. Concerning the larva, Lucas, Expl. Alg., p. 114, states that obliged to leave for Constantine in March, he put several larve in separate boxes together with some insects as food. After his return in October, he found all dead; only one had transformed to a winged imago. ‘This interesting observation is the only one known of the transformation of the wingless form into the imago state. But then the nympha skin with the empty wing cases must have been in the same box. Though the observation of — an eminently distinguished observer can not be doubted, still it is impos- sible that the imago could have transformed out of the wingless form without having before passed through a nympha form with visible wing cases. Mr. Lucas’ observations are extremely interesting, in so far as he has stated the existence of winged females. The description of the internal female organs makes his statements entirely sure. £. Mauritanica is very near to £. Savignyt. It is apparently a mis- understanding when Mr. Lucas, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. Bull., p. 98, states that I have united the two species in the Synopsis Embid., p. 21-22. Both species are there enumerated as different, and nothing is said about their relations. As I have never seen &. Wauritanica, I can state, after a careful study of the description and the figures, that both species must be very nearly related. It is to be assumed that Mr. Lucas has seen Savigny’s type, described by Rambur, in the Jardin des Plantes. If he had seen other specimens I believe he would have mentioned the fact. Therefore 4q his statements represent probably the comparison of his species with the — type of Savigny. After all 2. Mauritanica seems to differ by much — darker colors, the lack of villosity of the antennz of the imago (those of the larva are hairy), by the length of the last joint of palpi, by the asym- metry of the left appendage, and by less transversals of the wings. 11. Hmbia Persica. | 3 E. Persica McLachl., Jour. Linn, Soc. Lond., vol. xiii., p. 382. Female? Length of body 9% to 10% mill.; exp. of wings 13% to 15 mill, tye | SS SO ee THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 193 Nigra subnitida; caput vix in medio piceo tinctum ; pronotum brun- - neum; antennez nigrae, basin versus pallido cinctae, 24-articulatae, arti- culis duobus ultimis flavidis ; alae angustae, ftliginosae, albido 5-striatae ; venis fuscis. (McLachl.) | Hab.—Shahrud, Northern Persia. ‘Three specimens collected by Mr Christoph in McLachlan’s collection. I have never seen this species ; the detailed description must be com- pared in the original. There is no asymmetry noted, which is probably the reason that the author has considered them to be all females, with an appended? The species seems to be different from all described ones, but related to-the two foregoing species. 12. Embia Solierz. £. Soliert Rambur, Neuropt. p. 313, No. 4. Larva, dry: Length about 9 mill. (or a little less than 2. Savigny? -Ramb.) Body rufo-fuscous, villous ; head about quadrangular, a little depressed ; eyes small, black, not prominent; antenne reddish-yellow, a little longer than the head, villous, 18-jointed ; 1st joint cylindrical, thicker than the others; 2nd short, 3rd longer, the rest globular. Prothorax narrower than the head, somewhat enlarged behind, about as broad as long, with a deep, transversal sulcus after the first third; mesothorax ob- - long; metathorax quadrangular ; no traces of wing cases. Abdornen robust, broad, dark rufous, villous, a little shining ; segments alike, twice broader than long, the last dorsal triangular, obtuse, symmetrical. Appen- dages (rudiments only present) reddish-yellow, the basal joint thick, short. The opening of the female genitals on the ventral side seems to be present. Legs ferruginous, femora partly darker ; the femora and the basal joint of tarsi of fore legs dilated as usual ; the only dried specimen before me shows these parts shrunk, but they seem less broad than in Z. Savignyi; the middle legs are more dilated and stronger than usual. Hab.—The specimen before me is labelled Spain. Probably it is the _ Same mentioned by me (Stettin Ent. L. 1886, vol. xxvii, p. 285). I have studied the type of #. So/éert Rbr. and some other larva from Spain in the collection of DeSelys Longchamps, but I can not find my notes. At least Rambur’s description agrees with the specimen from Spain, never- theless, if- my memory is not at fault, the specimen from Marseille is larger. It is very remarkable, that in the more than forty years since _ Rambur’s publication no- winged imago has been found, though the 194 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ° wingless form is widely spread in southern France and in Spain, and seems to be frequently met with. In Petit. Nouvelles Entoml. Paris, 1877, vol. ii, p. 182 (not com- pared), Mr. Bolivar, commenting upon Mr. Girard’s opinion, that only one species of Embia exists in Europe, and that probably an importation, notes that a species is abundant in the larval form near Madrid, and is no . doubt indigenous. Mr. Girard, 1. c., p. 125, replies, and thinks the dis- covery not opposed to his hypothesis. McLachlan, l. c., p. 193, states that there can be no doubt as to perhaps more than one species living i in Europe (of Record for 1877). Mr. Lucas, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 1880, Ball, p. xcvii,, had found in February, 1850, near Toulon, not far from the Fort Lamalgue,, larvee of E. Solieri below the humid stones. The larvze were rather agile, and live like those of £. Mauritanica in silk tunnels made in hollow places of the _ stones. During the whole larval time they have the power of producing white silk to make tubes or tunnels in which they probably undergo their transformation. Contrary to Rambur’s opinion the larvee, at least of E. Mauritanica, live isolated, and only the adults become gregarious. Mr. M. Girard, ibid. 1881, Ball, p. cxxxvi., reported Z. Solieri larve colleected by Mr. Xamben, near Port Vendres (Pyrenees Orientales), in March, below stones in silken tunnels, which are traps for insects. ‘The species is very different from 2. Mauritanica and £. Savignyi, and was also found by Mr. Lucas near Perpignan and Collioures. He adds that — these localities harbor other southern forms, as Paussus Faviert. Mr. Lucas, ibid, 1882, Ball, p. clxxxv., found near Amélie-les-Bains, — end of December and January, 1882, below stones, a few £&. Solzerz 3 larve, long 9 to 12 mill, with 16, 18 or 20 jointed antenne. Itis very © rare that both antennz of the same specimen have the same number * 4 joints. oe Mr. Lucas, ibid, 1883, Ball, p. xxvi., compare at some length &. 3 Solieri, the imago of which is still unknown, with Z. antigua Piot., in the — Prussian amber. He states that this species closely resembles in form a E. Solieri, but differs by its longer antennze, which nearly exceed the meta- 4 thorax, though in Z. So/ieri they do not exceed the mesothorax. a oe er ae McLachlan, Journ. Linn. Soc., vol. xiii., p. 376, states that he possesses &. Solieri from Hyeres, collected by Mr. Pascoe under stones. og THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, i 195 TORY . oe 13. Embia ( Olyntha) Brasiliensis. 4 Olyntha Brasiliensis Gray, in Griffith Anim. Kingd., vol. xv., p. 374, e pl. 72, f. 2. : @ O. Brasiliensis Westw., Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xvi., p. 373, pl. 2, f. 3. 4 O. Brasiliensis Walk., Neur. Br. Mus., p. 532, n. 1. Winged form (male?) Length of body 16 mill.; exp. of wings 25 mill. (from Westwood’s plate). “Antenne corporis fere longitudine, articulis 32; alae nervo 4 interno trifido. Piceo niger, prothorace supra femoribusque 4 antiois ochreis, antennarum articulis ro ultimis albis, alis piceis, vittis albis inter nervos __ longitudinales, nervisque transversis tenuiter albo-marginatis.” (West- wood.) 2 Hab.—Brazil, coll. British Museum, formerly in Mr. Children’s coll. I have seen only the type, first described by G. Gray in Griffith and figured ibid. by Westwood; on the plate it is named Amdius ? Brasilien- sis. I have omitted “palpi maxillares 4 articulati” in Westwood’s description, as it has been corrected by Burmeister in 5 articulati for Olyntha, and this statement is verified by examination of the type by McLachlan, |. c., p. 378. The few words in Griffith contain nothing more, except that prothorax. and femora are called fulvous instead of ochreous. Though there is no asymmetry stated for this species the figure by Westwood has the tubercle between the appendages drawn more _ to the right, and the figure in Griffith has a spine on the left side and the right appendage (by error) three jointed. In 1857, on my way to Lon- don, I had compared O. Brasiliensis in the museum at Berlin, and the type in the Museum at Halle, both from the same lot, and when I saw the type in London, I had the impression that the type of O. Brasiliensis was different from Burmeister’s species, with yellow appendages. In the figure by Griffith they are black. On my return I compared again the specimen in Berlin, and found my first impression confirmed. As Thad seen only single specimens, and was then very little acquainted with this family, I thought it more prudent in my Synopsis Embid, p. 222, to draw attention to the supposed difference. I should remark _ that Mr. Walker has copied Burmeister’s description instead of Westwood’s, _ though he had the type at his disposal. 14. Embia (Olyntha) Batesi. Limbia Latest McLachl., Jour, Linn, Soc., vol, xiii., p. 38c, 196 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Olyntha Brasiliensis ? Burm. Handb. vol. ii., p. 770. | Winged form: Length of body 7 mill.; exp. of wings 14 mill. (41 mill. is a misprint, McLachl.) “ Nigra vel nigro-picea ; prothorax flavo- -ferrugineus ; ; antennee nigrae, 20-articulatae, articulis quinis ultimis flavidis, pallide pilosis ; alae breves, latae, nigro-fuscae, albido 5-striatae.”—McLachlan. For the detailed description the original should be compared. Hab.—Amazon’s coll. by Mr. Bates, one specimen in McLachlan’s coll. I have no specimen before me. The identity of Burmeister’s — species with Z. Batesi is at least probable ; if it belongs to a different — ' species, it would be new. The differences to be noted out of Burmeister’s description are as follows: O. Brasidiensis Burm. has 30-jointed antenne, ‘‘apice albis” ; 4. Bates? only 20-jointed antenne, the apical fourth five joints pale yellowish. Now, accepting that the antenna of 2. Batest were incomplete, Burmeister’s species, if identical, would not have the a tip, but the apical half pale. Burmeister has, “femoribus 4-anticis ochraceis”; McLachlan, “coxz yellowish.” Finally Burmeister says, ‘“‘cercis albis” ; McLachlan, ‘the znd joint obscure yellowish with black hairs.” £. Batesi is stated by McLachlan to be the broadest-winged species known to him. Fe f a iE Pi am 4 g oi 15. Embia (Olyntha) ruficapilla. Olyntha ruficapilla Burm. Handb. vol. i, p. 770, No. 2. O ruficapilla Walk. Neur. Brit. Mus., p. 532, No. 2. ey Winged male? Length of body 7 mill. ; length with wings, 11 mill; exp. of wings 17 mill. : Dark fuscous, nearly black, shining, villous ; head and prothorax red ; head longer than broad, ovoid, slightly convex above ; a transversal fur- row between the eyes, which are black and very prominent, and a sharp — longitudinal impression in the middle of head behind the eyes ; epistom — transversal, half as long as broad, rounded besides ; labrum short, some- i what triangular ; mandibles orange; max. palpi fuscous, thick, 5-jointed, — the last joint oval, larger ; labial palpi fuscous, the last joint longer, ovate ; — antennz dark fuscous, densely covered with dark hairs; only 16 joints © present, which are longer than head and thorax together ; thin, after 6th joint somewhat thicker ; 1st joint cylindrical, a little stouter, 2nd short, : 3rd a little longer than rst, 4th to 6th a little shorter than 3rd ; all follow ing more elongate, fusiform, the two last ones again a little shorter. Pro- ; THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 197 thorax narrower than the head, longer than broad, enlarged at the base, flat, a transversal sulcus after the apical third. Legs rather long, dark fuscous, shining; fore legs with the femur, tibia and basal joint of tarsi equally long, compressed, dilated, the tarsal joint thicker, with a longi- tudinal furrow ; the two apical joints short, the last one longer than the preceding ; middle legs not so dark, more brownish, very little dilated, the basal joint of tarsus short, scarcely longer than the two following together ; the whole tarsus very little longer than the tibia; hind legs with very strong, long, dilated femur ; tibize shorter, less dilated, com- pressed ; tarsus about as long as tibia, basal joint not dilated, about as long as the two others together ; the second very short ; all claws bent, ‘sharp, much thicker at base, rufous. Abdomen black, villous, shining, one third shorter than the wings ; last dorsal segment polished ; appen- dages black, villous, very long; basal joint thick, straight, apical joint longer, thinner, a little narrowed in the middle. The abdomen is too much shrivelled to make out anything more ; I can not see any asymme- try, at least not of the appendages. Wings about four times longer than broad, smoky black, rugulose, with four narrow white longitudinal lines, the anterior (fifth) wanting ; venation dark fuscous; sector trifurcate ; about five costals and five transversals in the cell ; in the spaces below some transversals.. Hab.—Brazil. Ihave before me two dry specimens; one from the collection of the late Dr. Schneider in Breslau, Prussia, has only the label Brazil ; it may have belonged to the same lot with Burmeister’s types and those in the Berlin Museum, but it has not been compared with them. The other was collected by the late Mr. Appun in Venezuela ; head and prothorax wanting. In my Synops. Embid. p. 221, I had put &. K7wgz Ramb., Neur. p. 313, No. 3, with a question mark, to O. ruficapilla. In my Syn. of N. Amer. Neur., p. 301, it was given as a separate species. I have never seen the type, which was collected by Delalande in Brazil, and belongs to the Museum in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. Rambur has apparently omitted to describe the wings. If they had not been present, he would have named the specimen a larva, as in the two other cases. Otherwise his description, which is very detailed for the legs, contains nothing that would not apply to O. ruficapilla; perhaps his specimen was somewhat darker. The specimen from Brazil before me presents in all the wings an _inter- 198 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. esting anomaly of the venation, though the specimen from Venezuela has in all wings the usual venation. The apical end of the cell is usually formed by the radius and the upper branch of the sector meeting shortly before the tip of the wing, forming a curve from which a short vein emanates. Now in the Brazil specimen the upper branch of the sector runs straight to the tip of the wing; the radius ends a little before and is not connected with the sector by curving down, but by a straight trans- versal, parallel to the other transversals. The cell is therefore not closed, as usual, at the end by acurve. The radius is connected with the margin by a costal originating at the same point with the last transversal in the - cell below. The same arrangement of the venation occurs only in O. Westwoodi. That it occurs in O. ruficapil/a as an aberration is rather important, and it will help to a right understanding of the venation. a 16. Embia ( Olyntha) Salvinz. Embia Salvint, McLachl. Journ. Linn. Soc., vol. xiii., p. 380. Winged male. Length of body 7 mill., exp. of wings 12 mill. (both approximative). Body black, sub-opaque, covered sparingly with dark hairs. Head very little longer than broad, about quadrangular, the sides very little sloping to the rounded hind angles ; a large shallow depression on the middle of the disk above, in the centre of which is a very faint short elevated longitudinal line; eyes black, large, but less prominent than in O. rujficapilla, reniform ; antennz with only 19 joints present, which are nevertheless longer than head and thorax together, yellowish to 8th joint, the following successively darker, fuscous nearly blackish, polished ; all with long fuscous hairs; basal joint cylindrical, stout, a little darker than the following, reddish yellow ; 2nd small, as long as ~ broad ; 3rd as long as the two basals together; 4th half as long as 5th, _ pyriform ; sth to roth successively longer, pyriform ; all following shorter, a little thickened after the middle ; labrum short, half as long as broad, — rounded, yellowish at base and sides ; the middle and margin blackish ; max. palpi dark fuscous, thick, 1st to 4th joint short, about alike, 5th longer, sub-acute ; labial palpi similar, last joint longer ; all palpi clothed with paler hairs; mandibles black on tip; mentum large. Prothorax short, half as broad as the head, enlarged to the wings, with a faint median longitudinal impressed line and a deep anterior transverse sulcus, pro- longated shortly along the oblique side-margin ; mesothorax rather longer — than broad ; metathorax nearly quadrangular. Legs shining black, clothed — me. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 199 with pale hairs, tarsi somewhat castaneous ; fore legs strong ; femur, tibia and first joint of tarsus of about the same size, compressed, dilated ; the two last joints of tarsus small, short; middle legs about alike, but the ist joint of tarsus shorter, much less inflated; hind legs wanting. Abdomen black, shining; appendages long, black- ish, clothed with yellowish hairs; right appendage with the basal joint stout, apical joint longer, thinner, both straight; left appendage broken. I can not make out any asymmetry, but I can not examine the dorsum of the last segment; between the appendages, nearer to the left, a spiniform yellow sharp process, bent to above. Wings narrow elongate, smoky blackish, with five longitudinal narrow whitish lines (the 4th be- comes confluent with the 5th before its apex on the anterior wings in McLachlan’s specimen) ; venation fuscous ; sector trifid ; cell long with ‘two transversals, and several more in the spaces below ; four faint costals. In the left anterior wing the cell is closed as usual, where the right anterior wing has the cell open and the venation similar to the specimen of QO. ruficapilla from Brazil. In both hind wings the venation is even more irregular. | Hab.—One specimen collected by Prof. Sumichrast on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico, in the Cambridge Museum; one specimen from Central America taken by Mr. Salvin at Chinautta, at 4,100 feet elevation, in McLachlan’s coll. ; ; _- Ihave no doubt that both specimens are identical, and have followed ‘closely McLachlan’s description ; the only difference would be that the basal joint of the antennae is black in McLachlan’s specimen and reddish yellow in mine. (To be Concluded in November Number. ) ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB OF THE A. A. A. S. The meetings of the Club at Ann Arbor were held daily from the 25th to the 28th of August, both dates inclusive, and were very successful. _ The following among others were present and in constant attendance :— J. A. Lintner, C. V. Riley, Herbert Osborn, John B. Smith, D. S. Kelli- cott, O. S. Westcott, L. M. Underwood, A. J. Cook, E. A. Schwarz, Henry G, Hubbard, S. H. Peabody, Clarence M. Weed, Miss M. E. Murtfeldt, In the absence of Dr. Morris, Prof. J. A. Lintner presided. Officers for the ensuing year are: Pres., Prof. J. A. Lintner, of Albany; Vice. 200 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, Pres., Mr. E. A. Schwarz, of Washington ; Secretary, Mr. John B. Sra. of Brooklyn. Aug. 25.—The following papers were read: A Biographical Sketch of William LeBaron, late State Entomologist of Illinois; Notes on some Structural Characters of the Lepidoptera, by John B. Smith. The Family Position of Luphanessa mendica, by Geo. D. Huist. Aug. 26.—Notes on Harmonia pini, by D.S. Kellicott ; On the Pre- paratory Stages of an Undetermined Cossus, by D. S. Kellicott; On the Principal Injurious Insects of the Year, by C. V. Riley. Messrs. Kelli- cott, Underwood and Osborn spoke on the same subject. Aug. 27.--Messrs. Cook, Osborn, Smith and Riley continued the discussion of injurious insects of the year. Messrs. Lintner, Riley and Westcott discussed the ease and difficulty of raising certain larvae. Mr. Osborn gave some notes on the habitat of a Chironomous ; Mr. Cook gave some notes on the functions of the secretion of Bark Lice (Leu- canium tilia); also some notes on the Choke Cherry Tortricid, Cacecia cerasivorana. Mr. Westcott gave some notes on the abundance of certain Coleoptera. Aug. 28.—Random Notes on Mallophaga, by Herbert Osborn ; Larval’ Longevity of a Species of Coleophora ; Extract from a letter of W. H. Edwards, on some food plants of P. ajax ; On a Peculiar Structure of the c Cosmosoma omphale, by E. A. Schwarz. How shall we Create and Foster an Interest in the Study of Entomology? by John B. Smith. All the gentlemen present participated in this discussion, which was of ‘great interest. | The following committee of arrangements for the next meeting was. appointed: Chairman, J. A. Lintner, and Messrs. John B. Smith and C. ~ V. Riley. Adjournment to meet at call of the President at the next meeting of the Association. i ya LRT SRA | ee Sen E Re ah 3p als LE NATURALISTE CANADIEN. We heartily congratulate our esteemed confrere, M. L’Abbé Pro- — vancher, upon the re-appearance of his magazine after the lapse of many ~ months, and we trust that henceforth all difficulties may be removed, and _ that the Government of the Province of Quebec will continue the assist- ance which we understand was formerly given to the Editor. aa ERRATA.—Page 170, line 14 from bottom, read small 7 for lithophilus ;— specific name, not name of a genus. Same page, line 13 from bottom, fo Hestonotus read Xestonotus—C. H. T.. Townsenp, Constantine, Mich, — & Canadian Gntomal ogist. VOL. XVII LONDON, ONT., NOVEMBER, 1885. No. 11 : i _ ENTOMOLOGY AT BRIGANTINE BEACH, N. J., I ; SEPTEMBER. \. - BY JOHN HAMILTON, M. D., ALLEGHENY, PA. In the preceding volume of the Enromotocisr | (vol. xvi., p. 186) an account is given of some of the Coleoptera found in September on Brig- antine Beach, N. J.; and having been there this season from the rst till the 18th of the same month, I propose to give a further account of some tof the insects inhabiting that region. : : Cicindela dorsalis Say is found in great. abundance on the shore s between the lines of high and low tide, keeping as close to the water as it can get. If too closely pursued it frequently takes wing, alighting in the _ surf and coming” to the shore in the foam,:from, which it usually escapes _ before it can be taken. It is sluggish in its movements, running about a. yard, then stopping, and so on alternately, and flying only when: pursued, ! and then for but short distances. . More, than two-thirds of the ifemales: captured want either a part of an antenna or of a hind leg, these: peta q tions occurring on the right, side in a large majority. : Cicindela hirticollis Say. is likewise in as: great abundance: as: ‘the suet ceding, but does not mingle with it: nor willingly pass “the ‘high tide'line, _ inhabiting bare depressed places ‘on ‘the sandy ‘beach‘Surtounded” by hile locks of white sand, on which ‘it. delights to bask in the hottest sunshine,’ ‘Iti is a great loverof heat and light, and‘is sought for in vain except during ‘a few hours of the, warmest: and brightest days. © It’ oy iat ait ~ ae and by no means easily taken. | Cicindela repanda’ Dej.' also octurs plentifully in ‘Bare: places sur- rounded: by grass, and ‘on paths and roads where the ground is dark ; ‘when’ ‘disturbed’ it rises and lights. a short distance off in ‘the short grass, where oe is easily taken before it can again arise. Ay ‘Though inhabiting contigtots oe WORE the habits: Of these three’ species eas Socially’ separate; ~~ 202 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, . 8 On the main land other Cicindelas occur in abundance. On the 14th, while there, I took in less than an hour sixteen specimens of C. modesta, ten of vu/garis, and two of generosa, and saw many others. I had only to stand beside one of the many bare spots that are common in the pine woods, and throw the net over the insects as they came to bask in the warm white sand. In these woods I also met with several females of a — fine, large Mutil/a (occidentalis), black beneath, bright scarlet above, — with a black abdominal band. The specimen I took measured .go inch — in length, and though the temptation to take others of so beautiful an - insect was great, being unfortunately without seh prudence gained — from painful experience forbade. Brigantine is inhabited by many species of Carabidz, most of hich are widely distributed and not confined to maritime regions. Calosoma scrutator Fab. occurs alive frequently, but is likely brought — from the main land by the waves. ; Pasimachus sublaevis Beauv. is found sparingly, there being now scarcely anything for it to live and shelter under ; formerly it was abundant. The same remarks are applicable to Scarites subterraneus. Platynus punctiformis Say is plentiful, living under all kinds of debris and decaying grass. With it is found in less abundance Pferostichus erythropus. Amara subaenea Lec. and A. musculus Say are of common occurrence. The ~ latter is pollenivorous as well as carnivorous, being often taken on the spikes of grasses in flower, as well as in the vicinity of decaying animal — substances. Dermestes Frischit Kug. was found as usual, and in considerabl numbers. It seems to have immigrated to stay. Nitidula ziczac Say inhabits dead birds, which are often met with. These do not become putrid nor breed Diptera, literally drying MP) and 4 in this state becoming the abode of ziczac. a Sphenophorus retusus Gyll. Of this only a few specimens were taker in former years, but this season it occurred in the greatest abundance. The larve evidently live in the culm, or on the roots of the beach grass, Calamagrostis (Psamma) arenaria. This is a very coarse grass witl culm frequently .25 inch in diameter. The loose sand drifting among forms hillocks four or five feet in height, the grass still shooting upward as" the sand accumulates, and throwing out roots beneath to retain it. There is nothing else growing there on which they could possibly live. 1 beetles were found in multitudes from the first to the sixth day o Bernat THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ; 203 eo: _ month, but after that time very sparingly. They seemingly emerge around the culms of grass, crawling slowly over the loose sand till they find mates, and always directing their course upward towards the highest _ point, probably on account of its being the warmest. They appear to require sunshine, warmth and dryness, not being seen when it is cloudy, - cold or damp. After pairing the males soon die and lie scattered over the sand, but whether the female goes into hibernation or proceeds to oviposit forthwith could not be ascertained. In the latter case there is ample time _ for the ova to hatch and the larve to be well developed before severe _ frost, which would rarely affect them before the middle of November. _Sphenophorus cariosus Oliv. A few specimens of this beetle were - found with vetwsus, and its larvae presumably live on the same grass, but, _ if abundant, its time of development must be earlier. | Sphenophorus costipennis Horn is found sparingly in hibernation under sods around the sand hills, and likewise undoubtedly lives in the larva state on the roots of the same grass, there being nothing else to feed on _ within a reasonable distance. | _ The foregoing species of Sphenophorus seem to prefer dry situations _ where there is no more moisture than naturally belongs to the soil. Sphenophorus placidus Say is, on the contrary, of a more aquatic habit, being abundant on the salt marshes, where its larvae undoubtedly live on the roots of a very fine short grass that grows there densely, and is saturated almost daily with the water of the incoming tides. In Sep- _ tember the beetle is found in great numbers in hibernation under drifted _ timber that has become much imbedded in the wet soil and grass, where _ for much of the time it must be immersed in salt water. ; Sphenophorus pertinax Oliv. Occasionally specimens are found with placidus, but more commonly it occurs in hibernation under sods left in _ dry places by the highest tides, seemingly requiring less moisture than — placidus. 2 All the foregoing species of Sphenophorus seem to be widely distributed _ €xcept retusus, which, so far as known, is strictly maritime and not often _ taken, at least there are few with whom I exchange whose cabinets I have - hot supplied. gio} ON aa i ey & 6 i 3 $ a ., % LEPIDOPTERA. The species found on the island are not numerous. Pieris rape Lin. ts abundant, though cabbage is little cultivated. I found over a dozen of 204 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. the pupae on the beach under a small board, and on searching for the — food plant, discovered the larvae had fed on the Cakile americana—a a curious maritime plant, which though belonging to the Cruciferae, i is WEY: “s remote from the cabbage. ee Callidryas eubule Lin. Specimens were observed on the wing eat ee every day along the margin of the ocean, flying apparently at the height — of fifteen or twenty feet and about the same distance from the shore, so — that their capture could not be effected, though I took a crippled one and — thus ascertained the species. All appeared to be southward bound, flying steadily but slowly. ape Colias philodice is annually represented by a few specimens. In the — absence of clover, the larvee probably feed on an abundant native species — = of Phaseolus that seems in perpetual bloom, and of which the butterfly 4 appears very fond. 3 Danais archippus Fab. The multitude of this butterfly that assented 4 here the first week in September is almost past belief. Millions is but — feebly expressive—miles of them is no exaggeration. On the island is a 3 strip of ground from 150 to 400 yards.wide and about two and one-half — miles in length, overgrown with J/yrica cerifera ; after three o’clock these — butterflies coming from all directions, began to settle on the bushes, and — by evening every available twig was occupied. To see such multitudes a rest, all suspended from the lower sides of the limbs, side by side, as is their well known custom, was something well worth seeing. One evenin I travelled more than half the distance of their encampment, and learned that it extended the whole length and breadth of the bushes. In : morning they gradually separated and did not appear unusually numerous during the day, but in the afternoon they came again as described. found them on the second, the day of my arrival, as related above, — this was repeated daily till the sixth, the forenoon of which was rai calm and sultry ; a storm of wind and rain came on about two o’cl p. m., continuing till midnight. The next afternoon few came to cam the great army had disappeared—but, how? when? where to? Dur the next few days they appeared again in considerable numbers—about they had been observed in former Septcmbers—but insignificant wh compared with those that preceded. The males and females were abo equal in numbers. Not a single stalk of their food plant (Asclepi grows on the island. On the main land, seven miles distant, I obser several patches of 4. tuderosa in full bloom, but saw neither larva 1 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 205 butterfly; ; and as I learned that this plant is plentiful in that part of New ersey, a scarcity of food will not account for this migratory habit. Neither will a scarcity of timber in which to hibernate, for this is super- | abundant. For a good account of this butterfly see Riley’s 3rd Missouri Report, p. 143; American Entomologist, vol. 3, p. 101; Canap. Enr., vol. 12, p. 37, 38. _ Pyrameis huntera Fab. is quite common, its food plant (Guaphalium polycephalum) growing there abundantly. _ Deiopeia bella Lin. This pretty little moth flies in the hottest sunshine nd is excessively abundant. The food plant of the larvee is unknown to but the imago frequents the flowers of a maritime species of Solidago. _ Spilosoma acraea and virginica. ‘The larvae of these two species were seen, but not in great numbers. _ Anthera polyphemus. The larvae occur in abundance, and might be collected by the peck from the Bayberry bushes, on the leaves of which they feed. There is a marked difference between the imagos produced rom the coast larvae and those raised here, the former having the colors brighter and the red on the wings deeper and more extensive. _ Hyperchiria io. The larvae are likewise found on the Bayberry ; bushes, but being a general feeder, it abounds on many plants, especially such as are cultivated. [It is in bad repute with the natives, one of whom informed me that its “sting” was certain death in about fifteen minutes, the only remedy being several liberal ‘‘ whiskies” taken immediately. _ I noticed the larvae of three or four other species of Bombycidae, and a few Noctuidae ; but the place does not seem to be congenial to many species of the latter family. __ The hymenopterist would find several interesting things in his line there. I observed two species of small Mutilla living in colonies in the sand hills. There are at least a dozen species of sand wasps, all seemingly solitary and in constant search for prey. There is a black species about ne inch in length that I have frequently seen pounce on an unsuspecting Crustacean (sand crab) of at least twice its weight, give it a quick stab, and then haul it rapidly off to its burrow in some convenient sand hill. I close this paper with a brief notice of a young but very enthusiastic " entomologist, whose acquaintance I formed there, Master Lewis Barber, - two and one half years old, a grandson of the proprietor of the hotel. This young gentleman spends all his leisure time—all that is not occupied #: eating and sleeping—in collecting insects in all orders except Hymen- 206 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. optera, and is never happy unless he has some living thing in his hand. — He takes particular delight in catching that ferocious Dipter, the green- headed fly, which he dexterously holds by the legs, greatly admiring its buzzing, and can not be induced to go to bed without having one of them, or something else, in his fist. His captures are never killed nor tortured, __ but dexterously thrust into a tin box with a sliding lid, which he carries . with him ; there he puts what he calls millers, grasshoppers, crickets and Ee: bugs. When he takes anything, he examines it with as much interest and gravity as his older brethren. He has no fear, handling caterpillars and worms with great composure, to the intense disgust of his mother and his lady acquaintances, who say the more hateful and horrid a thing is, and - the more it wriggles, he likes it the better. His admiration was unbounded when I presented him with a larva of Polyphemus. He cares little for the companionship of other children unless they join him in catching insects. This entomological disposition was manifested, his mother says, before he could crawl, and all her endeavors have not in the least tended to wean him from what she calls ‘ such horrible and disgusting playthings.” Perhaps I am now writing the first page of the biography of a renowned entomologist of the future. Who knows? This sketch will recall to such as have read “ The Life of a Scotch Naturalist, by Samuel Smiles,” the childhood days of Thomas Edward, associate of the Linnaean Society. Those who have not, have neglected one of the most intensely interesting — biographies ever published. | MONOGRAPH OF THE EMBIDINA. (Continued from page 199.) BY DR. H. A. HAGEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 17. Embia (Olyntha) Miilleri, n. sp. Wingless form, female? dry. Length of body 12 mill. a Body large, stout, black, very sparingly clothed with yellow hairs, shining, the head alone semi-opaque. Head large, flat, scarcely longer — than broad, a little narrowed to the occiput ; hind angles rounded ; a shal- low impression above with a short longitudinal engraved line ; eyes black, small, not prominent ; antennae only 21 joints present, which are as long THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 207 as head, pro- and mesothorax ; black, with yellow hairs, the ro last joints strongly polished; ist stouter, cylindrical; znd short, annular; 3rd cylindrical, as long as first ; 4th and fifth very short ; the rest successively longer, nearly pyriform, the last ones about ovoid. Epistom half as long as broad, sides rounded, front margin widely notched ; labrum large, a little narrower at base, front margin rounded and a little yellowish, as well as the sides of the epistom ; max. palpi dark brown, villous, stout, com- pressed, the three basal joints short, equal, 4th longer, obliquely truncated at tip, 5th a little longer and larger, ovoid; labial palpi compressed, broad, 1st very short, 2nd about as long as broad, 3rd longer, the broad apex rounded. Prothorax a little longer than broad, behind a little broader; narrower than head; side margins nearly straight ; a transversal sulcus after the apical third; a fine engraved median longitudinal line ; mesothorax broader and longer, flattened; near the anterior margin a transversal impression ; the anterior angles rounded, a little swollen along the sides ; disk with a large shallow impression ; metathorax quadrangular, shorter but as broad as the mesothorax ; impression near the anterior margin stronger ; anterior angles more inflated, behind them a transversal small furrow, as indication of a separation; in mesothorax and metathorax the anterior margin and angles pale yellow; the ‘segment médiare” con- nected with the metathdrax short, rounded before. Abdomen flat, one third less broad than the thorax, shining, very hairy ; dorsal segments alike, transverse, short, the last one larger, rounded; appendages large ; basal joint short, broad ; apical joint much longer, ovoid ; the two last ventral segments with a median longitudinal deep furrow. I can not see a genital opening, these parts being shrivelled up. Legs strong, very hairy, black shining ; fore legs reaching the tip of mouth parts, femurs long, compressed, dilated; tibiz alike, shorter ; tarsus with first joint shorter than tibia, bent to below, dilated with a median furrow; no spine ; the two apical joints small, much shorter ; middle legs similar but shorter, thinner, very little dilated ; hind legs as stout as the fore legs, femur much dilated, tibiz shorter, not dilated; tarsus short, yel- lowish, basal joint less than half of the tarsus, cylindrical, stouter than the following ones, of which the znd is very short, the 3rd as long as the rst. Isee no asymmetry of the end of abdomen, but those parts are not in good condition. Hab, One specimen from Itajahy, S. Cattarina, S, Brazil, collected 208 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 1879, by Dr. F, Miiller, to whom the Museum is greatly indebted on i interesting specimens and biological notices. | See tee pene rae a mT) fet see i oe ar The specimen arrived in a letter, and is a little crushed, perhaps flat- tened. Itis the only wingless specimen of Olynthaseenbyme. I suppose it to be a female, because no male genitals between the appendages are to be seen, and the last ventral segment has a longitudinal furrow (or is per- x haps split). There is no female of Olyntha known; if the females are. 4 colored like the males, this specimen belongs to a new species. The apparent indication of wings looks decidedly as when they are abortive and will never be developed. Therefore it can be assumed that the speci- men is a female imago, or if winged females should exist, a wingless se similar to those of the Termitina. | HISTORY OF THE FAMILY. Latreille, Familles nat. du régne animal, Paris, 1825, p. 437, at the end of the Termitines, says: “Les genres Terms, Embie (voisin du précédent, mais 4 antennes différentes).” \ In the German translation by Dr. Berthold, 1827, p. 435, the French expression Embie is given as Em- bium. Latreille, in Cuvier’s Régne Animal, new (2nd) edit., 1829, vol. v., p. 256, states in a foot note: Some insects of the southern parts of Europe and of Africa are related to Termes, but with the head broader than the prothorax, three-jointed tarsi, wings not longer than the abdomen — or none, with compressed legs, the two anterior tibias (sic!) much > broader, without ocelli, and the thorax elongate form, the genus indi- cated in the Familles Nat. with the name Embie (Embia), It has been © figured in the large work on Egypt. Indeed the celebrated Savigny, in Descr. de ’Egypte Zool. Neuropt., pl. 2, f 9 and 10, had figured one species with numerous details (2. Savignyz Westw.) The plate was drawn and engraved between 1805 and 1812, but not published before 1825. There are on the plate only the names of the families, even the Termitines — wanting among them, but no names of the species. In the meantime the | unfortunate Savigny had become blind, and an Explication Sommaire of ‘ the plates by V. Audouin was published in the last months of 1825. The note concerning Embia is as follows: ‘The two insects, figs. 9 and 10, form a new genus, named by Latreille, Famil. Nat. p. 437, Embie, which he places near Termes. M. Savigny has established the same relation oy placing Embia on the same plate at the side of Termes.” I may rem rk THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 209 that the two insects of which V. Audouin speaks belong to one and the same species ; fig. 9 represents the insect from above, fig. 10 from below. Mr. R. Gray, in Griffith’s ed. of Cuvier, vol. xv (Insects, vol. i1., 1832) p. 346, translates Latreille’s note and describes briefly a new species from Brazil as a new genus, Olyntha Braziliensis. It was separated from Embia by having the antenne as long as the body, the thorax much longer and more separate from the head, which is rounded posteriorly, the ter- minal joints of the palpi rather longer. It is figured (magnified) on pl. 42, f. 2, by Westwood, and named on, the plate Hmbius ? Braztliensis, J. R. Gray. The type formerly in Mr. Children’s collection is now in the Brit. Museum. : - Prof. J. O. Westwood in Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 1837, vol. xvii. p. 369-374, pl. 1 (read March 4th, 1834) published: Characters of Embia, a genus of insects allied to the white ants (Termites), with description of a the species of which it is composed. He describes three species which he places as three sub-genera of the genus Embia, after single specimens, one of them, Hmdia Savignyi West., only after Savigny’s figures. The second, Oligotoma Saundersii Westw., from Bengal (the type now in the Brit. Museum) ; the third, O/yutha Braztliensis Gray, formerly described in Griffith. The sub-genera are divided in such with 5-jointed palpi, antenne shorter than the prothorax, with less than 20 joints (Embia and Oligotoma), and with 4-jointed palpi, the antennz about as long as the body ; the 4th vein trifid (Olyntha). The first group was divided by the _ 4th vein trifid (Embia) or bifid (Oligotoma). The numerous details figured give to his work a permanent value. The genus Embia is said to combine Termes with Eusthenia, a Perlid ; why is not stated. Burmeister, 1839, in his Handb., vol. ii, p. 768, elevates his four species to a family of equal value with the Termitina, and brings the Embidz to his Tribus Corrodentia. He describes four species, one new, O. ruficapilla. But his O. Braziliensis is not Gray’s species, and belongs _ to O. Batesi McLachl. He corrects the number of the joints of the _ maxillary palpi by Westwood for Olyntha, which has indeed five joints, as the others. Burmeister elevates the three sub-genera of Westwood into genera. | Rambur, 1842, Neuropt. p. 310, places the Embides as a family near the Termites. His general characters are excellent ; only four species are described, and very well. Three of them are believed to be new, but his Emb, Latreillit is O, Saundersii, and his EZ. Klugii probably O. ruji- 210 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, capilla. The last one, &. Sodiert, from Marseille, is only known in the © wingless state. Rambur disbelieves that, Oligotoma and Olyntha are generically different from Embia. 3 Hagen, 1848, had composed a review of the literature concerning the Neuroptera (sezsu Linn.) ; the part containing the Embidina was printed February, 1849, Stett. Ent. Zeit. Mr. H. Lucas, in his splendid work, Expl. scient. de Algérie, has _ described and figured his new species, Embia Mauritanica. This publi- cation and the later one in 1859, have in fact opened the way of a better knowledge of this interesting family. Nothing was known before on the ~ habits and nothing on the internal anatomy and the sex of the species. As the expensive work of Mr. Lucas is not accessible to students, I prefer to translate the following important passage given in a foot note, vol. iii., p. 1172/4 : As I liked to know to which sex belongs this (winged) form, Idis- sected several specimens (only 12 were collected). The ovaria are very elongate, covered by a very fine membrane, made more resistant by longi- tudinal fibres, giving a striated appearance. The ovaria are united internally, forming a kind of very elongated parallelogram, which covers the intestina in the whole length of the abdomen. The egg tubes are straight, parallel, very long, thick and fusiform; toward the thorax the tubes are successively thinner, prolongated in a thread, which is attached _ together with the fibres to the first segment of the abdomen. Toward the q end of the abdomen the tubes are recurvated suddenly at their hind end A to form combined a very short oviduct, nearly null, with many lateral — tubiform vessels, which are very irregular, nodulose, embracing themselves _ and recurvated in all directions (Lucas). Mr. Lucas states after the result of his dissections, that all wile : winged specimens at his command are females, and that all showed the ~ same asymmetry of the last segment of the abdomen and of the appen- — dages. The winged male is still unknown. I have to remark that the — females of EZ. Mauritanica are the only known winged females — and the only known with asymmetry of the tip of the abdomen. Mc- Lachlan, l. c., p. 382, has stated the three specimens of his 2. Persica as questionable females (all $?), but does not say why, nor does he men- tion symmetry or asymmetry of the tip of the abdomen ; therefore more detailed information would be desirable. The detailed description of the ovaria by Lucas is also very importaitt RTL LSet nn nt ae aE een een ables, ee Se See gre ante THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 211 ; for the systematic position of the Embidina. Indeed it disposes for ever of the claims of relation with the Perlide, of which the peculiar and very different form of the ovaria is well known. The ovaria of all groups of the Orthoptera are different, as far as known to me, andamong . the Pseudoneuroptera the Psocina differ also entirely. The only related form of ovaria we find among the Termitina, and indeed the inner organs of a virgin female of Termes is as similar as if the description by Mr. Lucas had been made after one of them. I think this similarity speaks indeed very strong in favor of the place of the Embidina near to the Termitina. ua It should be remarked that the vol. 11. of the Expl. scient. de l’Algérie, though it has on the title'page 1849, is published later. At least De Selys ( _ Longchamps Revue des Odonates d’Europe, preface February 24, 1850, was not able to give the pages and plate of the Odonata described by himself for this work (f. p. 315, 318, etc.), and the Odonata in the Ex- ploration follow the Embia. For the only known facts up to the present concerning the habits of Embia, their living in silken tunnels spun by themselves, by the wingless and by the winged form, we are indebted to Mr. Lucas in the Explor. and in his later paper, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 1859, and the corroboration of the same for “md. Latreil/ei, ibid., 1883. He believes these insects to be carnivorous. Fr. Walker, 1853, List of Neuropt. in the British Museum, p. 529-533, copies mostly Burmeister. Of the eight species mentioned, one is new, Olyntha staphilinoides from Brazil, but it belongs to Forficula. Hagen, 1866, Verh. Zool. Bot. Gesell. Wien., collected in his Synopsis Embidinorum all known to him about these insects. He enumerates _ éleven species, two of them probably synonyms, two without description. Only seven were considered as doubtless. Mr. R. McLachlan, 1877, Linn. Soc. Journ., vol. xiii., p. 373-384, pl. 1, published a paper which gave a new and strong impulse to the study of this remarkable family—‘ On the Nymph-stage of Embidz, with Notes on the Habits of the Family.” He had the good chance to study living insects imported with an East Indian orchid. The carnivorous habits of Embids, accepted on the authority of Mr, Lucas, became at least doubt- ful, as this species makes depredations on the roots of orchids. McLach- lan gives a review of all known and published on Embids, and describes four new species, Oligotoma Michaeli, Embia Batesi, E. Salvini, E 4 212 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, Persica, so that in all eleven are known. The genera Embia and Olyntha are again united, and separated by its trifid sector from Oligotoma with a bifid one. Ihave before under O. Michaeli given the details of this communication, and may only repeat that the so-called nymph (when the description and the figures are correct) can not be a nymph, because the characters of the wing cases of a nymph are not present. Perhaps it isa short-winged imago. Later he has described O. insularis, a new species from the Sandwich Islands. Mr. Wood-Mason, 1883, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 628- Bee plz, published ‘A Contribution to our Knowledge of the Embide.” His ~ attention was drawn to this group by McLachlan before his return to India. ‘The memoir is very interesting, but there is left enough for further observations. After the perusal of the literature he had formed the opinion that the females were still unknown, and that they would prove to — be wingless and probably larger in size. Of course he has not known Lucas’s work, in which by dissection the female sex of winged imago had undoubtedly been proven for Embia Mauritanica. Ue discovered larve of a species apparently living in society. All were males probably of O. Saundersit. None of them showed the slightest traces of wings, but as the size of the specimens is not recorded, the larval state is at least not yet sure. He discovered also a large wingless female of O. Michaelt. 1 have before discussed this female, which seems to be doubtless a female imago, though its belonging to O. A/ichaedi is still a conjecture. He describes the male sexual characters of O. Saundersii, and speaks at some length about the wings of the same species, giving enlarged figures of the venation. I have to say more about them in the chapter treating the is characters of Embids. A paper promised on the differences between the Embidz and the Perlidz has not yet been published. He considers the Embide as belonging to the true Orthoptera, being in some respects the 4 lowest term, and in others the lowest term but one, of a series formed by the families Acridioidea, Locustide, Gryllidee and Phasma. I have now described seventeen species, only two of them Ihave never _ seen (#. Mauritanica and £. Persica), and three are now not before me (S. antigua, O. Brasztiliensis, O. ruficapilla ). Characters of the Embidina. Hrav.—The head is nearly free (caput liberum) ; the foramen occi- ’ pitale is not just at the end of the head, as in Raphidia, but a little before and below; the membranous part of the prothorax slides gently to the THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 213 a foramen. Head horizontal, small, flat, a little convex above, obovate or - more or less quadrangular ; the Y-shaped suture, so common in Termitina, _ Psocina, etc., on the upper side is entirely wanting ; the eyes are always a in the front corner, whereas in the other families they are placed in the 2 middle of the sides or in the hind corner of the head. The eyes of the _ winged forms are large, prominent, reniform, the facets globose as in aggregate eyes ; the eyes of the wingless forms are smaller, not prominent, and the facets flattened as in the composite eyes; therefore the head of wingless forms looks different, and is more ovoid ; ocelli are wanting, but _ some species show a very small impressed line or groove, which calls to mind the obliterate middle ocellus of Blatta The antennz are as long as _ the body (Olyntha) or shorter, reaching the end of the metathorax or only _ the prothorax ; the antennz of the wingless forms are always shorter ; they _ (antennz) are inserted in a little socket in the anterior excision of the _ eyes; 15 to 32 articulated, but so fragile that it is difficult to find a speci- _ men with the same number of joints on both antennz ; the basal joint is _ always somewhat stouter than the others, cylindrical; 2nd joint always _ very short, annular, 3rd joint always about as long as the 1st, and com- monly followed by three shorter joints ; all the following are longer, thick- ened toward the tip, or pear-shaped ; the last one more or less ovoid. _ The epistoma is short, broad and united with the labrum by a membran- ous rhinarium ; the labrum is large, nearly orbicular, cut off at the base ; _ or it is more quadrangular, broader than long, or shorter, largely rounded infront. The mouth parts, at least the palpi, exceed a little the labrum ; _ mandibles strong, horny, with two to three teeth on tip; maxiHa narrow with two teeth on tip ; outer lobe narrow ; palpi longer, strong, 5-jointed (4-jointed in Termitina and Psocina), the three basal ones short, equal ; the last joint much longer, ovoid ; 4th joint always shorter than the sth, _ but sometimes about as long as the 3rd. | Labium bilobed, large, some- _ times (I have not material enough to decide this positively) with two very ‘small pointed lobes between them. They are mentioned by Burmeister, 1. c, 769, and are to be seen in two of the species in Westwood’s figures. On _ the basis of the upper side of the labium is a long middle slit (as in | 2. Psocina), the opening of the spinning glands. It is figured by Savigny, l. c. pl. ii, f. 9, u. e., but not mentioned in the description, nor anywhere else. Iam not sure if the inner pointed lobes mentioned before belong to the spinning apparatus ; perhaps the homologous large inner lobes of the Termitina have been here and in Psocina transformed into a spinning bee cel Pe ae 214 ‘THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. : apparatus. The mentum is large, oblong or quactee and inserted — in a sharply-cut opening of the head. | Prothorax much narrower than head, long, enlarged behind, with ce straight side margin ; after the first third a transverse deep sulcus, mostly prolonged behind along the side margin; the part before the sulcus cor- responds to the similar but broader part which covers the occiput in Ter- — mitina ; the hind part is a little convex ; a sharp impressed middle line often runs along the whole prothorax. The mesothorax and the meta- thorax are larger, quadrangular and about equal in the winged forms ; on the tergum is a large triangular elevation, to the sides of which the hind part of the wings is attached by a membranous fold. The tergum of the wingless form is without this elevation, and among those forms the meso-' thorax may be larger than the metathorax. Each segment of the thorax is divided into three parts. The wings are horizontal, of the same shape and size, long, nar- row, three to four times longer than broad, rounded or elliptical at the _ apex, as long as the abdomen, or somewhat longer in Olyntha (I have — seen no alcoholic specimens of Olyntha). The wings are not deciduous — as in Termitina, a basal squama being wanting ; indeed the wings are so — strongly attached that I have never seen a specimen dry or in alcohol 4 which had lost a wing. The attachment is made by the callus axillaris - ; anterior, just on the side of the anterior angle of the mesothorax, and by ~ the callus axillaris posterior a little behind the former and more dorsal ; the membrane of the hind margin of the wings is firmly attached by a — membranous fold along the whole margin of the ob-triangular tergal ele- — vation ; the same attachment is found in Ephemerina, and is homologous to the membranula accessoria of the Odonata. The callus ax. anterior — sends a strong vessel in the wing, forming the subcosta and the mediana ; the callus ax. posterior sends from beneath in the wing the submediana and the post-costa. I was not able to find trachez in the wings or veins. ~ The costa, which is a real vein, originates from the subcosta; the vein ~ along the hind margin can be followed mostly to the middle of the wing, — and originates from the post-costa. The membrane of the wings is more — or less rugose, similar to the wings in the group of Calotermes, including - C. verrucosus, pusillus, rugosus and related species. The rugosity is effected by numerous little pits bearing a very small hair in the centre — they are more frequent and more densely placed on or near the veins, and seem then to form a kind of socket ; a series of longer hairs is found on THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 215 a the veins, or indicate their place when the veins themselves are obliter- ated. By means of these series of longer hairs there can be located between : the submediana and post-costa three obliterated, or rather undeveloped, veins in O. Westwoodi. Ican not find any sure trace of the sieve-plate, which is common at the base of the wings of the Psocina, unless it is _ represented by a short double series of approximated larger holes near and partly upon the base of the post-costa. The coloration of the wings ‘is remarkable, being blackish, fuscous, fuliginous, or at least fumose, with five narrow white longitudinal bands between the veins. ‘As these bands follow longitudinal folds or deepenings of the membrane {between two -yeins, they perhaps represent undeveloped veins. But I was not able to discover a series of longer hairs in these white bands. Moreover the smoky dark wings of the Termitina with a number of undeveloped veins, never show similar white bands, which indeed seems to be characteristic for _ Embidina. The ingenious assumption of Mr. Wood-Mason, l. c. p. 633, that the white bands represent the original hyaline color of the wings, and & that the dark veins are broadly bordered on both sides with brown or _ black-smoky, as to leave only narrow streaks of the ground color visible, is worthy of consideration. Of the veins, the sub-costa on its origin and the post-costa are usually the darkest and largest ones, but the mediana is the largest in its whole length except at base. The mediana is accom- panied on both sides by a dense series of rugosities which form (Olyntha) together with both margins of the mediana, four approximated blackish lines. With the intention to make my descriptions easy for comparison and to avoid any confusion, I have always used the names of the veins given in the descriptions of Westwood, McLachlan and Wood-Mason. I give here the nomenclature of the veins used by me in all my neuropterological papers since 1846, because the origin and the comparative value, and the _ homology of the veins, become more evident. My detailed paper on the 3 wings and veins of the Odonata, made in 1846, was to be printed at the end of the monographs on Odonata, and the nomenclature was accepted 4 by De Selys-Longchamps and used in all subsequent papers. The mono- graphs of the four sub-families still wanting were interrupted, and the parts ready for the general volume (wings, antennze, legs) remain still ie ‘unpublished. I had then of course not known the nomenclature used by Heer, in which Kirby’s names are partly accepted, as his work was pub- lished in 1347. As Heer’s nomenclature has never been used except in 216 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. some papers on fossil insects, I have used my own, and have given, Stett. : Ent. Zeit., 1870, a more general paper on the rational nomenclature of — the venation in the wings of insects. The plate accompanying this paper — was made at my request by my old friend, Zeller, as I was then on a long voyage. The numbers and the f. at veins on the plates are all Prof. Zel- ler’s, and very different from my views. As the plate had been published before my return, it has not been given any explanation, because the plate did not illustrate my views. I may add that I have studied carefully Dr. Adolf’s recent papers on veins of insect wings, in the hope of finding a better explanation for the — aborted or undeveloped veins, but without success. The costa runs as a true and strong vein along the anterior margin to the middle of the rounded © apex of the wing, where it is commonly connected with the submediana. — The costa is incised at its extreme base ; the very small part before this — incision, which lies not exactly in the same line with the costa, is, together with the very minute. part below it, homologous with the basal squama. The sub-costa is the strongest and darkest vein, straight, ending free in the — basal third of the length of the wing, somewhat earlier in the hind wings. I am not able to confirm (even from wings in alcohol) Wood-Mason’s statement that it would, if produced far enough, run into the costal vein, Sometimes it seems indeed more directed to the costa, but in other species (O. Westwoodi) it seems to run to the sinus of the mediana. Out of the mediana (radius) originates at its base below the subcosta, — and a little before it above the costa ; the mediana runs as a very large ~ and diaphan vein (the subcosta is not diaphan) parallel to the costa to — the apex of the wing. Shortly before the apex the mediana is bent down — and united in a curve with the submediana. Out of the mlddle of this’ curve runs a straight, short vein to the apex, which as I believe belongs to ~ the submediana. An abnormal specimen of O. aftricapilla and both q specimens of O. Westwood: do not possess this curve in all the wings ; the mediana is connected by a straight transversal with the submediana, and 4 ends shortly after this transversal obliquely in the costa. The mediana — runs in the middle of a large sinus, ‘“ studded thickly on each side with ~ microscopically minute sete” (Wood-Mason), or between two sinuses following its whole length. I can not decide which view is better to be accepted, but I remark that a somewhat analogous sinus is to be found in a part of the wings of Psocina. Ihave remarked before that the four dark parallel lines described and figured for this place are formed of the Si OP Sc a THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. IV margins of the mediana and of the sinus. There are sometimes between _mediana and costa in the apical part of the wing four or more not well defined transversals, and between the mediana and submediana four or less well defined transversals ; as far as I am able to see, all these trans- -versals are only connected with the sinus and not with the mediana itself. The submediana (fourth vein, or forked fourth vein, Westw., McLachl.) _ enters the wing from below as astrong vein, and sends from beyond the base, before the end of the basal fourth of the wing, a much stronger vein, the _ post-costa, obliquely to the hind margin. The submediana runs parallel to the mediana as far off as these veins from the costa. The submediana runs straight to the tip of the wing; the part of this vein which is called by McLachlan the upper branch of the sector, is in fact the submediana itself, This is proved by O. Westwoodi, where the part considered as fourth sector is obliterated, and the part considered as upper branch is well developed. The abnormal specimen of O. rujicapil/a shows the same arrangement. After all, as far as I know, when veins are partly or totally aborted, the branches are first to disappear, and are followed by the mainstem. Therefore we have to call the vein which is again furcated after the middle of the wing the lower branch of the submediana. The space between the mediana and the submediana, closed by a curve before the apex of the wing, is properly called the elongated cell or discoidal cell, and _is only wanting in O. Westwoodi. There are some, but always few (3 to 5) transversals in the cell. The lower branch may be bifurcated again (Embia, Olyntha), and in abnormal cases the branch also bifurcated, at least in one wing. In the spaces between these branches and below them are a few scattered transversals without much regularity. Near the base the submediana is connected with the mediana by a very short transversal (between 4* and ¢ in fig. 2, Wood-Mason, 1. c.) in the hind wings about opposite the origin of the post-costa, in the front wings a little later. This short transversal vein, examined with the microscope, is found to be combined of two branches, one originating from the -mediana, and another from the submediana. The first one crosses the last one, and a series of hairs following it shows an undeveloped vein (the rudimentary first branch, fig. 3, c, Wood-Mason, |. c.) This connec- tion is homologous to the arculus of the Odonata, or the cross on the base _ of the front wings of Palpares, etc. Such a connection is often found __ present, when the wing is to be stiffened for a more powerful flight, or _ to give to a delicate wing more stability, This connection is not always 218 JHE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. exactly the same in Embia; in some specimens the two little branches seem to anastomose one with the other ; sometimes the basal part of the __ submediana seems to be separated, or at least turned in an oblique angle; __ but I think after all that no serious objection against my explanation can : be made. The post-costa is a very strong vein, running obliquely to the hind margin ; from this point to the base of the wing runs a fine straight vein, the anal vein. : The whole large group of Orthoptera is very multiform. There isno help for the systematic student, if he is displeased by this multiform | mass ; nature has created it in this manner, and he has to accept it just as he finds it. Erichson proved some forty years ago that the so-called Pseudo-neuroptera belong to the Orthoptera, and every later careful study a has but confirmed his views. It may not be amiss to state that I had in my manuscript of the Synopsis of the N. Amer. Neuroptera a (sensu Linnaei) separated in a decided manner the Pseudo-neuroptera from the Neuroptera, as this is not so evident as it should have been in the printed book. The whole group of Orthoptera consists of a number of co-ordinate families, of which no connecting living forms are knownto _ exist ; probably they have perished in former times. This is farmore conspicuous among the Pseudo-neuroptera, and indeed there is not a single living form known about which it is uncertain or doubtful if it belongs to Perlina, Ephemerina, Odonata, Psocina, Embidina or Ter- 4 mitina. To arrange these families, which are very different among them- __ selves, with the small or large number of genera and species belonging to — a them, in an acceptable series, is still impossible. | After a detailed study of the wings of the Embidina, only the follow- _ ing statements can be given. Only the Termitina and Embidina have all ~ four wings of the same size, shape and venation ; some small differences _ among them are not of importance. The longitudinal veins have the same simple arrangement, or even more simple because less branched in Embidina. The most striking difference is the strongly developed basal — squama of the deciduous wings of the Termitina; this squama is indeed 2 wanting, or rather very faintly indicated in Embidina. The sub-costa | ends suddenly in Embidina just as in Psocina, though it is complete in — Termitina. The mediana in most of the cases is connected with the sub- mediana before the apex in Embidina ; among the Termitina only Calo- — termes brevis (Hagen, Monogr. Term. Linn., vol. xiii., pl. 3, £ 6) shows — a somewhat analogous arrangement. The basal connection between the : SN nt oo teiaeen gna | eR Reet te THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 919 mediana and submediana to stiffen the wings in Embidina, would be out of place in Termitina, where the strong horny basal squama served this pur- pose better. Nevertheless in some species such a connection seems to be faintly indicated upon the squama. Some Termitina (Calotermes) have also a small number of transversals below the mediana, and some have ill-defined transversals below the costa before tip. The structure of the membrane of the wings and of the veins is similar in both families, and unlike the structure of all other families. Finally, though the wings of Termitina are considerably longer than the body, and only as long as the body in Embidina (a little longer in Olyntha), there is, considering the wings, no place more natural for the Embidina than near the Termitina. The legs are a very striking and abnormal feature among the char-. acters of the Embidina; they are obviously shaped for burrowing by the compressed enlargement of some parts of these limbs. I have compared them with the burrowing legs of insects of other orders, and was rather astonished to find a very great difference in the arrangement, the attach- ment and the development of the fossorial limbs ‘and their joints. I have tried without success to find in the literature some general considerations or descriptions of fossorial limbs. As their shape must be the conse- quence of purely mathematical principles, a general study of these limbs is still an important desideratum. | _ The legs of the Embidina are strong, the middle legs always consider- ably less than the other pairs ; all the legs are comparatively long, the fore legs exceeding the head, the hind legs reaching nearly the end of the abdomen, at least longer than two-thirds of it; the legs of wingless forms ~ are always shorter. All three pairs are equidistant and attached to the end of the respective segments; but the bases of the fore and middle legs are as far distant from each other as possible, indeed the legs are attached to the sides of the thorax. The hind legs, on the contrary, are approximate one to the other, so that the coxe are very nearly touching the opposite ones, and are longer and broader than the cox of the two anterior pairs, which are short, cylindrical, a little incurvate. The fore legs have the femur, the tibia and the first article of the tarsus of about equal length and strength, dilated and compressed ; the first article of the tarsus rather more dilated, depressed, incurvated, with a furrow above ; the two other articles short, the first of them more or less thick ; the claws are short, sharp and simple ; between them is no plantula. The middle 230 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, legs are shorter, thinner, the femur somewhat inflated at the base above ; the tibia and the first joint of the tarsus about cylindrical. Thehind legs have the femur strongly compressed and dilated ; the tibia strongly cylin- __ drical ; the basal joint about half as long as the tarsus, a little stronger, _ and with an external comb of short spines. I do not know if this comb — Ee is present in all species ; the two apical joints similar to the middle legs, __ perhaps a little longer. In some of the wingless forms the first joint of the tarsus of fore legs has a strong external spine. : Are the fore legs burrowing legs? Till now no observation is recorded, though their form admits the supposition. That they give help in the spinning of the silken tunnels is very probable. Are the hindlegs jumping legs? No observation is recorded, but they seem fitted for — jumping. rae e Comparing the legs of Embidina with those of Termitina, no simi- larity or relation is to be found. The trochanters in all pairs are very and — equally approximate in Termitina. Among the Psocina we find in Atvopes divinatoria the trochanters of the two first pair widely separated one from the other one, and those of the third pair much more approximate. For other families a comparison seems of no avail, but there exist similar distances in Odonata nymphz, in Ephemerina and Perlina. Inflated legs are not known among Pseudo-neuroptera, except in mee He. in one earlier stages, and these are hurrowing legs. | The abdomen is long, about half the length of the body, a little a broad than the thorax, flattened above, cylindrical below ; the dorsal seg ments about equal, transverse-oblong, more than twice as broad as they ar long; last segment longer, the two before mostly shorter than the others; ther are seemingly ten dorsal segments, but the first belongs to the metathorax (segment mediaire), therefore only nine belong to the abdomen ; the dor sal segments are strong, chitinous, and united on the sides by a large membrane with the ventral segments ; a longitudinal fold bearing the stigma. The ventrals are more hyaline, except the two last ones of the males, on which the internal genital organs are situated ; these two are- stronger for support, usually darker colored, and polished. All the others — are mostly diaphanous, so that the corda ventralis -and its ganglia are visible, sometimes even partly the other organs situated in the abdomen If the segment mediaire is not counted, there are eight ventral segments Between the last segments of the abdomen are inserted the anal appen- dages. They are twogrentr? stout, very hairy, as jong, as the two la: THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 921 - S segments, or shorter (Embia), the apical joint thinner, cylindrical. If a asymmetry is present, the left appendage has the basal joint shorter, larger, sometimes almost quadrangular. Between these appendages are _ situated the external genital organs of the male. They consist of a middle more or less inflated conical or cylindrical membranous part, with a cir- cular opening on tip, representing probably the intromittent organ; on each side is a horny spine, long, narrow, more or less pointed and twisted, asymmetrically in a different manner. The spine of the right side seems _ to present its regular more or less straight form ; the left spine is twisted 4 similar to a corkscrew in its apical half, and so nearly approximates to the __ intromittent organ that it is clearly to be seen only in alcoholic specimens. - Tnall males, where these characters could be well seen (at least in Oli- _ gotoma), more or less asymmetry was evident, and McLachlan, l. c. p. - 378, is of the same opinion. The last dorsal segment of the males is also asymmetrical, with a deep impressed fold nearer to the right side, and the apical margin is cut obliquely ; the last ventral segment is also asym- metrically protruded. My description of these parts is made only from winged males, but Wood-Mason, I. c. p. 630, says that the larve of O. Saundersit collected by him in numbers at Jubbulpore, and without the shghtest traces of wings, possessed all the same characteristic asymmetry quite apparent, which he considers exclusively confined to the male sex. He adds that “‘ the asymmetry of the tergum of the terminal abdominal somite and of the cerci in WVecrosia maculicollis (Phasma) appears at the corresponding early stage, and is in nymphs quite as strongly marked as in perfect insects.” Iam sorry that this insect is not at my disposal, nor can I compare Westwood’s Oriental Cabinet. In his catalogue of _ Orthoptera, Westwood does not mention any asymmetry. I think that _ the shape of these organs is never expressed in the larve in a similar _ manner as in the imago and in.the nympha. Till the contrary is proved, there must remain some doubt if these so-called larve do not perhaps belong to a wingless form of the imago. a I have not seen winged females, but in the wingless female, which is said to belong to O. Michaeli, and in Olyntha Mulleri, no asymmetry is apparent. Not one of the few wingless forms before me considered to be larve, is asymmetrical, but those parts are mostly too much shrivelled up in dry specimens to enable one to be certain. The female opening is at the base of the notched 7th segment, similar to those of the Termitina. The same arrangement of the genitals of the 999 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. males among Pseudo-neuroptera is only represented among Perlina and Ephemerina, but without any asymmetry, which appears among the true Orthoptera in Blatina, and after Wood-Mason, also in Phasma. The Different Forms and Stages. Of the seventeen species described, three are only known as wingless forms ; of the fourteen winged species, not one is known as winged in both sexes. Winged females are known with certainty only in &. Mauri- tanica, and questionably in &. Persica. Winged males are known for the first to seventh species of Oligotoma, and probably for &. Savignyi and Olyntha Salvini; for the three Olyntha, species 13 to 15, the sex is un- known. Of the three wingless species, one seems to be a female imago ; that it belongs to O. Mtchaeli,as Mr. Wood-Mason contends, still needs proof. The specimen which was described as a nympha, can not belong to this stage, if the description and the figure are correct, as I have stated before. Very probably it is a so-called short-winged form, similar to those known of Termitina, Psocina and Perlina. The figure of O. Michaeli in Gardener’s Chronicle, 1876, p. 845, if correct, can only be considered as a nympha; the anterior wing cases are wanting or perhaps aborted. The O. MZiil/eri looks as if it is an imago, with the anterior wing cases aborted and the posterior ones very slightly indicated. It has to be assumed that such forms exist among the Embi- dina as well as in the Psocina. At least 1 know of no other reasonable ex- planation. Concerning the larvze, or the forms called larvee, I am perfectly at a loss how to separate them from the winged imago, to which they have been assumed to belong, as about all are of the same size with the imago e. without any traces of wings. The head of.all which I have seen has the 4 characters of a female head. I have stated before that the so-called male a larvee of O. Saundersit are somewhat doubtful, and perhaps a wingless ~ state of the male imago. Nevertheless, not having seen them, conjecture a may be out of place. The larva of £. Mauritanica which transformed in the box, as reported by Mr. Lucas, belonged undoubtedly to that stage. As it must have gone through the nymph stage with wing cases, of which 4 no record is given, an important gap is still to be filled. That there exist a larve and nymphe of Embidina is doubtless, but we have to confess that cs the knowledge of these stages is still a tabula rasa. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 223 Habits. We know only of one single instance in which the winged females of E. Mauritanica were found gregarious. The absence of males among them is not without example ; among Psocina I have observed at least in three species a very large number close together, all being females. In one flock I secured among hundreds of females, by very careful examina- tion, only one male. I believe the same fact has been recorded of some Hemiptera. Another isolated observation exists of larvae, and this time all males, being found gregarious on a sandy place among old bricks, by Wood-Mason. Many observers state that £. Solzerz, discovered in many localities in southern France and Spain, and by no means rare, lives always isolated. The same is recorded of O. nigra by Prof. Schaum. Mr. Lucas was first to observe that the Embidae imago and larva spin silken tunnels. It is doubtless true that the spinning is done with the mouth, as by Psocina (though this has never been observed or stated), as _ the spinnerets open on the labium. Probably these tunnels induced Mr. Lucas to assume that the Embidina are carnivorous, and to put insects for food in his boxes, but he has not stated that the food was used. The observation by Mr. Michael seems to prove that these insects are phyto- phagous. Perhaps they are both; at least I may remark that for Gryllo- talpa the same uncertainty still exists. Every one asserts that all Embidina are very agile in running and fly- ing. It will be agreed that our actual knowledge concerning their habits is no more satisfactory than that concerning their forms and stages. Distribution. There is little more known than has been given by McLachlan, 1. c. p. 379. The amber species belonging to the tertiary layers is very rare among amber insects. Compared with Termitina in amber, perhaps one _ Embia is found for one hundred of the former. ‘The fossil species differs in nothing from the living ones. Whether the species in copal are fossil or not, is still an open question. There are many copal insects which seem to be or are identical with living forms. But large quantities of copal, principally near the coast of East Africa, are dug out of sand or earth, just as amber, and in localities where no copal trees are now to be found. (J. Kirk, Journal Linn, Soc., June, 1868): ‘At the diggings are 224 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. not found any copal trees (Wm. E. Hines, Trans. Amer. Geogr. Soc.), or even any signs of any, and to this time it is a mere conjecture in what ages these deposits of copal were made, probably many thousand years — ago.” Ican not give the exact quotation, as I have before me only a manuscript copy of this paper, written before 1860.* Some insects out of this copal, called in trade Zanzibar copal, but of the Zanzibar copal :. which was only exported to East India and not to Europe, seem to be identical with insects living in Ceylon. It can therefore not now be 4 assumed that the Zmdidina in copal are still living forms, and that they belong to the fauna of Africa till the identity with living or African insects a has been proved. ee Considering that only fifteen living species are described by me, it willbe _ seen that I have been purposely as careful as possible in making new 2 species. I could have enumerated six species more, against which with our actual knowledge little objection could have been made. - The type of £. X/Zugi, in Paris, must be examined to confirm its E identity with O. Atricapilia. That of O. Saundersii should be com- a pared again with Z. Latrei/is, with the specimens from Borneo and those a collected by Wood-Mason, to make their identity certain. The type of O. Batesii and O. Braziliensis, Burm., should also be compared concerning — their identity. The larva from Athens and from Asia Minor could have been given as new species, if it were desirable to describe new species . upon such material. Finally the supposition that the large wingless — female belongs to O. Michaeli needs the support of further careful obser- . vation. | Of the fifteen living species described, O. Saundersii has by far the largest distribution, Bengal, Borneo, Madagascar, Mauritius and Ascension — Islands. O. /nsudaris, from Sandwich Islands, is, perhaps, to be found 4 in Antigua Island. £. So/ieri is not rare in South France and Spain. i The other twelve species are only recorded from one locality. From Bengal, O.dZichaeli; from Persia, £. Persica ; from Africa, Z. Savignyi ; from Egypt, O. Migra; and £. Mauritanica from Algeria. From America is O. Cubana, from Cuba ; O. Hubbard, from Florida; O. Sal- vini, from Mexico. From South America, O. Braziliensis and O. Rufica- pilla, the locality not known; O. Bateszz from the Amazon; O. pice from Santa Catarina, South Brazil. . ve *Only two incomplete sets of the transactions are in Boston and Cambridge. ie | THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 225 There are thus known from Europe one, perhaps two, species ; from Africa three, and from the islands near to it one more ; from Asia three, 4 perhaps four; from North and Central America, three: from South Amer- ica, four species ; from the Sandwich Islands, one ; none from Australia. Probably only a small part of the living Embitina is known, and these * only in very few specimens, which still form, as they did half a century ago, the gems of the collections. As far as I know, four species are represented _ by single specimens only, three by two specimens, one by three specimens, two by four, seven by more specimens, but none in a number sufficient to understand the whole history of the insect. Systematic position and relation. Prof. Westwood, with his usual sagacity, recognized directly that the _ three species known to him represented three different forms. So he _. accepted one large genus, with three sub-genera, which were considered to be genera by Prof. Burmeister, but united again in one large genus by -~ Rambur. McLachlan accepted only two genera, Embia combined with _ Olyntha and Oligotoma. __ The species belonging to Oligotoma are decidedly a very homogeneous group. ‘The only aberrant species, O. Westwoodi, differs by a plainer and apparently aborted venation of the wings. Their principal characters are, the more slender form of the body, the small and longer ovoid or _ obcordate head ; the antennz as long as head and thorax, or mostly _ shorter, with fewer (14 to 20) joints ; the narrow prothorax ; the compar- atively long legs ; the narrow abdomen, with shorter appendages, and be- _ tween them protruding the male genitals ; the narrow wings, not longer than the abdomen, with a plain venation, and only one lower branch of the submediana. Asymmetry known only in the male sex. Oligotoma is known from the warm regions of the whole world, and represented in copal and amber. ‘The species belonging to Olyntha form also a homo- _ geneous group. The body is larger and broader; the head is broader, _ shorter, with antennze as long as the body, with a third more (to 32) _ joints; thorax larger; the legs more slender ; the abdomen broad, with longer appendages (male genitals not well known) ; the wings are longer than the abdomen, much broader, the venation more complicated by two lower branches of the submediana. ‘The coloration of the species is very uniform. No asymmetry is known. Olyntha is known only from South America and from Central America, 226 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, The winged species of Embia are intermediate among Oligotoma and Olyntha. The body is stronger and more flattened above than in Olyntha ; the head is shorter, about quadrangular, but the antenne areas short as in Oligotoma ; the prothorax is shorter and broader than in both, __ but near to the head more narrowed ; the thorax is still larger than in Olyntha; the legs are as long and as strong as in Oligotoma; the wings as long as the body (Oligotoma), but broader, with the venation similar to Olyntha ; the abdomen is broader and more flat than Olyntha, _ but with the shorter appendages of Oligotoma. Asymmetry isknown only in the female sex. Embia is known only from the old world in the © countries around the Mediterranean and Persia. The knowledge of the three groups is not sufficient to assert that all are only subgenera or genera; in the last case I believe that Olyntha and Embia can not be united. a There can be no doubt that the Embidina belong to a peculiar and a well defined family, and cannot be combined with any other family, : though a number of characters are found represented in other families. — The body is slender, elongate and flat above ; the abdomen repre- senting half the length of the body ; the head is free, not inserted, small, flat, quadrangular or ovoid ; the eyes are exactly in the front corner of the head, and in the imago state similar to aggregate eyes ; ocelli, none ; no dividing sutures of the head exist; antennze as long as the body o half as long, praeocular, moniliform or partly fiiiform, slender and very fragile; mouth parts decidedly of Orthopterous character; maxillary palpi 5 jointed ; labium bilobate, the inner lobes transformed into a spinning ap-— paratus, as in Psocina, but with 3 jointed labial palpi, and without the peculiar maxilla of Psocus. Prothroax much narrower than the head, elongate, or as long as broad; always with a dorsal transverse furrow after the anterior third ; thorax strong, oblong, the mesothorax longé each segment of thorax with three dorsal parts, the last one of 1 metathorax (segment mediaire) like the abdominal segments. Abdomet flat, about equal, with nine transverse oblong dorsal segments and — eight | ventrals ; at the tips on each side a bijointed appendage, short, or as lo as the last segments ; between them the male genital apparatus, just at the end of the abdomen ; the female opening at the base of the. seventl ventral segment ; the appendages, the male genital apparatus and the | dorsal and ventral segment show, at least in certain forms, asymmet Wings not deciduous, narrow, rounded on tips, as long or a little longer THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 227 than the abdomen ; all four of equal shape, length and venation. The legs are peculiar, the compressed and dilated shape of some parts seem to indicate burrowing legs; they are strong, long, reaching both ends of the body, the middle legs always less strong ; the three pairs of legs are equi- distant and attached to the ends of the respective segments ; the legs of the first and of the middle pair are as distant from the legs of the opposite side as the size of the sternum will allow them to be; but the legs of the hind pair are approximate ; coxze small, stronger on hind legs ; femur and tibia about the same length, compressed, inflated ; tarsus about as long as tibia, but the basal joint of the first pair as long as tibia, inflated, curvate, with a superior furrow ; second joint short; third joint longer, slender with two simple claws. — ; Systematic Position of the Family. Savigny, Latreille, V. Audouin, Westwood, Burmeister, Rambur, have placed the Embidina near the Termitina. Westwood, |. c. p. 372, states : “ Genus quoad affinitates, Termites cum Ensthenia Westw., inter Perlidas conjungens.” Iam sorry that-he has not given a more detailed proof of this statement. By comparing Olyntha Braziliensis with Eusthenia _ spectabilis (both insects figured by himself on the same plate in Griffith pl 72), and by comparing a type specimen of Lusthenia spectabilis, kindly presented to me byhimself, I confess to being at a loss regarding their affinity. McLachlan, l.c. p. 377, goes even further, not thinking the relationship between Termes and Embia so close as has generally been accepted, and that Westwood happily seized upon its position as between the Termitidae and Perlidae. He says that the external form is not always to be disregarded in searching for affinities, and that Embia has much of the external form of the Perlidae, especially of the genus Leuctra. But he has overlooked that certain species of Termes, for instance, Z: flavipes, after having lost its wings is just as agile as Embia and very similar to its wingless forms. Some exotic species, as Stolotermes, imitate Embia, even in the winged form. Of course, each family belonging to the Pseudo-neuroptera has some characters in common _ with Embia, but after the knowledge of the internal female organs, which are exceptionally characteristic for the Perlina, we have to dismiss the opinion of a nearer relationship. Indeed, the slender and elongate form of the body excepted, which is found so common in many insects of 228. THE. CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. different orders, no character is left to bring the Embia nearer to Perla than to Termes. Burmeister, 1. c., p. 768, is undoubtedly right in bring- ing them in a family of its own Embidae, near the Termitina (with whom they had been combined), because they differ from them by all parts of their body. | After a detailed study of the species betore me (their number is much — larger than the number in the hands of former students), and after due consideration, I believe there is no doubt that Embia is nearer to Termes than to any other family. Concerning the wings, I have given my opinion before in a very detailed manner, that they are not only homologous to the wings of Termes. the basal squama not being developed or aborted, but that the wings by their identical size, shape and venation cannot be compared with those of any other family. The abdomen, except being mostly more ovoid in Termes, is for the segment médiaire and the number of segments homologous; the mouth parts are alike, except the 5-jointed max. palpi; the antennae are similar; the legs are very different, the tarsus 3-jointed. The eyes are in the front corner of the head, while in Termes they are in the hind corner. a The relationship with the Psocina is indicated by the presence of a spinning organ opening on the labium, and by the similar distance of the : ; coxae in some genera. Hmbidopsocus resembles Embia more than Termes, but is in fact a true Psocus, with the habitus of an Embia and with Termit wings. In another paper I may give more about this curious insect. A comparison with the Odonata and Ephemerina seems not to be needed. Both show an important character of the Embidae, the situation of the eyes in the front corner of the head ; the arculus of the Odonata — is imitated in the wings of the Embidina. - The statement by Wood-Mason that Embia belongs to the, true | Orthoptera as a very degraded form—a statement which will probably be proved by him in a later paper—induced me to consider the ‘aberrant — forms of this group. The external forms of the curious genus Cylin- — drodes, have indeed some analogy with the apterous female of O. Michaelé. — We know very little about Cylindrodes. C. Campdelii, from Melville’s Island, Australia, was figured in Griffith’s Animal Kingd., vol. xv., pl. 131, _ with details of the mouth parts and legs, and described by R. Gray, Mag. — N. H., 1837, vol. i, p. 142, from one imperfect specimen, as belonging — near Grydlotalpa. Burmeister makes of it a group of Grydlotalpa, and Serville a genus following Gry//ota/pa. Saussure, Mel. Orthopt., 1877, as A at ee THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 229 : vol. v., p. 205, brings it in a separate Legion, Cylindrodites, with the only genus, Cylindrodes, and describes and figures, pl. 11, a new species, C. = Kochit, from Australia, from a rudimentary specimen. None of the authors except Gray have seen this rare insect. Probably it is a female imago ; it bores in the stems of plants, committing ravages in greenhouses ; itis called by the colonists, wire-worm. The tibia of the anterior legs forms a hand similar to Gry//ota/pa. What is known about this insect is mainly the general form, which is so different from Embidina that it is barely possible that this degraded family may among the Orthoptera be placed not far from the Embidina. To try ancestral speculations upon our present insufficient, and for the Embidina, very scanty knowledge, would certainly by Darwin himself have been considered illegitimate, if not something worse ! TRAPPING COLEOPTERA. BY F. B. CAULFIELD, MONTREAL, P. Q. - Wishing to procure a good series of Silphidz for my collection, about the middle of August I put some scraps of cooked meat into an empty tomato can and hid it under a shrub. I visited it after a few days but found it untouched. I then baited a can with uncooked meat and placed it in a similar situation. I examined it on the 12th of August and took from it the following species :— Necrophorus erbicollis, 10 specimens. see tomentosa (velutina), 6 specimens. Siulpha peltata, 20 specimens. “ marginalis, 12 specimens. (Of this and the preceding species I could have taken many more). Siupha inecualis, 4 specimens. “ _ lappontca, 1 specimen. ‘< surinamensis, 1 specimen. Staphylinus villosus % “ - Lalso took two specimens of a Staphylinus and a number of Histers not yet determined, 230 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. On examining the can containing the cooked meat, I was surprisedto find in it seven specimens of Centhophilus maculatus, as | had not ~ a pected to trap Orthoptera. I visited the traps again on August 15th, but as there had been a heavy thunder storm on the previous day, I met with poor success. The trap which had yieldedso abundantly on the 12th, now contained nothing but water, but from the can with cooked bait I took 5 iad 4 velutina, 1 surinamensis, and 1 Staphylinus villosus. NOTES ON CHRYSOMELA SCALARIS, Lec. BY F. B, CAULFIELD, MONTREAL, P. Q. In No. 7 of Entomologica Americana, Mr. G. W. J. Angell gives some interesting notes on this insect. Having examined a large number from various localities ‘‘showing a nearly complete gradual gradation from the finely maculate form of pAi/adelphica, to the strongly marked sca/aris type,” Mr. Angell is of opinion that phzladelphica Lin., multipuncta Say and its supposed varieties, are all varieties of sca/aris Lec. I incline myself to the belief that sca/aris and philadelphica are distinct species, and as my ex- perience of these forms appears to be different to that of some other col lectors, I give it in the hope that it may lead to a careful study of their life habits. I find that Dr. Harris’ history and figure of sca/aris fit it exact-_ ly as it occurs in the neighborhood of Montreal. For years past I have a 1 found it on elm and linden, and on no other plant or tree. Philadelphica and Bigsbyana I find on willow and alder ; never on elmand linden. Dr. : Packard in his Guide states that sca/aris is abundant on the alder. This statement puzzled me, as I never yet have found a typical scavarison EL IEE ET that shrub. In the Report of the Entomological Society of Ontario for ; 1882, Mr. W. H. Harrington states that sca/aris is “found throughout the season on various trees, as elm, the linden, and especially the willows and _ a alders. ‘The same writer states that pi/ade/phica feeds on the leaves of the pine. It would thus seem as if these insects varied their food plants in different localities. It is now too late to do anything this sea-— a son towards settling the question, but next year I trust it will be fully in- vestigated; meanwhile I would like to hear the opinions of other collectors, __ THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 231 HYBERNATION OF FORMICA HERCULEANA, Liny. BY G. J. BOWLES, MONTREAL, P. Q. On the 2oth October last, when in Brighton, Ont., I went to the woods in search of hybernating insects, and while examining the prostrate trunk of a small pine, found several female specimens of our large black ant, F. herculeana (ligniperda Latr.) in their winter quarters. Each ant was in an oval excavation in the wood, just under the bark, about an inch long and half an inch wide and deep. In each cell was found a single @ ant, together with from six to fifteen larve. On tearing off the bark, about half a dozen cells were exposed, on different and widely separated parts of the trunk. In one or two instances there was a single worker ant with the large 2. ‘The larve were about an eighth of an inch long, and were all alive. They were, in every case, crowded together in a mass, each one in the same position, with the head bent over in front. This observa- tion is, I think, interesting, as it gives a clue to the manner in which colonies of this wood-destroying ant are established. It is probable that the mother ant and the larve would survive the winter, and be ready in spring, as soon as the larve had become perfect insects, to begin opera- tions from the cell in which they had hybernated. The cells were very neatly excavated, and each seemed to have been entirely the work of the ? ant which occupied it, as there was no connection with any other cell, and the surface of the trunk around each was perfectly smooth and unin- jured. Nor were there any galleries extending from the cells into the wood of the tree, as I proved by close examination. NOTES ON ACMAEODERA PULCHELLA, Hest. BY C. H. T. TOWNSEND, CONSTANTINE, MICH. \ The common species of Acmaeodera, A. pulchella Hbst., which is marked with shining bronze-black and bright yellow, assimilates well in color with the flowers of Rudbeckia hirta L., so abundant along the edges of cultivated fields, upon which this Buprestid is found. The dark parts of the beetle, which are after an etched pattern, blend well with the rich dark stigmata of the flower, as the beetle lies next to these ; while the bright yellow parts easily pass unnoticed in the inside border of the yellow corolla. It is noticeable that these flower-frequenting species are found 232 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. chiefly on the flowers whose colors suit them best for protection ; in fact the insects seem to have been modified in color to suit the flowers they live on. This species is seldom found upon any other flowers than those of Rudbeckia — hirta L, I have once taken it upon the flowers of tansy, once upon a partially yellowed leaf of @nothera, once upon a high dandelion flower, twice upon the orange-red flowers of Asclepias tuberosa L., and once fly- ing about some of the many flower-bunches of a clump of sumachs, These are the only exceptions that I have noticed, and are but isolated instances. ae - The perfect beetles are very abundant here in July ; in my notes I find reference to them only from 3rd to 13th July. It is in the heat of the day that they are to be found upon the upper side of the flowers, probably feeding upon the pollen ; toward evening, and in cloudy weather, as well as sometimes in sunny weather, they are to be found on the under side of the flowers, clinging to the sepals or petals, where they doubtless spend the night. Thus these flowers furnish the perfect beetles with food and home; and probably their larve bore the very stalks which support the flowers. . The beetles seem to avoid generally the large patches, fre- quenting isolated clumps with only a few flowers, or single flowers. On one isolated flower I have taken five or more, mostly large specimens, while the same day (8th July, 1883) I went through large patches of the flowers without taking one, er only a few scattered ones. i CORRESPONDENCE. | ON WILLOW AS FOOD-PLANT OF PAPILIO TURNUS. Dear Sir: As stated on page 140, willow is given in “ Butterflies,”’ p. 309. I asked Mr. Scudder for his authority, and he replies, “‘Gosse, in Canadian Naturalist.” On page 293 of this book, London, 1840,I read: ‘‘ I have taken it” (the caterpillar) ‘from willow, poplar,” &c. So _ far as I know, in the 45 years since that line was printed, willow has not been noticed as one of the food-plants of Zusnus. 1 asked Mr. John Akhurst, who has bred Zurnus as often as any one living, if he had ever a found the larva on willow. He says he never has, and enumerates a great a number of other trees on which he has found it. Ishould like much to ~ know if any of the readers of this magazine have ever found this larvaon willow, or of their own knowledge can say that this is one of its food- plants. W. H. Epwarps, Coalburgh, W. Vas 4 ay ie | Bn ef TE: od eee Che Canadwan Entomologist. VOL. XVIL. LONDON, DECEMBER, 188s. No. 12 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. The Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society was held in London at the Society’s rooms, Victoria Hall, on Tuesday, October 13, 1885, at 8 —o’clock p. m. The President, Mr. Wm. Saunders, of London, Ont., in the chair. Present—Mr. James Fletcher, Ottawa; Mr. T. Alston Moffat, Hamilton; Rey. C. J. S. Bethune, Port Hope; Mr. W. H. Harrington, Ottawa; Capt. Gamble Geddes, Toronto; Rev. F. W. Fyles, South Quebec; Mr. J. G. Bowles, Montreal; Mr. J. M. Denton, Mr. H. P. Bock, Mr. Lawrence Reed, of London ; Messrs. Weld and Macdonald, of the Farmer’s Advo- cate, London, and the Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. E. Baynes Reed. The minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed. The President gave a cordial welcome to the visiting members and ex- pressed the pleasure of the London members at meeting so many of their friends. The Report of the Council, the Financial Report of the Secretary-Treas- urer, and the Report of the Librarian for the past year, were then submit- ted to the meeting, and on motion duly received, discussed and adopted. These Reports will appear as usual in the Annual Report. The President stated that owing to unforseen circumstances no delegate had been sent to the last meeting of the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science held at Ann Arbor, Michigan, but that a summary of the business transacted by the Entomological Club had been kindly for- warded by the Secretary, and would be published in the Canapran ENTOMOLOGIST. » The Report of the Montreal Branch was read, and after an expression of gratification by members present at the prosperous condition of the Branch, the Report was received and ordered to be printed as usual. 934 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST’. REPORT OF DELEGATE TO ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. Mr. W. H. Harrington presented his Report read at the meeting of the Royal Society, as follows : As delegate from the Entomological Society of Ontario, it affords me much pleasure to announce that the Society has continued to make ~ satisfactory progress, both in membership and in the work which it under- takes. The monthly publication of the “Entomologist” brings before students of insects, both in this country and abroad, very valuable and interesting papers on the habits and life-histories of our species, with frequent de- scriptions of new species discovered in our extensive country. Volume xvi. has been completed, and several valuable parts of xvii. have been already issued. The ‘Annual Report,” No. xiv., issued by the Society, comtaibs sev- eral instructive papers prepared especially for agriculturists, and well sup- plied with such illustrations as may enable them to recognize the insects therein ‘described. : The Montreal Branch of the Society is in a flourishing condition, which is due to the exertions of the energetic and enthusiastic Entomologists who reside in that city. Gratification is felt at the evidence of a growing interest in regard to the very important question of the serious losses annually caused throughout the country by the depredations of various insects. The Select Committee appointed by Parliament in 1884 to obtain in- formation as to the agricultural interests of the Dominion, issued circu- lars to a large number of leading fruit-growers and other agriculturists throughout the country, requesting, among other points, an expression of — opinion as to the desirability of the appointment of a Government Ento- mologist. A large majority of the answers were in favor of such an ap- 2 pointment. Two members of the Council of the Entomological Society were also called, and gave evidence before the Committee as to the ravages of in- sects in Canada, and as to the advantages which would result from the — appointment of a competent Entomologist. The Department of Agriculture, impressed by the importance of the 4 subject as thus brought before its notice,has since appointed as Entomolo- — a gist one of the most energetic officers and workers of our Society—Mr. James Fletcher—who has issued a Preliminary Report, briefly describing — aE eae Lay get ee es TOT Seay ea or Se OO ieee A ty SSA Nt | SPIELE vee ot ee ANE ON PoE ga RRR oe ERE et See lee THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 235 the most noticeable injuries caused by insects last season to the various crops. In the United States great attention is still paid to the study of Econo- mic Entomology. Several of the States, as well as the Federal Govern- ment,make liberal provisions for the investigations of appointed Entomolo- gists. The published Reports of such investigations are exceedingly valuable ; and furnish, with the exception of that supplied by the Entomological So- ciety of Ontario, almost the only reliable information regarding the injuri: ous insects infesting our orchards, fields and gardens. It is a matter of no little importance that as full information as can be obtained should be, as widely as possible, circulated among our farmers, and to this end the appointment of an Entomologist by the Department of Agriculture is an important step in the right direction. The President then delivered his annual address. ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY ( OF ONTARIO. Gentlemen,—The season of 1885 has not been distinguished by any unusual invasion by injurious insect hosts. Nothing assuming the pro- portion of a general or serious calamity in this direction has occurred in any department of agriculture or horticulture ; nevertheless instances have not been wanting where local injuries caused by insects have assumed considerable proportions, the sum total of which, if the results were ex- pressed in money loss, would represent a very large sum. The great staple productions of our country, such as wheat, oats, barley and hay, have not, so far as we have been able to learn, suffered material injury from insects in any locality in our Province, but while the farmers of Ontario have thus been exempt, our neighbors across the lines have not enjoyed the same immunity. In the neighbouring State of New York the loss occasioned by the Hessian Fly has been estimated at over $100,000. In the great wheat fields on the Pacific slope, and also in those of Dacotah and other Western States, there have been much severer losses from the same cause. Early in August I received from a corres- pondent in Dallas, Oregon, samples of wheat seriously injured by another destructive insect which as yet, happily, has not to our knowledge oc- curred in Canada. ‘This is a small yellowish worm from one-sixth to one- fifth of an inch in length, which is found within the stalk of wheat about 236 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. or between the joints ; sometimes there are four or five larve in a single stalk, one above each joint for the first four or five joints from the ground, which cause the stalk to prematurely ripen-or to wither, and thus occasion great loss. This insect, which is known as the “Wheat Isosoma,” Isosoma tritici, Riley, has been observed for two or three years past, in- juring the wheat in Illinois, Tennessee and Missouri, and has prevailed in some localities to such an extent as to ruin the crop. From the observa- tions thus far made it seems that there is only one brood of this insect during the season, and that it passes the winter in the straw either in the larval or pupal state, the perfect flies appearing the following spring. Under these conditions the remedy is obvious, viz., burn both the stubble and the straw after harvest; rotation of crops has also been found beneficial. | : The cabbage crop has been materially injured by the ravages of the cabbage Anthomyia, Benno rane encce rc ance Boston, Mass. Oe RS RSG oS RNS RS ey ela ere eri Stan pee eee WasHIneton, D. C. SOULE, es Ohba yc kos ces ean Ret howe be cove STOWE, VERMONT. WOM ee San Francisco. CAL, STRUMBERG, ee ites se eee GALEsBuRG, ILL. RT Oa 09, Ne ets o's « Sehpewd ie kacehaswy ec Wala VICTORIA, Brit. COLUMBIA. TOWNSEND, Se ke Ae CoNsTANTINE, Micu. UNDERWOOD, Pe Me Ca CE CP Pes ke een y eases SYRACUSE, N. Y. ee ite k's Ral a bale o's ale oo 6k ei bw eae 0 i uyee ic eae Ves BALTIMORE, Mp. VANDUZEE, OR EE Ng aE QS 20 Oa ae eae BuFFALO, N. Y. : Che Canadian Entomologist. VOL. XVIII. LONDON, JANUARY, 1886. No. 1 TWELVE YEARS’ EXPERIENCE WITH RUBBER STOPPERS. USED IN THE BIOLOGICAL COLLECTION OF THE 7 MUSEUM IN CAMBRIDGE. BY DR. H. A. HAGEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. The late Professor L. Agassiz, in 1867, requested of me a detailed plan for the development of the entomological department of the Museum, Among the different collections proposed was a biological collection simi- lar to my own for Neuroptera and Pseudo-neuroptera, but extended to include all Arthropoda. ‘The Professor in a marginal note stated that this collection should be commenced immediately, and developed as rapidly as possible. In my collection the alcoholic objects were included in vials placed horizontally near the pinned dry objects, so that all belonging to one species were together and presented a clear view to the observer. I used vials closed with cork stoppers, which for a small collection and by a continual supervision, proved sufficiently safe. Nevertheless experi- ments were made with several substances, hoping to prevent the evapor- - ation of the alcohol and the necessity of refilling a large number of vials every six months. ‘This arrangement is, as stated, sufficient for a small collection, but when applied upon a comprehensive and extended scale, proves inadequate. The continual supervision and refilling of several | thousand vials would have needed a considerably larger expense and a special assistant. ‘The best velvety cork stoppers did not do as well here as in Europe, owing to the greater changes of temperature. Experiments were made during six years upon a large number of substances in the hope of increasing the efficiency of the cork stoppers. Fats, tallow, -stearine to impregnate the cork, wax, sealing wax, different resins and varnish, shell-lac, iron-lac, guttapercha and India rubber in different solu- _ tions, thick oil paint, collodium, waterglass, very fine bladder around that part of the cork placed in the vial, and glue and paste to cover the ex- ternal part of the cork with strong paper and bladder, were subjected to trial. Several of these substances were tried on an extensive scale and 3 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. diinia at for several years, all proving to be more or less unsatisfactory. Finally it was decided to use India rubber stoppers. Though these were decidedly — more expensive, they have during twelve years given the most satisfactory — results. A continual supervision and re-filling of carefully closed vials is unnecessary, and the greater outlay at first is after’a few years more than — repaid ; time, alcohol and manual help are saved. At first the strong compression of the alcohol in placing the stoppers was the principal cause — of insecurity of the filled vials, as the stoppers were very apt to slip out. — In putting the stopper in the vial, I introduce now a fine insect pin (to be — removed later), allowing the air to escape and thus preventing the strong compression of the alcohol (Ann. Rep. of the Museum for 1874, p. 13). A small test vial, 70 m. m. long and 16 m. m. broad, filled in this way, October, 1873, was kept purposely for three years in the sunshine ; the a length of the air bubble retained in the vial was carefully measured, and — found to be 14 m. m.; a year later the bubble had about the same length In summer the bubble was smaller, owing to the greater expansion of the alcohol, proving at the same time the close fitting of the stopper. On November 14, 1882, the bubble was 20 m. m. long, and is now, October — 6, 1885, 30 m. m. long. ‘The vial was never opened during the twelve years, and is now in such a condition that jt would not need re-filling if used in the collection, ‘The collection contains many smaller vials and a number of larger ones (the largest for the larva of Dynastes hercules, 1 } m. m. long and 50 m. m. broad), and with very rare exceptions, ‘re-filling was not necessary. I would remark that all stoppers used are of vulcan- ized India rubber. The so-called pure rubber stoppers used for chemical purposes are probably better, but they were then not for sale in Boston, and are also 30 per cent. more expensive. During late years a num of them have been used to ascertain their reputed superiority. A di vantage of the vulcanized stoppers is the formation of small crystals of sulphur in the alcohol, which attach themselves firmly to the insects, ane are for delicate objects injurious. This disadvantage is, however, eas obviated, or at least very much diminished, when the stoppers are oughly washed before use, or better, are put half an hour in warm \ The most important point was, how long these ‘stoppers would well, and when they would. need to be replaced by new ones, To kne exactly the average time of the efficiency of the rubber stoppers, it necessary to know the number of vials in use. My assistant has co them carefully. To Coleoptera belong 1,423; Lepidoptera, 1,5 E>: y ; * Be re * Seal. Se i a ny ‘ s 3 fe THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. o Pseudo-neuroptera, 979; Neuroptera, 454; Hymenoptera, 523; Galls, 171; Spiders, 644 ; Parasites, 208; Hemiptera, 57 ; Orthoptera, 14 (the last two orders are not arranged, and the rich biological material of the alcoholic collection of the Museum is not placed in vials) ; besides a large number not yet arranged in the boxes of the different orders. There are about 7,800 vials in use. ‘The larger part of the collection presented by Mr. F. G. Schanpp, and the very large collection of the Peabody Academy, are not included in the above enumeration. For want of space, they have been stored provisionally in large glass jars filled with alcohol, in which the small vials with cork stoppers are placed. Of the 7,800 vials with rubber stoppers, perhaps two-thirds were filled and labelled to and 12 years ago, the others in the successive years, half of them three years ago. More than half are of a size needing stoppers of 8 to12 m. m. at the smaller end; two-thirds of the rest of 14 to 18 m. m.; the rest with larger ones 30 to 37 m. m. (milk stoppers), and a few as large as 42 m.m. Some vials, at times a large number, were opened for identification and study of the contents. A very small num- ber had to be changed every year, and these were closed with pieces of rubber rope (of 6, 10, 12, 16, 25 m. m. diameter), which was used as an experiment, but proved to be unsuccessful. In addition to these, in each year during late years three or four of a certain size needed to be changed. These vials, 65 m. m. long by 8 m. m. broad, were closed by stoppers, which had to be forced 16 m. m. into the vials. The alcohol began to evaporate, the vials turned easily on the corks, which is never the case in well closing vials; the part of the stopper in the vial was somewhat smeared, and had lost its elasticity. Indeed these stoppers would have served probably longer by re-filling, but for greater safety they have been always changed. All these vials were closed twelve years ago, and they began to give out during the last few years. The part of the stopper outside of the vial always bulged out considerably, so that by this mark alone the vials to be changed were easily noticed. A part of these stop- pers were not well made; when cut they are not solid throughout, but filled with numerous holes, representing a kind of fibrous tissue. The strong depression in the rubber trade during late years has caused the use of poorer material in vulcanizing ; some numbers of the smaller sizes are now decidedly bad. Nevertheless, of all stoppers in use, less than one per mille gives out every year after twelve years’ use, and in the first six years probably only one per two mille. Stoppers of the larger size keep 4 . THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. much better. After all, I think the result is a decided success. All so-called pure rubber stoppers for chemical laboratories of Americ make are, as far as I am able to ascertain, manufactured of yulenes ed rubber, which is not the case with those imported from Germany. 1 Professor of the chemical laboratory here has had the same experience The 7,800 stoppers of different sizes have cost about $110 ; if they ha been bought at once at wholesale figures, the price would have bert : to 35 per cent. less. a As the stock in hand for the advancement of the collection has to. ) a large one, I may draw attention to a method recommended by Prof. Hempel, of Dresden, Saxony, to prevent the stoppers becoming too har (Bericht d. Deutsch. Chem. Gesell., 1882, vol. xv., Heft. 6, No. 184). Rubber stoppers or tubes retaining their elasticity should be kept i in lar glass jars, in which an open vessel with petroleum has been placed. I better to keep the light from the jar ; wooden boxes should not be | Stoppers which have become hard should be brought together in a with sulphuret of carbon until they are softened, and afterwards be ke in a. jar with petroleum just as the others. Before knowing this I used t soften such stoppers by squeezing in different directions, or by rolling w a piece of board. Of course Prof. Hempel’s method is better, as it p vents the gradual evaporation of the fluids used for the solution of th rubber in the process of vulcanization. It is remarkable that until 1 none of the stoppers in the vials arranged in wooden boxes have. be hardened, though the same stoppers not fixed in vials with alcohol hard. Probably the strong pressure of the alcohol by fitting the sto has some influence in keeping them soft; besides, the part of the ste pT outside of the vial is mostly small. I do not know whether rubber s pers for similar purposes have been used here or in Europe earlier the Cambridge Museum ; if so, T would be very glad to know the ae obtained elsewhere. PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE SPECIES OF ACARINA | ; NORTH AMERICA. 3 BY HERBERT OSBORN, OF THE IOWA AGRICULTURAL COLLE LUCIEN M. UNDERWOOD, OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY. The Acarina, especially the more minute forms, have been but studied in America, a fact which seems the more strange when we THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 5 sider what interesting objects they form for microscopic work, As in _ most groups of Arthropoda, the pioneer work in this country was done by _ Thomas Say, whose descriptions of a number of the larger species appeared as early as 1821. Later on Dana and Whelpley (1836), and Haldeman (1842), contributed descriptions of a few species. More recently Dr’s. Fitch, Leidy, Packard, Riley, LeBaron and Shimer, and Mr. Ashmead, have _ published descriptions of species and notes on habits, while quite lately _ Mr. Harry Garman has published a valuable paper on the Phytoptide, __ which it is hoped he will follow up by still more extensive study of this family. : It is hoped that the following list of the Acarina of the United States and Canada—which we have made as complete as possible up to date— may encourage the further study of the group, and as an additional aid it may be iv place to make a few statements concerning their habits and the methods of studying them. The Trombididze are found on plants or free as adults, frequently in the larval form, as parasites on insects. The Hydrachnidz are aquatic, _ and probably many interesting parasitic forms will be found by careful _ examination of the gills of bivalve mollusks. Of the Gamaside occurring __ aS parasites on insects but few of the probable number have yet been described. Inthe Acaride we have many parasitic forms on birds and mammals, and here especial care should be taken to identify with described European forms whenever possible, particularly in all cases where the bird or mammal host is identical in the two countries. Doubt- less many described species occur commonly here which have never been recorded, e. g. MJyobia musculi seems never to have been recorded in America, but has been taken at Ames, Iowa, and hence is included in our list. A few species common to domesticated animals that are being con- stantly imported from other countries have been included in this list, even when we have been unable to find a positive record of their occurrence heres: The Phytoptide are microscopic in size, and occur on buds, leaves and fruits, producing galls, deformations, blisters or rusts, and their study offers an almost unlimited field for careful investigation. | A large proportion of the mites are too small to be readily studied or preserved, except as microscopic objects, and the most desirable method is to mount them at once, or as soon after collecting as possible, in glycerine jelly or prepared balsam. It is frequently a great advantage to 6 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. examine them carefully with the microscope while still alive and mo The American literature on this subject, besides being quite scanty, is widely scattered, and some of the papers now quite difficult to procure. Family TrRoMBIDIDz Leach. I. Zetranychus Dufour. —T. TELARIUS Linn. Packard, Guide to Study of tase 660 ; : hor 3 ray, Economic Entom., 97* ; Saunders, Can. Ent. xii, 237* (1880) fe Insects Inj. to Fruit, 355* (188 3); Ontario Entom. Rep., xi, 70* (1880) ; Forbes, Ill. Rep., xii, 106 (1884) ; Standard Akos be i, 103. Il. Wévibiiliin Fab. 1—T. parasiticuM Murray. Economic Entom., 129* (187 7); Ont. Entom, Rep., xi., 71 (1880). Atoma parasiticum, Latr. (1806). Riley, Mo. Rep., vii., 176* (1875). Trombidium muscarum, Riley. First Rep. U. S. Entom. Com. 356-347 (1878). 2-—-T. SERICEUM Say. Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 70 (1821) ; Coll. Writings i ii, 16; Riley, Mo. Rep. vii., 175* (1875), et. Supp., 63; Murray, — Economic Entom. 138* (1877) ; Ont. Entom. Rep. xi., 72 (1880). — 3—T. GRYLLARIUM Murray. Economic Entom. 136* (1877). Atoma gryllaria, LeBaron. Ill. Rep. ii., 61* (1871). 4—T. SCABRUM Say. Jour. Phila. Acad. i., 69 ( (1821); Coll. Writings . ii, 16; Riley, Mo. Rep. vii, 175 (1875). a 5—T. GIGANTEUM Riley. First Rep. U. S. Entom. Com., ee (1878). 6—T. puLBIpES Packard. Mass. Rep. iii., 26* (1873) ; — Econ: omic Entom. 136*; Ont. Ent. Rep. xi., 71. ie LARVAL FORMS INCERTIS SED. 1—Leprus ( Zrombidium ?) AMERICANUS Riley, Mo. Rep. vi, 122 (187 ( Murray, Economic Entom., 116.* 2—Leptus ( Zrombidium ?) ARANE& Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 80 (1821) ; Coll. Writings i., 23. ; 3—Leptus ( Zrombidium ?) uisPus Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., = 1 (18 Coll. Writings ii, 23. | 4—Leptus ( Trombidium ?) IRR1TANS Riley, Mo. Rep. vi., 122 2 (18 4 Murray, Economic Entom., 116* ; Ontario Entom. Rep. Xl., 71. * A star indicates an illustration at the reference marked. ik CANADIAN EN‘ToOMOLOGIs‘. ,, T 5—OcypeTE ( Zrombidium?) comata Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. i1., 82 (1821); Coll. Writings, ii., 23. Ill. #Lrythreus Latr. 1—E. MAMILLATUS Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 70 (1821) ; Coll. Writings IL, “#6; Family BDELLIDA Duges. . I. B#della Latr. 1—B. MARINA Packard, 1st Rep. U.S. Fish Com., 544 (1874); Guide to Study of Insects, 660; Am. Nat. xviil., 827* (1884) ; Standard Nat. Hist., 11., 103. 2—B,. oBLoncGa Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. u., 74 (1821) ; Coll. Writings, ii., iq, Family AYDRACHNIDA Sundeval. I. Limnochares Latr. 1—L. EXTENDENS Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. i1., 80 (1821) ; Coll. Writings ll, 22. : Il. Aydrachna Muller. 1—H. coccinnea Haldeman, Proc. Phila. Acad. 1., 196 (1842). 2—H. rormosa Dana & Whelpley, Am. Jour. Science, ist ser., xxx., 357* (1836). 3-H. neBuLosA Haldeman, Proc. Phila. Acad., 1., 196 (1842). 4—H. pyrirorMis Dana & Whelpley, Am. Jour. Science, rst ser., xxx., 358* (1836). 5H. 5-unpata Haldeman, Proc. Phila. Acad., i., 184 (1842). 6—H. scapra Haldeman, Proc. Phila. Acad. i., 184 (1842). 7—-H. TRIANGULARIS Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. i1., 79 (1821) ; Coll. Writings a; 34: 8—H. TRIcoLor Packard, Am. Jour. Science, 3rd ser., 1, 108 (1871). g—H. BELosToM# Riley, rst Rep. U. S. Entom. Com., 312* (1878). III, Azax Fab. I—A. HUMEROSA. Standard Nat. Hist. ii., ro2. Where described ? 2—A. YPSILOPHORUS. Standard Nat. Hist. ii., 102. Where described ? IV. TZhalassarachna Packard. : 1—T. VERRILLII Packard. Am. Jour. Science, 3rd ser., i., 107 ( 1871) ; Standard Nat. Hist. ii., r0o2. Referred by Murray to Pontarachna, 8 2 ‘HE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Family Gamastpa Leach. I. Sejus Koch. | ae 1—S. auris Murray, Economic Entomology, 167 (1877). Gamasus auris Leidy, Proc. Phila. Acad., 1872, 138. Il. Dermanyssus Duges. cae 1—D. avium Duges ——. Murray, Economic Entom., 169*; Ont. Entom. Rep. x1., 73. 2) aa a ° Ill. Gamasus Latr. 1—G. ANTENN#PES Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 71 (1821); Coll. Writings ii., 17. : 2—G. COLEOPTRATORUM Latr. —— ; Packard, Guide to Study. of Insect, 663; Murray, Economic Hinton 150°. 3—G. JULOIDEs Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. i1., 72 (1821); Coll. Writings ii., 18. 4—G. muscuLus Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 72 (1821); Coll. Writings ii., 17. 5—-G. NIDULARIUS Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 72 (1821) ; Coll. Mei li, 17. 6—G. spiniPEs Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 71 (1820) Coll. Writings ii., y IV. Argas Latr. 1—A. AMERICANA Packard, Rep. U. S. Geol. Survey of Montana, Lashos Wyoming and Utah (Hayden) 740* (1872); Murray, Economi Entom., 182. V. Uropoda Latr. Ae Pet Oe 1—U. AMERICANA Riley, Proc. A. A. A. S. xxv., spel (872); Rep. ix., 41 (1877) ; Standard Nat. Hist. ii., roz2. | | 2—U. vEGETANS DeGeer. —-—; Packard, Guide to Study of Insects, Murray, Economic Entom., 162*. Family \Xopip&. I. JLxodes Latr. ae 1—I. atBrpictus Packard, Am. Nat. i, 559% (1868) ; rst Aue Re] Peabody Acad. Science, 65 (1869) ; Am. Nat. iii., 365 (1869); ¢ to Study of Insects, 662*; Standard Nat. Hist. ii, roo*®, 2—I, AMERICANUS Latr. Fitch, N. Y. Rep. xiv., 363 (87: ). 3—I. aNNuULATUus Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 75 (ahaa Coll. N. 1, TQ. a Se c ay THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 9g 4—I. povis Riley, Packard, 1st Ann. Rep. Peabody Acad. Science, 68 (1869) ; Rep. U. S. Geol. Survey of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho (Hayden) 740* (1872); Guide to Study of Insects, 663, 668*; Mur- ray, Economic Entom , 193; Osborn, Bull, lowa Agr. Coll., 75 (1884). 5—I. cHoRDEILIS Packard, rst Ann. Rep. Peabody Acad. Sci., 67 (1869). 6—I. Cooxrr Packard, rst Ann. Rep. Peabody Acad. Sci., 67 (1869). 7—I. CRENATUS Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 76 (1821); Coll. Writings ii, 20. 8—I. cruciartus Fitch, N. Y. Rep. xiv., 366 (1871). g—lI. ERRATICUS Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 77 (1821); Coll. Writings i1., 20. to—I. ruscus Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 79 (1821); Coll. Writings ii., 22. 11—-I, LEPORIS-PALUSTRIS Packard, 1st Annual Rep. Peabody Acad. Sci- ence, 67 (1869). 12—I. NIGROLINEATUS Packard, ist Ann. Rep. Pashods Acad. Science, 66 (1869). 13—I. opONTALGI& Fitch, N. Y. Rep. xiv., 371 (1871). 14—I. ORBICULATUS Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. 11., 76 (1821) ; Coll. Writings i: OT. 15—I. PUNCTULATUS Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 78 (1821) ; Coll. Writings iy 2%, 16—I. 5-stRIATUS Fitch, N. Y. Rep. xiv., 366 (1871). 17—I. Rosertsonir Fitch, N. Y. Rep. xiv., 366 (1871). 18—I. SCAPULARIS Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 78 (1821); Coll. mnOOES i; 21. 19—I. UNIPUNCTATA haara: ist Ann. Rep. Peabody Acad. Science, 66 (1869) ; Guide to Study of Insects, 662, 668.* 20—IJ. VARIABILIS Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii., 77 (1821): Coll. Writings i. 21. Family ORiwaTip& Nicolet. I. Oribata Latr. 1—Q. aspipioT1 Ashmead, Can. Entom. xi., 93 (1879); Saunders, Insects Inj. to Fruit, 396 (1883). 2—QO. CONCENTRICA Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. ii, 73 (1821) ; Coll. Writings i. 18, 3—O. GLABRATA Say, Jour. Phila. Acad. 1i., 73 (1821); Coll. Writings ii., 18. 4—O. QUADRIPILIS Fitch, N. Y. Rep. iii., 442 (1856). II. othrus Koch. 1—N; ovivorus Packard, Guide to Study of Insects, 664,* Riley, Mo. 10 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIS‘. Rep. ii., 102 (1870) ; 3rd a U.S. Entom. Com., ne (1883) 5 : Standard Nat. History, ii., 102* Ill. Hoplophora Koch. I—H. arctata Riley, Mo. Rep. vi., 53, 81. (1874); Murray, Economic _Entom., 225* ; Saunders, Insects Injurious to Fruit, 239* (1883); Ontario Entom. Rep., xiii., 66; Standard Nat. Hist. ii, 102*. Family ACARIDE. I. Lyroglyphus Latr. 1—T, MyCOPHAGUS Megnin. Jour. Anat. Phys. (1874)* ; Ontario Eatonk Rep. x1, 73%. Rhizoglyphus mycophagus Murray, Economic Entom., 262*, — 2—T. PHYLLOXER& Riley, Mo. Rep. vi., 52, 53,81 (1874) Saunders, Cai _ Ent. xiv., 127* (1882); Insects Inj. to Fruit, 239* (1883) ; Ontario . Entom. Rep. v., 61; xiii, 66; Standard Nat. Hist. ii., 100. es Rhiszoglyphus phylloxere Murray, Economic Entom., 258*. 3—T. ENTOoMOPHAGUS Laboul., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (1862) ; Masray Kco- nomic Entom., 263; Ontario Entom. Rep., xi., 73. : 4—T. stro Latr. (Acarus siro L., Zyroglyphus farina, T. sacchari | Auct.) Packard, Guide to Study of Insects, 665; Murray, Economic Entom., 267%; Saunders, Can. Ent., xii., 237*- (1880) ; Ontario En-_ tom. Rep., xi, 74. eae 5—T. GLroveri Ashmead, Amer. icicenaliuade: new series, I., 106 (1880) 5 Saunders, Insects Injurious to Fruit, 391 (1883). | Acarus ? Gloveri Ashmead, Can. Ent., xi., 159 (1879). 6—T. Loncior Gervais (1844); Am. Nat. xvi., 599; Murray, Economic’ Entom., 267*; Ontario Entom. Rep., xi., 74. a ,—T. matus Riley, Mo. Rep. v., 87* (1873); Murray, Econoiiie Entone “hs 275*; Ontario Entom. Rep. xi., 74*; Osborn, Bull. Iowa Avie, Es Coll. a (1884). ns Acarus ? malus Shimer, Trans. Am. Entom. Soc., i., 368 (1868). 8—T. ripis Fitch, N. Y. Rep. i., 424 (1856). g— I. ACERIS. Acarus aceris Shimer, Trans. Am, Entom. Soc., i ll. 320 (1869). Il. Cheyletus Latr. 1—C, sEMiN1voRUS Packard, Guide to Study of Insects, 665, 668%, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 11 III. Sarcoptes Latr. 1—S. cati Hering & Gerlach ; Murray, Economic Entom,, 302 ; Osborn, Bull. Iowa Agric. Coll. 46 (1884). 2—-S. MUTANS Robin & Lang, Comptes-Rendus xlix. (1859); Murray, , Economic Entom. 305*; Osborn, Bull. Iowa Agric. Coll., ii., 76. ~3—S. SCABIEI Latr. ; Murray, Economic Entom., 292*; Packard, Guide to Study of Insects, 666; Ontario Entom. Rep. x1., 75*; Os- born, Bull Iowa Agric. Coll. 76 (1884); Standard Nat. Hist. ii., r0o0*. IV. Psoroptes Gerv. t—P. Equi Gervais, Ann. Soc. Nat. (1841) ; Murray, Economic Entom., 308*; Packard, Guide to Study of Insects, 666; Osborn, Bull. Iowa Agric. Coll. 76 (1884). Dermatodectes equi Gerl., D. bovis Gerl., D. ovis Gerl., Dermatokoptes communis Furst. V. Symbiotes Gerl. 1—S. Bovis Gerlach ——; Murray, Economic Entom. 313*; ; Osborn, Bull. Iowa Agric. Coll. 76 (1884). Sarcoptes bovis Hering, Chorioptes caprae Gerv., Symbiotes equi Gerl., Sarcodermatodectes capre Delaf. & Bour., Dermatophagus bovis Furst. VII. AMyobia Claparede. ; Murray, Economic Entom., 315%. 1—M. muscu Schrank VIII. Pterolichus Robin. 1—P. raLcIGER Megnin,—— Garman, Am. Nat., xviii., 4 30* (1884). IX. Dermatleichus Koch. 1—D. Pici-PpuBESCENTIS Packard, Am. Nat. ill., 493, plate vi., figs. 1, 2, 3 (1869) ; Guide to Study of Insects, 666; Weed., Am. Nat. xviii., 633 (1884). X. Cytoleichus. 1—C. sarcoprompes Megnin, Am. Nat. xvii., 422 (1883). XI. Demodex Simon. :—D. FOLLICULORUM Simon ; Murray, Economic Entom., 329* Packard, Guide to Study of Insects, 667; Jaxon, Bull. Museum Comp. Zool. v., No. 2*; Standard Nat. Hist., ii., 100%. 2—D. pHy“iopes Csokor. Verhandl. der K. K. Zool-bot. Gesell. in Wien., xxix., 419 (1879); Am. Nat. xvi., ro09 (1882); xvil., 1113 (1883). iz THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. XII. Phytoptus Dujardin. 1—P. ABNORMIS Garman. Appendix to Ill. Rep. xii., 134 (1883). 2—P. ACERICOLA Garman, Appendix to Ill. Rep. xii, 135 (1883). 3——P. rraxint Garman. Appendix to Ill. Rep. xii., 136 (1883). 4—P. oLetvorus (Ashmead).—Hubbard, Rep. U. S. Entom. 1884, 363- : 373". Typhlodromus oliivorus Ashmead, Can. Ent., 160 (1879), as 5—P. quapripes Garman. Appendix to Ill. Rep. xii., 132*, 135 (1883) ; Pee Osborn, Bull. Iowa Agric. Coll., 57 (1884). a Vasates qguadripes Shimer, Trans. Am. Entom. Soc. ii., 319. (1869). — 6—P. querci Garman. Appendix to Ill. Rep. xi, 138 (1883). — y—P. pyrt Murray, Economic Entom., 340%, 358 (1877); Garman, Appendix to Ill. Rep. xii., r40 (1883); Osborn, Bull. Iowa Agric. Coll. 56 (1884). Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten, Wiegman’s Archiv. (1857) ; Packaril Guide to Study of Insects, 666, 668*. — 8—P. saLicoLa Garman, Appendix to IIl. Rep., xii., 138 (1883). 9g—P. tHuj# Garman, Appendix to Ill, Rep., xii., 138* (1883). 1o—P. uLm1 Garman, Appendix to Ill. Rep., xii., 136 (1883). INCERTIS SED. 1—Hypopus concoLor Hald., in Terrestrial Air Breathing Mollusks of the U.S. (Binney), ii., 107. 2—ACARUS? SEMEN Walsh, Proc. Am. Entom. Soc., iii., 606. 3—ACARUS? £&NIGMA Walsh, Proc. Am. Entom. Soc., iii., 608. ELAPHIDION PARALLELUM, Newm., AND PHYMATODES ~ VARIABILIS, Fas. | BY C. H. T. TOWNSEND, CONSTANTINE, MICH. In the Oct. number of this journal I noticed with interest the article by Mr. Clarkson on Elaphidion villosum, Fabr. I have reason to belie that the same is partly the case also with Z. parallelum, Newm., which find to be the common oak-pruner here. But Ido not agree that itis ~ always, or even in the majority of aos aaa the case with either species. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 13 As bearing on this subject I give the following extract from my notes for 1885, which relates also to Phymatodes variabilis, Fab. :— “Last fall (Sept.) I laid in a large supply of red, white and black oak and hickory twigs, containing larve of oak-pruners. The majority were red oak and hickory, but all were kept in separate boxes. ‘Also a large box full of sawed hickory wood which contained wood-boring larve. These were all kept regularly moistened. During May and June, as I was absent from home at the time, another person, a lady, collected and saved for me a bottle full of beetles from the vicinity of these boxes (all taken from and around the large box of hickory wood, she says). These I afterward examined, and found the bottle to contain 145 Phymatodes variabilis, Fab., and 18 Elaphidion paralleum, Newm., besides two Tenebrionide of uncertain origin. Asto which the two species proceeded from, the twigs or the hickory wood, the lady, who examined the twigs from time to time without being able to discover a single specimen among them, is almost certain that they all came from the large box of sawed hickory, on the underside of the papers covering. which she was able to pick them off in large numbers, as well as all over and around the box and on the wood inside. Upon examining a good number of the twigs of each kind later in the season, I found not an insect in them (with the excep- tion of one which contained a dried and shrivelled larva that had not transformed), but they showed every sign of the insects having emerged as perfect beetles. The 2. parallelum, Newm., must have come from the twigs, while the 2. varzabzlis, Fab., all proceeded from the sawed hickory wood. Packard gives the latter species as living only in white oak, but I am confident that these came from hickory, though I cannot conceive what became of the other numerous L/aphidions which must have emerged from the twigs.” In my notes for 1884, under date of 18th Sept., I extract also the fol- lowing :—“‘ Found an oak-pruner in the pupa state, inclosed in its silken white cocoon, inside a red oak twig. The end of the twig was not closed up, as is usually the case, but the passage was open, and a couple of inches up from the end the larva had changed to the pupa, state, leaving its cast off skin below it in the passage.” Upon reading the account by Dr. Fitch, of £2. vz//osum, Fabr., I find he says that “some of the worms enter their pupal state the last of autumn, and others not till the following spring. Hence, in examining the fallen limbs in the winter, a larva may be found in one, a pupa in an- 14 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. other.” Now, though I have found the pupa of Z&. paradlelum, Ne very early in the fall (18th Sept., as stated above), and Mr. Clarkson has found the imago of Z£. vi//osum, Fabr., in November, I am inclined to think that these early metamorphoses were from eggs deposited earlie than others, or that by some favorable circumstances these individuals developed more rapidly and thus metamorphosed earlier. It is opinion that both these species may assume the imago state either in fall or the following spring, some, more forward than others, attaining this state in the fall. Perhaps. favorable years, when some of the eggs may b deposited earlier in the summer than usual, produce the autumn imagos, which then remain within the twigs during the winter and emerge early in the spring. These in turn, if the season is at all favorable, will lay thei eggs earlier than the others, and thus continue the early metamorphosis Toward the conclusion of his account Dr. Fitch says that “ in at lea three-fourths of the fallen limbs no worm is to be found,” it having b devoured by birds either at the time the branch fell or afterward. ground under oak and hickory trees here I have known some years (18: to be covered with the twigs early in September, blown down by heavy winds, and at such times nearly all of the larvee are destroyed by insec orous birds, which extract them from their burrows, if they have ‘already been dislodged. ‘This explains why so few of the beetles w obtained from the twigs I had saved—only 18 beetles from a large supply of the twigs, every one of which had certainly fallen that season, and bee occupied at the time—the birds had destroyed all the others, and t very soon after their fall! But I cannot concur in the view taken by Dy Fitch, that the larva severs the branch that it may fall to the ground, thu to aid its transformation. It is very probable that the larva cuts the tw to stop the flow of sap, the dead wood being necessary to mature : growth, and is conscious of none of that “consummate skill and seem g] super-terrestrial intelligence ” which the worthy Doctor so enthusiasti attributed to it. 3 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON BUT IS Se THEIR LARVA, ETC. BY W. H. EDWARDS, COALBURGH, W. VA. 2. On the scarcity of certain Species in 1885. | The most notable instance was that of C. Philodice, whieh j is f vee is THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. : 15 a very common species here. Throughout the year I saw but three of four examples. : In 1884, V. Cardui was remarkably abundant, as it seems to have been all over the Northern States. But in 1885 I scarcely saw one. The Argynnids Cybele and Aphrodite were conspicuous for theri absence in 85 ; so also Phyc. WVyctets and Tharos. For several years /. Ajax and Zurnus have been far less common than formerly, though no change has taken place in the abundance of their food-plants. As to Arg. Diana, 1 have seen but two examples in as many years, and the species is practically extinct here. 2. As to Food Plants of P. Ajax. The only plant known to me is the Pawpaw, Asimina. At the Phila- delphia meeting of the A. A. A. S., 1884, Mr. E. M. Aaron stated that - Ajax \arve fed on spice-wood and upland huckleberry ; and in a letter to me subsequently, that of his own knowledge, he knew Ajax would lay eggs on spice-wood, and that the larve fed both on that plant and sassafras. I tried in vain, in 1885, to make these larve eat either spice-wood or sassafras, giving both to the young just out of egg, and before their taste could have been prejudiced against these plants by having eaten pawpaw. The larve starved to death, and I could not see that a leaf was even nibbled. I then tried larvee immediately after successive moults to the last, with same result. So that I am satisfied Ajax larvee in this region will not eat the plants spoken of. For Tennessee, where Mr. Aaron’s observations were made, I do not undertake to speak. ‘The only butterfly larvee which will eat spice-wood and sassafras, so far as I know, are those of P. Troilus and P. Palamedes, and they are restricted to these and allied plants. 3. Pap. PaLamEDEs. ‘This species has been taken at Glencoe, Ne- braska, as Mr. G. M. Dodge writes me, many degrees farther to the north than has before been observed. 4. CHtonopas Bore, Schn. and Hiibner. In the paper on “ Insects in Arctic Regions,” the translation of which is printed in Can. Env., xvii., p. 157, the author, Herr Aurivillius, says : * Let us take as an example Oeneis Sore, Schn., a true hyperborean but- terfly, which has never been found outside the Arctic circle, and even there only occurs in places which bear a truly arctic stamp.” In the note 16 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. appended, the editor of C. E. says that Mr. Edwards “informs us that . : Mr. David Bruce has taken C. Zaygete Hiib., which is syn. of Oeneis — a Bore Sch., in Colorado,” Not being satisfied that Mr. Bruce’s examples © were Zaygete Hiib., I sent a male, one of them, to Dr. Staudinger, who replied, 16th Oct., 1885: ‘‘The Chionobas agrees perfectly with some Bore Hiib., from the highest northern region of Europe, the Varanger Fjord. Sore is a very variable species, and offers all passages to Zaygete Hiib., so that I consider the latter as the Labrador form.of Bore. Now that the true Bore is also discovered in Colorado is a very interesting _ fact ; it would be interesting to see a large series of this Colorado form, to know if there also will be passage to the Labrador Zaygete.” I saw six examples of this Bore, taken by Mr. Bruce, and they were all of one pattern, so that I do not believe any passage into Zaygefe will be found in Colorado. In the absence of such, I shall regard Bore as a species distinct from Zaygete. It may be one species in Europe, but so far as appears is thoroughly distinct in America. On the end of abdomen of one of the females sent me by Mr. Bruce was an egg shell adhering to the hairs. By softening the butterfly, I was able to get this off in fair condition, so that Mrs. Peart has found it pos- sible to make an excellent drawing of it. I do not despair of yet obtain- ing eggs of this species and rearing the larve. Mr. Bruce found viride on the highest summits visited by him. : 5. CuHtonopas Norna, Thunb. This species has hitherto been supposed to be limited to Europe and Asia. But I have received three females of it from northern Alaska. One © I sent to Dr. Staudinger, who writes, 29th Nov., 1885: ‘“ As far as I can judge from this one bad specimen, it is a dark variety of /Vorna. This is e a very variable species, which I receive also from North and Central Asia, and from whence I have some specimens like to this one sent, although Norna is generally lighter colored.” The other two females were nearly i perfect, and no doubt they are Worna. I hope to figure both Bore and) Norna in vol. 3, But. N. A. j 6. On feeding Larvee after Frost has killed the Leaves. a Mr. A. H. Mundt, of Fairbury, Ills., has told in a former number of a . Can. Env. how he fed belated larvee of P. Cresphontes on dried leaves of — 4 the prickly ash, which he softened i in water, and that his larvae went to pupation. He writes, 13th Nov., ’85: “I have still five larvee of Cn THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 17 phontes. 1 forgot to get food for them before it froze, but found in a book © a lot of leaves of Ptelea trifoliata (Hop-tree) gathered two years ago last spring. These I soaked over night, laid between blotting paper, and put in the glass. The larve eat them readily.” This shows the way to carrying through belated larve in the fall, but also how larve from far off regions may be saved, if the dried leaves of their plants are sent witb them. 3 7. Larve supposed to have been killed by Electricity, Miss Annie M. Wittfeld wrote me 23rd Sept., 1884, from Georgiana, Fla.: “ Yesterday about daybreak, the sky was completely clear. Some twenty minutes later a small black cloud rose in the southeast, and moved very fast, though there was a dead calm with us. All of a sudden came a stroke of lightning and at the same instant a fearful clap of thunder and a puff of wind that took all before it. It lasted but a second and then all was clear and calm again. After breakfast I went to my glass of Limenitis Zves larve, of which I had six fully grown, and found all to be dead and stiff, All my other larve were not affected ; these last were in wooden boxes, while the Zros were between. glass.” 8. On pairing Butterflies in Captivity. It is common enough for certain Sphinges and Bombycidz to mate in boxes, and immediately after leaving pupae. This may happen when the eggs are mature at birth of insect. With many species of butterflies the eggs do not mature for several days after chrysalis, as is the case with the large Argynnids, but with others, as Phyciodes Zharos and MWycte’s and Myrina, they are mature from the start. I have not experimented in this direction, but from what Miss E. L. Morton, of Newburgh, N. Y., tells me, it may be possible to induce butterflies of some species to mate and so to obtain eggs, for the eggs are laid very shortly after copulation, as I have several times observed. Miss Morton had by mistake placed a male Satyrus A/ope under a bag of netting on grass. ‘Three days later she introduced a female, which up to that time was supposed to be the second female. Almost immediately the pair mated, and a few hours later eggs were laid. In attempting to get eggs in this manner, it would be best that a male caught in the field should be introduced to a female just from chrysalis, for in the field it is these last which are sought by the males. Almost always when a pair of butterflies in copulation are taken 18 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. the male will be found worn or broken, while the female is uninjured in wing, and therefore must have lately left the chrysalis. 9. Effect of Cold applied to certain Larve. I was feeding a brood of Coenonympha Ampelos, in June, from eggs sent from Vancouver Island, by Mr. Fletcher. After second month all the larvee showed signs of lethargy except one, which went rapidly — to pupa, having passed but three moults. (At same time I was feeding larvee of C. Galactinus from eggs sent by Prof. Rivers, from California, and all these pupated after but three moults. From the pupz came Cali- fornius, proving this species to be seasonally dimorphic, Galactinus being the winter, Ca/zfornius the summer form.) The remaining Amfe/os larva spoken of at last rested asleep. Karly in August, I placed them on ice, temp. about 32°, and there left them three months, till 7th Nov., having in mind to delude them into a belief that winter was over and gone when they should be brought into warm air again. ‘The experiment succeeded perfectly as to part of the larvae On 21st Nov., one passed 3rd moult, and znd Dec. a 4th moult, and 30th Dec. pupated. Another passed 3rd moult 23rd Noy., but has n yet reached the 4th (as I write 5th Jan. ’86.) In fact, these larvae feed and move about only when placed in sunshine, and cloudy days and cold nights retard their growth. Two other larvae seem to have gone to sleep again, and have not moulted since they left the ice. It is usual for larvae to pass a moult soon after the end of hibernation, apparently to get rid of the shrunken skin, and this is an extra moult. Atleast, I have found this so, whenever the larvae hibernate half grown, so that Ampelos should pass four moults if hibernated, though three are the rule in summer. — : ON TWO NEW HEMIPTERA-HETEROPTERA. _ BY WM. H. ASHMEAD, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. Among a very interesting collection of Mexican and other Hemi sent to me by Mr. Samuel Henshaw, Curator of Boston Society of | History, for'identification, I find two species new to science and pe to genera never before detected in North America, although nt \ represented in the European fauna. In the first genus, Stenocephalus A. & S., in Europe, four spe known, principally peculiar to the southern portions of that continent. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. — 19 These are:—S. agilis, Scop.; S. setudosus, Ferrari; S. medius, Mls. Rey, and SS. neglectus, H. S. In the other genus, Cantacader, A. & S., two species only are known —C. guadricornis, and C. Staudingeri, Baer., also from south Europe. Now, the detection of representatives of these genera in North America is especially gratifying to me, and below will be found full generic and specific descriptions. FAMILY COREIDA. Stenocephalus, A. & S. Gen. char.—Head triangular, prolonged anteriorly between the antennz with its extremity bifid ; eyes large, globular, prominent ; antenne very long, hairy ; first joint thickened, a little shorter than the head ; second joint slender, much longer than the first ; third shortest ; fourth about as long as the second and slightly stouter ; beak attaining to the base of the intermediate legs ; first and second joints about equal in length ; third and fourth shorter; prothorax trapezoidal, narrowed anteriorly, and with the posterior angles not very prominent: scutellum triangular, moderate sized ; elytra with corium long and membrane with five or six longitudinal veins, sometimes forked ; abdomen not quite as long or sometimes a very little longer than the elytra and rounded posteriorly ; legs moderately long, hairy, without spines; femora but slightly curved, subequal in length. Stenocephalus Mexicanus, n. sp. . Length, .43 inch. Brownish pubescent, form of Stenocephalus neglectus, H. S., but more robust, and thickly and finely punctate, punc- tures black; head blackish ; antenne: first joint stout, black, more densely pubescent than other joints ; second joint but slightly longer than fourth, with two yellowish white annuli ; third joint shortest, with a yellow- ish white annulus at base ; fourth joint with a small yellowish white an- nulus at base and another in the middle; beak with first joint yellow ; second joint yellow beneath, above and joints third and fourth piceous ; the extreme tip of scutellum is yellow. The membrane of wing is brown with six longitudinal veins, the first and last being forked, and the stout vein at base, or where it joins the corium, yellow ; legs: anterior femora black, excepting at base, which is yellow, tibice for a third of their tips and at base black, balance yellow, tarsi black; intermediate and posterior femora yellow for more than half their length, balance black ; tibia and tarsi same as anterior pair. 20 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Described from one specimen, Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico, F. — Sumichrist. i s This is the first of the genus described from North America, and | is very closely related to S. neglectus, H. S. “, It is at once distinguished from that species, however, by a more ~ robust form, a different antennal and abdominal coloration, and by the membrane not quite reaching the tip of the abdomen. FAMILY TINGITIDZ. Cantacader, A. & S. Gen. char.—Head elongated and projecting but little between the * antenne ; front horned ; eyes small, globular, not prominent ; antennze slender, very long; the first two joints short, second very long, fourth P short, pointed fusiform ; beak lying in a well pronounced groove,and reaching nearly to the base of the posterior legs ; prothorax somewhat i. abruptly rounded at its posterior border and not prolonged to a point, — although the scutellum is not uncovered. The other characters are those of Monanthia. a Cantacader Henshawi, n. sp. Length, .23 inch. Yellowish brown, elongate, narrowed anteriorly, — and gradually widened posteriorly, with the wings extending beyond the abdomen : head brownish on vertex with three pale horns, two just back of antennze and the third in the centre just back of these, with their points — converging forward towards each other, two pale but prominent lateral carina, one on each side, extending from base of antennae back to pro- thorax, more prominent posteriorly ; eyes brown; antenne: first and second joints short, stout, brownish, the first twice the length of the second ; third joint extremely long, slender, paler in color, and abruptly thickened and black at tip ; fourth joint longer than first, fusiform, black ;— thorax with lateral margins reflexed, and with three prominent carina ; wings long with the raised veins piceous and the reticulated cells small; = abdomen and legs brownish yellow, with the extreme tips of tibize an tarsi and claws black. ae Described from one specimen sent me by Mr. Samuel Fens labelled Boston, July 7th, 1879, to whcm I take pleasure in dedicasnias the species. It is the only species of the genus described from North America, and is a very easily recognized species. he Canadian Entomologist. VOL. XVIII. LONDON, FEBRUARY, 1886. No. 2 NOTES OF 1885 ON SOME INJURIOUS AND OTHER COMMON INSECTS. BY JOHN G. JACK, CHATEAUGUAY, QUEBEC. Read before the Montreal Branch Ent. Soc. of Ont., oth Feb., 7886, The past season was remarkable, in our locality, for the general scarcity of diurnal Lepidoptera, and also of many of the Coleoptera, especially among the Scarabeidze, Cerambycidz and Buprestidz. Many species of these, usually plentiful, seemed rare this year, and even Lachnosterna fusca was not nearly so abundant or injurious as it is generally. Perhaps, with the exception of Co/ias philodice, the most common butterfly was D. archippus, which I have never seen so common. Ido not think I saw a single speci- men of P. cardui, although it was very abundant last year. Piers rape was less numerous and appears to be decreasing in numbers every year, largely owing, no doubt, to the attacks of the parasite Preromalus puparum. The birds also, especially the Fly-catchers, do not get full credit for the good work they do. Insects of all other orders seemed to be about as abundant as usual, and several species proved to be more than usually numerous and destructive. The Buffalo Tree-hopper ( Ceresa bubalus Say) was again very abun- dant, doing very much injury to apple and pear trees in young orchards, On July 5th I found some larch trees (Larix Americana) with the foliage very much destroyed by Saw-fly larvee, and on examining the trees in the woods and surrounding country, I found that they were all attacked. At this time most of the larve seemed to bea little more than half grown, and they continued to feed until about July 15th, when some of them made cocoons. Many of the trees were now entirely defoliated, and the branches and twigs literally covered with the larvae, many of which were drop- ping to the ground, and with the falling “ frass” made a sound like that of fast fallmg raindrops. Three days later (July 18) very few of the larve were to be found, most of them having formed cocoons among the old oa THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. leaves and debris, or in the loose surface soil at the base of the trees or in the vicinity. When collecting some of these cocoons on July roth, I found that very large numbers had already heen collected and the larve taken out by some small animals, probably mice and moles, as there was a perfect network of small burrows under the old leaves and grass. The empty cocoons were collected into little heaps, and a very large handful could often be gathered at a single grasp. : Having been kept in a moderately warm room, some of the imagines emerged from the cocoons on December 22nd, and continued to do so almost daily until January 17th of this year. The larvae, cocoons and imagines agreed exactly with the figures of Vematus Erichsonti (Hortig), in Prof. Riley’s report to the U. S. Department of Agriculture for 1883. I had noticed these larve on the larch trees in former years, but they were not so generally abundant, and I had not the oPPOnnnN to study them. . My father has: told me that about thirty years ago the tacaraile woods were entirely defoliated, and looked as though scorched by — fire, and he thinks that the saw-fly larvee were probably the cause. It — was more noticeable at that time, as there were large tracts of land covered with tamarack forest that have now entirely disappeared. Another insect has proved to be peculiarly injurious this season to young growing beans. It is a small dipterous fly, and specimens sent to Prof. Riley were determined by him as Anthomyia angustifrons, Mirgen (=A. coloptent, Riley), the larvae of which have been hitherto known to feed upon the eggs of Caloptenus. During the past summer the larve attacked a field of golden wax beans that were planted about June 15th, and on that part of the field that was most seriously injured, at least nine-tenths of the crop was destroy r About ten days after planting, as very few of the beans had grown to the surface of the ground, an examination was made for the cause, and it was found that nearly every bean was infected by from 1 or 2 to 20 or 25 small, long, white maggots. Some of the beans attacked had hardly sprouted, while most of them had grown from one to two inches, but being planted deeply, they had scarcely reached the surface. Both the stems and seed-leaves were attacked. These larvae were first noticed on June 25th; by the 28th many of them had pupated, and hardly a maggot could be found after July 2nd. The flies emerged THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 23 about July roth. If this bean-feeding habit of the insect should be- come general, it might prove very annoying. Grasshoppers of several species were very abundant and injurious, hundreds of bushels of grain having been destroyed by them, while pasture and grasses were much injured, and many young fruit trees were defoliated. Some farmers reported in early September that their buckwheat had been so devoured by grasshoppers that only the stumps of the stalks remained. Cicada canicularis Harr. was not so common this season as it has been some years. Females of the fall canker-worm moth (Azzsopteryx Os BE za) were taken depositing eggs on apple trees, Nov. 21-24. This insect is not common in our part of the country, and is not noticeably injurious. Larvae of the pear-tree slug (.Se/andria cerasi) were found as late as Oct. 30th, or later. They are not abundant and give us no trouble. The fall web-worm, Hyphantria textor, has become more abundant and troublesome during the past three or four years. Young larvae were first noticed July roth, and new lots continued to hatch until about the middle of August. : A fresh specimen of the cotton moth (A/etza xylina Say) was taken Sept. roth. - On July 12th, a large number of small parasitic flies emerged from a dead cut-worm (Noctuidae). These parasites are evidently the Copidosoma truncatellum Dalman, which is so well figured by Prof. Riley in his Re- port to the U.S. Dept. of Agr. for 1883. Early in December I took a living specimen of Cyrtophorus verrucosus Oliv. in the wood of wild red cherry (P. penusylvanica Linn.), and also found a large number of larve which I think were of the same species, as they occupied similar cavities to that of the beetle. The larvae of a Lepidopterous insect (probably A‘gerian) was a under the bark of the same tree. On Dec. 8th, a living pupa of Zremex columba was taken from the heart of a green beech log, the log being over ten inches in diameter. At the same time larvae of Saperda calcarata were taken from the heart of Populus tremuloides. 24 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. NOTES ON STAPHYLINIDA, BY C. H. T. TOWNSEND, CONSTANTINE, MICH. The following are some notes on a dozen of the more interesting species of Staphylinide which I have found in this vicinity. Two of the species, which will be duly given, were determined by M. iets All the others were identified by Dr. Horn. e Falagria dissecta Ex. Numbers of this almost minute species were — taken 8 Oct., 1884, in, on and under decaying and rain-soaked fragments of a large, reddish-tinged fungus growth, which I had previously plucked — and broken to pieces to obtain Phenolia grossa Fab. Homalota festinans Er. ‘This species was determined by M. Fauvel, to whom I sent specimens, together with one other species given farther on. Ten or twelve specimens were taken by me on an old board fence one still and sunny day in autumn, gth Nov., 1884. They were flying in the air, often alighting on the weather-beaten boards; and being quite — small and dark-colored, one would occasionally be detected only by the lustre of its wings in the sunlight. In the evening of the following day je : took a specimen, which I think is the same species, running over ae papers as I was writing by lamp-light. Quedius vernix Lec. This fine species is entirely of a high burnished jet black. I took two specimens gth Noy., 1884, under the soft, completely rotted remains of an old log in the woods. Both speci- mens lay perfectly motionless when they were disturbed, looking as though they were dead, but I recognized them, although they were black amongst black. , Philonthus brunneus Grav. I do not remember the conditions unde which the original specimens were found ; but they were probably tak a in decaying fungus. One specimen, which I am quite sure belongs to this species, I took 8th Oct., 1884, in the same pieces of decaying fungus with Falagria dissecta Er. oe Philonthus microphthalums Horn. ‘This is a rather small spe ide and was also taken 8th Oct. 1884, with /a/agria. Several pfaauet were found in the decaying pieces of fungus. Philonthus baltimorensis Grav. This’ very pie species, ‘with : polished black head and thorax and reddish elytra and abdomen, is ¢ THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 25 casionally taken flying in summer and autumn, as are so many of the Staphylinide. Philonthus _ apicalis Say. This is a very fine species, of a shining black with the tip of the abdomen dark reddish. Two specimens alighted on my clothes in the woods roth Oct., 1884 ; and while endeavoring to capture one, it emitted on my fingers a clear liquid having a strong smell which I cannot describe better than by saying that it was like a mixture of wintergreen and fungus essence. The odor lasted for some time, but in some unaccountable manner the Staphylinid disappeared. An hour or so afterward, in another part of the woods, a second specimen alighted on me, and this time I was more successful and captured it. It emitted the very same scent, and in this specimen it seemed to me that the scent was in the form of an essence or oil all over the body; as I could not find that the insect emitted it visibly, yet my fingers would be touched with it wherever I touched the insect. It was probably emitted as a clear liquid at first from the extremity of the abdomen, and afterward got over the body. Xantholinus cephalus Say. ‘This specimen I have elsewhere given as taken in one instance under the bark of a dead trunk of basswood in Oct. Cryptobium bicolor Grav. One taken on my clothes 2nd Oct., and another under a stone 8th Oct., 1884. Paederus littorarius Gray. This species I have taken in colonies in passages under the bark of dead stumps in Feb., and under dry rotten wood in Oct. Boletobius exoletus Er. ‘This is the other species kindly determined for me by M. Fauvel. It does not seem to be given in our lists. M. Fauvel writes me: “Le No. 2 est Bolitobius exoletus Er. (trinotatus Horn nec Er.)” It is given in Fowler and Matthews’ Cat. of Brit. Coleopt. (as is also ¢vinotatus Er.), and is consequently found in England. I took one specimen of this very pretty species 26th Aug., 1885, in a decaying ‘“ toad-stool” fungus. Olophrum obtectum Er. ‘The nomenclature of the U.S. species of this genus was formerly very mixed, but is straightened out satisfactorily now ; margimatum Makl. is now a synonym of marginatum Kirby, and convexicolle Lec. of rotundicolle Sahlb., while rotundicolle Say and emarginatum Say are synonyms of obtectum Er., the name now adopted for the species under consideration. Two specimens were taken 8th Oct., 1884, in the decaying pieces of fungus with Fadagria. I might mention that all the above genera are found in Europe; all GG x _ THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. except the last two (and very probably they also occur) ae eae NATURAL HISTORY NOTES ON CERTAIN COLEOPT No. I. : BY JOHN HAMILTON, M. D., ALLEGHENNY, PA, ments, and not disposed to be vicious ; it seems to be the same as | with which Batrisus bistriatus i is und ge in May), ee is A of the ant with which on alae occasions He found the same “bel Michigan in early spring. Lae | The beetles were on the under side of the stone aa among the ants, and taking alarm immediately on its _ ov could be captured. Dr. Leconte founded the genus on a single g dherr ee taken in ferred. Does C. monilis desert the ants in the spring to breed b bark during the summer and its offspring resort to the habitations c ( ants to spend the winter? It is on many lists, but, except in the # mentioned, has any one taken it elsewhere than with these There are a considerable number of beetles found in friendly as: with ants, especially in the spring, many of which are not re having been observed elsewhere ; but where their larval lives something entirely unknown, Some of them, in the spring, leave’ friends, like Cremastochilus canaliculatus, which may be .o a May till August alighting during the hottest sunshine on warm s dusty roads ; but whether all likewise leave is uncertain. The s THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 27 is made to those finding ants-nest-beetles to mount an ant with each, as it will add much to the interest and value of the collection. Eleusis pallidus Lec., seems to be rare. ‘The specimens from which Dr. Leconte described the species were found in ants’ nests ; but their oc- currence there was probably accidental, as their exceedingly thin, depressed form indicates a subcortical rather than a subterranean habitus- This summer I took a colony of over twenty under the decomposing bark - of a Balm of Gilead ( Populus candicans ), a near ally of the western cot- ton tree, under the bark of which another species, 4. fasciatus, is found abundantly. Cercus pennatus Murr., may be taken plentifully about the second week in May, on the blossoms of the Red Elder (Sambucus pubens ), and is seldom seen after it is out of bloom. It is mostly found on bushes growing in or near marshy places, those on dry situations yielding but few examples ; and from this it may be properly inferred that the larvze require a humid soil for their habitation. In the synoptic table in Dr. Horn’s revision, the club of the antennz is said to be bi-articulate; this, however, does not appear to be a very constant character, as the differ- ence in size between the ninth and tenth joint is in many specimens scarcely appreciable, especially in the males. Cucujus clavipes Fab. ‘The very depressed form of this well known beetle indicates, @ priorz, its subcortical habit, and no other has power to adapt its tastes to a greater variety of timber—locust, maple, oak, hickory, gum, buckeye, &c., are all alike to it. The larva do not eat the wood nor the bark, living apparently on the moisture existing between the two. They are elongate, much depressed, brownish yellow, and scarcely to be distinguished from those of Dendroides canadensis. Some time in Sep- tember, the larva having matured, constructs a circular cell from small particles of the decaying bark and wood, and in this completes its trans- formations before severe frost, but the beetle does not quit the cell till the following spring. I have never known any of these insects to be taken elsewhere than under bark, though they undoubtedly fly, being possessed of a good pair of wings. On the roth of October, 15 newly disclosed individuals and several pupae were taken under the bark of a gum log; the latter are depressed like the beetle, pale at first, the eyes, antennae and portions of the legs gradually changing to black, and the elytra be- coming red after disclosure. This insect is annual. Elater militaris Harr. is as rare as the preceding is common, though 28 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. it may eventually be discovered to be much more plentiful than her 1 fore, since collectors have been furnished with the data for its recognit by the publication of Dr. Leconte’s Synopsis of the genus (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., vol. 12). Till now it has been among a set of unfortunate beetles, with names in the catalogues and descriptions accessible to few. It may readily be confounded with Z. Zinteus, with which it is found, specimens of which occur with the apical black of the elytra more or k obsolete ; but it may always be distinguished by the epipleura bein; entirely black, whereas in /émtews the anterior half is conspicuously pale. The elytra are yellower than in /izteus, with the external and sutural mar- gins narrowly black and a little cloudiness at the apex in one of my two specimens. The antennae, besides having the second and third joi rounded and equal, scarcely exceed in length the thorax in the male, while in the female they are one third shorter. Nine specimens that T hay bo seen have the foregoing characteristics. , Elasmocerus terminatus Say, was obtained in Garve numbers from box of dead grape vines in May and June. These grape vines also - yielded a multitude of Phymatodes amoenus, some Neoclytus erythro- cephalus, Chariessa pilosa, Tenebrioides corticalis, besides other smaller species. The P. amoenus, which had nearly pulverized the vines, had mostly emerged before Z. terminatus appeared. On splitting the vine several of its pupae were found in galleries excavated by the larvae them- selves ; these were from four to six inches in length; the distal end ° packed with coarse fibre after the manner of the Cerambycans, and e other, towards which lay the head, with fine dust, leaving about an i of vacancy for the pupa. These, like the perfect insects, vary from to .50 inch in length. They are cylindrical, the abdomen smooth with projections or hooks, and having a greater diameter than the pz anterior ; color entirely pale, the emargination of the eyes and tip o abdomen first become dark, then the legs and wing pads; next the skin is cast, and in three or four days the head and thorax have changed to dark and the abdomen to red, and then the perfect it comes forth in quest of flowers and a mate, the time occupied transformation having been from ten to fourteen days. ‘ The vines contained the larvee of several species, but which prod this beetle was not certainly ascertained, though I strongly suspect have been one that was round, six-footed, .25 to .50 inch. in length, 1 with a very small retractile black head armed with short, strong m THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 29 bles; the legs stout, with one claw; the pro-legs well developed ; the segments gradually tapering from the seventh to the head, the others not varying much in diameter, except the last, which is tapering and terminated with two short black hooks ; the body has a few long stiff hairs. These larvee were taken in the act of excavating galleries similar to the ones in which the pupe of Z. terminatus were found. : Whether the larve are carnivorous is unknown, but they are certainly lignivorous, as the work of their burrows shows. The Cleridz are said to be parasitic in the larva state, but this species looks like an exception, as that much misapplied term is scarcely elastic enough to embrace a larva that is at the most only carnivorous. Xanthonia villosula Mels. Two forms at least are recognized in this species. The first is the typical, entirely brownish rufous, and usually taken on oak, especially white oak, in June and July ; it is so abundant and well known as to require no further notice. |The other is slightly larger, with the thorax a little less convex and more coarsely punctured ; the under sides except the legs are black ; the antennae, mouth parts and feet are always yellowish ; the head, thorax and elytra vary from ferrugin- ous through all degrees of cloudiness to deep black. Like the other form, in life they are densely coated with an amorphous white powder that gives them the appearance of having been dusted with flour, and is so fugitive as to be only imperfectly preserved by the most careful handling possible. This form appears to feed on hazel alone, though it may be taken on any bush in its vicinity. While perhaps not separable from the first form by any constant structural characters, yet for the benefit of collectors it might be well that it should as a color variety have a name. When color variations are in any way constant, they are as necessary in a complete cabinet as typical forms, and might be named and cata- logued with great advantage to collectors and no detriment to science. Nemognatha nemorensis Hentz. ‘This beetle has a wide range, ex- tending from the Atlantic to Colorado. It is probably not so rare as it seems to be, owing perhaps to the character of its food plant and its apparent resemblance to certain common and undesirable species of Lampyridz, both of which may cause it to be readily overlooked, I find it abundantly throughout July on two species of Rudbeckia growing in meadows bordered with woods (2. speciosa and R. hirta), which rarely yield any Coleoptera except Acmaecodera pulchella. The insects belong- ing to this genus and the next (Gwathium) are remarkable for having the 30 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGISY. Ue ar outer lobe of the maxillae greatly elongated, being in some species equal to the length of the body, and very slender. As seen in the cabinet these — ; lobes are widely separated, but in life they are closely approximated, forming a single nematoid appendage. In the present species this arrangement is admirably adapted to the character of the flowers on which they feed ; the florets of the Rudbeckias being very long and very com- pactly inserted on the disk, to reach the nectaries at their bases, just such an armature is required. The lobes of the maxillae are inserted closed and do not embrace the florets nor open and shut in feeding, but are moved up and down like a drill, the needle shifting around among the florets without being withdrawn ; but in what way the noplenaae ee conveyed to the mouth I could ate ascertain. ‘ The species of this genus are numerous west of the Misshasthie and it would be interesting to learn what species of flowers they frequent. — * NOTE ON ORYSSUS SAYI. BY W. HAGUE HARRINGTON, OTTAWA. The members of the genus Oryssus are apparently rare in Canada, and I was therefore much pleased to capture on the 2nd June a fine 2. Sayz. It was running up and down a telegraph pole (one of the new ones put up for the electric light wires), and had at first glance all the appear- ance of some small wasp (Crabronidee), searching fora suitable hole for its nest. Its movements were very quick, and its antennze vibrated rapidly. It was so alert and restless that my prospects of capturing it without a net seemed far from bright. However, the capture was made, and its — struggles in my cyanide bottle were brief. A few days laterItooka f upon one of the same poles, although in a different part of the city, and saw what appeared to be another of these insects fly away from higher up | the pole. On the 24th I secured another female, which was even more active — than the first, and which flew away and returned to the same place twice | before I effected its capture. This habit of flying away when disturbed and of returning, even from some distance, to the very spot left, is one which I have noticed in other species of Uroceride. The poles upon which the above specimens were taken are cedar, and it is more than | 3 probable that the insects had emerged from the poles, as many had very : numerous holes in them, apparently of Uroceridze as well as of Coleoptera, | THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. __ 51 ADDITIONS TO THE LIST OF CANADIAN LEPIDOPTERA. | BY J. ALSTON MOFFAT, HAMILTON, ONT. - But little attention seems to have been given to Micro-Lepidoptera by Canadian collectors hitherto, so. far as can be gathered from the _ printed lists, 83 names being all that could be reached when the latest one was published. It is certainly not for want of an abundance of material to work upon. I turned my attention to them specially last summer, and was quite surprised to find that so many different species could be obtained when sought for, considering that the season was a most unfavorable one for collecting generally, and no doubt affected them similarly. Mr. Fernald has kindly named the following 33 species for me, which I had in duplicate : ti Scoparia libella, Grote. 18, Cénectra xanthoides, Walk. 2. Botis terrealis, Fr. 1g. Amphisa discopunctana, Clem. 3. venalis, Gr. 20. Conchylis straminoides, Gr. 4. Cataclysta fulicalis, Clem. 21. Eccopsis permundana, Clem. 5. Paraponyx plenilinealis, Gr. 22, " concinnana, Clem. 6. Homophysa albolineata,G.-R. 23. 7 inornatana, Clem. 7. Ephestia interpunctella, Hub. 24. " Footiana, Fern. 8. Crambus sericinellus, Zell. 25. Penthina hebesana, Walk. Os " alboclavellus, Schl., 26. Sericoris agilana, Clem. var. _ 27. Paedisca transmissana, Walk, IO. " topiarius, Zell. 28. 1. Scudderiana, Clem. ey; " elegans, Clem. 29, Semasia formosana, Clem. DIES, " vulgivagellus, Clem. 30. Steganoptycha nubeculana, 13. Schoenobius longirostrellus,Cl. + Fern. MSS. 14. Cryptolechia tentoriferella, Cl. 31. Phoxopteris nubeculana, Clem. 15. Epigraphia eruditella, Gr. 32. Chimabacche _haustellata, 16. Pandennis lamprosana, Robs. Wlsm. 17. Lophoderus politana, Haw. 33- Gelechia roseosuffusella, Clem, There were several which I sent to him besides, that were new to him or unnamed in his collection. Of these 33, four are in the Canadian list Nos. 3, 4, 12 and 21. No. 4 is in the Society’s collection as C. annulalis Walk., which Mr. Fernald informs me is a South American species, and 21 is probably the Grapholitha permundana of the Society’s list. The conditions must be particularly favorable for the development of No. 4 at 32 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. é Ridgeway, I would suppose from the multitudes of them I saw there last ia summer. I found them amongst some walnut trees which were growing by the lake shore, on the line where the barren sand of the beach joined the vegetation of the field, and when the lower branches or grass was dis- turbed, they would rise in clouds. I have now in my collection 108 named species ; of these 58 have printed labels, leaving 25 labels yet unoccupied by me, and giving me 50 names new to the Canadian list, and I have 1? single specimens besides yet undetermined. TENTHREDO (?) DELTA, PROV. BY W. HAGUE HARRINGTON, OTTAWA. Among the Tenthredinidz captured by me during the past season was a good series of Zenthredo delta Prov, consisting of 12 females and 26 males. In pinning them I was frequently struck by the evident irregu- larity of the venation of the wings, and on a more careful examination of the specimens I find these irregularities to be both numerous and remark- able. No other species represented in my cabinet show any such divergencies from the typical form, except in rare instances. . Provancher describes the female (page 210, ‘‘Petite Faune Entomologique du Canada”) ° as having ¢wo discoidal cells in under wings, and Cresson (“ Trans. Am. ° Ent. Soc.,” vol. vili., page 44) as having one or two middle cells. One middle cell appears to be the rule, and any deviation therefrom to be an exception. Of my 12 specimens, 10 have ove middle cell each, one has two middle cells, and the other zone. The males are more uniform apparently in their venation, as none of my 26 specimens have middle ~ a cells in the under wings, thus agreeing with the description given by Cresson (loc. cit). Apart from the varying number of middle cells, the under wing of the females have the cells varying much in shape, especially the middle one, which ranges from a small triangular form to a large four- — sided (square or irregular) one. There are also occasionally small additional cells on the posterior margin. The most interesting variations are, however, to be observed in the anterior wings, and in this respect both sexes are nearly on a par; a female with ¢iree marginal cells is offset by a # with but ove. |The former has both wings symmetrical as regards the additional marginal cell, and in THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 33 having the outer submarginal partly divided, while in the second the right wing shows a portion of the cross-nervure, which is totally wanting in the left. A rudimentary, or incomplete, cross-nervure in the outer submarginal cell occurs in several specimens, and in one ¢ the third sub- marginal nervure is continued half-way across the cell below. Another male has the third submarginal cell divided into two cells by a cross-nervure, which nearly coincides with the second recurrent. The left wing of one specimen has the third submarginal nervure forked at the anterior end, so as to form a minute triangular areolet, which, on the opposite wing, is almost square, and gives from the lower outer corner a branch partly across the cell. | The outer submarginal cell is also in one instance partly divided longitudinally by a branch from the centre of the third submarginal nervure. The consideration of variations such as these specimens afford will indicate one of the difficulties which may attend the determination of a species (especially in the case of single insects) from descriptions, and the possibility of its being placed in a wrong genus and confounded with some species resembling it in color and markings. In a species whose wing-venation is evidently so unstable as that of the present insect, the specimens with additional complete or rudimentary cells appear to be reversions toward an earlier type, in which the wing-cells were more numerous. Another point in regard to the wings of this species is that the outer cells of the under wings of the male (in all my specimens) are closed, as in several of our species of Strongylogaster. This fact is not mentioned in the descriptions before quoted, and seems to me sufficient reason to question the propriety of placing the species in Tenthredo, from the members of which genus it also differs in general appearance, and to suggest the advisability of including it for the present in Strongylogaster, From the first tribe of this genus (as divided by Cresson) it seems to differ chiefly in having the lanceolate cell with a short, straight cross-line, instead of an oblique one. ‘That its true position in the family is some- what uncertain is evident from the fact that it was originally described as a species of Pachyprotasis, a genus much further removed from Tenthredo than is Strongylogaster. My specimens were all taken in the same locality—a swampy meadow margin, luxuriant in ferns, herbaceous plants and shrubs. The majority of them were taken during June and July. 34 THE CANADIAN. ENTOMOLOGIST, THE ENTOMOLOGY OF VANCOUVER ISLAND. NOTES ON SEVENTY-SIX SPECIES OF CICINDELIDH AND CARABIDA COLLECTED NEAR VICTORIA, VANCOUVER ISLAND. BY GEORGE W. TAYLOR, VICTORIA, B. C. The beetles enumerated below were all taken by myself in the neigh- bourhood of Victoria, Vancouver Island, during the past few seasons. Some of the larger species, especially the Colosomas, were captured under heaps of rubbish in my garden. The species of Omus and Cychrus and many others were found while searching for land shells under oak logs in the woods. Very many kinds too were found under stones, also during search for shells, while most of the rarer kinds were taken, accidentally I might say, while flying in the sunshine. | _ The number of specimens of Carabidae that could be collected here is very large, individuals being in fact far more numerous than I have ever seen them anywhere else, and I feel confident that a season’s careful working would almost double my present list of species, A large number (40 out of 78) of those I now record are new to the Canadian fauna, that is, as far as my knowledge of the same (which is based upon the Toronto Check List) goes, and some of these additions are very interesting ones. The correctness of the determinations is, I think, beyond question, all the types (except in the case of eleven species) having passed - through the hands of Mr. Ulke, of New York, who has been most kind and obliging in this matter. The remaining eleven species have been named for me by Dr, Horn, through the kind mediation of Mr. W. H, — Harrington, of Ottawa. I have added to the list two species taken on the mainland of British Columbia by Mr. James Fletcher (of Ottawa) in 1883, and very generously given to me. CICINDELID&. 1. Cicindela vulgaris Say, var. Not uncommon, but much less frequent than the next species. | 2. Cicindela r2-guttata Dej. The variety Oregona Lec. is the form occurring here. It is very common indeed. especially by the sea- oe side. I have another species of Cicindela not yet identified, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 35 £3. 14. I5. 16. os. 18, IQ. 20. . 21. CARABIDA. . Elaphrus Clairvilied Kirby. One specimen only, on 2oth August, 1882, near the margin of Green Mountain Swamp (Victoria). I have searched the locality on several other occasions, but have failed so far to procure another specimen. . Elaphrus riparius Linn. This widely distributed species is very abundant here. . Loricera ro-punctata Esch. Several specimens on different occasions, generally flying in the middle of the day. Notiophilus sylvaticus Esch. Not common. " nitens Lec. ‘Two only. A third species of Notiophilus is at present undetermined. . Nebria virescens Chaud. Several at different times. 1 Mannerheimit Fisch. A pair under seaweed on the beach: Leistus ferruginosus Mann. Not rare. Calosoma tepidum Lec. Not uncommon ; very variable in size. " calidum Fab. Several specimens of this fine beetle last spring. I have also three or four Calosomas which seem different from my type of ca/idum, but ‘have not yet submitted them to any authority. Carabus taedatus Fischer. Cominon under logs, etc. A few days ago I secured 20 or 30 in some holes that had been dug the day before for fencing posts. Cychrus marginatus Dej. Quite the commonest of our large _ Carabidae. | Cychrus angusticollis Fischer. Not so common as mavginatus, but by no means rare. Omus Dejeani Reiche, . Very common under logs, and often to be seen wandering over the roads, I suppose in search of prey. Omus Audouini Reiche. Not uncommon. Promecognathus crassus Lec. I took a couple under a stone in 1882, and this season I have seen two or three more. Dyschirius patruelis Lec. One specimen only. I have this year taken a considerable number of a species a little larger than this, but in other respects very similar. They were found running over the sands at Cadboro’ Bay. Dromius piceus Dej., var. guadricollis Lec, Several. Blechrus lucidus Lec. Very common under logs and stones. 36 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 22. Cymindis cribricollis Dej. One specimen only, 26th March, 1882. 23. Calathus Behrensii Mann. Very common near Victoria. 24. Platynus brunneomarginatus Mann. 28. Platynus Californicus Dej. 25. " guadratus Lec. 29. " corvus Lec. 26. M" subsericeus Lec. 30. i" fossiger Dej. 24. " sordens Kirby. | a5. " octocolus Mann. = guadripunctatus De}. Of the above species of Platynus, swdseviceus is very abundant under stones, drunneomarginatus is common in and under rotten logs, and corvus is fairly common. All the others are represented in my collection by single specimens, principally captured while flying in the sunshine. eee -ostichus orinomum Leach. Common. : 3. " lucublandus Say. Not rare. 34. " amethystinus Dej. Very common. 35. " validus De}. Very common, 800) an lustrans Lec. A large variety ; rare. 24, 1. Aerculaneus Mann. Not common. m 38. " crenicollis Lec. Common under logs on the banks of the River Colquitz, in one locality about five miles from Victoria. 39. Poecilus cursitor Lec. One only. 40. Holciophorus ater Dej. Not uncommon in rotten logs. This is the largest species of the order that I have yet taken here. It quickly destroys any other beetles that may be placed in the same box with it, though it does not appear to be nearly so savage an insect as are our two species of Omus. | 41. Amara subaenea Lec. Not common. 42. sp. Asmall species somewhat resembling erratica, but much smaller. It was returned by Mr. Ulke without a name, and is therefore presumably a new species. 43. Amara littoralis Zimm. Rare as far as I have observed, but probable commoner in suitable places. 44. Amara laevipennis Kirby. Not uncommon. 45. 1 Californica Dej. Rare. 46. 1 fallax Lec. Not common. 47. 1 obesa Say. _ Rare. | 48. 1 melanogastrica Dej. Common. ay - 49. 1 erratica Sturm. Common, Pe ee se THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 37 50. Chiaenius interruptus Horn. Not very uncommon in damp localities. 51. " harpalinus Esch. " " " " 52. Anisodactylus viridescens Lec. Not rare; color variable. 53: " semipunctatus Lec. _Common. oe piceus Meretr. Common. 5S. " Californicus Dej. Common. 56. Bradycellus nigrinus Dej. Not rare. Ee " Californicus Lec. Not rare. 58. Harpalus cautus Dej. Very common. 59. " rufimanus Lec. Very common, less so than the other two. 60. " somnolentus Dej. Very common. | 61. Stenolophus conjunctus Say. Common. 62. " limbalis, Lec. Common. 63. i" sp. ‘* Not named yet”—Ulke. Common. 64. Patrobus fossifrons Dej. Not uncommon under logs. 65. Bembidium mutatum Gemm. 71. Bembidium nigripes Kirby. 66. " sp. A. "2, " connivens Lec. 67. tt sp. B. ax " versicolor Lec. 68. " erasum Lec. 74. " sulcatum Lec. 69. " incrematum Lec. a> " conspersum Chd. 70. " tridescens Lec. 76. n paludosum Sturm. var. lacustre. _ All these species of Bembidium seem to be common except pa/u” dosum, of which species I have only taken one specimen, and I cannot recall the precise locality. Of the two unnamed species, Mr. Ulke in- _ formed me that he had specimens from other localities, but they were not yet described. _ The species determined for me by Dr. Horn are as follows: Nos. 1, 6, 9, 12, 23, 73, 74, 75, 76; and the two under-mentioned species, which are the ones alluded to at the commencement of this paper as having been taken on the mainland of B. C. by Mr. Fletcher. Cicindela imperfecta Lec. Opisthius Richardsoni Kirby. 38 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. NOTE ON AN INJURIOUS SAW-FLY LARVA. BY THE REV. THOS. W. FYLES, SOUTH QUEBEC. Length of larva, one and one-eighth inches ; breadth at widest part, three-sixteenths of an inch. The body flattened beneath, and slightly rounded above. _It is scalloped along the sides. The legs proper are long and projecting. The creature has the habit of twisting the last four or five segments to one side. | When disturbed it throws itself into the — usual attitude of a Nematus larva. Its general color is yellow—the head has an orange tinge. There are ten rows of black spots on the body—six rows along the back, one row on each side, and two rows underneath. The spots of the side rows are longer than the rest, and — are placed one on the fore part of each scallop. _In each of the rows on the back the spots run three to a segment. The last segment has no spots. The eyes of the larva are black, and the mandibles are capa The creature forms a rather loose, white cocoon. ay Swarms or this kind of larva fed on the white birch, in the neighbor- — hood of Quebec, during the month of September. They have all now gone into the cocoon stage. NOTES ON TENTHREDINIDA, 1885. ‘: BY W. HAGUE HARRINGTON, OTTAWA. Read at the Annual Meeting of the Ent. Soc. Ont. The earliest species which I noted during the past season, was the © common and obnoxious currant saw-fly, Mematus ventricosus, which appeared on 15th May. ‘Two days later I captured upon willow in bloom a specimen of Doderus collaris, and on the 21st and 22nd found D. aprilzs quite common on and about alders, with a few D. sericeus ? and D. ab- dominalis. By the 24th May the strawberry saw-fly, Hmphytus maculatus, — and the raspberry saw-fly, Sedandria rubi, were in considerable numbers, — and at the same time appeared several less well known species in fields — and woods, such as Hylotoma McCleay:. ‘This species I found again on 2nd June and subsequent days, upon the flowers of choke-cherry. Later — in the season specimens were found upon Spirea. Selandria flavipes — was captured on roth June, and was abundant during the season. It — “THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 39 could always be obtained by using a sweeping-net among the common fern, At the same time could be obtained in abundance upon the ferns _ greenish larvae which I have no doubt were those of that species. These larvae when full grown are about two-thirds of.aninch long. ‘The body is _ finely transversely wrinkled ; bright green above and whitish below. ‘The head has a brown patch on vertex and behind the eyes, which is reduced in some specimens to two dots on vertex and one behind each eye.’ By the middle of June the species were numerous, including Zenthredo ver- ticalis, T. rufopectus, M. flavicoxe, Pacilostoma albosectus, this rare insect being taken on 13th; and Zenthredo (2) delta, of which seven f were taken on 16th. Hickories suffered considerably during the latter part of the month from the larvae which I think to be those of Acordulecera dor- _salis, They are one-third of an inch long. The body is whitish, with _ green dorsal stripe, is slightly pubescent and has the lateral margins dilated. ‘The head is black and the thoracic feet are whitish. The ab- dominal feet are very minute. On the 24th I found several colonies of Nematus Erichsoniz on larches not far from’the line of the Canada _ Atlantic Ry., along which route the fly appears to have reached Ottawa. These I destroyed, with the exception of one brood, which I took home and which commenced to spin their cocoons on 2nd July. Two or three days later I found a few other broods of small larvae, and twigs bearing eggs which were also destroyed. On subsequent visits I found no further traces, and hope that I have checked the increase of the species in that locality for another year. On the 27th June I found cedars at Hull greatly infested with the larvae of an undetermined saw-fly. I have mis- laid a description of these larvae and have only the following brief note of four specimens taken the previous August: ‘Yellowish green, with darker undefined dorsal and lateral stripes ; black thoracic feet, eight pair abdominal feet, head ferrugineous, length 15 m.” It seems to be the species mentioned by Packard on page 257 “Insects Injurious to Forest and Shade Trees,” as Zophyrus abietis, but the larvae differ somewhat in color from those of that species taken upon spruce. I have always found the larvae of Lophyrus abietis captured on spruce comparatively easy to rear, but with those from the cedar I was unsuccessful. When placed in the breeding-jar, they left their food and clustered upon the side, and would only feed when the jar was wrapped up or placed in the dark, and they gradually died before spinning their cocoons. ‘The larvae of JV, similaris, the locust saw-fly, were common during the summer. An imago 40 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. was seen on 24th June, and a larva taken the same day spun its cocoom on the 30th. On 1st July, I noticed a young ash in front of a neighbor’s. house with its leaves badly eaten. It immediately struck me that this. might be the action of larvae of Se/andria barda, and on examination I found upon the under side of the leaves a number of large whitish larvae: corresponding to those described by Mr. Osborn (Can. ENT., vol. xvi.,. page 150). ‘They fed a few days longer and then went into the earth. During July larvae of various species were very plentiful, and in some instances the plants attacked by them were much defoliated. The flies. were also abundant and many species were captured, such as 7: verticalis, T. ventralis, T; basilaris, H. trisyllaba, and Emphytus tarsatus; the last is a large handsome insect resembling superficially the members of the genus Zenthredo. In August saw-flies diminished in numbers, but several species could still be obtained, and 4A//antus bastlaris was, as usual, com- mon on golden-rod, etc. About the middle of Sept. (12th?) a number of plants of turtle-head (Chelone glabra) were found. infested by the — larvae of some unknown species. These, unlike the majority of saw-fly larvae, were very pretty caterpillars, mottled, or marbled, with -velvety black and white, and with jet black heads. The same species has been found by me in July feeding upon meadow-rue ( Zhalictrum cornuti), but I have not succeeded in breeding it. A few larvae of other species were seen up to the first of October, but the repeated sharp frosts apparently caused them to disappear. My captures of saw-flies during the season. number altogether about 300 specimens, with perhaps one-fourth as many ‘species. Of these many are rare insects, while several species are yet. undetermined. CHRYSOMELA ELEGANS, ROGERS. Dear Sir: In the Society’s report for 1882, Mr. W. H. Harrington. states that he had found this species to be common at Ottawa, but had not. discovered its food plant. I find e/egans to be abundant in this neighbor- hood on Beggar Ticks, Bidens frondosa and &. cernua. There appears. to be two broods, if not more, as I have found them plentiful in June and again in August and September; the beetles of the last brood evidently hybernate, as I have taken stray specimens in early spring. The food. plant was kindly determined for me by Dr. J. B. McConnell. F. B. CAuLFIELD, Montreal, P.Q q The Canadian Entomolonist. VOL. XVIIL. LONDON, MARCH, 1886. No. 3 ON PHYSONOTA UNIPUNCTATA Say, AND ITS SUPPOSED es VARIETIES. BY F. B. CAULFEILD, MONTREAL, P. Q. As considerable doubt appears to exist with regard to the three species or races of Physonota described by Say, Randall, and Walsh and Riley, and as I had in former years found a species of this genus to be rather - common in the vicinity of Montreal, I endeavored during the past season to find it again, and, as far as my opportunities would permit, work up its life history. Early in May I made a careful search in the locality where I had previously found it, but at this date its food plant had not yet appeared above ground. I tried again in June, the time at which I had formerly taken the first brood. The food plant, Helianthus decapetalus, was now about two feet high, but the leaves were untouched, and to my great dis- appointment no beetles were found, as I particularly wished to ascertain the color of the early summer brood, as those which I had formerly taken at this season were of a bright goldcolor, quite different from those taken later in the year. This difference of color in the broods appears to - me to point to the conclusion that Physonota may possess the power of assuming different tints, as is the case with some other species of the family. On August 15th I found a colony of the beetles on the same plant, now in full flower. The beetles were all in the autumnal dress, ‘black and white, with testaceous margin. The species is undoubtedly that described by Walsh and Riley as P. guinguepunctata, which is, I think, a synonym of Aelianthi Randall. This author describes it as having the ‘elytra blackish, irregularly spotted with white, with a testaceous margin, losing its color after death, becoming nearly pale testaceous, except the three black spots on the thorax.” This agrees very well with the species found by me, except that they have a double spot close to the anterior margin of the thorax, but as this fades soon after 42 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. death to olive green, and in old specimens becomes almost imperceptible, while the three posterior spots retain their color, the term 5-punctata loses its significance. Indeed, on reading Dr. Hamilton’s remarks on the species in the CanapIAN Enromo.ocst, I examined some specimens - taken several years since, and came to the conclusion that they were Randall’s species. The description given by Walsh and Riley, American Entomologist and Botanist, vol. 2,:p. 4, has, I think, been taken from cabinet specimens, as they give it as ‘‘ more or less pale dull olive color, dotted with pale yellow. Z/orax with three black spots behind the middle. Before the middle black spot a double dark olive spot, composed of two trapezoidal spots transversely a1ranged, and not unfrequently more or less confluent with each other.” I have taken the beetle abundantly last summer, and bred a number from the larva, and all. mature specimens were pure black and white when living, but they fade soon after death, when they answer to the description given by Walsh and Riley, but in time the anterior spot almost entirely disappears. This double spot appears to be the only difference between Aelianthi and 5-punctata, and may perhaps have been overlooked by Randall ; there may, however, be a form with only three spots on the thorax, as described by him. All taken by me had the double spot, but in many it was confluent. I found the beetles to be very sluggish, none being observed spate about or feeding. Although living in communities, but one beetle was generally found on a leaf, and they appeared to prefer the leaves situated near the head of the plant. Along with the beetles I found a solitary larva, of which I took the following description: Body depressed, oblong oval. Length almost half an inch. General color dark olive green. Head black. Throax dull greenish yellow, lightest in front. Abdo- men dark olivé green, with three short yellow stripes on dorsal surface, the central stripe commencing nearest the thorax, thus, row of ten simple spines, the first short, black, the next three longer, black at base, central portion white, tip black, remaining spines short, black. Under surface pale olive green, terminal segments black. Legs pale olive green, feet black. When undisturbed this larva kept its tail curved over its back, but frequently altered the angle at which it was in- clined. When disturbed it jerked the tail forward and downward until it nearly touched the body. Both body and tail were wet with semifluid excreta, and when thus covered, the prongs of the tail and the lateral oie Tail — bifurcate, yellowish green at base, prongs black. Lateral’ surface with a vse Mea = bins abe NE, De rm > a aaa of Fa ae eee, en ae eS ae em Nagi ~ Less RAR at lores THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. aS spines would be easily overlooked. When placed in a box it soon lost its wet coat, when the form and color could be distinctly seen. It fed freely until the 23rd of August, when it rested quietly on the bottom of the box. _ The tail was now extended straight behind the body, and the larva was clean and dry. At this time, if disturbed, it raised the tail slightly, but did not otherwise move. I examined it every day, but noticed no change, On looking at it on the morning of the 27th August, it had changed to a. pupa. Length of pupa a little over a quarter of an inch. Form oval, sub-depressed. Thorax slightly wider than abdomen, margin of the thorax dilated. Disk of thorax with three black spots near posterior margin. A _ double green spot close to anterior margin, but not touching it. Dilated margin green; from the centre of the lateral margin a black line extends through the green a little way on the white. - Posterior margin edged with a narrow line of black. Abdomen immediately behind thorax, green, centre white, remainder of abdomen pale yellow. A row of five black spots close to lateral margin, centre with three interrupted transverse black lines. Elytra green, spotted with pale yellow, sutural margin - bordered with a narrow black line. Just behind the elytra, on the lateral margin of the abdomen, there is a slightly elevated, oblong, pale yellow spot, upon which is situated two very short white spines. On looking at it at noon on September rith, the beetle had apparently just emerged, as the elytra were, with the exception of the white spots, pale green and semi-transparent. The wings were not yet folded, extending beyond the body. At 6 p.m. the elytra had become much darker and were but slightly transparent, and the wings were now folded beneath the elytra. -On the 13th its colors were pure black and white. On the 24th of August I found a colony of eleven larvae, identical with the first one found, one beetle and one pupa. The latter was on a leaf which had been partly eaten by larvae; it was attached to the leaf by the posterior extremity, the larval skin being pushed behind and slightly beneath. It rested on the upper surface of the leaf, with the head pointing to the base of the leaf, and was partly concealed by the withered edges of the leaf, which were curled inwards. ‘This was the only pupa found, although I searched care- fully on several occasions, but as the food plant was abundant I may have overlooked them. Pysonota may perhaps leave the food plant before transforming, but this would not be in accordance with the habit of allied species, which usually attach themselves to the under surface of a leaf. _The specimens reared in confinement did not appear to be particular as'to 44 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, - —_ situation, some pupating on the bottom of the box, others beneath the lid, while others again attached themselves to the side, in every instance — producing a perfect beetle. The lot of larvae taken August 24th had all changed to pupa on September 8th. They began to emerge on Sentry 17th, and were all out on September zoth. On August 26th, I found a large colony of larvae and besa The larvae were of two sizes, some very small and others about full grown, but about the only noticeable difference, apart from size, was that in the young larvee the yellow markings were scarcely tobe seen. The small larvae had lately moulted, and the cast skins were on the leaves, showing that in this respect Physonota differs from Coftocycla and Cassida, the larvae of which slip the cast skins on the tail. Until nearly full grown, the larvae of Physonota are social, keeping together in compact groups, the heads in the centre, surrounded by a circle of uplifted tails, presenting a most curious appearance. When nearly full grown they separate and scatter over the plants. By most of the later writers on the insects in question, but one species is recognized, P. unipunctata Say. Prof. Riley, in the Supplement and Index to Missouri Reports, p. 53, says: ‘‘ Physonota guinguepunctata Walsh & Riley (Rep. ii., p. 59).—This is synonymous with Ph. unipunctata (Say), there being no question as to the specific identity of the two, both having been bred by Mr. F. H. Chittenden, of Ithaca, N. Y., from larvae on wild sunflower (Helianthus).” That P. guinguepunctata W. & R. is synonymous with P. helianthi Rand., is I believe correct, but its identity with P. unipunctata Say is I think still an ~ open question. With regard to this point Dr. Hamilton writes me: “ But even if they were so bred, it does not prove identity, because (if species) - both are found in the same vicinity, and may have mingled on the same plant. Besides it may have been /e/ianthi instead of unipunctata, since both*go by the same name.” . The records of these species appear to me to point to the conclusion ~ that they are distinct. Say describes his species as yellow, with the margin whitish. Dr. Hamilton, CAN. ENT., vol. xvi., p. 135, speaking of a colony of unipunctata found by him, states that all taken were of Say’s type, pale above with ove black spot on thorax. He also tells us that a few of the larvae were feeding with them, their colors bright yellow. As in all the Casside the colors change after death, I wrote to Dr. Hamilton, asking him what the color of the specimens found ,by him was in life. In answer he informed me that all taken by him were entirely pale, except the black. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 45 thoracic spot. From these accounts it would appear that there is con siderable difference between these forms, the larva and beetle of wnzpunc- tata being light in color, while Ze/ianthi is dark. With regard to food plants, so far as known e/ianthi is confined to sunflower (He/ianthus ). Randall says: ‘“ Many specimens of our species occurred at Farmington, near the margin of the Sandy River, on a species of Helianthus; a great many of these plants were almost wholly deprived of leaves by their _ ravages.” So far as I am aware, there is no authentic record of typical unzpunc- tata having been observed feeding on Helianthus. Unipunctata was taken by Dr. Hamilton feeding on mint, Wonarda fistulosa. We further informs us that they ‘‘ must havefed on the W/onarda from choice rather than necessity, because three species of He/ianthus grew with it and were not eaten by either larva or beetle.” Prof. Riley, American Entomologist and Botanist, vol. 1., p. 4, states that he has ‘“‘ observed the one-dotted _ Tortoise-beetle (Physonota unipunctata Say) feeding in the larval state upon a Sow-thistle (Soxchus).” Both forms seem. to be widely dis- tributed ; Say records unipunctata from Missouri; Dr. Hamilton records it from Allegheny, Pa., but states that it had no doubt been brought from ' some more northern region during the annual spring inundation. He/ianthi is recorded from Rock Island, IIl., by Walsh, or its var., guinguepunctata. Messrs. Hubbard & Schwarz record unzpunctata from the lower peninsula _ of Michigan, but do not state which form was taken. Montreal is the only Canadian locality from which I find Physonota recorded. In D’Ur- _ ban’s list of Montreal Coleoptera (Canadian Naturalist, vol. 4, p. 307) he gives Cassida unipunctata as common on the Mountain. This probably would be edianthi, as I have found it common on Montreal Mountain, but have never met with a typical specimen of unipunctata. : LT hope that entomologists will look out for these species during the coming season, and if successful, let the readers of the ENroMOLOGIST have the benefit of their observations. The food plant was kindly determined for me by Dr. J. B. McConnell, NOTE ON XIPHYDRIA ALBICORNIS. BY W. HAGUE HARRINGTON, OTTAWA. This species was abundant from the middle of June to the end of’ July, and I observed the females ovipositing on our shade trees (maple): 46 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. in various parts of the city. It appears to prefer trees which have been recently transplanted, and which are naturally not so vigorous as those which grow undisturbed. My next-door neighbor set out several young © trees, from one to two inches in diameter, and upon these I took several specimens. On the other hand, I observed them, beyond the city, Ovipositing in quite large and old maples, and even upon the limbs of an — old tree which had been broken and blown down. Thus, it appears, that the size of the tree does not make much difference to them, and that in the city they attack the smaller trees because they are less vigorous than those that have recovered from the effects of transplantation. ) PROTECTIVE COLORATION IN THE GENUS CICINDELA. BY C. H. T. TOWNSEND, CONSTANTINE, MICH, In the summer of 1884, while collecting the green tiger-beetles in the — woods, it struck me very forcibly how the Cicindele that inhabit such — places—sexguttata Fab. here, campestris Linn. in England, others else- where—are for the most part of a beautiful green, so as to assimilate in color with the surrounding vegetation and herbage among which they may alight ; while those that frequent the bare ground, banks, sand hills, sandy stretches, beaches, bars—vu/garis Say, repanda Dej., maritima Dej., and many others—are of the colors easily assimilative with those that surround them on the flats and stretches where they are found. Although those of the class first referred to often alight upon bare ground, it is mostly at such places as have been cleared by man (I am speaking of sexguttata Fab. now, this being the only species of a con- spicuous green that I have had the opportunity to observe in its native habitat), their original haunts being the fresh, green woods, where nearly ~ everything is clothed in greenness in its natural state. There they can Be hardly be distinguished when they are alighted, even though on a log, for the dazzling greenness of the forest at the time these insects appear fastens that color upon the eye, so that for the moment they become invisible, though you may be looking directly at them—invisible, certainly, so far as — recognition is related to invisibility ; every collector knows that it takes practice to distinguish these insects in their native haunts. Even though the surrounding vegetation is sparse, the effect is the same, _ This:arises : “j THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, . 47 from the liability of the mind to class everything green in the woods as belonging to vegetation, or, in other words, from our inherent tendency to ‘place animals or locomotive beings as different in color from plants. When, as is often the case, they are alighted on sandy banks in or near the woods, the effect is similar; the surrounding greenness makes them difficult of detection here, as wo as in Other spots, even away from woods, where they may be side by side with vegetation. The momentary invisi- bility which the insect therefore possesses gives it a chance to escape, if _ it chooses to make use of this chance. But as long as everything remains “quiet it seldom flies, trusting rather for protection to its habit of remaining _ perfectly motionless, combined with its similarity in color with surround- ings. In the natural state man is not its enemy, but its assimilative color- _ ation probably protects it in a great degree from its many known enemies among the birds and reptiles. : __A fine and rare English species, germanica Linn., which is said to _ frequent most a certain favored locality in the Isle of Wight (Black Gaug Chine), unlike most of the genus, prefers wet to dry places, and has a _ liking for brackish marshes.* It is of a beautiful rich green, and thus is _ enabled to escape observation amid the vegetation which thrives in such f oe _ Of the other class, our most common species, vv/garis Say, is as nearly invisible as an insect can well become by assimilation in color with its “surroundings. It is only the practiced eye that can distinguish it from the soil or sand upon which it alights ; for, in either case, those parts of a different color from the surface upon which the insect is resting will be mistaken for particles of foreign matter, giving the eye no chance to rest _uponform. I have often, before I became used to the practice, looked _ most carefully for a long time ‘when I had distinctly seen a specimen of _ this species alight, but without being able to distinguish it until it moved. _ A southern species, tortuosa Dej., which I have taken in Louisiana, _ has very little of the lighter markings upon it, but is nearly all of the sombre shade of the sandy mud flats over which it runs and flies. A fine western species, which I have taken in Kansas on the sand-bars of the Kansas River, at Lawrence, during low water in the summer months, is macra Lec. In this the markings have united so as to form an etched border to the elytra of just the light color of the fine sand of o, * Rye, British Beetles, p. 47-48. 48 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. the bars, so that it can hardly be detected where alighted, the darker an being easily taken for bits of drift-wood or pebbles. These notes being intended only as a mention of this interestihg sub- ject, I will not bring up any further species, for they will nearly all be found equally well adapted in this way to their surroundings. Species are to be found all over the world, many of which would furnish more interesting cases than the above. I might mention that I have lately received from — New Zealand two fine species, ¢wbércudata, Fabr., and parryi, White. In — the former the markings have united, while in the latter they have become somewhat indistinct, the elytra having a very thin and delicate appear- . ance, as indeed has the whole insect, leaving the markings not well de- fined. These species would be hard to detect alike in sandy places or on darker soils, though ¢uberculdata, Fabr., is better Bea to the see and parryi, White., to the latter. Many of the species differ from others in the number of the elytral markings ; but it is the base color that concerns us here, for it is this that makes the insects hard to discern from their natural surroundings, while the lighter markings help the effect. Thus those of the bright green woods have the base color of the same dazzling, brilliant green, while others have it of the duller color of the soils they frequent, or are con- siderable modified, as macra, L.ec., and the nearly related cuprascrus, Lec., puritana, Horn, waplert, Lec., and especially the two Mexican species figured by Schaupp, in his synopsis, * so as to have the markings unite, and, so far as the effect goes, take the place of the original background and themselves become the real base color, conforming more to the color of the white sand of the bars upon which they are found. It is noticeable that in all this variation the elytral markings, when they occur, keep the one creamy white color, however the base color may change. If the markings are united, becoming the base in effect, the other parts retain their dull color as before. In short, there is generally an irregular light — edging to the insect, often broken, which gives it an irregular outline, so that it will not readily assume form. Had we never observed these species in their natural habitat, this alone would prove to us that they were terrestrial in their habits. They do not take for ornament conspicuous colors upon conspicuous” -*°Schaupp, Synopsis of North America Cicindelida, Pl. III., figs. 85 and 86, | (From Bull, Bkl, Ent. Soc., vol. VI.) THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 49 parts. The under parts are generally of a deep green or bluish, irre- spective of the insect’s habitat. These colors do not show from - above. On this account many of the species seem to be more brightly colored beneath than above, except in such cases as _ afford the bright colors above a chance to assimilate with soils or foliage. _ Yet the upper parts are really the more richly colored in all the species, though they may not appear so to the causal eye. Here, in the coloration of the upper parts of the Czcinde/e, natural and sexual selection blend. They act together at the same time upon thc same parts. While sexual selection produces beautiful tints, natural selection takes care that none remain that will endanger the insects preservation by making it conspicu- ous in its retreats. In this way colors, which otherwise would be prominent, assume a general dull appearance, which will not arrest the eye. Life is of primary value, but so also is beauty to the perpetuation of the insect. While the upper parts retain the colors that will assimilate well with their surroundings, sexual selection has given them tints, which though in many cases seemingly dull to the eyes of man, are found under a high lens to consist of the most lovely bronzed, purplish and _ dazzling green reflections, in the entirety of which beauty the insects ap- pear to themselves by virtue of their far superior sight development. LARVA OF SEIRODONTA BILINEATA, Pack. BY G. H. FRENCH, CARBONDALE, ILL. Length 1.20 inches ; cylindrical, rather slender, two warty elevations on the dorsum of joints 5 and 12, elsewhere the piliferous spots. scarcely perceptible, except for the single hair that arises from each. Color green; a dorsal pale yellow line, bordered on each side on joints 3 and 4 by a purple line ; outside this a pale yellow stripe that diverges on joint 2, gradually diverging again on joints 4, 5 and 6, where it reaches below the usual region of the subdorsal line, extending from this back to joint 11, from which it gradually converges to the elevations on joint r2, touching - these on the outside, the diverging and converging referring to the stripes ‘on both sides of the body. These stripes send more or less prominent _ deflections down the sides of joints 7 and 10. In some examples the space between these stripes and the dorsal line contains a pale whitish stripe each side of the dorsal ; the deflections, and a little on joint 5 and 50 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. the elevations, are reddish purple. In other examples the whole space - between the lines, except four or five greenish patches, is reddish purple, — there being various intergrades. In all cases the purple is mottled. The sides are specked with purple ; stigmatal line yellow with traces of one above this. Head with a dark purple line each side, outside of which is a yellowish line. The larve from which this description was taken, 13 in all, were taken on a young elm tree September 29, 1884. By October 5th all but one had disappeared for the purpose of pupation, going beneath the sur- face of the dirt in the breeding cage. Nine imagines were produced the following spring, the times of emergence ranging from May 24th to June 7th. ‘There seems to be two broods in a season, for larvae were found on - elms during the early part of summer, but these were not reared to find - out the period of the summer brood. NOTES ON PAPILIO TURNUS AND PYRAMEIS CARDUL. | BY MRS. C. H. FERNALD. Previous to the summer of 1884, Papilio turnus and Pyrameis cardui had been quite rare in Orono, Me., and: vicinity, not more than half a dozen of the former and two or three of the latter having been seen each year ; but in June of that year P. turnus was so abundant that it was not ' uncommon to see a dozen or more flying together. In August of the same year fresh specimens of P. cardui were so abundant that in a small piece of red clover, not more than two rods from the house, I captured twenty-five in half an hour, and the numbers were not perceptibly dimin- ished. The next day they were equally abundant, but the following day — we had a cold rain storm, after which only a very few poor, faded ex- amples were seen. The next summer (1885) P. ¢urnus was again rare, — and not one example of P. cardui was seen by myself, nor by any one in this vicinity. Parasites might have made the difference in the number of - P. turnus, but could they have done so with that immense number of 7. cardut, or did that storm so effectually destroy them before laying their — eggs that there were none the next year, or is it possible that some epi- : demic attacked them, leaving none to perpetuate the race? We can understand the gradual increase and decrease of certain species which is — noticeable every year, but the sudden abundance and scarcity of some ae THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ol species is a subject of great interest, and one about which but very little is known at present. , I have in my possession a male Papilio turnus which has only two | wings. An examination shows that the hind wings are undeveloped ; on one side the membrane is pushed out and rounded at the end about as large as the head ofa pin, and on the other side the membrane is no longer, but is broader and somewhat flattened, showing plainly that the wings have not been broken off, but have never developed. This specimen was cap- tured on the wing, while hovering over lilac blossoms, and appeared to fly as well as perfect specimens. In the summer of 1884, I captured a male Papilio turnus which differs very much from any I have ever seen or read of. The outer half of the upper side of all the wings is black, except the row of yellow spots on the outer margin of the wings. These are round or nearly so, instead of elongated, and there are only six on the fore wings. The inner half of the fore wings is like the ordinary P. turnus, except that the two black streaks are united from the costa down about half their length. The under side of the fore wings is like the upper side, but slightly dusted with yellow. The under side of the hind wings has the blue extended nearly as far in as the black upon the outside, and, together with its black border, is very strongly curved or toothed towards the base. All the yellow on the wings is darker than on the common form, and the insect when flying looked more like a male P. asterias, except in size, than like a P. turnus. _ It was captured in ‘June on the bog where Chionobas jutta, Chryso- ” phanus epixanthe, and several other rare lepidoptera are found. NOTES ON CERESA BUBALUS, Say. BY JOHN G. JACK, CHATEAUGUAY BASIN, QUE., CAN. Read before the Montreal Branch Ent. Soc. of Ont., 9th Feb., 7886. ; - During the past two years, but more especially this season, we have > been very much troubled and annoyed by the attacks of the Buffalo Tree- hopper (C. dubalus Say) on the young trees in the orchard. Most of the trees have been seriously injured by having the bark cut up by the ovipositors of these insects, when depositing their eggs. These incisions 52 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIS‘. we Ns and the eggs in them were so numerous that in many cases it was impos- sible to raise the bark for the purpose of ‘‘budding” the trees. The incisions and eggs are usually most abundant on the south and the upper side of the limbs, comparatively few being found on the shady or under sides. ‘The first imagines were noticed in the orchard on July 16th, and a few days later they became quite abundant. On the young tender twigs of the apple trees, especially those nearest to the ground, large numbers of the insects were found busily extracting the juices with _ their slender beaks. Upon close examination the twigs plainly showed — the traces of their punctures. They were also very abundant on beans, potatoes and several kinds of weeds, in many cases completely covering the stems, and all engaged in feeding upon the juices of the plants. Bean-stalks that were attacked in this way were considerably injured, as numerous dark knotty formations occurred at the places that were much punctured, so that the growth of the plant was decidedly checked. The insect was first noticed depositing eggs about August 12th, and a few incisions were then to be found on the branches. This depositing of eggs continued until Oct. 8th, when a severe frost killed a great many’ of the tree-hoppers, although a few escaped and continued the work until Oct. 26th. After that date they were not noted. Some of the eggs of the season of 1884 were collected last spring and kept in a very tight box. They were hatched during the first week in June, and with them were a number of small Dipterous flies, evidently parasites upon the eggs of Ceresa. I watched for these parasites in the summer and autumn, and first found them August 31st, on limbs where the tree-hoppers were depositing eggs. The parasites were found in larger numbers a little later, and I had the satisfaction of distinctly seeing a number of them insert the abdomen and sometimes almost the entire body deeply into the gaping slits made by the ovipositors of the tree-hoppers. Prof. Riley thinks that the parasite may be an undescribed species. . As I did not know the best conditions or food for the young larvee of Ceresa, I placed them in a glass jar and gave them the tender twigs and — leaves of apple trees. From these they seemed to extract the juices, and — they could be seen in rows on the ribs of the leaves, with extended beaks, — while little particles of a clear gummy substance were often found at the — places where the insects had been sucking the juices. I afterwards added — bits of grasses, etc., to their food, but after some time they ceased feed- i oy = Ae a : es : a ae ce ay {HE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 53 ee ing, and finally they all died, none of them being more than half grown. _ This was about July 5th, and about this time I founda number of the _ larvee about some raspberry canes in a shady place, and on July 13th I _ took more of them among low juicy grasses and thistles, growing thickly in a cool, moist place, several rods from any trees of any kind. On July r 17th, nearly all these larve changed to the adult form. The larva becomes much elongated ’as it begins to cast the last en- velope, and one of them, noticed when just beginning the operation, took three hours to complete it. ‘The full grown larva is about 8 m.m. in length, and light green in color, somewhat lighter than that of the mature insect. The young larvee pa appeared to be of a darker green than they were at a later period of their growth. ‘The general shape is triangular, like that of the mature insect, but the broad horn-like projections are not seen in the larva, ‘The eyes are prominent. On the front of the elevated thorax, and behind each eye, are two short, strong spines, one above the other, armed with several lateral prongs or forks; higher up, near the apex of the triangular shaped _throax, are two more, somewhat larger armed spines, and the last two _visible thoracic segments are each provided with a pair of these branching spines that are still longer. There is also a pair of these spines, each armed with about 6 or 7 barbs, on each of the abdominal segments next to the terminal. . These are graduated in length, the shortest being on the last segments, and the longest hardly more than a millimeter in length. The thoracic spines project forwards, while those on the abdominal segments are drawn forward at the base and then curve back, strongly suggesting the dorsal fin of a fish. On the last segment, which is long and tapering, there are two short armed spines directly above the anal opening, which is terminal. The ventral surface of the abdomen is scatteringly covered with short, strong bristles or hairs. The legs are also covered with stiff hairs. The eggs, in batches of from 5 or 6 to a dozen (rarely more), are de- posited obliquely in the bark, and often the incision continues into the wood, if the bark is thin. In this way the bark and wood become " fastened together, and will not separate at any season, and the dark spots in the wood and the rough knotty bark bear evidences of the injuries for many years. The eggs are of a dirty transparent white, about 1.5 m.m. in length, _ smooth, slightly tapering, and sharply rounded towards the interior end, 54 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. - but tapering much more gradually at the exterior end. Although normally round, the sides are generally found to be more or less flattened by pressure from the tissues of the wood and bark of the tree. So numerous were these eggs on some trees that a careful estimate shows that there must be at least from six to eight hundred eggs in a section of the branches not more than an inch long and half an inch in diameter. I have not been able to find a remedy, and perhaps the best is to de- stroy as many of the egg-bearing limbs as possible. It is to be hoped that the little parasitic flies will increase, and this seems probable. On Sept. 17th I found 5 or 6 tree-hoppers ovipositing on a piece of branch — about 4 inches long, and on the same section were 12 or 15 of the parasitic flies. THE COLIAS CONTROVERSY. BY R. H. STRETCH, SAN FRANCISCO. It is to me a most distasteful task to take part publicly in the ‘“‘Colias” controversy between Mr. Edwards and Dr. Hagen, as I was an invited guest of Dr. Hagen on the trip to Washington Territory, where the events took place which have given rise to the discussion ; but in the interest of science, which seeks nothing but the truth, it seems as though the time had come when I ought to state in a concise manner what I know of the whole matter. I have been cut off from all my books for the last five months, while travelling from place to place, or this letter would have been written earlier. I did not know till quite recently the phase to which the controversy had arrived. Probably the best thing I can do is to state the manner in which our party was organized, and the manner in which our collecting was done. The party consisted of Dr. Hagen, and his assistant, Samuel Hen- shaw. In San Francisco I was invited to join it, and did so. Mr. Henshaw was a skillful coleopterist, a department of entomology of which I knew but little, so by mutual agreement I became practically the lepidopterist of the party, as he was the coleopterist, and we both collected such other groups of insects as came in our way. Purely sci- entific work, or mere collecting, was discouraged, as the party was an «Economic Entomological Expedition,” a fact repeated over and over again to the wonder-stricken pioneers of the, wilderness. THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 55 Our collecting appliances consisted of nets, envelopes, “ cyanide ” bottles and pill-boxes. Mr. Henshaw and myself each had a cyanide bottle. The collecting was practically done by Mr. Henshaw and myself, as Dr. Hagen was physically unable to enter into it, however much he might have wished to do so. Personally I collected everything in the _ “cyanide” bottle, except lepidoptera. These were transferred direct _ from the net to envelopes. Mr. Henshaw not only collected everything in the cyanide bottle, but not unfrequently placed his lepidoptera therein when he was out of envelopes, and would hand them to myself out of the bottle when we met. I have an unmistakeable recollection of this fact, and it was for this reason I dubbed it ‘ omnivorous.”* __ When collecting (I remember especially at Yakima City, where Colias was unusually common), I not only put into a single paper envelope specimens taken “in copula,” but also those playing together and taken with the same sweep of the net, so that the fact of being in the same envelope is not proof of copulation, in all cases, so far as I am concerned. ' When we reached camp after collecting, I used to prepare and num- ber the lepidoptera first, and then assisted Mr. Henshaw with the beetles — _and other insects, which were packed “en masse” in pill-boxes, the lat- ter labeled as were the envelopes with the number of the camp. During the trip there was entire harmony and free discussion between _ Mr. Henshaw and myself. I believe I am correct in adding that at that time none of the party knew exactly what species of Colias we were collecting. Now to the gist of the whole matter, which is a question as to the action of cyanide of potassium on the yellows of the genus Colias, and in ‘particular, on one individual specimen of this genus taken during our wanderings in Washington Territory. Now, although we discussed AZenapia, Machaon and Leto,+ I never heard of this “ cyanide changed Colias” until its discussion in the peri- odicals. To me it would have been of peculiar interest, as I happened _ to have suffered severely by the action of cyanide on yellow insects on a _ former occasion, when in Fresno County I collected several hundred yel- _ low marked hymenoptera in excessively hot weather (the bottle perspiring * See Papilio, iv., p. 170, for this expression. In Ent. Amer., i., p.. 119, Mr, Henshaw seems to object to the word ‘‘ omnivorous.”’ + Henshaw, paper before cited. 56 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. freely), and had them all transformed to a lot of brilliant red and black forms, mottled with unchanged yellow. Again, if it had been the initiation of a scientific experiment, so keen an observer as Dr. Hagen would surely not have been content with a single experiment, when Colias was common everywhere ; but having had his curiosity excited, would have prosecuted the investigation to its legitimate conclusion. Again, the statement that ‘‘the supposed change of color appeared after the specimen was dry,” is inconsistent with the action of cyanide of potassium on yellow insects, as the change is palpable while they are wet, if they change at all; and it almost involves the conclusion that the change was not discovered till months afterwards, as the specimen in question must certainly have been “enveloped” the same day, and the envelope remained unopened until it reached the Museum. In conclusion, I may say that for all scientific purposes this specimen should be ignored as having less than an infinitesimal value. Mr. Hen- shaw states the case exactly (Entom. Americana, vol..1, p. 119) when he says: ‘In regard to the Colias similar in color to Astraea, I have only to say that a yellow Colias recognized in the field as closely corresponding to, if not identical with others previously collected, was placed in a damp, freshly prepared cyanide bottle, and when taken from the bottle the hind wings were wet; the specimen was preserved and the facts noted at the express wish of Dr. Hagen.” Ihave never seen Dr. Hagen’s original - paper, so that I do not know at what point the particular Colias in ques-_ tion was taken, but the accidental breakage of Mr. Henshaw’s collecting bottle explains the preparation of a new one ; his habit of collecting lepi- doptera-in the same bottle with beetles explains why thé Colias happened ’ to be in the bottle, and it only remains for us to decide what insect went into the bottle, that is, what particular form. Mr. Henshaw says: ‘‘ Close to if not identical with others previously collected,” but as I find in my note-book, ‘July 4—Took very fine series of Colias (3 forms),” the question is evidently left open. It might have been either one of these or some other. Mr. Henshaw’s admission just quoted, with my own additions, give faithfully the history of the “specimen,” and show that — any scientific deductions based thereon rest on a most unsubstantial foundation. q San Francisco, Dec. 9, 1885. . THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 57 A MONOGRAPH OF THE APHIDID4#, BY JULES : LICHTENSTEIN, MONTPELLIER, FRANCE. BY J. T. MONELL, BONNE TERRE, MO. Judging by the first volume of this work, which I have lately received, it will prove of great value to American students of this difficult family. The first volume is illustrated by a number of finely colored plates, and Mr. Lichtenstein promises in his preface to use all such funds as he may obtain from subscribers to the work, in illustrating the second volume— thus practically making subscribers a present of the text. While the ~ monograph will deal more particularly with European species, many notes will be given comparing nearly allied American with European forms. _ Considering Mr. Lichtenstein’s eminence as an Entomologist, and the many years he has devoted to this family, this work can not fail to receive a hearty welcome from the Entomological public. DESCRIPTION OF A NEW CHALCID, PARASITIC ON . MANTIS CAROLINA, Say, BY WM. HH. ASHMEAD, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. Sub-fam., ToryMINA&. — Podagrion Spinola. PODAGRION MANTIS, N. sp. ¢. Length.15 inch; ovip., .14 inch. Dull metallic green, finely _ punctate and sparsely covered with short, whitish pubescence ; antennae and legs dull yellow ; flagellum brownish above, all coxze metallic green, _ sculptured, posterior ones large, tips of feet black. The posterior femora _ are greatly swollen as in the Chalcidinze, armed with about eight large teeth, brown at sides but brassy along upper surface, pubescent, tibize _ greatly curved; abdomen metallic green variegated with brown, com- pressed and ikaned as in the ichneumon genus Ophion ; wings hyaline, veins brown, marginal and post- marginal veins long, stigmal vein short, _ thick. 2 Described from one female specimen bred from egg mass of Mantis _ ¢arolina Say. This is an interesting discovery, and ue first species of the \ genus to be described in our fauna. 58 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, Dr. Mayr, in “ Die Europaischen Torymiden,” in a foot note gives the synonymns of this genus as follows : Podagrion Spinola. Ann. du Museum d’Hist. Nat., xvii, ch p. 147. Falmon Dalman. Vet. ac. Handl., 1825. Priomerus Walker. Ent. Mag. I., 1833, p. 118. Bactyrischion Costa. De quib. nov. Ins. Gen., 1857, p. 5, f. 4. Several species in this genus are known to science, and it is a remark- able fact that the habits of only one species are known, Podagrion ( Pal- mon) religiosus Westwood, and that that also should be parasitic on Mantis eggs (Mantis religiosus ). NOTES ON THE LARVA OF HARRISIMEMNA SEXGUTTATA, Harr. BY CHARLES F. GOODHUE, WEBSTER, N. H. During August and September the larvze of this fine moth are often seen feeding on the lilac. When full grown it is of peculiar shape and markings, and taken altogether, a hideous looking object, and one which few people besides an entomologist would care to have anything to do with. | Mature larva, 1.75 inches long. Head and adjoining segment black, segments 3 and 4 yellow with black points, segments 5, 6 and 7 are brown varied with white, and 8, 9 and 1o are white, 11, 12 and 13 are brownish black. It is deeply incised between the segments, and the abdominal feet are long, especially the first two pair. Segments 6 and 12 are much produced dorsally, being - very pointed ; this, together with the habit of arching the body between the _ anterior feet and the long abdominal ones, causes it to present a very — irregular and jagged outline. On the top of all the segments are a few rather long scattering hairs. : It has the peculiarity of retaining the cast off skin of the head and part of © second segment on these hairs, which are not shed with the rest of the — skin; first near the tip of the hairs the head case is small, a little below a this is another, andso on. We have quite often seen three of these cast off skins on a larva at one time. They will, if ever so slightly disturbed, raise the front part of the body back to the abdominal feet, and thresh it violently from side to side; in — fact, their heads shake nearly all the time, like a person with the palsy. _ a nes oi Sak Tk EERIE GRY Point = Saha. PUSSIES: peer eta tt Te ee er oe ape ee bd a NSS 5 Se Rene THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 59 Sas We had often tried to rear the larve, but always failed until we dis- --covered the cause. After they were full fed they would rove around the _ feed box, gnawing a little here and.there, but refusing to pupate, and finally died. A few years ago several larvee were discovered on a lilac bush where we _-could watch them daily ; when ready to pupate they left the leaves and went down the stalks until they found one that was dead and somewhat -decayed; here they bored round holes of the same diameter as their bodies, they wadded the chips up into round balls about the size of B. shot, as they took them out, and then dropped them to the ground. The holes extended into the stalk horizontally about .25 of an inch, and then -down about two inches ; when finished it was a perfect woodpecker’s hole in miniature. After the holes were made the larve entered them, but -whether they backed in or went in head first was not observed. It is pro- able that the former method was adopted, as the holes were so small it is scarcely possible that they could have turned after entering. They covered the opening with a thin parchment like silk, very near the color -of the bark on the stalk, so that the place was hardly observable ; in a few days the change to pupa takes place, and the moth comes out the next spring. Any one wishing to rear the larva of this moth can readily do _.so by putting some partly decayed sticks of lilac into the breeding cage. _ When they are full fed they will make their holes in the sticks as readily as ---when at liberty. CORRESPONDENCE. EXPLANATION. Dear Sir: In reference to an article by the Rev. Geo. W. Taylor, of Vancouver Island,in the December No. (1885) of the ENromoLocist, a few words in explanation of my connection with the matter seem to be in place. 3 In looking over the collection he sent me, in the usual way for identi- fication, I noted several species new to me, and I believed new to science. _ This opinion was shared in by the Toronto Entomologists to whom I showed them. Being in correspondence with M. L’Abbe Provancher, and _ believing him to be the best American authority on Northern Hymenop- _.tera, I mailed the lot to him, except about twenty species, about the identity of which there could be no doubt. Ina short time the box was 60 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, returned with a list of identifications and an explanatory note, in which the species found to be new were mentioned, with a statement that de- scriptions would appear in an early number of the ‘ Naturaliste.” The temporary suspension of the periodical doubtless prevented this. I do not now remember what information I gave as to the collector, but I see from M. L’Abbe’s note above referred to that he knew I did not own them, and that I had to return them to Vancouver. And if I remem- ber aright, the box and many of the specimens were labelled with Mr. Taylor’s name. At this time I was compiling a list of Canadian Hymenoptera on which I entered Mr. Taylor’s species, those undescribed being credited to Pro- vancher. This list was afterwards incorporated in a check list of Cana- dian insects published by the Natural History Society of Toronto, in the — preface of which Mr. Taylor is credited with a valuable contribution. Before returning the collection to Mr. Taylor, I submitted it to a ’ meeting of the Natural History Society, with M. L’Abbe’s identifications, and read a short paper on the group as compared with Ontario species. This paper I intended to enlarge and publish as soon as M. L’Abbe’s descriptions were available. The publication of the list by Mr. Taylor -took the matter out of my hands, and I considered I had nothing further — to do with it. What material M. L’Abbe had for his descriptions I do not know—doubtless quite ample—but all the Vancouver Island speci- mens he ever had from me were those sent to me by Mr. Taylor. W. Bropie,* Toronto, Ont. ——— Dear Sir: In the Can. Ent., xvii, p. 243, Mr. C. F. Goodhue describes the larva of Hemileuca mata Dru., and refers to the description. — of the larva in Morris’ Synopsis as the only one known to him. The — larva has been described and figured by Smith & Abbott, Ins. Ga., pl. 50, figuring the two forms; by Westwood, Ed. Dru., ii., 45 ; by Harris, Inj. 4 Ins. (Flint Ed.), p. 397 ; by Morris, Syn., p. 221; by Lintner, 23 Ann. Rep. State Cab. Nat. Hist., 1869, p. 153, giving a very full history ; and ~ by Riley, 5th Mo. Rept., 127-133, giving the complete life history with figures of egg masses, larva and imago, and noting very fully all color 4 variations of the larva. Spirea seems a new food plant, but both oak and. 7 willow are well established as such. Joun B. Smirn, National Museum, Washington, D. Ce Ghe Canadian Entomologist VOL. XVIIL LONDON, APRIL, 1886. _ Ko DESCRIPTION OF NEW SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES FOUND IN THE UNITED STATES. BY W. H. EDWARDS, COALBURGH, W. VA. 1: ARGYNNIS SEMIRAMIS. he Bos ipods about 2.3 inches. - Upper side bright fulvous, very little obscured at base; the black markings much as in Adzante, that is, slight on primaries, and still more so on secondaries, the spots on disk and to base being scarcely more than streaks. Under side of primaries cinnamon-red at base and along inner margin to median, the upper two median interspaces more or less buff in middle ; this red also crosses basal half of cell, and borders median to the arc ; the ‘remainder of cell and the discoidal and costal interspaces buff; a brown sub-apical patch, and hind margin brown; the sub-marginal crescents brown, and near apex lost in the ground ee from upper branch of “median containing imperfectly silvered spots, the others without silver ; ‘the two spots on the patch well silvered. Secondaries ferruginous- -brown from base to second row of spots, mot- ‘tled with a lighter shade ; in some examples there is more of the light, the deepest color being in and above cell; the band between .the two outer ows of spots quite clear, in color brownish buff; all the spots well sil- ered ; those of marginal Tow long and narrow, of second row mostly large ; ; so also of third row; all of these two rows edged slightly on basal side with black. Body above concolored with wings, the thorax somewhat brown, ‘beneath yellow-buff throughout ; legs same, the upper sides reddish ; palpi yellowish, red in front and at tip ; antenne black above, lebragaious below ; club black, ferruginous at tip. Female. —Expands about 3.7 inches. _ Upper side nearly same color as in male, the markings of same char- acter, sometimes almost obliterated on disks of secondaries, Under side 62 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. of primaries red over a large part of the wing, the upper outer corner — only of cell being buff; the spots well silvered, the submarginal being usually limited to upper half the wing, as in the male, but examples occur in which silver is found down to lower median nervule. Secondaries sometimes wholly fawn-color, except that the band has a tint only of yellow ; in other examples the ground is darker, more brown, — and the band is more distinct ; all spots well silvered, those of the outer row sub-crescent and broad, of second row mostly large, and egg: -shaped ; the spots are closely as in Coronis and Callippe. : From San Bernardino, California, taken by Mr. W. G. Wright. I have seen upwards of 30 examples of this species, male and female, and the characters are very constant. It is curious how the markings resemble ~ two such different species as Adiante (upper side) and Coronis ligne side). 2. ARGYNNIS CYPRIS. Male.—Expands 2.8 to 3 inches; size of Adcestis, which it closely resembles. Upper side bright fulvous, scarcely at all obscured by brown at base ; the black markings light ; both wings bordered by a double line, the submarginal lunules touching it only at apex of primaries; the round spots small; the mesial band of secondaries represented by narrow and — small crescents; the spot in cell more like figure 2 than letter S; fringes black at ends of nervules, yellowish in the interspaces. Under side of primaries nearly all cinnamon-red, only the upper outer : corner of cell and the interspaces next beyond being buff; apex and hind margin brown, the latter shading into the red of wing towards inner angle ; — the lower three or four submarginal spots sharply serrated, black, the rest is same brown as the margin, and not defined; these last only enclosing — spots which are imperfectly silvered ; on the sub-apical patch three well : silvered spots. Under side of secondaries light ferruginous-brown from base to farther { side the second row of spots, mottled a little with reddish buff; the mar- — gin and the shadows over the outer spots same brown ; the band reddish buff, much encroached on by the brown ground on either side, after the manner of Aphrodite, and more or less sprinkled with brown scales ; the spots rather small, and well-silvered ; the marginal row sub-triangular, sometimes broad, sometimes quite narrow ; the spots of second row mostly — egg-shaped ; and these as well as the next row are edged on basal sid THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 63 rather heavily with black ; a little silver at the junctions of the nervures at base, and along the shoulder and inner margins ; a small spot in cell in black ring. _ Body concolored with the wings, thorax somewhat brown ; beneath, ES abdomen yellow-buff, thorax same, but with many red hairs ; ies red on : upper sides, yellowish below ; palpi yellowish within, red without and at tp ; ; antenne black above, fulvous below ; club black, tip ferruginous. Female.—Expands 2.8 to 3 inches. Color less bright, over secondaries decidedly reddish next base and on disk, the bases much obscured ; the markings heavier ; the marginal lines on-both wings more or less confluent, and on primaries making a broad and solid border ; the spots on secondaries as in the male, the mesial band being broken into a series of separated crescents. ____ Under side of primaries fiery-red, the outer corner of cell and next y ‘jinterspaces yellow-buff ; the silver spots limited to fhe upper half wing, the _ serrations below these sharp and black. _ Secondaries deep ferruginous, mottled a little with reddish buff; the band encroached on as in the male ; ; the spots scarcely larger, and all well-silvered. _ Found from Arizona to Montana. Taken in Colorado in 1871 by ‘Mr. Mead ; by Mr. Morrison, in his trips to So. Colorado and to Arizona ; by Mr. Nash and Mr. Bruce in Colorado. It seems to be an abundant species in the latter State. From the time I received examples from Mr. Mead this form was a puzzle to me. It looked a good deal like Aphro- dite, but yet was considerably unlike the Atlantic Aphrodite. When Alcestis was separated, this Rocky Mountain form seemed still more like that, but was manifestly distinct from it. In 1884, I received eggs from _ Mr. Nash, Pueblo, Col., and the females that laid them. From these I bred the larvee and got three imagos, one male and two females, in 1885. I had not felt sure before that this form of male belonged to these females. The larve of Aphrodite and A/cestis I am well acquainted with. Both are brown-black when mature, with no other colors than what is present at the base of the tubercles, yellow or orange. In the present species the larvae showed marked differences from those mentioned before they were half grown, and the mature larva is quite another affair, largely ellow, mottled black and yellow. As I shall figure the species and these tages in Vol. 3, Butterflies N. A., now begun, I will not describe the preparatory stages here. This is the species by mistake spoken of as s 64. ‘HE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGISY?. FTalcyone in my letter to Professor Lintner, printed in Ent. Amer., 1, p. 213. Halcyone does not belong to the Aphrodite sub-group, but to that of Coronis. ‘The larve of Aphrodite and Alcestis, as well as of Cybele and /da/ia, will all be figured i in my Volume 3 ; and some other “me nids also for that matter. 3. MELITAEA WRIGHTII. Male.—Expands 1.3 inch. Upper side black, marked with fiery fulvous and ochre-yellow ; prim- aries have nearly all the cell red, in the example under view, sprinkled along median and at outer end with black scales ; the marginal spots from near apex to upper branch of median, four in number, are large, roundéd, the lowest one elongated, red, and the interspaces before each are red . between the two rows of yellow spots ; these spots of the first, or outer row, are all small, one to each interspace, and cross the wing, almost parallel with hind margin, but somewhat sinuous ; the second row crosses the wing beyond cell, is made up of large spots, the one of upper median interspace wanting ; a large spot of same color at outer end of cell, Sa another below. ; Secondaries black; a marginal series of large ochre-yellow rounded spots, a sub-marginal of small, and a third of elongated across the disk, besides four nearer base, all these ochre yellow ; fringes black at ends . * nervules, pale yellow in the interspaces. Under side of primaries red, the yellow spots repeated and elated the red marginal spots replaced by yellow, the one in upper satiee ite inter- space wanting, and the ground there being red. Secondaries black, nearly covered with ochre-yellow spots’ ; the mar- ginal series large, irregular in size, nearly all sub-quadrangular ; above these a row of small, round, on the black ground ; the discal siies much ~ longer than on upper side, and the last one is extended up inner margin — almost to base ; about base and in cell six x Spots cover nearly all init surt3 face. Body black, the rings of abdomen edged by yellow ; under “jae sa 4 low ; legs red; palpi yellow, red without and at tip ; antetinie black ; anaes black, ferruginous at tip and beneath. Female.—Expands 1.8 inch. Similar to male, the apex largely red in all the interspaces, aba ho. cell throughout ; the spots on both wings, both red and _ yellow, larger. oN 6 ce Mae, Rat a (HE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 65 From 1 male, 1 female, sent me by Mr. W. G. Wright, taken at San ernardino, flying with Zeanira. Mr. Wright had in all 2 males and 2 a the only examples observed by him. The species is nearest COLEOPTERA FOUND IN DEAD TRUNKS OF TILIA 7 AMERICANA L,, IN OCTOBER. BY. Hed TOWNSEND, CONS TANTINE: MICH. _ Having examined a good number of dead trunks of the basswood or “American linden, * 7Zidza Americana L., here this fall, I have found quite a list of Coleoptera in them either under as bark or in the decayed wood. ‘The following is the list, which embraces thirty-four species taken from 13th October to 3rd November, 1885. Some of the species are only of accidental occurrence in the trunks, but will be readily known, and are given to record them from this locality. The determinations are mostly by Dr. Horn :— Tachys nanus Gyll. Colonies or scattered individuals mixed with colonies of Si/vanus planatus Germ., or a themselves, under the bark of the less decayed trunks. | : _ Lachys flavicauda Say. One immature specimen by itself under the bark of a small decayed trunk, 17th October. -Pterostichus honestus Say. One or two specimens under some of the loose bark. _ Platynus sinuatus Dej. Several under the same bark with the pre- _Chlaenius circumcinctus Say. Remains of one specimen found un- es the bark of an aaa decayed trunk out in the water, by the edge of the river. -* Asa supplementary note to the trees of the main river district given in a previ- ous article (CAN. ENTOM, XVII.. p. 170), I would say that I omitted to mention the swood, which is one of the most prominent trees of the rich woods along the St. J seph River here, on account of its stately growth and straight, bare trunk, extend- ‘ing ‘upward, smooth often for more than half its height. The button-wood or Western plane tree, called also sycamore, is of the same district. GB: THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Xantholinus cephalus Say. One under the bark. Enchomus ventriculus Say. Taken singly under the bark. Silvanus planatus Germ. Numerous colonies under the bark of the : less decayed trunks. Cucujus clavipes Fab. Four fine imagos taken 13th October, under. the bark of a fallen trunk, one in an enclosure of borings formed on the inside surface of the bark, with pupal skin from which it had lately emerged beside it in the cell. On the inside of a strip of bark from an- other prostrate trunk, there were 18 or 20 of the empty cells in a continu- ous patch, where the beetles had transformed, six of these being in an exactly straight row, with their edges meeting in perfect regularity. Num- bers of the larvz under the bark of the trunks. Lemophileus pusillus Sch. One colony of about 25 individuals un- EY der the bark, 3rd November. Brontes dubius Fab. Two specimens taken at different times under the bark, 13th and 15th October. tober. Hister carolinus Payk. A solitary specimen under the bark, 3rd November. Tenebrioides castanea Melsh. A number taken under the bark of ae small, dry, decaying upright trunk, and an occasional specimen in other trunks. of the trunks, and, 13th October, one pupa. Of the four imagos, three show inequality of the elytra, one considerably, the two others slightly. Elater manipularis Cand. One specimen under the bark, 3rd No- — vember. Melanotus communis Gyll. Under the bark. | Buprestidae, \arve of one species. A number of small, flat, big: headed borers taken 15th October boring between the bark and the wood a of a rather sound trunk, one just beginning to decay, the bark being tight. : Cis chevrolatii Mellié. Two specimens taken 13th October, one on a a small, hard kind of fungus growing out of the bark, the other oan. the " bark. Alaus oculatus Linn. Four of the beetles taken in the decaying wood ~ Parandra brunnea Fab. Several dried a found under the Hister vernus Say. oy Gees) Rg a el Bens i ie INDEX TO VOLUWE XVIII, 243 Holland, Rev. W. J., article by, tor. Horn, Dr. Geo., article by, 119. Hulst, Rev. G. D., article by, 136. Harrisimemna sexguttata, notes on, 58. Hemiptera, Heteroptera, two new, 18. " n South Lousiana, 116. Hermileuca maia, 60. Hymenoptera, notes on, Ottawa, 68, Heemaris tenuis, 101. n _ thysbe, 102. Harpalus caliginosus, 160. n viduus, III. Hessian fly, 185. Homalota festinans, 24, Homophysa albolineata, 31, Hylotoma dulciaria, 189, " McCleayi, 38. Hyphantria textor, 23. Jack, J. G., articles by, 21, 51. Library pest, a new, 221, Lichenstein, monograph of Aphididz, 57. Lepidoptera, diurnal, notes on, 204, Lepidopterous larva, notes on, 124, Lomatina, monograph of N. A., 81. Lachnosterna fusca, 21. Largus succinctus, I17. Lasius alienus, 177. n integerrimus, 26, Lepisma, 180, " domestica, 224. um saccharina, 225. Leptochilus modestus, 84, . " transitus, 83. Libythea Bachmani, 163. Lophoderus politana, 31. Lophyrus albietis, 39. Lygus invitus, 204. monachus, n. sp., 208. Moffatt, J. A., articles by, 31, 76, 179, Monell, J. T., article by, 57. Moth, a rare, 180. n description of rare, 72. Muller, Dr., note on his work on S. Am, larvee of Nymphalidz, 200. Magdalis Lecontei, 115, Mallota posticata, 189. Mancia nana, n. sp., 159. Mantis carolina, 57. Melanotus communis, 176. " cribulosus, 176, Melitzea Wrightii, 64. Meromyza americanum, 176, Metapodius femoratus, 117. " granulosus, 116. Myrmis, 177. Neuroptera, highest elevation for in U. S., 178, Notes on insects of 1885, 21. Nematus Erichsonii, 22, 39. " ventricosus, 38, 177. Nemognatha nemorensis, 29. Neoclytus erythrocephalus, 28, Osborne, H., article by, 4. Obituary, 119. Oily specimens, cleaning, 78, Operations of a prehistoric beetle, 194. Oryssus Sayi, notes on, 30. Orthoptera, list of, taken at Montreal, 211. Oecanthus fasciatus, 79, " niveus, 79, Oenectra xanthroides, 31. Oeneis bore, 12. Oligotoma Westwoodi, 126, Olophrum obtectum, 25, Oncodocera leucoprocta, 87. " valida, 81, Oryssus Sayi, 30. Peabody, S. H., article by, 120, Provancher, L., article by, 120. Pairing butterflies in captivity, 17. Presentation, 240, Papilio turnus, notes on, 50. Phymatodes variabilis, 12. Physonota unipunctata, 41. Phytoptoceridium, a new, from N, A., 174. Plagiomimicus Richii, on, 99. Prionoxystus Robiniz, note on, 98, Protective coloration, 46, Ptinidz, on previous stages of, 153. Pyrameis cardui, notes on, 50. Peederus littorarius, 25. Peedisca Scudderiana, 31. 1 transmissiana, 31. Pandennis lamprosana, 31. Papilio ajax, 15, 140. 1 cresphontes, 16, 80. n palamedes, 15. " troilus, 15. nu turnus, 139. Parapomyx plenilinealis, 31. Pemphigus fraxinifolii, 194. Penthina hebesana, 31. Phasiane cinereata, n. sp., 75. n neptata, 75. 244 INDEX TO VOLUME XVIII. Philonthus apicalis, 25. " baltimorensis, 24. i" brunneus, 24. " microphthalmus, 24. Phlzosinus dentatus, 196. Phoxopteris nubeculana, 31. Phyciodes myrina, 17. " nycteis, 17. " tharos, 17. Phymatodes amcenus, 28, Physonota helianthi, 42. " quinquepunctata, 41. " unipunctata, 41, 117. Pieris rapze, 21, 184. Platysoma tibialis, 170. Podagrion mantis, 57. " religiosus, 58. Poecilostoma albosectus, 39. Polenta Tepperi, 99. Prionus imbricornis, 112. Pteromalus puparum, 21. Pyrameis cardui, 21. Quedius fulgidus, 111, "” peregrinus, IIT, " vernix, 24, Reed, E. B., articles by, 175, 183. Riley, Cy v article by, I9I. Retarded development, on, 8o. Rubber stoppers, experiment with in Camn- bridge Museum, I. Rheumaptera br. ‘inl aculata, n SPey 74 Saunders, Wm., resignation of Editorship by, 181. n annual address of, 184. Scndden S. H., article by, 194. Smith, J. B., article by, 60. Soule, Caroline G., article by, 121. Stretch, R. H., article by, 54. Strumberg, C. W., article by, 93. Satyrus charon, preparatory stages of, 88, Sawfly larva, notes on, 38. Scenopinus, on probable food of larva of, 73: Seridonta bilineata, note on, 49. Shaw, W. D., obituary notice of, 119. Smerinthus myops, notes on larva of, 207. Sphingide, list of North American, 126, " notes on U, S., Io!. " " Western, 189. " Prof. Fernald’s pamphlet on Ny. 120; Staphylinidz, notes on, 24. Staten Island Noctuide, 95. -Saperda calcarata, 23, Satyrus alope, 17. Scenopinus fenestralis, 73. " pallipes, 73. " senilis, 73. Scolytus rugulosus, 196. Scoparia libella, 31. Schcenobius longirostrellus, 31. Schyzoneura tessellata, 193. Selandria barda, 40. " cerasi, 23. " rubi, 38. Semasia formosana, 31. Semothisa sexpunctata, n. Spr, 75. Sericoris agilana, 31. Smerinthus geminatus, 206, Smycronyx griseus, 114. " tychoides, 114. Solenopsis fugax, 70, Sphecelodes floridensis, n. Sp., 137. Sphenophorus parvulus, 177. Sphinx Vancouverensis, 103. Spilosoma fuliginosa, 178, " rubricosa, 178. Steganoptycha nubiculana, 31. Stenocephalus Mexicanus, 19. Sylectra erycata, 96. Systema blanda, 177. Taylor, G. W., article by, 34. Townsend, C. H. T., articles by, 24; 46, 65, 79, 116, 160. Tenthredo delta, note on, 32. Tenthredinidz, notes on, 38. Tetracis wae es he preparatory stages of, 105. Tenebroides corticalis, 28, Termites, 228. Thysiodopteryx ephemerezeformis, 97. Tremex columba, 23. Trephleps insidiosus, 176. Triptogon occidentalis, 105. Tylenchus millefolii, 175, Underwood, L. M., article by, 4. : Uhler, P. R., article by, 208. Van Duzee, E. P., article by, 209. Vancouver Island, Entomology, 34. Willow, a food-plant of P. turnus, 139. Xyphydria albicornis, note on, 45. Xantholinus cephalus, 25. Xanthonia villosula, 29. " \ Np ae ey wee IE SN ONE SIE Pe ns star or anit a The Canadian entomologist C24 v.16-18 Biological] & Medica] © Serials PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY STOR: Yj yy Yyfy YY Yj So) SS 4} le ey é ye Ey, ge te Yes UW yyy ie ee, te Uy Ly Bef iY ysis Yi WEG aN Te Ss SS ~ ty Wy Yy yy yy YY es ys yy Yip Yi May of y Ge OEE, Uy Wy, Yi