Entomological News AND PROCEEDINGS OK THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION OF THE Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. VOLUME XIX, 1908. EDITOR : HENRY SKINNER, M. D. PHILIP P. CALVERT, Ph.D., Associate Editor. ADVISORY COMMITTEE : EZRA T. CRESSON HKNRY L. VIERECK J. A. <.. KI-1IN. PHILIP LAURENT WILLIAM J. FOX II. W. \V I PHILADELPHIA: ENTOMOLOGICAL ROOMS OK THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, LOGAN SQUARE. 1908. 2.027 3 J P. C. STOCKHAUSEN PRINTER 53-55 N. ?TH ST., PHILA., PA. JANUARY, 1908. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Vol. XIX. No. 1. Halter americana Cockerell. EDITOR : HENRY SKINNER, M. 1). PHILIP P. CALVERT, Ph.D., Associate Editor. EZRA T. CRKSSON. PHII.IP I.AURKNT. ADVISORY COMMITTEE: HKNRY L. VIKRKCK. J. A. G. RHHN. WILLIAM J. FOX. H. W. WENZEL. PHILADELPHIA: ENTOMOLOGICAL ROOMS «F THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, LOGAN SQUARE. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office at Second -Cl»i Milter ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Published monthly, excepting August and September, in charge of the Entomo- logical Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and the American Entomological Society. ANNUAL, SUBSCRIPTION, $1.OO TN ADVANCE. Outside of the United States and Canada, $1.20. SINGLE COPIES 15 CENTS Advertising Rates : 30 cents per square inch, single insertion ; a liberal discount on longer insertions. No advertisement taken for less than 60 cents — Cash in advance. ip&- All remittances should be addressed to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th and Race Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. Complete to end of Thirteenth Vol. (1906). A fine set, bound in morocco, with the exception of last two volumes. Price $50. for the set. FOB$iLE:- PHILIP LAURENT, 31 East Mt. Airy Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. A BUNCH OF RARE EXOTICS Teinopalpus itnperialis, $ $?-75 Amathnsia camadeva ... 1.25 Kalliina inachis 40 " albofasciata, cf 750., ? i.oo Papilio Paris .35 ' philoxenus, rtliopti.-r:i oi Raleigh, North Carolina i'> Smith — Notes on the larval habit- "f Culcx pcrturbans -•-• Wellman — Notes w- leaved cottonwood, the broad-leaved poplar, the Carolina pop- lar, and the balm of Gilead, for several years upon the \\V-tern Slope, in Colorado. I have noted the lou-e as -pecially numerous at Grand Junction, Delta, I'aoiiia and Montro-e. The white cottony secretion often tilU nearly all of the crevices in the bark and it remains throughout the year, hid the lice and their eggs. On June u;th. of last year, Mr. K. I'. Taylor told me finding one of the winged lice, and two days later I a a good number lodged upon Mr. Taylor's porch screen, tl being some badly infested balm of Gilead tree- in front the house. At this time e.i^s and young > Mr. Taylor noted the appearance of winged lice two weeks, when they disappeared f'-r the remainder of the summer. As fast as winded lice appeared they lel't the tiv but I have not been able to get any clue as to where the; 2 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 I attempted to get them to locate upon cottonwood twigs by inclosing them with twigs in a breeding cage, but without suc- cess. While it seems probable that the winged migrants establish new colonies somewhere, perhaps upon some different food plant, it is also certain, as in the case of Chcrmcs coloradcnsis, that some of the apterous females live over winter upon the trees, for bark which I removed January 29th, at Grand Junc- tion, was found to have living lice and some eggs. These eggs I was able to hatch in the laboratory, and the young established themselves upon cottonwood twigs that were furnished them and did well. When very numerous, the lice often cause rough, knot-like growths of trunk or branches, much as in the case of Scliizoncnra lauigcra of the apple. The Eggs. — The eggs are very pale straw yellow, much lighter than any of the Chermes eggs I have seen, and are .023 mm. in length by .014 mm. in width. The eggs are not attached but simply entangled by the cottony secretion. Young. — The newly hatched young are like the eggs in gen- eral color, with legs, antennae and distal end of the long beak dusky, and the eyes bright red. Adult Apterous Female. — The adult apterous females are also very light yellow in color, the older individuals being the darker. Large females measure approximately .8 mm. long by .6 mm. broad. The size and arrangement of the wax glands or plates are best indicated in the drawing, Plate I, Figs. D and E. The only plates showing on the ventral surface are the mar- ginal ones, while dorsally all the longitudinal rows extend continuously to the eighth abdominal segment. At least they can be so traced in some individuals. The beak is peculiar, in that it may be extended so as to attain, or even surpass, the tip of the abdomen, when it appears to be four-jointed. The rather long basal piece seems to serve as a tube into which the next joint, the real first joint, composed of seven or eight serial pieces, as shown in the figure, may be telescoped. The two distal joints are both quite short. From specimens taken Jnnr i')th, and December I2th, 1906, at Grand Junction. Winged Female. — Length of fore-wing, 3.50 to 3.75 mm. ; Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 3 I hind-wing, 2.35 to 2.75 mm. Length of body, \y2 to 2 mm. Antennae, 6-jointed, length, .8 mm. Joints i and 2, short and stout, the 2nd a little longer than broad ; 3rd, longest, equaling 4th and 5th together ; 5th, a trifle longer than 4th ; and 6th, distinctly longer than 5th. The proportions of the 4 distal joints are about as follows: 21, 9, n, 15. Total length of antenna a little less than one-half length of body. Compound eyes, ocelli, abdomen, tips of tarsi and antennae, and more or less of the thorax above, dusky to black, otherwise pale yellow. The anterior wing has a very distinct, though narrow, black line extending from the base along the subcostal nerve, but a little beneath it and terminating on the costal margin pngley \vill 1«">1. the collection which I sold Field Columlnan Museum. I think he will find a specimen of Scsia titan with lahel showing that it was taken at North Evauston, 111., a little farther north than Oak Park two examples of that species were taken there, hut 1>"th worn. ing that they had prohahly traveled fmm a warmer climate. J. SNYDER, Springfield, Idaho. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 Standards of the Number of Eggs Laid by Insects — VL* Being averages obtained by actual count of the combined eggs from twenty (20) depositions or masses. BY A. ARSENE GIRAULT. 7. CULEX RESTUANS THEOBALD. No. Date, 1907 No. counted per mass Successive totals Av. per egg mass ^ Max. Min. Range I July 12 244 244 244. 39' 2 tfOKU 298 542 271. 3 157 699 233- 157 4 278 977 288.5 5 July 20 391 I368 273.6 391 6 371 1739 289.8 7 265 2004 286.2 8 261 2265 283.1 9 July 29 283 2548 283.1 10 240 2788 278.8 IT 231 3019 2/4-4 12 256 3275 272.9 13 269 3544 272.6 14 July 30 25S 3802 271-5 15 229 4031 268.7 16 242 4273 267. J? 279 4552 265.8 18 July 31 258 4810 267.2 19 245 5055 266. 20 287 5342 267.1 159 20 5342 267.1 391 157 234 Finals The egg-masses were obtained at New Richmond, Ohio, during July, 1907, by exposing a large tub of water out of doors. Within a week afterwards, the water in the tub was literally alive with the young of restuans, and numerous egg- masses were found each morning floating on its surface. The great majority of the adults reared wrere captured and care- fully examined, but during the month no other species made its appearance. I am indebted to Mr. Frederick Knab, U. S. National Museum, for determination of the species. * For the first five of these series, see Ent. News, 1901, p. 305 ; 1904, p. 2-3 ; 1905, p. 167; 1906, p. 6 and 1907, p. 89. Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 5 Notes on the Tipultd Genus Dicranomyia. R. W. DOANE, Stanford University. TABLE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE SPECIES.* (Based on Osten Sacken's table in Mon. N. A. Dip. Ft. 4.) 1. Wings remarkably narrow, lanceolate longipennis Schum. Wings of the usual shape 2. 2. Tip of the auxiliary vein nearly opposite, or before, or only a short distance beyond the origin of the praefurca 3. Tip of the auxiliary vein a considerable distance beyond the origin of the praefurca 31. 3. ^The whole antennae, or at least their basal joints pale 4. The whole antennae black or brown 13. 4. Discal cell open 5. Discal cell closed . 7. 5. Thorax with a single brown stripe in the middle . . immodesta O. S. Thorax with three brown stripes 6. 6. Tip of the auxiliary vein nearly opposite or only a little before the origin of the praefurca gladiator O. S. Tip of the auxiliary vein a considerable distance before the origin of the praefurca cinerea Doane. 7. Flagellum of the antennae not infuscated pudica O. S. Flagellum of the antennae more or less infuscated 8. 8. Knob of the halteres infuscated 9. Knob of the halteres not infuscated n. 9. Subcostal cross-vein close to the tip of the auxiliary vein. citrina Doane. Subcostal cross-vein some distance from the tip of the auxiliary cross- vein . . . . 10. 10. Halteres pale, knobs infuscated ; abdomen brownish yellow. isabellina Doane. Halteres and abdomen infuscated diversa O. S. 11. Brownish markings along some of the veins and in some of the cells. mar mo rat a O. S. Wings hyaline 12. 12. Body yellowish fulva Doane. Body greenish . . . '. viridicans n. sp. 13. Discal cell (in normal specimens) open ; tip of the auxiliary vein con- siderably anterior to the origin of the praefurca ; the praefurca is about equal in length to the distance between the origin of the third vein and the small cross vein, or even shorter . . 14. Discal cell closed ; tip of the auxiliary vein nearly opposite the origin of the praefurca (or, when anterior or posterior, the distance is small) ; praefurca distinctly longer than the distance between the origin of the third vein and the small cross vein . . . 18. * I have not seen D. choi <\i Meiy.. and i .mnot in mi tin- drsi i i|iti. .11 |.l:u-r it m /'. ;v««.\/,i Berg, in the table. The latter is closely related to />. sinnilatt.-. Walk and I), du; Doane. 6 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 | 14. Rostrum and proboscis nearly as long as the head . rostrifera O. S. Rostrum and proboscis much shorter than the head 15. 15. Thorax brown floridana O. S. Thorax ochraceous 16. 16. Thorax with a single broad brown stripe ochracea Doane. Thorax with three brown stripes 17. 17. Stigma pale brevivena O. S. Stigma fuscous vnlgata Bery. 18. Thorax shining black, pleura with a silvery reflection. morioides O. S. Thorax brownish or grayish 19. 19. Femora with a narrow pale band at the tip 20. Femora without such a band 21. 20. Posterior margins of the segments of the abdomen lighter. badia Walk. Posterior margins of the segments of the abdomen not lighter. adjecta n. sp. 21. The distance between the tip of the auxiliary vein and the subcostal cross-vein is nearly or quite as long as the stigma 22. The distance between the tip of the auxiliary vein and the subcostal cross-vein is shorter than one-half the length of the stigma . 27. 22. Halteres unusually long 23. Halteres of usual length 24. 23. Thorax brown, stripes confluent halterata O. S. Thorax yellowish, three brown stripes particeps n. sp. 24. Thorax yellowish 25. Thorax brownish 26. 25. First segment of palpi yellow helva Doane. Palpi wholly brown gracilis Doane. 26. Thorax with a narrow median lighter line brunnea Doane. Thorax with yellowish or brown stripes distanas O. S. 27. The cross-vein separating the discal cell from the first basal cell is arcuated in such a manner that the inner end of the discal cell is but little more distant from the base of the wing than the inner end of the submarginal cell sulta O. S. This cross-vein not so arcuated 28. 28. Thorax gray with a brown stripe in the middle .... liberata O. S. Thorax brown or yellowish 29. 29. Thorax brownish with a brown stripe in the middle . haeretica O. S. Thorax brownish 30. 30. Stigma distinct stigmata Doane. Stigma indistinct monilifonnis Doane. 31. Wings immaculate 32. Wings spotted with brown 34. 32. No vestige of a stigma globothorax O. S. Stigma distinct 33. Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 33. Stigma brownish ; wings with a slight pubesence in the apical portion. pubipennis O. S. Stigma pale ; wings without pubesence cervina n. sp. 34. Wings brownish, three or four brown spots along the anterior mar- gin rara O. S. Wings with brown dots in all the cells 35. Markings on the wings intense ; lobes of the hypopygium rather elongated and deeply incised on the inner margin. simulans Walk. Markings on the wings less intense ; lobes of the hypopygium not in- cised duplicata Doane. Dicranomyia Viridicans n. sp.— Greenish ; head somewhat darker above ; palpi and antennae light brown ; first two segments of the latter much paler ; thorax and abdomen wholly brownish green ; the large lobes of the hypopygium bright- er green, their inner margins furnished with a strongly chitin- ized reddish three-pronged ap- pendage ; halters whitish ; legs greenish, femora somewhat lighter towards the base ; wings whitish hya- line ; stigma pale ; subcostal cross-vein near the tip of the auxiliaiy vein, which is opposite the origin of the praefurca ; veins greenish ; discal cell closed, three times as long as wide ; great cross-vein some distance be- fore the inner end of the discal cell. Length smm., wing 9 mm. Hab. — Stanford University, Cal. One male. Dicranomyia particeps n. sp.— Brownish yellow ; head yellowish, brownish above ; rostrum yellow ; palpi brown, first segment yellow ; an- tennae brown ; thorax yellow with three brown stripes above ; scutellum and metanotum grayish ; halteres long, brownish, yellowish at the base ; legs brownish, feet darker ; abdo- men brownish, yellowish below ; posterior margin of each segment lighter ; the tergum of the hypopy- gium somewhat tumid, with a very narrow median black line, pleura very much smaller than the tumid lobes ; upper valves of ovipositor slender, arcuated, lower valves stronger, almost straight ; wings long and narrow, hyaline ; auxiliary vein ending a short distance before the origin of the praefurca ; the distance of the subcostal cross-vein from the tip of the auxiliary vein about equal to the length of the praefurca ; stigrna faint brownish ; discal cell closed ; great cross:vein at its inner end. Length 6 mm., wing 7 mm. Hab.-- Key port, Wash. Nine males, six females. This species shares with haltcrata and adjccta the extra l«m- 8 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 halteres. From this latter it may be distinguished by the posi- tion of the subcostal cross-vein and from the former by the body being more yellow, wings narrower and in having three brown stripes on the thorax. In halterata the pleura of the hypopygium are quite as large as the lobes that are appended to them, while in particcps they are much smaller than the lobes. Dicranomyia adjecta n. sp. — Yellowish brown; head, rostrum, palpi and antennae darker brown; first three joints of the flagellum rather globu- lar, others more cylindrical, all distinctly pedicellate ; thorax yellowish brown; dorsal stripes faintly or not at all indicated; pleura yellowish, with a broad, brown band from the oollare to the base of the halteres; halteres long, infuscated ; coxae yellowish; legs tawny; extreme tip of the femora lighter; tarsi darker; abdomen brown, lighter below; basal lobes of hypopygium dark brown, lamella lighter brown; ovipositor ferruginous, blackish at the base; lower valves straight, rather heavy; upper valves more slender, slightly arcu- ated; wings hyaline; veins and stigma brown; auxiliary vein reaching a little beyond the origin of the praefurca, subcostal cross-vein at its tip; first longitudinal vein fading out a little beyond the marginal cross-vein before reaching the margin of the wing: discal cell closed. Length 7 mm., wing 9 mm. Hab. — Stanford University, Cal. Two males, two females. May at once be distinguished from halterata, which it re- sembles somewhat, by the position of the subcostal cross-vein. Dicranomsia cervina, n. sp. — Brown; head brownish, darker above; ros- trum yellow; palpi and antennae brown; thorax brownish, the dorsum with three darker browli stripes, the median one extending over the col- lare; scutullem and metanotum grayish brown; legs tawny, tarsi and the tips of the femora and tibise darker ; halteres whitish, infuscated toward the tips, knobs brown; abdomen brown, much lighter below; hypopygium yellowish brown; tergum but little swollen, pleura about as large as lobes, basal half yellowish, distal half brownish; ventral style strongly recurved at the tip; wings with a very light brown tinge; stigma pale, indistinct; tip of the auxiliary vein beyond the origin of the praefurca; distance of the subcostal cross-vein from the tip of the auxiliary vein equal to one-half the length of the praefurca; discal cell closed. Length 7 mm., wing 8 mm. Hab. — Stanford University, Cal. One male. Jan., *08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 9 I have the following species from localities not recorded in Aldrich's catalogue. D. longipennis Schum. N. H.; Wash. Not recorded from the Pacific coast heretofore. D. citrina Doane. Stanford Univ., Cal. D. immodesta O. S. Rigaud, Canada. D. padica O. S. Rigaud, Canada. D. liberata O. S. Pa.; Mass. D. halterata O. S. Stanford Univ., Cal.; Keyport, Wash. D. vulgata Berg. Wash. D. stigmata Doane. Stanford Univ. and San Mateo, Cal.; Keyport, Wash. D. marmorata O. S. Stanford Univ. and Pacific Grove, Cal.; Keyport, Wash. D. dnplicata Doane. Cold Springs, Col.; Pullman, Wash. The Inflation of Larvae, BY FRANK A. MERRICK. The growing interest in the breeding of I^epidoptera from the egg, working out life histories, or from the larvae to se- cure perfect and authentic imagoes for the collection, empha- sizes the importance of preserving the larvae for future com- parison. The advantages of inflated larvse over those that are pre- served in liquids are manifold, possibly the chief of which is the ability to pin each species in the cabinet with its imago, thus greatly enhancing the value of the collection. In taking up the inflation of larvse at the Merrick Museum a few weeks ago, we found that, so far as we could ascertain, the apparatus in use for that purpose, failed to meet the im- portant, I might say vital, factors required of such apparatus, which we assume to be — First, that the arrangement for infla- tion of the skin shall be susceptable of the most delicate ad- justment ; that it shall be instantly changeable to a greater or less pressure ; that the pressure shall be constant as to force, and automatic. Second, that the temperature of the oven shall be equally controllable by the operator, and that it shall be impossible to produce a heat that shall scorch the most del- icate skin, producing discoloration, or singe the hair of the 10 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 hairy forms. Third, economy of time. Fourth, economy in cost of making the apparatus. We at once proceeded to ex- periment with a view of devising a tank and oven that should meet these four requirement, and from old tin cans produced an oven and tank that, after Mr. Henry Engel has inflated hundreds of larvae, from the monstrous Samais (which we a, bottom section of tank 12 x iS in., half filled with water as shown ; «', tube leading- air to blowpipe; a", stopcock to shut air from blowpipe; a'", sockets to hold guide rod ; b, top section of tank n x 18 in. ; b' b', screw-eyes soldered to top of b to slide on guide rod b'" ; b" b", weights to regulate air pressure bv adding or removing; d'", guide rod, % in. round iron, to keep upper tank perpendicular in center of lower tank ; c, outer shell of oven 6 x 6 x 8 in. high ; c\ glass gauge tube, to show amount of water in boiler; c", blowpipe in position for drying larvae ; c'", inner shell of oven 4% x 4^ x 7 in. ; d, spring; clip to hold blowpipe ; d', tube % in., to fill boiler and allow escape of steam or vapor ; d" d", wire support to which clip is soldered ; d'", rubber tube % in. from tank to blow- pipe ; e, wire frame to support oyen ; f, alcohol lamp or gas jet to boil water ; .§-, block to support oven ; //, ring in blowpipe to clamp larvae ; i z', glass cover (made in two pieces) to •, ,/ver oven, allowing operator to see larvae and retain the heat. call the " Ox Roast ") to the tiniest Micro, has met all the re- quirements mentioned, not the least being economy of time. All the time required is for cleaning the larva and placing it on the blow pipe ; you can then turn your attention to other Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. II matters, and no harm will result if left in the oven an hour or two a day. We shall be pleased to furnish (free of cost) a sketch of our tank and oven in detail to those interested in the preservation of larvae, upon application, hoping thus to stimulate a more general interest in this very important branch of the study of lepidoptera. We shall be pleased to exchange inflated or live larvae with those interested during the coming season. Please address Merrick Museum, New Brighton, Pa. Annihilating the Codling Moth.* PROF. A. L. MELANDER, Pullman, Wash. To trace step by step the advances made in the fight against the codling moth is an instructive lesson of the importance of applied entomology. Here is a pest that for ages has rendered almost worthless a large percentage of the apples the farmer produced. The money loss to the community annually mounted to the millions of dollars, and before the clays of economic en- tomology there was no method of checking this enormous drain. Early study by the entomologist showed the tree-de- scending habits of the mature worm, and gave the hint of trap bands to be placed around the trunk. These bands trapped somewhat less than one-half of the worms, but did not protect one-half of the fruit crop. The discovery of Paris green and the invention of the spray pump added more to the crop, but the strength of the spray, the number of sprayings necessary, and the dates of their application had all to be determined by laborious experiment. In the early days of Paris green, scarcely forty years ago, it was considered an achievement to save sixty per cent, of the crop, even if a dozen sprayings were given. Further study of the moth's life history indicated that ti.iee or four sprayings properly timed were all that were needed. Experimental applications of various insecticides showed that arsenate of lead was superior to Paris green. The advent of * Contribution from the Zoological Laboratory of the State College of Washington. 12 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 high pressure power sprayers enabled the use of weaker sprays than had heretofore been thought desirable. By these various steps the savings mounted ; eighty per cent, became ninety per cent., and then ninety-five per cent., until two or three years ago even ninety-eight per cent, could be counted on. This past season in concluding a series of investigations on this pest that have been in progress for a number of years, the State Experiment Station of Washington eclipsed the record. Modern power sprayers, working at two hundred pounds pressure, forced a dilute spray into every flower cup. As fast as the worms entered the cups they were poisoned. The annihilation of the first brood of larvae was almost complete. In a seventeen-acre orchard that had 400,000 wormy apples in 1906, but 176 worms were taken from the band-straps this year, indicating that but four hundred worms escaped the first spraying. Even under the best conditions of reproduction the second brood in this orchard could not have exceeded eight thousand worms or eighty boxes of apples. But, as two other sprayings were given to poison the second brood the calculated eighty boxes were reduced to six, one-tenth of one per cent, of the crop. To give the two sprayings for the second brood cost $100, which was more than the increased saving amounted to. In other words, a single complete spraying is now considered all that need be necessary to suppress the codling moth, no matter how wormy the orchard previously was. This sentence must be read carefully, it means much more than simply spraying. It means thorough spraying, at a certain date and in a way that the fruit grower ten years ago did not dream of. The spraying must be given within a few days after blossoming time. A coarse spray is forcibly shot from Bordeaux nozzles only, drenching the tree through and through. Arsenate of lead alone is used one pound to fifty gallons, or in some of our tests even as weak as one pound to eighty gallons. The idea now is that the poison is better distributed when carried by much water thrown with great force than when used as the misty concentrated spray prevalent a few years ago. Another important point has been brought out, on which the success of Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 13 a single spray will largely depend. Previous experimenters have insisted on the necessity of spraying for the second brood if wormy orchards are near. We believe, however, that nor- mally the codling moth breeds generation after generation in a most restricted area, that it may even be said to have a home- tree. If, therefore, all the worms in an orchard be extermin- ated, the chance for outside re-infection under ordinary con- ditions is small. In the evolution of this fight against the codling moth, band- ing was first thought of. Then this was supplemented by spraying. The spraying became of most importance, and in time supplanted banding. In the development of spraying methods, the misty concentrated spray of the hand pump was replaced by high-pressure spraying, and the number of hap- hazard sprayings was continually cut down, until to-day we believe that a single spraying can be made completely effective if thorough and on time, the maximum saving at the minimum cost. Through the study of a few decades economic entomol- ogy has enabled the farmer to save his entire crop instead of losing all, — an unselfish investigation that has added an un- tellable measure to the world's good. I WOULD be glad to get material in the Noctuid genus Hoinoptcra and its allies from all parts of the country for study in the prepara- tion of a revision of this series. I will name and return specimens promptly, for the privilege of retaining such as may be needed in completing the work. — JOHN B. SMITH, New Brunswick, X. J. TELEA POLYPHEMUS. — This moth is quite common in California. The preferred food plant appears to be the Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), a non-deciduous tree. For this reason it would be of little advantage for the pupa to fall. The foliage of the Live Oak is dense and detection of the cocoon is difficult. T have never known any other than attached cocoons from this locality. I have found several which were attached by a short silken pedicle similar to that of promctlica, In one instance this stalk was about an inch and three quarters in length. A similar case of such a specialization is described by Grote in the Proceedings American Philosophical Society. Vol. XTI, 401, 1902. Besides Quercus, the larva feeds on Rosa, Primus and others. Polyphe- mus is badly parasitized here by ichneumonid, tachinid, and braconid flies. — KARL R. COOLIDGE. 14 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 A new Eriocrania (Lepidoptera) from the Pacific Coast. BY FRANCIS X. WILLIAMS, San Francisco, Cal. (Plate III In early March, 1905, I had the good fortune to capture several examples of an Eriocrania (Eriocephala) , which Mr. Busck, of the U. S. National Museum, pronounces to be a new species. The specimens, ten in all, were caught at the base of Mt. Tamalpais, in Marin County, in a small grove of oaks (Qucrcns agrifolia}. They were in good condition and cap- tured rather early in the morning, being disturbed from the trunks of trees. Their flight is rather weak, but hard to follow on account of the small size of the insect. When taken they sometimes feign death, as is often the case in Hepialns, folding their wings like a caddis-fly. Five of the specimens were dissected for anatomical study and another was accidently destroyed, leaving four specimens in TOod condition. Eriocrania cyanosparsella n. sp. Head covered with coarse, light gray hair; antennae dark golden, more than half the length of the primaries. Primaries metallic golden with purplish patches showing rusty golden in some lights, and forming three rather irregular oblique bands across the wing, the outer ex- tending across the base of the outer third of the wing and having a short, interior parallel band at the outer angle, the middle band diffusing costally, and being the plainest of the three; the inner band in the basal third most evident at the costa, its lower half broken and represented by one patch on the inner margin. Purple patches scattered about the apex, along the outer margin, and basally on the costa. All purple showing cyanous blue scales in certain lights. Secondaries golden, becoming translucent towards the base, outer half purplish, especially apically. A strong rusty, golden tinge is probably faded purple. Blue scales sometimes reflected. Fringes pale metallic gray, golden at their outer half on the primaries. Body more than half as long as primaries, covered with long, light gray hair. Legs elongate and spurred. Expanse 11.60 mm. Type I $ ; Cotypes 35 $ , in the collection of the author. There is some variation in the intensity and arrangement of the bands on the primaries, these being heavier in some and more numerous or less in others, but they agree with the type in fundamental pattern. The expanse varies from 10 to 14 mm. The mouth-parts and wing venation illustrated on the plate, show well the primitive character of the Micro ptcrygidcc. ENT. NEWS, VOL. XIX. PI. II. ERIOCRAIMIA CYANOSPARSELLA N. SP. Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 15 The somewhat spatulate labrum is well chitinized for its basal half, especially laterally, and bears a number of slender scales removed in the figure, which shows the cavities into which these scales fitted. The distal portion of the organ strongly suggests an epipharynx, which, however, arises from the underside of the labrum, and is fused with the latter for some distance. The weak and functionless mandibles are partly concealed by the labrum. The maxillae have the elongate curved lacinia well developed and are probably not altogether functionless, and represent the primitive proboscis. The galea is furnished with a heavily chitinized dorsal ridge. The stipes and cardo are represented by the unjointed basal portion of the maxilla. The elongate, six-jointed maxillary palpus has an unnatural curve in the figure and should be recurved from its middle un- der the head. The labium has the mentum subquadrate, and the submentum bifurcate, and bears long, slender scales. The palpus termi- nates in a curious structure almost apically situated. This is represented in Fig. 6 and consists of a rather oval pit from which arise a number of clavate hairs, probably having an olfactory function. The venation is shown in Fig. 7, where it will be noticed that the jugum is quite large, and that in the fore-wing the radius is six-branched. A curious flap-like organ, possibly a secondary sexual character, is situated on each side of the sternum of segment 4 of the abdomen. EXPLANATION OF PLATE II. Fig. I. Labrum, rakeley again began work. I had discussed the matter with him and had suggested that the insect must be attached, some- how, to some object, vegetable or animal, in such a way as to keep it permanently submerged ; and so water plants were first examined, without result. Finally, on September 2ist, an entire bunch of grass was taken up from the bottom, mud and all, and was washed out in a large beaker and graduate. From this several larvae in the second and third stage were obtained and sent to me. The clue was now in hand, and Mr. Grossbeck was sent to Trenton, September 2/th, and in two hours he had over forty larva?, ranging from stages 2 to 4, and we knew just where the insects were found. Sections of sod from the swamp were brought into the Laboratory and placed in large battery jars, and soon we had over 100 larvae under observation. Briefly stated, the larva of perturbans lives in swamp areas, densely grass and reed-covered, some two to four inches below the bottom surface, and attached by the anal siphon to the roots of grasses which have a very open vascular texture. They can only be obtained by getting the net under the tufts of grass roots and scooping about, so as to dislodge the attached larvae. Judging from our experience the infested areas must be cov- ered by at least four inches of water, and when the water gets a foot deep and more open, no more larvae are found. It is the grass-root system and not the mud that is sought, as I demonstrated at Lahaway early in November. Here the pool where Mr. Grossbeck had collected the eggs had become much deeper from late rains, and the mass of bottom vegetation had separated and was floating about 6 inches from the bottom. It was possible to break through the sod so as to get beneath it, and with a small net, to scoop along the bottom of the root- mass and from these roots I secured from one to five specimens in every trial made ; but from the mud in the bottom I obtained nothing. The life cycle of this peculiar species is not yet complete, as the pupa has not been found ; but enough is known to make 24 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., 'o8 it certain that there is only one annual brood and that hiberna- tion is in the larval stage. Mr. Grossbeck has prepared the following description of the larva ready for hibernation and apparently in the last stage, though probably not quite full grown. The illustrations will supplement the description. Description of the larva (PI. IV, Fig. i) : Length, 6 to 7.5 mm. = .24 to .30 of an inch from head to end of ninth abdominal segment. It is a robust wriggler resembling in life the larva of Culex jamaicensis. In color it is white tinged with a clear transparent green which is of ten. the predominating hue. The head is pale brown, much broader than long, rounded in front and flat at the sides ; four large and four small tufts of hair arise from the vertex, two of the large ones of 6 or 7 hairs each from the central portion, between which the four small tufts are situated, and one of 10 or n hairs near the base of each antenna. Of the small tufts the anterior pair are each composed of 6 hairs, the posterior pair of 7 each. There is also another pair of moderate sized hair tufts near the base of the head just below and inward of the eyes; these are composed of five hairs each. The eyes are remarkably small, black, and placed far down on the sides of the head. The antenna (Figs. 3 and 4) is very long and somewhat filamentous, infuscated at basal third and almost colorless beyond ; a large tuft of 18 to 20 long hairs arises from an offset at the basal third and from this point the shaft is continued for some little distance apparently as a thickened side of a hollow tube which is open on one side to the apex of the main shaft; this apex is terminated by two long needle-like spines and the filamentous process has at its end a very small articulated spine. The mentum (Fig. 5) is triangular in form with a deeply excavated base and six large teeth on each side of an apical one besides a small tooth which is sometimes present near the base. The mandible (Fig. 6) presents much the appearance of that of the ordinary Culcx (sens, lat.) type but has three curved dorsal spines and the teeth are small and situated some distance back from the apex. The maxillary palpus (Fig. 7) offers little that is peculiar, but the subapical spine is exceptionally long and blade-like and the basal process is rather small with curved apical teeth. The thorax and abdomen are normal in form, the former with the usual number and location of long hair tufts ; but the abdomen has only one tuft, of two hairs on each side of the first segment, the fol- lowing five each having but a single* long lateral hair, while segments 7 and 8 have none except the several short hairs which are common to all segments. The eighth segment bears the lateral patches of scales, KNT. NEWS, VOL. XIX. PI. IV CULEX PERTURBANS Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 25 each of which is composed of from 12 to 16 scales, arranged in an irregular, partly double row. The individual scale (Fig. 10) is lanceo- late with a long apical spine and fringes of small spines at the sides. The ninth segment is somewhat variable in length, but is always longer than broad and is completely encircled by a light brown chitinous ring. The ventral brush is normal, but the dorsal hair tufts are four in number instead of the usual two. The anal gills are slightly longer than the width of the ninth segment and are supplied with obvious trachea. The breathing tube (Figs. 8 and 9) is a highly -complex organ representing an extreme modification of the ordinary anal siphon. In color it is pale brown with the extreme base and apical half strongly infuscated. From a dorsal aspect (Fig. 9) it is bottle shaped* with the basal half greatly dilated. From the side the apical half curves slightly dorsally and two long blade-like spines arises from large papillse situated on a distinct dorsal offset. The constricted portion of the tube is provided within with projecting flaps which appear to hold the inner chitinous tube in position. The apex of each lateral set of flaps is furnished with six horizontally extended hooks. The inner tube, to which the tracheae are attached at its base, is a compli- cated structure in itself, being composed of several distinct pieces. A small elongate piece forms the ventral wall while another much larger piece extends curvedly from one edge to the other. From the apex of the tube thus formed extend two small tubular structures terminated at their apices by an articulated, irregular, corneous piece which, by the action of the long, somewhat chitinous piece coming from the interior of the eighth abdominal segment is capable of being thrust for- ward and horizontally outward. Another separate little piece on the dorsal side of the main inner tube has a serrated edge which is plainly seen from a side view of the entire siphon. EXPLANATION OF PLATES. PLATE III. Fig. i, egg-boat of Culcx perturbans; 2, position of egg-boat on water when supported by a grass stalk; 3, young larva just out of egg; 4, antenna of same ; 5, mandible ; 6, mentum witli hypopharnyx ; 7, anal siphon; 8, lateral patch of scales; 9, method of attachment of the larva to a grass root : all more or less enlarged : original. PLATE IV. Fig. I, well grown larva; 2, head, showing position of hair tufts; 3, antenna ; 4, portion of same enlarged ; 5, mentum ; 6, mandible ; 7, maxillary palpus; 8, caudal segments of larva; 9, anal siphon; 10, single scale from lateral abdominal patch; all much enlarged: original. * The drawing was made from a balsam mount and is consequently much broader and and the outline distorted. 26 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 Notes on some Angolan Insects of Economic or Pathologic Importance. BY F. CREIGHTON WELLMAN, Benguella, West Africa. From my collecting notes on over a thousand species se- cured in Portuguese West Africa during the past two or three years, I have selected extracts concerning some that are useful or inimical to man, hoping that my observations may prove interesting and possibly in some degree novel. I have confined the list to a few of the more striking species. Several of the insects have been reported by me on previous occasions, and references are given to some of these publications. It is highly probable that part of the observations have been re- corded before by others, as it is of course impossible to con- sult either books or periodicals while in West Africa. The numbers preceding the names of the insects indicate the order in which they stand in my collecting record. i. No. 124. Diplognatha silicea McL. (Coleopt.) This handsome Cetonid, known locally as the "thatch beetle," is a great pest in a country where grass thatch is the common roofing material. D. silicea is a large beetle, perfectly black all over, with a beautiful jewel-like polish, as its name implies. It breeds in dry or clamp grass, and almost every evening dur- ing the wet season the 9 9 may be seen and heard tmzzing clumsily about the eaves or top of a house. The grubs eat the thatch so that water penetrates and the roof rots in conse- quence. In one station their ravages were particularly annoy- ing a few years ago, the roofs being ruined in a short time. In many places, however, the damage done is inconsiderable. 2. No. 539. Glossina palpalis wellmani Aust. (Dipt.) This subspecies is the southern representative of Gl. palpalis Rob.-Desv. the carrier of African sleeping sickness. The dis- tribution of palpalis in Angola affords an excellent example of the effect of climate on insect life. In the hot northern dis- tricts of the colony (Congo, Ambriz, etc.) Gl. palpalis palpalis Jan., *08J ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 27 only is found. In the intermediate somewhat cooler regions (Cazengo, Golungo-Alto, Ambaca, etc.) Gl. palpalis palpalis and Gl. palpalis well ma ni are found side by side, while in the comparatively cool southern part of the province (Catumbella, Kubal and Cunene rivers, etc.) Gl. palpalis wcllmani is found alone. From recent observations it appears that wellmani exists as far east as Lake Muero and the Dikulwe and Lufira rivers in the Congo Free State, and when sufficient additional observations are recorded they will probably prove that the fly extends right across Africa. This new7 subspecies of tse-tse fly has been proven to transmit human trypanosomiasis and is thus directly connected not only with the development of the country but also with the very existence of the native races. I have elsewhere published papers on the habits * and geographical distribution t of this fly. 3- No. 635. Phoncr gates bicoloripes Stal. (Hemipt.) This fine Heteropteron belongs to the Reduviidse and has habits similar to Opisccrtns personatits L. except that instead of preying on Clinocoris lectularins, P. bicoloripes pursues a blood-sucking tick (Ornithodoros inonbata Murray) catching it and mulcting it of its ill-gotten food. There would seem to be no doubt that this bug preys especially on O. moubata as I have taken several in the act and (while I have collected many African Reduviidse) have never seen the one in question except in native kraals, which swarm with ticks, and have never found other species sucking the ticks. While various Reduviidae will fly to light at night, yet P. bicoloripes is the only local species I know of which actually lives in houses. O. moubata is one of the most persistent and troublesome suckers of human blood in Africa, its bite being very painful, to say nothing of the fact that it transmits human spirochre- tosis and filariasis. So the bug under discussion would be of interest even were it not that it is itself capable of inflicting a * Notes on the Habits of Tsetse-flies, Annals and Magazine of Natural History, S> pt . 1906, p. 242. t Neue Bcobachtungen ueher die geojjraphische Vcrbreitung von Gl<»*i>ia f>al/>alis Roh.-Desv., Deutsche KntomoloRische Xeitschrift, Feb. 25, 1907, p. 199. 28 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 bite which is so severe that the natives compare it with that of a poisonous snake. I am elsewhere * publishing in full my notes on this interesting insect. 4- No. 500. Bostrychopsis ccphalotcs Ol. (Coleopt.) This species (known to the blacks as "Osekoseko") is, to- gether with its allies, of vast economic significance. It is a wood borer which destroys most native "soft" woods, riddling them completely so that a timber will in time break of its own weight. There is an almost unlimited amount of timber in Angola that is of no value whatever because of this pest. Myri- ads of fine trees (Bcrlinia paniculata, Brachystegia tainarin- doides, etc.) cannot be used on this account. There are for- tunately a good many "hard" trees (Pterocarpus crinaccus, Burkea africana, Balsamca mulelame, etc. — also Ebenaceae) which the borer does not touch. But these as a rule are more difficult to work than the "soft" kinds. I once made some ex- periments with this bettle. I found that boards, if sawed im- mediately after the tree is felled and then dipped in a long trough containing a weak solution of sulphate of copper, escape riddling. Another method is to soak them in a stream of water until they smell sour. Of course, the trouble in such procedures is that the boards warp badly for lack of proper seasoning. 5- No. 525. Heptaphlebcmyia siinple.r Theob. (Dipt.) I have chosen this mosquito not only because it is a common and vicious blood-sucker, but also because my observations on it have a bearing on the vexed and unsettled systematic prob- lems presented by the Culicidne, the which are now engaging the active attention of different zoologists. H. siinpJc.r, which in its general facies suggests Culc.r fatigans Wied., was known previous to the writer's collections only from 9 specimens, which differ from all other known mosquitoes by having a distinct seventh scaled wing vein, upon which character Mr. Theobald has founded a new genus and a new sub-family. * Deutsche Entom. Zeitschrift. Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 29 From some Angolan specimens bred from eggs by the writer, however, appears the remarkable fact, already discussed by me in another publication, * that the $ $ do not share this pecul- iarity. In these there is no true scaled seventh vein, but the sixth is bent at right angles near the edge of the wing. This instance serves to illustrate the dangers of sweeping systematic conclusions founded upon restricted data. H. simplex occurs in great numbers in the rainy season, usually in company with other mosquitoes, especially Daniclsia wellmani Theob. and Mansonia iinifonnis Theob. It breeds in foul pools, the egg's being brown in color and laid in rafts. 6. No. 877. ? Natada amicta Swinh. (Lepidopt.) It is well known that the larvae of some Lepidoptera defend themselves by means of stinging hairs. For instance, we have I:niprctia stimulea and Aittoincris io in America. In Angola there are a number of caterpillars with this habit. Three of these are especially venomous and belong respectively to the Limacodidae (Micro), Arctiidae (Macro) and Liparidae (this latter resembling rather closely the larvae of some Tortricidae). I have repeatedly tried to breed out these caterpillars, but have never succeeded. I have seen the Limacodid larvae very often in spots haunted by imagines of the species named at the head of this note, and have therefore provisionally connected the two forms. This caterpillar is locally called "Epnvi" and stings terribly. I once saw a severe case of urticaria in a white child following one touch of it. 7- No. 140. Brachytrypus uicmbranaccus Drury. (Orthopt.) This giant cricket is dug out of its burrows in mealie fields by the native women, often in great numbers. One can some- times see small basketfuls, wings and legs removed, ready for the pot — for they are esteemed a great delicacy. Native chil- dren often go about digging for these crickets, and not seldom * Uber einen auffallenden Sexual-Dimorphismus bei I />•/>/ a phh'bomyia A imf> /»-.«- Tlu-ob., Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, Jan., i, 1907, p. 19. 3O ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., 'o8 get their fingers badly nipped in return, as the insect's man- dibles are sharp and powerful and can draw blood. When a nest of driver ants (Annonia arccns Westw.) goes on a raid it is a sight to see the crickets (comparatively elephantine in size) driven from their holes, stridulating indignantly and struggling in vain to rid themselves from their foes. 8. No. 538. Sarcophaga africa Wied. (Dipt.) This handsome, viviparous fly breeds in faeces, putrid meat, etc. I have elsewhere * published an account of experimental myasis which I produced in goats, using this species of fly and the allied Sarcophaga olbofasciata Macq. 9- No. 524. Culc.v hirsutipalpis Theob. (Dipt.) This mosquito is not only a great nuisance but, like H. simplex (ride antca) is interesting for other reasons. The (5 $ from this region differ from the type in having no pale band at the apex of the palpi, and Mr. Theobald's diagnosis of my first specimens was "Culcx sp. nov. near hirsutipalpis Theob." A suite of specimens which I bred from eggs shows this sexual dimorphism to be constant and also reveals a re- markable variation in size, some individuals being a third smaller than the type. I have published some observations on the pupae f which occur in amazing numbers at the last of the rains. The eggs are black and laid in rafts. They breed out readily in captivity. I should say before leaving this mosquito that the figure of the $ ungues on p. 381 of Theobald's Mono- graph is incorrect. 10. No. 137. Schistocera pcregrinatoria L. (Orthopt.) The ravages of these pests in some parts of West Africa are almost incredible. I once witnessed the advance of the early wingless form through the Chisanje country to the east of Benguella. Hardly a green thing was left behind them. In * Experimental Myasis in Goats, etc., Journal of Medical Research, Jan., 1906. p. 439. t Extraordinary Number of Pupae of Culex hirsutipalpis, Entomologist, May, 1906, p. 116. Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 3! the adult winged state they sometimes come in such numbers as to darken the sun. The blacks may then be seen running back and forth over their plantations in the hope of saving their crops from the voracious marauders. At night these locusts (native name "Olohuma") settle on trees and shrubs, sometimes in such numbers as to almost cover them, and they may fly so closely together that a certain number break their wings by striking their fellows and therefore fall helpless to the ground. The insects are eaten by lizards, small mammals and birds, especially a sort of plover, Glarcola nordnmnni, which apparently follows and feeds entirely on locusts. The native Africans, too, are very fond of them when roasted. They also kill them by dropping them into boiling water and then dry and store them away for future use. I have found a considerable per cent, of these locusts infested with a long thin nematode embryo (Gordius sf>.}. On one occasion, too, I found enormous numbers dying on the ground. I examined a number but could not discover the cause of their fate. II. No. 626. ? Drihts sp. (Coleopt.) A member of the Malacodermata (imago unknown) which I have repeatedly tried in vain to breed out. The larva is com- mon, but in captivity dies without pupating. The grub is called by the natives "Ochisia," which is equivalent to Noli me tongcrc! It is greatly feared, because if one steps on it with bare feet the bristles with which it is armed pierce the thick skin of the sole and work into the flesh, causing pain, inflam- mation and even sloughing. One may hear a whole caravan of porters warning each other that there is an "Ochisia" in the path. 12. No. 537. Auchmeromyia httcola Fabr. (Dipt.) This fly (the larva of which has been somewhat unfortu- nately designated as the "Congo" Floor Maggot) is an im- portant human ectoparasite, widespread in Africa, living en- tirely in its larval state, so far as is known, on human blood. 32 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 I have already published in these columns * an account of its life history and shall not repeat my observations here. No. 449. Chrysobotliris fatalis Har. (Coleopt.) This Btiprestid together with others of the same family, c. g., Stcnwccra feldspathica Whit., Stcraspis amplipenms Fabr., Psiloptcra wcllmani Kerr., etc., deserve place in this list from the fact of the wood boring habits of their larvae; but my notes on these are not yet complete and I include the species because it (with the other three handsome species men- tioned) is a common article of food among the native blacks, who also eat other beetles, notably Zograplms fero.v Har. and the larvae of a species of Canicnta. 14. No. 547. Anthomyia dcsjardcnsii Macq. (Dipt.) I have reported a severe case of intestinal myasis caused by this fly.f Thirty larvae were passed by the patient, some of which were bred out and proved to be the species above mentioned. The fly, first described from the Isle of France, had not previously been convicted of causing myasis in man. 15- No. 1025. Dacnodes wellmani Burr. (Dermatopt.) This giant tropical earwig which has proved to represent a new genus and species was first brought to my attention by the fact that the blacks fear it and scramble out of its way in the same manner that they avoid scorpions, centipedes, etc. They state that the creature "bites" and is very poisonous, giv- ing instances of serious effects from its venom. It is an in- teresting fact that another large earwig (Anisolabus colossca Dohrn) found in New South Wales is feared in the same man- ner by the inhabitants. I have never personally seen any one bitten by D. wellmani, but it is very possible that it may intro- duce septic matter by a bite from its powerful forceps some- * Observations on the Bionomics of Auchmeromyia luteola Fabricius, ENTOM. NEWS, Feb., 1906, p. 64. t Intestinal Myasis Accompanied by Severe Abdominal Pain, etc., American Journal of the Medical Sciences, May, 1906. Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 33 what as a species of Mutilla common in Cyprus (locally called "Sphalangi") is thought to convey anthrax bacilli by its sting. 16. No. 1 68. Polyrhachis militaris cupreobubescens For. (Hymenopt.) This ant (which is the local representative of P. militaris Fabr.) is to my mind the most interesting of all Angolan insects. The habits of the Driver Ant (Annoma arccns Westw.) have elicited much admiration, but those of the less known species under discussion are even more wonderful. These ants are a mighty friend to mankind in that they feed on termites. I once spent an hour or so watching them raid a nest of these insects. The termites were swarming, the ground about their nest being almost covered with workers and soldiers, and the winged adults were rising in great numbers. The orderly and steady advance of the ants, which were about 450 in number, was in marked contrast to the oftentimes somewhat erratic movements of A. arccns. On reaching the termites the ants broke order and killed the workers by crushing each one in their mandibles. The more formidable soldiers and large winged adults were seized and stung to death. Then each ant loaded its mandibles with as many termites as it could crowd into them, using both legs and tip of abdomen in the process, and the whole column filed off to their nest, the entire move- ment being executed with a precision and expedition that can only be compared to the maneuvers of a trained body of sol- diers. As the ant nests are innumerable and their raids take place often, they greatly lessen the number of destructive ter- mites in the colony. They are rather vicious creatures, being armed with a powerful sting, the effects of which are fully as severe as those of the larger wasps. I have been stung while digging out their nests for larvsc and pupge, and to obtain specimens of Paussidas. The sting causes swelling, burning, itching and does not entirely disappear for a fortnight. When disturbed the ants stridulate with an angry buzzing sound al- most exactly like that of water boiling in a small vessel. (To be concluded) ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit and will thankfully receive items of news likely to interest its readers from any source. The author's name will be given in each case, for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] To Contributors. — All contributions will be considered and passed upon at out earliest convenience, and, as far as may be, will be published according to date of recep- tion. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS has reached a circulation, both in numbers and circumfer- ence, as to make it necessary to put " copy " into the hands of the printer, for each num- ber, three weeks before date of issue. This should be remembered in sending special or important matter for a certain issue. Twenty-five "extras," without change in form, will be given free, when they are wanted ; and this should be so stated on the MS., along with the number desired. The receipt of all papers will be acknowledged.— ED. PHILADELPHIA, PA., JANUARY, 1908. We have selected a fossil species as the most remarkable in- sect made known during the preceding year. Halter amcri- cana was described by Prof. T. D. A. Cockerell in Science, N. S., vol. XXVI, No. 666, p. 446, October 4, 1907. We quote from the original article as follows : A wonderfully preserved example with wings spread, from the Miocene shales of Floris- sant, Colorado. The anterior wings are clear hyaline, with venation as usual in the genus ; hind wings as in all the Ne- mopteridae, to which family it belongs. The Nemopteridae are to-day confined to the Old World, except a single species found in Chile. This species belongs to the section of the genus containing the Persian Halter extensa Oliv. 34 Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 35 It has been suggested to the NEWS that there should be a journal devoted to personal recriminations. Such a publication could be issued once or twice a year and the expense of the publication should be defrayed by the authors of the articles appearing in it. There should be no editing of any article except in so far as necessary to allow the publication to go through the United States mails. Personalities should not appear in self-respecting journals, as they do not advance science in any way, and the persons indulging in them only hold themselves up to ridicule and scorn. It is very unpleasant to reply to such articles and individuals should rise superior to the imputation that the failure to reply means acknowledg- ment of the position taken by the other party. Moreover, the scientific world is not interested in disputes, as science is only advanced by the general acceptance of facts. On the other hand differences of opinion expressed in appro- priate language should never cause offense. In a formative study different views are very likely to be held and should cause no friction. — • •»«> • — Entomological Literature. FURTHER RESEARCHES ON NORTH AMERCAN ACRIDIIDAE. — By Albert Pitts Morse. Carnegie Institution Publication, No. 68, 1907. 54 pp., i map, 9 pis. and frontispiece. This extremely interesting publication is a report on the data ob- tained during a field trip made in the summer of 1905 under the auspices of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. On a previous trip, the results of which have been reviewed in these pages,* the author car- ried his field investigations through a large portion of the southeastern United States, and on the expedition of 1905 it was planned to make a reconnaissance of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. However, the presence of yellow fever in Louisiana and the accompanying quarantines necessitated a re-arrangement of the work, and in consequence Indian Territory, Oklahoma and northern and "Pan-handle" Texas were examined instead of Louisiana. In all fifty-two localities were visited, of which Cheaha Mountain, Alabama, Magazine Mountain and Rich Mountain, Arkansas and Mount Sheri- dan, Oklahoma, may be particularly mentioned. The boreal element noted on several of these mountains, while meagre, is still sufficient to make the regions of considerable interest. * ENTOM. NEWS, xvi, pp. 22-23. 36 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., 'oS After a general summary of the field work completed, the paper is divided into the following sections : Life Zones of Region Examined (p. 7) ; Humid and Arid Faunas, Dispersal, Brachypterism (pp. 7-8) ; Locust Coloration (pp. S-ii) ; Notes on Coloration and Variation (pp. 11-12) ; Habits, Habitats and Local Lists (pp. 13-22) ; Extension of Known Range (p. 23) ; List of New Species and Varieties Se- cured (p. 23) ; Localities at which collecting was done (pp. 23-24) ; Annotated List of Species (pp. 24-54). Under "Humid and Arid Faunas" the opinion is expressed that "the transition from humid to arid conditions and fauna is gradual rather than abrupt, the borderland of the two in Texas, Indian Territory and Oklahoma being peopled by numerous genera and species of very wide. .. .distribution, and also by some of more limited range re- stricted to the district between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, but occurring both in the humid and arid sections of this region." Under "Brachypterism," the author states that aside from the Tettiginze "every flightless species of locust known from the eastern half of the continent is phytophilous, as distinguished from geophilous, in habits. This statement is in accord with the author's previously expressed view on brachypterism, but it appears to the re- viewer that exception can be taken to this statement in several in- stances, the most striking of which are the most decidedly brachypter- ous and consequently flightless Aptenopedes sphenarwides and Radino- ta tit in brcvipenne, both species being at all events as terrestrial as Spharagemon bolli, which is considered (p. 37) a sylvan geophile. Under "Locust Coloration" (pp. 9-10), the author gives us a much simpler and more logical argument than that presented by Vosseler to account for the brilliant coloration of the wings of certain Acrididse. The display of the wing color is considered to be a method of "signal- ing, of attracting attention and thereby effecting or maintaining com- munication between the sexes or the individuals of a community." Under variation notes (p. 12), it is of particular interest to note that the material collected by Prof. Morse demonstrates the necessity of considering four nominal species of Trachyrhachis (Mestobrcgina of authors) as mere geographic races of a widely-spread species. From a type with a broad fuscous band on the wing and a lemon yellow disk to the same (thoinasi), two intermediate forms (fuscifrons and oblit- erata) carry the gradation to a type with the wing band entirely lack- ing and the disk hyaline (kiowa). This variation is correlated with climatic conditions, the strongly colored type inhabiting the more humid regions, the hyaline type frequenting the more arid sections, the inter- mediates occupying intermediate areas. The new species and varieties taken on the 1905 expedition were Nomotetti.r cristatiis dcnticulaius, Hippiscus iiniiuiciilotits, Podisma australis, Melanoplus latens, M. tuberculatus, M. tribuloides, M. Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 37 tepidus and M. scuddcri latus. In all, one hundred and twenty-four species were secured. In examining the "Annotated List of Species," a few records and statements call for some remarks. The record of Teluiatctti.r aztecus Saussure from Mt. Sheridan, Oklahoma, is of considerable interest, as arc also that of Orphulella spcciosa from Cheaha Mountain, Ala- bama and Chlocaltis conspcrsa from Magazine Mountain, Arkansas. The information on Boopcdon aurircntris is of interest, while the data on the very local and distinctly saxicolous Trimerotropis sa.vatilis are very complete, demonstrating how protective coloration is appar- ently a strong factor in the life of this species. Under notes on various species of Schistocerca (pp. 42-44) the author recedes somewhat from his former position on the synonymy of 5". alutacea and rubiginosa, admitting that in the south and west "the structural gap between the two seems to be bridged." The record of a species of Podisma from Cheaha Mountain, Alabama, and Melanoplus fasciatus from the same locality are of particular interest, while the remarks under Melanoplus kceleri regarding the possible synonymy of kceleri, hiridtis and dclctor arc noteworthy when taken with the synonymy of deleter and kceleri recently established by an- other author. We have to thank Prof. Morse for giving us an ex- tremely important work which, with his previous one along the same lines, is absolutely indispensable to the student of insect bionomics as well as the working Orthopterist. — J. A. G. R. MOSQUITO LIFE. — BY EVELYN GROESBEECK MITCHELL. J. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, NEW YORK AND LONDON. The Knickerbocker Press. 1907. XXII, 1-281 pp., front., illus., plates. In this book Miss Mitchell has given the public, more especially of America, a digest of the voluminous contributions that have been made to this subject up to the present time, and in addition, some original ob- servations and conclusions of her own that have never before been pub- lished. The text is clear and covers all phases of the subject that are and are likely to continue to be of interest to people in general. Moreover, the numerous illustrations are destined to make clear all points that might have remained doubtful without this assistance. To indicate the scope of the work, we cite the titles of the different chapters : I. Systematic Po- sition and Structure. II. Some Habits of the Adults. Herein the types of habits of everyday interest are fully brought before the reader and explained. III. How Far Mosquitos Fly. This momentous subject is properly given a separate chapter and here the important species are considered in regard to a phenomenon, the knowledge of which is so ex- ceedingly useful in that it dictates what shall be the extent of extermina- tion for the relief of a given area wherein the prevalent species of mos- quitos are known. V. Larvae and Pupae. VI. Malaria. VII. Yellow 38 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 Fever and Other Diseases. In this and the preceding chapter good ac- counts are given of the interrelations between man, some of the lowest forms of animal life and mosquitos ; also the status of yellow fever in regard to these insects. VIII. Mosquito Remedies and Enemies. Em- bodying the details of the most practical means toward the mitigation of the scourge and pest. IX. Notes on the Commoner Species. Wherein are set forth the cardinal features of the carriers of disease, the pestifer- ous forms and a few of the seemingly harmless, yet interesting species. X. Collecting and Laboratory Methods. XI. Identification Keys and Systematic List. These, the last and the next to the last, chapters have in them information of great importance in the first stage of any cam- paign against mosquitos. Especially worthy of note are the keys whereby the larvae may be positively determined. The key to larvae makes the book exceptionally valuable to the inspector who, in the course of his survey, cannot take time to breed out the species which he meets in the pursuit of his object — i. e., the blazing the way for the .practical exterminator or the health officer and the contractor. Finally, there is a bibliography which, to those sufficiently interested, opens all channels leading to the vast library on mosquitoes ; an appendix entitled Mos- quitoes and Leprosy, in which is reviewed the speculation on the sup- posed relation between these two, and a full and convenient index to the entire book. The latest generic combinations of the species is given, also most of the synonyms — we regret in this connection to have to note the abscence of one of the synonyms of Anopheles maculipennis, namely clainger, which is current even at this late date among American doctors of medi- cine, in witness whereof we cite; "Plain Labels on Germ Enemies," by W. H. Thompson, M.D., LL.D. Everybody's Magazine, page 692 ; 1907. All in all, this volume is a most useful one — one that will supply a very evident want. It should be widely heralded so that it may reach every intelligent person. Entomologists, doctors, health officers and, in fact, all who are interested in public welfare, can't afford to be without this latest guide, which indeed deserves to be inscribed as it is — " In Memory of James William Dupree, M. D. The true citizen, the beloved physician, the constant investigator." — H. L. VIERECK. ON THE W. HORN-ROESCHKE SCHOOL. In the Annals of the Hungarian National Museum, there has lately ap- peared a monograph of the Cychrini, by Dr. Hans Roeschke, purporting to include all the described species. The subject is treated on the lines of the W. Horn-Roeschke school of entomological philosophers, with its ponderous system of species, subspecies, varieties, aberrations and monstrosities, although the divine inspiration by which they are enabled to determine the status of these various subordinate forms belongs only to themselves. It appears to me that ordinary common sense would Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 39 dictate hut two subdivisions of the species, as demonstrable by material at hand in our collections, the subspecies and the mutant or sport, the former including the subspecies and variety of the W. Horn-Roeschke school and the latter term comprising; the so-called aberration and monstrosity, the distinction between which is surely academic. The determination of any particular form as a mutant is generally a pure guess, but this single conjecture is preferable to the two or three guesses of the school under consideration. We may proceed at once to the discussion of several points of more or less general interest suggested by this work on the Cychrini, one of which refers to the right of a reviewer to reestablish a specific type, the original being lost, as in the case of B returns ovalis Mots. In my monograph of the genus Brennus, I established a new type for ovalis, corresponding completely with the original description and figure of Motschulsky and felicitated myself upon a happy discovery, but this fact is wholly disregarded by Roeschke, who states that ovalis is something else. This is a matter of principle, to be associated with the priority principle and others equally vital to the permanence of our nomencla- torial system, and I bring it forward now to test its reality among serious investigators. Ovalis, as I established it, is a species allied to ventrico- sus, having two anal setae in the female and is not one of the allies of punctatostriatus, of which alternatus Mots., is a synonym, the type of the latter also being lost. I believe it can correctly be maintained that the only authentic type of Brennus ovalis Mots., now forms part of my col- lection. A certain apparent animus on the part of the author of the Cychrini monograph has led him not only into many errors of identification, but uni- formly induced him to refuse me the benefit of the doubt where absolute knowledge was lacking ; this is particularly evident on p. iSi, where he accuses me of making three species on identical material, based upon purely individual differences. I can assure him that he is mistaken, not only as to the material being collected in anywhere near the same locality, but in the taxonomic value of the three forms, which might be considered subspecies of a single species, if one so desires, but could in no possible way be held to be synonyms by any careful investigator.* And this leads me to the most serious defect in the methods of this new W. Horn-Roeschke school, in failing to recognize the forms due to geo- graphic isolation, by which most species have undoubtedly arisen, for it is chiefly by the study of these subspecific or incipiently specific forms * Restricting observation to the males, for purposes of comparison, convergens, col- lected only in Siskiyou Co., Cal., has the hind body very narrow and elongate, with a more biconvex and less opaque prothorax ; opacicollis, with relatively larger, flatter and opaque prothorax, has a very stout and broadly oval hind body; it \vas colK.i.d only in Oregon. Sculptipi'nnis , formed nearly as in opacicollis, has a nai n >\\ i i , mure shining prothorax, with the sides more sinuate toward base; it has lately been recci\.d from Mr. Fuchs, collected at Upper Soda Springs, Cal., which was probably the locality of the original Levette specimens. 40 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 that our knowledge of evolution may be substantially advanced, and their complete effacement in a taxonomic system as meaningless syno- nyms, is a retrograde movement that cannot live. In other words, this school aims to enhance the importance of a species, frequently to sub- generic rank, and to blot out, as far as possible, all intermediate forms. These local forms ought to be designated by name in order to admit of ready reference. I generally describe them as species, because the time is not yet ripe to assign them their true places, though the differential characters employed will generally indicate their relationships, but whether they are called species or subspecies, according to the idiosyn- cracies of various systematists, is wholly immaterial to me ; to lump them as synonyms into a composite species with all manner of divergent modifications, which are permanent and recognizable in the several local forms, is, however, by no means calculated to increase the sum of knowl- edge or to afford useful data for etiologic investigation. Greater care and exercise of more perceptive discrimination in studying the forms of animal life is, with this exaggerated valuation of the species, forcing us into trinomials ; it will finally result in quadrinomials if the relative import- ance of the species does not follow downward, and we shall ultimately lose all the benefits of the binomial system. The genera of Linne are the families and orders of to-day, and the species of many ultra-conserva- tive writers of yesterday are becoming the genera and subgenera of more discriminating systematists. I am rather of the opinion, after preliminary study, that the method of subdivision for the various groups of Brennus, proposed by Dr. Roeschke, is more satisfactory and somewhat more practical than that of Dr. G. H. Horn, which I adopted in my revision, but when the author assumes that each one of these semi-subgeneric groups represents but a single species, with an attendant retinue of subspecies, varieties, aberrations, anomalies and monstrosities, he adopts certainly a very extreme view of specific weight and, moreover, one that is very complex and confusing. The marginatus group alone contains some eight or nine clearly marked, true-breeding, constant and easily recognizable forms, which, according to usual custom, ought to be considered species, or some of them possi- bly subspecies, and the assumption, on the part of the author, that he can conclusively assign these various forms to the numerous subordinate categories adopted by the school under discussion, bespeaks a degree of self-confidence which is truly astounding. Besides, he does not make enough groups, fitchsianus, for example, not being assignable to any one of those defined by him, having the facies and general structure of ventricosus, with a single anal seta in the female and wholly isolated in some features, as in the greatly elevated thoracic margin. The work of Roeschke on the Cychrids is a perfect replica, in method and nomenclature, of the recent papers by Dr. W. Horn on the Cicinde- lidae and the defects of the latter author in his mode of reasoning are fully as patent as those of the former, for one who could unite Omus man- Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 41 tanus with edwardsi as a mere synonym, must have the sense of intellec- tual perception very feebly developed ; such a course could only be con- fusing to future reviewers and of no possible service to science, which is supposed to be an orderly and systematic statement of fact. This lapse of scientific acumen is in every way similar to that of Roeschke in sup- pressing the splendidly distinct Brennus insularis as a synonym of mar- ginatus, the reduction of symmetricus to the status of an "aberration," whatever that may mean, the identification of strictus with latipennis Mots., the suppressing of basalis as a mere subspecies of crislatus and Cychrus pustulosus as a synonym of tuberculatus, and in reaching many other equally false conclusions, which can only serve to still more hope- lessly befog the subject of specific identity in this rather difficult group of beetles. While engaged in polemics, it may be worth while to draw attention to a recent article by Dr. J. Weise, in which he emits the opinion that I did not intend to write Macroneemia — a genus of Coccinellidae — but meant Micronezmia, and proceeds to change it forthwith, describing a new spe- cies under the name so altered. The Greek word /AO.K/DOS, in its essential and fundamental meaning, conveys the idea of linear extension, either in space or time, and not of expansion in all directions like /^eyas. In the Latin it becomes wacer, and in English emaciated. In naming the genus Macroncemia, I intended to convey the meaning of extension, that is : it is a slender and relatively elongate Ntzmia, without reference to its size. In taking it for granted that Macron&mia must be'a mistake and in substituting Microntzmia for it, Dr. Weise has merely increased the burden of synonymy, for Microneemia Weise, must be a synonym of Macroncemiq Csy. By the soundest rules it could not have been altered anyway, even though erroneous or a misprint. — THOS. L. CASEY. ON THE BIOLOGIES OF THE RHYNCHOPHORA OF NORTH AMERICA. BY W. DVVIGHT PIERCE. — studies from the Zoological Laboratory of the University of Nebraska. Pp. 249-320, No. 78. Notes and. Ne\vs. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OP THE GLOBE. EVE hung her wash out to dry and a caterpillar ate it. Going to the dogs, at any rate, is no indication of degeneracy among fleas. CHANGE OF ADDRESS.— W. E. Hinds, Professor of Entomology and Entomologist to the Experiment Station, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, from Dallas, Texas, to Auburn, Alabama. MR. HENRY L. VIERECK, of Philadelphia, has been appointed Chief Clerk of the Division of Economic Zoology of the Department of Agri- culture of the State of Pennsylvania at Harrisburg. 42 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 A REQUEST for information has been sent to the U. S. Department of Agriculture for an expert opinion as to whether it is possible for entomologists to contract osteoporosis. It is feared that the disease has affected some individuals. "Now, children," said the teacher, "see who can make up a 'story' containing the words 'boys,' 'bees' and 'bears.' " The freckled boy's hand was up at once. "Well, Michael." And Michael responded : "Boys bees bare whin they goes in swimmin'." THE undersigned will be glad to determine Oryssidae, Siricidre, Cephi- dse and Evaniidae (except Gasteruptionidse) from North America or other countries, aud will especially welcome and give credit for records of capture and distributional data in these families. — J. CHESTER BRAD- LEY, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, N. Y. PREOCCUPIED NAMES OF PAN-AMERICAN ANDRENA (HYMENOPTERA). —Andrena (Parandrena) andrenoides var bicolor Rob. not bicolor Fabr. =A. (P.) a. var. clarigastra n. n. Andrena salicis Rob. not Verhoff = bisalicis n. n. Andrena delta Vier. not Kby. =didetta n. n. Andrena indotata Vier. not Andrena ( Trachandrena} indotata Vier = perindotata n. n. — H. L. VIERECK. PROFESSOR KOCH has ascertained that there is a distinct connection between crocodiles and sleeping sickness caused by trypanosomge. Wherever crocodiles are found the disease may be discovered, but only in places near the banks. The blood of crocodiles forms the chief nourishment of the Glossina palpalis, which sucks the blood between the plates of the animaFs hide. The extermination of the Glossina is impossible, but the same end may be reached by destroying the crocodiles or by the removal of the bushes and undergrowth where the animals lurk. AN ADDITION TO THE NEW JERSEY LIST OF BUTTERFLIES. — In July, 1900, while at Brookville, Ocean Co., N. J , I captured two (tf) Pamphilas that were new to me, and on the 3oth of July another was taken at Lakehurst. The females in this species show much variation in regard to the proportion of fuscus and tawny color on the upper side. These butterflies have been shown to Dr. Skinner, who has derermined them as Pamphila arogos Bd. and Lee., and considers the capture of this insect in New Jersey of much interest, for heretofore it has been con- sidered a southern and southwestern species. He adds that it only goes to prove the saying that " one can find any species in New Jersey." I may also mention that Pamphila aaroni Skinner was not uncommon this past Summer at Tuckerton, N. J., and I discovered a number skip- ping about on the flowers growing in that always interesting zone where the upland meets the salt meadow. — WM. T. DAVIS. Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 43 TERIAS MEXICANA BDV. IN NORTHERN COLORADO.— While mounting some Lepidoptera collected by Mr. G. M. Kite and myself in the north- ern part of Boulder County, Colorado, I came across three specimens of Terias mexicana Bdv. They were collected by Mr. Hite in Copeland Park, on the North St. Vrain Creek, September 6, 1907. Copeland Park is in the lower part of the Hudsonian Life Zone, and has the altitude of about 10,300 feet. The specimens agree in every detail with the figure of this species in Wright's Butterflies of the West Coast, except that the secondaries in one specimen are a trifle yellower. They are all males. The wings are somewhat broken on the outer margin as if they had flown a long distance. Mr. W. G. Wright (Butterflies of the West Coast) says that, as far as he knows, T. mexicana has been found no place north of the Mexican bor- der except in Arizona. Dr. Holland (Butterfly Book) says it is common in Arizona and very abundant in Mexico. Dr. H. G. Dyar (Bui. 52, U. S. Nat. Mus.), gives it from the Mississippi Valley and Mexico. Dr. Skinner (Cat. N. Am. Rhopalocera)* gives it from Mexico, and Missis- sippi and Colorado occasionally. Prof. T. D. A. Cockerell says it is somewhat common in New Mexico and that he has seen it at high alti- tudes. These localities have been given for New Mexico, Water Canon (Snow), Mesilla Valley (Ckll.), La Cueva (Townsend), Pecos (Ckll.), and top of Las Vegas Range, 11,000 feet. (Ckll. Psyche, Nov., 1901, p. 272). Prof. D. T. A. Cockerell made this note in the Univ. of Colo. Card Catalogue: "Terias mexicana Bdv. (1836). This is not in Gil- lette's Colo, list, but I saw a light yellow Terias in Boulder Canon, 7,340 feet, September 22, 1907. It could not have been anything else." From these two records from Boulder Co., in 1907, we may assume that a goodly number of this species migrated northward along the eastern foothill region of the Rocky Mts., or that they have come westward from the Mississippi Valley. To me the first seem more probable. At any rate the finding of this Sonoran butterfly in boreal, northern Colorado is a matter of no little interest. — S. A. ROHMER, Boulder, Colo. THECLA LOKI, SKINNER. — This new species was discovered by me and a party of enthusiastic collectors July 5th, 1906, on the road between Jacumba and Mountain Springs, about 80 miles east of San Diego. The country about is practically a desert. The vegetation is composed of the common greasewood and cactus, with a little bunch of grass scattered about. There is also quite a growth of Juniper on the hills, and it is here that loki is to be found. He is a shy bird and keeps well to the tops of the bushes; he is swift of flight, too. and owing to the similarity of his color to that of the Juniper, cnnvspcmdingly hard to take. At the time we were there it was probably late, as we only * Supplement No. i, gives Louisiana, Mo.; Sioux Co., Neb.; NV\v Yurie. Also St. Louis, Mo. (McElhose and Sclnvarz). 44 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 succeeded in taking one perfect specimen, which I was selfish enough to keep for my own collection. Although it seemed to be quite plenti- ful in this locality, I am of the opinion that it is a Mexican butterfly, and that we took it on the extreme northern edge of its range ; at least it was not to lie taken this year in a region of the same character in every respect, and but a few miles north of the type locality, nor has it ever been seen anywhere else on the edge of the desert. The altitude at Jucumba is about 3,200 feet, and the locality where loki was taken is but little over a mile from the Mexican boundary. — W. S. WRIGHT, San Diego, Cal. Mr. Wright says, "I am not so sure that I like the name you gave it, but shall not presume to criticise. It was my intention to ask you to name it after the locality in which it was found, but it matters little so long as it has a name." I don't fancy the name very much, but I am under the impression that it is difficult to get names. Linnaeus certainly had an easy time of it in respect to names and some people (see Proc. Brooklyn Ent. Soc.) seem to think that any names that fall short of the Linnaean standard should not be used. Oh, for some one who loves to be of use to others and who will supply ap- propriate names ! Let us have about a thousand published in the NEWS pro bono publico. Happiness, by universal consent, seems to consist in doing good to others, so here is an opportunity. Loki was the god of strife and spirit of evil, who contrived the death of Balder. Afterwards he was chained, and will continue so till the twilight of the gods. The locality I had was Mountain Springs. — HENRY SKINNER. AN OLD RECORD OF OBSERVATIONS ON THE HABITS OF Anabrus. — In December, 1904,* Prof. Gillette published an article on the mating habits of Anabrus simplex, in which he described a peculiar sac-like object which is ejected by the male at the time of copulation and car- ried about for some time by the female. A year later Mr. Snodgrass makes the same observation on Peranabrus scabricoltis, a related species. f The ejection of this sac-like object, called "sperm-sac" by Gillette, is not confined to the Decticinae as I have seen a similar ob- ject carried by Scudderia. It has been supposed that these observations were new, Gillette thanking Mr. Marlatt for having had a thorough search made in the library of the Bureau of Entomology for such references and stating that Mr. Banks, the librarian, found nothing upon the subject. Such obser- vations had, however, been made and published almost half a century before. In an article entitled " Exploration in Upper California in 1860, under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution," published in the report of the Smithsonian Institution for 1864, Capt. John Feilner writes of what lie *Ent. News, vol. XV, p. 321-324, pi. XIX (1904). t Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc., vol. XIII, p. 74-82, pi. i-n (1905). Jan., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 45 calls the grasshopper, but which is very certainly Auabrus simplex. He says: "These insects were first seen by me in Pitt river valley during the Summer of 1859, a°d in such numbers as actually to cover the ground. The insect deposits the eggs by making perpendicular and oblique holes in the ground, to the depth of an inch, by means of its tail, which is shaped like a bayonet, and is hollow. The eggs are passed from the ovary into this tail and are dropped one by one into the holes. It appears to have no particular food, but feeds upon all kinds of vege- tation ; it will eat the dead and crippled of its own kind, but I have never observed them destroy one another. Immediately be- fore uniting sexually, the insect without the tail (which I presume to be the male), utters a shrill whistling sound, as if to call his mate. The sexual act lasts about one or two minutes, and the peculiarity I observed at this union was, that the one I presume to be the female was over the male, instead of the reverse. After the act a small bag — evidently the ovary — is attached to the body of the female close to the tail ; this is extracted from the other without the tail ; after a while the bag disap- pears. * * * " These observations of Capt. Feilner, who was killed by the Indians soon after making them, agree quite exactly with those of recent writers. — A. N. CAUDELL. LIST OF ODONATA TAKEN BY DR. HENRY SKINNER, IN CARR CAN- YON, HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA. Ten species as follows : 1. Argia sp. 2. Argia sp. 3. Ischnura demorsa Hagen. Taken in Arizona by Morrison, and at Tucson by Kunze, in some abundance. Both records in Biol.-Cent. Am. 4. Erpetogomphus compositus Hagen. Previous Arizona records are from Bright Angel (Schwarz & Barber), Phoenix (Kunze), Florence (Biederman) and by Morrison. 5. Cordulegaster diadema Selys. The only previous record for U. S. is Bright Angel, Ariz. (Schwarz & Barber). The species extends to Cuernavaca and Orizaba in Mexico. 6. Oplonaeschna armata Hagen. The only previous U. S. records are Reef (Biederman) and "Arizona" by Morrison. The species extends south to Guatemala. 7. Pseudoleon superbus Hagen. First record for U. S. Abundant and characteristic species for Mexico and Guatemala and Lower Cali- fornia. 8. Pallothemis lineatipes Karsch. Originally described from Brazil. There are Morrison specimens from Arizona. 9 Pantala flavescens Fabr. The most cosmopolitan of all dragonflies. 10. Sytnpetrum con-upturn Hagen. A common species throughout western U. S. and Mexico. — BY P. P. CALVERT. 46 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 Doings of Societies. At the meeting of the Feldman Collecting Social, held on November 2Oth, 1907, at the residence of Mr. H. W. Wenzel, 1523 S. Thirteenth Street, Philadelphia, there were ten mem- bers present, and Mr. John A. Grossbeck, visitor. Professor Smith spoke about Cule.v pcrturbans and its habits. This is a species which for three or four years last past has been hunted by all those interested in mosquito work ; but not until this year were the habits of the larva ascertained. The first stages of the larva had become known from eggs obtained from gravid females ; but what became of them after they got out of the eggs nobody knew. Briefly stated, the eggs are laid in a raft on the surface of the water in densely overgrown swamps, illustrations of which were shown. The young larvae hatching from these eggs at once make their way through the water to the mud surface and through the mud surface among the root mass below. Among these roots, anywhere from 2 to 4 inches below the bottom, the larvae attach themselves by their anal tube and remain concealed from all ordinary natural enemies and in territory where no other mosquito larvae can breed. The air supply seems to be obtained chiefly through the vascular system of the plants which is very loose and open. Mr. Grossbeck, in supplement, explained how he had found the breeding places by hunting egg boats, of which he finally found large numbers, at Lahaway, in Ocean County, and at Trenton, in Mercer County. He further described the par- ticular character of the plants among which the larvae are found and told how he collected them by forcing the net below the grass tussocks and, by disturbing the larvae attached to the roots, got them into the free water, where he could get them with the net. Mr. Kaeber exhibited several species of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, which he collected in Arizona in the past sum- mer, which showed remarkable mimicry, and stated that the beetles and moths were taken at the same places and time, and in some cases were beaten from the same trees. FRANK HAIMBACH, Secretary. FEBRUARY, 1908. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Vol. XIX. No. 2. Halter americana Cockerell. EDITOR : HENRY SKINNER, M. D. PHILIP P. CALVE RT, Ph.D., Associate Editor. EZRA T. CRKSSON. PHILIP LAURKNT. ADVISORY COMMITTEE: HENRY L. VIKRKCK. WILLIAM J. FOX. J. A. G. REHN. H. W. WENZKL. PHILADELPHIA: ENTOMOLOGICAL ROOMS OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, LOGAN SQUARE. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as Second-Clast Matter. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Published monthly, excepting August and September, in charge of the Entomo- logical Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and the American Entomological Society. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, $1.OO IN ADVANCE. Outside of the United States and Canada, $1.20. SINGLE COPIES 15 CENTS Advertising Rates: 30 cents per square inch, single insertion ; a liberal discount on longer insertions. No advertisement taken for less than 60 cents — Cash in advance. All remittances should be addressed to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th and Race Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. FEBRURAY CLEARANCE SALE. Owing to an overstock of Japanese Moths, the following named specimens are offered during the month of February at prices quoted below. They are in papers, and in perfect condition. There are a number of specimens in the stock that are slightly damaged — antennae broken or slightly rubbed— which will be disposed of at 10 cents each. Send 12 cents additional with each order for packing and postage Caligula japonica . ... 20 cents Anthereae yama-mai .... 20 Brahmaea japonica 40 cents Actias artemis 50 Khodia fugax 25 OH specimens of Japanese Coleoptera - logical Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and the American Entomological Society. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, $1.OO IN ADVANCE. Outside of the United States and Canada, $1.20. SINGLE COPIES 15 CENTS Advertising, Rates : 30 cents per square inch, single insertion ; a liberal discount on longer insertions. No advertisement taken for less than 60 cents — Cash in advance. All remittances should be addressed to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th and Race Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. NEW ARRIVALS. Having received a large shipment of Lepidoptera from Assam and Upper Burma, containing Papilios and other desirable species, including several varieties of Satur- niidae, which will be sold at very reasonable prices perfect specimens in papers, containing many Papilios, including Papilio parts, Papilio helenus, and many other desirable species ; fifty different specimens ; no duplicates. ONE DOZEN PAPILIOS, ALL PERFECT $2.25 Other rare specimens at reasonable prices. Send for list and prices. JOHN H. MATTHEWS, 3219 N. 13th Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA. ARIZONA INSECTS. Will collect in most orders or families or season's catch. Also in botany, especially cactii and herpetology — reptiles and amphibians if notified early in the season. Agent for sale of Coleoptera, Mr. L. H. Joutel, 164 E. uyth St., New York City. DR. R. E. KUNZE, Phoenix, Arizona. CATALOGUE OF THE NEUROPTEROID INSECTS (EXCEPT ODONATA) OF THE UNITED STATES BY NATHAN BANKS Complete to Summer of 1907 Price 50 els. (nit) per copy Mailed on receipt of price E. T. CRESSON, Treasurer, P. O. Box 248, Philadelphia, Pa. When Writing Please Mention "Entomological Newtt." E\T. NEWS, VOL. XIX. PI. VI. ORTALIDAE AND TRYPETIDAE (CRESSON). ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. XIX. MARCH, 1908. No. 3. CONTENTS: Cresson, Jr.— Two New Species belong- ing to the Dipterous Families Ortal- idae and Trypetidae from Dutch Guiana, with Notes on others of these Groups 95 Braun — New species of Lithocolletis . . 99 Brimley — Male Polistes annularis Sur- vive the Winter 107 Wolley Dod — Argvnnis astarte, Doubl.- Hew., and other High Mountain Butterflies 108 Rowley — Notes on Catocala 115 Houghton — Notes on Necrophorus or- bicollis Say 120 Woodworth —Winged Aphids 122 Wolley Dod— Further Notes on Alberta Lepidoptera 124 Cockerell— A Fossil Orthopterous In- sect with the Media and Cubitus Fusing 126 Pearsall— Two New Species of Eupith- ecia Curtis 128 Oestlund— Chaitophorus Testudinatus in America 131 Girault — An Aphid Feeding on Coc- cinellid Eggs 132 Brimley — Notes on Some Neuropteroids from Raleigh. N. C 133 Brimley — North Carolina Records of Odonata for 1906 and 1907 134 Riley — The Abnormal Appearance of External Wing-buds in Larvae of Holometabolous Insects 136 Editorial 14° Notes and News 141 Doings of Societies 142 Obituary 142 Two New Species belonging to the Dipterous Fami- lies Ortalidae and Trypetidae from Dutch Guiana, with Notes on others of these Groups. BY E. T. CRESSON, JR. (Plate VI.) This material, in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, was collected by Miss K. Mayo in Dutch Guiana in the year 1905, except those from Idaho by Dr. H. Skinner in 1905. The South American species of these groups have been but little studied, and for that reason I have been fuller in my descriptions. ZEUGMA gen. nov. Head broader than high ; occiput flat ; eyes large ; front nar- row ; orbits parallel, ocelli removed from vertex and widely separated ; the anterior ocellus about equidistant from vertex and antennae ; vertex with stout outer- and inner-vertical bristles. Antennae, situated below middle line of eyes, longer than the face, with third joint elongate ; arista minutely pubes- 95 g6 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, '08 cent. Face concaved ; fovese and carina indistinct. Proboscis short, thick. Thorax with the following bristles : 2 pairs post-dorso-cen- trals, two post-alar, one supra-alar, two noto-pleurals, one hum- eral, no sternopleural, a fine hair in place of the propleural. Mesonotum flattened posteriorly ; metanotum slightly oblique and convex. Scutellum flat, with four bristles. Abdomen 9 ovate ; first segment somewhat slender at base. Legs stout, but only middle femora thickened basally ; all fem- ora, especially the posterior pair, with a series of short spines beneath towards apex ; middle tibire alone spurred at apex. Wings with first vein bare, and approximated to the auxiliary ; small cross vein is before the middle of discal cell ; third and fourth veins parallel ; anal cell obtuse. This ortalid genus evidently belongs in the subfamily Rich- ardiinse somewhere near the genus Hcmi.vontha Lw., from which it differs mainly in the basal position of the small cross vein. The type is the following species. Zeugma palposa sp. nov. (Plate VI, Fig: i.) 9 Rufous, with bluish-black abdomen. Lateral vertical angles of front, and the ocellar region, shining, otherwise front is opaque; one pair of fronto-orbital bristles which are above the level of anterior ocellus. Frontal orbits towards antennae, orbits of face, cheeks, lower part of occiput, and an oblique line across occiput from lower part of posterior orbits to neck, silvery. Face more yellowish than front, with a brownish spot on each side near the oral margin ; clypeus yellowish. Antennae yel- lowish-brown ; third joint darker at apex, about five or six times as long as the second, widest at base and tapering slightly to a rounded apex. Palpi distinctly flabellate, yellow at base, whitish at its very broad tip, with a brown transverse median band, entirely silvery in certain reflections. Lateral turgid portion of the occiput black. Mesonotum sub- opaque, blackish in the middle of the anterior margin, with a median and lateral whitish pollinose stripe. Pleura polished, black, yellow pol- linose near the coxae ; metanotum shining, rufous ; halteres yellow. Ab- domen shining, with short appressed hairs ; ovipositor polished, the first joint not as wide, but nearly as long, as the two last abdominal seg- ments. Legs yellow, with brownish femora bearing black spines ; the hind femora are somewhat constricted or indented near the bases on the inside. Wings hyaline, without spots. Length 7 mm. One specimen. Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana (K. Mayo). March, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 97 Xanthacrona tuberosa n. sp. (Plate VI, Figs. 2, 3.) 9 Yellowish-rufous ; the ocellar tubercle, a spot on the mesonotum near the lateral roots of the scutellum, a narrow, short longitudinal stripe above the roots of wings, three spots on the scutellum, the nar- row posterior margins of the abdominal segments and all bristles, black. Front opaque, bristles to the base of antennae. Face more whitish yellow, opaque. Antennae nearly as long as face; third joint broad and about six times as long as second, one-half its length in width, slightly con- caved on the upper margin, apex rounded; arista brown. Cheeks about one-sixth of eye-height in width. Occiput shining. Thorax shining; two pairs of dorso-centrals, one sternopleural, but no propleural bristles. Scutellum polished, with four bristles, very much swollen, especially above, in form of two black, wart-like tubercles which project somewhat anteriorly over the mesonotum; each of these tubercles has a narrow black stripe running latero-posteriorly underneath to the metanotum ; a third, but less pronounced, forms the median apex of the scutellum, also black. Halteres yellow. Abdomen shorter than the wings ; first joint of ovipositor as wide as, but not longer than, the last two ab- dominal segments. Legs entirely yellow. Wings simliar to X. hi- fi us tula v. d. W. ; first vein bare. Length 4.5 mm. One specimen. Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana (K. Mayo). This species differs from the typical description in the fol- lowing points : front bristles on the sides to base of antenna ; antenna; nearly as long as face; scutellum with four bristles. In other respects it seemingly agrees. The remarkable tuber- culated scutellum is merely a more developed form of the two black pustules characterized in the specific description of pus- tula v. d. W. (Biologia, Dipt. II, pp. 329). The wing-design can be readily seen from the figure given ; the darker portion being grayish or black, while the remaining shaded portion is yellow. In general design this wing agrees with van der Wulp's species ; therefore taking all together this species is no doubt a Xanthacrona. It is well to mention here, that this genus is closely allied to Myennis R. D., differing, as van der Wulp mentions, but not as to the number of its scutellar bristles. There are still more important variations, as for instance : the position of the small cross vein in relation to the discal cell, and the long drawn out lobe of the anal cell of the genus Myennis R. D. 98 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, '08 Helieria obscnricornis Lw. (Plate VI, Figs. 4, 5.) Ceroxys Loew, Mon. N. A. Dipt., Ill, 126, 1873. Melieria Coquillett, Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc., VIII, 22, 1900. Seventeen £ , six 9 , Springfield, Idaho (Skinner). Two £ and five 9 of this series agree well with the typical description of this species, excepting that the antennae are not brownish-black, but entirely rufous, infuscate sometimes at apex. The remaining sixteen approach ochricornis Lw. in hav- ing the costal spot above and that on the small cross vein more or less confluent, and the somewhat distinct marginal bands on the abdominal segments. On the other hand, the first, or basal wing-spot extends to the costa, showing a tendency towards simiHs Lw. ; but this latter species seems very distinct in having the marginal bands of abdominal segments very wide and dis- tinct. The following is a typical description of these specimens, which I think well to give : Front translucent yellow, orbits, vertex, face, cheeks, and occiput, whitish-yellow pollinose ; one or two pairs fronto-orbital bristles near vertex. Antennae rufous; third joint sometimes infuscate at apex; arista blackish. Fovese brown in the middle. Palpi yellow. Thorax and scu- tellum whitish-yellow pollinose, with black bristles. Halteres white. Abdomen widest at second segment, gradually tapering to the apex, more grayish ; posterior margins of segments 2-4 sometimes narrowly brownish ; fifth segment of $ widened somewhat for the broad ovi- positor, which is like colored, its first joint as long as the fourth and fifth segments together, gradually tapering to a truncate apex. All coxae yellow, whitish pollinose; femora and tibiae rufous; tarsi more or less infuscate. Wings yellowish hyaline; veins yellow except at the spot ; the design as figured in Loew's Monographs, Vol. Ill, plate VIII, figure 20; but the first spot sometimes extends from the costa to the fifth vein ; the second pair sometimes nearly confluent ; and the apical cloud more or less confluent with the spot on the posterior cross vein. Anastrepa serpentina Wied. (Plate VI, Figs. 6, 7.) Dacus Wiedmann, Auss. Zweif. II, 521, 1830. Acrotoxa Loew, Mon. N. A. Dept, III, 227, 1873. Two ! Missouri, p. 14, where Dr. Riley, in speaking of the stridulating organs of various Coleo|>tera, says: " In the burying beetles (Necrophoridse) these rasps are situated on the fifth abdominal joint, and are scraped by the posterior margin of the elytra." 122 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, '08 Winged Aphids. C. W. WOOD WORTH, Southern California Pathological Laboratory, Whittier, Jan. i/th, 1908. In the course of a study of the cabbage aphis, Aphis bras- sicae, it was noticed that the wilting of the plant resulted in an immediate slowing down of the birth rate. This season has thus far been unusually dry in the southern part of the State, and in almost all fields there have been innumerable cases of evident diminution in the number of aphids without much parasitism or sign of fungus or bacterial diseases. A leaf badly curled and almost entirely covered on one side by the aphids first shows a spontaneous production of young with wing pads. When these young have become full grown they fly away and the leaf becomes ultimately entirely free from the insects, except perhaps the bodies of a few swollen up parasi- tized individuals that may still remain and the cast skins that sometimes cling to the surface. There may be some connection between these two observa- tions, since the failure of plant lice to develop wings under more favorable conditions may be due simply to the rapidity of development of the rest of the body. After about one day from the birth of plant lice, those that are to produce wings are clearly distinguishable. Possibly the delay before birth result- ing from a partial wilting of the plant, or possibly the short- age of food for the new-born insect may give the wing buds time to begin development and to reach a point where they have an even chance with the other organs of the body. Professor Clarke has shown* that the common rose aphis, Siphonophora rosac, can be made to produce wings in the first generation upon rose cuttings in sand wetted with solutions of magnesium salts, while nothing else tried showed any effect. This is a case where there is no diminution in water supply; either the wing buds were stimulated by the presence of mag- nesium, or the other parts of the body were retarded. If the latter is true, it would simply fall in line with the suggestion made above. * The Journal of Technology. Vol. i. March, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 123 The grape Phylloxera (Phylloxera vastatrix} produces an abundance of winged individuals in Europe and elsewhere in the United States, but in California winged forms are extremely rare. This possibly corresponds with the high ratio that soda and potash bear to magnesium in our soils. Mr. O. Butler, of this department, has suggested to me that since winged forms are produced on the finest roots near the surface of the ground, their absence in this State might be bet- ter explained by the almost invariable destruction of such roots in this dry climate. The occasional production of broods of winged Phylloxera may be due to variations in the annual rise and fall of alkali, thus affecting the ratio of the different salts near the surface of the ground, thus conforming to the chemical theory of wing production, or the explanation may be that a better moisture condition on such years may permit sub-surface rootlets to live long enough to produce a brood of winged individuals. The reason for the development of winged forms on these upper rootlets may be according to the second explanation, the slow drying out of these parts or their periodical wilting during the summer resulting in a condition comparable with that occur- ring now in our cabbage fields. Similar phenomena occur in this region in the case of num- erous other species of plant lice. They increase until they reach a point where the leaf will be brought, by their combined attack, to a semi-wilted condition, and then all the young sub- sequently produced will develop wings. Whole trees are thus sometimes spontaneously freed from plant lice. It is well known that wing-producing lice develop much more slowly than those that remain wingless. The present sugges- tion is that a slower development, either immediately before or after birth, is the exciting cause of wing formation.- The foregoing is presented with the hope that others will make observations, the coming season, of evidence of spontan- eous wing production and its relation to dry periods or to excessive infestation of the plant. 124 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, 'oS Further Notes on Alberta Lepidoptera. BY F. H. WOLLEY DOD, Millarville, Alberta, Canada. Argynnis monticola Behr. ? I have only a single Banff male that could possibly be as- sociated with this name, and cannot find by what authority I so listed it, as I do not think the specimen has ever been sent away for a name. I much regret that Dr. Skinner records the species from Banff on my authority. Since publishing my list of butterfies in 1901 I have paid no attention to this specimen or its associates until now, though I had ample opportunity of procuring a long series of rhodvpc from British Columbia, where it is common, had I so desired. As it is I have only four males, one from Vancouver, two from the Island, and the fourth from Kaslo. The three coast specimens are much alike, agree with Dr. Holland's description and, allowing for sexual differences, with his figures. The color of secondaries beneath i? very dark, the spots yellowish or slightly silvered only, ex- cept the marginal row which are distinctly silvered. The Kaslo specimen is slightly smaller, paler in ground color as well as in shading above, has paler secondaries beneath, with no trace of silver on any of the spots, and those on the margin are slightly larger than in the coast specimens. It agrees in these details with Holland's figure (underside) and description of monticola except in having more of a rusty red and less of a purplish shading on secondaries. Such slight material forms unstable ground for conjecture, especially as there are not names to fit both forms in the B. C. lists, but the Banff and Kaslo specimens are alike, and certainly suggest a distinct species from the rhodope so common in coast collections. Under rhodope in the Kootenai lists Dr. Dyar mentions that Mr. Cockle had the species standing as monticola. A. halcyone Edw. I thus listed the species on the authority of Dr. Skinner, who has specimens from me and enters the record in Supplement No. i to his Catalogue. I have now under examination, 12 $ and 3 9 . The 9 sex, which I had been unable to compare when writing my former notes, fits Mr. Edward's figure to a March, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 125 nicety. Of outside material allied to the local form I have in my collection altogether two dozen specimens received from various localities and collectors under the several names of halcyone, coronis, chit one, platina and snydcri. Specimens under the last name resemble my No. 8 less than any of the rest. I do not vouch for the correctness of the names, and as localities are per- haps safer than names in speaking of some allied forms of .Irgynnis I will give them in making comparisons. A 9 from "Oslar, Col." labeled halcyone is more lightly marked and shaded above, and has buff band beneath, narrower and darker than any Calgary specimen and marginal row of spots on sec- ondaries smaller. Coronis from Glenwood Springs, Col., comes nearer, but like halcyone from Oslar differs in being more lightly marked and shaded above. Chitone from Yellow- stone Park, Wyo., six to seven thousand feet, is very slightly paler above than my palest, but otherwise I can match it exactly. There remain nine specimens received as platina. These I have divided in two series, which if not species are at least well marked local races. The first series consists of two males from Beaver Canyon. Idaho, and Stockton, Utah, and a female from Soldier Canyon, Tooele Co., Utah. The first of these is one of the type localities of platina, comes from Dr. Barnes and agrees with the description. This series differs from the Calgary species in being slightly paler in all the details of color and shading, but more distinctly in having rather larger silver spots and a wider, buff band. The other series of four males and two females are from the mountains of Colorado above 8,000 feet bearing labels "Pinnacle," "Gore's Range" and "Williams River Range." They are darker and more heavily black-marked and shaded above, and having the spots smaller and buff band nar- rower than the other series, fit the Calgary species exactly ex- cept for size which is very slightly smaller in the males, with the females relatively smaller still. LINDSAY SYMINGTON of Looe, Cornwall, England, wishes to corre- spond with a collector wanting British Lepidoptera, with the idea of ex- changing British for American species. Specimens set or papered. Full data and names; 126 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, '08 A Fossil Orthopterous Insect with the Media and Cubitus Fusing. BY T. D. A. COCKERELL. The first really fine insect found in the miocene shales of Florissant (Colorado) by the expedition of 1906 was a large beautifully spotted Orthopterous wing or tegmen. It was dis- covered by my wife at Station gL, and was put aside for de- tailed study, which it has only recently received. The prin- cipal reason why it was not described sooner was its apparent resemblance to Lythymnetes guttatus Scudder, and the conse- quent possibility that it might belong to that species. In August, 1907, however, I went to Cambridge and examined the type of Lythymnetes guttatus, finding it to be entirely dif- ferent from our insect. L/ater, part of a tegmen of L. guttatus was found in unpacking the collections of 1907 ; it was ob- tained by Mr. S. A. Rohwer at Station 14. The new7 form may take the name Palaeorehnia, in recognition of Mr. Rehn's important researches upon the Orthoptera. Palaeorehnia maculata n. g , n. sp. Tegmen. Exceedingly ample, the portion preserved 39 mm. long and about 17 across ; the original length must have been over 55 mm. The venation may be compared with that of Cyrtophillites rogeri Opp., from the Jurassic of Bavaria. The subcosta is straight, a trifle arched about its middle, and gives off veins above (three can be seen), more oblique than those of Cyrtophillites (the costal region probably less ample); the radius is practically straight (not kinked in the middle as in Cyrtophilli- tes}, and the radial sector leaves it at the smallest angle possible, running alongside of it and diverging very slightly, but at length giving off a branch (the point of origin of this is not visible) which also leaves at a very slight angle ; the media, so far as visible, is separate from the radius, but at about 8 mm. from the base it approaches it very closely and proba- bly joins it a mm. or so further back; the media gives off two oblique branches below, the first or lower of which (M,,) unites with the anterior branch of the cubitus for a short distance, at the level of and not far from the origin of the other branch ; the cubitus, n or 12 mm. from the base, breaks up into three branches, of which the first bends upward to join the media (M2), and then leaving it, very soon branches and the upper ramus of the second branch forks again ; the second and third branches of the cubitus are gently arched downwards, and appear to reach the margin without forking ; the anal veins are three in number, the first two long and strong, not branched, convex above at base, and for the March, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 127 rest of their course gently convex below. The veins, as in Cyrto- phillites, are crossed by numerous transverse veinlets ; these occasionally branch. The maculation consists of light spots on a ferruginous-brown ground of various degrees of darkness ; the spots cluster along the veins, and are conditioned largely by the transverse veinlets. This maculation is very different from that of Lythymnetes, in which the spots are mostly round and midway between the principal veins. Hab. — Florissant; Miocene, Station gL/C^. P. Cockerell, 1906). The interpretation of the venation of Palaeorehnia was not at once evident ; the union of the media with the cubitus and its later departure therefrom, is a confusing character, only readily understood by comparison with other types. Curiously this character is present in the ancient and extraordinary in- sect Eiigereon bockingi Dohrn., from the Permian. The same character is found in the anterior wings of the Neu- ropterous Sialis and Raphidia. Among the fossil Orthoptera the union of the cubitus with the media is found in Cyrto- pJiyllitcs rogeri, an insect with broad tegmina having many points of resemblance to Palaeorehnia, together with very im- portant differences. In the ordinary Acridiidae the cubi- tus bends upwards toward the lower branch of the media and at the point of closest approach there is a cross-nerv- ure. It is perhaps permissible to assume that this indi- cates descent from a form in which the nervures actually joined. Among the specimens and figures of recent Orthop- tera available, I was not able to find any genus in which the media and cubitus fused in the manner of Palaeorehnia. Mr. Rehn has very kindly sought for this character among the far better materials at his command, and has found it essentially as in Palaeorehnia and Cyrtophyllites, in the Phaneropterid genus, Tetrachoncha Karsch., 1890. This genus is exclusively African, with four known species. In the Pseudophyllinae Mr. Rehn found tendencies to the same condition in a great number of diverse genera, but in no case true coalescence. In eighteen genera of Phanopterinae he found tendencies similar to those just described for Acridiidae ; the character of the cross- vein varying, the approach being very decided in 128 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, '08 and slightly less so in Philophyllia. The eighteen genera are as follows: Elimaea (Oriental region), Aniara (Neotropical), Hyperophora (Neotropical), ALgimia (Mexico and Central America), Ancylecha (Malay region), Phyglea (Malay region), Sympaestria (Malay region), Terpnistria (S. Africa), Plagio- pleura (Neotropical), Hyperphrona (Neotropical), Prosagoga (Neotropical), Pycnopalpa Neotropical), Syntechnia (Neotrop- ical), Philophyllia (Neotropical), Ischyra (Neotropical), Posi- dippus (Neotropical), Weissenbornia (Africa), Pyrgophylax (Oriental). The wide distribution of this tendency, together with the facts already related, would seem to suggest the retention here and there of an originally common character, rather than the parallel development of something new. It seems just possi- ble that Scudder's Cymatomera macidata may be Palaeorehnia ; the reference to Cymatomera was wholly provisional. The species was founded on fragments of the base of a tegmen, and perhaps cannot be certainly recognized. Two New Species of Eupithecia Curtis. RICHARD F. PEARSALL. Of the eastern Eupithecia it seems desirable that the types of closely allied species should be retained where they may be accessible for comparison and study in their home region. I venture therefore to offer descriptions of some which I think should be classed as new : Eupithecia conformata n. sp. Expanse 14-16 mm. Palpi long, not very stout, soiled white with a few dark gray scales above. Vertex and front grayish white" or white with two spots of dark gray below antennae, and a border line of same above clypeus. Antennas dark gray annulate. Thorax, pale gray darker in front, whitish centrally and on posterior region. Abdomen above pale gray and brownish scales mixed, whitish at base, on second segment a lunule of brownish scales often absent, tufts not prominent, dark gray, anal segment paler. All wings above, clear pale gray, submarginally darker. Forewings narrow somewhat extended at apex, with three square costal blotches black, the beginning of cross lines, which consist March, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 129 of black dots on the veins more or less distinct. Basal line much broken, beyond it a pale line divided centrally by a fine darker hair line. Median line, also broken, turns from costal blotch toward discal dot, then in waves straight across wing. Extra-discal makes a sharp angle at costa, then rounds out opposite cell, and with slight inward curve reaches inner margin two-thirds out. Beyond this a pale line, strongly angulate at costa, centrally divided by a pale gray hair line, runs parallel with it across wing, succeeded by a gray shade line, more or less distinct which sometimes ends in a dusky spot at anal angle. Sub- marginal white line much waved, not very clear, and lacks the promin- ent white double dots of misernlata at the anal angle. Hind wings with inner margin showing the inception of five cross lines, those at base darkest, only two of which cross the wing extra-discally enclosing the broad pale line, which is continued from forewings in a curve sub- parallel with margin. Fringes long, pale gray, darker basally at end of veins. Marginal line obscure, dark gray broadly cut at veins. Discal dot on forewings large, round, prominent black ; on hindwings small, obscure. Beneath, a clear silken gray; the discal and extra-discal with its succeeding pale line across all wings. On hind wing, the median line makes a sharp outward angle at cell touching discal dot at its apex Basal line also evident, the entire series of lines composed of dots on veins. Marginal line heavier and discal dots distinct on all wings. Body beneath and legs whitish. Type — £ . Big Indian Valley, Catskill Mts., July i, '06. Type—- 9 . Bronx Park, New York City, June 23, '04, in the collection of R. F. Pearsall. The species is evidently double brooded, and resembles mise- rnlata, but is smaller, the males being easily separable by their slender shortly ciliate antennae, the prominent round discal dots on fore wings, and absence of yellowish scales on thorax and head. Twenty-four males and females, co-types, taken in Bronx Park, April 25 to May 4, and in Catskill Mountains, July 2 to August i. Eupithecia filmata n. sp. Expanse 17-18 mm. Palpi long, rather stout, dark brown. Vertex and front smooth with yellow brown and white scales mixed. Antennae pale yellow brown, annulate in the tf heavily biciliate. Thorax above dark brown, pale at centre. Abdomen above and beneath, with dark brown and whitish scales mixed, rough ; the first segment pale, the second dark brown, tufts black. Forewings broad, somewhat cxtrmli d at apex, 130 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, '08 rounded, with inner margin straight. Hindwings broad, rounded, the margin rather straight between veins three and six, all of thin texture and clothed with yellow brown and pale scales, having lines and veins mottled with dark brown, much after the style of lachrymosa Hist, of which it is a close ally. On forewings basal and discal spaces arc somewhat darker, separated by a pale line starting from costa about one-fourth out in a sharp outward curve, thence straight across wing to inner margin. The extra-discal line a little heavier especially at costa than any other, and somewhat diffuse, starts three-fourths out, with a slight outward curve, not angled, around discal dot, thence in a series of small outward scallops crosses to inner margin within anal angle, succeeded by the usual broad pale line running parallel with it. Subterminal space darker, the hair line not clear except at anal angle, where it becomes white, ending in geminate dots, emphasized by a clus- ter of dark scales surrounding them. Marginal line dark brown, cut at veins. Fringes long, ground color of wing, a little darkened opposite veins. Discal dots linear, black. The discal space is sometimes centrally divided by a broad pale line. Starting one-half out on costa, which with a sharp outward trend passes outside the discal dot thence waved to inner margin. Hindwings with dark triangular basal area, between which and the extra-discal line, which is continued from forewings in a diffuse outwardly curved line to inner margin one half from base, is a broad clear space in which is placed the faint discal dot. The pale line following extra-discal is more or less evident, partially defined along outer border on both wings by short dashes of dark scales on veins. Subterminal space darkened with marginal line and fringes as in forewings. Beneath, pale yellowish ashen, glossy, with the pale cross lines above all reproduced, bordered by dusky dotted or diffuse lines, the extra-discal heaviest, with black patch at costa. Body and legs pale ashen. Type. — $ and 9 , taken in coitu, Big Indian Valley, Catskill Mountains, June 29, 1907, and co-types from Bronx Park and Long Island, in collection of R. F. Pearsall. One 9 from Bronx Park is darker, more heavily scaled, but the usual form is pale, with markings more indistinct than the types, especially if rubbed. • » ' — PROF. TREVOR KINCAID, of the University of Washington at Seattle, has been asked by Dr. Howard to go over to Japan and organize a system for the collection of the Japanese parasites of the Gipsy Moth similar to that which is now in operation over in Europe. He ex- pects to have a good time and to do a pile of hard work in the land of the little brown men, and has started in to learn the lingo. March, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 131 Chaitophorus Testudinatus in America. BY O. W. OESTLUND, University, Minn. In the December number of the NEWS there appeared an in- teresting article on the dimorph of Chaitophorus negundinis Thos., as observed in Colorado by Mr. Bragg. The follow- ing notes and corrections may therefore be timely as attention has now been called to this peculiar form in America. I found the same quite abundant on the maples in Minneapolis in 1897, and have since observed it at various places in Minnesota. Mr. Bragg, it appears, is unaware of Kessler's* paper on the same dimorph, the most complete on the subject. The dimorph \vas first discovered and described by Thorntonf as Phyl- loplionis testudinatus, and by him considered to belong to some undescribed aphid. Balbiani and Signoretj: later proved its connection with the Chaitophorus on the maple, since consid- ered as CliaitopJwrns accris (L.) Koch, 1854. They also came to the conclusion that the dimorph, after continuing in an un- changed condition for months, at last perishes and comes to nought. Kessler, in the above mentioned article, showed that three distinct species had been included under ChaitopJwnis accris by authors, quite similar in general appearance but very distinct as to life-history. A green variety Kessler assigns to the original Chaitophorus aceris (L.) Koch., 1854; a brown variety he ascribes to Chui- toplwnis testudinatus (Thorn.) Kessl., 1886; the third variety is described as new under the name ChaitopJwnis lyropictus Kessl., 1886. The first two have a summer generation that re- main as larva in an unchanged condition for three months or more, after which they resume active life and pass through the customary moults. As adults they proved to be the sexupara producing the true sexes : the apterous females and winged males. The dimorph of the first differs from the second in wanting the flabelke and in the body not being flattened. *Kessler, Nova Acta Leop.-Carol. Akad., Vol. 51, pp. 151-178. 1886. t Thornton, Trans. Micr. Soc. London, Vol. 3. 1852. $ Balbiani et Signoret, Comptes rendus Acad. Sci., Vol. 14. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, '08 The dimorph of the second species is apparently the same as that found by Mr. Bragg in Colorado and myself in Minnesota. Kessler's figure shows the 22 flabellse on the abdomen, while Buckton is evidently at fault as to the number in his figure. As our American material appears to agree in all respects with the figures and descriptions of the European, I have for some time held the two to be the same and that it should be known as Chaitophorus testudinatus (Thorn.) Kessl, 1886. Kessler's third form has no dimorph, but continues to produce the spu- rise during the summer as usual in the family. The question if Chaitophorus negnndinis Thos., iS/S, should be considered as a synonym, or if we also have two or more species under one name, may best be left an open question until the life history of our maple Chaitophorus is better known than at present. The fact that the summer generations of the first two remain as larvae unchanged for three months or more, Kessler con- siders as a summer sleep or hibernation; in which case it may be better to speak of it as a specialization and not as a degen- eration. — • <•» • — An Aphid Feeding on Coccinellid Eggs. BY A. ARSENE GIRAULT. During early June, 1907, I had in confinement a number of pairs of the ladybird Megilla maculata DeGeer, in the labora- tory at New Richmond, Ohio. Each pair was confined in an ordinary glass tumbler covered with cheesecloth, and every morning a twig of plum, badly infested with an aphid espe- cially common on that food-plant in that vicinity, was intro- duced to serve as food. These aphids were eaten voraciously by the beetles. The female beetles were occasionally deposit- ing eggs in small batches of about from ten to fifteen, and quite often it was noticed that these eggs failed to hatch. At first this was thought to be due to infertility, although in sev- eral instances the egg masses were found to be thickly covered with aphids which had left their wilting or wilted food; besides the pairs of beetles were mating and some of the eggs deposited by them had hatched. March, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 133 On the morning of June loth several eggs in a freshly de- posited mass were noticed to be shriveled and, as the aphids were then clustered about the others, it was decided to investi- gate. After careful examination under a lens and low-power microscope it was found that the aphids had inserted their beaks into the eggs and were actually sucking them dry. A winged female and as many as six nymphs were watched thus feeding, each insect completely absorbing the contents of a single egg during the observation. Each egg gradually col- lapsed. I believe that this fact has not been recorded; the conditions under which it was observed, namely, those of confinement, must be taken into consideration. Has this anything to do with the fact that coccinellid eggs are seldom or never found in colonies of aphids ? Notes on Some Neuropteroids from Raleigh, N. C. BY C. S. BRIMLEY. /. Chauliodes. On April 4, 1906, I found some Chauliodes larvae preparing to pupate under the bark of rotten and soggy stumps near a marsh. All had the respiratory tubes on the eighth segment, close together and unequal in length. I put them in a jar with some damp, rotten wood, and most of them pupated. From the pupae emerged big, gray Chauliodes, of which one which emerged on April 2ist and another on May 4th were C. pectinicornis by the antennae ; the rest, of which one emerged on April 2oth, five on April 2ist, and two on April 22d, were all C. rastricornis judging by the antennae. On April 22d, 1907, I found another lot of larvae in the same locality and in similar situations to the others. All had respiratory tubes close together and unequal, and appendages on the tenth segment extending beyond the claws of that seg- ment. From these nine adults were bred, a rastricornis on May 1 5th and eight pectinicornis, one on May i5th, one on May lyth, four on May igth, and two on May 2oth. I have also taken two pectinicornis on sugar. 134 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, '08 //. Neuronia semifasciata. While sugaring for moths in my yard in 1905, I took, on July 8th, a caddis fly apparently attracted by the sugar ; next year I took another also in July, and, like the previous speci- men, belonging to this species. In 1907 I started sugaring earlier, and got ten of this species between May 5th and June 1 6th. I also took a specimen at Lake Ellis on sugar on May 5th. Other Neuropteroids taken at sugar have been two C/iauli- odes pectinicornis in July, 1905 and 1906 ; two Allochrysa vir- ginica, one each on September 21, 1905, and September i, 1906, and two Chrysopa lateralis on August 25 and September i, 1906. — i <»> ' — North Carolina Records of Odonata for 1906 and 1907. BY C. S. BRIMLEY. Progomphus obscurus Ratnb. Lake Ellis, one May 16, 1906. South- ern Pines, one received from Manee without date. Gomphus exilis Selys. Lake Ellis, common May 8-18, 1906, and May 22-28, 1907. Gomphus sordidus Hagen. Havelock, May 9, 1901, and May 25, 1907. Boyeria vinosa Say. Enfield, one taken by Woglum, July 5, 1906. Raleigh, one caught in State Museum after dusk by the night watchman. Nasiaeschna pentacantha Ramb. One taken at Raleigh, July 10, 1907, flying over the very same pool where I caught my first in 1902. Coryphaeschna ingens Ramb. Lake Ellis. I took a female in the act of ovipositing May 16, 1906. Another was taken May 28, 1907. Aeshna constricta Say. Highlands, three males and two females taken by Herman and VVoglum, September 6-9, 1906. Raleigh, not uncommon from mid-September to mid-November. *Cordulegaster fasciatus Rambur. Highlands, one male taken by Wog- lum, first week in September, 1906. Tetragoneuria semiaquea Burm. Lake Ellis, common, May 7-18, 1906, and May 23-28, 1907. Tetragoneuria complanata Ramb. Southern Pines, two, April 8, 1907 ; oue April 17, 1906, all taken by Manee. Soynatochlora filosa Hagen. Raleigh, September 6-12, 1906, both females. Southport, male and female, late October, 1906 ; taken by Sherman. Southern Pines, female taken by Manee, August 5, 1907. March, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 135 Somalochlora tenebrosa Say. Highlands, a male and two females taken by Sherman and Woglum, September 6-9, 1906. Raleigh, a female bred from nymph June 25, 1907. *Nannothemis bella Uhler. Southern Pines, May 30, June n, 22, 1906; June 22, 1907 ; a number taken by Manee. Sympetnnn vicinum Hagen. Raleigh, taken up to December 13 in 1906. Libellula basalis Say. Hendersonville, one taken by Sherman in June, 1907. Libellula flavida Ramb. Southern Pines, June 6, 1906, one taken by Woglum ; May 30, 1906 and May 28, 1907, taken by Manee. Libellula exusta deplanata Hagen. Lake Ellis, May 8-iS, 1906 ; not un- common. Southern Pines, April and May, 1906, and 1907 several taken by Manee. *DipIacodes minusculum Ramb. Lake Ellis, two taken May 24, 1907. Southern Pines, taken by Manee, June 21, 1907. Calopteryx dimidiata Burm. Lake Ellis, May 17-18, 1906, common on canal near camp. May 23-28, 1907, a few. Southern Pines, June n, 1906, two. Lestes vigilax Hagen. Lake Ellis, May 15, 1906, two taken. Argia funtipennis Burm. Lake Ellis. Abundant May 7-18, 1906 and May 23-28, 1907. *Enallagmapollutum Hagen. Lake Ellis, May 15, 1906, one. " laterals Morse. Lake Ellis, three specimens, May 8-18, 1906. " divagans Selys. Lake Ellis, common in May, 1906, and May, 1907. " signatum Hagen. Lake Ellis, two taken May 7-18, 1906. " aspersum Hagen. Lillington, one taken by Neethling, June 8, 1906. TERIAS MEXICANA BDV. IN NORTHERN COLORADO. — I can add another record of this species from Northern Colorado. In a collection of Lepidoptera collected by Mr. E. H. Richardson last summer, I found three rather battered specimens of mcxicana. They were labeled, "Easley's ranch, dry creek above Paul Lewis ranch, Chimney Gulch above Golden as far up as the willow spring." They were taken on July 15. Maynard (N. Am. Butterflies, p. 43) gives the following dis- tribution : "Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Southern California and Texas, also rarely to Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ontario (Point Pelee), appears to be extending its range north and east." I have re- ceived it commonly from San Antonio, Texas. — C. R. COOLIDGE. * The species marked with a * have not previously been recorded from the State. Most of the Southern Pines records are from specimens taken by Rev. A. H. Manee. i36 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, '08 The Abnormal Appearance of External Wing-buds in Larvae of Holometabolous Insects. BY WM. A. RILEY, Ithaca, N. Y. The literature of entomology abounds in reported instances of insectan malformations varying- all the way from slight abnormalities in venation or in the segments of an antenna, to duplication of appendages, or to those striking monstrosities in which the head of the larva is preserved by the imago. When we consider the minute scrutiny of the systematists it is not surprising that the vast majority of these instances relate to adult insects. It is to another type of abnormality — the appear- ance of external wing-buds in the larval stage — that I wish to call attention. It is a well known fact that the wings of insects with com- plete metamorphosis are developed as internal invaginations during the larval stage and normally become visible externally only at the time of pupation. So far as I know the recorded cases of abnormalities in which the wing-pads are external in the larva all relate to two species of Coleoptera. — Tenebrio molitor and Anthrenus varius.* To these may now be added a third, that of the Pyrochroid, Dendroides canadensis Latr. In 1896, while experimenting with meal-worms (Tenebrio molitor}, Heymonsf found a full-grown larva which possessed a pair of peculiar appendages on the meso- and metathorax. These appendages were symmetrical, those on the mesothorax being somewhat larger than those on the metathorax. Closer *I except the remarkable cases, reported by Cesare Majoli, 1813, of silk worm larvae which, instead of forming cocoons after the fourth molt, developed wings and other structures of the adult. From the meager accounts available (Stannius '35, Hagen '72) it seems to me that we here have to do rather with abnormal adults which have pre- served larval characteristics. To be sure, the line between the two types is rather arbitrary and it is greatly to be hoped that in the fu- ture any instances similar to those recorded by Majoli will be carefully and fully reported. t Heymons, R. '96. Flugelbildung bei der Larve von Tenebrio molitor. SB. Ges. naturf., Berlin, 1896, pp. 142-144. Also in Ent. Rec. xi, pp. 67-68. March, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 137 examination showed that they were not lateral or dorsal ex- cresences but true wing-pads occupying positions exactly simi- lar to those of the wing-cases of the Tcncbrio pupa. Since this larva was observed Professor Heymons has been able to find a number of larvae of the same species presenting the same anomaly, and at the recent Zoological Congress at Boston he exhibited several such specimens. Soon after the appearance of Heymon's first note, Mr. Busck exhibited before the Entomological Society of Washington,! six larvae of the Dermestid, Anthrenus varius, each of which showed well marked wing-pads on the second and third thoracic segments. In the summer of 1902 one of our students, Mr. P. B. Powell, who was breeding large numbers of Coleopterous larvae, discovered the phenomenon in the case of one of a number of larvae of a common Pyrochroid, Dendr aides cana- densis. This specimen showed the hinder pair of pads the larger while the contrary was true of the cases reported by Heymons. The larva was apparently in the last stage, and exhibited various other abnormalities which will be referred to later. At first sight it seems strange that all of the individuals presenting this peculiarity are coleopterous larvae but this is readily explicable when we consider the anatomical relations of the developing wings in this group. The best known type of wing development among holometabolous insects is what Tower has designed the "enclosed type" (the Pieris type of Gonin). In this the wing-bud invaginates and finally comes to lie in a closed sac connected with the body wall by a short, slender peduncle. Thus it lies wholly within the body cavity. On the other hand, the researches of Tower, '03, Powell, '04, and others, have shown that in Coleoptera the dominant type of wing development is that which Tower has designated the "simple type." Here as in the hcterometabolous forms the wing rudiment is 'not sharply marked off from the body hypo- +Busck, Aug. '97. Larvae of Anthrenus varhts, showing wing pads. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash, iv, p. 123. 138 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, '08 dermis and is usually directly evaginated to form the imaginal organ.' Thus it is a comparatively easy step to the abnormal- ity of a free, external wing-pad, whereas such a condition would be much more abnormal with the enclosed type of the Neurop- tera and Lepidoptera or the still more highly specialized stalked type characteristic of the higher Diptera. Intermediate between the simple and the enclosed types is the "recessed type" of Tower (the Corethra type of Gonin). As defined by the former, here "the fundament is invaginated and then evaginated, and so lies in a hollow niche in the hypoder- mal wall, but opens broadly against the cuticula." This type he found in the Scarakeidae among the Coleoptera while Weis- mann, '66, had reported it for Corethra, Simulium, and other nematocerous Diptera. Thus it is possible that specimens of these forms may be found in which the buds are free on the surface, though no such instances have been reported. As to the significance of the monstrosities under considera- tion there have been advanced two views. According to the one interpretation the occurrence of the external wing-pads in the larva is to be regarded as an in- stance of atavism — a harking-back to a period when the larva bore wings. The second interpretation, that favored by Heymons, is that in these cases we have illustration of anticipatory monstrosities. $ a kind of premature development in which characters normally present in the pupal state are present abnormally in the larva. He supports this view by citing other abnormalities present in his specimens. That the latter interpretation is the correct one is strongly supported by Mr. Powell's specimen. The most striking evi- dence is afforded by the fact that in addition to the usual lar- J This instance and several very striking cases of anticipatory mon- strosities in lepidopterous larvze (prematurely developed imaginal antennae, maxillae, and legs) have been very fully discussed by II. J. Kolbe (Allg. Z. f. Ent., 1903, pp. 1-9, 25-30), who proposes for the phenomenon the term "prothetaly," rcXos completion, 7rpo0ew to run before. March, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 139 val ocelli the compound eyes of the adult are partially developed. Moreover, as in some of the Tcncbrio larvae there are present more antennal segments than in the normal larvae, an approach to the condition of the adult. Certain other abnormalities whose significance is not clear, were noted by Mr. Powell. I am under obligations to him for permission to use the data relative to his specimen, but it is to be hoped that he may return to his studies and present a fuller account of this inter- esting abnormality. Two WORKSHOP NOTES. — In examining dried specimens of insects and in "posing" them for photographing it is often desirable to change the position of a wing, leg or antenna without disturbing other parts and without waiting to soften the whole specimen in a moist chamber. This may be done with larger insects by the use of a small camel's hair brush and boiling water. The brush, placed in the water, takes up a small drop which may be applied directly to the joint or part to be softened. A few rapid passes of the brush from the water to the part are sufficient, but it is desirable to have the specimen but a few inches from the water to prevent the drop from cooling. A small dish of water on a tripod heated by an alcohol lamp is convenient for this purpose. Parts moved in this way become fixed again as soon as dry. The compound microscope with low powers is often used in place of the hand lense in examining pinned specimens. While in rapid work it is more convenient to simply hold the pin in the fingers, steady- ing the hand on the stage of the microscope, it is frequently the case that a longer or more careful examination is desirable. For holding specimens under the compound microscope the writer uses an ordi- nary tapering cork stopper fastened to a microscopical slide at about one-fourth the distance from one end. Canada balsam may be used for fastening the cork to the glass. Heat a drop of balsam on the slide long enough to make it brittle when cold, and while still warm press the large end of the cork into the balsam and allow to cool. Where a mechanical device for moving slides on the stage, such as is made by the Spencer Lens Co. or the Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., is in use, the slide may be placed in the clamps of the attachment and tlu- specimen, pinned to the side of the cork, may be moved with pre- cision.— R. A. COOLEY, Bozeman, Montana. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit and will thankfully receive items of news likely to interest its readers from any source. The author's name will be given in each case, for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] To Contributors. — All contributions will be considered and passed upon at out earliest convenience, and, as far as may be, will be published according to date of recep- tion. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS has reached a circulation, both in numbers and circumfer- ence, as to make it necessary to put " copy " into the hands of the printer, for each num- ber, three weeks before date of issue. This should be remembered in sending special or important matter for a certain issue. Twenty-five " extras," without change in form, will be given free, when they are wanted ; and this should be so stated on the MS., along with the number desired. The receipt of all papers will be acknowledged.— ED. PHILADELPHIA, PA., MARCH, 1908. At the present time it is possible to have made excellent il- lustrations of insects by the half-tone process or by line en- graving, provided the copy or drawings are good and properly prepared. For many purposes a line cut is just as good as a half-tone and costs very much less. We frequently have sent to us copy for plates that is troublesome or not suitable, be- cause some authors do not know anything about the methods of reproduction of plate copy. Copy for line engraving should consist of lines and dots only and the ink used should be the blackest the artist can procure. If a number of small drawings are made for line engraving, make them so that they can be assembled into a single plate, or draw them all on one card. If blocked separately, it adds enormously to the cost. The half- tone is used for wash drawings and the reproduction of photo- graphs. Always remember that everything shows in a half- tone and that the outlines of many figures are such that the plate cannot be tooled, or routed, or outlined. We get copy consisting of line and dot work and wash drawing and photo- graphs mixed and this necessitates making a half-tone, where- as, if kept separate, both processes could be used separately at less expense. If you make small sketches on separate cards, bear in mind that if assembled, the reduction must be the same for all of them, therefore make them with this in view. It is always a good plan to have the drawings or photographs larger than the size of the resulting plate. 140 March, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 141 We give some examples of the different processes and kinds of plates: Plate V, Feb. '08, is a half-tone. Plate I, Jan. '08, is a mixed plate, Fig. B, being a half-tone, had to be inserted ; the other figures are line engravings. Plate II and III, Jan. '08, are line engravings. Plate XIII, Oct. '07, is a routed or outlined half-tone. Plates XV and XVI, Dec. '07, are line engravings. Notes and. Ne\vs. ENTOMOLOGICAL, GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE. PROF. JOHN B. SMITH is getting some very interesting points for his paper on Homoptera. The older species have been badly mixed in collections. Anyone having material should send it to him. Digby, February 5, 1908. IN ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS you sometimes refer to 'hanging co- coons of polyphcmus. I have found about thirty of these this winter, a few on low blueberry, and the rest on birch. When on the birch the cocoon was always at the very tip of the twig, and was enwrapped by the three or four end leaves. The silk was spun up the stems of the leaves and then around the twig, but so little was used that a slight pull or a sharp shake would bring the cocoon off. When on blueberry it was surrounded by leaves and generally attached to two or three of the upright twigs. Tn no cases were the cocoons more than a foot from the ground. — JOHN RUSSELL, Digby, N. S. AN INTERESTING letter has been received from the Rev. Henry C. McCook, D. D., dated Brookcamp, Devon, Pa. "I have been ill in bed for five weeks and am just beginning to get about. I did not see until now the honor which had been conferred upon me by the newly formed society of American entomologists in electing me an Honorary Fellow. I appreciate the honor and now beg through you to return cordial thanks for the same. At my advanced age and in my state of health no serious original work is possible. The future, which is most promising, is with younger entomologists, and they seem to be measuring well up to their opportunities. Yet 142 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, '08 I continue to do something in the way of interpreting the natural his- tory of our "little brothers" to the thinking people. I am now putting the finishing touches upon another book — 'Ant Communes, and How They are Governed.' " Doings of Societies. At the regular monthly meeting of the Brooklyn Entomo- logical Society, held on December 5th, 1907, the President, Dr. Zabriskie presided and fifteen members were present. Prof. Smith spoke upon the habits and peculiarities of the larvae of Cule.v pcrturbans. Mr. Franck exhibited an exceptionally fine melanic form of Colias philodice captured at Bethlehem, Pa., in August 1907. Mr. Davis exhibited a specimen of Basilarchia intermediate between arthemis and proserpina. Mr. Pearsall, who exhibited a series of Basilarchia proser- pina as well as a number of other lepidopterons insects from the Catskill mountains, remarked that in his opinion proserpina is a good species. He thinks the larva feeds on apple. Mr. Franck has found the larva of arthemis in the Catskills feeding on wild cherry (Primus pennsylvanicus} and Mr. Engelhardt secured a specimen in the same region, newly hatched from a chrysalid suspended from a willow branch. A series of Pieris napi, both spring and summer forms, shown by Mr. Pearsall, was obtained from chrysalides from larvse found feeding on crinkle root (Dentana diphylla}. GEO. P. ENGELHARDT, Recording Secretary. JOSEPH THOMAS. Died at Quakertown, Pa., Tuesday, January 28, Dr. Joseph Thomas, in his 8gth year. Dr. Thomas was one of the leading citizens of his town and a subscriber to the NEWS for many years. He took a great interest in Entomology and in natural history in general. APRIL, 1908. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Vol. XIX. No. HJiniii i •inflUff*' F\ \ Halter americana Cockerell. EDITOR : HENRY SKINNER, M. D. PHILIP P. CALVERT, Ph.D., Associate Editor. ADVISORY COMMITTEE: KZKA T. CRESSON. HENRY L. VIHRECK. ]. A. G. REHN. PHM.IP I.AURKNT. WILLIAM J. FOX. H. W. WENZEI. PHILADELPHIA: ENTOMOLOGICAL ROOMS OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, LOGAN SQUARE. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as Second-Clasi Matter ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Published monthly, excepting August and September, in charge of the Entomo- logical Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and the American Entomological Society. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, $1.OO IN ADVANCE. Outside of the United States and Canada, $1.20. SINGLE COPIES 15 CENTS Advertising Rates : 30 cents per square inch, single insertion ; a liberal discount on longer insertions. No advertisement taken for less than 60 cents — Cash in advance. JP&~ All remittances should be addressed to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th and Race Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. NEW ARRIVALS. Having received a large shipment of Lepidoptera from Assam and Upper Burma, containing Papilios and other desirable species, including several varieties of Satur- niidae, which will be sold at very reasonable prices ^™ ^^ perfect specimens in papers, containing many Papilios, •^^ • I including Papilio parts, Papilio helemts, and many other ^^^ ^^F desirable species ; fifty different specimens ; no duplicates. ONE DOZEN PAPILIOS, ALL PERFECT $2.25 Other rare specimens at reasonable prices. Send for list and prices. JOHN H. MATTHEWS, 3219 N. 13th Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA. ARIZONA INSECTS. Will collect in most orders or families or season's catch. Also in botany, especially cactii and herpetology — reptiles and amphibians if notified early in the season. Agent for sale of Coleoptera, Mr. L. H. Joutel, 164 E. nyth St., New York City. DR. R. E. KUNZE, Phoenix, Arizona. CATALOGUE OF THE NEUROPTEROID INSECTS (EXCEPT ODONATA) OF THE UNITED STATES BY NATHAN BANKS Complete to Summer of 1907 Price 50 cts. (ntt) per copy Mailed on receipt of price for copy of New Additions Price List; just issued. E. T. CRESSON, Treas., P. O. Box 248, Philadelphia, Pa. When Writing Please Mention "Entomological News." ENT. NEWS, VOL. XIX. PI. VII. APHIS FOLSOMII (DAVIS). ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. XIX. APRIL, 1908. No. 4. CONTENTS: Davis — A New Aphid on the Virginia Creeper 143 Siiyder— Color and Environment 147 Skinner— A New Variety of Papilio philenor 149 Jones— Pitcher-Plant Insects III 150 Hebard — A New Genus and Species of Decticinae (Orthoptera) from Cali- fornia 156 Fall — New Scarabaeidae 159 Engel— Notes on Sesiidae 164 Brimleyand Sherman — Additional Rec- ords of Tabanidae (Horse-Flies) of North Carolina 168 Doane — New North American Pachy- rhina, with a Table for Determin- ing the Species 173 Rohwer and Cockerel! — Some Oxybe- line Wasps from New Mexico 179 Editorial iSi Entomological Literature 182 Notes and News 183 Doings of Societies 184 A New Aphid on the Virginia Creeper. (APHIS FOLSOMII n. sp.) BY JOHN J. DAVIS, Urbana, 111. (Plate VII.) Last spring (1907) I noticed numbers of this plant louse on the vines of the Virginia creeper, Parthenocissa (Ampcl- opsis) qninqncfolia, which were growing in an old greenhouse. The old frames of the greenhouse were much warped, leaving large openings through which the vines gained access to the room. Here the lice made their appearance and were most abundant, though later in the summer they were not uncommon on the same vines outside of the building. I have examined the Virginia creeper at other places, both in Ur- bana and in other Illinois localities, but nowhere else have I been able to find this species. My first observations were made May 2, 1907, at which time only a few individuals were to be found and they oc- curred singly upon the young shoots. These aphids were 144 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 nearly adult and were probably the stem mothers. During the earlier part of the year it required twelve to fourteen days for them to become mature, but later in the warmer summer months the period for maturity was much shorter. The num- ber of young per female was, in two instances, 106 and 109, respectively. The length of time required to give birth to these young were 15 and 21 days respectively, or an average of 7 plus in the first case and 5 plus young per day in the second. The lice were evidently partial to the young tender shoots, but later in the summer when these became crowded, some of the aphids were obliged to secure their food supply from the leaf petioles or the undersides of the leaves. The first adult winged form was noticed May 21 st, it hav- ing been born May gth or loth. The lice continued to in- crease in numbers until about the middle of July, but from then until about August I2th, only occasional specimens were found, the others having become winged and having prob- ably migrated to other places. They began to be more num- erous, however, August I2th, and by August iQth were com- paratively abundant, most of them being immature individ- uals. This second appearance of the aphids in numbers was not due to return migrants, but rather to the progeny pro- duced by the few wingless forms that had remained. I was unable to follow up the appearance of the bisexual genera- tion, but when examinations of the vines were made the first part of October, wingless oviparous females and winged males were found in copula, and also a few eggs deposited upon various parts of the vine. Later in the fall but occasional eggs could be found upon the vines and I concluded that the ant (Cremastogastcr lineolata) had carried them to its nest. From the very first appearance of the aphids and throughout the summer this ant had been in constant attendance upon them. The lice secreted, from the anus, a somewhat milky fluid which soon became more or less solidified. Upon the parts of the plant occupied by the lice many of these globules were usually found. April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 145 Aphis folsomii n. sp. Wingless -viviparous female. — Body very dark brown, head paler. Antennae dark brown to black, excepting the fourth and fifth segments, which are white ; not reaching the cornicles. Eyes black. Beak pale, excepting the bases of the femora and the distal ends of the tibiae. Fore legs light brown, excepting at the joints and the tarsi. Middle pair of legs as in fore pair, except that the darkened area is greater. There are about five indistinct spots or pits, darker than the body color, dorsally and on each side of the abdomen. Cornicles black, cyl- indrical, imbricate, slightly dilated apically, and two and a half to three times the length of the tarsi. Style black, conical and about one- half the cornicles in length. Measurements. — Length of body, 2.0-2.254 mm.; width, 1.40-1.781 mm.; antenna, I, 0.08 1 ; II, 0.049; III, 0.212; IV, 0.146; V, 0.195; VI, basal, 0.114; filament, 0.228; total, 1.025 mm. (Measurements from live specimens.) Winged viviparous female. — Head and thorax black, abdomen dark brown. Antennae concolorous with the abdomen, not reaching to the conr'cles, imbricated; with four to seven circular sensoria on seg- ment III and, as usual, one at the distal end of V, and several at the apex of the thickened basal portion of VI. Eyes black. Wings hyaline, with conspicuous black veins, the first and second discoidals branching at a point about two-thirds the distance from where they leave the third discoidal to the margin. Legs dark with small paler areas at the middle of the tibiae and femora. Cornicles black, cylin- drical, imbricated, slightly dilated apically, and twice the length of tarsi. Style dark, conical, and one-half as long as the cornicles. Measurements. — Length of body, 1.62-2.036 mm. ; width, 0.81-0.98 mm.; length of wing, 2.21-2.62 mm.; antenna, I, 0.0652; II, 0.0733; HI, 0.2727; IV, 0.2454; V, 0.2545; VI, basal, 0.1031; filament, 0.3999; total, 1.4141 mm.; cornicles, 0.218-0.255 mm.; style, 0.122 mm.; hind tarsus, 0.126 mm. (Measurements from live specimens.) Pupa. — Abdomen with no white flocculent spots. Legs (excepting tarsi), antennae (excepting tips), and cornicles white, to the naked eye. Style with a slight whitish bloom. Wingless oviparous female. — Abdomen reddish brown, thorax darker, and head paler. Antennae dark, excepting segments 111, IV, and V, which are white, imbricate, and not reaching to the cornicles, l-'.yes black. Beak reaching to hind coxae. Abdomen with a row of very minute black dots on each side. Tarsi and articulations of the i pair of legs dark to black, remainder pale bmwni^h; middle pair with darkened area larger; hind legs almost entirely dark bmwn to black, the hind tibiae swollen and with numbers of sensoria along the inner side. Cornicles concolorous with abdomen, cylindrical, imbricate, and slightly longer than the body color, conical, equal to or slightly less than the hind tarsi in length. 146 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 Measurements. — Length of body, 1.5273-2.1816 mm.; width, 1.0908- 1.2816 mm.; antenna, I, 0.0801; II, 0.0611; III, 0.2635; IV, 0.2159; V, 0.1969; VI, basal, 0.0896; filament, 0.3273; total 1.2444 mm.; cornicles, 0.1738 mm.; hind tarsus, 0.1344 mm.; style, 0.1141 mm. (The above measurements are averages from specimens mounted in balsam.) Egg. — The black shining egg is elliptical and measures 0.7009 by 0.3260 mm. Winged male. — Head and thorax black, abdomen dark reddish brown. Antenna? black, imbricated, with numerous circular sensoria irregularly placed on segments III, IV, and V. There are usually twenty or thirty sensoria on III and IV, and half that number on V, but these num- bers sometimes vary although the proportions are generally the same. Eyes black. Wings hyaline, with black veins, the first and second dis- coidals branching at a point about two-thirds the distance from where they leave the third discoidal to the margin. Legs dark to black, excepting the middle portions of the tibiae and femora. Cornicles very dark, almost black, cylindrical, imbricated, slightly less than the hind tarsi in length. Style dark but not black, conical, and longer than the tarsus. Measurements. — Length of body, 1.1999 mm.; width, 0.5636 mm.; length of wing, 1.7452 mm.; antenna, I, 0.0591; II, 0.0529; III, 0.2180; IV, 0.1895; V, 0.1650; VI, basal, 0.0825; filament, 0.2872; total, 1.0542 mm.; cornicles, 0.0978 mm.; hind tarsus, 0.1141 mm. (Measurements from specimens in alcohol and in balsam.) Mr. T. A. Williams, in a bulletin of the Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska, listed a new species, Aphis parthenocissi on Parthenocissa quinquefolia, but did not describe the same. This species is closely allied to Aphis ilicis Kalt. — (A. hcd- crae Kalt.) of Europe, but compared with the European de- scriptions is quite distinct. I respectfully dedicate this species to Doctor Justus W. Folsom, who by the publication of "Entomology with refer- ence to its Biological and Economic Aspects" has done so much for the advancement of entomology, and to whom the writer is indebted for many helpful suggestions. EXPLANATION OF PLATE VII. Aphis folsomii. — i, wing of viviparous female; 2, style of winged viviparous female; 3, cornicle of winged viviparous female; 4, hind tibia of oviparous female, showing sensoria; 5, antenna, of wingless viviparous female ; 6, of winged viviparous female ; 7, of wingless ovi- parous female ; 8, of winged male. April, *08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 147 Color and Environment. BY HOWARD AUSTEN SNYDER, Philadelphia, Pa. While collecting insects in the Bermuda Islands in the year 1905, I perceived that the common wasps I saw flying were of a lighter shade than those of the United States, and ex- pected to find in my net a species different from our own, but on examination I saw that they were identical with our Polistcs pallipes. The difference in shade I attribute to the fact that as Bermuda has coral roads and white calcimined roofs, the average shade of the country has had the effect of producing a lighter shade in its insects. As every one knows, the more contrasted in color or shade an insect or bird is with relation to surrounding objects, or the background on which it rests, the more liable it is to be discovered and devoured or killed by its enemies. Locally we see that effect in the locust, Trimerotropis maritima, and the tiger beetle, Cicindela dor- salis, of our own coasts, which from their habit of frequent- ing the light sandy tracts, have had their darker ancestors eliminated by this fact in the economy of nature, and only the light ones remain and are inconspicuous and less liable to de- struction. Their color serves to keep them on the sand, for let them wander inland where there is vegetation and a darker soil, and they are soon discovered and destroyed. With bees and swift flying creatures this rule cannot so well apply, as they are never long in one place, and can elude their ene- mies. The tiger beetle and locust alight frequently and are more often resting in sight of enemies. I mean to indicate by the above that in any country, especi- ally an isolated one, the insects will average darker or lighter according to the shade of the land and vegetation. Let a dark insect inhabit a country where the roads and the roofs are white, it will be rendered conspicuous and thus exposed to danger oftener than it would be in a country where the surface is darker. The diagram below will portray in a gen- eral way the appearance of Bermuda as compared with that of the United States — not exactly, of course. For the proper I48 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 effect, the diagram should be viewed at a distance of ten feet, when the difference in degree will be seen without detail. United States. Bermuda. The average road in the United States is about the color of a plowed field, and hence of little effect in modifying the gen- eral shade. In Bermuda the roads are closer than in Penn- sylvania, and hence effective in lightening the general aspect of the country — and added to this, the roofs increase the ef- fect, and although an insect in its flight might many times fly over or alight on a dark background, among the thousands of objects visible, of two insects of one species, the slightly darker one will be the first discovered on a light background; the lighter ones will live the longer and naturally have more descendants. It seems unnecessary since acquaintance with Darwin's the- ory is so wide-spread, to say that although all animals resem- ble their parents, they all vary in minor particulars, and any difference in color or otherwise may serve to protect one and enable it to live long enough to produce its kind with a like resemblance and a little immunity. Nature seizes upon that which is good. It may be asked why these insects are not still lighter, but here the law of equilibrium intervenes and prevents a further advance. There is danger when it becomes too light of be- coming too conspicuous. Taking an extreme case, a white insect would be at once a prey of its enemies when on or over the darker vegetation. They are held back far enough from white to be fairly safe on a dark background. April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 149 This theory cannot be tested in a large country, where the shades and colors are various, and can only partially be proven in an isolated country. The Bermudian surface affords us the best possible exemplification of the theory. As material for reasoning in this line, let us imagine a coral island placed seven hundred miles from the mainland, as Bermuda is, but connected with it by a chain of islands, as Bermuda could have been, and let all the intervening islands become submerged by the subsidence of the sea bottom, which is possible. Up to this time, the insects of the mainland have had free access to all the islands, and vice versa. Conse- quently, the species are similar and the above condition among the insects of the island cannot arise, but now that they are cut off from the mainland, the local environment begins to shape their destiny, which seems to be as described. I believe that all insects so placed will have their colors modified unless extremely well defended by poisonous quali- ties, weapons of defense or underground habits. A New Variety of Papilio Philenor. BY HENRY SKINNER. Papilio phflenor hirsnta n. var. This differs from the ordinary form in the hairy character of the body and the shortness of the tails. The thorax and abdomen are clothed with long black hairs and the tails are 4.5 mm long. Male and female from Plumas County, Califor- nia, 9,500 feet elevation. Received from Mr. George Franck. EDITORS, ENT. NEWS : — I take pleasure in announcing the recent or- ganization of "The Association of County Entomologists" of California, formed in San Jose, February isth, 1908. W. H. Volck, Entomologist for Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, was made president, and E. L- Morris, Entomologist for Santa Clara County, secretary and treasurer. The object of the Association is for a more perfect co-operation in dealing with problems common to the orchardists of the districts rep- resented. We hope by frequent consultations, comparison of plans and results of work to be better able to further the horticultural in- terests in our counties. — EARL L. MORRIS, Secretary. 150 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 Pitcher-Plant Insects.— III. BY FRANK MORTON JONES, Wilmington, Delaware. (Plate's VII-IX.) Papaipema appassionata Harvey. Of the insects observed at Summerville, South Carolina, making' Sarracenia their food-plant, next in abundance to the Exyras was a root-borer which proved to be Papaipema ap- pasionata Harvey. The burning over of the meadows makes the work of this insect in the roots of Sarracenia flava much more apparent than in those places where the tangled clumps of leaves of the preceding season conceal the ground. On these comparatively bare portions of the Sarracenia meadows, and especially in the less swampy places, it becomes apparent early in April that a very large proportion of the roots of Sarracenia flava contain this larva, which bores, first perpen- dicularly through the buds, then horizontally, following the course of the root-stock and keeping open the passage to the surface for the disposal of the frass, which is built up into a closed turret-like tube, capping the entrance to the burrow. So numerous are these burrows that whole clumps of flava with their interlaced root-stocks fail for a time to put up either buds or leaves, and many which start to grow are under- mined and killed by the operations of the borer. The much larger frass-tubes formed in the preceding year by full grown larvae are also noticeable among the roots, showing that these structures are compact and tough enough to last through a winter's exposure to the weather. Their purpose is probably to prevent the burrows from being flooded during rains and temporary inundations. At first only a fraction of an inch in height, these turrets are extended with the growth of the larvae to a height of two inches or more, and are often built against and partly supported by one of the larger fleshy leaf- stems, through which the burrow extends into the root-stock. The upper figures on Plate VIII, show the condition of the turrets, the extent of feeding, and the position of the lar- vae in the root-stocks on April first. Throughout the sum- EMT. NEWS. VOL. XIX. PI. VIII. PITCHER-PLANT INSECTS (JONES). April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 15! mer these larva? extend their burrows through the root-stock?, throwing up new turrets from time to time as they follow the winding course of the interlaced roots. Pupation takes place in a wide part of the burrow, not far from the surface, pro- vision having previously been made for the escape of the moth (middle figure, Plate VIII). The first pupa was noted Sep- tember twenty-second, though some not observed were evi- dently a few clays earlier: the moths commenced to emerge October sixteenth, the last emergence of eighteen beinsr Xo- o a o vember third. • The unusually long larval period is presumably the effect of the long season in this southern locality, the insect being single-brooded here as in the north. Mr. Henry Bird has described this larva from specimens found in Sarraccnia purpurca in Xew Jersey (see Can. Ent. xxxv, 91-94), in which plant they did not pupate in the bur- rows, nor was the turret-building habit observed. Mr. Bird has kindly compared the South Carolina specimens from flava with his Xew Jersey specimens from pnrpurca, and finds them identical, the examples bred from flava, as would be expected, being slightly larger. Olethreutes daeckeana Kearfott. The larva of E.ryra rolandiana has been noted as feeding V in the flowers and unripe ovaries of Sarraccnia purpurea. At Summerville no E.vyra larvae were found in the flowers of either Sarraccnia flava or Sarraccnia minor. The flowers of minor, however, which begin to appear toward the end of April, are frequently destroyed by a small Tortrix caterpillar, which feeds among the petals and stamens and also burrows into and hollows out the green ovary, fastening the debris of the flower together with silk. In these larva-infested flow- ers the umbrella-shaped style withers and the shrivelled petals cling to the wreck of the flower instead of falling at the usual time. The lower figures on Plate VIII illustrate a healthy flower after the fall of the petals and an infested one. These larva? were noted about May first, when a few of 152 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 them were almost full fed ; they became more abundant by the middle of the month. A slight cocoon is formed in the flower from the debris loosely held together with silk, and from this the brown pupa pushes its way out some hours be- fore the emergence of the moth. Of those under observation, the first appeared May twenty-third, though at that date many of the later larvae had not pupated. The latest emergence noted was June thirteenth. From unripe ovaries of Sarracenia pur pur ca gathered near Katahdin Iron Works, Maine, later in the season (August), the same insect was bred, and Mr. Kearfott identifies it as Olethreutes dacckeana, a species which he described in 1907 from a New Jersey locality where its food-plant was also Sarracenia purpurca, so it is evidently widely distributed and will probably be found wherever Sarracenia is abundant. Archips parallela Rob. Toward the end of May still another insect may be found attacking Sarracenia minor; this is the larva of a Tortricid, — a smooth, cylindrical caterpillar about seven-eighths of an inch in length, dull dark sage-green in color, studded with small white tubercles bearing short fine white hairs ; the head and thoracic shield are yellowish-brown with black markings, and the feet black. This caterpillar seems to prefer the smaller open leaves of Sarracenia minor. It fills the upper portion of the tube with a white opaque web, through which it retreats in a tortuous passage when alarmed. In feeding it takes no care not to eat entirely through the leaf-wall, and the upper portion of the hood usually shows a ragged hole where the caterpillar has fed. A number of these larvre of different ages were found in localities widely separated, so their occurrence in this food-plant was evidently not accidental. Of these, one fell a victim to the new leaf to which it was transferred,— evidence that this insect has not yet perfectly adapted itself to this dangerous food-plant. One larva on June third left the leaf in which it had been feeding, ensconced itself on the April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 153 outside of another leaf of minor in the angle formed by the flat wing of the leaf and the outside of the tube, and here spun a tubular shelter by bridging this corner with a web of opaque white silk; here, a few days later, it changed to a brown pupa, which on June twenty-second forced its way out of the cocoon by means of the double row of spines with which its segments are armed, and the moth emerged. Mr. W. D. Kearfott pronounces the moth to be a typical specimen of Archips parallela Rob., a widely distributed species with a long list of recorded food-plants. On some of its other food-plants this caterpillar spins several leaves together to form a more or less tubular shelter. It would be interesting to determine to what extent it is adapting itself to the other species of Sarraccnia found within its range. POLLINATION. That Sarracenia must depend upon insect agency to effect pollination of the blossom was recognized long ago by the botanists, and the structure of the flower indicates something of the method by which this must be accomplished. Careful observation of the insect visitors of Sarracenia ftava through- out its blooming season make it seem probable that in this spe- cies the method of pollination differs in some respects from the published accounts of this process in the genus Sarracenia in general. In flava, as in the other species of the genus, the style is a curious umbrella-shaped structure, each of its five points being cleft, and the stigmatic surfaces are situated on little projecting points at the base of these clefts on the con- cave side of the open umbrella. The petals at the base form a close bell-shaped cover, spreading out and filling the space between the points of the inverted umbrella ; and access to the nectar and pollen is possible only at one of five openings, situated just below the curled-up tips of the umbrella with their projecting stigmatic .points. An insect alighting on a petal enters the flower, turns at right angles in either direction to one of these openings, and in forcing its way through, if of suitable size, scrapes its back 154 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 across the projecting point of the stigma. In flava especially, egress is exceedingly difficult except at the five entrance holes ; and all of the numerous insects observed visiting these flow- ers emerged after considerable struggling through one of these orifices, almost invariably again scraping the stigma in their departure. In flava therefore, with its heavy closely- overlapped petals usually preventing the escape of the visit- ing insects except by repassing the stigma, some special pro- vision for preventing habitual self-pollination by insect ag- ency would be expected ; and this seems to be provided for in the position the flower assumes upon its stem at various ages. When the bud first appears above the ground it is borne up- right upon the stem ; as the blooming period draws near, the stem bends just below the bud, making a complete turn, so that when the flower opens the style occupies the position of an inverted umbrella, catching and retaining the falling pollen, most of which is shed within twenty-four hours after the flower begins to open. The flower then begins again to change its position, often being very noticeably tilted on the stem by the third day, and eventually, long before the fall of the petals, it takes a position at right angles to the original one. These changes of position and the structure of the flower are shown on Plate IX. The tilted and finally upright flow- ers naturally retain less pollen than the newly opened horizon- tal ones, and often the tilted flowers show little trace remain- ing of the abundant supply in the newly-opened blooms. As^ the blossoms remain fresh and continue to be attractive to insects for more than two weeks, it would seem that this change in the position of the flower and the consequent spill- ing of the pollen decidedly favor cross-fertilization. Ants are almost invariably present in the flowers, attracted by the abundant nectar oozing from the ovary, but they arc probably of little importance as pollenizers. The ant most abundant in flava at Summerville is identified by Prof. W. M. Wheeler as Tapinoma pruinosa Roger. Ants, wasps, and oc- casionally butterflies visit the outside of the flower; spiders, ENT. NEM-R, VOL. XIX. PI. IX. PITCHER-PLANT INSECTS (JONES). April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 155 small beetles, and even the little green tree frogs which habitu- ally occupy the leaves, are sometimes found ensconced in the flowers ; but from the first opening of the flava blossoms in March, their most frequent visitor on sunny days is the honey- bee, which being of suitable size to snugly fit the orifice, rarely enters or leaves without brushing the stigma. Most of these bees carry loads of pollen, and do not seem to exercise any choice, relative to the age of the flowers, in making their vis- its. Much smaller bees, Augochlora and Osmia, are less fre- quent visitors and on account of their size usually escape con- tact with the stigma. At rare intervals a bumble-bee may be seen forcing its way into the flower by the usual path, but this insect proved so infrequent a visitor that it can scarcely be considered of much importance as a pollenizer of flava. One other insect, however, of suitable size to effect polli- nation, an insect always associated with Sarracenia, is a con- stant visitor to the blossoms. The Sarracenia fly, Sarcophaga sarraccniae Riley, habitually resorts to the blossoms as well as to the leaves, perhaps more for shelter than for food. At night and on cool, windy or rainy days these flies crowd into the blossoms, sometimes to the number of three or four to one flower; they are rough, bristly, and often yellow with pollen ; they enter and leave the flowers by the only practic- able path, the orifice just under the stigma, which they are of suitable size almost necessarily to touch in passing. It has been suggested that the pitcher plant moths (Exyra) may be pollenizers of these flowers ; but as flara at Summer- vine commences to bloom in March, and E.ryra ridingsii, the Species most intimately associated with it, does not appear until the middle of May, and E.ryra scinicrocca not until the middle of April, this can scarcely be the case. The color of the flowers and the fact that their fragrance becomes more noticeable toward evening indicates the possibility that night- flying insects may aid in pollination. The following list in- cludes all the day-time visitors found in sufficient numbers to indicate that they are habitual visitors to these flowers : 156 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 In Sarracenia flava: Coleoptera : Chauliognathus marginatus Fabr. Diptera : Sarcophaga sarraccniae Riley. Hymenoptera : Apis m ell if era L. Bombus Pennsyh'anicus De G. Augochlora (confusa Robt. ?). Osmia sp. Halictus sp. Tapinoma pruinosa Roger. The small brilliantly-metallic bees, Augochlora, and an Os- niia, were also noted frequenting the blossoms of Sarracenia mi nor, which did not seem to be visited by the larger insects. Dr. Mellichamp has recorded a beetle, Euphoria mclancholica, as an occasional visitor to this flower. The size and structure of the flower, however, seem to indicate the small bees as the more suitable pollenizers. A New Genus and Species of Decticinae (Orthoptera) from California. BY MORGAN HEBARD. Cyrtophyllicus* new genus. This genus is related to Zacycloptcra Caudellf from which it differs chiefly in the very minute wings, the different form of the cerci and tegmina and the more spinose legs. Male only known. Fastigium blunt and not half as broad as basal joint of antenna?. Pronotum slightly produced caudad, dorsal surface almost flat ; lateral carinre not distinct cephalad but developed as distinct shoulders caudad, diverg- ing regularly caudad and at the caudal margin separated by slightly more than twice the width at the median portion of the prozona. Prosternum armed with a pair of long slender *Cyrtophyllus genus of Pseudophyllinac. CIKOS, that which resem- bles. fProceedings U. S. Nat. Mus, Vol. XXXII, p. 308. April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 157 spines. Mesosternum armed with a similar pair of spines. Tegmina short, not reaching the apex of the abdomen, rounded and inflated. Wings very minute. Supra-anal plate small and obscure, the last dorsal abdominal segment produced, deeply and rounded emarginate, bounded laterad by rounded FIG. i. FK;. 2. FIG. 3. Figure i. Cyrtophyllicus chloiiun n. gen. and sp. Lateral view of type, (x 3.) Figure 2. Cyrtophyllicus clilonnn n. gen. and sp. Tympanum of male, (x 3.) Figure 3. Cyrtophyllicus chlontiii n. gen. and sp. Dorsal view of apex of male abdomen, (x 6.) 158 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 lobes. Cercus slender, somewhat bowed and armed with a single heavy tooth. Legs moderately long, slender and well spined. Type. — Cyrtophyllicns chlorum, new species. Cyrtophyllicns cblorum new species. Type. — Male; El Portal, Mariposa County, California. Al- titude, 3,200 feet. August 30, 1907. Collected by Morgan Hebard. (Hebard collection.) Size moderate; form somewhat slender. Head not broader than cephalic portion of pronotum into which it is well inserted ; fastigium of vertex short, blunt, compressed and deeply sulcate ; eyes small, prominent and semiglobose ; antenna; in length almost six times that of pronotum, filiform, width of basal segment two-thirds that of eye, antennal scrobes somewhat protuberant. Prozona of pronotum not punctate, metazona rugoso-punctate, separated from the prozona by a distinct straight transverse sulcus ; median carina of pronotum scarcely visible ; prozona twice the length of metazona ; cephalic margin per- ceptibly concave, caudal margin broadly rounded. Tegmina slightly more than twice as long as the pronotum, broad and considerably swollen, apically rounded, the costal field much enlarged, costal margin arcuate ; tympanal area distinctly wider than the caudal width of the pronotal disk, its length exceeding width by a third of the Tatter. Wings minute falciform lobes. Abdomen moderately plump, rounded, without dorsal carina, the terminal dorsal abdominal segment covered with very fine hairs. Cerci more than five times as long as the basal width, covered with very fine hairs and on the inner side near the tip armed with a heavy, short and sharp pointed tooth. Subgenital plate with a very shallow subtrigonal apical emargination, styles long and filiform. Legs moderately long and slender, covered with short fine hairs ; posterior femora two and one-half times as long as pronotum and very little swollen on the basal half, armed below on both margins on the apical half only with eleven to twelve small sharp spines ; an- terior and median femora of equal length, longer than the pronotum by a quarter of its length, both armed below on both margins with small spines numbering six to eight on the margins of the anterior femora and seven to eleven on those of the median femora. Posterior tibise slightly compressed, armed below with two apical spurs, margins well spined; anterior and median tibiae armed below with six pairs of heavy spines, anterior tibiae with four spines in the dorso-caudal mar- gin. General color uniform bright grass green; eyes pale nut brown; antenna? straw color. April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 159 MEASUREMENTS. Length of body 26.2 mm. Length of pronotum 6.1 mm. Greatest caudal width of pronotal disk 5. mm. Length of tegmen 14.5 mm. Width of tympanum 6.5 mm. Length of caudal femur 17.2 mm. The single specimen taken was collected at night with the aid of a lantern, stridulating loudly on a low green bush. Even when approached it did not cease its stridulation, but kept up a loud and constant zick, zick, zick, zick, much like our eastern Scudderia but far louder. Other individuals were heard stridulating loudly during the night until just be- fore dawn. In endeavoring to capture other specimens during the eve- ning one was located in a high oak tree, another about twelve feet from the ground in a dense bush, another in a tangle of vines near the ground and others, including the specimen captured, in low green bushes on the mountain side. All collecting was done after dark which made it very difficult to locate the specimens, and, although they did not move until approached very closely, they usually ceased their song when disturbed. One which I succeeded in almost grasping es- caped by tumbling down into the thick weeds under its perch. New Scarabaeidae. BY H. C. FALL. The present article was primarily designed to make known an interesting new species of Thyce discovered by Mr. G. TT. Field, of San Diego, in the summer of 1906. The opportun- ity is taken, however, to add descriptions of two species of Lachnosterna and a Polyphylhi which appear to be without names. The relation of each of these to previously described forms is easily made known, and there is therefore little use in awaiting monographic treatment of their genera of which there is either little need or small prospect in the near fu- ture. l6o ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 Thyce fieldii n. sp. Of the usual form, head and thorax piceous, elytra blackish brown, legs paler brown, vestiture pale ochreous. Head densely clothed with elongate scales and fine erect hair, prothorax and elytra with rather sparse recumbent acuminate scales, which are as a rule from two and one-half to three times as long as wide ; sterna densely clothed with long cinerous or ochreo-cinerous hair, venter densely cinero- squamulose. Clypeus sinuato-truncate ($) or arcuato-truncate (?). Prothorax four-fifths as long as wide, sides parallel in basal three- fifths, surface polished and finely rather sparsely punctate, especially toward the middle posteriorly ; median line impressed and punctured. Elytra nearly parallel, finely feebly somewhat densely punctate, with- out costae; suture densely clothed with white scales. Length 22-23^2 mm. Male. — Antennal club subequal in length to entire stem, last joint of maxillary palpi fully three-fourths as long as the antennal club, with a broad, deep, oval excavation throughout its length. Front tibiae entirely devoid of teeth except the apical one. Outer claw of each tarsus with an acute tooth which is about one-third as long as the api- cal portion of the claw ; tooth of inner claw of front tarsus about one-half as long as that of the outer claw ; the disparity evident, but less marked on middle and hind feet. Female. — Brown throughout, a little wider behind, vestiture sparser, clypeus smaller, the angles rounded ; head with the vertex obtusely tumid. Antennal club about three-fourths the length of the preced- ing joints; last joint of maxillary palpus half as long as the antennal club ; front tibije strongly bi dentate ; tarsi a little shorter ; teeth of claws smaller than in the male, but showing nearly same disparity. Five examples (4 males, i female) of this fine species are before me, all collected by Mr. Field, in the southern part of San Diego County, California. The simple front tibise of the male, bidentate in the female, and the polished sparsely punctured thorax distinguish this species at once and remarkably from all previously described forms. It is dedicated with pleasure to its discoverer from whom I received one male taken in the summer of 1906, at Campo — elevation 2,400 feet. It was at once recognized as a new species and I wrote Mr. Field urging him to go for them again the following summer, when it was hoped fe- males might be secured. A visit to the same region last July was successful, and Mr. Field has kindly sent me three more males and one female from his catch. Only two or three of April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. l6l the latter sex were obtained. A short extract from a letter from Mr. Field relative to this trip will be of interest in this connection. He writes : — "We started (from San Diego) June 29, and a hot spell started the same day we did. The first week was withering, blistering hot and, as we drifted along the Mexican border in the semi desert country, Hell could not have been more than a half mile off, and it wouldn't have surprised me at all to see old Mr. Devil sitting under a sage brush or greasewood. I cut out the Devil's canyon trip on account of the intense heat, and as it was impossible to take the horses any nearer than Mountain Springs, we actually could not have carried water enough to quench our thirst until we got back. I was obliged to make a long hot drive to reach the Thyce tree, but made it, and while supper was cooking I placed the cyanide bot- tles and nets by the tree to be prepared for an emergency call, but the infernal rascals did not come out till it was all but dark, and then they did come with a rush as they did before. There were not nearly so many out, but after the battle we counted thirteen slain." Mr. Field narrates further adventures with the new Thyce— but this is sufficient to indicate some of the conditions inci- dent to their capture. Polyphylla fuscula n. sp. Most nearly allied to diffracta Csy., but smaller and conspicuously darker owing to the sparse vestiture and subobsolete elytral vittre. Head and entire disk of thorax clothed with erect hairs, these becom- ing sparser and shorter toward the sides of the latter ; thoracic vittae narrow and imperfect, the scaly vestiture pale yellowish in color throughout, not at all paler in the feebly condensed lines which rep- resent the more or less strongly marked white vittre of the related spe- cies. Antennal club about three-fourths longer than the stem. Pygid- ium squamulo-pubescent, the hairs and squamttlcs not very densely placed, and both nearly evenly distributed over the entire surface, the lateral and apical margins only slightly reflcxcd. Front tibia: bi- dcntate ($). Length 19-20 mm. Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona. Described from three males collected by Mr. V. W. Owen, l62 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, 'oS of Los Angeles, who has very kindly placed them at my dis- posal. In one example the elytral vittae are almost entirely wanting, in the others a little better defined. The antennal club is relatively shorter than in any of our previously de- scribed species. The shorter spur of the anterior tibia is about three-fourths the length of the longer one, and this seems also about the ratio prevailing in both diffracta and crinita notwithstanding Casey's statements of existing dif- ferences. Lachnosterna lenta n. sp. Oblong, scarcely wider behind, robust, not strongly convex, castan- eous, legs paler. Clypeus feebly emarginate, border rather widely re- flexed, surface moderately finely punctate, the punctures well sepa- rated ; front similarly punctured, more sparsely at middle, in some examples. Thorax obliquely narrowed in front, sides subparallel pos- teriori}-, margin finely crenate, punctuation coarse, close, and nearly evenly distributed. Elytral punctuation as coarse as or slightly coarser than that of the thorax, and equally dense; sutural costa distinct, discal costa faint but evident, marginal obsolete. Pygidium finely sparsely punctate, nearly smooth in the female. Metasternum hairy in both sexes, the hairs shorter and less dense in the female. Abdomen minutely remotely punctate. Last joint of maxillary palpus elongate fusiform, not impressed. Length 17-20 mm., width 10-12 mm. Male. — Antennal club slightly longer than the entire stem ; pygid- ium broader and evenly convex ; abdomen flattened at middle, the penultimate segment with an arcuate or subangulate slightly rough- ened ridge a little behind the middle; last ventral broadly concave, smooth at apex ; inner spur of hind tibia short, one-third to two-fifths the length of the outer one; ungual tooth smaller, acute, distinctly intra-median in position. Female. — Antennal club shorter tnan the stem ; pygidium smoother, more narrowly rounded and slightly tumid at apex; inner spur of hind tibia nearly as long as the outer ; ungual tooth larger, median. This species is a member of the ephelida group and should stand between gcnerosa and praetcrmissa. It is closely re- lated to the latter, differing in its rather more robust form, * coarser, denser punctuation, somewhat more widely reflexed clypeus, the thoracic margin more evidently crenulate. The genitalia are quite distinct from the figures given by Smith, for praetermissa, the male claspers more complex as viewed April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 163 laterally. The pubic process in the female is long, slender, and forked at tip. In praetermissa the public process of the female is shorter and stouter, much as in Smith's figure for rillifrons, the tips of the arms with two or three short setse. Described from 3 males, I female, taken at Mobile, Ala., by Mr. T. P. Loding, and sent me by Mr. Knaus. Lachnosterna lobata n. sp. Elongate cylindrical, not or scarcely broader behind, brown, elytra sparsely clothed with short erect hairs, few if any of which exceed in length one-fourth the width of the scutellum, and which are arranged for the most part along the costae. Clypeus with a moderate cuspi- form emargination, the border moderately reflexed, the surface to- gether with that of the front densely but not coarsely punctate, the latter smoother along the clypeal suture. Prothorax nearly twice as wide as long, widest and rather strongly rounded at middle, sides a little sinuate both anteriorly and posteriorly, front angles acute, hind angles rectangular or very nearly so as viewed from above; margin not at all uneven, base and apex with marginal lines, side margins rather wider than usual ; punctuation rather fine and not very close, the punctures as a rule distant by from one to two times their own diameter, somewhat sparser at middle ; on each side an arcuate row of three foveiform impressions, of which the anterior within the front angles is largest and best defined, the posterior one nearer the base than the side, small and sometimes absent. Elytral costse moderate, punctuation similar to that of the thorax but more vaguely impressed; pygidium rather coarsely rugose ; metasternum finely densely punctu- latc and moderately densely hairy; free angle of hind coxal plate pro- duced outwardly in form of a rounded lobe, which is visible from a dorsal view point. Abdomen very finely sparsely punctate, the fifth and posterior half of the fourth segment rather densely punctate ; spurs of hind tibiae slender, arcuate, free ; claws with an acute median tooth. Length 17-18 mm., width 6^-7 mm. Male. — Antennal club subequal in length to joints 2-7; abdomen vaguely narrowly impressed along the middle, penultimate segment with a transverse impression posteriorly which is feeble at middle ; last segment slightly flattened ; pygidium broadly convex. Female. — Antennal club as long as joints 3-7, abdomen convex, py- gidium broadly transversely impressed subapically. Chiricahua Mts., Arizona. I am indebted to Mr. Schwarz for the four examples (i male, 3 females) from which the above description is drawn. The species is a very distinct one and does not resemble at 164 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, 'o8 all closely any previously described species of Lachnosterna with which I am acquainted. It possesses the characters which in Horn's synopsis define the crcnulata group and may be placed at the end of that series, differing from all of them, and indeed from all known species of the genus in its prom- inent front thoracic angles, and in the form of the hind coxal plates. The terminal joint of the maxillary palpi may be best described as cylindro-ovate, differing more or less from all other species of the group, though nearest aemula; it is feebly impressed in the male, scarcely at all so in the female. In the paper on Listrochelus by Dr. Horn,* the prolonged and acute free angle of the hind coxal plate is said to be a constant character in this genus, while in Lachnosterna, the angle is sometimes right, but never acute or prolonged. This is a mistake. Compare for instance antennata, nitidula and tristis of Lachnosterna with disparilis, navipcnnis and carmin- ator of Listrochelus, and the coxal angle will be found to be quite as prominent or even more so in the Lachnosternas. This structure then is no more distinctive than is the. verti- cal carina or the lingual pectination, and there remains no single constant character for the separation of the two gen- era. Notes on Sesiidae. BY HENRY ENGEL. Sesia bassiformis Walker. During the summer of 1905, the Messrs. Kahl and Klages collected a number of specimens of this species at Ohio Pyle, Pa. Previous to these captures my only record of bassiformis from this section was a specimen given me by Mr. Knechtel. The Ohio Pyle specimens were taken in a field where Iron Weed grew in abundance, either resting on the leaves of these plants or flying about in the field. This note furnished a clue to locate this species in my collecting grounds about Pitts- *Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. VII, 1878, p. 138. April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 165 burg, Pa., during the summer of 1906. Extensive pasture fields, profusely covered with Iron Weed, are situated near my home, and late in 1905, I examined many of these plants and found the roots of a great many infested by larvae. During early August, 1906, I closely observed the Iron Weed in a field every evening on my way home from work. I usu- ally arrived there about 5.45 P. M. which would seem late in the day for collecting Sesias. But this field had the benefit of the late afternoon sun and on August I3th, I observed three specimens and captured two of them. The following evening and up to September 9th, numerous specimens were taken. Images were on the wing from 10 A. M. to sunset. Pairs were taken in copulation from noon to 6 P. M. In one in- stance a female was observed to deposit an egg on the under side of a leaf. The larva enters the stem from 1-3 inches above base and bores down into the roots. Pupation occurs in the galleries beneath the surface in the old part of the root- stock, about the end of July. Period of flight, August 13* to September I4th. In August and September, 1907, while employed at the Merrick Museum, New Brighton, Pa., I collected several dozen specimens in the vicinity of that town. By October 22nd, several frosts had occurred and the Iron Weed plants were killed. I took up several infected root-stocks and found the larvae in various stages of development, ranging from 12- 18 mm. long. The following description was taken from the larger larvae. Length, 18 mm., head 1.60 mm., wide, bilobed, light chest- nut brown. Mandibles and ocelli dark brown. Front of head sparsely covered with light brown hairs. Thoracic shield pale brownish. Body semi-translucent, watery white. A brownish dorsal shade broadening on the somites and in the intersections. An indistinct whitish stigmatal line. Spiracles oval, light brown. Thoracic legs concolorous, clouded with pale brown outwardly. Abdominal legs concolorous, claws circular, light chestnut brown. Tubercles not prominent, in- 166 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 dicated by a short brown seta. Anal segment a little darker dorsally than ground color. Pupa is normal, light brown. Food plant: Vernonia, Iron weed. The food plant of 6\ bassiformis is given in the literature as Enpatorium purpnrcum Linn, or Joe-pie weed. This plant has been extensively explored by Mr. Bird, Mr. Merrick and the writer. While it is by no means free from insect depre- dations we have not observed it infested by the larva of bassi- formis in this section. Sesia pyralidiformis Walker. This modest little species was encountered in a pasture field while I was searching for bassiformis on a very hot day in August, 1906. It was slowly flying along near the ground and settled on a dead daisy head. Several specimens were taken that day and a few more during later visits. All the specimens occurred in a comparatively small area which led me to the conclusion that its food plant would be among the plants in this field. About a month after I had taken the last specimen I went to this place and looked for its probable food 'plant. The only plants of any prominence were iron weed and boneset. As the former had disclosed a borer I commenced splitting the stems of boneset and soon observed the very neat gallery of a larva leading into the roots. Many plants were found to be infested but these larvae were quite small, and after testing patches of boneset in different localities and find- ing these plants infested almost everywhere I concluded to wait until the following year to continue my observations. During July, 1907, I discovered a patch of boneset in a field near New Brighton, Pa., in which about one-half of the plants harbored a larva. Several dozen plants were trans- planted in a breeding cage, and on August i8th Sesia pyrali- diformis disclosed its identity. About 30 specimens emerged from these plants, all appearing from 8-10 A. M. Copula- tion took place about one hour after emerging and lasted from i to 2 hours. The images were very abundant in the locality where I April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 167 collected these plants and many specimens were taken as well as observations made on their habits. On sunny days they are on the wing from 10 A. M. to sunset. Often a female will rest on a leaf for a while then move to the edge and by bending the abdomen deposit a egg on the under side of the leaf. In several cases I observed females depositing an egg on a leaf near the head of the plant. Most of the ova are laid on the leaves near the stem about 6 inches from the base. The larvae enter the stems from 1-2 inches above the crown of the stock and bore into the roots. The following year they continue feeding in the roots and work up into the new stems for about 1-2 inches where they prepare a place for emerg- ence by eating through the side of the stems. Pupation takes place in the gallery. The larvae mature from July 15-30^1. The first pupa was observed on August 2nd. The moths were observed from August 7th to September I3th. They are most abundant about middle August. These observations however, were taken from the material observed at large and the speci- men taken on August the 7th must have been in the pupa state about middle July. The average length of the pupa state is about 20 days. A description of the early stages as far as observed follows : Ova. — Straw-yellow, oblong in shape, depressed flat surface at top and base, ovally rounded at the ends. The lower half is plain, the up- per half ornamented by white lines in the form of irregular hexag- onal net-work. Length 0.75 mm. Width 0.45 mm. Height 0.35 mm. Larva, last stage. — Length 14 mm., head 1.50 mm. wide, rounded, slightly bilobed, light chestnut brown shading darker to the mouth parts. Edge of mandibles and the ocelli darker brown. Antennae and spinneret light brown. Head sparsely covered with pale brown hairs. Body and abdominal legs dirty white. Thoracic shield, thoracic legs and claws on abdominal legs pale brown. Tubercles inconspicu- ous, indicated by single light brown setae, I shorter than II, setae slightly longer on anal segment. Along dorsum a semi-transparent line is evi- dent, most conspicuous in the intersections. Anal plate tinged with light brown. pupa. — Light chestnut brown, with the usual chisel-shaped process developed on head. Spines on segments rather profuse. l68 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 Food plant: Eupatorium perfoliatum Linn., Thoroughwort or Boneset. Scsia spec? — A species allied to Sesia rutilans Hy. Edw. but differing in several respects was reared from a stock of Sneezeweed, Helenium autumnale Linn., collected at New Brighton, Pa., by Mr. Henry Bird. The specimen emerged August loth, 1907. Mr. Bird kindly donated the specimen to the Merrick Mu- seum. Additional Records of Tabanidae ( Horse-Flies) of North Carolina. BY C. S. BRIMLEY AND F. SHERMAN, JR., Raleigh, N. C. In ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS for October, 1904, the writers published a list of 40 species of Tabanidae then known from North Carolina. Continued collecting since that time has added 20 other species, some of them new. and all but one of which have been named for us by Prof. Jas. S. Hine, to whom we are under renewed obligations. We have, therefore, now on record a total of 60 species for the State, two of which (No. 40 of the 1904 list and No. 60 of the present list) have not yet been definitely located. Tabanus allynii has not been col- lected by the writers to date, but all the others have been taken by us or by assistants in the office of the junior author. Specimens of nearly all are in our collections. A few records from Pendleton in 1895 are from collections made by Mr. C. W. Johnson. Rev. A. H. Mauee, at Southern Pines, N. C., has also collected somewhat in this family. We have numbered these additional species consecutively with the 1904 list. The letters in parentheses after the name of a locality denote its geographical location in the State :— thus, E.=eastern, W.=western, C.=central, E. C.— east-cen- tral, etc. We also append new records as to the geographical or seasonal range of some of the species mentioned in the 1904 list. April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. l6g i. ADDITIONAL SPECIES. 41. Chrysops cursim Whit. Raleigh (E. C.). June 7 to July 17; C. S. Brimley and R. S. Woglum. Havelock, (Lake Ellis) (E.). June 1905; May, 1906; Brimley. Seemingly not a common species. 42. Chrysops dimmocki Hine. Pendleton (N. E.). Early June, 1895 ; C. W. Johnson. Havelock (E.). Late May, 1907 ; Brimley and Sherman. 43. Chrysops fallax O. S. All our reports of this species are for the months of June and July. Raleigh (E. C.). June 5 to 18 ; taken by Brimley and Woglum. Pendleton (N. E.) Early July, 1895 ; C. W. Johnson. Hendersonvillc (S. W.). June, 1907 ; Sherman. Highlands (S. W.). July, 1906 and 1907 ; Sherman. Blowing Rock (N. W. ). July 20, 1904; Sherman. This species probably occurs throughout the State. 44. Chrysops montanus O. S. Only two specimens of this have been collected. Raleigh (E. C.). June 5 and 18, 1906 ; Brimley. 45. Chrysops nigribimbo Whit. Havelock (E.). Taken rather commonly by both writers in 1905, 1906, 1607, from late May to late June. 46. Chrysops parvulus Daecke. Our three specimens are from two mountain localities, Hcn- dersonville (S. W.) June, 1907, and Highlands (S. W.) July, 1907 ; Sherman. 47. Chrysops separatus Hine. The type and only specimen of this species was taken by C. S. Brimley at Raleigh (E. C.) April 18, 1906. Described by Prof. Hine in Ohio Naturalist, December, 1907. 48. Chrysops sequax Will. A species of rather late seasonal range. Raleigh (E. C.). Not uncommon from July 9 to Septem- ber 9 ; Brimley. 170 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 49. Chrysops shermani Hine. Highlands (S. W.). July, 1906 ; July, 1907. Common and annoying on horse ; Sherman. Marion (W. C.). Mid-July, 1907 ; Sherman. • 50. Tabanus annnlatus Say. Our two specimens are from the eastern section. Havelock (Lake Ellis) (E.). July, 1905. Specimens sent in by J. J. Ballard. 51. Tabanus exul O. S. Our three records are all from the central part of the State and all in July. Pluck (C.). July, 1903 ; S. W. Poster. Soiithivestern Alamance Co. (C.). July, 1905; Sherman. Charlotte (C.). Late July, 1907; Sherman. 52. Tabanus fuscopunctatus Macq. Havelock (Lake Ellis) (E. ). Late May, 1907 ; L. L. Smith. Southern Pines (S. E. C.). Mid-May and June, 1906 ; Rev. A. H. Manee, 53. Tabanus hinei Johns. Havelock (Lake Ellis) (E.). Late May, 1907. Two speci- mens taken by C. S. Brimley. 54. Tabanus lasiopthalmus Macq. Raleigh (E. C.). May 9, 1905 ; G. M. Bentley. Havelock (Lake Ellis) (E.). May, 1906; Brimley. 55. Tabanus longiusculus Hine. Raleigh (E. C.). Early July, 1903; Sherman. Lagrange (E. ). Mid-July, 1907 ; L- M. Smith. Southern Pines (S. E. C.). Taken by Rev. Manee. 56. Tabanus megerlei VVied. Southern Pines (S. E. C.). April, 1905; Sherman; mid- April, 1906 ; R. S. Woglum. 57. Tabanus mexicanus Linn. This crepuscular or nocturnal species has been taken only at three localities in the eastern and southeastern sections of the State. Wilmington (S. E.). 1905; Woglum. Wallace (S. E.). June 4, 1904; R. W. Collett. April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. iyi Havelock (Lake Ellis) (E.). Late June and July ; a num- ber sent by J. J. Ballard. 58. Tabanus superjumentarius Whit. Hendersonville (S. W.). June, 1907 ; Sherman. 59. Tabanus trispilus Wied. Pendleton (N. E.). June 7, 1895 ; C. W. Johnson. Cashiers (S. W.). July, 1907 ; Sherman. 60. Tabanus Sp. Two specimens not yet identified but clearly distinct from any here recorded, have been taken at Southern Pines (S.T&.C.}, probably by Rev. A. H. Manee', and are now with Prof. Hine for study. The eyes are hairy. 2. NEW RECORDS ON GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. Only such localities are given as materially extend the known range of the species in the State, beyond what was recorded in our 1904 list. Chrysops brimleyi Hine. Originally taken at Raleigh, this species has now been taken both east and west, and is likely distributed throughout the State. Havelock (E.). May, 1906 ; Brimley. Hendersonville (S. W.). June, 1907; Sherman. Chrysops callidus O. S. Same dates and localities as for the preceding. Chrysops celer O. S. Southern Pines (S. E. C.). Mid-May, 1906 ; Foster. Hendersonville (S. W.). June, 1907 ; Sherman. Highlands (S. W.). July, 1907 ; Sherman. Chrysops lugens O. S. Haveloek (E.). Late June, 1905; Brimley. Chrysops moechus O. S. All our Raleigh records for this species as printed in the 172 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 1904 list properly belong to C. niger. One specimen of moechus has been taken at Raleigh (E. C.)- Sept. 3, 1903 ; Brimley. Lillington (E. C.). Early June, 1906 ; Sherman. Hendersonville (S. W.). June, 1907 ; Sherman. Chrysops niger Macq. Probably distributed throughout the State. Pcndleton (N. E.). Early June, 1895 ; C. \V. Johnson. Hendersonville (S. W.). June, 1907 ; Sherman. Highlands (S. W.). July, 1907 ; Sherman. Chrysops obsoletus Wied. Pendleton (N. E.). June, 1895 ; C. W. Johnson. Highlands (S. W.). July, 1907 ; Sherman. Chrysops tmivittatus Macq. This species, recorded in the 1904 list only from central and east-central parts of the State, has now been taken in a num- ber of new localities indicating general distribution in the State. Chrysops vittatus Wied. Our present records show this species to be in all parts of the State — the 1904 list indicated only eastern localities. Diachlorus ferrugatus Say. At the time our 1904 list was written but one example of this species had come into our hands, but in June, 1905, the writers found it to be both abundant and annoying as Have- lock (E.). Tabanns americanus Forst. Present records indicate this species to be of general distri- bution in the State. Tabanus cinctus Fabr. The males of this handsome species have a habit of hover- ing in the air in the same manner as the carpenter-bees of the genus Xylocopa. Southern Pines (S. E. C.). Early June and late May, 1906 ; Rev. A. H. Manee. Highlands (S. W.). June, 1907 ; Sherman. Tabanns coffeatus Macq. Formerly recorded only from Raleigh, but our present rec- ords indicate distribution throughout the State. April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 173 Tabanus variegatus Fabr. Tabor (S. E.). September, 1905; Woglum. Tabanus wiedemanni O. S. Lagrange (E.). Early August, 1904; Sherman. Southern Pines (S. E. C.). Early July, 1904, and early June, 1904 ; Rev. A. H. Manee. 3. SEASONAL RANGE OF COMMONER TABANIDAE AT RALEIGH, N. C. The species are arranged in the order of their appearance in the year, beginning with the earliest-appearing forms and closing with those that appear latest in the season. Based on the observations of C. S. Brimley. C. brimleyi, April to May 18, one on June 18. C. niger, May 2 to June 13. C. callidus, May 2 to Sept. 13. T. carolinensis, May 2 to May 13. T. pumilis, May 7 to Aug. 17. C. celer, May 7 to May 13. C. uniz'ittafns, May 7 to Sept. 9. C. carbonariits, May 15 to June 15. C. lugens, May 18 to Aug. 16. C. flavidus, May 20 to Oct. 18. T. lineola, May 25 to Sept. 18. C. obsoletus, May 26 to Oct. i. C. viltatus, May 26 to Oct. 10. T.fulvulus, May 28 to July 10. T. cerastes, May 29 to June 20. T. stygius, May 30 to July 10. C.fallax, June 5 to June 18. C. cursitn, June 7 to July 17. T. molestns, June 7 to July 20. T. inelanocerus, June 7 to July 17. T. trimaculatus, June 17 to July 23. C. fulvistigma, June u to July 25. T. atratus, June n to Oct. n. T. cojfeatus, June 13 to July 23. T. aniericanus, June 19 to Aug. 18. T. fronto, July 4 to Sept. 17. C. sequax , July 9 to Sept. 9. T. IOHQ-US, July 14 to Sept. 13. T. variegatus, Sept. 2 to Oct. 29. New North American Pachyrhina, with a Table for Determining the Species. BY R. W. DOANE, Stanford University. In working- over the large series of Pachyrhina that have come to me from time to time I have found it desirable to re- vise Loew's table (Vehr. Zool-Bot. Ges. 1879, 513-516) to include the Mexican species and other species that have since been described. Believing that it may prove helpful to some, especially as Loew's table is not easily accessible to all, I give 174 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 my table here together with descriptions of four nndescribed species, including two of our most common California forms. I have not seen specimens of P. affinis Bell, or P. excelsior Berg, and cannot from the descriptions select any characters which would not apply equally well to some of my specimens of P. incurva Lw. so these three species are placed together in the table until further study shall show some characters by which they may be separated. P. occipitalis Lw. occurs in two places as in the original table, as I find that desirable on account of the occiput being more or less shining, sometimes almost opaque. 1. Thorax wholly black 2. Thorax not wholly black 3. 2. Abdomen altogether black altissima O. S. Abdomen reddish-yellow toward the base .... erythrophrys Will. 3. Thoracic stripes black 4. Thoracic stripes brownish or reddish, sometimes obsolete . . . .18. 4. Wings hyaline 5. Wings with a yellowish or brownish tinge 12. iincurva Lw. affinis Bell. excelsior Berg. Anterior end of the lateral thoracic stripes not curved 6. 6. Pleura without spots ; occiput without a black spot . . virescens Lw. Pleura with spots 7. 7. Pleura for the most part cinereous COllaris Say. Pleura not cinereous 8. 8. Pleura yellow, with yolk-yellow spots ordinaria O. S. Pleura variegated with brownish fuscous or blackish spots .... 9. 9. Head wholly black californica n. sp. Head yellow, with a black spot on the occiput 10 10. A small black spot between the antennas ; the black spot on the occi- put does not reach over the vertex pedunculata Lw. No spot between the antennae ; the black spot on the occiput reaches over the vertex n. 11. Pleura variegated with several fusco-blackish spots, posterior margin of the eighth sternite of male only gently curved . . vittula Lw. Pleura sulphur-yellow, with only one or two reddish-brown spots ; posterior margin of the eighth sternite of male with a deep V-shaped incision snowii n. sp. 12. Wings with a brownish or brownish-yellow tinge 13. Wings with a yellowish tinge, at least along the anterior margin . 14. April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 175 13. Anterior ends of the lateral stripes of the thorax curved out, lineata Scop. Anterior end of lateral stripes not curved out Ingens Lw. 14. Antennae for the most part black or fuscous 15. Antennae yellowish, darker toward the tip consularis O. S. 15. Pleura and metanotum spotted 16. Pleura and metanotum without spots noblis Lw. 16. An opaque spot on the lateral thoracic stripes . . . . nigrolutea Bell. No opaque spot on the lateral thoracic stripes 17. 17. Rostrum shining black above, yellow below usta O. S. Rostrum yellow mexicana Macq. 18. Thoracic dorsum opaque 19. Thoracic dorsum shining 22. 19. Stigma brown 20. Stigma yellowish 21. 20. Lateral margins of the lateral thoracic stripes with three velvety- black spots elegantnla Will. Lateral thoracic stripes without black spots .... unimacnlata Lw. 21. Antennae longer than usual uiacrocera Say. Antennae shorter than usual ! tennis Lw. 22. A velvet black spot at the anterior end of the lateral thoracic stripe. punctum Lw. No velvet black spot at the anterior end of the lateral thoracic stripe 23. 23. Joints of the flagellum, except the basal ones, blackish 24. Joints of the flagellum in two colors 30. 24. Occiput altogether shining 25. Occiput opaque, with a shining triangular spot in the middle. 25. Cross-veins clouded nnifasciata Lw. Cross-veins not clouded 26. 26. Front and occiput unicolorous sodalis Lw. Front and occiput with a black stripe occipitalis Lw. 27. Thoracic suture colored with black at both ends 28. Thoracic suture not colored black 29. 28. Posterior margin of the eighth sternite of the male with a rather deep rounded incision, the edges of which bear long yellow hairs. occidentals n. sp. Posterior margin of the eighth sternite of the male straight or nearly so, yellow hairs much shorter and sparser . . ferrnginea Fabr. 29 Stigma brownish-yellow occipitalis Lw. Stigma blackish-brown gracilicornis Lw. 30. Joints of the flagellum black at the base 31. Joints of the flagellum yellow at the base 35. 31. Occiput without distinctly defined shining triangle, xanthosligma Lw. Occiput opaque, with a distinct shining triangle 32. 32. Costal cell colorless, stigma dark brown abbreviata Lw. Costal cell colored, stigma yellowish-brown 33. 176 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 33. Thoracic suture tinged with black 34. Thoracic suture tinged with reddish-brown .... circumscripta Lw. 34. Anterior end of lateral thoracic stripes curved .... wulpiana Berg. Anterior end of lateral thoracic stripes not curved . . . saturalis Lw. 35. Antennae with more than thirteen joints in both sexes 36. Antennae with thirteen joints breviorcornis n. sp. 36. Stigma yellowish-brown, apex of the wings not distinctly infuscated. eucera Lw. Stigma dark brown, apex of the wings distinctly infuscated. polymera Lw. Pachyrina californica n. sp. Yellow ; head wholly black, opaque ; sides of rostrum somewhat yel- low ; palpi black ; first three segments of antennae yellow, the third sometimes darker toward the tip, other segments black, rather swollen at the base, with short stiff verticles ; in the female, the 4th and 5th segments of the antennae are more or less yellow ; ground color of the thorax bright yellow, shining, stripes shining black, median stripe broad, not extending back of the suture, lateral stripes reaching to the scutellum, not curved anteriorly ; thoracic suture black in the mid- dle ; dorso-pleural suture black ; dorso-pleural membrane yellow ; col- lare yellow with median and lateral black spots ; pleura black anter- iorly, yellow posteriorly; scutellum and metanotum yellow with a median black line ; halteres yellow, knobs brown ; coxae black ; fem- ora and tibia yellow, black at the tips ; tarsi blackish ; abdomen yel- low with rather broad black lines dorsally, ventrally and laterally ; segments 6, 7, and 8 sometimes almost wholly black ; hypopygium red- dish brown ; posterior margin of the eighth sternite of the male pro- duced into two small triangular processes which bear dense tufts of rather long reddish-yellow hair; posterior margin of the large ninth tergite blackish, with a deep semi-circular incision, posterior lateral margins with a small deep U-shaped incision ; ovipositor reddish-black at the base, valves short, straight, blunt ; wings hyaline with a faint whitish spot in the region of the stigma; veins, stigma, and more or less distinct spots just back of the stigma, over the origin of the prae- furca and over the base of the basal cells brown; a faint hardly per- ceptible cloud in all the cells ; petiole of the 2nd posterior cell as long as the anterior cross-vein. Length, male, 15 mm, wing 13 mm., fe- male, 18 mm., wing 14 mm. Hab. — Stanford University, Cal. Many males and females. A single poorly preserved specimen from Pullman, \Vash.. seems to belong with this species. Pachyrhina snowii n. sp. Yellow ; head orange yellow, shining, somewhat lighter below ; the April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 177 broad black shining band on the occiput and the vertex attenuated anteriorly ; a small indistinct reddish-brown spot above each eye ; ros- trum yellow with a brown spot on each side close to the base ; palpi brownish, lighter at the joints; first two segments of the antennae yellow, others wholly brownish-black, middle segments slightly excised below ; thorax sulphur yellow ; dorsal stripes black, shining, the median one slightly dilated anteriorly; collare orange-yellow in the middle, blackish or brownish on the sides; a small back dash in the dorsal- pleural membrane just before the base of the wing; pleura sulphur- yellow, variegated with one or two reddish-yellow spots ; scutellum reddish-brown ; metanotum yellow with a faint reddish-brown spot posteriorly; halteres brownish-yellow, darker toward the tip; coxae and base of femora light yellow ; femora and tibia brownish-yellow, black at the tips ; tarsi black ; abdomen yellow with dorsal, lateral and ventral, interrupted black stripes; eighth and ninth tergites of male wholly black ; eighth sternite black, the posterior angles and a narrow border of the deep V-shaped incision yellowish, posterior angles bear- ing a few yellow hairs of moderate length ; appendages of the hy- popygium yellow ; eighth segment of female black, ovipositor reddish- yellow, upper valves long, slender, very slightly decurved at the tip, lower valves not reaching to the tip of the upper valves ; wings hya- line; costal and subcostal cells with a slight yellowish tinge; stigma brown ; second posterior cell sessile. Length, male 13 mm., wing 13 mm., female, 14 mm., wing 13 mm. Hab. — Wyoming. One male, one female. Much like P. vittula Lw. but may be distinguished by the fewer lighter markings on the pleura and particularly by the deep V-shaped incision on the posterior margin of the eighth sternite of the male. Pachyrhina occidentalis n. sp. Yellow ; head opaque, orange-yellow above, much lighter yellow be- hind the eyes and below; occiput with an arrow-shaped brownish spot; rostrum, palpi and first three segments of antennae orange-yellow, re- maining segments of antennae dark brown ; palpi darker toward the tip; thorax light yellow, dorsal stripes brownish-yellow or reddish- yellow, broad, shining, the lateral ones expanding somewhat anter- iorly; the sides of the collare, the coxae and irregular spots on the pleura, brownish or reddish-yellow; thoracic suture marked tvith black at both ends and with a black spot in the middle; three black spots along the dorso-pleunil membrane, the first just back of the collare, the second a short distance in front of the wing and the third at the base of the wing; scutellum and metanotum with a broad, reddish- yellow stripe; halteres yellowish at the base, darker toward the tip, 178 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 knobs brownish; femora and base of tibiae brownish-yellow, tibiae grow- ing darker toward the tip; tarsi brown, terminal segments almost black ; abdomen brownish-yellow, darker posteriorly, posterior and lateral margins of the segments but slightly darker ; the eighth stern- ite of the male long, broad, conspicuous, the posterior margin with a rather deep rounded incision, the edges of which bear a conspicuous fringe of long yellow hair ; posterior margin of the ninth tergite with a small V-shaped incision, the edges of which are black ; ovipositor reddish-yellow, upper valves straight, tips rounded, lower valves not reaching the tips of the upper valves ; wings hyaline ; stigma brown, more or less distinct ; second posterior cell sessile or with a very short petiole (in two of my specimens this cell is broadly sessile in one wing, and with a very short petiole in the other wing). Length, male, n mm., wing, n mm.; female, 15 mm., wing, 15 mm. Plab. — Central and Southern California, Montana, Eastern and Western Washington, Nevada, Arizona, (type from Stan- ford University, Cal.) Many males and females. This species is very like P. ferruginea of the eastern United States and doubtless is the one that has been recorded from California as ferruginea. The long, broad eighth sternite of the male with its deeply cleft, long-haired posterior margin at once separates it from ferruginea in which this sternite is only slightly curved or cleft along the posterior margin and is provided with much shorter sparser hairs. The specimens from Arizona and one of the Washington specimens have the anterior lateral margins of the median thoracic stripe bor- dered with brown and in some the anterior ends of the lateral stripes are also marked with brown. The brown spot on the occiput is sometimes quite indistinct, in other specimens it is well marked, sometimes drawn out into a narrow line anter- iorly. In a few of the specimens the tip of the knob of the halteres is yellowish. The palpi are sometimes wholly yellow and the 4th, 5th, 6th segments of the antennae of the female are usually more or less yellow. • Pachyrhina breviorcornis n. sp. Yellow ; head yellow, with a brownish tinge and a small triangular brown spot above, lighter behind the eyes ; rostrum yellow, brown on the sides ; palpi yellow ; antennae with thirteen segments, first and sec- ond wholly yellow, third elongate, basal half yellow, distal half brown, April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 179 segments four to twelve brown with the basal one-fourth or less yel- low, all gently excised below, with a dense soft pubescence and a whorl of moderately long hairs, only four or five hairs in each whorl, thir- teenth segment short, conical, wholly brown ; thorax yellow ; dorsal stripes reddish-brown ; pleura light yellow, a spot below the wing brownish yellow ; scutellum yellow with a brownish tinge above ; meta- nolum yellow ; haltcres brownish, lighter at the base, knobs darker ; coxae brownish yellow ; legs yellowish-brown, tarsi and tips of fem- ora% and tibiae darker ; abdomen brownish yellow, darker posteriorly, with dorsal, lateral and ventral rows of black spots, those on the dor- sum less distinct posteriorly, hypopygium small; eighth sternite with a rather deep U-shaped incision ; wings with a faint yellowish tinge, costal and subcostal cell yellowish, stigma darker yellow ; second pos- terior cell sessile. Length, 14 mm., wing 13 mm. llab. — Battle Creek, Mich. One male. Somewhat like P. eucera Lw. but antennae only thirteen seg- mented, last segment shorter and the middle segments not so deeply excised. The second posterior cell in eucera is subject to considerable variation, in some of the specimens before me this cell is broadly joined to the discal cell, in others it has a short petiole, in a few the petiole is as long as or longer than the anterior cross vein. Some Oxybeline Wasps from New Mexico. BY S. A. ROHWER AND T. D. A. COCKERELL. Oxybelus fossor n. sp. $ Length $yz mm. Head and thorax deeply and densely punctured, the punctures on the vertex sparser, mesothorax shining but very strongly punctured ; face, cheeks and pleura with sil- very pubescence ; prothorax not strongly carinate ; mesonotum without depression ; scutellum and postscutellum with medial longitudinal carina ; mandibles except tips, narrow margin of prothorax at sides, tegulae, squama and two spots in front and spine white ; antennae (flagellum darker above), legs except coxae, four anterior trochanters, line on inter- mediate femora above and the anterior femora above rufous ; abdomen clear red, shining, sparsely punctured (the punctures denser beyond the second segment), thinly clothed with white pubescence ; a broad band on first abdominal segment squarely interrupted in the middle, a linear ru- dimentary band on second and third segments creamy white ; the medial depression of first segment is indistinct. Wings milky hyaline, nervures pale ferruginous. ISO ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 Hab. — Mesilla Park, N. M. College campus, June 7, '99 (Ckll.). " Digging in sand." Related to O. abdominalis Baker, from which it may be known by its larger size, shining abdomen, with the punctures on the second segment more widely separated ; the pale ferru- ginous, instead of dark brown, venation and the narrower spine. Oxybelus townsendi n. sp. $. Length 5 mm. Head and thorax rather densely but finely punctured, covered with fine silvery pubescence which is denser on the face, cheeks, prothorax and upper posterior face of meta- thorax ; clypeal process prominent ; mesonotum without depression ; scutellum and postscutellum carinated, postscutellum not so strongly ; squama rising from side of postscutellum, short, strongly curved and sharply pointed ; spine rounded at tip and slightly broader, grooved above until apical third ; areas of the metathorax well defined, posterior face surrounded by a ridge, on posterior face below spine is an oval shin- ing fovea ; abdomen finely punctured, first segment somewhat truncate at base, the medial depression broad but distinct, second segment with a narrow transverse basal depression. Color black ; mandibles at tip pic- eous ; antennae, mouth parts, base of tegulae, anterior tibiae and tarsi dull rufous ; eyes (dry) pale yellowish brown ; squama pallid ; first, sec- ond and third abdominal segments on apical margin dull white ; first on each side with a line of yellow ; a yellowish spot on base of hind tibia ; three apical segments and narrow apical margin of the one before ru- fous ; abdomen with sparse silvery pubescence. Wings hyaline, nerv- ures brown. Hab. — L,as Cruces, N. M., August 30. Flowers of Solidago canadensis. Dedicated to Prof. C. H. T. Townsend, who col- lected it. This species has its nearest ally in O. similis Cress., from which it may be separated by the different shape of the post- scutellum, its being feebly carinated ; fovea in face of meta- thorax not produced beneath, the abdomen evenly punctured throughout ; pubescence on mesothorax silvery and other color characters. Accompanied on the flowers by O. sparidcus, O. emarginatus and O. cornutus. Beloinicrus cladothricis Ckll., on Croton, between Rovve and old Pecos Pueblo, N. M., Sept. (W. P. Ckll.). This extends the range a long dis- tance northward. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit and will thankfully receive items of news likely to interest its readers from any source. The author's name will be given in each case, for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] To Contributors. — All contributions will be considered and passed upon at our earliest convenience, and, as far as may be, will be published according to date of recep- tion. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS has reached a circulation, both in numbers and circumfer- ence, as to make it necessary to put " copy " into the hands of the printer, for each num- ber, three weeks before date of issue. This should be remembered in sending special or important matter for a certain issue. Twenty-five " extras," without change in form, will be given free, when they are wanted ; and this should be so stated on the MS., along with the number desired. The receipt of all papers will be acknowledged.— ED. PHILADELPHIA, PA., APRIL, 1908. "Let us never forget the debt we owe to the pioneers of science. The results of the dearly bought experience of the past form a solid foundation of fact upon which we now stand firmly and confidently, to enter upon new fields of investiga- tion. The status of entomological research to-day is far dif- ferent from what it was even ten years ago. The number of devotees to these attractive studies is easily a hundred-fold greater than then."- -JAMES FLETCHER. Entomology is doing great things but we see no busts of entomologists in the Halls of Fame. At the meeting of the A. A. A. S., in New York, it was suggested to the President of one of our great scientific institutions that the Hall of Fame in the American Museum of Natural History, should contain a bust of Thomas Say, whereupon he said he had never heard of such an individual. Dr. Fletcher is perfectly right in what he says, and we all honor those who have blazed the trail, but few honors have come to entomologists. Perhaps we should rise superior to what may be termed empty honors and glory in the knowledge of the value of our study and its great in- terest to mankind, now and for what it will be in the future. 181 l82 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 Entomological Literature. DIE HYMENOPTEREN MITTELEUROPAS, NACH- IHREN GATTUNGEN UNO ZUM CROSSEN TEIL AUCH NACH IHREN ARTEN ANALYTISCH BEAR- EKITET. By Dr. Otto Schmiedeknecht. Pp. 804, with 120 text figures. (Jena 1907, Verlag von Gustav Fischer.) The present extensive treatise although it does not deal directly with the fauna of North America, is one which will be very useful to stu- dents of Hymenoptera in this country. Since the publication of Cres- son's Synopsis twenty years ago, no single comprehensive work has been available for the use of American entomologists desiring to be- gin the study of this complex and interesting group of insects. Dur- ing this time many new genera have been discovered, and other Euro- pean ones found in America, until at the present time there is a great deal lacking in the synopsis which will be in great part supplied by the new work. Professor Schmiedeknecht has classified all of the families down to genera, and as the genera occurring in the United States and in cen- tral Europe are in most cases very nearly the same, this part of the volume may be applied to the classification of our own fauna with the most gratifying results. On account of the large number of species included in the parasitic groups, these have been in most cases only generically classified, al- though specific tables for genera of special interest like Ichneumon and Gasteruption are given in complete form. Specific tables arc however given for all the wasps and bees and the Chalastogastra, but they are of no aid to American entomologists, for an extremely small number of species are common to the two continents. On the whole the work seems to embody the current views of the foremost workers in each group, which allows of a much more rep- resentative and conservative treatment than would otherwise have been possible. Only twenty-two families are recognized. The author's own familiarity with what is no doubt the most difficult family, the Ichneu- monidze, makes this part of the book especially valuable. Each family and other of the larger groups is described at some length, with figures of wings and other diagnostic parts and also with references to available literature. In short, the volume is a storehouse of much that will prove use- ful to American as well as European entomologists, and should be in the hands of all actively interested in the classification of these in- sects.—C. T. BRUES. MESSRS. HEBARD AND REHN are trying to tell from the appearance of the map of the United States where the most new species of Or- thoptera may be found. They are planning an expedition. April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 183 Notes and Ne\vs. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OP THE GLOBE. MR. H. W. WENZEL is contemplating a collecting trip to the Mus- koka Lake region in search of Coleoptera. THE Report of the Entomological Society for Ontario, for 1907, is an interesting and valuable document. Great activity is being shown by our Canadian brethren. PROFESSOR V. L. KELLOGG, of Stanford University, will be in Europe from April to December of this year. His address is, care French, Lemon & Co., Florence, Italy. DR. P. P. CALVERT delivered an interesting course of lectures in the Ludwick Institute course, at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. His subject was "Studies in the Natural History of Mexico and Central America." LIST OF PUBLICATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY, Washington, D. C. Under this title, Circular No. 76 of the Bureau, revised to March i, 1908, is republished with 28 pages, an increase of 7 pages over the first edition. It is a most helpful guide through the maze of Annual Reports, Bulletins — old, new and technical series, Circulars — first and second series, Special Reports, Bulletins and Reports of the U. S. Ento- mological Commission, Insect Life, Farmers' Bulletins relating to Ento- mology, Yearbook articles, Miscellaneous Reports and other publica- tions of the variously organized entomological activities of the U. S. Government. It has been compiled by Miss Mabel Colcord, Librarian of the Bureau. ERRATA VOL. XIX. Page 2, line 16, for .023, read .23. " 2, " 17, for .014, read .14. " 3, " ii from bottom, for 70 read 20. " 96, " 8, for 9 read ( $ ). " 97, " 16, after pronounced, insert tubercle, so as to read pronoun- ced tubercle. " 97, " 22, should read, This species differs from a typical Xantha- crona, etc. " 99, " 19, for (acrotoxa) read (Acrotoxa]. " 126, for Cyrtophillites read Cyrtophyllites. " 126, second line of description, for 55 mm. read 50 mm. " 126 and 127, for Lythymnetes read Lithynnnetes. " 127, for Tetrachoncha read Tetraconcha. 184 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 Doings of Societies. The Brooklyn Entomological Society met January 9th, sev- enteen members being present. Of the old officers, President J. L. Zabriskie, and Recording Secretary, G. P. Engelhardt, declined re-election. The following new officers were elected unanimously : President, R. F. Pearsall; Vice President, E. L. Graef; Treasurer, C. H. Roberts ; Recording Secretary, R. P. Dow ; Corresponding Secretary, A. C. Weeks ; Librarian, J. J. Levi- son ; Curator, Geo. Franck ; Delegate to the New York Acad- emy of Sciences, John B. Smith; Field Committee, appointed by the Chair. Mr. Weeks read a paper upon "The Economic Value of the Vespertilionidse (Insectivorous Bats)" with suggestions as to their preservation and propagation, and gave a summary of his observations upon a large colony of these creatures which were domiciled in the roof of his summer residence on Long Island last year, together with his opinion that as de- stroyers of noxious insects they were superior to the whip- poor will and nighthawk, and the several species of owls and nocturnal animals and reptiles. Nothing could be said to their prejudice, while moreover they were free from the faults of many partially insectivorous birds, in that they did no injury to poultry or other useful birds, fruit or vegetation. They were practically on the alert throughout each night during the insect season and by hibernation or emigration during the cold period required no artificial care. Bats are able to cap- ture many species of injurious moths which in both the larval and mature stages are so well concealed during the day that they cannot then be readily taken. Several methods of con- structing artificial shelters for refuge to bats and their propa- gation were suggested to take the place of natural hiding places in hollow trees which were now rapidly disappearing, with a recommendation that bats be protected by law and that the U. S. Department of Agriculture, through the co-opera- tion of its Divisions of Biology and Entomology cause a for- April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 185 mal and detailed investigation to be made along the lines set forth in the paper, and if deemed of sufficient importance, that a Farmers' or other Bulletin, embodying the results be prepared and distributed. Professor J. B. Smith noted that bats keep close to the woods and take their prey entirely on the wing, hence were not likely to be valuable as destroyers of the gypsy moth, the brown tail and female moths generally, before the egg laying. Air. Dow had observed while collecting under electric lights, that a majority of moths caught by the bats were arctiids. Mr. Olsen then related a beautiful example of maternal solicitude. He had encountered a party of boys stoning a wood bat, Vespertilio novaeboracensis. The animal neither flew nor resisted but held her wings folded around her body. On rescuing her, he discovered a new born young one within the sheltering wings. The helpless mother had stayed to face death for its sake. Olsen made a nest of leaves in his hat. ( )n arriving home, he found the mother and three young. G. P. ENGELHARDT, Secretary. At the Twentieth Anniversary Meeting of the Feldman Collecting Social, which was held at the home of the Secre- tary, at Wissahickon, Philadelphia, Pa., December 28, 1907, the following members were present: Dr. Henry Skinner, Prof. Philip P. Calvert, Philip Laurent, Albert Hoyer, Henry W. Wenzel, Dr. D. M. Castle, Frank Haimbach, Theo. H. Schmitz, Henry S. Harbeck, Erich Daecke, Wm. S. Hunting- ton, H. A. Wenzel, H. A. Kaeber, George M. Greene and Henry L. Yiereck, also Mr. Chas. Greene, visitor. Letters were read from Chas. W. Johnson and C. Few Seiss, members, and Wm. Beutenmuller, Edgar L. Dicker- son, John A. Grossbeck and W. D. Kearfott, to whom invita- tions had been extended, expressing regrets at not being able to attend Anniversary meeting. Professor Calvert read a paper by Vernon E. Shelford, of 1 86 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 the University of Chicago, on the distribution of Tiger Beet- les and their egg-laying habits. The subject was discussed by the members, more particularly by Mr. Henry W. Wenzel and Dr. Henry Skinner. Prof. Calvert spoke about Lcptino- tarsa, and said that in different years the species varies ac- cording to Dr. Tower. Mr. Daecke exhibited specimens of Painphila arogos Bdl. & Lee. taken at Brown's Mills Junction, N. J., July 21, 1907. This species has also been taken at Lakehurst, N. J. (Davis), before which it had only been reported from Gulf States, Iowa and Nebraska. The geographical distribution of Pam- philas was discussed by the members. The meeting then adjourned, and after a musical program furnished by Mr. Haimbach, Jr., a collation was served, which was very much enjoyed by all those present, and upon which occasion the President read an address to the members; ad- dresses then followed by each of those present and the Twen- tieth Anniversary Meeting was pronounced a grand success. FRANK HAIMBACH, Secretary. At the meeting of the Feldman Collecting Social held Jan- uary 15, 1908, at the residence of Mr. Henry W. Wenzel, No. 1523 S. 1 3th Street, Philadelphia, there were thirteen members present. The following officers were nominated and elected to serve during the year 1908 : President, Erich Daecke ; Vice Presi- dent, Henry S. Harbeck; Treasurer, Henry W. Wenzel; Secretary, Frank Haimbach ; Assistant Secretary, George M. Greene. The President read his annual address, which was ordered incorporated in the minutes. The Treasurer's report was read, and ordered filed. The Secretary submitted a verbal report, which was ac- cepted. Mr. Schmitz presented a specimen of Thccla lialcsus Cram., taken in a room of his home on January 8th. It was sug- April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 187 gested that the pupa of this insect was brought North in a fruit basket, and as January is its time of emergence in the South its presence here was only accidental. Dr. Castle spoke of his trip last summer to the mountains near Harrisburg, Pa. Mr. ^\Tenzel exhibited H. A. Wenzel's collection of Anthi- cidae, from Southern Arizona, among which are probably several new species of Xylophilus. Mr. Greene reported the finding of Hololcpta sp. and Cucnja flai'ipcs, under bark, in the early part of this month. Mr. Seiss spoke about Eros aurora, and said that only one specimen had been seen and taken at Island Heights, N. J., on May 5, 1907, and that very few were seen in May, 1906, while hundreds were taken in April and May, 1905. Mr. Wenzel thought that the large gathering of Eros au- rora was not caused by food, but probably by the presence of a number of females; the speaker had noticed other species of Lampyrids under similar conditions. Dr. Castle said that he collected one or two specimens of Tclcphorns longnhts Lee. at Enterprise, Fla., and that no others were seen at that time, while several days after he took several thousand with one sweep of net. Mr. Harbeck exhibited a specimen of Trichoccra rcgcla- tionis Linne. This is a European species and, according to A Id rich, has only been taken in this country, in Greenland, and British Columbia. It was taken in numbers on Novem- ber 19, 1907, by Messrs. Philip Laurent, at Mt. Airy, and F. M. Arthur, at Logan, Pa. Mr. lUand described the nature of the country about his New Jersey home at Little Silver, Monmouth County, the chief industry of which place is floriculture. FRANK HAIMBACH, Secretary. iSS ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, 'oS At the meeting of the Feldman Collecting Social held Feb- ruary 19, 1908, at 'the residence of Mr. H. W. Wenzel, No. 1523 S. 1 3th Street, Philadelphia, thirteen members were present, and Messrs. Kearfott and Classen, visitors. Mr. Kearfott exhibited his card index system, upon which he is collecting data pertaining to the Tortricidae of the world. The original descriptions of genera and species are given, as well as venation, head and palpi, and other structural de- tails. Mr. H. W. Wenzel exhibited a number of specimens of Macrobasis oclirca from Southern Arizona, all in coition. Each male had selected a female of exact size of itself; the species has a tendency to vary greatly in size. Prof. Smith said that he would make a microscopical ex- . animation of the sexes, and report his findings at the next meeting. Among the Lepidopterous collection from Southern Ari- zona, made by Messrs. Wenzel, Jr., and Kaeber, which Prof. Smith determined for Mr. Haimbach, the Professor pointed out as of especial interest, specimens of Mamestra palicauda Sm. ; this species has a white anal tuft, being the only one of this genus with that characteristic. Mr. Daecke exhibited specimens of Pamphila dion Edw. taken at Brown's Mills, N. J., September 15, 1907. FRANK HAIMBACH, Secretary. A meeting of the Newark Entomological Society was held January 12, 1908, in the Turn Hall annex, with seventeen members present. Mr. Samuel Henshaw, of Cambridge, and Mr. Otto Buch- holz, were tendered thanks for generous donations toward the library. Under the topic of "Variation in Insects" Mr. Buchlmlz exhibited a series of over sixty specimens of Arctia nc sis, showing all variations and named varieties. Mr. Brehme exhibited specimens of Neonympha hrn April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 189 illustrating- extremes in coloration. Mr. Grossbeck showed a box of Geometrids and spoke of the great amount of varia- tion many of the species displayed. Especially interesting was a specimen of Thcrina fisccllaria, in which the two nor- mally widely separated cross-lines anastomosed and parted at the point of juncture, thus forming a quadrangle with the costa and a triangle with the inner margin. A similar case was that of Mcsolcnca gratnlata, where the basal and outer fields joined centrally, having a small white costal and inner mar- ginal spot to represent the usual broad median area. Mr. Broadwell had a fine series of Tclca polyphcmus, showing the gradual variation from pale yellow to dark reddish individ- uals. JOHN A. GROSSBECK, Secretary. A meeting of the Newark Entomological Society was held February 9, 1908, with eighteen members present and Mr. Henry Dietz, of New York, a visitor. Mr. Brchme read a paper entitled "Notes on Some Saturn- iid^e" in which he spoke of the large percentage of dead cat- erpillars in the cocoons he had collected last fall. Sainia cc- cropia fared worse than all other species in this respect, scarcely A^/2 per cent, containing live pupre, and, of the dead ones only i per cent, of those examined were infested with parasites. Tclca pol\phcmus unlike 5\ cccropla died mostly in the larval stage, and just before the season of pupation hundreds of lar- vae could be seen hanging limp from the branches of their food-plants. Of those that succeeded in forming cocoons 60 per cent, were invalid, and, as in the case of cccropla, died be- fore pupating, though the inner as well as outer wall of the cocoon was fully formed. Protnctlica, on the other hand, seemed not to be affected by disease at all and even escaped to a remarkable degree the usual infestation of parasites. Cviifliia was not inclined more in one direction than in another and the percentage of good cocoons remained at a par with former years. Tn discussing the paper Mr. Erb bore out Mr. Brchim-'s ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, 'oS statements in regard to the dead and dried up larvae in the cccropia and polyphemus cocoons. Mr. Doll said that infes- tation was a purely local one, since in one locality on Long Island, all of nine hundred to one thousand cccropia cocoons were dead, while in another only a short distance away, he secured over sixteen hundred good ones. Mr. Zaiser related a somewhat similar experience where at Canarsie, Long Is- land, all those cocoons of cccropia collected close to the sea- shore, contained living pupae, while those some distance back from the coast, proved to be dead. He thought the influ- ence of the salt air might have been responsible in keeping the parasites a\vay from the immediate shore district. In neither of the last two instances were cocoons examined to any extent, so that it was impossible to say whether the mor- tality was due to parasitism or disease. Mr. Kircher re- marked that invariably cocoons (cccropia} attached to the branches of trees were good, while those at the base of the tree trunk were bad. Mr. Angelman cited the note on Erebus odora in the Feb- ruary issue of the NEWS, and remarked that many more speci- mens were taken in western localities than in eastern ones, a fact probably due to the moths travelling northwardly from Mexico, along the range of the Rocky Mountains, and thence scattering to the lower lands. He thought it not beyond the bounds of possibility, however, that the insect should breed in the territory where it was found. Mr. Doll spoke of the abun- dance in which the species occurred at Brownsville, Texas, where during the day a dozen or more would gather on the walls of the hut assigned to him as a temporary habitation. Mr. Buchholz said that Mr. Kemp had a similar experience in the West Indies, where the insects would actually come to the dining table, attracted by the odor of beer. Mr. Doll said he found a single larva at Brownsville, and believes that it is a general feeder on low plants. The recorded food-plant, fig, does not occur at Brownsville. JOHN A. GROSSBECK, Secretary. MAY, 1908. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Vol. XIX. No. 5 Halter americana Cockerell. EDITOR : HENRY SKINNER, M. D. PHILIP P. CALVERT, Ph.D., Associate Editor, EZRA T. CRESSON. PHILIP LAURENT. ADVISORY COMMITTEE: HENRY L. VIKRKCK. J. A. G. REHN. WILLIAM J. FOX. H. W. WENZEL, PHILADELPHIA: ENTOMOLOGICAL ROOMS OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, LOGAN SQUARE. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as Second-Cl*»« Matter ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Published monthly, excepting August and September, in charge of the Entomo- logical Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and the American Entomological Society. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, $1.OO IN ADVANCE. Outside of the United States and Canada, $1.20. SINGLE COPIES 15 CENTS Advertising Rates : 30 cents per square inch, single insertion ; a liberal discount on longer insertions. No advertisement taken for less than 60 cents — Cash in advance. All remittances should be addressed to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, Academy of Natural Sciences, ]9th and Race Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. A SPECIAL OFFER Of Rare Lepidoptera for the Month of May Only. Specimens are in Papers; in perfect condition. Send 12 cents additional with each order to cover postage and packing. Actias maenas var. lathonia, male 3.50 leto (northern India), male 3.50 selene, male 2.00 " artemis (Japan), male i.oo Attacus atlas (Celebes Islands) 1.50 Anthereae royeli, male 2.00 heifer 7, male i.oo assamensis, male 2.00 Brahma japonica i.oo Tfiiit'palpus iinperialis^ female 2.50 Papilio blumcii s oo " androcles 2.00 bnddha, male f>u " mayo, male 75 Caligo euryloclnts i.oo " atreus i.oo Thaumantis diores, male 60 Kallima albofaciatta, male i.oo Butterflies from Assam. A fine assortment containing several varieties of Delias, Cethosia, Charaxes, Amathusia, Camadeva. Papilio paris, and many other desirable varieties. No duplicates. All correctly named. JOHN H. MATTHEWS, 3219 H. 13th Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA. ARIZONA INSECTS. Will collect in most orders or families or season's catch. Also in botany, especially cactii and herpetology — reptiles and amphibians if notified early in the season. Agent for sale of Coleoptera, Mr. L. H. Joutel, 164 E. H7th St., New York City. DR. R. E. KUNZE, Phoenix, Arizona. CATALOGUE OF THE NEUROPTEROID INSECTS (EXCEPT ODONATA) OF THE UNITED STATES BY NATHAN BANKS Complete to Summer of 1907 Price 50 cts. (net) per copy Mailed on receipt of price *Seiid for copy of New Additions Price List; just issued. E. T. CRESSON, Treas., P. O. Box 248, Philadelphia, Pa. When Writing Please Mention " Entomological News." ENT. NEWS, VOL. XIX. PI. X. EUDAMUS TITYRUS. PAPILIO AJAX (BIFORMED). (SMYTH) ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. XIX. MAY, 1908. No. 5. CONTENTS: Smith— Two Freaks : Papilio ajax and Eudamus tityrus 191 Pearsall— Eastern Eupithecias 192 Swett — Packard's Eupithecias 196 Girault— Texas, Virginia and Maryland notes on the Catalpa Sphinx, Cera- tomia catalpae Boisduval 197 Doane — New Species of the Tipulid genus Rhypholophus, with a Table for Determining the North Ameri- can species 200 Banks— A new genus and species of Neuroptera 203 Coolidge and Newcomer —The Life His- tory of Euchloe ausonides Boisd. . . 204 Felt — Contarinia gossypii n. sp 210 Houghton— The Blackberry Leaf-Miner 212 Bowditch— Notes on Pachybrachys 216 Saverner — Migrating Butterflies 218 Rohwer — Some Larrid Wasps from Col- orado 220 Wellman— Notes on some Angolan In- sects of Economic or Pathologic Importance 224 Jones— Callosamia angulifera Walk., n. var. Carolina 231 Tandy — The Carpenter Mud Wasp 231 Editorial 233 Notes and News 234 Doings of Societies 236 Obituary— James H. Ridings 242 _Prof. Willis Grant Johnson. 242 Two Freaks :— Papilio ajax and Eudamus tityrus. BY ELLISON A. SMYTH, JR., Blacksburg, Va. (PI. X.) There has always been a fascination for me in breeding from the egg Papilio ajax, and repeating in various combina- tions Edwards' classical experiment with this species. Doubt- less everyone who has bred this fly has noted the varied length of pupation in individuals of the same brood, has had early spring eggs produce one form in a few weeks, others of the same brood bring forth another form in midsummer, still others disclose imagines of a third form in the late fall and some pass over one or even two winters and produce the dif- ferent forms the second or even the third spring, summer or fall. In a large series bred from eggs laid in June, 1902, which gave walshii, telamonidcs and marccllus at appropriate periods, I had- one pupa among others last over until April, 1903, when it disclosed a biformed female, the left side of which had only the small white spot at the end of the tail (shall I call it ajax 191 I92 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 walshiit), and the right half with the terminal caudal spot extended up the sides of the tail (aja.v telamonides) . The ac- companying photograph is of this individual, now in my col- lection. It will be noticed that the apex of the left fore wing is apparently not fully developed : the reason for this may also be the cause of the bi- formation. The other figure is of a specimen of Eudamns tityrus with the yellow spots suffused over the apical area of the forewing. It was caught by me in a garden in Charleston, S. C., June 29, 1897, in company with a large series of normal specimens of the same species and its peculiarities were not noticed un- til it was afterwards expanded. On the under side of the hind wings the silver-white spot, large in the normal form, is reduced to a mere dash along the base of the cell, and an isolated faint mark at right angles to and touching sub-costal vein opposite base of cell. Eastern Eupithecias. BY RICHARD F. PEARSALL. Eupithecia catskillata n. sp. Expanse 16-17 mm. Palpi long, rather heavy, dark brown, the tips white. Antennae silvery, annulate with pale brown, shortly ciliate in $ . Vertex and front with dark brown and gray scales mixed. Thorax with band of dark brown crossing it in front centrally by a narrow pure white band not always present; the scutellar region tipped with a conspicuous spot of white scales. Fore wings broad, well rounded, pale gray tinged with yellow brown. A dark area at base, crossed by a series of faint lines a little darker, is limited by a double pale line which leaves costa above discal spot, sweeps outward in a bold curve quite around and touching it, and in another broad outward curve reaches inner margin one-half out. This line is broader and clearer than the extra discal pale line which is also present, and, angled outward below costa, runs parallel with it. rather nearer the margin than usual. Between them a dusky shade line, is marked with short dashes on veins. The subterminal white line very obscure and narrow, except at anal angle where it forms a broad lunule curved in- ward. Discal dots oval, distinct, black. • Below discal dot, at end of cell, is a small patch of yellow scales present in all of my examples. Subterminal space dark like basal area, frosted costally at apex with white. Marginal line usually entire, black. Fringes long pale gray with May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 1 93 darker patches at end of veins, on all wyigs. Hind wings rounded, paler subcostally, otherwise the same arrangement of lines as on fore wings but without darker basal area, and much more obscure. Discal dot small, faint. Beneath grayish white. The double series of pale lines as above, very apparent, almost pure white, and the separating dusky lines diffuse. Basal line on hind wings rounded, entire, an intra discal runs outward to discal dot, though not always touching it, turns backward to inner margin at almost a right angle, and extra discal with outward curve around discal dot, reaches inner margin one-half out. A diffuse, dusky shade line, subterminally. Abdomen beneath and legs pale silvery gray. Type $ and $ taken in Big Indian Valley, Catskill Moun- tains, the former May 25th, '06, the latter May 31, '06, in my collection. Co-types 24 $ and 5 taken in same locality May 25 to June 12. Readily determined by the patch of yellow scales on fore wings beneath discal dot on fore wings, and the snow white scutellar area. Near to fletcherata Taylor, but smaller. Eupithecia erpata n. sp. Expanse 17-18 mm. Palpi long dark brown, mixed gray scales. Ver- tex and front dark brownish ash. Thorax and abdomen above, dark wood brown with a few pale scales intermixed, the second segment entirely soiled white, the sixth and seventh, with black dots laterally; tufts, small, black, all wings somewhat extended, above dark ashen brown faintly tinged with yellowish, the latter more apparent on fore wings, at junction of veins three and four, and subterminally, especially toward apex. Over all is a thin sprinkling of black scales, heaviest along costa and subterminally. Basal area to discal line is crossed by wavy indefinite lines, of darker hue. The black discal line curves sharply outward at costa, then recedes toward base, touching inner margin, one-third out. It is faint and narrow, bordered by a pale gray line. The intradiscal, also faint, starts from costa, with an ill- defined cloud above discal dot, extends outward to include same, and thence straight to inner margin. In rubbed examples this line is frequently wanting, with the discal space paler and clear. The extra discal with its succeeding double pale lines, are sharp and distinct, the former black, more intense centrally, where also a few white scales border it outwardly. It curves gently outward around cell, without angle at costa, to inner margin, having sharp inward spurs on veins one and two. Subterminal space darker; the central clear white line runs in waves parallel to the double lines, and ends near anal angle in a larger angular white patch. Marginal line black nearly 194 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 entire. Fringes long dusk}', cut sharply with dark brown at ends of veins. Hind wings paler costally, the cross lines fading out except the dis- cal and extra discal, both crossing the wing in regular curves, to inner margin, the latter and its succeeding pale lines, well marked. Sub- terminal space darker, narrow, traversed centrally, as in fore wings, with a clear white waved line. Fringes as on fore wings. Discal dots on all wings small black, wanting in some examples. Beneath, pale ash gray, the lines above distinctly reproduced, especially the ex- tra discal, and a subterminal shade line which are black at costa on fore wings. Discal spots linear, black, very distinct. Hind wings with cross lines diffuse, the discal boldly angled outward at cell turns sharp- ly backward to inner margin, intradiscal rounded to discal spot which it includes, thence parallel with discal line to margin, extra discal starting from costa with strong outward curve encircles discal spot thence straight to inner margin, and subterminal, parallel with margin, these latter as in fore wings most distinct; discal dots round, black, prominent. Body beneath and legs pale ashen. Type $ and 2 taken in Big Indian Valley, Catskill Moun- tains, the former, May 5, '07, the latter April 29, '07, together with 18 co-types in both sexes in my collection. I have received this species from Mr. F. A. Merrick, New Brighton, Pennsylvania and from Massachusetts. It resembles palpata but is smaller. From that species it differs in having the pale line near base of abdomen and its tip beneath not dark. Its striking features are prominence of the extra discal and pale lines above on all wings, and by the short inner margin of hind wings which causes the lines to run from it almost laterally for half their length, the anal angle being nearly ob- literated. After a long period of obscurity Eup. coagulata Guen. has been separated from geminata Pack., but there still remain under the latter name two distinct species, not difficult of separation with good series of specimens. To which be- long the name of geminata? In Dr. Packard's original de- scription (5th Report Peab. Acady., page 58) he notes, one special feature — the large discal dots on all wings — which serves to fix the application of his name to the larger spe- cies— with its expanse of 25 mm. and over. The smaller spe- May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 195 cies I describe herewith, having before me a series of eleven in both sexes, under the name of Eupithecia meritata n. sp. Expanse 20-22 mm. Head, thorax, body, except second segment of abdomen, which is black, and wings above, a uniform dark cinerous, crossed by fine black lines, or rows of dots on veins. These lines en- larged at costa, the two largest just preceding and beyond the discal dot. The basal line at costa bends sharply outward, then retreats to- ward base at inner margin. The discal line, with a short outward angle at costa, runs straight across wing. Extra discal is a series of dots on veins, rounded out from costa to below cell, thence direct to inner margin. Midway between these a fine black distinct line starts from costa, rounds out sharply to enclose discal dot, below which it runs straight to inner margin, sometimes wavy. Subterminal clear space, beyond the narrow pale line following extra discal, and parallel to it, is traversed centrally by a fine whitish crenulate line, a little clearer at anal angle. Centrally the veins are marked quite freely with black dashes. Fringes long, cinerous, darkened at ends of veins. Fine terminal line black. Abdomen, with scattering brownish scales, tufts small, black; below somewhat darker. Body and legs pale ciner- ous. Comparison with geminata Pack, might be useful and descriptive. It may be separated thus : Beside its smaller size which is quite con- stant, the upper surface is darker, more distinctly marked with black fine lines, or sharply dotted. The white line in submarginal space is clear and continuous, and the discal dots large oval, jet black on fore- wings, are entirely wanting on hindwings, or very faint and small ; while in geminata, the discal dots on all wings are large and very prominent. Beneath, the surface is crossed by well-defined bands, a little diffuse in some examples, the extra discal on both wings and the pale line beyond it particularly clear. The white submarginal line reappears below quite plainly and the discal dots if present are fainter- while in gcininata the under surface is clear silvery cinerous, the pale line beyond extra discal only showing by contrast with dusky shade preceding and subterminally, the latter not traversed by white line, and the discal dots large, distinct on all wings. Type, $ and 5 from Big Indian Valley, Catskill Moun- tains, July 6 and 16, 1899, in my collection. Co-types from Air. F. A. Merrick, New Brighton, Pa., taken in August, 1907, represented in the Merrick Museum, and in my collec- tion. NOTE — In March issue Hut. News, the date of capture <>!" 9 type of Eup. conformata should read April 23, 1904, and of the types of filniata April 29, 1907. 196 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 Packard's Eupithecias. BY L. W. SWETT. Eupithecia palpata. This species has been discussed by Rev. G. W. Taylor and Mr. J. Grossbeck in the ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS and Canadian Entomologist. About two years ago my esteemed friend, Dr. Russel of Winchendon, Mass., sent me about twenty-five of this species and I took them to Cambridge to compare with the type of Eupithecia luteata under which name Packard listed it as a synonym. The type of luteata was there with the correct label, a male in poor condition, also palpata $ Bruns- wick, Maine, but no other type specimens. I found that pal- pata had longer palpi than luteata but was rubbed so that I didn't want to be positive. I communicated with Dr. Taylor and Mr. Grossbeck and told them what I found. Shortly after- wards I received a specimen of palpata labelled ornata Hulst, from Dr. Taylor with the locality Penn., but agreeing with my specimens except that the fringe was slightly darker. A little while after, I received a second letter from Dr. Taylor saying that he agreed with me as to palpata and that Hulst had identified incorrectly that species as his ornata which was not like the true ornata Hulst. So matters began to clear and Dr. Taylor and Mr. Grossbeck were entirely correct in their articles, though I am afraid I influenced them somewhat by being unwilling to separate the two at first, even though it was I who first noted the structural differences. On my last trip to Albany I found the remaining types of Eupithecia palpata male and female agreeing with the Maine type at Cam- bridge but much larger. The Albany types bear the label Eupithecia palpata and below E. luteata, showing that Pack- ard was uncertain of his species. Now being sure that I had palpata correct as I knew all the types I went to Cambridge and made minute comparisons. Eup. luteata is badly rubbed but can be separated from palpata as follows : palpi of luteata short, scarcely beyond head, extra discal line angulated be- low costa the median portion is rubbed but I believe a line must have run through discal spot once, for on the inner May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. margin directly beneath discal mark is a prominent black dash. Eup. palpata has long palpi, extra discal line always rounded below costa never angulated in the series of 60 specimens which I have compared and lacks the black line on inner margin and is only two-thirds as large as hiteata. Now that we know all the types which we did not before and found luteata labels in Packard's handwriting on palpata types at Albany, I think we have good grounds for knowing that Packard confused the two species and that they should be listed as separate spe- cies. This in no way effects the previous excellent articles by Mr. Grossbeck and Dr. Taylor but confirms their statements and settles the standing of palpata by finding the missing types at Albany. It is strange the older authors did not know this species as it seems to be very common, extending from north- ern Maine to Pennsylvania and is not variable. Texas, Virginia and Maryland notes on the Catalpa Sphinx, Ceratomia catalpae Boisduval. BY A. ARSENE GIRAULT. The caterpillars of this species were very abundant and in- jurious in 1904 to catalpa trees (Catalpa species) lining some of the streets of the city of Paris, Texas. On certain streets they became so abundant as to be very annoying to pedestrians. During the season of 1904, I made tentative observations on the insect and these form more or less of an outline of the seasonal history of the species for that locality. Some addi- tional -notes are also submitted from southwest Virginia, and Annapolis, Maryland. At Paris, Texas, on the 28th of June, 1904, it was noted that injury to the catalpa trees was noticeable and that the frass from the caterpillars made a noise like dropping rain. On the I3th of August, the caterpillars were so numerous on a row of catalpa trees on one side of east Lamar Avenue, that their frass covered the sidewalks beneath the infested trees for several blocks, and the continual dropping of it sounded very much like rain pattering on dead leaves in a forest; at this time, the pattering noise was much more noticeable than in ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 late June. Besides, many of the large caterpillars, and those that were parasitized, were wandering over the pavements or crawling on fences and so forth, and by their presence added more or less to the general annoyance. On that date many of the trees were completely stripped of foliage, while others bore large bare patches, entirely destroying their appearance. On September 23, 1904, the following note was made con- cerning this insect: "Nearly every catalpa tree in this vicinity was defoliated at some period during the present summer by these larvae ; especially those on Lamar Avenue where the sidewalk was coated with pellets of frass for several months (August, September). Some of these trees put on as many as three sets of leaves during the season, while nearly all were stripped once and put out a second set. If this was repeated every season, the drain on the vitality of the trees would soon kill them." According to notes the insect first made its appearance late in April. On May 7th, it was recorded that the larvae of the first generation were in instars II and III, and that these were pupating about May 21. The larvae of the second genera- tion were present in different instars on June 2Oth. On July ist, eggs were found, and larvae were pupating in numbers on July 3d, so that the generations soon afterwards became con- siderably mixed, and the notes failed to record anything more definite than that the third generation of caterpillars was pres- ent in July. The moths were then common. Another lapse then occurs in the notes, but on September 23d, it was record- ed that a fourth generation of larvae was present many of which were nearly full grown. I am uncertain whether this was a fourth or fifth generation. It was noted that at that time the generation was much decreased in numbers, not as large, for instance, as the third generation. These notes indi- cate at least four generations of the species in northeastern Texas. The duration of the pupal in star in July was from about 10 to 12 days. The caterpillars were much attacked by tachina flies, but none of the flies were reared. On August I7th, 211 specimens May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 199 of the braconid parasite Apanteles congre gains Say (Detr. J. C. Crawford) were reared from a nearly full grown larva found several days previously, bearing the usual white cocoons on its body. No hyperparasites were present in this case. At Blacksburg, Virginia an egg-mass of this species was col- lected on May 26, 1902 on the under surface of a leaf. These hatched on the morning of June 4th, or 9 days later. The top layer of eggs hatched first, and the egg-shells were not eaten by the larvae. The vacated egg-shells were of a dull heliotrope color. On June 7th at 3 P. M., some of the caterpillars began to pass through the first ecdysis, and this was completed on the 8th. On June nth the second ecdysis occurred, and on the I4th the third. Unfortunately on the i6th, all of the larvae died from the effects of eating poisoned leaves accidentally given to them. A single cocoon of an ichneumon parasite was found attached along the petiole of one of the leaves intro- duced into the cage for food. This was found on June 2Oth, and wras elliptical, oval, gray, with two interrupted dark bands, one near each end, irregular spots of the same color on each end, and about a quarter of an inch long; it was apparently the cocoon of a species of Atnorphota Forster, or an allied genus in the Campoplegini. Near this cocoon the withered remains of a catalpae larva was found; a large hole was present on one side of the thorax near the head. These facts are mentioned because I believe there are no recorded primary parasites of the catalpa sphinx in the family Ichneumonidae. A year previously, on July 8th, 1901, I twice observed a heteropteron sucking the juices from the body of young cater- pillars, but have no note indicating what species it was. At Annapolis, Maryland, the larvae were noticeably abundant July 29th, 1899, and present in various instars as late as Oc- tober loth, the same year. On June 3Oth, 1900 in the same locality in regard to a group of catalpa trees on the suburbs of the city, it was noted that some of them were completely stripped of their foliage, presenting a very desolate appearance. The caterpillars were also present in numbers near Annapolis in the month of September, 1901 and 1902. 200 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 New species of the Tipulid genus Rhypholophus, with a Table for Determining the North American species. R. W. DOANE, Stanford University. 1. Discal cell closed, or coalescing with the second posterior cell . . 2. Discal cell open, coalescing with the third posterior cell n. 2. Wings variegated with gray or brown markings 3. Wings uniformly colored . . 5. 3. Sixth and seventh longitudinal veins divergent, wings spotted with brown in all the cells innocens O. S. Sixth and seventh longitudinal veins parallel or converging toward the tip 4. 4. A narrow, indefinite, sometimes almost obsolete brown band runn- ing from the stigma across the central cross-veins. fascipennis Zett. Three more or less definite brownish or grayish bands across the apical portion and three spots in the basal portion of the wing. nubilus O. S. 5. Seventh vein arcuated in such a way that the axillary cell is as wide or wider in the middle than at the tip 6. Sixth and seventh veins divergent at the tip 8. 6. Discal cell open, coalescing with the second posterior cell. holotrichus O. S. Discal cell closed 7. 7. Antennae altogether brownish arcuatus n. sp. First and second segments of the antennae yellow . . fnmatus Doane. 8. Antennae altogether brownish divexus n. sp. Antennae yellow at the base 9. 9. Discal cell open, coalescing with the second posterior cell. flaveolus Coq. Discal cell closed 10. 10. First four segments of antennae yellow nigripilis O. S. First two segments of antennae yellow fusiformis Doane. 11. Thorax reddish, with a distinct black line in the middle. rubellus O. S. Thorax brownish or yellowish 12. 12. Wings with a conspicuous stigmatal spot 13. Stigmatal spot not conspicuous 15. 13. First two segments of antennae yellowish .... lanuginosus Doane. Antennse wholly brownish .... 14. 14. Claw at the tip of the lobes of the hypopygium simple, with a single straight branch at the base meigenii O. S. Claw at the tip of the lobes of the hypopygium complex, base very broad and emitting three short curved branches.. cornutus n. s. May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 2OI 15. Thorax light yellow 16. Thorax brownish or brownish-yellow 17. 16. Antennae and palpi, except basal joint, brown .... cockerelli Coq. Antennae wholly yellow parallelus n. sp. 17. Antennas of male long, reaching beyond the root of the wings . . 18. Antenna of male not reaching beyond root of wings, .manicatus Doane. 18. Antennae of male longer than the whole body . . . longicornus n. sp. Antennas not longer than the whole body 19. 19. Thorax with three brown stripes affiuis Lund. Thorax without stripes monticola O. S. Rhypholophus arcuatus n. sp. Brown; head grayish brown, front darker; rostrum, palpi and anten- nae brown, the latter somewhat lighter toward the base ; thorax brown with a grayish bloom, with rather long yellow hairs ; scutellum and metanotum hoary ; halteres pale, knobs slightly darker ; legs light brown, tarsi darker; abdomen brown with rather dense light yellow hair; ovipositor long, ferrugineous, upper valves strongly arcuated; wings brown, pubescence rather dense of medium length ; stigma slightly darker; veins darker brown; auxiliary cross vein about half way be- tween the origin of the praefurca and the tip of the auxiliary vein ; discal cell closed, seventh vein arcuated in such a way that the axil- lary cell is broader in the middle than at the tip. Length 6 mm., wing 8 mm. Hab. — Ithaca, N. Y. Two females. Rhypholophus divexus n. sp. Brown; palpi and first joint of antennae dark brown, other segments of antennae very light brown ; thorax wholly light yellowish-brown ; legs brown ; femora, except at the base, much darker ; abdomen brown ; with dense rather long brownish-yellow hairs ; ovipositor ferrugineous, upper valves strongly arcuated ; wings brown ; stigma darker brown, distinct; pubescence rather long and dense; discal cell opening into the second posterior cell ; sixth and seventh veins diverging. Length 4 mm., wing 6 mm. Hab. — Keyport, Wash. One female. Rhypholophus longicornus n. sp. Brown ; palpi and antennae brown, elongate the latter in the male A as long as the whole body; joints of the flagellum somewhat fusiform with a dense whirl of long fine light-brown hairs; thorax brownish yellow, slightly darker above ; halteres yellowish brown, tips of knobs darker brown ; legs light brown ; abdomen brown with rather dense long light-yellowish hairs ; hypopygium yellow, lobes somewhat elon- gate, claws reddish-brown darker at the tips^ ovipositor ferrugineous, long, slender, upper valves conspicuously arcuated ; wings rather broad, 202 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 brown, stigma and the costal cell somewhat darker ; pubescence long and dense over the whole wing; discal cell opening into the third pos- terior cell; distal portion of the sixth and seventh veins subparallel. Length 4 mm., wing 6 mm. Hab. — Keyport, Wash. Two males, two females. Rhypholophus parallelus n. sp. Yellow ; front and palpi somewhat darker ; antennae wholly yellow ; thorax reddish yellow, slightly darker above ; halteres pale yellow ; knobs slightly infuscated at the tip ; legs yellowish ; abdomen brownish above, yellow below ; ovipositor reddish-yellow, upper valves somewhat arcuated; wings brown, rather narrow; stigma indistinct; discal cell opening into the third posterior cell ; distal portion of the sixth and seventh veins subparallel, the latter slightly arcuated ; pubescence on the wings rather long and dense. Length 5 mm., wing 6 mm. Hab. — Ithaca, N. Y. Two females. Rhypholophus cornutus n. sp. Yellowish-brown ; rostrum and palpi darker brown ; antennae light brown, joints of the rlagellum of the male with a dense soft pubescence and long verticles, those of the female with the pubescence less dense ; thorax yellowish-brown with sparse reddish-yellow hairs ; halteres yellowish ; legs brownish, femora lighter toward the base ; abdomen brown, with long sparse yellow hairs ; hypopygium reddish-brown, horny appendages black, those at the tip of the lobes very broad and emitting three short curved branches ; ovipositor reddish-yellow, upper valves slightly arcuated ; wings brown ; stigma darker brown ; pubescence on wings not very long or dense ; discal cell opening into the third pos- terior cell; distal portions of the sixth and seventh veins subparallel. Length 5 mm., wing 6 mm. Hab. — Stanford University, Cal. Two males, one female. EVELYN GROESBEECK MITCHELL has brought suit against Dr. Harrison G. Dyar to recover $35,000 damages on account of a review of her book on mosquitoes which he published in the Canadian Entomologist. NOTE ON Pcrilitiis cimericanus RILEY. — At Paris, Texas, adults of Megilla maculata DeGeer were quite commonly found during the sec- ond week in July, 1904, and later, adhering to the cocoons of this species, its parasite, in corn fields. Many of these cocoons were brought into the laboratory and the resulting parasites proved to be all females, which varied considerably in size. The cocoons of the parasite were still numerous in August at Paris and were also found at Will's Point, Texas, on August isth. The pupal instar was record- ed in two cases, beginning with the formation of the cocoon: July 16- 22, 5]/£ days, and July 18-23, 5 days. — A. A. GIRAULT, Paris, Texas. May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 203 A new genus and species of Neuroptera. BY NATHAN BANKS. Recently Dr. J. B. Smith in sending some New Jersey ma- terial, included a few forms from California. Among the latter is a specimen of a Hemerobiid belonging to a new genus and species. As I have lately revised our species of this family it is with much interest that I add this striking form to our fauna. CHARGES n. gen. Body thick and heavy as in Polystoechotes, head rather small, no ocelli ; antennae broken, scarcely the diameter of basal seg- ment apart, and closer to the small eyes ; pronotum about three times as broad as long, a little broader behind than in front, abdomen rather short and stout. Legs slender, tibial spurs dis- tinct, no spines, but many hairs and bristles, apical tarsal joint as long as basal, others much shorter. Wings moderately slender ; in the fore wings the radius and sub-costa do not unite near tip, although they come very close together; beyond the stigmal region the radius is bent downward and emits several forked branches from its upper side to the margin of wing; the lower branch of the median vein, soon after its origin, unites with the cubital ; the latter gives off a number of branch- es to the margin ; cross-veins quite numerous, but not in ser- ies ; at costal base is a recurrent vein ; the radial sector arises near base of wing, but has only four branches ; the costal cross- veins are outwardly oblique. The hind wings are veined much like the fore pair, but the lower branch of the medius does not run into the cubital vein, but parallel to it, and soon forks ; cross-veins hardly as numerous as in the fore pair; and radial sector with five branches. In many respects this is similar to Polystoechotes, but differs at once by the subcosta not joining the radius, by the much fewer branches of the radial sector, irregular cross-veins, and in forewings by the union of lower branch of median vein to the cubital. Oliarces clara n. sp. Head and body dark brown, mouth and antennae paler; pronotum clothed with long dark hair; legs dull yellowish, very hairy; abdomen 204 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 pale brown beneath, darker above, very hairy, the apical joints beneath are flattened, and the last has a broad basal concave scar, this last seg- ment in the male (at least), is about twice as broad as long, with nearly Forewing Oliarces clara Banks. parallel sides, and at each side shortly before tip is a very large, stout appendage, with a broadly rounded, incurved tip, all very hairy. Wings hyaline, venation whitish, the radius at extreme base is fuscous. Ex- panse 35 mm. One specimen from Walter's Station, Calif., April; kindly sent me by Prof. J. B. Smith. The Life History of Euchloe ausonides Boisd. KARL R. COOLIDGE AND EWAL J. NEWCOMER. Euchloe ausonides was first described by Boisduval in 1852, in the Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France. Since then it has been described and figured by Edwards, Mead, Holland, Wright, and others. It is closely allied to the Euro- pean ausonia, and we believe the two forms will prove iden- tical. Beutenmuller writes*, "The European species is double brooded, and as far as I can learn the larva is also different from our species." As with other North American forms of Euchloe, ausonides has usually been considered monogoneutic,f but in several cases which we observed last year, imagines have emerged in the early summer instead of hibernating in the chry- salis, thus indicating the representatives of a second brood. Edwardsf says of ausonides: "Ausonides, as remarked by *Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. p. 240, 1898. fW. H. Edwards (Can. Ent, XXIV, 109) writes: "I am told that some collectors think that A. hyantis is the spring form of ausonides. If so, it is a mistake. There is but one annual brood of ausonides. In different years I have had four examples come from bred pupae ; all in the month of March ; all typical ausonides." JButt. N. Am. V. 2, 1874. May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 2O5 Dr. Boisduval, is scarcely distinguishable from ansonia Hbn., a species found in the regions bordering the Mediterranean, and subject to much variation, especially in the degree of mottling of the underside of the secondaries. The alpine variety simplonia Freyer, seems nearest the us- ual American type, though we have also individuals in which the markings approach belia Esper., considered to be another variety of ansonia, A comparison of the larvae and the chrysalids would best determine the relationship, but I have been unable to find a description of these stages of ansonia. It is to be noticed that where a species becomes widely dispersed and sections are sep- arated by impassable barriers, the larvae are often first to differ, and may become quite distinct before any wide difference is observed in the imago." As in all our species of Euchloe, ansonides exhibits con- siderable variation especially in size and the density of colora- tion. In the male the ground color is sometimes pure white, but may be more or less yellow-tinted. The female frequently has the upper surface of the secondaries suffused with a buff or ochraceous tint and the dark green marbling of the inferior surface of the secondaries varies somewhat in density in both sexes. The discal spot also varies considerably; sometimes it is reniform, or lunate, or in the form of a sinuous bar, of variable breadth. As a rule, western specimens are much larger than eastern. We do not consider the variety hyantis Hy. Edw., as placed by Dyar and Skinner, a variety of auson- idcs. It is not the summer brood as we have compared our specimens with descriptions of hyantis and find them abun- dantly distinct. Specimens of the summer brood closely re- semble those of the typical form, except in being more yel- low-tinted. The form coloradcnsis Hy. Edw., may be known by its deeper green tint on the underside of the secondaries, and the discal bar of the primaries above is in the form of a small, black, lunate dash. It is recorded from Montana, Colo- rado and California. We have not noticed it in this locality. As shown by good series, it intervaries to ansonides and can hardly be considered worthy of varietal rank. It would be in- teresting to compare our varieties of ansonides with those of ansonia. Although ansonides has a wide distribution, ranging west of the Rocky Mountains from Arizona to Alaska, it ap- pears to be rather local, but is quite common when found. In the Santa Clara Valley, it is a common and early butterfly, flying about the flowers of Brassica, Radix and other cruci- ferous plants. It usually appears about the end of February, 206 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 sometimes earlier and is on the wing until June and the earlier part of July. This varies, of course, according to the locality. In Colorado it appears in May and June, and in Montana we have taken newly emerged specimens as late as July. In the high Sierras it flies until the end of July. The flight of ansonidcs is much similar to that of congeneric species. It flies but a few feet above the ground, in a some- what zigzag, aimless course, alighting only on flowers. It was probably for this reason that the name Anthocharis* was given to the genus by Boisduval. When alarmed, however, its erratic flight makes capture difficult. Little has ever been writ- ten of the preparatory stages of ausonides. Mead found the eggs and larvae in Colorado and Edwardsf has figured the egg, larva and pupa and described the mature larva and pupa. Beutenmuller has briefly compiled a description of the larva and chrysalis and Hy. Edwards, in the Proc. Cal, Acad. Science, v. 5, p. 326, describes the larva from Mead in litt. In a letter to W. H. Edwards, Mead writes: "At Turkey Creek Junction there were many eggs and some larvae to be found, the latter feeding on the flowers and seed vessels of a cruciferous plant. The eggs were long, ribbed longitudinally, and in color light yellow. The larvae are solitary, and are seen stretched at length on the stem or seed-pods of the plant." The transitional stages of the larva have never been described. At first, we had some difficulty in finding the eggs but a little experience made it easy. The egg-laying habits are much simi- lar to those of allied species and agree well with olympia, the life-history of which was recently described by ShullJ. Our first record of oviposition is March 14, but this is perhaps a little earlier than usually occurs. The eggs are mostly placed on the sepals of the young inner buds of the plant and also quite commonly on various parts of the pedicel, especially on the rachis. In a few cases we have observed the female ovipositing on the leaves. The illustration shows the normal position. We have never seen a female lay more than one * Av0os (anthos), a flower, and Xaijpeiv (chairein), to delight in. fButt. N. Am. Vol. II, pi. 2. JEnt. News, Vol. XVIII, 1907. May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 207 egg in a flower cluster, although occasionally she will deposit several on the same plant. However, as many as six or seven have been found in a single cluster, but these must have been laid by different females or by the same female at different times. We concur with Prof. Shull in saying that the egg-shell is not eaten. He says, "my observations on this point are at variance with the statement commonly made that butterfly larvae devour the shell from which they emerge before be- ginning to feed upon the food plant." There are a large number of species, the young larvae of which do not eat the egg shell. In the case of Pyrgus tessellata, eggs of which we have found abundantly on Malva borealis, a small circular hole was the only evidence that the larva had escaped, the empty shell remaining firm and intact. The young larvae of ansonides escape by eating away a por- tion of one side of the egg shell. Their first vegetable food consists of the young and tender sepals and petals or very rarely the leaves of their food plant. As they mature and after the flowers have disappeared they feed on the seed pods. In captivity, the mature larvae are inclined to be larvaphagous and will readily devour each other when opportunity offers. There is a striking resemblance between the larva of ansonides and that of several species of Pontia, particularly protodice, "more alike," writes Edwards, "in color, form, and markings than often happens between species of the same genus." There is no pupal resemblance whatsoever. As a rule, the duration of the instars we have found to be fairly regular but may vary considerably according to the condition of the weather. 2O8 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 The following is a record of ten cases which we observed. TIME IN DAYS ISt Instar 2nd 3rd 4th To Girdle To Pupa I 8 4 3 4 6 2 2 6 3 3 3 6 2 3 7 3 3 5 6 1$ 4 5 3 3 4 4 I* 5 5 3 3 4 7 I* 6 6 4 3 7 9 5 12 8 5 3 3 3 8 I* 9 6 2 5 2 10 6 4 9 Av. 6fV 3! 4TV 3* 6* If We wish here to thank Prof. Chas. A. Shull for his kindness in copying for us the anthocharid text from Edward's work and Miss Julia Wright for her excellent illustrations. Egg.— Fusiform, laterally marked with about sixteen raised vertical ridges, between which are finer cross veins ; nearly i mm. in length. Color when first laid light bluish-green changing in 24 to 30 hours to light orange. By the third day the color is almost vermilion and about the sixth the egg turns dirty yellow-brown, especially so apically. The May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 209 duration of the egg stage is about seven days, varying according to the season. First Instar. — Length, a little over I mm. Color, orange-yellow, be- coming lighter in a day or two ; head almost black ; body sparsely covered with dark colored hairs. Second Instar. — Length about 4 mm. Color, light greenish, soon turning dark; head black. Third Instar. — Length, 5.5 mm. The markings can now be plainly seen; the dorsal stripe is bluish or grayish green; on each side of this is a subdorsal yellowish green stripe, then a lateral grayish green stripe, and finally an infralateral yellowish line; ventral surface greenish; head greenish almost black; numerous black tubercles scattered over the body. Fourth Instar. — Length, 17 mm. ; maculations more sharply defined than before ; head rather light greenish-gray sprinkled over with black tubercles from which protrude short bristles. Fifth Instar. — Length in motion 33 mm. ; at rest 28 mm. Cylindrical, slender; head rounded, small. Colors much brighter; ground color dark green; upper half of infralateral line white, lower half yellow; head green speckled with black ; thoracic legs black, abdominal ones green- ish-yellow. The larva, when full grown, loses its bright colors and soon spins the silken buttons and girdle from which it is to hang, The former colors are replaced anteriorly and on the line of the spiracles by a purplish tinge. After the girdle is completed, the larva remains quiet for from 36 to 40 hours, when pupa- tion takes place. It will not be necessary to give at length this operation, as it has already been described in the case of a closely allied species (olympia) and is also much similar to that of Pontia rapac and others of that genus. Chrysalis. — Average length 26 mm. Cylindrical, slender, thickest in middle and tapering therefrom evenly, the ends being nearly equal size. At first the chrysalis has the same general purplish tinge of the larva and the dorsal side shows the same markings. The wing-cases and pro- jection of head are almost transparent. These, especially the latter, soon turn dark. Final color, anterior portion dark brown, continuing on the ventral side to the tips of the antennae, which are light, and on the dorsal side only to a point opposite the eyes ; wing veins marked in brown ; dorsal side of thorax and abdomen light yellow or cream color ; ventral side light brown. There arc five well-defined lines on the pupa; a dorsal one, dark brown, running the full length of the body 210 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 except for the last two posterior segments ; two laterals, also dark brown, running the full length of the abdomen and shaded into the other markings of the thorax ; two lying about midway between the lateral and ventral lines, light brown and continuing only to the wing- cases. The ventral line is very slightly marked. Considerable variation is shown in the color of the markings and also in the degree of re-curvature of the palpi-cases. Contarinia gossypii n. sp. BY E. P. FELT, Albany, N. Y. This species is injurious to cotton in the British West Indies, and was received from Mr. Henry A. Ballou, Entomologist to the Imperial Department of Agriculture, Barbadoes, through Dr. L. O. Howard, at whose request it is described : Male. — Length i mm. Antennae about twice the length of the body, thickly haired, light brown, 14 segments ; the first broadly obconic, the second flattened basally, subhemispheric ; the others binodose, the third and fourth slightly fused, the fifth having the basal portion of the stem with a length three times its diameter, the distal part with a length four times its diameter ; the enlargements with the membrane thickly dotted with chitinous points ; the basal one subglobose, flattened basally, with a sub-basal whorl of long, stout setae and a subapical circmnfilum; the loops of the latter long and extending to the middle of the distal enlargement, which latter is slightly produced, broadly oval, with a thick whorl of long, stout, curved setae near the middle and a subapical circumfilum, the loops of the latter distinct and ex- tending to the middle of the basal enlargement of the following seg- ment ; terminal segment with the basal enlargement subglobose, the basal portion of the stem somewhat produced, slender; the distal en- largement slightly produced and bearing apically a long slender fin- ger-like process. Palpi quadriarticulate ; the first segment appar- ently short, stout, irregularly subquadrate; the second a little longer, broadly ovate; the third fully half longer than the second, more slender ; the fourth as long as the third, more slender, all rather thickly clothed with coarse setae. Face fuscous, yellowish, eyes large, black; mesonotum dark brown, the submedian lines yellowish; scu- tellum fuscous yellowish ; postscutellum yellowish ; abdomen green- ish yellowish, the segments posteriorly rather thickly mar- gined with coarse setae ; wings hyaline, costa pale straw ; subcosta uniting with the anterior margin near the basal third, the third vein May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 211 just beyond the apex, the fifth joining the posterior margin at the distal fourth, its branch near the basal third ; membrane sparsely clothed with fine hairs. Halteres presumably yellowish transparent, coxae yel- lowish, femora and tibiae pale yellowish straw, tarsi slightly darker. Claws long, slender, evenly curved, simple, the pulvilli a little shorter than the claws. Genitalia ; basal clasp segment rather long, broad, tapering to a narrowly rounded apex; terminal clasp segment long and tapering slightly to an obtusely rounded apex. Dorsal plate and other minor organs indistinct in the preparation. Female. — Length 1.5 mm. Antennae about as long as the body, sparsely haired, pale yellowish, 14 segments ; the first broadly obconic, the second somewhat produced, broadly fusiform, the others cylindric, the third and fourth slightly fused; the fifth with a stem about 1-5 the length of the subcylindric basal enlargement, which latter has a length nearly 2% times its diameter, the membrane thickly dotted with chitinous points, with a thick sub-basal whorl of long, stout, curved setae, and a scattering subapical band of shorter curved setae ; low circumfili occur near the basal third and apically ; terminal segment strongly produced, the distal enlargement with a length about four times its diameter and distally tapering to a narrowly rounded apex. Palpi quadriarticulate ; the first segment irregularly fusiform ; the second narrowly oval and half longer than the first; the third half longer than the second, more slender; all rather thickly clothed with coarse setae. Colorational characters about as in the opposite sex, except that the abdomen appears to be a fuscous greenish yellow and the posterior margins of the segments, especially the apical ones, are more thickly clothed with coarse setae; tarsal characters as in the opposite sex. Ovipositor yellowish, probably nearly as long as the body when extended, the terminal lobes very long, slender, having a length fully five times the width and tapering to a subacute apex bearing a few short, stout setae subapically. Described from a number of specimens recently mounted in balsam. Types, C. 1331, deposited in the U. S. National Museum and New York State Museum. PHENACOCCUS GOSSYPII. — Some time ago Prof. C. F. Baker sent me this species on Jacobinia coccinca, from Santiago dc las Vegas, Cuba. Both locality and food-plant are new. — T. D. A. COCKF.RELL. MR. HERMANN ROLLE, of Berlin, Germany, has published a number of lists and price catalogues of Lcpidoptera and Coleoptera. These will be found useful to both the collector and the systematic worker. 212 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 The Blackberry Leaf-Miner* (Scolioneura capitalis Norton.) BY C. O. HOUGHTON, Newark, Del. Entomologist, Delaware Experiment Station. About the middle of June, 1905, my attention was called to an injury, said to be quite serious, to dewberries on a farm near Dover, Delaware. My first visit to the place was on June i6th, at which time I found a field of about four acres considerably injured by a leaf-miner. Upon some of the plants dozens of leaves showed large, brownish blotches, and not a few of them contained two or three mines; the majority of the leaves, however, had but one. The patch was upon compara- tively new ground, but was at some distance from woods. Other berry fields at some distance from this one (three or four miles) were said to be attacked in the same manner, but I did not see any of these. The owner of the field in ques- tion stated that this was the first occurrence of the pest in his fields. Several of the leaves containing mines were collected and brought home for study. An examination of the larvae show- ed that they were apparently saw-fly larvae, but at that time I was unable to place them satisfactorily. An attempt was made to rear them by placing the leaves in jars containing earth, but apparently all of the larvae died without entering the earth ; at least several which emerged from their mines were later found dead on top of the earth in the jars. On June 28th, 1905, I again visited the infested field, but found only a very few leaves upon the plants which contained larvae. Evidently they had practically all pupated at that date. An attempt was made to locate some of the pupae in the ground near the bases of some of the infested plants, but without re- sult. On July nth I left Newark for a month's vacation, and upon my return early in August learned that a second brood of the leaf-miner had appeared and that this brood had oc- casioned more injury than the first. A letter from the owner of the field, dated July 3ist, stated that the miners were very abundant at that time, and occasioning considerable injury. May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 213 In 1906 my first visit to the field in question was made on May 3Oth, and at that time I found a few leaves with small mines in them. Some of the larvae taken from these mines measured 2 mm. in length. Considerable time was spent in the field, and I observed a number of small blackish-colored saw-flies flying about the plants and alighting upon the leaves. Some were evidently ovipositing, and the operation was ob- served. The insect would alight upon the upper surface of the leaf and select a spot for the deposition of the egg, apparent- ly at random. Sometimes the place would be in the shade, sometimes in the sunshine, but so far as I could determine it was always upon the upper surface of the leaf. The tip of the abdomen would then be brought in contact with the leaf, and in a very short time, usually 30 to 50 seconds, the opera- tion would be finished and the insect would fly away. Some of the spots where eggs had apparently been de- posited were marked, in the hope that later, with the aid of a microscope, I would be able to locate the eggs; but in this I failed. Several of the saw-flys were collected at this time, and one that was submitted to Dr. A. D. MacGillivray, was pro- nounced by him to be Scolioneura capitalis Norton. This species was described by Norton in 1867,* as Sclandria (Blennocampa) capitalis, from a single female taken at Brook- lyn, N. Y. In 1895 Marlett re-described the species,t using Norton's type, and referred it to the genus Scolioneura. At the same time he described a new species of Scolioneura, can- adcnsis, which, according to Dr. MacGillivray, is probably a form of capitalis. In 1884 Forbes bred from larvae found on mining leaves of cultivated blackberries at Normal, 111., two specimens of the small saw-fly which were, according to Dr. MacGillivray, undoubtedly males of S. capitalis, but which Forbes described^: as Metallus rnbi (gen, et sp. nov.).** His description of the larva follows : * Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., Vol. I, p. 247. f Proc. Ent. Soc. of Washington, Vol. Ill, p. 234. J Fourteenth Report of the State Entomologist of 111., p. 87. **In 1887 Cresson referred this to the genus Fenusa, considering it possibly a variety of F. curia Norton. 214 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 "Larva.— The larva is 8.5 mm. in length by 1.25 mm. in breadth, cylindrical, skin minutely roughened. The second and third thoracic segments and the first abdominal are much thickened vertically, giving a convex dorsal outline to this region. From the second thoracic seg- ment the outline slopes rapidly downward to the front, the head being wedge shaped, viewed laterally, and only about half the depth of the second segment. The head is flat beneath, slightly rounded above, about two-thirds as wide as the thorax; antennae and mouth parts very short ; eyes wanting. The color is brown both above and beneath. First thoracic segment trapezoidal, viewed laterally; a large brown chitinous prosternal area extending forward to the mouth parts and laterally to the legs ; a brown patch upon the dorsum of this segment. Small brown chitinous sternal areas to the two succeeding thoracic segments, and a still smaller one on the first abdominal. "Legs very short, not longer than their respective segments ; prolegs fourteen in number (counting the two anals), having the form of low, flattened tubercles, each with a brown chitinous patch upon the outer part. The pair of anal prolegs are nearly encircled by two dark brown chitinous arcs. "Segments of the body deeply separated; sides with two lateral rows of obscure tubercles ; spiracles brown, minute, except the first on the middle of the first thoracic segment, which is larger and is surrounded by a small brown chitinous patch." "Described from a single specimen taken from the blackberry leaf." My own material in this stage is all alcoholic, and hardly suitable for a close comparison with the above, or for descrip- tive purposes. Some of the larvae are considerably larger than Forbes' specimen, however, several of them measuring 10 mm. in length and 2 mm. in breadth. The following description of the adult has kindly been fur- nished by Dr. MacGillivray : Scolioncura capitalis Nort. $ . Blackish rufous with the follow- ing parts rufous, the anterior and lateral lobes of the mesonotum, the scutellum and the post-scutellum ; with the following parts white, the two basal segments of the antennae, sometimes, the apices of the coxae, the trochanters, the anterior and middle tibiae and tarsi, and the posterior tarsi ; the posterior tibiae varying from a clear white to strongly infuscated ; antennae enlarged at middle with the second segment annular, wider than long, the third segment one-third longer than the fourth, shorter than the third and fourth together ; the cly- peus truncate; the clypeal furrow shallow, interrupted at middle by May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 215 a distinct, convex hypoclypeal area; the ventral part of the antennal furrows extending from the tentorial invaginations, which are shallow, to a line drawn through the dorsal end of the antennal fovea, and slightly closed just above the base of the antennae by a low, transverse ridge ; the dorsal part of the antennal furrow deep at each side of the postocular area, and fading out opposite the anterior ocellus ; the post- ocular area bounded in front by a furrow uniting the antennal fur- rows of a side, from the cephalic margin of which there extends a wide depression, wider than the ocellus, to the anterior ocellus ; the head not with a pentagonal area; the posterior metatarsus as long as all the following segments together ; the saw guides straight on the dorsal margin, slightly convex on the ventral margin, and obliquely truncate at apex ; the radial cross-vein ending in the cell R4 distinctly before its apex ; wings jnfuscated, veins and stigma brown. Length 4 mm. Hab. — Missouri (Riley), Illinois (Forbes), Rhode Island (Morse), and New York (Norton). In notes appended, Dr. MacGillivray says : "I have before me for study four specimens from the United States National Museum, all from the Riley collec- tion, one bred from a leaf mine on blackberry, two types from Professor Forbes and a single specimen from Rhode Island. This species varies greatly in the amount and intensity of the rufous color on the mesonotum. The type of capitalis is ap- parently an immature individual in which the mesonotal mark- ings are entirely wanting; in other individuals the mesonotum may be entirely blackish rufous, or with only slightly marked spots, or with the body shining black and with distinct rufous mesonotal area. Forbes' Metallus rnbi, based on males, is black; the male of capitalis differs from the female only in having the mesonotum black, and is undoubtedly the same as Forbes' rubi, while Marlatt's canadensis appears to be simply a form of capitalis with a distinct black and rufous color." In the Fourth Report* of the Delaware Experiment Sta- tion (1891) I find a note relative to a leaf-miner in blackber- ries, which J give herewith : "Specimens of blackberry leaves infested by a leaf-miner were received June 25, from Mr. P. Emerson, Wyoming, Del., * Report of the Entomologist, M. H. Bcckw'th. 2l6 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 and also from Mr. L. E. Anthony, Smyrna, Del. The insects did not make mines of any particular shape, but destroyed the whole inner portion of the leaves, the upper and lower epider- mis of the leaf only remaining. The leaves were sent to me in a letter and all the insects had escaped. I endeavored to secure leaves that contained the insects, but was unable to do so. Mr. Emerson informs me that several blackberry plantations in that vicinity were quite badly infested and fears were entertained that serious damage would result if the insects continued to increase. I shall make care- ful observations during the coming season in the infested plan- tations." This probably refers to this species, and is doubtless the first published reference to an injury by 6\ capitalis which could be considered as being of economic importance. Owing to my failure in 1906 to secure the data that I desired relative to the life history of this leaf-miner, I made plans to carefully study the species in 1907; but owing to the unusually cold and wet spring weather that we had, or other unknown causes, the miner appeared in only very small numbers the past season. At the time of my first visit, June 4, I failed to find any of the adults or any signs of mines. On the 27th of June I again visited the place and spent considerable time in the field, but found only six or eight leaves that contained mines. One or two of the larvae in these appeared to be nearly full grown at this date. Some of the infested leaves were brought home and placed in a glass cylinder with cotton batting at top and bottom, and this was set away in my laboratory. On July 9th I found therein a specimen of a species of Rhy- sipolis* which had apparently just emerged. This is therefore, presumably a parasite upon the larvae of S. capitalis. Notes on Pachybrachys. BY FRED. C. BOWDITCH. These preliminary notes are in the hope that collectors will give this neglected group some attention during the coming season, by collecting series of specimens with special reference to the locality and food plant and so facilitate further and more complete study of this genus. * Determined by Mr. J. C. Crawford, thr- igh courtesy of Dr. L. O. Howard. May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 2 17 Through the kindness of Prof. Dr. O. Taschenberg of Halle, Germany, I have received the loan of the types of some of Suffrian's species, so that certain of his obscure forms can be accurately determined, but larger series are needed to define their limits. The species which figures in our collections as the light var- iety of P. striatus Lee. = pallidipennis Suff. ; probably Le Conte's name will remain for the so called black yar. as a dis- tinct species. The name of bivittatus Say should be attached to the species now commonly labelled viduatus Fab. The real viduatus occurs sparingly in the southern states, is much larger and stouter and has a very well marked M on the thorax. Mr. Loding has sent me several from Alabama and I have it from North Carolina and Georgia. Suffrian's description of vidu- atus fits this species very well and does not fit bivittatus at all. Characteristicus Suff. is wholly grayish-white. I have typi- cal specimens from Lake Worth, Fla., and New Jersey. It is rather flattened in shape; the type $ has only one unbroken (by punctures) elytral interspace running along the side from near the humerus. My specimens exactly agree with it in that par- ticular. . Query, as to the food plant? It is very close to atomarius Mels. which lives on oak. Impurus Suff. is entirely rust colored with three darker spots on the base of the thorax, and three more along the side and two on the disk of each elytron. My specimens of this are neither of them exactly typical. Peccans Suff. type is black and yellow, the former color predominating and with a round yellow spot in middle of each elytron. .My specimens are not exactly typical. They come from Massachusetts and the Middle States. Spumarius Suff. type $ is still yellower than peccans and has also a round spot on the elytra. I have one male ex- ample from Tennessee which is the counterpart of the type. Nothing is known of the habits or food plant of any of these four Suffrian species. I note the occurrence of several Mexican forms from the Southwest, among them laticollis Jac. from Brownsville. 2l8 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 Migrating Butterflies. BY P. A. SAVERNER, Highland Park, Mich. Point Pelee is a long, tapering point of land, extending from the north shore of lake Erie, about nine miles, near the west- ern extremity of the lake. Out from the Point lie various islands situated like stepping stones across the lake to the Ohio shore. Along this point and its outlying islands, lies a great natural migration route, followed by birds on their vernal and autumnal migrations. During the last three falls I have done considerable ornithological work on the Point, and 1 have been much interested in observing that not only do birds habitually use this natural highway in crossing the lake, but that there is a regular and well defined stream of Lepidoptera flowing across in the fall. In the fall of 1905 during our stay from September 4th to I5th, we were greatly astonished at the numbers of Anosia plexippus present. They were to be seen everywhere, in ones, twos or dozens. In the woods, over the fields or along the roadside, and every here and there on the edges of the woods a tree would be found covered with them. One day, along the east beach, one of the few of the small cottonwoods that grow along the top of the sand dune was so covered with them that the whole lee side was a mass of red, their numbers almost hiding the green foliage com- pletely. When we shook the tree they rose in the air in such a cloud that they could scarcely be seen through. We never saw them flying in flocks except when disturbed in some such manner as described above, when they would either fly to an- other adjoining tree in a straggling disorganized fashion or gradually scatter, and proceed, each insect for itself. Individ- uals seldom passed a resting flock but generally joined it and so it seemed that the flocks were built up by the gradual accession of stragglers. The next year from September I5th to 22d, we saw the same thing but on not quite so great a scale, due likely to the late- ness of the date. This last fall from August 24th to September 6th they were nearly as numerous as during the first season, though we- saw May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 2ig no such great masses of them as those on the cottonwood above mentioned. With them we observed two other species numerous that on previous occasions we had not noticed. Not being an entomologist, however, I should hesitate to state that they were not then present. These two were Papilio cres- phontcs and a black swallow-tail not quite so large that I am fairly well satisfied was P. troilus. I collected specimens but inadvertently lost them so have to rely upon an uneducated memory and the probabilities. Of these two the former was slightly the more common but both were abundant. I under- stand that these latter forms are not supposed to migrate but here they were certainly, without exception, flying down the Point and crossing over the lake along the same course fol- lowed by the Monarchs. There was no indications of flock- ing in these two species nor did they seem to associate writh each other or with plcxippns but at all times of the day there was a steady stream of them, making in the same direction, steadily and without loitering. The Point ends in a long sand pit which we visited almost daily, and on all such occasions, except during rather heavy winds, all three species came sailing out the Point to the ex- treme end and then launching directly out into the lake along the same route that most of the diurnal birds followed, not toward Pelee Island, the first of the island stepping stones that lies plainly visible some ten miles distant ; but taking a more westward line that would carry them straight across the open lake. They came at the rate of about three a minute on fine days and crcspJwntcs was the most numerous of them and there were fewer ple.rippns than troilus. It was most in- teresting to watch them come, and observe the regularity and Apparent deliberateness of their movements. On calm days they came right down the center of the Point and followed every winding of the final sand spit to its extreme termination from whence they turned and squared away on the course as described before. At times when there was a little wind their proceedings were a little different. As soon as they reach- ed the end of the heavier timber they kept well down in the 220 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 shelter of the dense red cedar and juniper growth as far as that went, and then crossed to the lee shore, and dropping down to near the water's edge, proceeded along in the cover of the sand dune until the first breath of the wind was en- countered when they gradually rose in the air and started over the lake on the usual course. The exactitude with which they followed each other was remarkable. One could stand between two red cedars where they crossed to the shore and ninety per cent, of all butterflies would pass within striking distance of a net. Sometimes a lull would come in their pro- cession and the last would be out of sight in the distance before the next appeared but when it came it would appear beating over the same clump of juniper and within a few yards of the exact spot in which the previous ones first hove into sight. Whether these were all migrating in the true sense of the word or not I leave to the entomologists to decide. I can just record the facts as I saw them in the hopes that they may be of some interest to others of more experience in the ways of the Lepidoptera. One more fact may be worthy of mention. All specimens of plexippus seen were in good shape, with un- worn wings while most of cresphontes and troilus were more or less worn, especially the latter, few of which had not lost part or all of their tails and were otherwise damaged though not enough to seriously impair their flight. Some Larrid Wasps from Colorado. BY S. A. ROHWER, Boulder, Colo. I wish to express my thanks to Prof. T. D. A. Cockerell, for going over my manuscript. The types of the species here described are in my own col- lection. Tachysphex nigrescens n. sp. 9. Length 6 mm. Anterior margin of clypeus rounded out, with- out distinct lateral teeth, shining, sparsely covered with punctures; front dullish, densely and rather coarsely punctured; vertex shining, the punctures not as dense as those on the front; space between the May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 221 eyes at the top about half as great as the distance at the bottom; sec- ond antennal joint roundish, about one third the length of third, joints three and four equal ; dorsulum shining, rather densely and finely punctured, truncate anteriorly; scutellum not as densely punctured as the dorsulum, metathorax dullish ; metanotum distinctly punctured, a distinct longitudinal carina from middle of base extending to about the middle; lateral and posterior faces distinctly striated; posterior face with a shallow, circular fovea ; abdomen shining, densely cov- ered with extremely fine punctures ; pygidium, narrow, obtusely pointed at apex, somewhat excavated above. Color black; palpi pale brownish; apical part of tegulae, a narrow band on apex, and extending along side of each abdominal segment, apical joints of tarsi (more especi- ally the posterior ones) reddish brown; face, pleura? and inner side of tibiae with sparse sericeous pubescence. Wings dusky hyaline, nervures dark brown. Habitat. — Florissant, Colo., June 28, 1907 (S. A. Rohwer). Known from T. intermedius Vier. (Douglas Co., Ka.), its nearest ally by its smaller size ; front without groove between ocellus and insertion of antenna ; abdomen not, or but very slightly, covered with silvery pubescence. In Fox's table in N. Am. Larridse it runs to 17 where it runs out, falling between punctifrons and aethiops. It may be known from both of these by its smaller size, and from punctifrons by the absence of the dense sericeous pile, and from aethiops by the much clearer wings. Tachysphex hitei n. sp. $. Length about &/2 mm. Clypeus truncate with a very minute obtuse lateral tooth, densely punctured except on the extreme apical margin which is shining; front densely, rather coarsely punctured; vertex with finer punctures ; a somewhat indistinct line-like depres- sion from lower ocellus to between antennae, and a broader and more distinct one from ocellus to occiput; the depression behind lateral ocelli distinct ; distance between eyes at the top about equal to the length of antennal joints two plus three; second antennal joint about one- third as long as third, dorsulum somewhat truncate at anterior mar- gin, densely and finely punctured in general, but a spot on each anter- ior part more coarsely punctured ; scutellum and postscutellum punc- tured like the greater part of dorsulum; metathorax densely punctured with medium size punctures, Ojii posterior face there is a distinct elon- gate fovea ; abdomen distinctly, though finely punctured above and beneath, ventral segments witli a few long reddish hairs; pygidium distinctly margined, about twice as long as the width at base, apex 222 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, 'oS sharp, very finely punctured, with a few widely scattered large punc- tures. Color black; apical tarsal joints rufous; abdomen clear red, with triangular shaped patches of silvery pubescence on apical lateral margin on the first, second and third segments (this pubescence can only be seen in certain lights) ; face, pectus and lower part of pleurae with silvery pubescence. Wings dusky hyaline, nervures black. Habitat. — Jim Creek, Boulder Co., Colo., September 7, 1907 (Glenn M. Hite). The pygidium is similar to that of triquetrus Fox (Nev.) but it is not that species. Disregarding the pygidium it runs in Fox's N. Am. Lar- ridse, to tarsatus Say, but differs from that species as follows : punctures on the dorsulum not uniform throughout; poster- ior face of metathorax not striated but punctured; abdomen above with fine punctures ; smaller size, etc. It also seems related to T. punctulatus H. S. Sm. (ENT. NEWS, Sept. '06, p. 246) from Nebraska, but may be separated from that species by these characters; clypeus densely and rather coarsely punctured; different puncturing of the front; scape and mandibles without rufous; differently punctured dorsulum ; abdomen clear red, with silvery pubescence at sides of first three abdominal segments, etc. Tachysphex foxii n. sp. $ . Length 8 mm. Clypeus rounded anteriorly, the apical margin slightly uneven, lateral teeth if present very small, rather densely punctured throughout ; front with large well separated punctures, punc- tures on vertex not quite as dense; a distinct furrow from lower ocellus to near occiput ; depression back of lateral ocelli rather distinct ; space between eyes at the top a little more than the length of antennal joints three plus four ; dorsulum, scutellum and postscutellum shining, with distinct well separated punctures ; mesopleurse and pectus similarly punctured ; metathorax above reticulate to coarsely granular ; meta- pleurae densely coarsely punctured; posterior face somewhat indis- tinctly striated, with a distinct elongate fovea, which is wider at the top ; abdomen with fine dense punctures above, except the apical mar- gin of the second and following segments which are shining and with- out punctures, venter shining, without or with very few puncture^; pygidium margined, about twice as long* as the width at base, with a few widely scattered punctures. Color black ; band on middle of man- dibles and two apical segments of abdomen rufous (abdominal seg- ments brighter rufous) ; sides of abdominal segments, face, lower half May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 223 of front, pectus, pleurae somewhat, dorsulum, metanotum and posterior face of metathorax sericeous ; wings hyaline, at extreme apical margin dusky; nervures dark brown. Habitat. — Boulder, Colo., Aug. 30, 1907 (S. A. Rohwer). Dedicated to Mr. W. J. Fox who has done so much to make North American Larridae known. In Fox's table (N. Am. Larridse) this species runs to T. acntus Patt. (Conn., Ga., Fla.), but differs in the following points : occiput not emarginate when viewed from behind ; front with distinct punctures ; metapleurse punctured ; pygid- ium not more than twice as long as broad at base ; apex of abdomen red, etc. It has much the general appearance of T. tcnninatns Sm. but differs greatly in sculpture. It is. not T. claronis Vier. (Tr. Am. Ent. Soc., 1906) which is an ally of T. terminatus Sm. Tachyspex foxii var. alpestris n. var. $ . Differs from T. foxii in having the front more densely and finely punctured; the dorsulum more closely punctured; the two apical joints of the tarsi rufous; the metanotum with a little more gray hair; and is a trifle smaller. Habitat. — Florissant, Colo., July I, 1906 (S. A. Rohwer). This variety comes nearer T. terminatus Sm. but is still quite distinct. It runs in Fox's table (N. Am. Larridae) to T. acntus Patt. Tachysphex parvulus Cress. A $ collected at Florissant, Colo., June 15, 1907 (S. A. Rohwer), differs from the description of this species given by Mr. Fox (N. Am. Larridse) as follows: First joint of tarsi reddish; the three apical segments and apical half of third black; base of first abdominal segment black; pubescence of face a trifle yellowish ; tegulse ferruginous ; venation pale brown ; length 5 mm. Tachysphex aethiops Cress. 9 Copeland Park, Boulder Co., Colo., September 6, 1907; N. Boulder Creek, Boulder Co., Colo., August 22, 1907. Can- adian Zone. Both specimens taken by S. A. Rohwer. 224 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 Notogonia arge data Boe. Boulder, Col., April 14, 1907, and August 30, 1907 (S. A. Rohwer). Nitieliopsis plenoculoides Fox. Florissant, Colo., June 22, 1907 (T. D. A. Cockerell). Tachytes crassus Patt. A $ from Boulder, Colo., August 26, 1906 (S. A. Roh- wer), has four silvery bands on the abdomen, which would tend to run it into T. cohimbac Fox but the pubescence on the face is golden and the longest spur of the hind tibiae is as that of T. crassus. Again T. crassus is known to occur in the west while T. columbae has not been recorded from the west. I have seen a typical specimen of crassus from Ros- well, N. M. (Ckll.). This locality is new. Notes on some Angolan Insects of Economic or Pathologic Importance. BY F. CREIGHTON WELLMAN, Benguella, West Africa. (Concluded from page 33. 1 17- No. 102. Zonabris trifurca Gerst. (Coleopt.) This Meloid beetle is a prominent member of a group deserv- ing mention because of their flower- feeding habits. Both flower and vegetable gardens suffer from their presence. As they occur in large numbers they are not easy to combat. Their life cycle is interesting in that their larvae are parasitic in the oothecae of Orthoptera. These beetles are very distasteful to most insect-eating animals, and are consequently wonderfully mimicked by widely different groups of insects. I am publish- ing in another journal* a study of this interesting subject. 18. No. 17. Sarcopysylla pcnctrans L. (Siphonapt.) This flea locally known as the "Ewundu" is a common pest throughout southwest Africa. It was brought to this country *Deutsch Entomolog. Zeits. May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 225 in 1872 by the Portuguese from South America. Since then it has traversed the continent and is steadily pursuing its way around the world, having already been carried by coolies from East Africa to the Far East. S. penctrans in Angola lives in the dust, etc., on the floors of native Kraals, camps, etc. It bites all warm-blooded animals, including man, in the same manner as do ordinary fleas ; but if a 2 be impregnated, she takes advantage of her first chance to burrow into the tissues of some warm-blooded animal (often man) thereby occa- sionally causing tetanus, sepsis, gangrene, mutilation and (rare- ly) death of her host. Once ensconced, she matures her eggs, her abdomen, which admits of enormous distension, swelling during the process to the size of a sweet pea. There have ap- peared various accounts of the succeeding steps in the meta- morphosis, many of them inaccurate. In books on zoology, pathology and medicine we read, for instance, such statements as these : The eggs are "not deposited while the parasite is in the skin, for the ova do not leave the body until the parent reaches the soil." "The female bores into the skin, and the escaping larvae give rise to ulcers." "The female lays her eggs in the skin and causes thereby intense inflammation." "After the eggs are laid (according to some before this pro- cess) the super jacent skin ulcerates and the chigger is ex- pelled," etc., etc. During the examination of large numbers of natives in Angola, I have made the following observations, already published in another periodical/1" concerning this dis- puted stage in the life history : 1. The eggs are always laid while the chigger is yet imbed- ded in the flesh of her host.t 2. They never hatch into larvae in the body of the parent. 3. They are not laid at one time in masses,f but discretely and sometimes at considerable intervals. *American Jour. Med. Sciences, May, 1906. fWhen artificially removed from the tissues of her host she behaves abnormally and extrudes all her eggs at once, but this does not form a real exception to the above statements, and only a few of the most mature eggs thus expelled will hatch out. 226 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 4. The shell of the parent, when dead and empty of eggs, usually dries up in situ without causing further trouble. 5. The eggs once having reached the dust of the floor de- velop precisely like those of many other fleas. In the light of what has been said it will be seen that so long as natives go about with infected feet, chiggers will abound. Domestic animals, too, should be kept at some distance from white quarters and the floors of bungalows should be occasion- ally sprinkled with naphthol or kerosene. I have several times pointed out* that this flea is one of the principal factors in the production of the tropical disease known as Ainhuin. 19. No. 1067. Calandra oryscte L. (Coleopt.) This troublesome weevil is a great nuisance in stores of meal- ies (maize) and other grain. A moth (not yet heard from) shares with it this evil reputation. The native blacks in order to preserve their seed corn, store it in earthen pots the mouths of which they seal with clay. The local name for the weevil is "Omelekese." 20. No. 876. Dorylus nigricans 111. (Hymenopt.) This is the hated "army ant" of this district. Having been several times driven from my tent by them I can personally testify to their mandibular powers. In former days a favorite method of punishment inflicted by the native chiefs was to bind hand and foot the victim who was then thrown into a nest of "army ants"-— here called "Ovisonde." Careful house- wives, however, welcome the approach of the ants and joy- fully vacate for them the bungalow. For after a column of "army ants" has minutely explored a dwelling not a bug, beetle, cockroach, mouse, rat, snake or other pest remains behind. Much has been written on the habits of these and related ants, so I will not extract in detail from my notes the observations there recorded concerning their column formations, tunnelling under streams, forming living bridges over water, removing or elevating obstacles from their line of march, etc., etc. *Jour. Trop. Med., 1906 p. 31 ; Boston Med. and Surg. Jour., 1906 p. 489. May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 227 21. No. 1441 seq. Diacantha spp. (Coleopt.) There are a number of noxious Phytophaga which might be mentioned. Those named in the title of this note feed on Curcurbitaceae and especially destroy melons and cucumbers. Other allied beetles : Monolepta ludrica Wse., Melinotoma spp., etc., also Curculionidae, larvse of Elateridae (Tetralobus mechowi Qued., et a/.), etc., are also common garden pests. My noxious Hemiptera and Lepidoptera have not yet been re- ported on. 22. No. 1156. Simnlium damnosiim Theob. (Dipt.) This tiny fly is possibly one of the most successful destroy- ers of patience and provokers of profanity in the Colony. Na- tives near wet plains sometimes are compelled to move their kraals on account of it, and I have had to break camp to es- cape a swarm. It crawls down one's neck and up one's sleeves and bites viciously, leaving a tiny red wheal which itches furi- ously and does not disappear for some time. 23- No. 179. Apis nigritaniin Lep. (Hymenopt.) The common Angolan honey bee. The species, described from the Congo, is by some regarded as only a variety of A. odansoni Latr., and some authors regard both these forms as varieties of the common European honey bee. I have it on the authority of Professor Cockerell, however, that our Angolan nigritarum is not to be identified with the European species. The insect is of considerable economic importance, as the natives eat the honey ; and beeswax is one of the chief exports of the colony. The hives are made of hollowed out pieces of log (sometimes of bark) and are hung or lodged in trees. Particular trees are considered to be good "bee trees" and are always provided with hives. When full, the bees are simply smoked out of the hives and allowed to go off to find another home. No attempt is made to keep them, or to attract new swarms. It may be said in passing that the Apidae of 228 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 Angola are of great interest, my small collection having al- ready turned up several fine new forms, including a new genus. The peculiar abdominal pouches of the Xylocopid group, en- closing parasitic mites (Paragreenia Ckll.) is also most in- teresting, as is the mimicry and parasitism in the whole familly. 24. No. 1554. Tabanns biguttatus Wied. (Dipt.) This fly is representative of the powerful group which in- cludes, in my collection, several new species. T. latipes Macq. is the handsomest member, while the one named in the title to this note is of special interest on account of its mimicry of a wasp. The two species here named, with several others (not- ably T. socius Walk, and T. rubricundus Walk.), make life a burden to cattle, and occasionally attack man. 25- No. 1060. Clytus semiruber Qued. (Coleopt.) A common Cerambycid beetle (represented here by a variety, probably new) which is typical of a large group. They do great damage to dry timber. C. semiruber (which is distaste- ful and rejected by insect-eating animals) is a Mullerian mimic of Zonabris dicincta Bert. 26. No. 1555 seq. Salius spp. (Hymenopt.) Such formidable wasps as Salius vindex Sm., 5". dedjax Guer., and 5. regina Sauss., are reinforced by scarcely less powerful representatives of Scolia, Synagris and Sphex. The number of species is very large in the region, and the more aggressive ones are best left alone. I once saw a gigantic Salius chase a native boy several rods. The sting of such wasps is severe. The group as a whole is a fine one and several of my specimens are new to science. 27. No. 1246. Hacinatopota ocellata Wied. (Dipt.) I have taken a considerable number of Hacmatopotac nearly a dozen of which have been pronounced new species. These flies are a terrible pest in the wet season, both to men and May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 229 animals. The nearly naked natives suffer badly, and I have seen even a phlegmatic donkey become excited over them. One sometimes sees a horse or mule with the side of its neck almost literally covered with the tormentors. They will bite through thin clothing. 28. No. 63. Anthia calida Har. (Coleopt.) The commonest of a group of valiant Carabidae, some of which are much larger than calida. When disturbed they eject an acid secretion from the end of the abdomen, which, if it reaches the eyes, causes pain and may induce inflammation. A large ant shares the same habit. A small snake defends it- self in a similar manner, spitting venom several feet. I was once inclined to doubt the existence of the last named ani- mal, but I finally saw the phenomenon with my own eyes. 29. No. 1156. Aulacaspis sp. (Hemipt.) A scale insect attacking the Grenadilla vine (Passiflora edulis) and the "Ocimania" tree (Papaya vulgaris}. It was probably brought here on a tree (Melia azedarach} im- ported from Portugal and called by the colonists "Sycamore" : or at least the scale seems to be very fond of this last species. This Aulacaspis is typical of a large group of scale insects which I have not yet been able to study carefully. . 30- No. 22. Diarnphidia locusta. (Coleopt.) This Chrysomelid beetle is by far the most startling insect in the list ; for from its grub is extracted the lethal arrow poison of the Bushmen and their neighboring tribes. On the occa- sion of my first visit to Africa I had a specimen (larva) brought me, but was naturally very skeptical as to the statements ac- companying it. The blacks told me that the bite of either the imago or the grub was fatal, and that either is used in pre- paring the arrow poison. Correspondence with various savants, however, has verified the local opinion of the deadly nature of the beetle, and I have according described my larva in an- other journal.* Various other substances are mixed with the *Deutsch Entomolog. Zeitschrift, 1907 p. 17. 230 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, 'o8 powdered grub, chiefly the watery extract of the bulb of Hae- manthus toxicaria. In former times various species of Stroph- antluis, especially 5". lanosus were also used. 31- No. 870. PJicidolc punctulata Mayr. (Hymenopt.) These tiny ants 'are a troublesome pest. They are into every- thing. A dish of food, unless placed.-on a table the legs of which are set in tins of water, is almost immediately scent- ed and explored by them ; and in the dry season even a glass of water in a few minutes has a lot of them floating in it. Housewives are driven to despair and native cooks endure hard words and blows on account of punctulata the local name of which is "Olunjinji." Other ants in a less degree are guilty of the same proclivities. The ants of Angola seem to be close- ly allied to those of South Africa, and as yet only one new form has turned up in my collection. 32. No. 133. Epicauta sp. (Coleopt.) A plant-feeder and, like several of the preceeding, unde- sirable to have in the garden. This beetle is destructive to the flowers of potatoes and to bean plants. I should say before dismissing it, that this Meloid, if dried and powdered, will pro- duce blisters just as do Lytta vesicatoria L., Zonabris cichoreii L., Z. pustulata Thunb. and. the other species used medicinally in different countries. I am elsewhere* writing of the remark- able mimetic relations of Angolan Epicauta with other insects. A study like the present must always remain incomplete. I hope, however, to add to the preceding observations other notes on the most interesting or important insects (from an agricultural or pathological standpoint) that come to my notice during my proposed collecting tours in West Africa. In con- clusion I wish to thank several correspondents for determina- tions of specimens, among whom I must mention Professor Cockerell, of the University of Colorado, Dr. Forel of Yvorne, Switzerland, and especially my friend Dr. W. Horn of Berlin, the President of the German Entomological Society. *Vicle Deutsch. Entomol. Zeits. May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 23! Callosamia angulifera Wlk., n. var. Carolina. BY FRANK MORTON JONES, Wilmington, Del. $ . — Ground color of wings above, black, obscured basally with olive- brown hairs and more or less heavily overlaid with golden-brown scales. Discal mark,1 on primaries, yellow and prominent ; on secondaries, absent or very faintly indicated. Transverse posterior line yellow, clearly de- fined interiorly, outwardly fading into a broad, powdery golden-brown area. Secondaries beneath with no light line ; purplish-red, with no strongly-contrasting areas. 5 . — Very similar to typical angulifera above ; the discal marks yellow, almost obsolete on secondaries. Beneath, the black transverse lines of angulifera are replaced with purplish-red, which also darkens the area beyond to as dark a tone as the remainder of the wing. Described from fourteen males and ten females from Berke- ley County, South Carolina. The Carpenter Mud Wasp (Monobia quadridens). BY M. TANDY, Dallas City, 111. During the summer of 1907 it was my g-ood fortune to come in possession of a very interesting and rare specimen of the nest containing the live pupae of the Carpenter Mud Wasp. Usually this insect selects some partly decayed board in which to excavate its tunnel for a nest, which is usually several inches in depth, and partitioned off into cells about one inch each, in which are stored spiders; and one egg deposited in each cell. Now this particular insect, the subject of this sketch, seemed to be of different mind from the rest of its kind, as is ex- hibited in its selection of new and partly manufactured mater- ial for its domicile. Perhaps it had caught the -spirit of the age of progress and invention, and responded to some mysterious and inexplicable desire to better its condition, to provide a newer if not more fashionable home, or it never would have invaded a sash and door' factory to provide for the same, and select the best ot finishing lumber — a block of cypress, which had been discarded in the manufacture of window frames — dressed on both sides and with a groove in the under side, as it reposed upon a lum- ber pile. On its upper side were six small partly decayed 232 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 places, which bear evidence that our insect novice still retained some of its "old fogy notions" by its efforts to excavate a tun- nel for its home, in each of these decayed places, and abandoned them by reason of the silicified layers intervening between the annual growths, which are peculiar to this particular variety of wood, and which cause much trouble and annoyance to the manufacturer. What our little novice lacked in botanical wis- dom it made up by experience, and we can imagine that, though it was thoroughly disgusted with its failure it still retained the proverbial "grit" of this family of insects, by the ready man- ner it adapted the mechanical groove in the block of wood to its own purposes. It now appears that our little novice made the best of its environments, and enlarged its plans in advance of any of its kind by planning a larger and more magnificient domicile, and proceed to divide up its newly acquired premises into twelve rooms and cells, neatly partitioned off with mud. In Comstock's Manual for the Study of Insects, page 658 is illustrated a nest of this insect, composed of five cells, but in this case, it was a home built with its own hands ( ?) and exer- tion— hence it did not feel equal to, or had no desire, pro- vide a larger or more commodius domicile, as did the subject of this sketch. Later in the season when a workman had occasion to take some material from this pile of lumber, in lifting the block containing this interesting specimen he discovered the peculiar and new form, and consulted the writer as to its identity. The block being separated from the smooth plain surface of the plank below, exhibited a very perfect cross-section view of the nest containing the live pupae, and each pupa suspended in fine web so that it did not come in contact at any point with the walls of its cell, and no visible remains of food ma- terial with which the cells were first stored. The pupae are exactly, in shape and appearance like a very slender medicine capsule filled with a dark chocolate colored material and cap- ped with white. Thus, in many ways the interesting insect world contributes to the curiosity and wonder of the human kind. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit and will thankfully receive items of news likely to interest its readers from any source. The author's name will be given in each case, for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] To Contributors. — All contributions will be considered and passed upon at out earliest convenience, and, as far as may be, will be published according to date of recep- tion. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS has reached a circulation, both in numbers and circumfer- ence, as to make it necessary to put " copy " into the hands of the printer, for each num- ber, three weeks before date of issue. This should be remembered in sending special or important matter for a certain issue. Twenty-five "extras," without change in form, will be given free, when they are wanted ; and this should be so stated on the MS., along with the number desired. The receipt of all papers will be acknowledged. — ED. PHILADELPHIA, PA., MAY, 1908. Probably there is no entomologist who can recall without sadness or bitterness some favorable collecting- place wiped out of existence by the extension of towns or cities, or by the re- moval of woods and thickets. Even without mentioning the necessity of forests as sources of lumber supply, as conservers of moisture, as health-restoring agencies and as recreation- areas, our fraternity ought readily to sympathize with those who are doing what they can to save the few large tracts of woodland which still remain in the eastern United States. One of these is in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, another is in the Southern Appalachians. Bills to acquire these two areas as federal forest reservations are now before the House of Representatives at Washington, and have been ap- proved by the American Civic Association. At the present writing these bills are in the hands of the Judiciary Commit- tee of the House where, some fear, they will slumber undis- turbed until the end of the session. Let all those who desire to see their country's natural re- sources preserved and strengthened, all those who love na- ture and out-door life, all naturalists, botanists and entomolo- gists do their utmost by spoken word or written letter to make clear to their Representatives and Senators at Washington that these forests must be acquired for the Nation and for- ever by action of this present Congress. It is suggested that in addition to the members from each one's own" state and district, letters and resolutions insisting on such action be addressed at once to the speaker, Hon. Joseph G. Cannon ; Hon. John J. Jenkins, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee; Hon. James A. Tawney, Chairman of the Appro- priations Committee; and the Hon. Charles F. Scott. Chair- man of the Committee on Agriculture, House of Representa- tives. 233 234 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, 'oS Notes and News. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS PROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE. MISS EDITH PATCH, State Entomologist of Maine, has been spend- ing a, few months at Cornell University. Ii is announced that Dr. Thos. H. Montgomery, Jr., of the Univer- sity of Texas, has been called to the head of the Department of Zoology of the University of Pennsylvania. PROF. M. V. SLINGERLAND, has just returned from Chicago, where he has been investigating the inse.ct enemies of twine string, for the Mc- Cormick Reaper & Binder Company. THE first number of the Annals of the Entomological Society of America has appeared. It is a credit in every way to the Society and the Editorial Board. If future numbers maintain the same standard of excellence its future will be assured. DURING the past season two distinguished foreigners, Messrs Walter Froggatt, Government Entomologist of New South Wales, and Dr. Manuel J. Rivera, Entomologist of Chili, have visited various entomo- logical centres in the United States. CHARLES ABBOTT DAVIS, curator of the Roger Williams Park Museum, Providence, Rhode Island, died Jan. 28th. He was deeply interested in entomology and published a number of papers on the subject, and possessed a valuable collection of insects. THRIPS TABACI LIND. — This insect has appeared in enormous numbers on onions at Yuma, Arizona, a place where (as I learn from Prof. R. H. Forbes) onions have not been grown before. I am indebted to Mr. Crane, of Yuma, for specimens. — T. D. A. COCKERELL. MR. E. P. VAN DuzEE, has left for a month's collecting trip to Southern Florida. He wishes to look up the subtropical forms of Hcmiptcra and will make as large collections as possible. His brother M. C. Van Duzee will go as far as Jacksonville with him and collect principally Hymcnoptera. WHILE collecting on Pnget Sound during the summer of '07 a num- ber of mollusks were collected and cleaned. When unpacking the shells on my return I found that a fly had oviposited in a number of the shells, pupated and emerged, being held by the paper about the shells. The specimen proved to be the blow fly Calliphora sp. The shells of Pterophytcs foliatus furnished the largest number of flies but other shells had also harbored them. The shelter of the shell and the food offered by the remains of the body of the mollusk which had not been entirely removed had furnished a very satisfactory home and diet to the flies. In most cases only a few flies had reached ma- turity possibly because of inadequate food. — J. W. HUNGATE. May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 235 ODONATAfrom the Huachua Mts., Arizona.— The two species of Argia mentioned in the list on page 45 of the NEWS for Jan., 1908, are A. tonto Calv., and A. vivida, \ar.plana, Calv.— P. P. CALVERT. ON A DROLL STORY OF A GERMAN SCHOOLMASTER AND A U. S. A. MAJOR. — BY DR. WALTHER HORN (Berlin). — There was once a thin little schoolmaster in Germany, called " W. H." He was little and thin, as generally German schoolmasters are. There was once also a large, big major in the U. S. A. named "Th. L. C.," an important fellow — a real Major. The Major went out early in January, 1908, to fight against the school- master. The schoolmaster got awfully frightened. Poor little schoolmaster, what could he do? The schoolmaster tried to write an epistle against the furious Major, but as often as he began to write "Th. L. C.," he wrote "Mo. T. Sch." his "sense of intellectual perception" was really "very feebly devel- oped." Finally he got an idea : he went out to catch two different grass- hoppers, put each one in a separate glass, labeled them carefully "Th. L. C."and "Mo. T. Sch.," thinking that will help his memory to facilitate the distinction. Really the epistle advanced ; but, alas, the next morning came, "Th. L. C." had moulted and looked now like "Mo. T. Sch." Poor little schoolmaster, how were you taken in again ! There was still a little schoolboy named "H. R. ;" clever in every- thing, only he had never succeeded in differentiating a positive from a comparative. He saw his master's sorrow. " Master, what's the matter? " The master told his bad story. "Can I see the two grasshoppers, master?" "Yes, my little boy, here they are." " How are the mouth-parts of them, master? " "Just the same!" " And the claws "? "One like the other!" " How do the bugs spring, master ? " " Absolutely the same behavior ! " "Well," said the clever boy, "the bugs are really the same, only " Casey" should be perhaps the comparative of " Motschoulsky." EFFECT OF THE PARASITISM OF TACHINA FIJES ON THE LARVAE OF Phlcgctlwntius se.rta JOHANSSEN. — At Paris, Texas, on September 6th, 1904, I found a nearly fullgrown larva of this species hanging head down from a tomato plant in a garden, the anal prolcgs holding it. The body was limp, shrunken and decomposed, and literally full of the grubs of some tachina fly. Afterwards the body hardened and became brittle, finally cracking along one side, through which the maggots worked their way out. Eleven of them pupated on the surface of the 236 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 soil contained in a jar in the laboratory, while ten more pupated with- in the body of the host, the last three segments of which were packed tightly with them. Otherwise, the entire cavity of the body was empty, Twenty-one (21) flies were reared from this single larva. The length of the pupal instar of the fly from September loth to September 27th, was iJl/2 days, probably lengthened somewhat by the dryness of the soil in the confining jar. The variation in size of the puparia was mark- ed, ranging in length from 8.10 to 4.90 mm. with all gradations. On October 8th and gth, the grubs of this species of tachina fly were again found in two scxta caterpillars from tomato plants, and twenty-four (24) puparia were afterwards obtained from the hosts, averaging twelve (12) apiece. But four of these flies had emerged up to November 16, 1904. The two hosts showed symptoms similar to those of the first case. This parasite was kindly determined for me by Mr. C. H. Tyler Townsend, Division of Insects, U. S. National Musuem, as "Argyrophylax protoparcis Towns, (or a n.sp. ?)." — A. A. GIRAULT, Paris, Texas. Doings of Societies. At a meeting- of the Entomological Department of the Har- risburg Natural History Association held in the rooms of the Division of Zoology on the evening of April gth at 8 o'clock; a resolution was passed to the effect that, hereafter an abstract of the minutes be submitted to the ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS for publication in its columns. In the absence of the regular chair- man, Mr. P. H. Hertzog consented to preside. Mr. Henry L. Viereck then spoke at some length on "The Possibilities of a Universal System of Scientific Nomenclature." He first gave a short review of the history of the Linnean System of nomenclature and of the difficulties which had been encounter- ed in recent years because of the enormous increase in the number of described froms in all branches of zoology. It became necessary that many points be arbitrarily defined in order to prevent inextricable confusion. He mentioned the work of the International Zoological Congress telling what it had accomplished and what it still hoped to do. Mr. Warren S. Fisher then presented a paper on "Insects Injurious to Forest Products." Emphasizing the importance of the study of forest entomology, he outlined the methods of May, 'o8~| ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 237 work and study necessary for the student in this branch of entomology. The insect fauna of forest products then received some at- tention and the economic relation of insects to forests was dis- cussed. After touching the subject of remedies and methods of pre- venting losses Mr. Fisher concluded with an interesting sum- mary of the annual losses occasioned by insects to forest pro- ducts and also to growing timber. W. R. WALTON, Secretary. The February meeting of the Heink Entomological Club of St. Louis, Mo., was held on the i6th of the month, Mr. C. L. Heink in the chair and nine members present. Mr. Graf exhibited a dwarf specimen of Catocala piatrix, being less than half the usual size. Mr. Schroers showed a pair of M. pallcscens, taken at Jef- ferson Barracks, Mo. Mr. Poepping displayed several Rhodosia Julia, taken in north St. Louis. Mr. Heink exhibited three specimens of Ufeus Sagittarius taken in north St. Louis on the river bank, January 4, 1903; also a fine specimen of Huerythra phasma and a pair of Euclea indctcnnina bred from larvae taken at Meramec Highlands, Mo. Mr. Knetzger exhibited a series of P. astcrias, all bred, show- ing remarkable variation in the number of yellow spots (inner row) of the secondaries, one specimen being entirely devoid of these spots, another having but one spot, another two and so on up to the specimen with the full number of eight spots. The question as to whether the larvae of P. astcrias showed proportionate variations in markings was discussed, since the black rings of the larvae producing females are much more pronouncedly marked than the rings of those producing males. Mr. Kelbly read an interesting paper on his experience with various methods for the preparation of larval skins. AUG. KNETZGER, Secretary. 238 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 The Heink Entomological Club of St. Louis, Mo. held its regular monthly meeting on March I4th, Mr. C. L. Heink, presiding and all members present. Mr. Schroers reported that on February I4th a seemingly perfect specimen of P. crcsplwntcs flew into his office through an open window, but escaped before he could make an effort to capture it. Mr. Heink exhibited a large series of Anthocharis, includ- ing A. genutia and A. olympia, local forms. He stated that during many years of collecting about St. Louis, he has taken olympia almost every year, during the month of April, but only in one certain locality. Mr. Poepping exhibited a series of Conchylodcs platinalis, which he found in abundance last season. Mr. Kelbly reported having taken that morning (March I4th) a fresh specimen of E. clandia, the wings of which were still flabby. AUG. KNETZGER, Secretary. The monthly meeting of the Brooklyn Entomological Society was held February 6th, President Pearsall in the chair and fif- teen members present, with four visitors. The evening was devoted to listening to an illustrated lec- ture by J. J. Levison, of the City Department of Parks, 'who has charge of the shade trees throughout Brooklyn and whose subject was: "the Enemies of our Shade Trees and Practical Methods of Combatting Them." Insect enemies in Brooklyn are chiefly the tussock moth, N. leucostigma and the borer Zeuzera pyrina. The city is divided into districts for the leucostigma, each cleared in turn by scraping off the egg masses and burning them. Unfortunately the department has no supervision over back yards and other private property and the very people who make the most urgent requests upon the department are the ones who would not spend ten cents on bands to keep a fresh brood of caterpil- lars from ascending the trees. The only way to fight the pyrina is to pour a little carbon bisulphide in each caterpillar tunnel and plug it. M.iV, 'o8j ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 239 The bagworm Thyridopterix ephemerae formis, Datana, cecropia, cynthia and Hyphantria cunea have been trouble- some only locally and are easily picked off. Fungus growth does far more harm to the shade trees than all insects combined. The Northern Maple and Oriental Syca- more are recommended for planting along the streets. The poplar has proved so unsatisfactory that its planting is now for- bidden. R. P. Dow, Recording Secretary. The Brooklyn Entomological Society met at 55 Stuyves- ant Avenue, March 5, 1908, President Pearsall and eleven members present. There has been added to the archives of the Society a valu- able collection of photographs of prominent entomologists of the world, presented by Mr. E. L. Graef. It was decided that each present member of the Society contribute his photo- graph and notice of his entomological career, in the hope that one or more, in subsequent years, achieve equal fame. Mr. A. C. Weeks spoke on "A method of propagating and preserving insectivorous birds and constructing suitable nesting boxes." Mr. Franck exhibited two specimens of Hepialus auratus, both males but dissimilar in size, taken by Mr. Pearsall on the summit of the Catskills. They were found sitting in dense woods. Less than half a dozen specimens of this species are known. The black aberration of Colias philodice $ from Mr. Franck's collection, taken at Bethlehem, Pa., was closely ex- amined. It is in ex larva condition. The inner portion, norm- ally yellow was even a shade darker than the normally black margin of the primaries. The line of demarcation is perfectly distinct. The specimen retains the pink margins, especially of the secondaries, which is most marked in first and second broods. Mr. Engelhardt exhibited a Brcuthis myrina $ taken by him at Overbrook, N. J., May 30, 1907. Its ground color was a rich chocolate, varying from almost black next the body to a shade 240 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, 'oS darker than normal at the margins. Its structure and its com- panionship with plenty of other myrina are all that identify it. R. P. Dow, Recording Secretary. At the regular meeting of the Feldman Collecting Social held March 18, 1908, at 1523 S. I3th St., Philadelphia, 14 members were present, Mr. Englehardt of Brooklyn, visitor. Professor Smith reported on the study made of the geni- talic structure of Macrobasis ochrca. He finds that there is a distinct correlation between males and females, so that co- pulation is rather difficult between specimens of markedly dif- ferent sizes. A small male can copulate with a large female ; but it would be difficult for a large male to copulate with a small female. The male organs are furnished with a hook and in copulation the lower part of the terminal segment of the male slips under the lower part of the last abdominal segment of the female. The hook engages a slight thickening on the inner rim of the female segment and the lock is complete. It is almost impossible to get the specimens apart by a direct pull. A figure was exhibited which brought out these characters more clearly. Professor Smith also read an interesting letter from Dr. S. S. Haldeman dated March 18, 1864, and addressed to Mr. J. H. Blakely, professor in W. F. Collegiate Institute of Wil- mington, Del., giving details of how to collect and mount insects, same being explained by sketches. Mr. Englehardt made some remarks on the New York and Brooklyn Societies and exhibited a box of Memythrus show- May, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 24! ing- the life histories and the great variation of this group and an undescribed variety and also explaining the habits. Dis- cussed by the members. Mr. Greene read a Dipterous communication from C. T. Greene on Platypeza ornatipes Townsend. Mr. Aldrich de- scribed this genus and its typical species from Champaign, 111., in 1894. It has since been taken in Ithaca, N. Y., and Brookings, S. D. Mr. Greene took a $ specimen of this spe- cies at Lehigh Gap, September 25, 1906, sitting on leaf of wild grape, making the fourth record of its capture and the first in Pennsylvania. It has remarkable hind tarsi, a drawing- of o which was shown from Aldrich's paper in ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, 1906, p. 123, fig. 2. Mr. Viereck mentioned larvae taken from decomposed ma- ple and exhibited photo of same which is most likely a Mallota. He also showed photo of larvae taken from stomach of horse most likely Gastrophilus equi. Mr. Kaeber said he had found larvae in hickory shoots (which had been injured by fire) at Clementon, N. J., in the spring of 1906. Judging from the amount of work done in the wood they had undoubtedly been there in the summer of 1905. The imagoes were cut from the same wood March 15, 1908, and turned out to be the Longicorn Stenosphenus nota- tits. Mr. Wenzel had on exhibition the Coleoptera collected in Arizona last summer by his son Mr. H. A. Wenzel while in company with Mr. Kaeber. These filled twenty-one boxes and approximated 12,000 specimens. He made remarks on same, mentioning rarities and new species. Dr. Skinner congratulated them on the fine collection and spoke of his trip to the same locality. Mr. Huntington explained the new Lumiere color photogra- phy process. Prof. Smith said his photographer had experimented with these plates and had succeeded in making beautiful lantern slides. GEO. M. GREENE, Ass't. Secretary. 242 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 OBITUARY. JAMES H. RIDINGS. Mr. Ridings died suddenly on April I7th from paralysis of the heart. He was born in Philadelphia, June 12, 1842. He was the son of the late James and Diana Ridings. His father was a distinguished Philadelphia Entomologist and one of the founders of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, after- ward the American Entomological Society. Mr. Ridings was also fond of entomology and took a warm interest in the welfare of the American Entomological Society, having been its recording secretary for twenty- four years, serving from Sep- tember, 1873 until December, 1897. He was a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and its entomo- logical section and became a member of the American Entomo- logical Society February 9, 1863. He will be greatly missed by his associates in the society. Mr. Ridings leaves a wife and one daughter to mourn his loss. Services were held in All Saints P. E. Church and the interment was at Mount Peace Cemetery, April twenty-first. PROF. WILLIS GRANT JOHNSON. Mr. Johnson was born at New Albany, Ohio, in 1866, and af- ter studying at the Ohio State University, took his B. S. and M. S. degrees at Cornell, specializing in economic entomology. Later he took advanced work in Leland Stanford University and served as instructor there. As instructor in the University of Illinois he conducted important investigations, continuing his work for the Laboratory of Natural History, and later was state entomologist of Maryland. After organizing the State Horticultural Department of Maryland and serving as its chief until 1900, he took up journalistic work as managing editor of the American Agriculturist. He then became associate editor of the New England Farmer and the Orange Judd Farmer, as well as the Agriculturist, and but a short time ago he was appoint- ed one of the Board of Control of the New York State Experi- ment Station at Geneva. While living in New York City he was attacked by spinal meningitis and after some time of illness died in that place March u, 1908. His body was returned to Ithaca and buried in Lake View. Mr. Johnson was the author of several reports and bulletins as well as the Poultry Book, which was published in three vol- umes in 1903-4-5. While living in Palo Alto, California, he was married and is survived by his wife and several relatives. JUNE, 1908. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 1/3 Vol. XIX. No. 6. Halter americana Cockerell. EDITOR : HENRY SKINNER, M. D. PHILIP P. CALVERT, Ph.D., Associate Editor. EZRA T. CRESSON. PHIl.IP LAURENT. ADVISORY COMMITTEE: HENRY L. VIRRECK. ]. A. G. REHN. WILLIAM J. FOX. H. W. WENZEL. PHILADELPHIA: ENTOMOLOGICAL ROOMS OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, LOGAN SQUARE. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as Second-Class Matter ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Published monthly, excepting August and September, in charge of the Entomo- logical Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and the American Entomological Society. ANNUAL, SUBSCRIPTION, $1.OO IN ADVANCE. Outside of the United States and Canada, $1.20. SINGLE COPIES 15 CENTS Advertising Rates: 30 cents per square inch, single insertion ; a liberal discount on longer insertions. No advertisement taken for less than 60 cents — Cash in advance. All remittances should be addressed to ENTOMOLOGICAL, NEWS, Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th and Race Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. YOUR ATTENTION is called to the following list of CHOICE LEPIDOPTERA AT REDUCED PRICES Having a considerable number of desirable, perfect, papered specimens in stock, which must be disposed of to make room for new shipments en route, they are offered at the following prices : Teinepalpus iinpciialis, female 2.50 Ornithoptera poinpeits, male 50 female 75 hephaestas, female or male. . .50 lic/taconides, male i.oo female / 25 Papilio blumeii 2 oo " androcles 2.00 nale 60 mayo, male 75 Papilio r/iodi/'ei-, male i.ou Kallima inachis, male 40 female 60 Hestia cadelli, male / oo Antlicraea rovfli, male l.jc yama maia .35 kelferi, male .... i.oo assa»if/isis, male 1.50 Brahmaea japon ica ,"•,' Cricula trifenestrata, per pair ./" Send 12 cents additional with each order to cover postage and packing JOHN H. MATTHEWS, 3219 N. 13th Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA. ARIZONA INSECTS. Will collect in most orders or families or season's catch. Also in botany, especially cactii and herpetology — reptiles and amphibians if notified early in the season. Agent for sale of Coleoptera, Mr. L. H. Joutel, 164 E. H7th St., New York City. DR. R. E. KUNZE, Phoenix, Arizona. CATALOGUE OF THE NEUROPTEROID INSECTS (EXCEPT ODONATA) OF THE UNITED STATES BY NATHAN BANKS Complete to Summer of 1907 Price 50 cts. (net) per copy Mailed on receipt of price for copy of New Additions toe Price List; just issued. E. T. CRESSON, Treas., P. O. Box 248, Philadelphia, Pa. When Writing Please Mention " Entomological Mews." ENT. NEWS, VOL. XIX. PI. XI. ORIBATIDAE-EWING. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. XIX. JUNE, 1908. No. 6. CONTENTS: Ewing — A new genus and species of Oribatidae 243 Rohwer — Some Crabronidae from Colo- rado and Ne\v Mexico 245 Fernald — Notes on Krcbus odoratus L. 260 Wilson— The green Aphis of the Chry- santhemum—Aphis rufo maculata n. sp 261 Haimbach— New Pyralidae 263 Williamson— Three related American species of Aeshna (Odonata) 264 Tucker — Incidental studies of new spe- cies of Oscinis 272 Haseman— Notes on the Psychodidfe. . 274 Manee— Some Observations at South- ern Pines, N. Carolina 286 Editorial 290 Entomological Literature 2<>i Notes and News 291 A New Genus and Species of Oribatidae. BY H. E. EWING, Arcola, 111. (Plate XI.) The new genus described in this paper is the second of this group peculiar to North America. The first genus described as peculiar to this country was Gymno- baics, Banks ; recently I have added to my collection two new species which belong to this genus. The genus Tu- uiidalvus described in this paper is per- haps nearer to Lohmannia than to any other of the known genera. TUMID AL YDS n. gen. Pteromorphse absent ; cepthalo- thorax anchylosed with abdomen ; mandibles chelate; lamellse absent. Legs short and stout. There is no ven- tral plate to the abdomen. The dorsal plate extends down over much of the ventral part of the abdomen and touches both the anal and genital cov- ers (Fig. i). Anal and genital covers separated only by a rim common to botn- Unguis tridactyle. The ab- 243 244 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. Qune, '08 domen is oval and bears a large median boss or tubercle on the posterior end. This genus resembles somewhat Lohmannia Michael, but differs from it in having three claws at the tip of the tarsus instead of one ; in having the abdomen terminate posteriorly in a large swelling or tubercle ; also in the shape of the abdomen, which is not cylindrical as in Lohmannia, but is oval, as in most Oribatidse. Tumidalvus americana n. sp. Light brown ; posterior part of the abdomen much darker than the rest of the body. Cephalothorax almost as broad as long; no lamellae. The cephalo- thorax bears three prominent pairs of large, stout, pectinate bristles (PL XI, Fig. i) ; those of the anterior pair, situated near the tip of the rostrum, are about one-half as long as the cephalothorax and are di- rected forwards ; at about the middle of the dorsal surface of the cephalothorax is situated a similar but slightly stouter pair of bristles, equal in length to the anterior pair ; there is a much larger posterior pair of bristles situated almost approximate to the posterior margin of the cephalothorax, between the pseudostigmata ; they are directed outwards and are about one-third longer than the middle pair. The pseudostigmata (Fig. 3) are prominent, cylindrical in shape, and about one-half as broad as the tibia of leg i. The pseudostigmatic organ has a long, straight peduncle and a small clavate head ; it is about two- thirds as long as the posterior pair of bristles. The abdomen is about three-fifths as broad as long; the surface is covered with rather small, round tubercles of almost uniform size (Fig. 7) ; on the median posterior aspect of the abdomen there is a large swelling or tubercle, already mentioned as a generic character. The dorsum of the abdomen bears twelve pairs of stout, pectinate bristles (Fig. 4). There are two rows of six bristles each on the dorsum, one on each side of the median line and not far from the same ; the bristles in these rows increase in size from the anterior pair back- wards; the anterior pair is about one-fifth as long as the posterior pair. There is a row of six subequal bristles on each side of the ab- domen, on or slightly above the lateral margin. Genital and anal covers contiguous (Fig. 5) ; genital covers about two-thirds as long as anal covers, and each bearing on its inner margin eight stout, short, sharp spines, which point inwards; anal covers very long and narrow, each bearing near its outer margin two prominent stout bristles, which point inwards; each bristle is about twice as long as the width of the anal cover at the point where it is situated. Legs stout and short, the anterior pair being about three-fifths June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 245 as long as the abdomen ; tarsus of leg 4, one and one-half times as long as the tibia; tibia almost as broad as long (Fig. 6) ; genual equal to the tibia in length, but slightly broader than the same. All the legs bear a few stout, curved, pectinate bristles, and the tarsi several simple bristles. Unguis tridactyle, dactyles equal. Length o./o mm. ; breadth 0.45 mm. In moss. Collected by the writer at Arcola, 111. EXPLANATION OF PLATE. Fig. i. Tumidalvus aincricana, dorsal view, X 92. Fig. 2. Tumidalvus ainericana, labial organs of the left side, X 202. Fig. 3. Tumidalvus aincricana, pseudostigma and pseudostigmatic or- gan, X 202. Fig. 4. Tumidalvus aincricana, seta from the abdomen, X 202. Fig. 5. Tumidalvus aincricana, ventral view, X 95. Fig. 6. Tumidalvus aincricana, tibia and tarsus of leg, IV, X 202. Fig. 7. Tumidalvus aincricana, piece of integument from dorsum of abdomen, X 210. Some Crabronidae from Colorado and New Mexico. BY S. A. ROHWER, Boulder, Colo. CRABRO (Protothyreopus) DILECTUS Cress. 9 Florissant, Colo., July 7, 1907 (S. A. Rohwer) ; thte markings are yellow, not whitish, scutellum black, post-scutellum yellow, spots on third abdominal segment meeting. $ Florissant, Colo., July 12, 1906 (S. A. Rohwer) fls. Geranium; the markings are yellow, those on the abdomen somewhat whitish. $ Beulah, N. M., Aug. (Ckll.) ; does not quite agree, the spots on the first abdominal segment meet, two small spots on each side of posterior face, markings dark yellow. Perhaps dilectus is merely a variation of bigcminus Patt. CRAP.RO (Protothyreopus) RUFIFEMUR Pack. 9 Cripple Creek, Colo., July 31, 1906, about 9100 ft., fls. Potent ilia (S. A. Rohwer) . New to Colorado. CRABRO (Thyreopus) VINCUS Cress. 9 Cripple Creek, Colo., July 31, 1906, about 9100 ft., fls. Pentstenion (Roh.) ; 9 Copeland Park, Boulder Co., Colo., about 8500 ft., Sept. 6, 1907 (G. M. Kite) ; 9 Boulder, Colo., Sept., 1906 (G. M. Kite) ; 9 Florissant, Colo., July 18, 1906 (Ckll.) ; 9 Boulder, Colo., June (G. M. Hite) is 8 mm. The Cripple Creek speci- 246 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 men has the bands on the abdomen wider and darker yellow. The pubescence is black. CRABRO (Thyreopus) LATIPES Sm. 6 $ $ Florissant, Colo., June and July, 1907, on foliage of Ribes vallicola (Roh.) ; 4 $ $ Florissant, Colo., July, 1906 "flying around Ribes," (Ckll.) ; 2 $ $ Florissant, Colo., July 7, 1907, on foliage of SalLv br achy car pa (Roh.) ; 4 $ $ Boulder, Colo., Sept. 4, 1906, on foliage of Vitis rinifera, (Roh.) ; $ Boulder, Colo., June (G. M. Hite) ; $ Copeland Park, Boulder Co., Colo., Sept. 6, 1907 (Roh.). The last does not seem to be the same, but I can find no good characters on which to separate it. All of them have black hair on thorax above and vertex, pale hair on the front, white on mesopectus. The abdomen is elongate as in Coloradpnsis Pack., which is considered a synonym of latipcs. The strength of the metathoracic ridges varies some- what, also the keel on the cheeks. CRABRO (Synothyreopus) CONSPICUUS Cress. Boulder, Colo., May 18 (G. M. Hite), Aug. 30, 1906 (Roh.). CRABRO (Blepharipus) NIGRICORNIS Prov. 9 Copeland Park, Boulder Co., Colo., Sept. 4, 1907, alt. about 8500 ft. (Roh.). New to Colorado. CRABRO (Blepharipus) ATER Cress. Florissant, Colo., July 7, 1907, fls. Heracleum lanatum, (Roh.). CRABRO ERRANS Fox. $ Jim Creek, Boulder Co., Colo., Sept. 7, 1907, fls. Enogonum effusum (Roh.) ; Florissant, Colo., July 21, 1906, on Cleome serrulata, also July 19, 1906 (Ckll.) ; $ Las Vegas, N. M., June 7 (Ckll.). CRABRO (Cuphopterus) CONFERTUS Fox. 5 Copeland Park Park, Boulder Co., Colo., Sept. 6 1907, (Roh.) ; $ Florissant, Colo., July 18, 1906 (Ckll.). The male has a good deal of white pubescence on the head and thorax. CRABRO (Solenius) BELLUS Cress. 9 Boulder, Colo., June IT (G. M. Hite) ; 5 Florissant, Colo., July 28, 1907, fls. Carduus acaulcscens, also July 21, 1907, fls. Geranium richardsonii (Roh.). CRABRO (Xestocrabro) SEXMACULATUS Say. Las Vegas, N. M., Aug. 3, 1907 on foliage of Veratrwn (Ckll.). CRABRO (Xestocrabro) TRIFASCIATUS Say. 9 Cripple Creek, June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 247 Colo., July 17, 1906, fls. Limun Icivisii (Roh.) ; 2 9 9 Floris- sant, Colo., July 21, 1907, fls. Geranium richardsonii (Roh.) ; 3 $ $ Florissant, Colo., July 7, 1907, fls. Heraclewn lanatnm, (Roh.) ; 9 Beulah, N. M. (W. P. Cockerell). Crabro (Cuphopterus Moraw. ) operus n. sp. 9 . Length about 7 mm. Clypeus with the usual medial carina, the anterior margin with four distinct, rather sharp teeth ; ocelli in a triangle, the distance between the lateral ones about equal to the distance from them to the nearest eye margin; first joint of flagellum a little longer than the second; usual frontal depression above antennae; a line-like furrow from frontal depression to lower ocellus; a more indistinct one from lower ocellus to vertex; head finely and densely punctured, more sparsely on occiput and cheeks ; face sub-opaque, cheeks shining; pronotum with a rather strong anterior ridge, dentate laterally ; dorsulum with very fine longitu- dinal striae on posterior part, and sub-transverse striae on anterior part ; among these striae are punctures and at first sight the dor- sulum looks finely punctured ; a medial ridge for nearly the entire length of dorsulum ; scutellum with large sparse punctures ; meso- pleurae rather finely striate ; enclosure of metathorax obliquely striate, a distinct longitudinal furrow down the middle; this furrow broadens somewhat on posterior face and forms a fovea; posterior face of metathorax with some transverse striae, stronger below; sides of metathorax finely striated ; lateral ridges distinct ; ridge between upper and posterior face not as strong as lateral ridges, more or less indistinct ; a transverse furrow on basal half of some of the abdominal segments above ; abdomen indistinctly punctured above ; second ventral segment with a few large, shallow punctures; py- gidium narrowed apically as in the sexmaculatus group, rather acute at apex ; four posterior tibiae serrate beneath ; all the femora robust ; ' tarsi single; first recurrent nervure in apical third of cell. Color black ; spot on mandibles, scape behind, tubercles, spot on all the tibiae beneath, a small elongate spot on sides of abdominal segments 2-5 yellow; tarsi, more especially the anterior pair, and teguloe reddisli ; clypeus and lower inner orbits with silvery pubescence ; sides of pygidium with long gray hairs ; rest of insect without hair. Wings subhyaline, nervures and stigma dark brown. Habitat— Beulah, N. M. ( W. P. Cockerell) . Two females. The striation of the dorsulum seems to run this species into Fox's group singular is, but it is certainly not any species in that group. Disregarding the striation of the pronotum, it runs to paucimaculatus Pack., from which it may be separated 248 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, 'oS by the pronotum being dentate laterally, having- no yellow on the metanotum, etc. While in Ashmead's table it runs to Cuphop- terus Moraw., it does not seem to be closely related to any of the species of that group. Crabro opwana* n. sp. $ . Length 7-9 mm. Clypeus rounded on the anterior margin, slightly emarginate in the middle, middle carina not very strong but still plainly seen; front between eyes from a little above the middle of eyes smooth, shining; near the eyes there are a few striae; rest of head with large, distinct, well separated punctures; ocelli in a triangle; scape wider at apex than at base; flagellum stout, first and second joints equal, smooth, without a fringe of hairs ; prono- tum rather longer than usual, a distinct, slender, sharp tooth at anterior corner; (this tooth is stronger in some specimens than others); dorsulum, scutellum with large distinct punctures; meso- pleurse strongly strio-punctate ; mesopectus rather finely punctured; episternum and epimeron of metathorax distinctly striated with strong striae; metathorax without an enclosure, dorsulum and posterior face strongly punctured, the dorsulum more strongly; first joint of hind tarsi distinctly longer than the longest spur of hind tibiae ; anterior femora produced beneath for the entire length, near the base is a sharp tooth; (in some specimens there is another much smaller tooth near the apex) ; middle femora produced beneath so that when viewed from behind each is somewhat rectangular ; posterior femora normal ; posterior tibiae serrated on the outer margin ; middle tibiae not serrated, without spur at apex ; first recurrent nervure in apical sixth of cell; abdomen strongly constricted between the first and second segment, and less so between segment two and three, and sometimes three and four; basal segments with distinct, well sep- arated punctures, apical segment very finely punctured ; venter with some well separated punctures. Color black; scape except a spot behind, tubercles, sometimes two spots on pronotum, spots on first six abdominal segments above, (these spots meet on segments five and six, forming a band), apex of anterior and middle femora (the yellow on the anterior femora is wider beneath) legs below femora except a black spot on four posterior femora within, yellow; hind tarsi somewhat infuscated ; antennae beneath somewhat testaceous but not strongly so. Wings dusky hyaline, apical half a little the darker ; nervures and stigma dark brown (the stigma in one specimen is pale brown.) Clypeus, lower half of inner orbits, lower part of cheeks, sides of thorax and pectus with silvery pubescence. * Opwan is the Chippewa (Indiana) word for thigh. Used here on account of the spine on the fore femora. June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 249 Habitat — Eight $ $ Florissant, Colo., July 7, 1907, 8000 ft., fls. Heradcum lanatmn, (S. A. Rohwer). In Fox's table (Crabroninse of Boreal North America) this species runs to between htiaris Sm. and cognatus Fox., but is neither of these and not any of the species of the hilaris group, being easily separated by having the antennae entirely without hair and other characters. Easily separated from C. snoivii Fox which falls in the same place by the naked antennae. Fol- lowing Dr. Ashmead's arrangement (Can. Ent.) this species would probably form a new genus near Paranthyreus Kohl being separated from it by the absence of a spur on the middle tibiae. Crabro (Protothyreopus Ashm.) niegacephalus n. sp. $. Length about 13 mm.; width of head 3 mm.; width of thorax 2^2 mm,; length of anterior wing 9 mm. Head wider than thorax, large; clpsely, evenly and rather finely punctured throughout; line from lower ocellus rather faint ; ocelli in a low triangle, the distance between the two hind ocelli slightly less than the distance between them and the nearest eye margin ; clypeus rounded anteriorly, middle carina not strong, without lateral teeth ; distance between the eyes at the clypeus about the same as the width of the clypeus in the middle; first joint of flagellum about as long as 2 and 3, flagellum somewhat clavate, covered with microscopic pile ; pronotum strongly ridged anteriorly, dentate laterally, the anterior face longitudinally striated ; dorsulum and scutellum densely and finely punctured, al- most matted ; tegulse with some very fine punctures ; meso-pleurae dis- tinctly, transversely striate above, striato-punctate below, meso-pectus punctured; dorsulum of metathorax obliquely striate from middle; posterior face and side very finely transversely striated; middle fur- row of metathorax not strong; slightly foveolate on posterior face; first recurrent received near apex of first cubital ; femora robust, somewhat triangular (more especially the fore femora) ; anterior tarsi slightly flattened; middle and posterior tibiae serrated on outer margin ; abdomen above finely, densely punctured ; ventral segments without large punctures, but with a number of small ones; pygidimn broad, triangular, with large elongate punctures; sides of pygidium with a more or less distinct fringe of white hairs. Color black; mandibles except apex, scape entirely, two spots of pronotum, tu- bercles, spot below tegulae, two small lateral spots before the scutellum, postscutellum, apex of femora and legs below (middle and posterior femora have the yellow extending inward), two large spots on dorsal abdominal segments one and two, and a wide band on 250 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, 'o8 segment 3, 4 and 5 deep yellow; tegulse part yellow and part testa- ceous ; wings hyaline, the apical margin slightly dusky ; nervures, costa and stigma pale brown to testaceous ; clypeus, lower inner orbits, lower part of cheeks, fore femora above thorax (more strongly so on pectus and posterior face of metathorax), sides of three apical abdominal segments with silvery pubescence. Habitat — Florissant, Colorado, July 6, 1906 (S. A. Rohwer). The following table will separate this species from all its allies. It is more closely related to rufifemur Pack., but quite distinct. The table is based on the females of the subgenus Protothyrepus (Fox's group rufifemur). Head and thorax with long, dense hair ; ventral segments of abdomen 2-5 spotted with yellow (Calif. ) villosus Fox. Head and thorax without such hair ; venter of abdomen immaculate. . i. 1. Posterior face of metathorax with two yellow spots (Atlantic coast generally bigemimis Patt. Posterior face of metathorax immaculate, black 2. 2. Pygidium strongly margined by a wall, slightly but distinctly depressed apically ; head not larger than usual (Colorado, S. Dakota, Montana, Washington) dilectus Cress. Pygidium not thus margined and not depressed apically ; head large 3. 3. Mesopleurae striato-punctate throughout ; enclosure of metathorax striato-punctate, posterior face distinctly transversely striate ; punctures of scutellum sparse ; punctures of first abdominal segment large and distinctly separated ; second ventral seg- ment with large well-scattered punctures ; no yellow beneath tegulae ; two elongate yellow spots on third abdominal seg- ment ; legs partly rufous ; fore femora without or with very little white pubescence above (U. S. east of Rocky Mts. , and north of a line from Nebraska to Maryland . . rufifemur Pack. Mesopleurae distinctly striate above ; enclosure of metathorax finely obliquely striated ; posterior face very finely transversely stri- ate ; punctures of scutellum dense ; punctures of first abdomi- nal segment finer and denser ; second ventral segment without large punctures ; a large yellow spot below tegulas ; third abdominal segment with a broad band ; femora without rufous ; fore femora above with white pubescence (Colo.). megacephalus Roh. Crabro (Solemn s Lept. ?) ferrugineipes n. sp. $ . Length 10 mm. ; length of anterior wing 8 mm. Head not as wide as thorax, closely, finely punctured (punctures densest between the eyes ; ocelli in a low triangle ; each ocellus in a depression ; dis- tance between the two lateral ocelli distinctly less than the distance June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 351 between them and the nearest eye margin; no furrow from middle ocellus; clypeus without lateral teeth, rather strongly rounded in the middle; middle carina not strong; first four joints of flagellum cmar- ginate beneath, the apex of the fourth joint slightly produced at the apex beneath, first joint a little longer than second; pronotum rather strongly ridged anteriorly, a stout, sharp tooth laterally; dorsulum and scutellum with large separated punctures ; meso-pleura trans- versely striate above striato-punctate lower down ; meso-pectus punc- tured ; dorsulum of metathorax punctured ; sides and posterior face of metathorax transversely striate (the strise of posterior face larger) ; middle furrow distinct, strongly foveolate on posterior face; upper and posterior faces separated by a circular furrow; fore tarsi very slightly flattened; first two abdominal segments constricted at base; first two dorsal segments distinctly punctured, punctures large and well separated ; the following segments are more finely and more densely punctured; venter smooth, shining; genitalia with a comb of long hair beneath. Color black; mandibles within, scape entirely, two spots on pronotum, tubercles, postsctitellum, small elongate spots on sides of second abdominal segment, broad band on dorsal seg- ments 3-6 deep yellow; tegulse mostly ferruginous; legs below tro- chanters, ferruginous (posterior tibiae and tarsi are somewhat yellow- ish) ; wings dusky hyaline, nervures pale brown, costa and stigma testa- ceous. Clypeus, lower, inner and posterior orbits with silvery pubescence ; head, thorax first dorsal ventral abdominal segment with long black hair; last five dorsal segments with short black hair. Habitat— Pecos, N. M., July 16, 1903 (W. P. Cockerell). In Fox's table (Crabroninae of North Am.) this species runs near texanus Cress., but the punctures on the head are not large and well separated, the legs are differently colored, 3-6 abdominal segments banded etc. It has much general resemb- lance to spiniferus Fox, but the punctures on the dorsulum are even throughout, the abdomen more closely punctured, size larger, the legs below the coxae are ferruginous, etc. The fore tarsi are very slightly flattened and in some respect it is like rufi- fcinitr Pack., but is very different. Crabro (subgen. ?) nokomis n. sp. 9. Length 12 mm.; length of anterior wing 9 mm.; width of head 3 mm.; width of thorax 3 mm. Head large, as wide as thorax, closely, finely punctured; ocelli in a low triangle; distance between the two lateral ocelli less than the distance between them and the nearest eye margin; in front of each ocellus in a small depressed area; 252 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 no furrow from middle ocellus ; clypeus produced in middle into a truncated process, the width of which is equal to the distance be- tween the eyes at the clypeus; middle carina strong; mandibles bifid at apex, with three inner teeth, the first tooth small; first joint of flagellum equal to 2 and 3; pronotum not strongly ridged an- teriorly, but feebly so, not dentate laterally, anterior face smooth ; when seen from in front there is a U-shaped fovea at the top in the middle ; dorsulum finely densely punctured posteriorly, finely striato- punctate posteriorly; scutellum punctured anteriorly, longitudinally striated posteriorly ; meso-pleurse strongly transversely striated ; meso- pectus smooth with large scattered punctures ; dorsulum of meta- thorax finely obliquely striated from center; sides and posterior face of metathorax finely transversely striated; middle furrow strong, distinctly foveolate on posterior face ; femora stout, triangular in cross-section; anterior femora with a strong keel on inner posterior margin, outer margin of middle and posterior tibiae with a number of stout spines ; dorsulum of abdomen densely finely punctured, the punctures on the first segment larger and more separated; venter of abdomen microscopically punctured; apical margin of each segment with a row of large punctures ; pygidium strongly margined, strongly depressed and narrowed apically; sides of pygidium with a fringe of testaceous hair. Color black ; elongate spot on mandibles, scape en- tirely, two spots on pronotum, tubercles, apex of femora, tibiae ex- cept a black spot within on the anterior four (tarsi dull testa- ceous), elongate spots on sides of first three abdominal segments above (those on the third largest and almost meeting, those on the first small and well separated), broad band fourth and fifth segments above, yellow; tegulse rufous; wings dusky hyaline; nervures, costa and stigma pale brown. Middle of clypeus with golden pubescence ; sides of clypeus, lower inner orbits, posterior orbits, lower part of thorax with silvery pubescence. Habitat — Florissant, Colo., June 26, 1907 (S. A. Rohwer). In Fox's table (Crabroninse of N. Amer.) this species runs near montanus Cress., but it may be known from all of that group by the different sculpture, larger size, fringe at side of pygidium, etc. Disregarding the structure of the clypeus it runs to trifasciatus, but is at once known from this by the ocelli being in a lower triangle. Crabro ( Thyreopus) brachycarpae n. sp. $ . Length 7 mm. ; length of anterior wing 5 mm. Head about as wide as thorax, finely densely punctured, cheeks without tooth or keel; ocelli in about an equilateral triangle, the distance between the June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 253 two lateral ones slightly less than the distance between them and the nearest eye margin ; a distinct line-like furrow above and below middle ocellus; facial basin smooth, shining; clypeus rounded anteriorly, slightly notched in middle, without teeth; 'no middle carina on civ peus; distance between the eyes at the clypeus about equal to width of clypeus in the middle; antennae simple, flagellum (excluding pedi- cellum) a little more than twice as long as scape, first joint of flagel- lum a little longer than second; pronotum not ridged anteriorly, a small blunt tooth laterally, on anterior face finely punctured ; dor- sulum finely densely punctured; on the anterior portion there are some large punctures with many fine ones in between; meso-pleurae very finely striato-punctate; no furrow between the epimeron meso- pleuralis and mesosternum, but there is a small circular fovea in about middle ; scutellum with irregular large punctures ; dorsulum of meta- thorax with distinct longitudinal striae, the striae well separated; sides and posterior face irregularly transversely striate ; middle furrow dis- tinct, on posterior face triangularly foveolate; first recurrent nervure nearer the middle than apex of cell; anterior trochantcrs triangular, not quite half as long as their femora ; tibial shields a little longer than broad, anterior and posterior angle rounded; medial tarsi very slightly flattened, the first joint equal to the following joints united; abdomen shining, apparently not sculptured. Color black, including mandibles; scape except a spot at base within, clypeus more or less, large spots on pronotum, tubercles, scutellum entirely, postscutellum, apex of anterior four femora, tibiae except spot within on middle, a spot on inner and outer apical margins of posterior, tarsi (apical joints infuscated), band on all the dorsal abdominal segments (band on second and third slightly broken in middle), small spot on second and third ventral segments, grccnlsh-iMtc; tegulae black; wings hya- line but not clearly so; nervures testaceous; thorax and head with long, rather sparse, white hair ; clypeus and narrow, lower inner orbits with silvery pubescence; shield cream-colored, the apical two-thirds streaked with black. Habitat — Florissant, Colo., June 23, 1907, on Sali.v brachy- carpa (S. A. Rohwer). Closely related to C. vcrnalis Pack., but easily known by the color of the shield, the presence of a circular fovea on meso- pleune, the shorter first joint of flagellum, and other characters. Crabro (Xestocrabro Ashm.) heraclei n. sp. $ . Length about 8l/2 mm. ; length of anterior wing 5 mm. Head about the same width as thorax, closely, finely punctured, occiput finely striato-punctate; ocelli in a rather low triangle; furrow from lower ocellus faint; distance between hind ocelli less than that to the 254 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 nearest eye margin; facial basin distinctly margined above, smooth, shining; first joint of flagellum a little longer than second, first and fourth emarginate basally, second and third slightly produced in middle beneath; clypeus rounded anteriorly, slightly produced in middle, without lateral teeth ; middle carina well developed ; pronotum pro- duced anteriorly, notched in middle, a strong sharp spine laterally, a faint transverse carina near apical margin ; dorsulum rather coarsely striato-punctate, striae more distinct posteriorly, two distinct longi- tudinal carina; scutellum striato-punctate or striated; meso-pleura trans- versely striated above, punctured below, meso-pectus shining, finely punctured ; suture between episternum and epimeron meso-pleuralis strong; upper surface of metathorax divided by a margined furrow, the walls of which separate the upper and posterior faces by turning at right angles with the furrow ; upper surface with a few oblique striae, also some punctures ; furrow abruptly ending below middle of posterior face; posterior face with three more or less distinct trans- verse strise, rest apparently finely punctured; sides of metathorax finely, closely, transversely striated ; all femora without teeth ; middle tibiae without apical spur; middle and posterior tibiae with a few teeth on outer margin ; abdomen shining, very finely punctured, venter with- out punctures ; apical segment sharp at apex, with a fringe of hairs. Color black ; spot on apex of scape in front, two elongate spots on pronotum, two small spots before scutellum, postscutellum, rather large spot on dorsal segments 1-4, band on dorsal segments five and six, greenish-yellow; legs black, line on posterior side of anterior femora and a spot on apical anterior side, spot on apex of middle femora, anterior four tibia; beneath, spot on posterior tibiae beneath, anterior tarsi, greenish-yellow; tegulaa rufous ; wings dusky hyaline ; nervures and stigma dark brown ; clypeus with silvery pubescence ; meso-pleuroe with white hair. Var. with the sculpture of dorsulum weaker, meso-pleuras more striato-punctate, ridges of metathorax not so prominent, tubercles yellow. Habitat — Florissant, Colo., July 7, 1907 (S. A. Rohwer), fls. Heracleum lanatum. Var. Florissant, Colo., June 26, 1907 (S. A. Rohwer), on foliage of Salix brachycarpa. This species may be separated from all others of the sub- genus Xestocrabro by the strongly spined pronotum. In the somewhat striated effect of the dorsulum it resembles singularis (=ttia-culatits) but there is no spine on the anterior femora. Closest to foxii Kinc., but the structure of the metathorax is different and the scape is partly yellowish, etc. June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 255 Crabro (Xesfocrabro] drymocallidis n. sp. $. Length 5T/2 mm.; length of anterior wing 4 mm. Head finely rather sparsely punctured ; ocelli in about an equilateral triangle ; distance between hind ocelli less than that between them and the near- est eye margin ; a furrow from lower ocellus to facial basin ; facial basin smooth, shining, not meeting eyes on sides, rather obtusely pointed above; first joint of flagellum longer than second, first three joints emarginate basally, produced at apex, apex of fourth joint slightly produced beneath ; clypeus rounded anteriorly, without teeth ; middle carina not strong; pronotum sharply truncate anteriorly, with- out ridge or teeth ; slightly notched in middle ; dorsulum more densely punctured than head, without longitudinal carina; scutcllum striato- punctate; meso-pleurae finely, transversely striated, some striae stronger than others ; suture between episternum and epimeron meso-pleuralis quite distinct; furrow of middle segment distinct; upper and posterior faces divided by a ridge ; upper surface shining, with a few oblique striae; sides and posterior face transversely striated; anterior femora produced at base beneath; middle tibiae without apical spur; abdo- men smooth, shining, impunctate, widest beyond middle. Color black ; small spot on apical part of scape beneath, tubercles, small spots on sides of second, third and fourth dorsal abdominal segments bright- ycllow; legs black, anterior femora beneath rufous, anterior tibiae be- neath, anterior tarsi, spot on apical part of middle femora beneath, spot on posterior tibiae beneath yellow or rufous ; wings dusky hyaline ; nervures and stigma dark brown ; clypeus, cheeks and lower part of thorax with silvery pubescence. Habitat — Topaz, Butte, Teller Co., Colo., alt. about 9000 ft., June 23, 1907 (S. A. Rohwer), fls. Drymocallis fissa. May be separated from its allies by anterior femora pro- duced beneath, smaller size, darker color, etc. Crabro (Crossoceros) cockerelli n. sp. 9 . Length about 4^ mm. ; length of anterior wing 3^2 mm. Head as wide as thorax, shining, impunctate or very finely punctured ; ocelli in an equilateral triangle; the distance between the two hind ocelli about equal to the distance to the nearest eye margin ; a distinct furrow from the anterior ocellus to occiput ; furrow from anterior ocellus to near the base of antennae not so strong as upper furrow, sides more sloping; facial basin not distinctly defined; antennae slen- der, not at all clavate; first joint of flagellum a little longer than second; flagellum beneath with a row of very fine, rather short hairs; clypeus rounded on outer margin, without teeth or middle promi- nence; middle carina not distinct; pronotum with a low, rounded, in- distinct ridge anteriorly, without teeth laterally, slightly notched in 256 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, 'oS middle, smooth, shining; dorsulum smooth, shining, with a few very small punctures, a more or less distinct longitudinal furrow in middle ; meso-pleurse smooth, shining, impunctate, suture rather strong; upper surface of metathorax with some short, longitudinal striae at base; furrow not strong, convexities shining, very finely striated; upper and lower surface separated by a furrow ; posterior face on metathorax with a triangular fovea at basal middle, bounded by ridges at the sides, finely transversely striated ; meta-pleurse finely transversely stri- ated'; legs normal, middle tibiae without spur ; first transverse cubital received before middle of radial cell; abdomen smooth, shining, im- punctate; pygidium broad, obtusely rounded at apex. Color shining black ; spot on scape in front, line on pronotum, tubercles, scutellum dark yellow; legs — anterior trochanters and femora except a black line reddish-yellow; anterior tibiae and tarsi, except a line behind, middle femora except a broad line behind and a narrow one in front, middle tibi?e except a line behind, middle tarsi, base of posterior tibiae and a line beneath yellow; clypeus and thorax beneath with white pubescence; wings hyaline, slightly dusky at apex, irridescent; ner- vures and stigma dark brown. $ . Very much like 9- Furrow on front stronger, metathorax fur- row stronger, scape and tubercles black. Habitat — Florissant, Colorado, July 17, 1906 (Ckll.) $ and 9 ''flying around Ribcs ;"' 2 $ $ July 19, 1906 (Ckll.). The 9 runs near lentus Fox in Fox's table (Crabronidse of N. Amer.) but differs as follows : clypeus without medial tooth ; antennae more slender ; metathorax somewhat different ; tuber- cles yellow ; posterior tibiae entirely yellow beneath, etc. May be known at once from harrisii Pack, by the dark venation. The $ runs to imprcssifrons Sm. but is not that species. Crabro ( Crossoceros} eriogoni n. sp. 9 . Length about 5 mm. ; length of anterior wing 4 mm. Head as wide as thorax, densely finely punctured; broad, smooth, low fur- row from lateral ocelli to upper orbits ; ocelli in an equilateral tri- angle; distance between hind ocelli a little greater than that to the nearest eye margin ; furrow from anterior ocellus to facial basin ; facial basin smooth, shining; antennae slender, very slightly subclavate, first and second joints of flagellum subequal ; clypeus rounded anteriorly, without teeth; middle carina wanting or almost so; pronotum very slightly ridged anteriorly ; dorsulum finely densely punctured ; meso- pleura finely striato-punctate; suture rather weak; in basal middle is a large puncture; scutellum similar to dorsulum in sculpture; fur- row of metathorax rather faint on upper surface, more distinct on June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. <• 257 posterior face; convexities finely, longitudinally striated; middle fur- row triangularly foveolate on posterior face above; posterior face and sides striato-punctate ; striae stronger; middle tibiae with apical spur; femora rather more robust than usual; transverse cubitus received a lit- tle before middle of radial cell ; abdomen shining, impunctate, pygidium triangular, rather sharp at apex, but not excavated, with a few large punctures. Color black; scape in front, mandibles except apex, tubercles, tips of anterior femora, anterior tibiae, middle tibiae except a black spot, base of posterior tibiae, basal joint of middle and posterior tarsi yellowish; anterior tarsi ferruginous; clypeus, cheeks, thorax at sides and beneath with silvery pubescence, wings clear hyaline, irides- cent ; nervures and stigma dark brown. Habitat — Jim Creek, Boulder Co., Colo., Sept. 7, 1907 (S. A. Rohwer), fls. Eriogonum effnsum, Transition Zone. Accompanied at flower by Crabro errans Fox, Prosopsis spp., Odynerns spp. In Fox's table runs between propinquus Fox (Texas) and minimus Pack. (Eastern States) but there is no median promi- ence on the clypeus, and it differs in other characters. Rhopalum modestum n. sp. $ . Length $l/2 mm. ; anterior wing 4 mm. Head smooth, shin- ing, impunctate; around each lateral ocelli is a depressed area; front slightly broken in middle by a line; facial basin rather narrow, shin- ing ; antennae rather slender, pedicellum with tooth beneath, first flagellular joint emarginate, second produced beneath, remaining simple, pale at base ; clypeus strongly produced medially, sides of this pro- jection with small teeth, in middle there is a rounded tooth; pronotum rounded ; dorsulum with very fine punctures ; meso-pleurae almost im- punctate, suture almost wanting; suture of metathorax strong; meta- thorax shining; ridge on sides of posterior face; posterior four tro- chanters elongate; femora robust, especially the anterior pair; pos- terior tibiae enlarged at apex ; venation normal for genus ; abdomen as usual in this genus. Color shining black; clypeus somewhat and antennae piceous ; scape beneath, tubercles, apical half of coxae, tro- chanters, apex of four anterior femora, their tibiae except a black spot within, anterior four tarsi, base of posterior tibiae yellow; tegula?, apex of posterior tibiae, apex of abdomen brownish-red; clypeus and lower inner orbits with silvery pubescence; wings clear hyaline; iridescent; nervures dark brown. Habitat— Boulder, Colo., May 30, 1906 (T. D. A. Cockerell). Rhopalum Kby. — group pcdiccllatus Fox. This agrees exactly with this genus. The following table will separate the American species of this genus in the male sex. 258 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 Metathorax with an enclosure pedicellatum Pack. Metathorax without an enclosure i. i. Abdomen banded with reddish, anterior four legs entirely yellow ; basal joint of middle tarsi simple rufog aster Pack. Abdomen black ; anterior four legs more or less black ; basal joint of middle tarsi with a spine within modestum Roh. The following table will separate all the species mentioned above : Females , i. Males 16. 1. Pygidium broad, flat, not strongly excavated towards apex .... 2. Pygidium narrow, strongly excavated 10. 2. Small species; abdomen entirely black 3. Large or medium size species; abdomen marked with yellow ... 5. 3. Ocelli in a low triangle errans Fox. Ocelli in an equilateral triangle 4. 4. Shining; scutellum yellow; fore trochanters and femora reddish. cockerelli Roh. Subopaque; scutellum black; fore trochanters and femora black. eriogoni Roh. 5. Ocelli in an equilateral triangle; head and dorsulum finely punctured; mesopleurae shining, with a few punctures . . cocfertus Fox. Ocelli in a low triangle 6. 6. Mesopleurae shining; with few punctures 7. Mesopleurae subopaque, striato-punctate or striated 8. 7. Stigma and costa dark brown ; ocelli (dry) deep black ; metathorax more strongly sculptured conspicuus Cress. Stigma and costa ferruginous ; ocelli (dry) yellowish ; metathorax not so coarsely punctured vincus Cress. 8. Pygidium strongly margined by a wall, slightly but distinctly de- pressed apically ; head not larger than usual. . .dilectus Cress. Pygidinm not thus margined, not depressed apically; head large. . 9. 9. Enclosure of metathorax striato-punctate ; legs partly rufous. rufifemnr Pack. Enclosure of metathorax obliquely striated ; legs yellow and black. megacephalns Roh. 10. Ocelli in an equilateral triangle ; shining black . . . nigricornis Prov. Ocelli in a low triangle ii- 11. Clypeus produced into a truncated process 12. Clypeus rounded anteriorly, not produced into a truncate process.. .13. 12. Head densely, finely punctured; clypeus with some golden pubes- cence nokomis Roh. Head with large punctures ; pubescence of clypeus silvery. bellus Cress. 13. Posterior face with strong lateral ridges ; abdomen with small yellow spots ; slender head, thorax and abdomen nude . operus Roll. Posterior face of metathorax without strong lateral ridges .... 14. June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 259 14. Dorsulum very closely punctured ; upper and posterior faces of meta- thorax indistinctly separated trifasciatus Say. Dorsulum not so closely punctured ; upper and posterior faces of metathorax not separated 6-maculatus Say. 15. Abdomen petiolate, petiole clavate ; coxae and trochanters yellow. modestum Roh. Abdomen not petiolate 16. 1 6. Anterior tibiae with a large shield 17. Anterior tibiae without such a shield 18. 17. Antennae simple ; markings greenish-white . . . brachycarpae Roh. Antennae beyond second joint enlarged, joints somewhat flattened, dentate beneath ; markings yellow latipes Sm. 18. Ocelli in an equilateral triangle 19. Ocelli in a low triangle 20. 19. Larger ; entirely black ater Cress. Smaller ; more or less marked with yellow cockerelli Roh. 20. Anterior femora simple 21. Anterior femora produced at base beneath or spined 25. 21. Small ; abdomen entirely black errans Fox. Larger ; abdomen marked with yellow 22. 22. Abdomen distinctly punctured ; larger 23. Abdomen impunctate ; smaller 24. 23. Legs below coxae ferruginous ; punctures of dorsulum larger and more separated ; wings darker ferrugiiieipes Roh. Legs black and yellow; punctures of dorsulum smaller and closer ; wings dusky hyaline diiectus Cress. 24. Pronotum rounded anteriorly, without a spine . . . trifasciatus Say. Pronotum keeled anteriorly and with a lateral spine . . heraclei Roh. 25. Larger ; punctures large and strong ; fore femora with strong spine ; legs largely yellow opwana Roh. Smaller ; punctures very fine ; fore femora produced at base beneath; legs almost entirely black drymocallidis Roh. The types of all the new species described above are in the author's collection. BUTTERFLY FAKERS. — The butterfly was a beautiful deep blue, as lustrous as satin; but, looking at it closely, the collector shook his head. "Another fake," he said. "See here." And with his finger he brushed off the glistening blue dust from the insect's wings, and lo ! it was but a common brown held butterfly after all. "As the collecting of butterflies grows more popular," he explained, "more butterfly fakers turn up. These men, with various aniline dye powders, color up a ten-cent insect into a good resemblance to a $10 one. Their work is hard to detect, for the reason that, when the dye rubs off and discolors your fingers, you suspect nothing, since the genuine dust belonging to every butterfly's wings would do the same thing." — Newspaper. 260 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, 'o8 Notes on Erebus odoratus L. BY C. H. FERNALD, Amherst, Mass. In the February number of ENT. NEWS, page 83, Dr. Was, gave his experience in capturing Erebus odor a L. in Oostburg, Wis. This insect was first named Phalacna (Boinby.v) odurata Linn, in the Systema Natune, ed. X, Vol. I, page 505, 1758, and the same name was given in Clerck's Icones with a very fine colored figure of the female. In the twelfth edition of his Systema Naturae, Vol. i, Part n, page 811, 1767, Linnaeus changed the name to Phalacna (Attacus) Odora. Why it was changed from odoraia to odora is not clear to me. Formerly, entomologists made use of the twelfth edition of the Systema Naturae and only in recent times has the tenth edition been adopted as a starting point in Zoology. This accounts for the general use of the later name, odora, instead of the older one, odorata. Aurivillius has given a comparatively full synonomy of this insect in earlier works, in his Recensio Critica Lepidop- terorum Musei Ludovicse Ulricse quse descripsit Carolus A Linne, pages 151, and 152, 1882, which work seems to have been generally overlooked in this country. In accordance with the International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature, Articles 26 and 27, this insect should be known by the name of Erebus odoratus (L.). Two specimens of this insect were taken on the same evening last summer in the city of Boston. One flew into an office in the Tremont building and the other flew into an open window of the Governor's office in the State House but a short distance away. In 1872 a specimen was found resting on one of the buildings at the University of Maine, at Orono, Maine, nine miles north of Bangor, which is in latitude 44° 54' 2" N., the farthest north that I have heard of the capture of this species. The question whether this and other southern insects as the cotton worm, fly over seemingly enormous distances and are finally captured in these northern latitudes ; whether they are ac- cidentally carried north in the pupal stage; or whether they June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 26l breed occasionally in the northern localities where they are found is an interesting one, and has been discussed pro and con for many years. Erebus odoratus (L) has been taken 150 miles at sea, off the coast of Brazil, as stated by Walker in his Catalogue of Lepi- doptera Heterocera, Part XIV, Noctuidas, page 1290, 1858, and in this case there is little doubt that the insect in question was blown off the coast by the wind and alighted on a ship at the above named distance from the shore. Julian P. Thomas, in an article entitled "Ballooning as a Sport," published in Appleton's Magazine for November, 1906, states that "as high as 2,000 feet there are still frequently seen butterflies, mosquitos, and other insects." We are further in- formed that in the upper currents of air, even in strong winds, while the balloon is carried along at a rate of 50 or 75 miles an hour, or even more, everything seems as quiet to the occupants of the car as would be the case in a calm. Under such cir- cumstances, may not moths, even as large as Erebus odoratus, be swept in the strong upper currents of the air from the Bahama Islands where they breed, as far north as Orono, a dis- tance of about 1400 miles? Such a flight in a 50 mile breeze would require but 28 hours. The Green Aphis of the Chrysanthemum — Aphis rufomaculata n. sp. BY H. F. WILSON, Urbana, Illinois. The specific name of this louse was suggested by the bright red spots which seem always to be present upon the abdomens of the viviparous females. Apterous viviparous.— ? . General color green, head somewhat dusky on vertex, eyes light red, prominent, thorax green, abdomen green with about 2 to 4 little red dots — cys «\ the embryos — showing on both the dor:il :md ventral sides, and a slight yellow discoloration at. bases of cornicles. The antennae are light green at the base shading to blackish at the distal ends, femora pale green, tibiae very pale green, dusky at the distal 262 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '06 ends only, tarsi black ; style green to blackish, short and ensiform ; the honey tubes are long and cylindrical, green at the base and shading into dusky at the ends, or all dusky, their peculiar form as described for alate female below ; beak pale green, dusky at tip, barely reaching 3d coxae. Measurements about as follows: body, 1.40 mm.; style, .iimm. ; honey tubes, .27mm.; antenna, .8omm. ; joints III, .17; IV, .13; V, .11; VI, .11; VII, .i8mm. respectively. Alate viviparous.— ?. General color green, head dusky to black, eyes bright red and very prominent, prothorax green with dusky to black transverse band ; mesothorax blackish upon central portion, lateral margins green; ab- domen green ; wings hyaline with distinct, rather conspicuous dark veins, the base green. The abdomen and the head are sometimes mot- tled with light orange ; mesosternum black ; the beak is a very light green, dusky at the end. Along each side of the green abdomen above there often are 4 or 5 small dusky spots which do not show in all speci- mens; style ensiform and .n mm. long. Antennae about 1.06 mm. long, green at base and blackish beyond the middle of joint 3; 3d joint with about 12 sensoria, 4th with about 8, 5th with one large sensorium near the distal end and 2 or 3 along the middle portion ; 6th, at the joining of the 7th., with six small and one large sensoria; joints about as follows: III, .27; IV, .17: V, .15: VI, .13; VII, .22 mm. The femora are dusky at outer end or entirely light green, tibiae dusky to black at distal ends, tarsi black, cornicles dusky greenish yellow throughout, cylindrical. Length of body 1.30 mm.; wing, 2.13 mm.; stigma .60 mm.; narrow and parallel-sided; cauda .11 mm. dusky brown in color. The very broad head and very prominent compound eyes are striking peculiarities in this species. The cornicles which would be classed as cylindrical are somewhat constricted immediately back of the slight flange, then comes a slight enlargment from which the cornicle very gradually diminishes in diameter to the base. During my study of this insect as a student in entomology at the Colorado Agricultural College during the winter and spring of 1906 and 7, I did not find it upon any plants but the chrysanthemums. It seems to be strictly a greenhouse species at Fort Collins, as neither Prof, Gillette nor any of his assis- tants have found it upon out of door plants. June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 263 New Pyralidae. BY FRANK HAIMBACH, Philadelphia, Pa. Symphysa ochralis sp. nov. Expanse of wings 15 mm. Entire upper surface of wings bright ochre-yellow, the secondaries somewhat lighter apically. Markings as in Symphysa cripalis. On the under side, only the outer line is vis- ible, which is shaded inwardly with a dark brown line, from which line the whole area to apex is light brown, darkest on primaries. Dis- tinct discal dots on all wings on under side only. Described from six specimens from Denver, Colo., vii, 17, '05 (Oslar). Blepharomastix occidentalis sp. nov. Expanse of wings 23 mm. Markings as in Blepharomastix ranalis, but heavier. Ground color is considerably darker than in ranalis, ap- proximating brown, with the entire upper surface covered with evenly distributed dark brown atoms. The species is closely related to ranalis, but can be readily separated by its uniformly larger size, and darker color, also by the upper wings of male, which are narrower and more pointed. Described from eight specimens collected by Mr. H. A. Kae- ber, at Miller's Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, Ariz., July, 1907. Blepharomastix nymphulalis sp. nov. Expanse of wings 20 mm. Upper and under surfaces of both pri- maries and secondaries lustrous whitish ochre, with well defined brown markings, similar to Nymphula ekthlipsis, which it mimics in this respect. The markings are the same beneath as above. The species is closest to Blepharomastix stenialis, but the secondaries are more pro- duced basally, and the markings are more distinct and ornate. Described from nine specimens collected at Cincinnati, Ohio, by Miss Annette F. Braun, on June 12, 17, and July 2 to loth. Pyrausta insequalis plagalis var. nov. Differs from the Eastern form, by having the markings of the front wings supplemented with bright crimson red ; the ground color is also lighter, and the markings are not so heavy. Hind wings, ground color bright orange, on which the lines are much finer. Described from one specimen collected by Mr. H. A. Kae- ber, at Miller's Canyon, Huachuca Mts., Ariz., July, '07. This may prove to be a distinct species, but having but the one speci- men, it is probably better for the present to give it only a varie- tal name. 264 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. Qune, '08 Grambus oslarellus sp. nov. Expanse of wings 25-30 mm. Head and palpi cinereous. Primaries and thorax lustrous bronze, with a silvery white stripe from the base to near subterminal line; a tooth in the middle on the lower side, and a small white spot above the outer end of white stripes. Sec- ondaries smoky white. The species closely resembles Crambus prac- fectellus, and has no doubt been confounded with it. The principal points of difference are its much larger size, the smoky hind wings, and the absence of reddish line inside of white subterminal line, which is present in praefectellus ; also the subterminal line forms nearly a right angle, which is not the case in praefectellus. Described from ten specimens, collected at Silverton, Colo., and Clear Creek, Colo., vii, 3, '07, by Mr. E. J. Oslar, in whose honor this species is named. Three related American species of Aeshna (Odonata). BY E. B. WILLIAMSON. The three species are : multicolor Hagen, mutata Hagen and jalapensis n. sp. They are characterized as follows : Rs forking proximal to the level of the stigma, with 3 or 4 rows of cells between the fork at the level of the distal end of stigma ; the proximal side of the triangle in hind wing more than half as long as the posterior side; membranule fuscous with the base more or less white or gray ; stigma of adult males dark brown or black above ; dark yellowish brown beneath ; immature males and females have the stigma golden yellow, paler beneath ; a ventral spinulose tubercle on abdominal segment i ; a black T-shaped spot on the frons, which spot widens posteriorly to enclose the vesicle in black, and margins the eyes in front with a line of black; thorax brown with a dorsal and two lateral stripes on each side ; legs black, the first femora of both sexes beneath with a pale streak for half their length and all femora of females reddish brown above for the greater part of their length ; abdomen constricted at segment 3 ; males with a minute median dor- sal tooth on abdominal segment 10, and appendages seen in profile distinctly forked at apex with an angulate dorsal carina ; abdominal appendages of the female of usual form, the apex rounded obtuse, varying from 5 to 7 mm. in length in different species. DIFFERENTIALS: — Mutata and jalapensis are separated at once from multicolor: males, — the inferior basal tubercle of the superior appendages in multicolor at one-fourth to one-fifth the length of the appendage, in jalapensis and mutata at one- June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 265 sixth to one-seventh the length of the appendage; and the nar- rower appendage and higher keel of multicolor as compared with jalapensis and mutata, as seen in profile; females, — each abdominal appendage of multicolor is nearly symmetrical, the outer and inner edges with about the same curvature; the length 5 mm.; in jalapensis and mutata the outer edge of each appendage is nearly straight, the inner edge broadly curved; the length 6 mm. in jalapensis and 7 mm. in mutata. By ap- pendages of males jalapensis and mutata are separated by the MULTICOLOR JALAPENSIS MUTATA longer dorsal carina and apical fork of the superiors, and the shorter (one-half the length of the superiors) inferior in jalap- cnsis; in mutata the apical fork is reduced' in size and the in- ferior appendage is two-thirds the length of the superiors. The ventral spinulose tubercle on abdominal segment i i^ most pronounced in jalapensis and multicolor, the spinulose area in mutata being raised into only a very low tubercle. On segment 2 on margins about the accessory genitalia miilala i> more spinulose than the other two. 266 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 The T-shaped spot on frons is best developed in jalapensis, and of smallest area in multicolor. In multicolor the stem of the T in front is about .66 mm. wide and the sides of the stem are straight or slightly concave, diverging posteriorly and isolating the blue vesicle and the lateral ocelli from the blue area of the frons by a band of black about twice as wide as the ocelli. The ocelli are separated from the blue vesicle by a line of black narrower than the ocelli. In mutata the stem of the T in front is wider than in multicolor but scarcely I mm. wide, but the sides, instead of being concave, are distinctly convex, and the vesicle is less blue, the vesicle and the lateral ocelli more widely separated from the blue area of the frons, and the lateral ocelli separated from the vesicle by a line of black fully as wide as the ocelli. In jalapensis the stem of the T in front is over I mm. wide, the sides straight but more divergent than in the other two species, the lateral ocelli and vesicle isolated from the blue area of the frons by a band of black about three times as wide as the diameter of the ocelli; the extent of blue on the vesicle as in mutata. In coloration of abdomen males of mutata and multicolor are almost identical, although the blue spots are slightly re- duced in mutata especially on segment 10; jalapensis has the spots greatly reduced. A similar reduction is true also of the more obscurely colored females. In the matter oi coloration of jalapensis and mutata we have an exactly parallel case in the two species with very similar appendages which have been as- sociated under the name constricta. In this case, as in the case of mutata and jalapensis, the species with the dark-colored abdomen is the slenderer, less robust of thorax. The habits of the two species associated under constricta are well known to me and are entirely distinct; it is probable that mutata and jalapensis show a parallel difference in habits. Some venational characters of the three species are tabulated below. These may be summarized briefly, calling attention to mutata and multicolor especially, since in these venational dif- ferences are most constant. i. Mutata compared with multicolor has narrower wings with distinctly less curved supplements and a more distal ter- June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 267 mination of Cuj at wing- margin; (jalapensis is fairly inter- mediate in these characters). 2. In mutata the anal loop is distinctly wider, with a median cell and shorter outer side than in multicolor; (jalapensis has a wide anal loop of a form similar to mutata, but the outer side is variable in length). 3. Mutata has a larger number of cells in the wings as shown by: a. The presence generally of two rows of cells throughout between M3 and M4 in hind wing distal to point where two rows of cells first appear between these veins ; (jalapensis inter- mediate) . b. The larger number of cubito-anal cross veins in both front and hind wings ; (jalapensis intermediate). c. The larger number of cells in the triangle of hind wing; (jalapensis resembles multicolor}. d. The larger number of cross veins in the supertriangle of both front and hind wings ; (jalapensis intermediate). e. The larger number of antenodals and postnodals in both front and hind wings; (jalapensis resembles mutata}. f. The more proximal origin of M,a ; (jalapensis resembles multicolor') . 4. In mutata the more distal position of the arculus in terms of its relation to antenodal crossveins ; (jalapensis intermediate, resembling mutata') . TABULATION OF VENATIONAL CHARACTERS. The figures in the columns headed respectively " multicolor" "jalapensis" and "mutata ' ' are in all cases those of percentages. CHARACTERS multicolor IOC? 2 ? jalapensis 5c? i 9 mutata 10 e? 29 male female male female male female Length of stigma in (3 mm- front wing ^3-5^" U " 30 70 50 50 IOO IOO 5° 50 loo Mia in front wing arising (under stigma at distal end of stigma beyond stigma IOO IOO 10 20 IOO 70 15 55 50 30 50 268 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 multicolor jalapensis mutata CHARACTERS 10 (^ 29 5tf i 9 IO $ 29 male female male female male female Wings narrower, supplements less curved (a] IOO IOO Wings wider, supplements more curved (b) ioo ioo Wings intermediate in width, curving of sup- plements intermediate (c) IOO IOO f 4 marginal cells beyond 10 Cui in hind wing 3 cells beyond 50 40 IOO meeting wing 2-3 cells beyond 2O margin with ref- -{ 2 cells beyond 10 20 IOO 30 erence to level 1-2 cells beyond 5° of nodus (d) i cell beyond 40 40 (_ on same level 50 40 Anal loop wide, A2 arising basal to the last cubito-anal (e) cross-vein before the sub- triangle IOO IOO IOO IOO Anal loop narrower, A2 arising opposite or distal to last cubito-anal cross-vein IOO IOO Anal loop with a median cell (i.e. more than 2 cells wide near its middle) 30 IOO IOO IOO IOO Anal loop without a median cell 70 ioo Outer side of anal f About as long as inner loop (formed by j side of triangle (f) 20 IOO IOO IOO Cu2and Ai before < their separation) Longer than inner side in hind wing I of triangle (g) IOO IOO 80 From the point f 2 rows of cells between where 2 rows of j throughout 15 40 IOO 75 75 cells appear be- tween M3 and j For at least part of this M4 in hind wing \ distance only i row of to wing margin t cells 85 ioo 60 25 25 "Opposite second antenodal 10 25 Between second and third, Arculus in front J ^™lln ^"^ and third> 85 75 10 nearer third 5 90 IOO 25 1 Opposite third 60 100 [ Between third and fourth "5 r Between first and second Arculus in hind j antenodals 90 25 10 10 wing 1 Opposite second 10 75 40 IO IOO v Betweeen second and third 50 IOO So June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 269 multicolor jalaprnsis nmtatd CHARACTERS 10 cT 29 5C? l9 -oc? 2 9 male female male female male female (Between the third and fourth Opposite fourth ,,mu WM,S wm, Between the fourth and reference to the / /-r , cross-veins be- )o ite fifth tween Mi-3 and /g^een the fi{th and 25 45 30 25 5° 25 20 10 50 60 50 IO 20 35 10 50 50 M4 1 sixth 30 \Opposite sixth 5 [5 55 50 2O 10 50 (*) Cubito-anal cross-veins in front wing (h] < 6 (7 45 50 80 loo 40 5° 50 (/) Cubito-anal cross-veins in hind wing (h) •{ ^ Lo 20 70 0 25 75 ioo 50 45 50 6 5 50 55 50 With two transverse cross- veins, 3-celled IO (/ ) With two transverse cross- " veins, proximal cell divi- ™ . , ded, 4-celled Triangle, front VVith three transverse cross- 35 75 20 50 9° IOO veins, proximal cell divi- ded, 5-celled 55 25 70 50 With three transverse cross- veins, two proximal cells divided, 6-celled 10 ( 0 10 /With one transverse cross- 1 vein, proximal cell divi- \ ded, 3-celled 5 ~ . ,. , jWith two transverse cross- Triangle, hind 1 vej imal cell divi. ) ded, 4-celled 85 IOO 60 ioo 10 50 / With three transverse cross- 1 veins, proximal cell divi \ ded, 5 celled 10 40 90 50 (2 60 50 10 25 25 Supertriangular cross-veins in front wing -j 3 40 50 90 ioo 70 75 U 5 ( I 25 25 Supertriangular cross-veins in hind wing -I 2 75 75 100 100 40 75 ^ U 60 25 270 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 multicolor jalapensis mutata CHARACTERS 10 cf 2 £ 5c? i ? 10 $ 2? male female male female male female /I4 10 50 15 30 30 50 h Antenodals in left front wing ( J| 30 60 ioo 20 10 40 50 50 (J9 40 20 20 21 10 7 50 8 50 Postnodals in left front wing T9 40 60 40 10 20 IOO ii 40 ioo 5° 12 20 20 I21 50 1 24 3° 50 I 25 20 ^26 20 50 '27 Ante- and postnodals in left front wing 2£ IO 20 20 40 ioo 20 10 50 29 2O 10 30 50 31 20 33 10 9 10 IOO IO 40 40 Antenodals in left hind wing j* 40 IO 40 ioo 20 20 30 50 13 40 50 14 10 r 9 50 10 40 50 10 Postnodals in left hind wings ll 20 30 40 ioo 20 IO 20 50 50 13 10 60 1 14 40 18 50 I19 IO 50 120 30 Vzi 10 40 Ante- and postnodals in left hind wing 22 o IO 20 IOO 20 20 10 50 24 20 25 2O 30 50 26 20 30 27 IO June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 2JI NOTES ON THE PRECEDING TABULATION. a. In all specimens 3 rows of cells between Rs and the radial sup- plement and M4 and the median supplement, excepting in 2 $ hind wings, where there are 4 rows between M4 and the median supple- ment. b. In 3 $ there are 3 rows of cells throughout between Rs and the radial supplement and M4 and the median supplement ; in 5 $ there are 4 rows of cells between throughout ; in I $ there are 3 rows between Rs and the radial supplement in both front wings and in one hind wing, 4 rows elsewhere ; in i $ there are 4 rows be- tween M, and the median supplement in both hind wings, 3 rows elsewhere; in I $ there are 4 rows between M4 and the median sup- plement in one hind wing, 3 rows elsewhere; in i 9 there are .3 rows between Rs and the radial supplement in one front wing, be- tween M4 and the median supplement in both front wings, and 4 rows elsewhere. c. In 2 $ there are 4 rows of cells throughout between Rs and the radial supplement and M4 and the median supplement; in I $ there are 3 rows of cells between throughout : in 2 $ there are 3 rows of cells throughout excepting that in both hind wines of each specimen there are 4 rows of cells between M4 and the median sup- plement : in the 9 there are 4 rows of cells between throughout, ex- cepting between M4 and the median supplement in one front wing and Rs and the radial supplement in one hind wing, where there are 3 rows. (It should be stated that curving of supplements does not vary in a snecies with variation in number of rows of cells be- tween veins and supplements, though it is true that among species those with straightened supplements have a reduced number of in- cluded cells.) d. This character is of slight if any value because of the difficulty of accurate determination due to varving degrees in which the wing veins of dried specimens do not lie in the same plane. e. Excepting in 4 wings $ , 2 wings $ mutata and 4 wings $ , 2 wings 9 jalapmsis where A., arises distal to last cubito-anal cross- vein, but the anal loop is of usual width. /. Tn every case but I wing of a $ mutata there are 2 cells on distal side of this outer side of anal loop ; in this one wing there is only T cell. .?. Tn 18 wings $, 2 wings 9 multicolor there are 2 cells on dis- tal side of outer side of anal loop ; 2 wings A , 2 wings 9 multi- color and i wing $ jalapciisis with 3 rows of cells on distal side. h. The crossveins forming the subtriangle and dividing the sub- triangle are counted. /. Tn these 2 wings $, 2 wings 9 mutata the subtriangle is not crossed; in one other wing of mutata 9 the subtriangle is free; in all other cases the subtriangle is once crossed. j. One wing 9 with free subtriangle. k. The subtriangle free in this wing; crossed in all other wings examined. /. One individual, both wings. (To be continued.) ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 Incidental Studies of new species of Oscinis. BY E. S. TUCKER, Special Agent, Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agric. In my incidental studies of flies which were obtained by per- sonal collecting- during- past and more recent years, four forms have been found belonging in the genus Oscinis, which fail to agree with any known species, and, in consequence, they are named and described herewith as new. Oscinis nigra n. sp. Colorado, — Denver; August, 1906. Type: one specimen de- posited in the U. S. National Museum. Wholly black, except fulvous tinge of halteres, and dull reddish eyes. Body and legs shining. Triangular space of front extending from the vertex to a point against the antennal insertions, lower angular edges of front dull opaque. Dorsum of thorax minutely punc- tured, bearing scattered black bristles, sides fringed ; scutellum having two apical bristles of great length. First and second sections of wings equal in length, third section about two-thirds the length of either one of the preceding, and fourth section one-half the length. Third and fourth longitudinal veins scarcely divergent. Length, 1.5 mm. This specimen differs from all previously described forms of Oscinis on account of total absence of yellow or fulvous color, other than on the halteres. Oscinis flavescens n. sp. Colorado, — Manitou, 6629 ft. ; August, 1894. Type : one speci- men deposited in the U. S. National Museum. Prevailing color yellow, with black markings as follows : A small spot on vertex enveloping the ocelli ; three broad longitudinal stripes on mesonotum, the medial, except towards the distal end, is twice the width of a lateral one, beginning on the prothorax in a_dvance of them and extending the entire length of mesonotum, while the lateral stripes taper to an end before reaching the posterior margin ; metathorax polished black beneath the scutellum ; dorsal base of abdomen and a median spot arising from anterior edge of second segment black, basal margin with a pronounced and rounded middle expansion on each succeeding segment also black; two subfuscous spots on pleura pos- teriorly beneath base of wing, and a strong dash of black on posterior coxal plate. Eyes black ; vertex and front punctured, somewhat shining on triangular area; third antennal joint disciform, arista black; dorsum of thorax clothed with fine grayish pubescence which glistens on the June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 273 black stripes, a fringe of black bristles extends along each side; scut- tellum regularly rounded behind, nearly as long as the width. First and second costal sections of the wings about equal in length; the third and fourth together equal to one of the preceding; third and fourth longitudinal veins parallel. Length, 1.75 mm. According to Dr. C. F. Adams' table of Oscinis, this speci- men runs to mida Adams, but it appears as a form too ex- treme to be regarded even as a variety on account of the fol- lowing differences-: no sharp definition of vertical triangle; vitte of thorax black instead of brown, and three in number instead of four ; no additional line above base of wing unless extremely obscure ; black spot lacking above middle coxae, but two faint or obscure maculations on pleura ; scutellum lacking apical pair of bristles, wholly bare, (may possibly be denuded, however) ; fore margins instead of hind margins of abdominal segments black ; tips of tarsi not black ; third section of costa more than one-half as long as second section. Oscinis frontalis n. sp. Texas. — Piano, Collin county ; one female specimen collected in May at dusk in oat field, and one male in November, 1907. Types deposited in the U. S. National Museum. Generally yellow ; front dull, thorax with sericeous pubescence, abdo- men somewhat shining. Vertical triangle impressed, not quite reaching to the antenna?, a black dot enclosing the ocelli, and a second dot be- neath the ocellar spot in the frontal triangle of the male; hair of front black and stubby, suggestive of minute bristles ; arista black. Eyes black with slight pale pubescence. Dorsal vittse four in number, brownish black on the female, black on the male, the middle pair but slightly parted and shorter than the lateral ones, all failing to reach the posterior margin of the mesonotum ; an additional short narrow stripe above the base of the wing. Lateral suture of pleura strongly lined with black, and a short black dash runs above each posterior coxa. Scutellum evenly rounded, bearing a few black bristles, the apical pair stout. Similar black bristles fringe cadi side of the mesonotum, and a pair arises near the posterior margin of the dorsum, each bristle standing at the distal end of a lateral stripe. Metanotum shining black; abdominal segments infuscated at base. the female being more suffused with a dark cast especially overspread- ing the middle; anterior edges of second segment with a distinct small black dot; venter immaculate; protruded tip of male genitalia and of ovipositor of female black ; claws black. \\'ii'L's clear hyaline, second costal section twice the length of third section, third and fourth longitudinal veins parallel. Length, 1.5 mm. 274 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 Although running to O. ovalis Adams, these specimens differ particularly by reason of the double length of the second com- pared with the third costal sections of the wings, and by the rather unusual appearance of an almost bristly front. Osoinis dissidens n. sp. Texas, — Piano, Collin county ; June, 1907, one specimen taken in an experiment cage in oat field. Type deposited in the U. S. National Museum. Mostly shining black ; face below the frontal triangle, together with the oral region and mouthparts, excepting the palpi, venter of abdomen largely and dorsal base obscurely, knees of anterior and middle legs slightly, tibiae of middle legs obscurely, all trochanters and the tarsi except at tip, and halteres, yellowish. Frontal triangle extending across the vertex, polished, reaching two-thirds of the distance to the an- tennae, adjoining outer edges of front dull, front projecting over the antennal insertions. Antennae dull opaque, third joint inwardly sericeous, arista pale and faintly pubescent. Mesonotum with faint pale pubescence, two fine sulci running forward from posterior margin, scutellum with a pair of small terminal bristles. Wings clear, first and second costal sections equal in length, third and fourth longitudinal veins parallel. Length scarcely more than I mm. Runs to, and agrees in many respects with 0. obsciira ac- cording to Mr. Coquillett's description, but the following dis- tinguishing features are noted : greater part of the front yel- low, tibiae of fore legs black instead of yellow, and the second longitudinal vein joins the costa at more than half the distance instead of midway between the apices of the first and rhird longitudinal veins. Notes on the Psychodidae. BY LEONARD HASEMAN, University of Missouri. Since the completion of my monograph of the North Amer- ican Psychoclidse, which appeared in the Transactions of the American Entomological Society, Vol. XXXIII, I have been carefully watching for any new species and life histories which may turn up in this region. The extreme minuteness and inconspicuousness of the adults, as well as the immature stages of these- flies, makes their dis- covery in nature possible only by very close and persistent ob- June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 275 servations. While I have secured a number of my species on shaded windows and vine-clad walls of buildings, I have had far better results collecting- the adults at night when they are readily attracted to lights. I have secured all my life histories by preparing vegetable cultures, in which they breed in great numbers. The past year two new life histories have been found, one of which proves to be that of a new species. A number of specimens collected between March 20 and June 20 have been identified as Ps. schizura Kin. Their wing length varies from 1.8 mm. to 2.8 mm., and they all have the black tufts at the tip of the veins and the alternate black and white markings which give the wings a mottled appearance. A few specimens collected between April 18 and May 24 have been identified as Ps. cinera Bks. This species has also been found fairly common in the caves of Indiana by Mr. A. M. Banta,* so that it probably appears over the entire range from the At- lantic to the Pacific. Early in the spring of 1907 I collected a quantity of dry weeds and grass, and also some green grass and curly-dock leaves, which were put into two large square glass jars, covered with water and placed in the insectary to thoroughly ferment. In a short time mosquitoes appropriated the jars for their use. The adults and larvae of the mosquitoes were collected and destroyed, and glass covers placed over the jars for a time. Later the covers were removed and early in June adult Psycho- dids were found in one of the jars. The cover was replaced on this jar and a large brood of adults appeared on the I3th of June. This jar was fairly teeming with them, while the other, which stood by its side, contained none at all. The first brood of larvae and pupae escaped my observation, but on the I5th of July a second brood of larvae appeared, when the jar was removed to my laboratory and daily observations made on the habits of the larvae, pupae and adults. After the first adults were found in the jar, it was kept covered except when speci- mens were being removed. In this way five broods were reared during the summer. The adults of the first brood appearing June 13-20, the second July 17-20, the third August 8-12, the * Carnegie Institute of Washington, publication No. 67, p. 84. 276 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 fourth August 20-27, and the fifth September 10-15. The broods gradually decreased in numbers of individuals until there were very few to appear in the last brood. The food supply began to get scarce after the second brood, and decaying po- tatoes were added, for which the larvae showed great fondness. The second jar, containing the decaying vegetable culture, was left standing uncovered in the insectary all summer. The mosquitoes did not return to it and no signs of Psychodids appeared in it. The water nearly all evaporated, so that by the first of December only a small quantity of water remained in the bottom to keep the grass and weeds moist. While rearranging the insect breeding cages on December 9, I was surprised on lifting up the jar containing the culture to see a half dozen or so adult Psychodids fly out of it. The jar was immediately covered and removed to my laboratory. On the following day a few more adults emerged, but by the most careful examination no larvse or pupse could be found. A number of the adults were collected and mounted, while the rest were left in the jar for breeding. The second brood of larvse and pupae appeared during Christmas vacation when I was away and on my return the $ih of January, a great many adults were present in the jar. Some of the adults were again collected and others left for breeding. On the 6th and 7th of January the first signs of larvse were noted. They had just hatched and were extremely small, and unlike the larvse of the other species I have observed, were very sluggish. The first pupae from this brood of larvse were found on the I5th of January and adults began to emerge on the i6th. Only three broods of this Psychodid were reared ; the adults appearing Dec. - - to Dec. 9 ; Dec. - - to Jan. 6 ; Jan. 16 to 25. Stragglers from the last brood continued to appear until the middle of February and a few specimens again appeared the last of March. Returning to the first species, which was bred between June 15 and Sept. 15. I find, on comparing it with Ps. f I or idle a* *Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., Vol. xxxiii, pp. 316 and 324. June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 277 that a close relation exists between the two forms. My material of Ps. floridica has deteriorated considerably, especially the larvae and adults, so that comparisons in some particular details are made with considerable difficulty. There is a very marked difference in the size of the Missouri and Florida specimens, the larva? of the latter being from one- fourth to one-third larger. The difference in size also appears in the pupae and adults. The Florida larv?e have eight or nine dorsal plates on the posterior annuli of the abdominal segments, while the Missouri larvae have but six. The Florida larvae have no ventral thoracic plates, while the Missouri ones have two small widely separated plates on the posterior annulus of each segment. Each of these plates bears two long bristling hairs. In the living Missouri larvae the internal organs show through the body wall as a broad creamy-white band in the region of the fourth and fifth abdominal segments, which did not appear in the Florida larvae. These slight but uniformly constant differences convince me that this Missouri Psychodid is not the same as the Florida one, though certainly very closely related. The adults have been compared with Ps. noctnrnala and their similarity in every respect is so great that I feel sure they are the same species. The dates of their appearance also correspond. I find that my figures of Ps. floridica are slightly at fault on the segmentation of the posterior end of the abdomen. In some cases I find that the break between the last two annuli is so marked that I mistook it for a segmental rather than an annular division. LARVA. The larva is quite slender, cylindrical, measuring 11 mm. in length and .8 mm. in breadth. Each of the three thoracic segments is rather distinctly divided into two annuli. The first abdominal segment also has two annuli, while each of the other six abdominal segments has three. Each annulus of the two posterior abdominal segments has, on its dorsal surface, a small chitinous shield; the third shield of each segment being 278 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June. '08 the largest. Each of the abdominal and thoracic annuli are well armed with short, closely set spike-like hairs, which are more or less arranged in girdles, due to the annular divisions. Be- sides these short hairs there are two or four longer curved hairs on the dorsal surface of the posterior annulus of each segment, likewise one or two along the sides of the same annuli, and two pairs of similar hairs on their ventral surface. The paired ventral hairs on the thoracic segments are mounted upon small, widely separated, circular plates, similar to the dorsal plates on the posterior annuli except much smaller. In living specimens the internal organs in the region of the fourth and fifth abdominal segment show creamy- white through the body wall. This did not appear in the Florida larvae and is also obsolete in alcoholic specimens. No signs of anal tracheal gills are present. The thoracic air nipples are present on the dorso-lateral portion of the second pro thoracic annulus. As in the case of the Florida specimens, these were not seen to be used by the larvae for breathing. The larvae have the greedy habit of engulfing everything that they can get hold of. The alimentary canal is continually distended with food. The internal organs appear very dis- tinctly through the body-wall, especially in case of specimens preserved in alcohol. The protrusions surrounding the anal opening are much more pronounced than in the Florida speci- mens. A test was made to determine the length of time they could live under water without coming to the top to breathe and the limit was found to be about twenty-four hours, as in the case of the Florida larvae. PUPA. The pupae are found hidden in the debris at the surface of the water, where they are continually kept moist and where they can protrude their thoracic breathing tubes out above the surface. The pupae are somewhat larger than those from Flor- ida and the abdominal spines are slightly less developed. There is a very marked difference in the size of the male and female pupae. The latter are both longer and more heavily built. In- June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 279 eluding the thoracic breathing tubes, which are quite long and slender, the female pupae are 4 mm. in length and .85 mm. in breadth. The spines along the sides of the pupae are inconspicuous, usually ending in a fine bristle-like hair. On the ventral sur- face the first abdominal segment behind the tips of the wing sheaths has but a single row of spines. Along the median line are three or four small spines, bordered on each side by one 1C ) FIG. i. — Dorsal and ventral view of larva and ventral view of pupa, Ps. nocturnala (X 20). large spine and these in turn by three or four smaller ones, which extend out to the lateral edge of the body. The next four abdominal segments each have two rows of spines. The anterior row on each segment consists of four medium-sized spines, well separated and placed at equal intervals. In the middle of the second row on each segment are three small, closely-set spines, which are bordered on each side by one large 280 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 spine and these in turn by three or four spines, which de- crease in size laterally. The posterior abdominal segment, viewed from the ventral side, has a basal portion, from the lateral sides of which projects a single strong spine, and from the ventral surface of which project two strong spikes, each of which terminates in two sharp spines. Posteriorly the seg- ment is much constricted and terminates in two pointed spines with a narrow emargination between. Looking at the seg- ment from the side, it can be seen that the dorsal half projects beyond the ventral portion and terminates in two very strong dorsally curved spines. On the dorsal surface the segments have but a single row of spines. Along the median line of the back the first segment bearing spines has two small closely applied ones, the next two segments each have three and the next two segments each two. Lateral to these closely joined spines on each segment there is one strong spine, followed by three or four smaller ones. On the dorsal surface of the anterior abdominal and the thoracic segments there is usually a single papillae bearing a fine bristle-like hair. The dorsal spines curve slightly forward, while those on the ventral surface project backward. These help the pupae in working their way up through the decaying vegetable material and in maintaining their position when they once get to the sur- face where their thoracic breathing tubes can be protruded out into the air. The breathing tubes are very long and slender, with a short, much wrinkled stalk. The trachea can be traced to the very tip of the tube. There are two rows of small, circular foramina on the dorsal surface of each breathing tube. These foramina also surround the tip of the tube and extend some ways down the ventral surface in two rows. In some cases the segments of the antennae can be distin- guished through the semi-transparent sheath. The ocelli can be seen through the sheath and are arranged in parallel rows extending almost at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the body. Some of the venation of the wings and the seg- June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 281 mentation of the tarsi can be distinguished throusrh their o o sheaths. Careful observations on the habits of the adults were made. They were often seen to settle upon the surface of the decaying material in the jar as if feeding, but I was unable to decide definitely concerning- this ; they may have been depositing eggs, as they were usually the large females. The act of copulation was observed in a number of in- stances, and a few notes on these observations may be of in- terest to other entomologists. The males precede the females by a day or two and are very active by the time the females begin to emerge. Mating takes place soon after the females emerge and while they are yet quite sluggish. I have watched the males courting the females by taking a position immedi- ately in front of them, where they remain perfectly motion- less for several minutes, except for the continued waving of the antennse, which are occasionally allowed to touch the an- tennse of the female. When the males attempt copulation, they protrude the posterior end of the abdomen forward, much as the small Hymenopterous parasites do when they deposit eggs in plant lice, except that the abdomen is directed forward along the side of the body rather than directly underneath it. After the strong fang shaped male genitalia have firmly grasped the female, the insects turn end to end and have been seen to remain in coition for from one to two minutes. While in coition the wings stand roof-like, the male's being enclosed by the female's, much as in the case of butterflies. Returning to the second Psychodid which was reared be- tween December Qth and January 25th. This species differs very much from the other Psychodids I have observed. The larvae are much shorter than the other forms and are broader than deep. The annulation is very distinct. The pupie are short and plump, slightly broader than deep. The adult has been carefully compared with my other species, and as it does not conform to the descriptions of any of Bank's and Kin- caid's species, I have decided that it is a new species. 282 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 LARVA. The lame are extremely sluggish and have the habit of roll- ing themselves up in the decaying material and feigning death when disturbed. They are not nearly so greedy as the other forms, though they feed almost continuously. Occasionally they leave the culture and climb up along the sides of the ves- sel by carrying along with them a film of water. Specimens have often escaped from my watch-glasses and crawled about on the table until quite dry, but on replacing them in the glasses they would revive. FIG. 2. — Dorsal and ventral view of larvae and ventral view of pupa, Ps. domestica, n. sp. (X. 20). The larvae attain a length of from 6 to 7 mm. and a breadth of .8 mm., and are slightly flattened. The thoracic segments and the first abdominal have each two distinct annuli, while the next six abdominal segments have each three. Each annulus, with the exception of those of the first abdominal segment, bears a distinct plate on its dorsal surface. There is some variation in the dorsal plates on the first three abdominal seg- ments, and they are usually much reduced, though, as a rule, each annulus of the second and third segment bears a small June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 283 plate, and often the anterior annnlus of the first segment also bears a plate. The plates at the posterior and anterior ends of the body are much the larger. The first and usually the second pro- thoracic and first mesothoracic plates are so cleft from behind along the median line as to form two plates placed side by side. Besides these dorsal plates the body is well armed with very short bristling hairs and a few long ones. The posterioi an- nulus of each abdominal segment bears two pairs of long bris- tling hairs on its dorsal and ventral surfaces and one or more similar hairs on its lateral margin. The anterior annulus of the thoracic segments bears similar hairs. These hairs are mounted upon low papillae and are usually curved rather than straight. One or both pairs on the dorsal surface of the posterior segments may be mounted upon the dorsal plates. The larvae possess the prothoracic air nipples, as in the other forms. So far as I have been able to determine, these are never used for respiration, unless perhaps when the larvae leave the water and crawl up the sides of the jar or along on the straws and weeds which extend above the water. At this time they have only a thin film of water around them and the four small projections bearing the cilia which protect the posterior breathing pores are usually retracted so that these breathing pores are closed and at such times air may be taken through the thoracic air nipples. While feeding and while in the water respiration is carried on entirely through the posterior spiracles. It is interesting to watch this operation. After the larva has been at the bottom of the jar feeding for a while, a small bubble of gas will begin to form at the tip of the breathing tube. This is continued until the bubble has reached a considerable size, when the larva stops feeding, lets go all hold, and rises to the sur- face much as an aeronaut. On reaching the surface the bub- ble bursts, the cilia around the spiracles spread out and hold the larva in place until a new supply is drawn into the tracheal system, when the cilia are retracted and the weight of the body of the larva carries it to the bottom of the jar again, where it continues to feed. The fresh air in the tracheal system is 284 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 under considerable pressure, so that the supply is not able to float the larva, but as soon as the pressure is released and the gas collects in a bubble at the tip of the tube, its buoyancy is sufficient to carry the larva to the surface. This operation is repeated every five minutes or so, depending upon the activity of the larva. A test was made to determine the length of time the larva? could remain submerged. For this purpose a small quantity of kerosene was poured over the water in a small dish and many of the larvae were found to be still active after being deprived of air for a day. PUPA. The pupae are oval in shape and somewhat flattened. They attain a length of 3.5 mm. and a breadth of .8 mm. The thoracic breathing tubes are much shorter than in the other forms, measuring about .25 mm. in length. The abdominal segments are well armed with numerous short, simple and com- pound spines. On the ventral surface the five segments pos- terior to the tip of the wing sheaths each has two rows of these spines. The first row on each segment is near its anterior edge and consists of four compound spines, well separated. The second row is near the posterior edge of the segment and consists of from six to nine small compound spines along the median line, bordered laterally by a single enlarged spine, and this followed laterally by a number of smaller ones. The com- pound spines consist of two or three small sharp spines borne on a low circular papilla. The posterior segment bears on its ventral surface a single strong compound spine, along the lat- eral edge of its slightly expanded base, while the tip is ter- minated by two slightly diverging strong simple spines with a broad emargination between. The arrangement of the spines on the dorsal surface is about the same as on the ventral surface. Each segment has two rows, but the spines of the second row are smaller and more closely set than on the ventral surface. Six of the abdominal segments bear these rows of spines on their dorsal surface, June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 285 while only five of them have spines on the ventral surface. The ventral surface of the first segment bearing dorsal spines is hidden by the tip of the wing sheaths. The dorsal portion of the last segment is curved dorsally and ends in two very strong spines. On the dorsal surface of the last segment near the base there are two laterally projecting spines as on the ventral surface. The breathing tubes are club-shaped, with a short, much wrinkled stalk, and bear two longitudinal rows of foramina along their dorsal surface. The segmentation of the antennae shows distinctly through their semi-transparent sheath. Psychoda domestica n. sp. Body dark brown to black, clothed with long black hair, which to the unaided eye gives the insect a distinct blackish appearance. Thorax lighter than abdomen, and in some specimens the hair has a brownish cast. Legs black with black hairs and scales, the latter on the hind tarsi brownish. Wings long, rather acutely rounded at the tip of second simple nervure ; evenly and well clothed with long black hair ; posterior fringe black, about one-half the breadth of wing; anterior fringe much narrower; dense tuft of long black hair on base of costa. Anterior furcation one-sixth length of wing nearer tip than posterior ; slightly beyond middle of wing. Female wing, length 2.25 mm. to 3.25 mm.; breadth, .75 mm. to i.oo mm. Male, length, 1.8 mm. to 1.85 mm. ; breadth, .65 mm. to .7 mm. Length of antennae about one and one-half breadth of wing; i6-jointed; i, slightly longer than broad; 2, spherical ; 3-13, with basal enlargements and terminal pedicles, which are slightly swollen in the middle; 14-16, much reduced and closely applied to 13 and to each other; 3-16, with dense whorls of smoky-black hairs ; 1-2, with shorter hairs and scales. Male genitalia strongly developed ; superior pair about as strong as inferior ; two- jointed; basal quite strong, slightly longer than broad; second twice as long as first, slightly expanded at base, weaker distally where it terminates in a very acute claw ; inferior genitalia one-jointed, greatly expanded at base, but tapers rapidly to tip, which bears a single long, strong papilla about one-half the length of the segment. Ovipositor and ventral plate yellowish brown ; ventral plate broader than long, with broad emargination behind reaching half way to base; ovipositor as long as breadth of plate, much curved ; plate and base of ovipositor armed with short hair. Habitat : — Columbia, Missouri ; bred in laboratory from De- cember Qth to March 2Oth. 286 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 Some Observations at Southern Pines, N. Carolina By ABRAM HERBERT MANEE, A. M. Strategus antaeus. In these sand hills, where the long-leaf pines denude the ground of all but their own litter; in these black-jack barrens, where the many spaces bare among the tufts of wiry grass gleam white in vivid harmony with black and yellow ; here, where neither stones nor gravel hinder plunge of trowel, there is free field for study, and in the World of the Little the toilers in the soil incite to special interest. My first antaeus, picked up in winter, were charred by ground fires. In summer, '05, came my first polished males. On the night of July n, '06, I took my first females by elec- tric light. That same month we investigated an inch hole by a cart path and dug out a working male. July 26 I took my first pair from between two exposed roots of a large oak. They were pulverizing the surface soil, preparatory to shaft dig- ging. After several such takings of pairs and singles, I came to know the peculiar mound of earth always pulverized to a depth of one to three inches. August 3d I dug beneath an old mound and found an egg. August 9th and i4th several more eggs, and I note as follows : Beneath the mound of loosened soil an inch shaft extends vertically for six or eight inches. At bottom of shaft a one- and-a-quarter inch chamber reaches horizontally from one to five inches, and in this chamber, packed with finely broken bits of decadent oak leaves, a solitary egg is deposited. Some- times two or rarely three such chambers diverge from the same shaft, but I believe with never more than one egg in each. A favorite haunt for nesting is by a pile of dead oak leaves wind blown in some hollow, from which I conclude that the young larva feeds on leaf debris and later on decadent oak roots. The newly laid egg is oblong and white, in length fully three- thirty-seconds of an inch. In three or four days the egg swells to globular and is fully one-eighth inch in diameter. June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 287 From seven or eight eggs taken August I4th and placed in a jelly tumbler I found on August 25th five larvae from five- eighths to seven-eighths inches. . They had eaten eggshells and some dead oak-leaf debris. The last larva emerged Au- gust 3Oth — length, five-sixteenths inch ; color, white, with head fuscuous. In September one larva had become cannibal and dc- 288 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 voured all the other larvae. (This probably accounts for the eggs being deposited solitarily.) October I2th the cannibal larva, less than two months old, had grown from its abnormal feeding to a length of two inches ; color : head blackish, legs and spiracles yellow-brown, body whitish, with blue-black showing through, under side and last three segments blue- black. From August, 1907, three lame from eggs were fed sepa- rately on dead oak leaves and roots, and at four months were only one inch long, so that the two months old two-inch canni- bal specimen was doubtless of abnormal size. It would be in- teresting to rear a larva-fed antaeus grub into pupa or imago and note whether it would become a giant specimen or simply mature more rapidly. Stratcgits splendens, Beauv. This rare species occurs here with a season at least two months earlier than antaeus. In June and July I find only dead specimens, and a fresh living beetle was dug from my garden January ist, within a few feet of which I found on the same date an imago which had evidently died just after moulting, as the elytra were abortive. Gcotrupes balyi. This species buries not only animal drop- pings, but decadent fruits. I noted it working under spoiled cocoanut and also under refuse watermelon. Dr. L. O. How- ard wrote me that this was a new observation. Sandalits niger. I have discovered what was, I believe, hitherto unproved, that the reddish male of Sandalits is a fixed variety of niger. Dr. Howard writes me that Dr. Horn, in his synopsis of the genus, suspected this relationship. He wrote also that my dates are interesting, as in the vicinity of Wash- ington, D. C., where S. niger is rare, the mating season is not later than August. I note as follows : "In November, 1904, took two or three living females on dead black-jack oak. In November, 1905, found a few females, and Mr. R. S. Woglum, acting State Entomologist, took one red male, the first found here. In November, 1906, we took twenty females, three black males and two red males. I then suspected that the red males were niger, as we found no red females to correspond. In November, 1907, we took forty June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 289 females, every one a black-brown niger ; four black males and fourteen red males. Two of the black males were in sexual contact, and in several instances a red male, sometimes two, were attached to a niger female. On warm sunny days the red males were flying. It was exciting to draw one down by a wave of the net when it would descend on an incline and strike the ground like a pebble. If we simply allowed it to reach an oak most surely a female would be found quite near. The season here for niger is October 26th to December i. On this last date I took a female in the act of ovipositing. The egg is pure white, cylindrical, convex at each end, more than twice as long as wide and so minute (one-forty-fifth of an inch in length) that five lengths would not equal the diameter of the egg of S. antaeus.* The eggs are irregularly clustered in a crack of bark or wood or on under side of loose bark of a dead branch or trunk of black-jack oak and are attached by silken or zvebby threads. The female imago is a full inch in length, entirely nude of hair, with the nine outer segments of. antennse in short lamin?e increasing to the thickened tip. The male is from 11-16 to 13-16 inclusive, in length; pubescent beneath and above espe- cially on face ; thorax and base of elytra, and with the nine antennal laminse of equal length, 5-32 inch. MR. E. T. CRESSON, the distinguished Hymenopterist and treasurer of the American Entomological Society, has been in charge of the pub- lications of the Society since 1861, a record of 47 years' unselfish service in the interest of entomology. H. J. QUAYLE. assistant professor of Entomology in the University of California, will be located at the Southern California Pathological Laboratory, Whittier, Cal., after July first. ON September 3rd, 1907, T took a perfectly fresh specimen of Calli- dryas aqarithc $ , at Beach Haven, New Jersev ; it was found in com- pany with large numbers of cubulc, of which T took twenty-one males and nine females. Ts this not a new record for New Jersev? The specimen was in such perfect condition that it seems impossible that it could have flown up from the South. — W. G. FREEPLEY, JR. *T estimate that 200 eggs of S. niger would equal in bulk one egg of S. antaetis, but antaeus imacio is very heavy and niger imago very light. The egg of Dynastes tityfus is also small, one-half the diameter of that of antaeus. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit and will thankfully receive items of news likely to interest its readers from any source. The author's name will be given in each case, for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] To Contributors. — All contributions will be considered and passed upon at oui earliest convenience, and, as far as may be, will be published according to date of recep- tion. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS has reached a circulation, both in numbers and circumfer- ence, as to make it necessary to put " copy " into the hands of the printer, for each num- ber, three weeks before date of issue. This should be remembered in sending special or important matter for a certain issue. Twenty-five " extras," without change in form, will be given free, when they are wanted ; and this should be so stated on the MS., along with the number desired. The receipt of all papers will be acknowledged.— ED. PHILADELPHIA, PA., JUNE, 1908. We have touched on this subject before, but would again like to remind our readers that we are not egotistical. To those who so kindly write articles for the NEWS we wish to say that the editors of this journal are the most learned people in the world, and in addition to that are mind readers. Also, time hangs heavy on our hands as we have nothing to do. Don't take the trouble to •number the pages of your Ms. as we can do it better. Write botanical names and names of places any old way. We know all the botanical names and have be- come familiar with all localities, having lived in each one. When you give measurements of insects, especially new species, you need not write the figures plainly, as knowing everything we can readily decipher them. The names of all new and proposed species are known to us in advance, and knowing them yourself it is not necessary to be particular about how you write them. When writing us you need not be particular about your name and address, as we can read any- thing. If errors occur just blame us and the printer. The printer, by the way, is a wonder. He reads Russian, Chinese and Sanscrit with greater facility than he does English. The collecting season has begun, so we may be able to forget the editorial department for a time. p. S. — Don't forget to mix up exchange notices and other matter for the NEWS with personal matter to the Editors. 290 June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 2QI Entomological Literature. STUDIES IN NORTH AMERICAN MEMBRACID^E. By Edward P. Van Duzec. This paper was published in the Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences Vol. ix, pp. 29-129., issued April iSth, 1908. The author gives the results of a systematic study of all the membracids in his own collection and of material obtained from correspondents. Synoptical tables of the subfamilies, genera and species are given, and also outline figures of many species. At the end of the paper is a list which includes all the species known to exist north of the Southern boundary of the United States. The paper is a very valuable contribu- tion to the subject. PROCEEDINGS OF THE HAWAIIAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, i part 5. This gives an account of the meetings with notes and exhibitions, and also contains the address of the President and a paper by G. W. Kirkaldy, entitled "A List of the Described Hemiptera (excluding Aleyrodidae and Coccidse) of the Hawaiian Islands." A REVISION OF THE TENEBRIONID SUBFAMILY CONIONTIN.^. By Thomas L. Casey. Proceeedings of the Washington Academy of Sciences; Vol. x, pp. 51-166. The Tenebrionid genera, Eusattus, C onion f is, Coclus, Branchus and Praocis and others, are considered, and new genera and many new species are described in this paper. DIRECTORY OF JESUIT NATURALISTS. Frederick A. Hillig, S. J., has compiled and published a pamphlet of 34 pages under this title in No. 4 of Vol. IT. of St. John's College Quarterly, St. John's University, Toledo, Ohio, April, 1908. The names (arranged alphabetically), addresses, specialties in natural history, desiderata and oblata of 108 members of the Society of Jesus throughout the world are given, followed by indices arranged accord- ing to specialties and to countries of residence. Notes and News. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OP THE GLOBE. THE EGGS OF INSECTS OF THE LAKES OF CHALCO AND TEXCOCO, IN THE VICINITY OF MEXICO CITY AND THE FORMATION OF OOLITHS. — M. L. Cayeux has a brief article on this subject in a publication not likely to be consulted by many entomologists — the recently issued Compte Rendu of the loth Session of the International Geological Congress, held in 292 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 Mexico City in September, 1906, and published in that place under date of 1907, received in Philadelphia in March, 1908. M. Cayeux discusses (in French, pp. 1223-1227), first, the geological portion of a communi- cation of Virlet d'Aoust "on the eggs of insects serving as food for man and giving rise to the formation of ooliths in the lacustrine limestones of Mexico" (Compte Rendus, Acad. Sci. Paris, vol. 45, p. 865, 1857). Then, on the basis of material furnished him by the Mexican Geological Survey he concludes : It is undoubted that the egg of an insect, entire or broken, is a centre of concentration for the limestone of the lacustrine sediment and that it determines the forma- tion of innumerable small, iregular nuclei, but in truth it does not form an oolith properly so called in the Mexican lakes. The globules which result from the molecular concentration of carbonate of lime around the eggs have the morphological characters of ooliths. They possess, when they are complete, a central voluminous nucleus, in which are to be found all the elements of the lacustrine sediment, and a non-differen- tiated thin and irregular cortical zone. In white light, one never discerns concentric or radiate structure ; in polarized light, the ex- tremities of a well-marked black cross are often observed. As they are to-day, these globules constitute a new and highly interesting cate- gory of false ooliths, that is corpuscles which to the naked eye are not to be distinguished from true ooliths and which arise — according to the sedimentation — either by partial crystallization of a limestone sediment or by concentration of carbonate of lime around foreign bodies. The false ooliths in process of formation in the neighbor- hood of Mexico City are essentially different from ooliths with con- centric structure so widespread in the primary and secondary rocks. However, the lacustrine and brackish water deposits of the tertiary may contain some elements of the same origin. The microscopic study of this terrain is too little advanced to affirm that this category of pseudo-ooliths is not represented there. [Neither M. Cayeux nor M. Virlet d'Aoust mention the species of insect concerned. Perhaps the eggs are those of Corixa referred to in many text books of entomology.] ANNOUNCEMENT. — The Lake Laboratory, maintained by the Ohio State University, announces the usual program for the coming sum- mer, including courses in General Zoology and Botany, Entomology, Ornithology, Experimental Zoology, Comparative Anatomy, Ecology, Embryology, Invertebrate Morphology and Ichthyology also oppor- tunities for research work and accommodations for investigators as in previous years. The staff will include, besides the Director, Pro- fessor E. L. Rice, of Ohio Wesleyan University; Professor Lynds Jones, of Oberlin; Professor Charles Brookover, of Buchtel College; June, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 293 Professor M. E. Stickney, of Denison University, and W. B. Herms, at present Fellow in Zoology at Harvard University. The opportunities offered are especially good in Entomology, and special attention is given to the aquatic life of the locality. Oppor- tunities for research work in this line are very favorable. Independ- ent investigators are given the use of tables free of charge, but are expected to furnish their own microscopes and other apparatus. Th..- locality is an excellent one for summer work, the laboratory being situated on the point separating Sandusky Bay and Lake Erie, with its frontage on a fine beach. For circulars or detailed information, letters may be addressed to the Director, Professor Herbert Osborn, Ohio State University, Co- lumbus, Ohio. To THOSE interested in exotic Rhopalocera the following note may be of interest: On the igth of December, 1903, I took a fine male of Ornithoptera pegastis at Garoet, Java, which locality is nearly one' thousand miles west of the western limit for species of the "priamus" group. The specimen was taken in a narrow native trail through the jungle at the foot of the Papandajan, an active volcano less than ten miles from the town of Garoet. — WILLIAM G. FREEDLEY, JR. A MOSQUITO LULLABY. Hush, little skeeterbug, hush a-by, Mother will rock him, don't you cry ! I know you are hungry, my little sweet, With nothing to drink, and so little to eat, The natives are tough, and their blood is thin, But the city folks soon will be rolling in— Hush, little buzzer, go by. Hush, little skeeterbug, hush a-by, Think of the summer time, just you try ! Chubby old ladies and thin old boys, Plump little children and, joy of joys, Fat little babies, all fresh and sweet, And juicy and lovely for you to eat. Hush, little buzzer, go by. Hush* little skeeterbug, hush a-by, Soon you'll be ready to buzz and fly. Father will sharpen your dear little bill, And mother will teach you to bite, she will ! Maybe they think we are slow and dumb, But we are not afraid of petroleum ! Hush, little buzzer, go by. —From Chicago American. 294 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [June, '08 A HAPPY FAMILY OF BUGOLOGISTS. To THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY, DOCTOR L. O. HOWARD. WITH THE CONSENT OF DR. DYAR. In 1878 when first we started the long strife Against the tribe of bugs, against their life, We kept the war up hot and bitter, To exterminate the nasty critter, Who claimed the world to be his own; In every land in every zone. At last, we found, we were too few, To cope with this audacious crew, But at this stage! we did expand, Our progeny now claims the land ! We raised a family large and bold, Which, with firm grip, and a fair hold, Fights all our battles without fear, Against all bugs though far or near, We may, therefore, be justly proud! Of such a bright and brilliant crowd. Since then, some bright lights passed away, While others went off, far astray, To spread our doctrine here and there Without a favor or a fear ! We have become a mighty tribe, In woods, in barrens, and waste land ! Wherever we may be on hand. We kill the lice, we kill the bugs, But are quite careful of the frogs, Who always prove a friend in need When bugs are plentiful for feed. We trap the skeeter in his lair, When the sky is clear and fair, Because we know he has a chink Which we detect just in a wink. It's well, therefore, our offspring grow To give fraternity a show. Times are so hard, these days of zest ! It's well to take a little rest, To gather lots of pent up steam, To bottle up another scheme But ! since it is now rather late, And while the balance points at fate, It's time for all to go to rest To stand the strains of coming test. We therefore humbly do resign ! To efforts of the laws sublime. THEODORE PERGANDE. Washington, D. C. JULY, 1908. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Vol. XIX. No. Halter americana Cockerell. EDITOR : HENRY SKINNER, M. D. PHILIP P. CALVERT, Ph.D., Associate Editor. ADVISORY COMMITTEE: EZRA T. CRESSON. HENRY L. VIERECK. J. A. G. REHN. PHILIP LAURENT. WILLIAM J. FOX. H. W. WENZEL. PHILADELPHIA: ENTOMOLOGICAL ROOMS OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, LOGAN SQUARE. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office at Second-Clan Matter. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Published monthly, excepting August and September, in charge of the Entomo- logical Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and the American Entomological Society. ANNUAL, SUBSCRIPTION, $1.OO IN ADVANCE. Outside of the United States and Canada, $1.20. SINGLE COPIES 15 CENTS Advertising Rates : 30 cents per square inch, single insertion ; a liberal discount on longer insertions. No advertisement taken for less than 60 cents — Cash in advance. j/sjr- All remittances should be addressed to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th and Race Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. FROM CUBA PAPILIOS Papilio devilliersi, male $3.00 " celadon, male 75 " andraemon, male .30 female 40 oviedo 40 " caiguanabus, male 7.25 SPHINGIDAE Amphonyx antaeus $1-25 Pseudosphinx tetrio, male 25 female .50 Ambulyx strigilis 35 Philampelus lycaon 40 Cocytins duponchelii 40 Pachylia resumens 25 Phlegethontius ritstica 25 The specimens are all in perfect condition, in papers Extra fine perfect specimens of Phyllium siccifolium (leaf insects) from Ceylon, Ji.oo each Send 12 cents additional with each order to cover postage and packing JOHN H. MATTHEWS, 3219 N. 13th Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA. ARIZONA INSECTS. Will collect in most orders or families or season's catch. Also in botany, especially cactii and herpetology — reptiles and amphibians if notified early in the season. Agent for sale of Coleoptera, Mr. L. H. Joutel, 164 E. njth St., New York City. DR. R. E. KUNZE, Phoenix, Arizona. CATALOGUE OF THE NEUROPTEROID INSECTS (EXCEPT ODONATA) OF THE UNITED STATES BY NATHAN BANKS Complete to Summer of 1907 Price 50 els. (ntt) per copy Mailed on receipt of price >Send for copy of New Additions toe Price List; just issued. E. T. CRESSON, Treas., P. O. Box 248, Philadelphia, Pa. When Writing Please Mention « Entomological News." KNT. XEWS, VOL. XIX. PI. XII. NONAGRIA OBLONGA GROTE. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. XIX. JULY, 1908. No. 7. CONTENTS: Walton— Notes on the Life History of Nonagria ohlonga Gr 295 Smith — AnewMellinus 299 Williamson — Three related American species of Aeshna (Odonata) (con- tinued from page 264) 301 Marlalt — Aspidiotus ancylus Putnam vs. circularis Fitch 309 Pearsall— Eupithecia miserulata Grote 312 Coolidge and Newcomer— The Life History of Pontia castoria Reakirt 314 Grossbeck — Plagqdis schuylkillensis : a new Geometrid 315 Busck — Descriptions of two new Gele- chidae from California, 316 Schaeffer — New Coleoptera, with notes on some New Jersey Histeridae. ... 318 Patch — Crocigrapha normani Grote ... 321 Cockerell — Bees of the genus Nomada, belonging to the group of N. de- pressa Cresson 323 Paxson — Numerical Distribution of Some Insects 324 Editorial ^38 Entomological Literature 339 Notes and News 339 Doings of Societies 342 Notes on the Life History of Nonagria oblonga Gr. BY W. R. WALTON, Harrisburg, Pa. (Plate XII) Early in the spring of 1907 the writer discovered evidences of the larva of a lepidopterous insect boring in the stalks of the common cat-tail rush (Typha) at Harrisburg, Pa. After a diligent search, a dead larva, much discolored, was secured and also the remains of a pupa shell which was within the bur- row of the insect ; these burrows were considerably more than a quarter of an inch in diameter and extended from 8 to 14 inches above the surface of the ground, leaving in most in- stances only a thin wall of tissue to support the stalk of the plant. As the weather for some weeks after this was unusually cold and stormy, no further observations were attempted until June loth, when a search was instituted in hope of securing the larva above mentioned. We were soon rewarded in finding it in several stages of growth within the stem of the plant. From all appearances the larva feeds for a time on the sheath of the stem, as the smaller ones were doing at this time. As it increases in size it bores directly into the succulent central shoot, where it afterward remains until emerging as a mature insect. 295 296 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, '08 On the date above mentioned the smallest larvae found meas- ured less than one-half an inch in length, while the largest were fully an inch long. Several of the larvae were kept under observation until nearly full fed, when they were removed to a cage and soon after pupated, the first pupa appearing on July 6th, the adult of which emerged July i8th, in the evening. By July 2 ist nearly all the larvae to be found in nature had finished pupating, but two full fed larvae were secured on that date. The last larva in captivity pupated on July 28th and emerged on August I7th. The pupal period in this locality seems therefore to vary from 12 to 20 days, most of the moths however appeared in from 18 to 20 days after pupation oc- curred. In all, some seventeen adults were reared. The moth was identified by Dr. H. G. Dyar as Nonagria permagna Grote, but as Dr. J. B. Smith has shown Grote's permagna and oblon.ga to be synonymous* we assume that oblon.ga takes precedence. The life history of this moth has been given by Prof. Kelli- cott in Bull. Buffalo Society of Nat. Sci., Vol. 5, p. 40, 1885, under the name of subcarnca; this Dr. Smith has also shown to be a synonym of oblonga Grote. Dr. W. J. Holland, in the "Moth Book" (my copy bears the imprint of the year 1905 on the title page), says "This is a southern species thus far only recorded from Florida," which is certainly an oversight, as Smith records the species from New York, New Jersey, Maine, Illinois and California. The larva of the moth is quite two inches in length when mature and of a pale yellowish color with flesh-colored stripes ; it is bare save for a few bristles upon the back and sides. The pupa is a bright chestnut color when new, but grows much darker as the time of emergence approaches. The moths of thq genus Nonagria are peculiar in that they possess a clypeal spine, which is used by them in penetrating the thin covering left by the larva to conceal the mouth of the tunnel. The pupae show the development of this spine very plainly, as may be seen in the illustration. A side view of the head of the female moth is also shown which is redrawn from Smith. *Proceedings Ent, Soc. Washington, Vol. V, No. 4, p. 315. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 297 I have been unable to find any record of the insect having been taken in Pennsylvania before, although Dr. Smith records it from several neighboring states and says "It is quite prob- able that the species will be found throughout the United States wherever the food plant (Typha) occurs." The situation in which the larvae were found consists of a series of shallow pools, caused by the removal of clay for the use of a brickyard in operation nearby. These pools are bor- dered with the cat-tail rushes upon which the caterpillars sub- sist ; the total area of the rush patches combined was something less than one acre in extent, but I am given to understand that the swampy tract has been in existence for over twenty years. Its elevation above sea level is almost precisely 400 feet, as shown by the city engineer's levels. Usually not more than a single adult larva is found in a stalk, but in a few instances more were found ; in one instance two healthy pupae were found in one stem. The plants in which the insects mature do not bear any fruit, as the injury inflicted is a most serious one, the central shoot dies and turns yellow and the infested plants can be singled out quite readily by this sign toward the approach of the time of pupation. Fully 75 per cent, of the plants in the marsh seemed to be infested, but some animal seems to have a special fondness for the fat pupa, as more often than otherwise it had been extracted through a hole broken in the side of the stem. In some cases this seemed to be the work of a rodent, judging from the drop- pings that were found about such places. Observations lead me to believe that this species does not feed below the \vater line in its burrows. In cases where the water had receded from the base of the plant, the larva invariably descended to the very crown. But I was unable to discover a single case in which the insect went below the water line where water was actually present. The moth is apparently not much attracted to light, as was shown by the fact that although collections were made almost nightly at a light not more than 100 yards from where the moths were emerging, not a single specimen was taken in 298 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, '08 this manner. Prof. Smith, however, records at least one in- stance in which it was taken at light. The moth resembles the color of the dead rushes so closely that it was unnoticed even in breeding jars for some time, and when sitting with the wings closed it resembles a swelling on the stem quite closely. During the rearing of the above-mentioned species, two spe- cies of Diptera were bred from its habitations that seem to bear a definite relation to its life-history; one, a Tachinid, was reared from the larva of the insect. This fly is figured herewith and Mr. C. H. T. Townsend, who examined it through the kindness of Dr. Howard, deter- mined it to be a species of Ccromasia (Masicera) .* The fly was bred from two separate groups of larvae taken at an in- terval of a week or so apart, one lot emerging on July 2Oth and the other on the 26th. Another fly which was reared from the tunnels in large numbers and which was found to inhabit the majority of abandoned burrows, is the Ortalid fly Chaetopsis acnia (Wied.), which is also the Ortalis tri fas data described in Say's complete works. Dr. Howard states that he has reared the fly from corn- stalks ; it has also been reared from sugar cane, and there is one instance on record in which it is supposed to have caused considerable injury to growing oats. However, I found no evidence to show that the fly fed on any but stalks that had been previously attacked by other insects. I notice two varie- ties of C. aenia bred from the same stems of Typha, both of which are spoken of by Loew in his "Monographs." One of them has the legs entirely yellow, while the other has a con- siderable amount of black upon the femora. They seem to be very generally infested with small mites which are especially numerous on the head of the fly and which remain on the same even when dried in the cabinet. I have noticed specimens of Musdna stabulans similarly infested and have recently taken a very small Phorid that was literally alive with equally minute mites. * The species seems to agree in every way with Coquillett's descrip- tion of Masicera myoidaea (Desv.), which has been reared from the larva of Hydroecia nitela. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 299 DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XII* A. Nonagria oblonga (female), enlarged 2 diameters. B. Pupa of same (female), enlarged 2 diameters. C. Larva of same (female), enlarged 2 diameters. D. Side view of head of female moth. Redrawn from Smith. E. Ceromasia sp., enlarged 4^2 diameters. F. Chaetopsis aenia, enalrged 4^2 diameters. G. Dorsal view of abdominal segment of larva. A new Mellinus. BY HARRY S. SMITH, Lincoln, Nebraska. A few weeks ago while working up the Nebraska species of Meilinus contained in the University collection, the writer came across a specimen from Indiana which appeared to be un- described. Knowing that the collection of the American En- tomological society was practically complete in this group, the specimen was sent to Mr. H. L. Viereck for comparison, who stated that it represented a species distinct from any in the above mentioned collection, where to his knowledge were all known species from America north of Mexico excepting ob- scurus Handlirsch, a description of which he very kindly sent me. The species is characterized as follows : Mellinus wolcotti n. sp. 9 . Length, about 9 mm. Head short, transverse ; cheeks, occiput, vertex and front with punctures extremely minute, and so close to- gether as to appear granulate, rather dull ; distance between posterior ocelli slightly greater than that between them and the inner eye margins ; face and clypeus finely punctured, the latter with the anterior margin sinuate on each side of the median produced lobe, which is equal to slightly more than one-fourth of the width of the entire clypeus, and squarely truncate; clypeus with about a dozen rather long hairs on its disk, the produced lobe fringed with hairs anteriorly; upper portion of front showing short golden pubescence when viewed at the proper angle. Propleura punctatostriate, collar rounded at the sides. Mesonotum finely and closely punctured ; a rather strong carinn bounding the insertion of the anterior wings above; scutellum and postscutellum finely punctured, each with a rather large pit or fovra at each side; mesopleura and mesonotum finely and closely punctured as mesonotum; episternal groove strongly impressed and foveolated the entire length. Enclosed basal portion of metanotum U-shupn] as in some species of Alyson, closely and finely punctured and somewhat shining; metapleura punctured as mesopleura or more sparsely so; * Enlargement indicated is for a reduction to 4^4 inches in diameter. 300 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, *o8 posterior portion of metathorax somewhat roughened. Abdomen smooth, almost impunctate excepting apically and ventrally, where rather strong punctures are to be found, but the disks of these segments are practically impunctate ; last ventral segment with a longitudinal keel or carina; dorsal surface of pygidium with large coarse punctures, the intervening spaces with minute ones. Coloration : Ground color of insect black, the following areas deep yellow : Mandibles except tips, clypeus, face below and between antennae, inner orbits rather widely up to level of anterior ocellus, scape and pedicellum beneath (flagellum missing), collar above pos- terior portion of tubercles, part of tegulse, a median spot on scutellum and postscutellum, a large ovate spot on each side of the third abdom- inal segment, a small lateral spot on four, a rathec wide band on five narrowed laterally. The legs are colored as follows ^ Anterior coxae, trochanters, femora and tibiae in front, and tarsi, yelloV ; intermediate coxae and trochanters with a yellow dot, femora and tibiae in front, yellow, tarsi rather darker; hind legs entirely brownish. Wings hyaline, iridescent, nervures dark brown. Type — A female taken at Beaver, Indiana on August 17, 1894. I take pleasure in dedicating this species to Prof. Robt. H. Wolcott, M.D., collector and donor of the specimen, who has added many valuable insects to the University collection. The second abdominal segment has two or three tiny yellow spots showing through. Other specimens of the species are quite likely to have these spots more strongly developed, or en- tirely absent. In order that students may have no difficulty in placing this species, the following modification of the latter portion of Fox's synopsis (Entomological News, V, p. 201, 1894) is submitted. 4. Clypeus, except fore margin in male, metathorax, petiole and second abdominal segment, without yellow markings ; third abdomi- nal segment with a yellow mark on each side ; in the male the scape and first two joints of the flagellum beneath, yellow. bimaculatns. Clypeus entirely yellow (male unknown) 5. 5. Two marks on basal portion of metathorax, basal half of first abdomi- nal segment and maculations on second and third segments of abdomen, yellow (remaining segments without yellow) alpestris. Metathorax and first abdominal segment without yellow maculations ; segment four with a small lateral yellow spot, segment five with a continuous laterally narrowed band wol cotti July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 3OI Three related American species of Aeshna (Odonata). BY E. B. WILLIAMSON. (Continued from page 264) Aeshna multicolor Hagen. It is unnecessary to repeat descriptions and bibliographical references (see Calvert, Biol. Cent. Amer., Neur., p. 183). The range of the species is from Panama through the Mexican high- lands into the Southern United States (headwaters of the Rio Grande and Pecos), and along the Pacific coast from Lower California to Victoria and Kootenay, British Columbia. Mr. Henshaw has kindly sent me photographs of five specimens labelled multicolor in the Hagen collection. As I surmised from the venation and as Professor Walker has recently certainly determined, two specimens, one from the Upper Mis- souri and one from the Yellowstone, represent two other species than multicolor. A male from Toluca, Mexico, collected by Dr. Calvert is here referred to multicolor. The T-spot on the fro«s is slightly wider, the first lateral thoracic stripe is somewhat narrower, the thorax is less robust, and the inferior appendage is shorter (not reaching the apex of the dorsal carina of the superiors) than in typical multicolor. The dorsal thor- acic stripes, the color of abdomen, so far as can be definitely determined, and the superior appendages are typical multicolor. As to the habits of multicolor little has been published. Mr. Currie (Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., Vol. V, 1903, pages 299 and 300) has described the conditions at Williams and Winslow where multicolor was taken. From the coloration and robust form one might infer that multicolor is a sun-loving species, on the wing during the hottest part of the day, and frequenting still bodies of .water (ponds or marshes). Aeshna mutata Hagen. Since its description (Neur. N. Amer. p. 124) by Hagen, no further attempt was made to identify this species until it was placed as a synonym under multicolor by Calvert in Biol. Cent. Amer. Neur., p. 183. Mr. Henshaw kindly sent me a photo- graph of the type (an imperfect female) which I identified as ErttoMOLOGICAL NEWS. ("July, '08 the same as the species I had taken at Bluffton, Indiana. Later Professor Walker compared an Indiana female with the type (which has only North America for locality) and pronounced them identical. At an earlier date Professor Walker had sent me two $ and one 9 , all teneral, of the species from Wilbra- ham, Mass., taken June 5, 1902. My specimens were taken at Bluffton from June 23 to July 13, 1907, 22 $ , i 9 , all adult. Color in life $ . — Pale markings throughout, and eyes and face pale blue ; rear of eyes shining black. Dorsal thoracic stripes 4 mm. long, I mm. wide at narrowest point, widened above and below, nearly meeting at the mid-dorsal line at the antealar sinus. Lateral stripes undivided, the first i mm. wide below, wider and diffuse above, the upper extremity about 3 mm. wide ; second stripe about i mm. wide, the anterior (upper) edge nearly straight, the posterior (lower) edge less regular, the extreme upper end of the stripe wider. Abdomen:* LATERAL DORSAL ANTERIOR POSTEMOR- AESHNA MUTATA$ Segment i brown, a dorsal apical spot and sides below apically, blue ; segment 2 blue, above basally, as far as the transverse carina, brown continuous with the brown on i, a dorsal blue streak through this brown, a transverse brown stripe posterior to the transverse carina and at the apex of the segment ; the lower surface of the auricles and a longitudinal streak posterior to them, brown ; segment 3 anterior to carina blue (A)f with a dorsal longitudinal brown stripe (l)f con- * With post mortem changes the color pattern is often confused or entirely obliterated. So far as my material goes the greatest changes take place in the basal portion of the segments anterior to the trans- verse carina. In some segments where coloration posterior to the transverse carina is fairly well preserved, anterior to it all trace of color pattern has disappeared in a uniform dull brown. t These letters and numerals apply to corresponding letters and numerals in the figures representing color pattern of segments 3 and 6. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 303 tinuous with the apical brown ring on 2; posterior to the transverse carina brown (3), with a blue ring interrupted dorsally ('_'). Just behind the carina (B and C), and a wide blue ring (D) interrupted dorsally (4), just anterior to the apical brown ring (5) of the seg- ment, segment 4 similar, brown stripe on dorsum anterior to transverse carina (1), wider, but not quite reaching base of segment, the wide blue interrupted ring near apex of segment (D) reduced in extent; segment 5 with area 1 still wider, 3 longer, 2 and 4 widening and B and D reduced and appearing as spots, rather than interrupted rings ; in segment 7 B and C are isolated (A and C together are the "lateral divided basal spot" and D is the "apical spot" of Hagen) ; in segment 8 B is reduced to two minute spots, C is greatly reduced and A has dis- appeared ; in segment 9 only D remains ; in segment 10 variable faint small yellowish spots represent D. 9 . — Mouth parts bluish, labium olive green, anteclypeus plumbeous ; above anteclypeus, green obscured with brown, a distinct narrow brown stripe on lower edge of frons in front ; frons above dull bluish with black T-spot, which, with its continuation in front of the eyes, is narrowly margined with yellowish ; eyes dark greenish-brown, paler below, a distinct narrow posterior green border widening and fading out below ; rear of eyes shining black. Thorax with dorsal stripes divided each into a superior and inferior small green spot (described from a single specimen and probably not constant — there is great variation in color pattern of female Acslina of the same species ) ; two lateral stripes green, above yellowish ; spots between wings green. Abdomen similar to male, but marked with green, — on first three or four segments the green margined with yellowish, on the posterior seg- ments the green is obscured and drabbish. On segment 3 pale areas C and D are continuous laterally, and dark area is wider and darker. On segments 4-7 the dark areas 1 and 3 are on either side reddish brown near their centers, shading out to black at the margins ; an ex- treme apical ring on 8 is pale dull brown; appendages brown. In Wells County, Indiana, are few remnants of the old swamps which fifty years ago made the chills and ague of this country a constant menace to the early settlers and a perennial joke for those too wise to invade such an inhospitable wilder- ness. One of these swamps lies southeast of Bluffton, on land owned by three farmers. Two of the farmers are brothers named Vanemon, and the swamp may conveniently be known as the Vanemon Swamp. It is about three miles south of the Wabash River and is completely surrounded by woodland, its very existence being known to but few persons. At some 304 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. distance from the swamp the woodland is typical hickory- oak growth. Immediately about the swamp are black ash, elm, pin-oak, red maple and a few sycamores. Willows and button bush fringe the swamp at several points. In the swamp itself Sparganium eurycarpum is most conspicuous. At one side is a large area of Iris versicolor and Carices abound along the eastern side. There are several areas of cat-tails and spatter dock (Nymphaca adrena*), the latter of which is noticeably increasing its territory. Duckweed (Spirodela} is abundant with other floating and submerged vegetation, and in spring the beautiful leaves of the yellow water crowfoot (Ranunculus delphinifolius} show splendidly through the clear water. A few years ago Scirpus fluviatilis appeared in the swamp and it has now increased to a considerable area. Associated with it is the rice grass, Homahcenchrus oryzoidcs. No other station for Scirpus fluviatilis is known for Wells County and a violet, Viola conspersa, growing near at hand in the low wood- land, is known nowhere else in this county. Along the low area which drains the swamp during its brief period of over- flow, Caltha palustris, a rare plant here, occurs sparingly. In early spring dainty crustaceans (Branchipus vernalis) in half invisible schools pulsate their aimless ways. The cray- fish (Cambarus acutus}, lives in the swamp and Cambarus argillicola burrows in the immediately adjacent woodland. Spotted water snakes drop from the button bushes, the shores are alive with spotted frogs and tree toads (Hyla versicolor) may be gathered like inanimate objects from an old board fence or from the spatterdock leaves. Formerly, painted turtles and snapping turtles lived in the swamp but I have seen neither for a year or two. There are no fish and but few salamand- ers (Amblystoma) in the swamp. Red-winged blackbirds and green herons nest at the swamp. There is one muskrat house, and raccoons are frequent visitors. The waters teem with varied insect life. The number of species of dragonflies observed is not large but individuals of certain species are legion. This and one other swamp in Wells County are the only known stations in the state for Sympetrum July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 305 albifrons, a species which has not been taken at the Vanemon Swamp since 1902, though it has been looked for carefully each year. It is possible the deepening of the outlet and the con- sequent drying up of the marsh in summer may have caused the disappearance, though the other swamp where S. albifrons occurs has been more modified in recent years than the Vane- mon Swamp and during 1907 the capture of a single male there showed the species had not entirely disappeared from the county. I collected first about the Vanemon Swamp in 1900. From that year up to 1907 no Enallagmas were ever observed there. The first visit to the swamp in 1907 was on June 16. The swamp was reached only late in the afternoon after a day spent along the Wabash River. To my surprise a number of Enallagmas were seen. As many of these as possible were taken and later examination showed 43 $ and 15 $ of Enal- lagma calvcrti and 2 $ of Enallagma cyathigcrum. Again on the afternoon of June 18, 34 $ and 10 9 of E. calverti and a pair of E. cyathigemm were collected. On another date Enal- lagma aspersum was plainly seen but not taken. E. cyathigcrum has not before been reported for Indiana and £. calverti is known only from Lake Maxinkuckee. Repeated visits to sev- eral swamps and old gravel pits failed to locate any other colonies of E. calverti or cyathigerum. Libellula quadrimacu- lata, hitherto never seen about the Vanemon Swamp, was abun- dant in 1907, and a single $ of Libclhda vibrans, a new in- habitant, was also taken. On both afternoons, when collecting Enallagmas, I saw for a minute an Aeshna which flew leisurely once about the marsh and disappeared in the tree-tops. As it flew towards me, even at some distance, I saw by the brilliant blue of the eyes that it was a species entirely unknown to me. On June 23, I was at the swamp early in the morning. As soon as I arrived T noticed Aeshnas flying low over the marsh. A small patch of spatter-dock in open water was repeatedly visited, the Aeshnas flying slowly in and out, with much stationary fluttering among the leaf stems. Two males were soon captured and no others made their appearance. Eight subsequent visits were made to 306 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, '08 the swamp up to July 13 after which date no individuals were seen. On bright mornings when the eastern sky was un- obscured they were hunting low over the western side of the marsh at 4.45 o'clock. One cloudy morning they did not ap- pear at all. After 9 or 10 o'clock their visits to the marsh were rare and they were more wary, leaving the marsh when any effort was made to approach them and flying directly to or above the tree tops. When searching for food early in the morning they are less wary than I have ever seen Acshna con- stricta which frequents the same marsh in autumn, and which is most actively on the wing in bright weather from 10 A. M. to 2 P. M. Aeshna mutata spends most of the day after 9 or 10 A. M. either resting in the trees or flying about over the tree-tops, very probably the latter. As is usual in the genus the night is spent clinging to the tree trunks or larger limbs at some elevation. At an undrained button-bush swamp five miles north of Bluf- fton, two males of Aeshna mutata were seen and captured on June 30. Several Libellula vibrans were flying at this swamp but no Libellula quadrimaculata were seen. At a swamp four miles north of Bluffton which much resembles the Vanemon Swamp, and where Sympetrum albifrons has been taken, on June 30 Libellula quadrimaculata was so abundant that 43 specimens were caught in possibly half an hour, though they are not easily captured. At this swamp also in autumn, as at the Vanemon Swamp, Aeshna constricta is not rare. But Aeshna mutata was not taken at this swamp which in general resembles the Vanemon Swamp much more than does the but- ton-bush swamp. Of these three swamps I have collected at the Vanemon Swamp most and I am reasonably sure that Aeshna mutata has not hitherto frequented this swamp since 1900. As to the appearance here for the first time in 1907 of the three species of Enallagma (cyathigerum, cah'crti and aspersum} and two species of Libellula {quadrimaculata and ribrans} I am even more convinced than in the case of Aeshna mutata. July, *08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 307 Aeshna jalapensis n. sp. Abdomen exclusive of appendages, $ 44 mm., $ 43.5 mm., h. w. $ 45 mm., $ 47 mm. Dorsal thoracic stripes about 3 mm. long, less than i mm. wide and narrowed at either end. First lateral stripe less than i mm. wide, of uniform width throughout and of definite pattern, not diffuse. Second lateral stripe similar to first, but slightly wider above on the upper (anterior) side, the lower (posterior) edge nearly straight. In the female the lateral stripes are slightly wider than in the male. Ab- domen apparently variable, but blue areas greatly reduced. In no case do the pale areas B seem to be joined with pale areas C as on seg- ments 4-6 in mutata. In four males collected by Dr. Calvert there is no trace of the apical pale spot, D, on segments 4-10. In a male collected by Mr. Godman [and in i $ collected by me at Jalapa, but not seen by Mr. Williamson — P. P. C.] these spots are present but obscure and reduced. In Dr. Calvert's four specimens segments 8-10 are entirely black, excepting pale narrow apical articulations on 8 and 9. Through the kindness of Dr. Calvert I have studied four males collected by himself and one male and one female col- lected by Mr. F. D. Godman, all at Jalapa, Mexico. The types of jalapensis are one male in Dr. Calvert's collection, taken by himself, and the female in Mr. Godman's collection. The ele- vation of Jalapa is 4315 feet. Dr. Calvert writes that his speci- mens were taken along a small river which flows through the town, above a dam near a mill, where the current was slow, and between 10 A. M. and noon of a sunny September day, 1906. It is not impossible that multicolor may be found in the vicinity of Jalapa, as I have found the two species which have been associated under the name constricta at Bluffton. in one case flying within 100 feet of each other, but each plainly preferring its own habitat. In the preparation of this paper I am under obligations to Dr. Calvert wrho has kindly loaned me several specimens of multicolor, from a wide range of localities, and the five males and one female of jalapensis which I have seen. To him I am also indebted for invaluable advice and criticism. Professor Walker kindly compared material with specimens at the M. C. Z. and loaned me two males and one female of mutata which Professor Needham had sent him for study. Mr. Henshaw furnished me with some details regarding Hagen's type of 308 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, '08 mutata and sent me photographs of specimens in the Hagen collection. There may be some difference of opinion as to the status of the three forms here considered, and the question may arise as to whether they should be regarded as three species, or as two species and one sub-species or as one species and two sub- species. Among the dragonflies of North America at least there does not seem to be that geographical isolation to which is attributed the minor differences designated especially by or- nithologists by trinomials* and I am unable to consider any of these three forms of dragonflies as having the same status as such sub-species. Moreover the custom of a becoming modesty in describing a form as a mere variety or sub-species of some earlier described form seems to place an unnecessary burden on and give a certain unwieldiness to nomenclature. The author's text, rather than the name proposed, should be relied on to give his ideas as to the characters, relations and distribution of the form described, though it must be admitted that in many cases the differences designated by a name are so slight that a single name expresses about all the real in- formation the author seems to possess. At the present time tri- nomials are variously employed in different groups and by different authors in the same group. The use of binomials for all definable forms will obviate the perpetuation in nomenclature of haphazard guesses as to relationship within the genus. [As I collected most of the material which Mr. Williamson has here described as Ae. jalapensis, n. sp., I may be permitted to state that my Jalapa material is similar to that collected by Mr. Godman at the same locality and listed as Ae. multicolor in my work on Mexi- can and Central American Odonata (Biol. Cent.-Amer. Neur., p. 184, June, 1905), and with which I compared it when writing page 400 of the supplement to the same work; that jalapensis corresponds approxi- mately to the "males from Amula and Jalapa" mentioned as having narrow pale stripes on the sides of the thorax and smaller pale spots on the abdomen (/. c., pp. 183, 400), which I did not consider worthy of a separate name ; that I am not yet convinced of their ,n<&specinc rights, much less their specific rank; and that Mr. Williamson and I disagree as to the recognition of subspecies by trinomials or a similar device of nomenclature. It is the old question between the "splitter" and the "lumper." — P. P. CALVERT.] *It must not be overlooked that North American dragonflies have not yet been as carefully collected and studied as many other groups. My statement here is merely in accord with our present knowledge. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 309 Aspidiotus ancylus Putnam vs. circularis Fitch. BY C. L. MARLATT. The possibility that Fitch's "circular bark-louse" Aspidiotus circularis n. sp.* is identical with the insect so long known as Putnam's scale (Aspidiotus ancylus Putn.) has been suggested at various times, but no opportunity hitherto has offered to definitely settle the point. The belief in this identity is sup- ported by Fitch's description of circularis, which is short enough to warrant quoting. "No. 139. Circular Bark Louse, Aspidiotus circularis, new species. (Homoptera. Coccidae.) "On the bark of currant stalks in gardens of the city of Albany, early in the spring, I have observed a minute circular flat scale, only 0.03 in diameter, similar to a species named Aspidiotus Nerii, but differently colored, being of the same blackish brown hue with the surrounding bark and having in the centre a smooth round wart-like elevation of a pale yellow color." The MS. notes give, in addition to the above, the date of collection received and exact locality, viz: "April 14, 1856, on currant in Mr. Orcutt's garden, Albany." This description is not sufficient to admit of the accurate identification of the insect, but Aspidiotus ancylus Putn. seemed to best correspond, and the name circularis is doubtfully re- ferred to an.cylus in Mrs. Fernald's Catalogue. The identity of these two insects is still further supported by an examination of the large series of specimens representing ancylus in the Department collection. The accumulation of ancylus material by this Bureau, extending over twenty-eight years, shows the currant to be a common food plant of the species, and ancylus has been sent in on currant from twenty- nine localities, eight of which are from central New York. Furthermore, in response to a letter Doctor Felt sent to the writer, all of his ancylus material on currant from Albany, some five samples, all of which proved to be typical ancylus. The opportunity to settle the point beyond all peradventure * Third Report, No. 139, p. 108 (1856). 3*0 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Juty, '08 seemed to have come with the purchase by the Bureau of Ento- mology, of the Department of Agriculture, of the entire Fitch collection, together with his original notes. The writer's in- terest was very much aroused to find, included among the old moldy material, the identical specimen which Fitch had before him when he described Aspidiotus circularis, labeled in his own handwriting, and carrying his number and the date. It con- sisted of a single scale, removed from the wood and mounted on a bit of cardboard. The external appearance of this scale was exactly like that of ancylus. The pale yellow color as de- scribed by Fitch of the central spot or exuvium gives a rather wrong impression, for, in spite of the bleaching of more than fifty years, the exuvium still indicated a distinct orange colora- tion, and was really no more faded than specimens of ancylus in the Department collection dating from the time of Comstock, collected twenty-eight years ago. On softening the glue and lifting the scale, it was found that the insect itself was want- ing. An attempt was made to clear the exuvium, hoping by this means to get the second stage of ancylus, which is sufficiently characteristic. Unfortunately the insect had not reached the second stage, and the exuvium proved to be of the larval form and much mutilated, and while very possibly ancylus, there are not enough structural features left to definitely decide this point. Furthermore, it has not been possible to distinguish by larval structures the scale insects closely allied to ancylus. The evidence so far, however, seemed to point sufficiently distinctly to ancylus to justify the reduction of Putnam's name to synonymy and giving Fitch the credit for the species. In the Fitch collection, however, were two other scale insects which had been given manuscript names only, and the descrip- tions never published. These were designated by Fitch as Aspidiotus mall, collected on apple, Albany, N. Y., May, 1855; and Aspidiotus patellae formis, collected on Ulmus raccmosa, May 14 of the same year, both lots preserved in situ on bits of bark. The first proved to be Aspidiotus forbesi Johnson, represented by four adult females, and the second, Aspidiotus ancylus Putn., represented by a single parasitized female of July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 311 the second stage. The occurrence of Aspidiotus forbcsi at Albany at that early date throws a doubt which, so far as the writer sees, cannot be removed, on the identity of Fitch's circular is. Examination of the records showed that forbcsi is a species well represented in New York, and that currant is one of its food plants, and there is therefore a possibility, slight though it may be, that Fitch's circularis may have been forbcsi instead of ancyhis. The writer has made a careful examination of the larval exuviae of specimens of forbcsi and ancylus, and is unable, from the mutilated state of the Fitch specimen, to find any grounds for assigning it definitely to one of these species as against the other. In making the microscopic preparation of Fitch's circularis the waxy secretion dissolved and disappeared, and all that remains is the mutilated larval exuvium. If this exuvium were of the second stage its identification would be comparatively easy. As it stands, the problem must remain an open one. That ancylus equals circularis the writer has lit- tle doubt, but as long as there is a chance of error he does not feel warranted in reducing Putnam's name to synonymy. There is one good side to the case, however, and that is that Put- nam's species must now always remain valid, and it certainly would have been a pity to have robbed Putnam, who, if he had lived, would doubtless have made a distinct name in science, of his only species. There is one other Aspidiotus to which Fitch's specimen might now apply, namely, Aspidiotus ostreaeformis Curtis. The latter is, however, a European species, the presence of which in this country was first determined in 1899, the evidence point- ing to its introduction some eight or ten years earlier. Its con- sideration in connection with circularis, therefore, may be dis- missed. — • <»» ' — PROF. W. M. WHEELER has been appointed to the professorship ol economic entomology in the Graduate School of Applied Sciences in Harvard University. We congratulate Dr. Wheeler and also the University. He has also succeeded Dr. H. G. Dyar as editor of the Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 312 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, '08 Eupithecia miserulata Grote. RICHARD F. PEARSALL, Brooklyn, N. Y. In order to identify this insect (the type being lost) the writer has examined, during the past three years, many thou- sand specimens, and over two hundred examples of the species, which he has become firmly convinced, should bear that name. A brief outline of the work done has been stated by Mr. J. A. Grossbeck (Ent. News, Vol. 18, pages 342-346), much of it along independent lines, yet mutually helpful toward the one determination we most sought. After I had left the city for the summer, he received the specimen from Philadelphia, which he finds to answer so ex- actly to Crete's description that he declares it to be miserulata, and probably the lost type. Since my return it has not been possible for me to visit New Brunswick until ten days ago, when we again examined this supposed type. Having carried with me a good series of the species we originally called mis- erulata, it was not difficult to convince Mr. Grossbeck that his supposed type was exactly the same with some of these. My object in relating this incident is not to discredit Mr. Gross- beck's judgment — for I consider it excellent — but to bring out the fact that Grate's description FITS NO OTHER SPECIES. That an independent example, without locality, supposed to be different, has been found to so exactly answer it, and then to discover that it comes back to the species we originally se- lected, seems to me a positive proof that we have the real miserulata "nailed down," taking also in connection with it the other facts we have gathered, and still further that it is this species reared from a larva which Mr. Grote saw in the col- lection of Mr. William T. Davis and named miserulata. And what is this species? It is the nebulosa Hulst. The Rev. G. W. Taylor has given his opinion that another species (Can. Ent., Vol. 39, p. 168) sent by me to him, which I take rarely in Bronx Park and in the Catskill Mountains (fihnata Pears.), is miserulata, but my series will in no wise answer Grate's description; and, further, my species is not the same July, *O8] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 313 as that he received from Mr. H. D. Merrick — an error Mr. Grossbeck immediately detected — describing the latter as Eup. sivcttii (Ent. News, Vol. 18, p. 346). Recently I received from Mr. F. A. Merrick two specimens taken April 27, 1902, by H. D. Merrick, presumably similar to those sent Mr. Taylor, which are identified by Mr. Grossbeck as Eup. swcttii. Neither spe- cies answers Grote's opening- sentence, "clear, grayish, silky;" they are different shades of brown. Nebulosa Hulst must stand as a synonym of miserulata Grote. In our eastern Eupithecias the females show a tendency to- ward extreme forms of coloration, and this species is no ex- ception. Ncbidosa as represented by its type from Texas in the Brooklyn Tnst. Museum is one of these, but I have one ex- actly like it, taken in the Catskill Mountains, also a 9- . Between these and the usual type of miserulata may be found many gradient forms, one of which has certainly furnished the basis for the species recently described by Mr. L. W. Swett (Can. Ent., Vol. 39, p. 378) as Eup. grossbeckiata. which, therefore, becomes a synonym of nebnlosa=iniscrnlata. This latter conclusion was reached after an examination of speci- mens pronounced as such by Mr. Swett in the collection of the Am. Mus. of Nat. History, N. Y., and is concurred in by Mr. Grossbeck also. Miserulata may be separated from all other species by the heavily fasciculate-ciliate antennae of the male. The females also have the antennae stouter and distinctly ciliate, with longer single spinose hairs at intervals — and in both sexes the front, vertex, thorax, and wing bases are usually overlaid with yel- lowish scales. Among some material loaned me by the U. S. Nat. Museum, through the courtesy of Dr. Dyar, are three spec- imens, also females, bearing a label "reared from larvae on com- posite flowers, Selma, Ala., Oct. 1880, Patton," and beneath it in same hand another "Eup. miserulata Gr.," which have on palpi, front, thorax, and sparingly along costa, and in submar- ginal space a sprinkling of reddish brown scales, but I cannot separate them from my series, and believe them to be as Mr. Patton has labeled them, miserulata Gr. It is our most com- mon species, and is widely distributed. I have seen it from Wis., la., Ills., Mo., Tex., Ala., Ga., N. Car., Va., Tenn., Md., D. C, Penn., N. J., N. Y. and Mass. 314 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, '08 The Life-History of Pontia castoria Reakirt. BY KARL R. COOLIDGE AND ERVAL J. NEWCOMER. Pontia castoria ranges from Central California to British Columbia. It is common in the vicinity of San Francisco Bay and we have also taken it very abundantly at Pacific Grove, in Monterey County. It flies only in the open woods and the clearings near them and is on the wing, in Central California at least, from the end of January until the end of April. The larvae feed upon the leaves of Dentaria integrifolia var. cali- fornica Nutt., a cruciferous plant having both cauline and radi- cal leaves. This plant is practically the only crucifer growing in the woods where castoria flies so the larvae probably do not feed upon any other. They will, however, eat leaves of Brassica nigra Linn, when nothing else is at hand. The egg is laid erect on the under side of both the cauline and radical leaves. As many as five or six have been found on a single leaf but whether or not they were laid by the same individual is uncertain. In one instance an egg was found on a young flower-bud. As soon as the young larva hatches, it eats most of the shell of the egg. It remains on the lower side of the leaf eating through it, not, as a rule, beginning at the edge. The larvae do not usually eat all of the leaf tout move to a fresh one when the first is eaten. They can easily be found by the holes eaten in the leaves and by the frass in the leaves below. Egg. — Tall fusiform, with the usual raised vertical ridges, about fifteen in number, and numerous cross-veins. When first laid the egg is of a pale greenish white color; about 1.5 mm. in heighth. Young Larva. — Length almost 2 mm. ; at first of a glassy whitish color, but becoming more and more greenish tinged as the larva feeds ; sparsely clothed with fine short hairs. After First Moult. — There is little or no change in the appearance of the larva now except a more pronounced yellowish-green tinge ; length, 6.5 mm. After Second Moult. — Length about 10 mm. ; of a uniform grassy- greenish color; head hemispherical, slightly larger in diameter than the rest of the body. After Third Moult. — Much as in preceding stage, but larger. Full Grown Larva. — Length, 29 mm. ; uniform grassy-greenish, with July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 315 the exception of a darker dorsal stripe and a darker lateral stripe, above the spiracles; the entire surface covered with fine short whitish hairs, and larger more scattered blackish ones ; ventral surface slightly lighter than dorsal. Pupa. — When the pupa first emerges it is light yellowish green, darker around the head and thorax. The median dorsal line is yellow, and is most manifest on the first three segments and on the seventh and tenth inclusive. There is also a lateral yellowish line beginning on the fifth segment and continuing to the posterior end. There are a few black dots on each abdominal segment. As the pupa grows older its color changes to a light creamy white ; a lateral black stripe appears, and the wing cases and thorax become decorated with a variety of black markings. These markings vary a great deal in different individuals. The outlines of the pupa also become more irregular; a projection appearing on the head, another on the dorsal line of the thorax, and two others, one just above the inner angle of each wing case. These projections are much like those on the chrysalis of P. rapae, but are more pronounced. Length, 21 mm. Plagodis schuylkillensis : a new Geometric!. BY JOHN A. GROSSBECK. Of all our Atlantic Coast Geometridse it would appear that such large and strikingly colored forms as the species of Pla- godis would long since have been described ; nevertheless, in a recent paper in this journal (Vol. XVIII, p. 206), Mr. Pear- sail characterizes a new one and separates two other species which had theretofore been regarded as belonging to a single species. It was even more surprising when Dr. Henry Skin- ner sent to me through Professor J. B. Smith two examples of a species which I could not identify in the Hulst collection nor in the literature, and my conclusion that it was new was con- firmed by Mr. Pearsall to whom the specimens were sent for verification. It may be described as follows : Plagodis schuylkillensis n. sp. Expanse, 30.5 — 31.5 mm. across the apices of the wings, Anal angle of forewings excavated as in cmargataria Gn. Head, palpi and collar purplish-brown, remainder of thorax and ground color of wings deep ochreous. Intradiscal line purplish-brown, rather narrow, and vaguely indicated, especially posteriorly where it is almost obso- ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, *o8 lete; it crosses at inner third of wing, being directed slightly outward in its course and is a trifle angulated outwardly on the cubital vein. The inner area limited by this line is faintly washed with lilac, strong- est along the costa, and several dark purple atoms are in the angle formed by the union of the intradiscal line with the inner margin. Extradiscal line quite heavy, crossing at outer two-thirds of wing, purplish becoming blackish posteriorly and nearly straight, with an almost imperceptible out- and in-curve. Outer area washed with lilac along extradiscal line and sparingly strigate with blackish on anterior portion, more heavily on posterior portion. Fringe purplish-ochreous, at extreme apex tipped with pure purple. Secondaries with a pur- plish line becoming blackish posteriorly on outer two-thirds of wing, similar to and continuous with the extradiscal line of primaries, but more curved and obsolete costally. The area within this line is pale ochreous being almost pure yellow and the field outside it is deep ochreous washed with lilac along the cross line and with a scattering of transverse blackish strigae. Fringe as in primaries but decidedly purplish toward anal angle. Beneath, yellow on inner two-thirds and at apical area of fore wings ; outer third of both wings, except at apical area referred to, light purplish, not well defined from the yellow color, and on secondaries sparsely strigate with black. Type — Two females in the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila., and in Rutgers College, taken by Rev. I. F. Stidham, an enthusiastic and intelligent collector. Habitat — Falls of Schuylkill, Philadelphia, in August. In naming this new species schuylkillensis I am acting upon the suggestion of Dr. Skinner, who remarked that the general shade of the insect harmonized with the color of the water in the vicinity in which it was collected. Descriptions of two new Gelechidae from California. BY AUGUST BUSCK. Recurvaria invictella n. sp. Second joint of labial palpi pure white; terminal joint smoky white and with a conspicuous black longitudinal line in front from base to apex. Antennae black. Tongue heavily scaled, pure white. Face sil- very white. Head and thorax light mouse-colored. Forewings light silvery gray overlaid with brown and black scales ; extreme base of wing brown ; a slight sprinkling of dark scales on the cell and along the fold ; at apical third is an outwardly angulated blackish brown fascia across the wing, not clearly denned toward the base of the July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 317 wing, but exteriorly rather sharply edged by a whitish area ; the tip liberally sprinkled with black and brown ; cilia dirty white, sprinkled with dark scales and with a faint transverse line of brown before the tip. Hind wings light fuscous. Underside of body silvery white. Anterior legs brown with white tarsal annulations ; posterior legs white, mottled with brown exteriorly. Alar expense : 12 mm. Habitat — San Diego, California. (W. S. Wright, collector.) Type — U. S. N. Mus. No. 11915. A neat little species without the sinuation at vein 2 in the forewing normally characteristic of the genus, but otherwise conforming with the definition and undoubtedly properly placed. In the ornamentation of palpi and wings it reminds one somewhat of Anacampsis paltadoriella Busck. Gelecbia morenella n. sp. Labial palpi white with base of second joint black and with entire terminal joint liberally sprinkled with black; brush evenly rounded. Antenna? purplish black. Face, head and thorax white ; patagina black. Abdomen light golden fuscous, iridescent. Forewings deep pur- plish brown, nearly black, with two longitudinal white stripes ; of these one is costal, beginning at the base of the wing and running very close to the costal edge and terminates at apical fifth ; the other white streak covers broadly the dorsal edge from base to tornus, whence it bends slightly upwards along the terminal edge of the wing in a narrower and fainter spur, obscured by dark scaling. Cilia whitish dotted with black. Hindwings broader than the fore- wings, brownish fuscous ; cilia lighter. Anterior legs brown ; posterior legs dusky white, iridescent. Alar expanse: 16-18 mm. Habitat — Morena and Pine Valley, San Diego, California, July 4-6. (G. H. Field, collector.) Type— U. S. N. Mus. No. 11916. A striking species of the black and white group, easily recog- nized by its ornamentation; in pattern it is very close to the larger yellow and black Gclechia aristella, Busck. REMOVAL OF INSECTS FROM THE EAR. — Dr. Robbins removes live in- sects from the ear by placing the patient in a dark room and holding a lighted taper or lamp right up to the ear. The insects will back out. He has practiced this method for thirty-six years. Dr. Lewis removes them by the use of a pine rod six inches long tipped very lightly with the composition from a sticky fly paper. He was removed many in this way during thirty years' practice. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Juty. >o8 New Coleoptera, with notes on some New Jersey Histeridae. BY CHARLES SCHAEFFER, Brooklyn, N. Y. Several years ago in Lakehurst, New Jersey, I took a single specimen of a Hister which seemed to be undescribed, but as the specific characters used in separating species in the entire family are more or less subject to variation, I thought it inad- visable to describe a new species from a unique. Lately, how- ever, in going over some New Jersey material I noticed a num- ber of specimens collected by my friends, William T. Davis, in Lakehurst and Jamesburg, and Charles W. Leng, in James- burg and Brookville, which convinced me that the species is en- titled to a name and in order that the name sent to Prof. Smith to be included in his forthcoming new list of New Jersey in- sects be sanctioned by a description, the species is described below. In a recently purchased small miscellaneous lot of insects from the Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, two species of Cole- optera were found to be undescribed and the present opportu- nity is taken to make these known. Hister davisi n. sp. Form and size of americanus. Outer thoracic stria absent, inner entire and slightly sinuate near base; surface of thorax very sparsely punctate near the striae, punctuation almost absent from the disk. Elytra with four entire discal strise; the fourth slightly abbreviated at base; fifth stria apical not quite reaching to the middle, sutural stria entire and strongly arcuate at base, not connected with the fourth ; one distinct subhumeral stria, which does not quite extend to base; all the strise rather strongly impressed and finely punctate; surface almost impunctate. Epipleura bistriate, the inner stria finer and shorter than the outer, the latter rather coarsely punctate. Prosternum slightly flattened behind, on each side a short basal stria, which does not extend to the middle. Mesosternum truncate. Anterior tibiae 5-dentate, the two upper teeth small. Propygidium coarsely but sparsely punctate; pygidium not as coarsely punctate as propygidium. Length, 3.5 mm. New Jersey; Lakehurst (Davis, Schaeffer), Jamesburg (Davis, Leng), Brookville (Leng). August and September. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 319 This distinct little species is to be placed in our list between ambigena and americainis. From the former it differs by hav- ing only one subhumeral stria, the fifth dorsal stria short, api- cal, and the outer thoracic stria absent; the possession of a distinct subhumeral stria, and the rather depressed prosternum with two short basal stria distinguishes davisi from ameri- canus. The possession of prosternal striae would place this species in Dr. Horn's group servus, but as these striae are variable and absent in some specimens — which is also found occasionally in defectus and sen'us* — and the mesosternum is distinctly truncate I prefer to place it with americamis and allies. Most of the specimens before me were collected by my friend, Mr. William T. Davis, to whom this species is dedi- cated. The number and size of the elytral and thoracic striae have been used to distinguish a number of species. However, one or the other of the elytral striae varies or may be entirely ab- sent. I have a specimen of defectus Hakl. from Southern New Jersey which has the fourth elytral stria not entire, but greatly abbreviated behind ; another specimen which I collected in Lake- hurst has the fourth elytral stria represented by a short basal and apical stria. A specimen from New Jersey (O. Dietz), belonging in Dr. Horn's americanus group, differs only from the description of exaratns by having the surface distinctly punctured. The punctuation in perple.vus is sometimes so fine that it can be easily overlooked and the outer thoracic striae are occasionally extremely short, which seems to show that americamis, perple.vus and cxaratus are one variable species. Listrochelus tarsalis n. sp. Form of opacicollis Horn which it also resembles in the opaque and pruinose upper surface. Head densely cribrately punctate and hairy ; frontal suture obsolete ; clypeus transverse, feebly emarginate at mid- dle, margin feebly reflexed. Thorax strongly transverse; sides angu- lately rounded below middle ; margins coarsely crenulate and fim- briate ; apical and basal angles rounded ; surface sparsely, obsoletely punctate. Elytra sparsely but distinctly punctate, each puncture bear- ing a moderately long hair; sutural costae feeble; discal costae absent. 32O ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, '08 Metasternum rather densely clothed with long whitish hairs; abdomen very sparsely clothed with shorter pubescence. Length, 11.5-12.5 mm. Male. — Antennal club longer than the funicle. Second and third abdominal segments slightly convex, fourth longitudinally impressed at middle. Pygidium convex shining, sparsely punctate and broadly rounded at tip. Claws of anterior tarsi feebly serrulate in basal half, without median tooth ; outer intermediate, and posterior claws feebly toothed at middle and feebly serrulate in basal half, median tooth of inner claws obsolete: First joint of anterior tarsi acutely produced at inner apical angle. First joint of posterior tarsi broadly dilated in- side, with inner apical angle acutely produced. First three joints of hind tarsi and tibiae clothed with long hairs. Spurs of posterior tibiae slender, equal in size. Female. — Club of antennae shorter than the funicle. Claws on all the tarsi alike, with a small tooth at middle with the basal portion feebly serrulate. Inner apical angle of first joint of anterior tarsi acutely produced. Posterior tibiae feebly fimbriate within with a few shorter hairs than in the male. Pygidium feebly convex, shining at apex, but pruinose at basal half. Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona. This species is apt to be taken for a small opacicollis Horn, but the male of the latter species has the claws similar on all the tarsi and the first joint of hind tarsi normal, not broadly, dilated, and the female has the first joint of anterior tarsi not acutely produced at inner apical angle as in tarsalis. Pyrota obliquefascia n. sp. Slightly more elongate than akhnrstiana Horn, and the black color of elytra divided by a narrow oblique pale fascia. Head yellow, a spot on the occiput and the space above each eye black ; surface shining moderately coarsely and rather sparsely punctate. Thorax narrow, elongate, sides parallel from base to slightly above middle, thence obliquely narrowing to apex; surface shining, sparsely punctate; color black, a median vitta, widening at apex and base, and on each side a short oblique vitta yellow. Elytra dull, rather densely but not coarsely punctate, feebly rugulose and faintly bicostate on each side, color black, base, suture, apex and side margins yellow, the sutuiv mi each elytron connected at middle with the side margin by an oblique, yellow fascia. Underside and legs black, except the femora at base, yellow. Length, 15-23 mm. Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona (Marsden). The male of this species has the third antennal joint simi- ENT. NEWS, VOL. XIX. PI. XIII. CROCIGRAPHA NORMANI GROTE. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 321 larly formed as in akhurstiana Horn and the last joint of maxil- lary palpus as in postica Lee. In the female the third joint of antennae is feebly curved near base, but is narrower at base than at apex and the last joint of maxillary palpus is elongate and feebly flattened. From all the North American and Mexican species of Pyrota so far known obliquefascia will be readily distinguished by the obliquely divided black, broad elytral vitta. From those spe- cies of which it may be considered a variety, the narrower, elongate thorax, the form of the third antennal joint and last joint of maxillary palpus will separate it. Crocigrapha normani Grote. BY EDITH M. PATCH, Orono, Maine. (Plate XIII) A mass of lepidopterous eggs flatly attached to a leaf of wild cherry was collected near Orono, June 12, 1907. These hatched June I4th and were fed from that time upon apple in the insectary. As the larvae, noctuids of no very distinctive features, did not answer the description of any known to feed upon wild cherry or apple, they were bred in order to establish their identity. By July I5th about half of the lot had pupated, the others pupating from seven to ten days later. As to their feeding habits it may be said that they remained day and night upon the branches of apple with which their cage was kept supplied, and they fed greedily upon both the leaves and the green apples which they ate to the core. They were easily disturbed, however, and would then commonly drop to the floor of the cage. They took long periods of rest during the day and particularly when nearly grown did their most vig- orous feeding at night, though they lunched also by daylight. Pupation took place in the earth which was provided in their cage. Although the larvae were all from one brood and they hatched at the same date, their growth was not uniform in spite of the fact that they were kept under precisely the same conditions, and the last of the pupae were formed more than two weeks after the first. 322 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July. >o8 One moth emerged in the laboratory in May, 1908, and this was identified by Dr. Harrison G. Dyar as Crocigrapha nor- inani, Grote. Several other pupae were alive at this time, but in an attempt to hasten their emerging they were overheated and killed. As nothing whatever is recorded of the life-history of this moth, the following description of the larva is taken from my notes at the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station : June 29, 1907. Larva half grown. Head clear amber in color with two glistening black spots on each lobe. Ventral and ventro-lateral body and pro-legs pale greyish blue-green. Seven very delicate longitudinal lines of pale blue extend along the body, one being mid-dorsal and the three on each side placed (a) one dorsal the spiracle line, (b) one half way between the mid-dorsal line, and (a), and (c) one ventrad the spiracle line, Between the mid-dorsal line and (b) the body is soft green with a bluish cast. Between (a) and (b) extends a dark green stripe. July 9, 1907. Larva il/2 inches long, and apparently about full grown. Head shiny yellow with one irregular dark mot- tled blotch on each lobe. Dorsal and dorso-lateral aspects mot- tled gray -brown. Ventral and ventro-lateral (to above the spiracle line) pale gray green. Legs pale. The accompanying photograph (Plate XIII.) taken July 10, 1907, gives a good idea of the form of this larva and is also suggestive of its feeding habits. The pupa, which is glistening brown, varies from 15 mm. to 19 mm. in length. Types of the larvae and pupae are deposited in U. S. Na- tional Museum and in the collection of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station. MR. AUGUST BUSCK has gone to England for the Summer to work on microlepidoptera with Lord Walsingham. MR. ERICH DAECKE, of Philadelphia, is recovering from his long illness, and soon expects to go on with his explorations in New Jersey. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 323 Bees of the genus Nomada, belonging to the group of N. depressa Cresson. BY T. D. A. COCKERELL. In 1863 (Troc. Ent. Soc. Phil.), Cresson described a female Nomada from" Maine as N. depressa, characterized especially by the possession of a depressed velvety or pubescent area on the apex of the fifth abdominal segment, much after the man- ner of Triepeolus. Later, this insect was treated as a variety of N. bisignata ; but it is not only a valid species, but perhaps deserving of subgeneric rank. It typifies a little group, of which four species are known, separable as follows : Depressed area on fifth segment very broad ; pygidial plate very broad ; antennae entirely red, except a small black spot on scape above ; mesothorax red, with one black band i. Depressed area much narrower, so that the space between it and the base of segment at sides is as great as or greater than width of of area 2. 1. Length about 8 mm.; wings reddish, darker apically, with a subapical hyaline patch; stigma clear ferruginous; third antennal joint distinctly shorter than fourth ; second abdominal segment with a very large bright yellow patch on each side ; third, fourth and fifth also each with a pair of yellow marks, growing suc- cessively smaller and closer together (Falls Church, Virginia, May 20, Nathan Banks) N. depressicauda n. sp. Length about 9 mm.; wings dusky along the veins ; stigma dark red- dish ; third antennal joint subequal with fourth ; second abdo- minal segment with small and obscure yellow spots, the others without yellow (Mt. Hood, Oregon)- - N. hcodiana Ckll., 1903. 2. "Length S)4 mm.; mesothorax light reddish-brown, with median longitudinal black stripe ; metathorax red, with median black stripe, sides at base black ; as much space between the flat- tened area and base of segment at sides as the area is wide " (Maine) N. depressa Cresson. Length about 10 mm. ; mesothorax dark red, with a black band ; metathorax black, with six red spots, the upper pair in the enclosure, the middle pair rather obscure and more or less confluent with the upper ; distinctly more space between the flattened area and base of segment at sides than area is wide (Lehigh Gap, Pa., June 30, Viereck) . . . N. skinneri n. sp. The last is the supposed A7, depressa referred to in Proc. Phila. Acad., 1903, p. 608. I am greatly indebted to Dr. 324 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, 'o8 Skinner and Mr. Fox for examining Cresson's type of IV. deprcssa, and reporting the characters given above. All these insects have simple mandibles ; Mr. Viereck kindly examined Cresson's type of depressa in respect to its mandibles some years ago. N. depressicauda agrees with the description of hoodiana (Proc. Phila. Acad., 1903, p. 608) in practically every char- acter except those given in the table. The third submarginal cell, however, is less narrowed above. N. skinncri is quite a dark insect, with the middle of face and front (not involving the clypeus) black ; flagellum strongly dusky, but clear red at extreme apex ; third antennal joint a little shorter than fourth ; second abdominal segment with a large yellow mark on each side, third with j*ellow dots ; apical and basal margins of the segments infuscated ; pygidial plate broad, but not so broad at apex as that of N. depressiuscula ; basal nervure going a moderate distance basad oft. in. The type has the upper half of the second transverso-cubital wanting on both side. Numerical Distribution of Some Insects. By OWEN SHOEMAKER PAXSON, Devon, Pa. The following notes were compiled during the summer of 1905, excepting in a very few instances as stated. In record- ing them, I walked a mile and a quarter from home to a small pond and back again over the same route. Thus day after day I confined myself almost exclusively to this ground. It consisted of about one-quarter mile of macadamized roads, five-eighths of untilled fields and one-eighth of plowed land in corn, one-quarter in woods and the usual surroundings of a small pond on the edge of a copse. I think the scarcity of some species in my list is alone ac- countable by the fact of their comparative or almost total se- clusion in nature. The Coleoptera are represented so well on account of the fact that they are my favorite order, and con- sequently were pursued more closely and continuously. Even' here, however, there are many instances where their ways or July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 325 surroundings have caused scanty records. The abundance in the Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera is explained by their prom- inent positions in the fields or woods, and the great ease in quickly and accurately distinguishing them. Many times the present number of species could have begn tabulated, if I had been able to recognize them in their quick ways. Quantities were seen only for an instant or in the distance, and so lost for- ever. In the succeeding pages such words as "several" and ''nu- merous" are continually used. I explain their meaning so as to allow others to form a definite idea of the numerical su- periority of some species over others. The first mentioned word will represent quantities of from four to twelve, while the latter will signify that the number of specimens ranged from thirteen upward. COLEOPTERA. Adalia bipunctata. — V, 17, three; V, 28, one; VI, 5, two, male and female, cop.; VI, 16, one; VIII, 11, do. Anomoea laticlavia. — VI, 8, one; VII, /, do. Anthrenus scrophulariae. — V, 8, one; V, 10, two; V, 11, one; V, 13, two; V, 15, one; V, 16, do. Aplwdius inqu'matus. — IV, 4, 1906, numerous. Aphodius fossor. — IV, 25, one. Attagenus plceus. — V, 28. one; VI, 5, three; VI, 11, one; VI, 13, do. Calopteron reticulatmn. — V, 29, one; VI, i, do.; VI, 2, three; VI. 3. two; VI, 5, several; VI, 8, two; VI, 10, one; VI, 13, do.; VI, 16, do.; VII, 3, do. Chanliognathus pennsylvanicus. — VI, 16, two, male and female; VI, 24, several, male and female, cop.; VI, 27, two; VII, 7, several; VIII, 19, one; VIII, 26, numerous, male and female, cop.; VIII, 31, do.; IX, i, do.; IX, 3, do.; IX, 7, do.; IX, 8, numerous; IX, 12, numerous, male and female, cop.; IX, 18, do.; IX.. 21, do.; IX. 23, do.; IX, 29, do. Chelymorpha argus. — IV, 25, one; VI, 2, do. Chlaenius aestivus. — VI, 9, one. Chrysochus auratus. — VI, 24, one; VII, 14, several. Chrysomcla similis. — IV, 25, one; V, 16, do. Ciciiidcla sc.vguttata. — IV, 20, three; IV, 25, several; IV, 26, num- erous; IV, 30, do.; V, 2, do.; V, 3, several; V, 7, numerous; V, 16, two; V, 21, several; V, 23, do.; V, 27, do.; V, 28, do. ; V, 29, do. ; VI, 2, do. ; VI, 3, three ; VI, 4, do. ; VI, 5, 326 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Juty, 'o8 numerous; VI, 6, several; VI, 9, one; VI, 10, two; VI, 14, several; VI, 15, two; VI, 16, one; VI, 17, do.; VI, 18, do.; VI, 21, two, male and female, cop.; VI, 22, one; VI, 28, two; VII, 5, one; VII, 17, do. Cicindela pimctnlata. — VI, 25, one; VI, 27, do.; VI, 28, several; VII, 3, do.; VII, 4, numerous; VII, 5, do.; VII, 6, several; VII, 7, do.; VII, 12, numerous; VII, 14, several; VII, 15, numer- ous; VII, 17, do.; VII, 24, do.; VII, 27, do.; VIII, 4, several; VIII, 8, do.; VIII, 10, do.; VIII, 11, three; VIII, 14, do.; VIII, 17, several; VIII, 19, do.; VIII, 21, do.; VIII, 23, one; VIII, 26, three; VIII, 31, several; IX, i, numerous ; IX, 3, several, male and female, cop. ; IX, 7, one; IX, 12, several; IX, 23, do.; IX, 26, numerous. Crioccris asparagi. — V, 15, numerous, male and female; VI, 10, sev- eral; VI, 13, two; VI, 14, several; VI, 16, do. Coccinella novemnotata. — V, 16, one; V, 19, several; V, 28, one; VI, 5, two, male and female, cop.; VI, 10, one; VI, 21, do.; VI, 24, do.; VII, 6, do.; VII, 7, two; VII, 15, one; VIII, 26, do. Coccinella sanguined. — VI, 24, one. Desmocerus palliatus. — VII, 3, one. Diabrotica vittata. — VI, 5, three, male and female; VI, 10, one. Doryphora clhicollis. — VIII, ir, one. Doryphora decemlineata. — V, 18, numerous; V, 29, several; VI, i, two, male and female ; VI, 2, one ; VI, 10, several, male and fe- male; VI, 13, numerous; VI, 28, do. Elaphrus ruscarius. — V, 2, one. Ellychnia corrusca. — IV, 25, one ; V, 3, do. ; V, 6, do. ; V, 16, two ; VI, 16, one. Epicauta pennsylvanica — VIII, u, numerous; VIII, 19, three; VIII, 21, several; VIII, 26, do.; VIII, 31, numerous; IX, i, do.; IX, 3, do.; IX, 7, two.; IX, 8, numerous; IX, 12, numerous, male and female, cop. ; IX, 23, two ; IX, 26, one. Euphoria inda. — IV, 9, one. Gyrinus sinuatus. — IV, 27, numerous (seen often before) ; V, 28, numerous; VIII, 17, do.; VIII, 23, do.; IX, i, do.; IX, 12, do. ; IX, 18, do. ; IX, 21, do. ; IX, 23, do. ; IX, 26, do. Harpalus caliginosus. — IX, 3, several; IX, 6, do.; IX, 7, three; IX, 8, two, male and female, cop. Hippodamia parenthesis. — VI, 5, one ; VI, 29, do. Histcr abbreviatus. — IV, 30, several. Hister americanus. — IV, 30, several. Lachnosterna fusca. — IV, 28, numerous ; IV, 30, one ; V, 6, numerous ; V, 8, two; V, 10, several; V, 13, numerous; V, 14, do.; V, 15, do. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 327 Leistotrophus cingulaius. — IV, 25, one; V, 3, numerous, male and fe- male ; V, 7, do. ; VI, 24, one. Lhnonius griseus. — IV, 30, one. Macrodactylus subspinosus. — VI, 2. one; VI, 3. three, male and female; VI, 6, several, male and female ; VI, 9, three, male and fe- male; VI, 10, several, male and female; VI, 11, three; VI, 13, several, male and female, cop.; VI, 14, do.; VI, 16, one; VI, 17, do. ; VI, 19, several ; VI, 22, several, male and female : VI, 23, do. ; VI, 24, numerous, male and female, cop. ; VI, 28, do. Megilla maculate. — V, 6, two; V, 7, several; VI, 21, one; VII, 6, three; VII, 7, two. Melanactes piccus. — VI, 5, one. Codes amaroides. — VI, 13, one. Photuris pennsyh'anica. — VI, 9, one: VI, 10. do.; VI, 22, two; VI, 23, one; VI, 24, do. ; VI, 28, do.; VII, 3, two; VII, 7, three. Photinns margincllus. — VI, 6, numerous; VI, 10, do. Pterostichus lucublandns. — V, 29, one; VI, 5, do. Pterostichus stygicus. — IV, 14, 1906, one. Scaritcs subterrancus. — -VI, 15, one; VI, 17, do. Silpha amcrlcana. — VII, 6, one, male. Silpha inaequalis. — V, 3, numerous, male and female; V, 7, several, male and female. Silpha noveboraccnsis. — VII, 6, several. Telephorus carolinus. — V. 30, several; VI, I, numerous; VI, 4, do.; VI, 6, do.; VI, 8, do.; VI, 9, do.; VI, 10, do.; VI, 11, two; VI, 13, three ; VI, 16, do. ; VI, 24, two ; VI, 28, one. Tcnebrio tenebrioides. — VI, 28, two. Tetraopes tetraophthalmus. — VI, 23, one; VI, 24, several; VI, 25, sev- eral, male and female, cop. ; VI, 27, two ; VI, 28, several, male and female, cop. ; VII, 7, numerous, male and female, cop.; VII, 14, two; VII, 15, do.; VII, 27, several, male and female, cop. ; VIII, T, three, male and female, cop. ; VIII, 4, two; VIII, 14, do. Thccasternns humeralis. — VI, 16, one. ORTHOPTERA. Dissosteira Carolina. — VII, n, three; VII, 12, several; VII, 14, do.; VII, 15, do.; VII, 17, do.; VII, 24, numerous; VII, 27, several; VIII, i, do.; VIII, 4, numerous; VIII, 8, several; VIII, 10, do.; VIII, n, numerous; VIII, 14, several; VIII, 17, do.; VIII, 19, numerous; VIII, 21, several; VIII, 23, numerous; VIII, 26, do.; VIII, 31, several; IX, i, numerous; male and female, cop. ; IX, 3, several ; IX, 7, two ; IX, 8, several ; IX, 12, do. ; IX, 18, numerous ; IX, 21, do. ; IX, 23, do.; IX, 29, do. 328 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, '08 Gryllus pennsylvanicus. — V, 28, two; VIII, 17, do.; VIII, 19, do.; VIII, 26, do.; VIII, 31, several; IX, i, three; IX, 3, do.; IX, 7, two; IX, 8, one; IX, 12, numerous; IX, 18, do.; IX, 21, do.; IX, 23, do.; IX, 29, do. Melanoplus femoratus. — VIII, 21, two. Melanoplus femur-rubrum. — VIII, 21, numerous; VIII, 26, do.; VIII, 31, do.; IX, i, do.; IX, 3, do.; IX 7, do.; IX, 8, do.; IX, 12, do.; IX, 1 8, do.; IX, 21, do.; IX, 23, do.; IX, 26, do.; IX, 29, do. Nemobius fasciatus. — VII, 13, three; VII, 14, several; VII, 27, numer- ous; VIII, 19, do.; VIII, 23, do.; VIII, 26, do.; VIII, 31, do.; IX, i, do.; IX, 3, do.; IX, 7, do.; IX, 8, do.; IX, 12, do.; IX, 18, do.; IX, 21, do.; IX, 23, do.; IX, 29, do. Scudderia curvicauda. — VIII, 17, two; VIII, 19, one; VIII, 21, two; VIII, 23, three; VIII, 26, two; VIII, 31, three; IX, i, one; IX, 8, several; IX, 12, two; IX, 23, one; IX, 26, three. LEPIDOPTERA RHOPALOCERA. Argynnis cybcle. — VI, 4, several; VI, 5, two; VI, 9, do.; VI, 10, several; VI, n, one; VI, 13, three; VI, 14, numerous; VI, 15, several; VI, 16, numerous; VI, 17, several; VI, 18, do.; VI, 19, do.; VI, 21, do.; VI, 22, do.; VI, 23, do.; VT, 24, do.; VI, 27, three; VI, 28, numerous; VII, 3, several; VII, 4, three; VII, 5, do.; VII, 6, two; VII, 7, three; VII, 12, two; VII, 14, several; VII, 15, three; VII, 17, one; VII, 24, two; VIII, i, one; VIII, 4, do.; VIII, 11, do.; VIII, 17, three; VIII, 19, do.; VIII, 21, one; VIII, 23, several; VIII, 26, two; VIII, 31, several; IX, i, three; IX, 3, two; IX, 7, one; IX, 8, several; IX, 12, do.; IX, 18, one; IX, 21, do.; IX, 23, two; IX, 29, several. Argynnis idalia. — VI, 13. one male; VI, 15, do.; VI, 17, one; VI, 18, do.; VI, 19, several; VI, 21, do.; VI, 22. several, male and female ; VI, 23, several ; VI, 24, one ; VI, 25, numerous ; VI, 27, do.; VI, 28, do.; VII, 3, do.; VII, 4. several; VII, 5, do.; VII, 6, several, male and female; VII, 7, do.; VII, 12, two; VII, 14, several; VII, 15, do.; VII, 17, do.; VII, 24, three; VII, 27, one; VIII, I, do.; VIII, II, two; VIII, 17, one; VIII, 19, several; VIII, 23, do.; VIII, 26, do.; VIII, 31, one; IX, i, two; IX, 3, several; IX, 7, two; IX, 8, several; IX, 12, two; IX, 18, one; IX, 21, two; IX, 23, one ; IX, 29, three. Argynnis myrina. — VI, 6, two; VI, 16, do.; VI, 19, several; VI, 21, one; VII, 14, do.; VII, 24, two; VII, 27, do.; VIII, I, one; VIII, 4, do.; VIII, 31, two; IX, i, do.; IX, 3, several; IX, 18, two; IX, 21, three. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 329 Chrysophanus hypophlaeas. — V, 19, one; VI, 24, do.; VI, 25, do.; VI, 27, several; VI, 28, numerous; VII, 3, two; VII, 4, several; VII, 6, three; VII, 7, several; VII, 12, do.; VII, 14, two; VII, 15, numerous; VIII, 14, one; VIII, 17, two; VIII, 19, several; VIII, 21, two; VIII, 26, do. Colias philodice. — IV, 25, one; IV, 26, do.; IV, 28, two; IV, 30, three; V, 2, several ; V, 3, one ; V, 6, two ; V, 7, numerous ; V, u, several; V, 15, numerous; V, 16, do.; V, 21, three; V, 23, do. ; V, 27, do. ; V, 28, numerous ; V, 29, several ; VI, 2, do.; VI, 3, two; VI, 5, several; VI, 6, do.; VI, 8, two; VI, 9, one; VI, 10, several, female; VI, n, three; VI, 14, two; VI, 15, do.; VI, 16, do.; VI, 17, several; VI, 18, two; VI, 19, do.; VI, 21, numerous; VI, 22, do.; VI, 23, do.; VI, 24, several; VI, 25, numerous; VI, 27, do.; VI, 28, do.; VII, 3, numerous, male and female ; VII, 4, numerous ; VII, 5, do.; VII, 6, do.; VII, 7, do.; VII, 12, do.; VII, 14, do.; VII, 15, do.; VII, 24, several; VII, 27, do.; VIII, I, do.; VIII, 4, numerous; VIII, 8, do.; VIII, 10, several; VIII, u, numerous; VIII, 14, several; VIII, 17, numerous; VIII, 19, do.; VIII, 21, do.; VIII, 23, do.; VIII, 26, do.; VIII, 31, several; IX, i, numerous; IX, 3, do.; IX, 7, numerous, male and female, cop. ; IX, 8, numerous ; IX, 12, do. ; IX, 18, do. ; IX, 21, do. ; IX, 23, do. ; IX, 29, do. Danais plexippus. — V, 11, one; V, 18, do.; V, 19, do.; V, 28, do.; VI, 2, two; VI, 5, one; VI, 13, do.; VI, 14, do.; VI, 16, do.; VI, 17, three; VI, 19, one; VI, 23, two; VI, 25, one; VI, 27, three, male and female, cop. ; VI, 28, two ; VII, 3, one ; VII, 6, three; VII, 7, several; VII, 12, do.; VII, 14, do.; VII, 15, one; VII, 24, two; VII, 27, do.; VIII, u, do.; VIII, 21, one; VIII, 31, do.; IX, 3, two males; IX, 7, three; IX, 8, several; IX, 12, do.; IX, 18, two; IX, 21, do.; IX, 23, one ; IX, 29, two. Eudamus pylades. — IV, 30, two ; VI, 2, several ; VI, 5, one ; VI, 6, two, male and female; VI, 8, one; VI, 10, do.; VI, n, several; VI, 13, three; VI, '14, one; VI, 15, several; VI, 16, do.; VI, 18, one; VI, 21, three; VI, 22, two; VI, 23, do. ; VI, 24, do. ; VI, 28, do. ; VII, 3, one. Eudamus tityrus.' — V, 13, one; V, 14, do.; V, 15, three; V, 27, one; V, 28, two; V, 29, several; VI, 2, do.; VI, 4, two; VI, 5, several; VI, 6, three; VI, 8, several; VI, 9, two; VI, 10, one; VI, 13, three; VI, 14, two; VI, 15, do.; VI, 16, three; VI, 17, one; VI, 18, two; VI, 19, three; VI, 21, two; VI, 22, several ; VI, 23, one ; VI, 25, three ; VI, 27, one ; VI, 28, several; VII, 3, two; VII, 12, do.; VII, 14, several; VII, 15, two; VII, 24, one; VIII, 4, do.; VIII, 10, do.; VIII, II, two; VIII, 26, one. 330 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, '08 Eurema euterpe. — IX, 7, several ; IX, 8, one. Eurema nicippe. — IX, 12, one male; IX, 23, two males. Grapta interrogation's. — VI, 25, two; VI, 27, three; VI, 28, one; VIII, 26, do.; IX, i, do.; IX, 7, do. Grapta inter rogaiionis umbrosia. — VII, 2, two; VII, 3, do.; VII, 4, three; VII, 6, one; VII, 12, do.; VII, 15, two; VII, 27, one; VIII, 11, do.; VIII, 14, do. Hesperia tessellata. — VII, 14, one. Junonia coenia. — VII, 7, one; VII, 9, do.; VII, 12, do.; VII, 14, three. Limenitis archippus.—VI, 8, one; VI, 10, do.; VII, 13, do.; VII, 14, do.; VII, 15, do.; VII, 24, do.; VII, 27, do.; VIII, 8, sev- eral, male and female; VIII, 10, one; VIII, n, do.; VIII, 17, three; VIII, 31, one; IX, 3, do.; IX, 8, two; IX, 12, one; IX, 18, two; IX, 21, several; IX, 23, one; IX, 26, two Lycaena comyntas. — V, 2, one male ; V, 16, three ; V, 29, one ; VI, 5, do. ; VI, 22, several ; VI, 23, do. ; VI, 24, two ; VI, 25, numerous ; VI, 25, two ; VI, 27, three ; VI, 28, several, male and female; VII, 3, numerous; VII, 4, one; VII, 5, two; VII, 6, several, male and female; VII, 7, several; VII, 12, three males; VII, 14, three, male and female; VII, 15, sev- eral; VII, 24, three; VII, 27, several; VIII, I, do.; VIII, 4, do.; VIII, 8, one; VIII, 10, several; VIII, 11, two; VIII, 14. do.; VIII, 17, several; VIII, 19, do.; VIII, 23, three; VIII, 26, two; IX, i, several; IX, 3, two; IX, 12, do. Lycaena pseudargiolus. — IV, 9, two males ; IV, TO, several males ; IV, n, do.; IV, 15, one male; IV, 20, several males; IV, 22, one male ; IV, 24, two males ; IV, 25, several males ; IV, 28, two males ; IV, 30, three males ; V, 2, two males ; V, 7, one; VI, 9, one female; VI, n, one; VI, 13, three, male and female; VI, 14, several females; VI, 15, two females; VI, 16, three; VI, 21, one; VI, 24, do. Melitaea phaeton. — VI, 15, two; VI, 17, one; VI, 21, do. Pamphila egeremet. — VI, 5, one. Pamphila hobomok. — V, 28, three; V, 29, numerous, male and female; VI, 5, several, male; VI, 6, three, male and female; VI, 8, several males; VI, 10, two, male and female; VI, n, two females; VI, 14, three; VI, 22, two; VI, 23, one; VIII, 31, one male. Pamphila peckius. — V, 16, one; VI, 2, one female; VI, 6. two; VI, 15, two, male and female, cop. Papilio philenor. — VI, 17, one female; VIII, n, one. Papilio polyxenes.' — V, 16, one male; V, 23, two males; V, 27, three males ; V, 28, numerous ; V, 29, numerous, male and female ; VI, 6, do. ; VI, 8, several, male and female ; VI, 9, do. ; VI, 10, several males; VI, u, do.; VI, 13, several; VI, 14, July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 331 several males; VI, 15, numerous, male and female; VI, 16, do.; VI, 17, several, male and female; VI, 18, do; VI, 19, do.; VI, 21, do.; VI, 22, do.; VI, 23, do.; VI, 24, three, male and female; VI, 25, several, male and female; VI, 27, three, male and female; VI, 28, do.; VII, 4, do.; VII, 6, one female; VII, 7, one male; VII, 12, two males; VII, 14, do. ; VII, 17, several, male and female ; VII, 24, two males; VII, 27, several males; VIII, i, two males; VIII, 4, three, male and female ; VIII, 8, several, male and female ; VIII, 10, two males; VIII, n, numerous, male and female; VIII, 14, one female; VIII, 17, several, male and female; VIII, 19, one female; VIII, 21, several, male and female; VIII, 23, do.; VIII, 26, do.; VIII, 31, two, male and female; IX, i, do.; IX, 8, three, male and female; IX, 12, one male; IX, 23, two males ; IX, 26, one male. Papilio troilus. — V, 10, one male ; V, 16, several, male and female ; V, 18, one male ; V, 22, do. ; V, 26, one female ; V, 28, three males ; V, 29, do. ; VI, 2, two males ; VI, 9, one male , VI, 23, do.; VI, 28, one; VII, 14, one male; VII, 17, one female ; VII, 19, several, male and female ; VII, 24, three, male and female; VII, 27, two males; VIII, 4, three males; VIII, 8, two males; VIII, 10, several, males; VIII, 11, several; VIII, 14, one male; VIII, 17, two males; VIII, 19, several; VIII, 23, one; VIII, 26, several; VIII, 31, two; IX, i, three; IX, 3, two; IX, 7, one; IX, 8, one female. Papilio turnus. — IV, 25, one; IV, 28, do.; V, 2, one female; V, 3, do.; V, 4, do. ; V, 7, three ; V, 14, one ; V, 15, two ; V, 16, sev- eral; V, 17, one female; V, 21, do.; V, 23, three; V, 27, several males ; V, 28, numerous males ; V, 29, do. ; VI, i, several, male and female (one black form) ; VI. 2, several, male and female; VI, 3, several; VI, 4, numer- ous ; VI, 5, several males ; VI, 6, several, male and female ; VI, 8, several; VI, 9, do.; VI, 10, do.; VI, 11, do.; VI, 13, numerous; VI, 14, do.; VI, 15, two; VI, 16 (one black form), one male; VI, 17, several; VI, 18, two females; VI, 19, two; VI, 21, several; VI, 22, do.; VI, 23, do.; VI, 24, (one black form) ; VI, 25, two, (one black form) ; VII, 4, one; VII, 5, do.; VII, 17, do.; VII, 24, do.; VII, 27, two; VIII, i, do.; VIII, 4, one; VIII, 8, three; VIII, 10, do.; VIII, n, several, male and female; VIII, 17, three; VIII, 19, several, male and female (two black forms) ; VIII, 23, three; VIII, 26, several, male and female, (two black forms) ; VIII, 31, two, male and female, (one black form); IX, i, do.; IX, 3, one; IX, 7 (one black form); IX, 8, do. 332 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Juty. '°8 Phyciodes tharos. — V, 16, one; V, 28, two; V, 29, do.; VI, 23, do.; VI, 24, one male; VI, 25, three; VI, 27, do.; VI, 28, numerous, male and female ; VII, 3, numerous ; VII, 4, do. ; VII, 5, three; VII, 6, numerous; VII, 7, do.; VII, 12, do.; VII, 14, do.; VII, 15, do.; VII, 24, several; VII, 27, two; VIII, i, do.; VIII, 10, three; VIII, 11, several; VIII, 17, numerous; VIII, 19, do.; VIII, 21, several; VIII, 23, numerous; VIII, 26, do.; VIII, 31, do.; IX, i, do.; IX, 3, numerous, male and female, cop. ; IX, 7, numerous ; IX, 8, do.; IX, 12, do.; IX, 18, do.; IX, 21, several; IX, 23, numerous; IX, 29, do. Pieris rapae. — IV, 10, one; IV, n, do.; IV, 15, three; IV, 20, two; IV, 22, one ; IV, 24, do. ; IV. 25, numerous ; IV, 26, one ; IV, 28, several ; IV, 30, numerous ; V, 2, several ; V, 3, do.; V, 4, one; V, 6, several; V, 7, do.; V. n, do.; V, 16, do.; V, 27, two; V, 29, one; VI, 5, do.; VI, 10, do.; VI, 13, do.; VI, 15, three; VI, 16, two; VI, 17, do.; VI, 18, one; VI, 23, three; VI, 27, two; VI, 28, three; VII, 12, do.; VII, 14, two; VII, 15, do.; VII, 27, do.; VIII, I, one; VIII, 4, do.; VIII, 11, do.; VIII, 17, three; VIII, 19, one; VII, 21, one; IX, 12, two; IX, 23, three; IX, 26, two; IX, 29, one. Pholisora catullus. — VII, 7, one; VII, 12, do.; VII, 14, three; VII, 15, do.; VIII, n, two. Polygonia comma comma. — IV, 11, two, male and female, cop.; IV, 24, two; IV, 25, one; V, 3, two, male and female; VI, 21, one. Pyrameis atalanta. — V, 29, two ; VI, 2, one ; VI, 5, do. ; VI, 8, do. ; VI, 9, do.; VI, 10, several; VI, n, two; VI, 15, one; VI, 17, do; VI, 22, three; VII, 4, two; VII, 27. one; IX, 12, do. ; IX, 23, three ; IX, 26, two. Pyrameis cardui. — VI, 16, one; VI, 27, do.; VII, 3, do.; VII, 4, do.; VII, 14, two; VIII, i, one; VIII, 4, two; VIII, 8, one; VIII, 10, two; VIII, ii, one; VIII, 14, two; VIII, 19, three; VIII, 21, two; IX, 3, one; IX, 8, two; IX, 12, do.; IX, 18, three; IX, 21, one; IX, 23, two; IX, 26, one. Pyrameis huntera. — V, 16, two; VI, 8, several; VI, 9, three; VI, 16, one; VI, 21, do.; VI, 22, do.; VII, 17, two; VII, 27, sev- eral. Satyrus alope. — VI, 24, two ; VI, 25, three ; VI, 27, one ; VI, 28, sev- eral; VII, 3, three; VII, 4, several; VII, 5, do.; VII, 6, several, male and female; VII, 7, several; VII, 12, numer- ous; VII, 14, several; VII, 15, two; VII, 17, do.; VIII, 4, one female; VIII, 10, two; VIII, 14, one. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 333 Thanaos juvenalis petronius. — V, 2, several ; V, 3, do. ; V, 23, one ; VI, 10, two males. Vanessa antiopa. — III, 18, numerous; III, 20, several; III, 26, do.; IV, 2, do.; IV, 9, do.; IV, n, do.; IV, 15, one; IV, 20, sev- eral; IV, 24, three; IV, 25, several; IV, 28, two; IV, 30, do.; V, 2, one; VI, 9, two; VI, 21, one; VI, 25, do.; VI, 28, two; VII, 3, do.; VII, 4, do.; VII, 7, do.; VII, 12, do.; VII, 27, one; VIII, 26, three; IX, 8, one; IX, 12, two; IX, 23, three; IX, 29, do. LEPIDOPTERA HETEROCERA. Actias luna. — IV, 25, one female; VII, 28, one male. Ampelophaga myron. — V, 16, one. Attacus angulifera. — V, 9, one female. Automeris io. — VI, 6, two males; VI, 9, one female; VII, 4, do. Baptria albovittata. — V, 22, one; V, 29, do.; VI, 2, several; VI, 5, do.; VI, 9, two; VI, io, several; VI, 13, two; VI, 14, three; VI, 17, one; VII, 15, two; VII, 24, one; VII, 27, do; VIII, 4, do. Carpocapsa pomonella. — V, n, one. Hemaris thysbe. — V, 29, one. Samia cecropia. — VI, 4, one female. Spilosoma virginica. — V, 2, one. Telea polyphemus. — V, 14, one; VI, 5, one male; VI, 16, one; VI, 17, two males; VI, 18, one female; VI, 23, one; VII, io, one female. Tinea biselliella. — IV, 17, one (seen previous); IV, 19, two; V, 8, one; V, 12, do.; V, 13, do.; V, 14, two; V, 15, several; V, 16, two; V, 17, one; V, 21, do.; V, 22, do.; V, 23, do.; V, 29, do.; V, 30, do.; VI, 3, do.; VI, 4, two; VI, 6, one; VI, 13, two; VI, 21, one; VII, 28, two; VIII, 6, one; VIII, io, do. Utetheisa bella.—Vll, 14, one; VII, 21, two; VIII, 23, one; IX, 3, do. ; IX, 12, do. HYMENOPTERA. Apis mi'llifica. — V, 29, numerous; VI, 28, one; VII, 6, two; VII, 7, several; VII, 12, numerous; VII, 14, several; VIII, i, three; VIII, io, do.; VIII, 19, several; VIII, 23, one; IX, 7, two; IX, 12, several; IX, 18, numerous; IX, 21, do.; IX, 23, several ; IX, 26, do. ; IX, 29, three. Bombus americanorum. — V, 28, several; V, 29, two; VI, 5, do.; VI, 9, one; VI, 16, do.; VII, 6, do.; VII, 12, do.; VIII, 23, do.; VIII, 31, two; IX, i, several; IX, 3, do. 334 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, '08 Bombus pennsylvanicus. — V, 3, one; V, n, do.; V, 16, several; V, 17, do. ; V, 19, do. ; V, 28, numerous ; V, 29, several ; VI, 2, one; VI, 4, do.; VI, n, two; VI, 14, one; VI, 16, do.; VIII, 26, do.; IX, I, several; IX, 3, three; IX, 7, one; IX, 12, three; IX, 18, two; IX, 21, three; IX, 23, do.; IX, 29, two. Bombus virginicus. — IV, 25, three ; IV, 26, several ; IV, 30, three ; V, 2, several ; V, 3, one ; V, 5, do. ; V, 6, several ; V, 7, three ; V, 14, do.; V, 15, several; V, 16, do.; V, 17, numerous; V, 19, several ; V, 28, numerous ; V, 29, several ; VI, I, do. ; VI, 2, do.; VI, 3, three; VI, 4, do.; VI, 5, several; VI, 6, three; VI, 8, two; VI, 9, three; VI, 10, several; VI, II, three; VI, 14, several; VI, 15, two; VI, 16, one; VI, 17, do.; VI, 18, do.; VI, 21, three; VI, 22, one; VI, 24, two; VI, 28, one; VII, 6, two; VIII, 4, one; VIII, 10, two; IX, i, three; IX, 18, one; IX, 21, two; IX, 23, one; IX, 29, two. Camponotus herculaneus. — V, 3, numerous, neuters. Camponotus pennsylvanicus. — IV, 14, 1906, several. Cerceris fumipennls. — VII, 15, two; VII, 24, one. Chalybion caeruleum. — VI, 24, one ; VI, 25, do. ; VII, 15, do. Dolerus bicolor. — V, 19, one. Isodontia tibialis. — VII, 15, one. Monobia quadridens. — VII, 15, one. Myzine sexcincta. — VII, 15, one; VII, 24, do. Pelecinus polyturator. — IX, 6, three ; IX, 7, one ; IX, 8, two. Polistes metricus. — IV, 25, three (seen often before); IV, 28, two; IV, 30, one; V, 3, two; V, 7, several; V, 9, do.; V, n, do.; V, 15, do.; V, 29, three; V, 30, three; VI, 5, one; VI, 10, do.; VI, 16, two; VII, 14, do.; VII, 24, one; VIII, 4, do.; VIII, 10, two; VIII, 14, one; VIII, 17, do.; VIII, 26, three; IX, i, two. Tiphia inornata. — VI, 5, one. Trogus exesorius. — V, 29, one ; VI, 2, three ; VI, 5, several ; VI, 9, do.; VI, 10, one; VI, 13, several; VI, 14, three; VI, 16, several; VI, 17, do.; VI, 18, one; VI, 23, do.; VI, 25, three; VI, 28, two; VIII, 17, one; VIII, 19, two; VIII, 23, do. ; IX, i, one. Vespa germanica. — V, 2, one ; V, 3, two females ; V, 6, one ; V, 29, three; VI, 3, one; VI, 4, two; VI, 16, three; VI, 17, one; VIII, 10, do.; VIII, 26, several; IX, i, three. Vespa maculata. — V, 7, three; V, 28, one; VI, 2, two; VI, 6, one; VI, 10, do.; VI, 18, do.; VIII, 4, several VIII, 10, do.; VIII, 23, three; VIII, 26, do.; IX, i, several. Xylocopa virginica. — V, 3, two; V, 4, one; V, 6, do.; V, 11, several; V, 29, one; V, 30, one; VI, 2, two; VIII, 4, one; VIII, 8, do. ; VIII, 10, do. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 335 ODONATA. Anax junius. — IV, ir, one; V, 28, several; V, 29, do.; VI, 2, do.; VI, 5, several, male and female ; VI, 9, several ; VI, 10, two, male and female; VI, 15, several, male and female; VI, 16, several; VI, 17, three; VI, 22, several; VI, 23, three, male and female; VII, 3, several, male and female; VII, 4, numerous, male and female; VII, 6, several, male and female; VII, 7, do.; VII, 12, several males; VII, 14, sev- eral, male and female; VII, 15, three males; VII, 24, do.; VII, 27, several males; VIII, i, three males; VIII, 4, one; VIII, 8, several males; VIII, 10, three males; VIII, 11, several; VIII, 23, two; IX, 8, one female. Calopteryx maculata. — V, 28, one male; V, 29, one female; VI, i, one male ; VI, 2, several, male and female ; VI, 4, three, male and female ; VI, 5, do. ; VI, 6, several, male and fe- male; VI, 8, three, male and female; VI, 9, do.; VI, 10, numerous, male and female; VI, n, several, male and female; VI, 13, two; VI, 14, several, male and female; VI, 15, several males; VI, 16, several, male and female; VI, 17, do.; VI, 18, do.; VI, 19, do.; VI, 22, two males; VI, 25, three, male and female; VI, 27, several; VI, 28, sev- eral, male and female, cop. ; VII, 3, several, male and female ; VII, 6, several males; VII, 7, several, male and female; VII, 15, one male. Libellula luctuosa. — VII, 4, several; VII, 14, one; VII, 15, two; VII, 27, one. Libellula pulchella. — VI, 5, several; VI, 8, two; VI, 9, several, male and female; VI, 13, do.; VI, 14, do.; VI, 15, three, male and female; VI, 16, do.; VI, 17, several, male and female; VI, 19, two males; VI, 22, two; VI, 23, several, male and female ; VI, 24, two females ; VI, 25, several, male and female; VI, 27, one female; VI, 28, do.; VII, j several, male and female ; VII, 4, several males ; VII, 6, two fe- males; VII, 7, several, male and female; VII, 12, two, male and female; VII, 14, two males; VII, 15, three males; VII, 24, two males;; VII, 27, do.; VIII, 8, one male; VIII, 11, two males. Plathcmis lydia. — V, 16, one female; V, 29, several, male and female; VI, 2, one female; VI, 5, several, male and female; VI, 8, do.; VI, 10, three females; VI, 11, do.; VI, 13, several, male and female; VI, 14, do.; VI, 15, three males; VI, 16, several, male and female; VI, 17, two, male and iemale.. VI, 18, do.; VI, 19, three males; VI, 22, three, male and female; VI, 23, two males; VI, 25, three males; VI, 27, 336 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Juty. '°8 several, male and female; VI, 28, three, male and female; VII, 3, several; VII, 4, several males; VII, 6, two males; VII, 7, several, male and female; VII, 12, several; VII, 14, two, male and female; VII, 15, several, male and female; VII, 24, do.; VII, 27, several males; VIII, I, two, male and female; VIII, 4, two males; VIII, 10, two females; VIII, n, two males; VIII, 17, two, male and female. HEMIPTERA. Cicada tibicen. — VII, 9, one; VII, 10, do.; VII, 12, do.; VII, 15, se/- eral; VIII, 10, do.; VIII, 17, do.; VIII, 19, three; VIII. 26, several; IX, 3, do. Euchistus variolarius. — VII, 3, one. Hygrotrechus remegis. — IV, 10, numerous; IV, 27, do.; V, 28, do.; VI, 9, do.; VI, 14, do.; VIII, 17, several; VIII, 23, numer- ous; IX, I, several; IX, 12, do.; IX, 18, do.; IX, 21, do.; IX, 23, three; IX, 26, two. Leptopterna dolobrata. — VI, 10, one; VI, n, two. Nezara hilaris. — IV, 25, one; VI, 14, do. Poeciloptera septentrionalis. — VI, 25, one. DIPTERA. Bittacomorpha clavipes. — V, 4, numerous; V, 5, do.; V, 6, do.; V, 7, do. ; V, 28, one ; VI, 14, two, male and female, cop. Chrysopila thoracica. — V, 28, one; V, 29, several; VI, I, three; VIr 2, several; VI, 3, three; VI, 4, one; VI, 6, several; VI, 10, two; VI, 11, one; VI, 13, two; VI, 14, one; VI, 17, do. Chrysops nigcr. — V, 28, several; V, 29, numerous; VI, 2, do.; VI, 5, do. ; VI, 6, do. ; VI, 8, three ; VI, 9, several ; VI, 10, numer- ous ; VI, n, two; VI, 13, several; VI, 14, numerous; VI, 15, several; VI, 16, numerous; VI, 17, several; VI, 18, do.; VI, 19, numerous; VI, 21, several; VI, 22, do.; VI, 23, do.; VI, 24, numerous; VI, 25, several; VI, 27, dc. ; VI, 28, do.; VII, 3, numerous; VII, 5, do.; VII, 6, do.; VII, 7, do.; VII, 12, do.; VII, 14, do.; VII, 15, several; VII, 24, do.; VII, 27, one; VIII, i, do.; VIII, 4, several; VIII, 8, three; VIII, 10, two; VIII, 11, one. Eristalis tenax. — VI, 24, one; VII, 15, do; IX, 18, several; IX, 21, two; IX, 23, three; IX, 26, do. Eristalis transversus. — VII, 15, one; IX, 18, several; IX, 21, one; IX, 23, three; IX, 26, two. Musca domestica. — IV, 27, one; IV, 29, do.; V, 28, several; V, 29, do.; VI, 5, numerous, male and female; VI, 13, several; VI, 14, numerous; VI, 16, several; VI, 18, numerous; VII, 24, do.; VIII, 15, do.; IX, i, do.; IX, 23, do.; IX, 29, several. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 337 Simulium innoxium. — V, 5, numerous ; V, 29, several. Tabanus lineola. — VI, 15, one; VII, 15, several. Tritoxa flexa. — VI, n, two, male and female, cop.; VI, 16, one; VI. 23, two, male and female, cop.; VI, 24, one; VI, 28, do.; VII, 12, do. NEUROPTERA. Chrysopa oculata. — VIII, 4, one. WARNING. — Collectors looking for foreign exchange should be on their guard against certain unscrupulous dealers, who seem to be in business for the purpose of victimizing the unwary. One of the worst offenders of this sort is located at Berlin, Germany and I will cheer- fully furnish the name of this shark to anybody so requesting. This is his modus operandi : After carefully scanning the advertiser's list of an entomological publication and having found an ad. to his liking, he then proceeds to send the advertiser an interesting catalogue and card, stating that he can use at least fifty specimens of every species occurring in that locality and offers in exchange, value for value, speci- mens from all parts of the world. The collector happy in the thought of having found an opportunity for interesting additions, now sends a trial package, but fails to get either exchange or letter in return. After months of patient waiting, during which time he has sent several requests to the dealer for the exchange due him, without even secur- ing the courtesy of a reply, he, (the package having been registered) has recourse to the foreign Post Office to which the package was sent. This office will in due time inform him that the package in question arrived and was promptly delivered to the addressee. This document, may however have been preceded by several days by a letter from the dealer himself, who, having been aroused from his artful slumber by the inquiry to the Postal authorities, now expresses his "allergrosste" surprise at the collector's seeming failure of having received his ex- change, which had been sent immediately upon receipt and inspection of the package, but was "not registered." He will add there had never been reported to him a miscarriage of the goods he shipped, notwith- standing the fact that he never registered a package. He will conclude by expressing his satisfaction with the collector's goods and many many regrets. Of course, these suave words are far from consoling the collector, who feels he has been duped. He may now resort to threats of exposure, whereupon the dealer informs him that he has witnesses to the fact that a package containing correct value in foreign specimens, was duly mailed to the collector; however not wishing to have the collector lose all he has mailed him a box of interesting things. This box will eventually be received by the collector and on opening be found to contain a few common diptera, coleoptera and noctuae, which the dealer has no doubt obtained without even leaving his doorsteps or garden. — AUG. KNETZGER, 382^ McDonald Av., St. Louis, Mo. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit and will thankfully receive items of news likely to interest its readers from any source. The author's name will be given in each case, for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] To Contributors. — All contributions will be considered and passed upon at oui earliest convenience, and, as far as may be, will be published according to date of recep- tion. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS has reached a circulation, both in numbers and circumfer- ence, as to make it necessary to put " copy " into the hands of the printer, for each num- ber, three weeks before date of issue. This should be remembered in sending special or important matter for a certain issue. Twenty-five "extras," without change in form, will be given free, when they are wanted ; and this should be so stated on the MS., along with the number desired. The receipt of all papers will be acknowledged.— ED. PHILADELPHIA, PA., JULY, 1908. We shall be glad to learn what the universities and colleges of the United States are doing in the way of teaching ento- mology, and if the information is sent to us tersely and briefly stated, we will publish it. We hold that the study of entomol- ogy is so important in many ways that its neglect by large in- stitutions of learning shows short-sightedness and benighted- ness. This is particularly true of medical colleges. We append a statement of the course given by the Graduate School of the University of Illinois under Prof. S. A. Forbes and Dr. J. W. Folsom. GENERAL ENTOMOLOGY. — This course and Entomology form a year's connected major work in entomology, covering substantially the whole field. The present course is devoted mainly to field entomology in the fall and later to the morphological and physiological aspects of the subject. Beginning with the collection and preservation of specimens and the making of field observations, it is continued by laboratory studies of typical insects, made with special reference to the recogni- tion of adaptive structures, and experimental work intended to deter- mine their exact utilities. GENERAL ENTOMOLOGY. — To be taken either with or without the preceding course. The classification and determination of insects, the study of life histories in the insectary and by field observation, and the collection of information with respect to the cecological relations of insects, are the principal objects of this course. ADVANCED ENTOMOLOGY. — Under this head students desiring ad- vanced work in entomology, especially as a preparation for thesis work in this subject, will be individually provided for on consultation 338 July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 339 with the entomological instructors. The course may be made to cover one or two semesters and to earn a three-hour or a five-hour credit in each. At least a three-hour course for one semester will be required as a preparation for entomological thesis work. SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY. — This course, while primarily entomologi- cal, is designed to be of general use to students of biology. The lec- tures include a historical and critical survey of the systems of classi- fication; a discussion of the aims and methods of classification; the nature of species, genera, and other groups, and the rules of nomen- clature; the preparation of taxonomic articles, involving the study of bibliography, synonymy, analytical keys, etc. These subjects re- ceive practical treatment in the laboratory, and to qualified students the unworked material of the State Laboratory of Natural History is available for study. Kratomological Literature. THE GENERA OF THE TORTRICIDAE AND THEIR TYPES. By C. H. Fernald, A. M., Ph.D. Published by the Author. This paper is the culmination of twenty years of work on this fam- ily of Microlepidoptera. It shows diligent and profound research into the literature of the subject. The synonomy of the genera is given. There has been much additional interest in the micro-moths in recent years and a work like this will be invaluable to future students. Notes and. Ne\vs. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE. THE next number of this Journal (No. 8) will appear October first August and September being omitted. A YOUNG son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Greenwood, residing at in Sprague street, in this city, has been troubled for some time with ear ache and pains in the head, which were ascribed to neuralgia. Recently Mrs. Greenwood, following instructions found in a medical book, dropped a few drops of sweet oil in the lad's ear. Within a short time the boy's ear began itching in a distressing manner, and a little later a live potato bug came out of the ear. It is believed that the bug found lodgment in the ear when the boy was playing on the grass some time last summer, as he has been troubled with his ear and head for some time past, and certainly the insect could not have found its way there since the advent of cold weather. It had penetrated the ear far enough to be out of sight and out of reach. — Jamestown Journal, Jamestown, N. Y., Jan., 10x18. 34° ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, 'o8 MR. PHILIP LAURENT is working as hard as usual. He always was an ardent collector. Now that he has retired from business he has more time to devote to entomology. SLEEPING HABIT OF A BEE. — Some years ago I published a short article on the sleeping habits of some Hymenoptera, and since then have made various observations on the same and other species. A few years ago I found a little black bee sleeping on the daisies near my place; at the time I could not get it named, but recently through the kindness of Prof. Cockerell I learn that it is Panurginus illinoi- ensis Robt. Only males have been found asleep ; they rest with the wings folded close to the body upon the yellow centre of the daisy. The first are found asleep about 6.30 P. M., and by 7 o'clock there are plenty of them. I notice the first specimens in the last few days of May, and they are found up to the middle of June. So soundly are they asleep, even before 7 o'clock, that one can frequently pick the flower and carry it about without disturbing the tired little slum- berer. — NATHAN BANKS. ANNOUNCEMENT of the third session of the Graduate School of Agriculture, to be held July 6-31, 1908, at Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., and the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, New York. Entomology will be in charge of the following gentle- men : Dr. L. O. Howard, chief, U. S. Bureau of Entomology ; Pro- fessor S. A. Forbes, professor of zoology, University of Illinois ; Professor M. V. Slingerland; assistant professor of economic ento- mology, Cornell University; P. J. Parrott, entomologist, New York Agricultural Experiment Station ; Dr. James G. Needham, assistant professor of limnology, Cornell University ; Dr. A. D. MacGillivray, assistant professor of entomology, Cornell University; Dr. W. A. Riley, assistant professor of entomology, Cornell University; Prof. E. Dwight Sanderson, director and entomologist, New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station ; Dr. E. P. Felt, State entomologist of New York. SAMIA RUBRA. — In the May number of the ENT. NEWS for 1907, page 214, I published a query as to the probability of the food plant influencing the color of this species and asked for help in the investi- gation. I was not successful in breeding this moth during 1907, and no one else has yet sent me any data respecting it. There is undoubtedly a local race of this species to be found in the interior of British Columbia, the general color of which is purple- brown above on all wings, whilst the underside is always grayish. Specimens from Los Angeles show ground color of a burnt sienna brown, which is reproduced in a darker shade on the underside. The markings of both forms are very variable, the only difference being July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 34! in the submarginal line which, instead of being deeply dentate as in the California species, has a tendency in the Northern form to lose this dentation, the line being a series of loops bent outwardly with, in some cases, a slight dentation between the veins. As the assembling of a large series of this genus is very cumber- some, may I ask some of our readers to send me particulars as to how far south this variety occurs? I have frequently been met with remarks from collectors to whom I have sent this form of rubra that it was nearer to gloveri than to the generally recognized form of rubra, but the two species are sufficiently distinct in the median lines to pre- vent any possibility of a mistake, but at the same time the northern form of rubra is so different in appearance to warrant a separation and possibly, when the investigation is carried to completion, even a new name. Living away from all sources of information, I am not in a posi- tion to examine the types of ceanothi, californica and euryalus, which Dyar gives as synonymous. Possibly some of these may have had more warrant for being considered good species than is at present accorded them. — J. WM. COCKLE, Kaslo, B. C. NOTES ON EREBIA AND EREBUS. — In my list of the species of this genus, the references to the immature stages were omitted. The life-history of but two of our species have been described and one of these incompletely. Tn his Butt. N. Am., Vol. Ill, W. H. Edwards minutely described the preparatory stages of E. cpipsodca and later H. H. Lyman (Can. Ent., Vol. XXVIII, p. 274) published the life-history of the same species, his descriptions differing somewhat from those of Edwards. The former writer has also partially described and figured the early stages of E. magdalcna. Thus it can easily be seen how much more remains to be learned of the immature stages of Erebia and careful breeding, I think, will eliminate several of our forms. The egg of Erebia is subconical in shape and irregularly marked with numerous raised vertical ridges. The larva, which feeds ex- clusively on grass, is cylindrical, tapering somewhat posteriorly, and the caudal segment, as in others of the Satyridac. is bifurcate. The pupa is usually of some shade of brown or gray, with the markings darker than the ground color. It is convex, dorsally and ventrally, and somewhat produced at the head. Pupation takes place freely about the roots of grass or on the ground. Several of our species as they now stand in our catalogues are hardly worthy of specific rank. The number of the ocelli and the degree of mottling on the inferior surface of the secondaries I would not consider of sufficient value for distinguishing species as in both cases variation tends to be extreme. 342 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Juty, '08 Rossi and fasciata will probably prove to be varieties of the Euro- pean disa. Ethela Edwards is a synonym of sofia Strecker and the van sine-ocellata Skinner is the brucei of Elwes. Vesagus which is found in some of our earlier lists as shown by Strecker is a South American species of Lymanopoda. Haydenii Edw. belongs to Coenonympha. Erebus odora Linn. The larva and pupa of this species have been described by Dr. Juan Gundlach in his Entomologia Cubana. In a note on odora, (Entom. Amer. v. 3, p. 78) H. T. Fernald gives Ficus trigonata as the food-plant in Jamaica and states that the larva is nocturnal in its habits, hiding in holes in the trunk during the day. Later (Ent. Am. v. 4, p. 36) he corrects this, saying that the larva in question was that of a sphinx. The egg and young larva were de- scribed in the latter article. Hy. Edwards (Bibliographical Cat. p. 98, 1888) gives Cassia fistula, Pithecolobium and Saman as food- plants. Odora has been widely recorded from the U. S. and Canada. It is not rare in Jamaica, West Indies and Brazil. In Ecuador it is said to occur commonly up to an elevation of 10,000 feet. The fact that fresh and newly-emerged specimens are taken at the extremes of its range, would indicate that it breeds, at least occa- sionally, in the north. Thysania (Erebus') zenobia is another huge exotic noctuid, even larger than the preceding, which has been found in a number of localities, including Ontario, Iowa, Ohio, and Dr. P. A. Hoy (Can. Ent. v. 9, p. 219) has recorded a 9 from near Racine, Wisconsin. — C. R. COOLIDGE. Doings of Societies. At the meeting of the Feldman Collecting' Social, held April 15, 1908, at the residence of Mr. H. W. Wenzel, No. 1523 So. I3th street, Philadelphia, the following were present : Prof. John B. Smith, Dr. D. M. Castle, Messrs. Harbeck, Kaeber, Greene, Laurent, H. W. Wenzel, H. A. Wenzel, Seiss, Schmitz, Viereck, Huntington and Haimbach, also Mr. Flottman, visitor. Vice-President Harbeck in the chair. Mr. C. T. Greene was elected to membership. Letters were read from Mr. Wm. D. Kearfott of Montclair, N. J. and Dr. Walter Horn of Berlin, Germany, thanking the Social for the Souvenir pamphlets sent them. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 343 Prof. Smith exhibited specimens and spoke about the work of Tetramorium caespitum, an introduced ant. Mr. Viereck spoke about cocoons found on Ailanthus trees at Island road, in the Southern section of the City, by Mr. Flott- man. These cocoons were similar in shape to the cocoons of Bombyx mori, and many of them were bunched together. Mr. Greene reported the capture of one specimen of Lebia fnrcata, a Californian species, in sweeping on golden rod, at Lehigh Gap, VII, 28. Mr. Greene also told of his observation of a red scale insect, on the Palms at Horticultural Hall. FRANK HAIMBACH, Secretary. At the meeting of the Feldman Social held May 20, 1908 at the residence of Mr. H. W. Wenzel, No. 1523 So. I3th street, Philadelphia, thirteen members were present. A letter from Prof. John B. Smith, addressed to Mr. H. A. Kaeber, was read, which referred to the cocoons spoken about in April meeting by Mr. Viereck, in which the Professor wrote that said cocoons are all Philosamia cynthia. It is the first time that he had seen this species make its cocoons in a bunch, and on examining the little mass, he found that most of the insects were dead and dry. In other words the caterpillars were sick when they were ready to spin up, and they formed an abnormal set of cocoons. Mr. H. W. Wenzel reported the capture of five specimens of Buprestis ultramarina on April 25th, at Malaga, N. J. Mr. Wenzel also spoke about a trip with Mr. Kearfott on May 3rd to the Wachung Mountains, and on May I7th to near Malaga, N. J. The same speaker referred to records of Buprestis decora from North Carolina on March ist, showing that the genus is a month or two later in appearing here than in North Carolina. Mr. Geo. Greene exhibited specimens of the following Cole- optera: Melasis pectinicornis Melsh., taken at Philada., V. 17 '08; Chromatia amoenia Say, Philada., V, 17, '08, and Cicin- dela limbalis Lee., Howell's Pond, N. J., IV, 27, '01 and Split Rock Lake, IV, 28, '01. 344 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [July, '08 Mr. Kaeber exhibited specimens of a scale insect on branches of cherry. Prof. Calvert submitted a plan for dividing the State of New Jersey into districts, for giving localities of insects, in New Jersey list to be published. Maps were shown indi- cating the localities as outlined by him. The plan was con- sidered a good one, but it was the opinion of all that rare spe- cies should be listed from the definite localities in which they have been taken. Prof. Calvert remarked that, according to Mr. Witmer Stone, the floras of the Delaware River Valley, and of the coastal strip (excluding the beaches) are identical, but that the flora of the Pine Barrens is distinct. Mr. Haimbach exhibited his collection of the Crambinae of North America, showing sixty-six species. Mr. Haimbach pointed out the species Eufernaldia cadercllus Druce, which was described in Biol. Cent. Am. II, p. 290, 1896, and sub- sequently by Dr. Hulst in Jour. N. Y. Ent. Soc., VIII, p. 224, 1900. Crambu? bidens and multilineelus were also reported hav- ing been collected in South New Jersey by Mr. E. Daecke. Mr. Harbeck exhibited specimens of Spilomyia fusca, longi- cornis, quadrifasciata and hamata, species of a genus of Dip- tera that mimic wasps very closely. Mr. Geo. Greene stated with reference to his communica- tion at Feldman meeting of March i8th, that he had over- looked a record of Platypeza ornatipes Townsend, (not Aid- rich) by Mr. Johnson, at North Mountain, Pa., thus making his record from Lehigh Gap the second instead of first rec- ord for Pennsylvania. FRANK HAIMBACH, Secretary. A meeting of the Harrisburg Natural History Association, Entomological Division, was held on Thursday evening, May 1 4th, in the rooms of the Division of Economic Zoology. Har- ris B. Schick presented a paper, entitled "The Apple and Forest Tent Caterpillars," W. R. Walton read a paper called "Notes July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 345 on the Life History of Nonagria oblonga (Grote)." [Pub- lished in the present number of ENT. NEWS]. He ex- hibited specimens of the insect in its various stages, as well as some drawings of the same. Prof. G. N. C. Henschen gave an interesting talk on "The Psychic Powers of Ants," illustrating his remarks with citations from Lubbock and Forel. There was a fair attendance. Chairman A. F. Satterthwait presided. W. R. WALTON, Secretary. The Entomological Division of the Harrisburg Natural His- tory Asso., met in the rooms of the Division of Zoology at the Capitol, on the evening of June n, 1908, at 8 o'clock, Mr. A. F. Satterthwait presiding. Mr. H. L. Viereck gave a most interesting and instructive talk on the "The House fly and the Possibility of its Extermination." He told of its habits, its part in the spread of disease as known from experiments and from its work at the Chickamauga concentration camp where he became a victim of the fever. In view of the enormous money losses alone from the ravages of typhoid, he thinks that a crusade against the house fly would be a paying investment for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The proper treating and enclosing of all manure accumulations in cities could easily be accomplished and would go a long way toward the abate- ment of the fly nuisance in town. Mr. W. R. Walton exhibit- ed several specimens of the peculiar Ortalid fly Myrmecomyia myrmecoides (Loew). He said that in view of the fact that Aldrich gives no note of its distribution except a reference to its type locality (D. C. ) and that it does not appear in Smith's list of N. J. Insects it might be well to record its capture. The specimens, five in all were taken in the immediate vicinity of Harrisburg, three of them on blackberry blossoms, one on the trunk of a locust tree and one on wild rose and all in close prox- imity to locust trees. Mr. P. H. Hertzog gave an account of his troubles with the wire-worms which are very troublesome about Harrisburg this year. W. R. WALTON, Secretary. 346 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Juty. '08 The April meeting of the Heink Entomological Club of St. Louis, Mo., took place at the residence of Mr. Paul Schroers on the 24th of the month, Mr. Heink in the chair. Mr. Schroers exhibited a large number of parts of Dr. Seitz's great work "The Butterflies of the World," which were inspected with more than usual interest. This work should enjoy an ever-increasing sale among all lovers of Lepidoptera. The color plates are executed with artistic excellence and true to life, while the descriptive matter is highly entertaining and instructive. Mr. Schroers has generously decided to con- tribute a copy of this work to the Club's library. Mr. Poepping exhibited several well prepared life histories of Pyramcis and Grapta. Mr. Kelbly reported that he had last season found larvae of T. Polyphemus on a wild plum tree. The May meeting of the Heink Entomological Club of St. Louis, Mo., occurred at the residence of Mr. Geo. Graf on the 21 st, Mr. Heink presiding. Mr. Heink introduced the subject of a field day. It was decided to hold the same on May 3ist, at Creve Coeur Lake, Mo., 23 miles from St. Louis. This is a resort of great nat- ural beauty, comprising a lake, bordered on one side by very high wooded bluffs, while on the opposite shore woodland and meadow contrive to offer the naturalist a variety of opportuni- ties. Colleague Mr. Geo. Akerlind of Chicago described this lo- cality at some length in the March, 1907, number of the ENTO- MOLOGICAL NEWS. Mr. Knetzger exhibited a pair of Pamphila dclaivare, taken last July at Falling Springs, 111., five miles east of St. Louis. P. delaware should be added to the "List of Butterflies of St. Louis and vicinity" in which it was not mentioned. A dis- cussion followed concerning the reason why P. delaware, found abundantly at Falling Springs, has never yet, to our knowl- edge, been seen on the west side of the Mississippi, notwith- standing the fact, that topography and flora here are in many places identical with those of Falling Springs, notably so at Creve Coeur Lake, Meramec Highlands and the cliffs south of the city. July, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 347 Mr. Graf read a paper on his observations of metamorphoses among various orders. According to reports from various sources neither A. olym- pia nor A. genutia were seen this season, altho' eagerly sought. AUG. KNETZGER, Secretary. The Brooklyn Entomological Society met April 2, 1908, at 55 Stuyvesant ave., Brooklyn with President Pearsall presiding and 18 members present. Mr. Geo. Franck spoke on "Insects Characteristic of the Mountain Regions of New York with their relation to some low land species." His material came mainly from Sullivan County. At 800 feet altitude, Satyrus alope began to mingle with intermediate forms. From 1500 feet alope was replaced entirely by nephele. The two typical species never met but the intermediates bred freely with the type forms which they en- countered. Mr. Dow noted that at Claremont, N. H., only alope occurred, the elevation being 900 to 1500 feet. Mr. Eng- elhardt observed that at the base of the White Mountains, prob- ably 3000 to 3500 feet, all Satyrus were nephele. Mr. Franck showed a long series of Argynnis from Sul- livan County, cybele, grading into aphrodite and aphrodite into alcestis, as altitude increased. His series of Basilarchia showed no such gradations. Prof. J. B. Smith noted that at Del- aware Water Gap arthemis and astyanax were found but pros- erpina did not occur. Mr. Pearsall noted that at Big Indian Valley, Catskills, where proserpina was plentiful, neither of the others occurred. He claimed positively that proserpina was a good species. Professor Smith admitted that at least in some localities proserpina met perfectly the generally accepted de- finition of a "species." Mr. Franck dissented and stated that at least one of his female arthemis from Sullivan County could not be distinguished from the type of the newly described Basilarchia astyanax, variety albofasciata Newcomb. Members of the society have an albofasciata 9 from Staten Island, and a $ from New Brunswick, N. J., altitude in both cases being less than 150 feet. Astyanax is a lowland species, arthemis a mountain dweller. Mr. Dow claimed that a constant difference between the two albofasciata seen by him and all the arthemis in many long series was the presence in the former of the blue or green 348 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Juty. '°8 over-sheen within the white band. The same portion of ar- thcmis is invariably a duller brownish, without the iridescence common to both on the outer portion of the wings. R. P. Dow, Recording Secretary. The Brooklyn Entomological Society met May 7, 1908 at 55 Stuyvesant Avenue, Brooklyn, Vice-president Graef in the chair and eleven members present. The discussion of the previous month on Basilarchia was renewed. Mr. Frank Watson has a fine series from Niagara Falls including one specimen squarely between astyanax and alb of as data. Both Mr. Franck and Mr. Doll have undoubted hybrids between astyanax and disippits. From Flatbush in 1907 chrysalids from willows were generally astyana.v. Very few disippus were seen in the region that year. Chrysalids from wild cherry were all astyanax. Mr Schott captured at Huntington, L. I. Anatrichns minntits, a beetle normally living in the Gulf states. He took at Jamaica, L. I. Ip& confluentus, a species not recorded in Smith's New Jersey list. Mr. Bather reported on a trip of three months through Mexico and touching at Havana and Miami, Florida. In the Mexican mountains there was an absolute dearth of insects of all orders, not even aphids on the rose tips. This was at- tributed to the extreme dry weather. A clay's stay at Orizaba, Mexico, yielded good results. An excellent box-ful contain- ing no duplicates came from a single sequestered spot in the grounds of Morro Castle, Havana. Collecting was good in Miami in March. He had an aberrant Eumacus atala from Miami in which canary yellow replaced the normally bright red abdomen and spots on the under side of the wings. R. P. Dow, Recording Secretary. OBITUARY. FRIEDRICH WILHELM KONOW Friedrich Wilhelm Konow of Teschendorf, Germany, the distinguished scholar and Hymenopterist, who worked speci- ally in the Tenthredinoidea, died March i8th hist. An account of his life is published in the May number of the Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift. OCTOBER, 1908. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Vol. XIX. No. 8. Halter americana Cockerell. EDITOR : HENRY SKINNER, M. D. PHILIP P. CALVERT, Ph.D., Associate Editor. ADVISORY COMMITTEE: EZRA T. CRKSSON. HKNRY L. VIERECK. J. A. G. RHHN. PHII.IP I./CURENT. WILI.rAM J. FOX. H. W. WENZEL. PHILADELPHIA: ENTOMOLOGICAL ROOMS OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, LOGAN SQUARE. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as Second-Class Matter ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Published monthly, excepting August and September, in charge of the Entomo- logical Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and the American Entomological Society. ANNUAL, SUBSCRIPTION, $1.OO IN ADVANCE. Outside of the United States and Canada, $1.20. SINGLE COPIES 15 CENTS Advertising Rates: 30 cents per square inch, single insertion ; a liberal discount on longer insertions. No advertisement taken for less than 60 cents — Cash in advance. All remittances should be addressed to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, Academy of Natural Sciences, ]9th and Race Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. CHOICE PAPILIOS Papilio androclcs .......................... 2.00 blumeii ............................ 7.50 bitddha ............................. 60 ascalapits 50 50 milon ............................... 25 Paris ............................... 50 Papilio heleims ->> f>h \lens yo hephaesius .50 heliconides. male i.oa " " female 1.2,^ Automerus pamina j QQ Crinodes biedermaui male and female, per pair / " male and female, per pair One pair of each in perfect condition. Extra fine specimens of Phyllium siccifoliiau (leaf insects) from $1.00 The above listed specimens are in papers, in perfect condition. Send 12 cents additional with each order to cover the postage. 3.5V JOHN H. MATTHEWS, 3219 N. 13th Street PHILADELPHIA. PA. I'll be happy in Corrrsponding and Exchanging Papers and Material of Study with Economic Entomologists, and especially with Miriopologists and Acarologists. — Prof. Carlos E. Porter, Casillo 2352, Santiago, Chile CATALOGUE OF THE NEUROPTEROID INSECTS (EXCEPT ODONATA) OF THE UNITED STATES BY NATHAN BANKS Complete to Summer of 1907 Price 50 cts. (net) per copy Mailed on receipt of price *Send for copy of New Additions Price List; just issued. E. T. CRESSON, Treas., P. O. Box 248, Philadelphia, Pa. When Writing Please Mention "Entomological News." ENT. NKWS, VOL. XIX. Plate XIV. 6 A NEW CECIDOMYIID ON OAK-RUSSELL AND HOOKER. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. XIX. OCTOBER, 1908. No. 8. CONTENTS: Russell and Hooker — A new Cecido- myiid on Oak 349 Mitzmain — Insect Transmission of Bu- bonic Plague : a study of the San Francisco Epidemic 353 Sherman— Notes on Tiger Beetles and Klevations 360 Brues — The occurrence of the Remark- able Braconid genus Helorimorpha in America 363 Howard — Upon the Aphis-feeding spe- cies of Aphelinus 365 Durv— An interesting new Agrilus from Cincinnati. Ohio 368 Porter— A List of Local Lepidoptera found at Decorah, Iowa 369 Johnson and Rohwer — Colorado Bem- bicidae 373 Mil/main — Synopsis and Bibliography of California Siphonaptera 380 Davis — Standards of the number of eggs laid by Insects — VII 383 Editorial 384 Entomological Literature 385 Notes and News 386 Doings of Societies 389 Obituary — Prof. Paul Biolley 394 Simon H. M. Seib 396 Monsieur P. A. P. Finot.... 396 Prof. Gustav Mayr 396 A New Cecidomyiid on Oak. BY H. M. RUSSELL AND C. W. HOOKER, Massachusetts Agricultural College, Amherst, Mass. (Plate XIV) This insect was discovered by Mr. W. V. Tower, in July, 1905, working on the leaves of a black oak. He began observa- tion on its life history but was called away and the work was taken up by Mr. H. M. Russell. Mr. Russell had practically finished, except for describing the adult, when he left to take a position with the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the subject was placed in my hands to complete. In addition to verifying Mr. Russell's observations, I have described the adult, which Mr. E. P. Felt kindly determined as a new species. The gall which it forms has been described by Osten Sacken as C. crubescens.* This species of gallfly is very abundant on a black oak ( (Jitcr- cus coccinac var. tinctoria group) growing near the Presi- dent's house on the college grounds. This oak is in a small clump of red oaks, none of which have become infested; this seems to indicate that this Cecidomyia will feed only on black *Mon. N. A. Dipt. I, p. 200, n. 20, 1862, "Folded margin of an oak leaf, tinged with red. This deformation seems to resemble that of C. quercus Lw. on the European oaks. Occurs in the spring." 349 35° ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 oak, as the infested tree harbors many thousands of the larvae and under its branches, the adults are found in swarms. Every leaf is infested, by from one to over one hundred, as high up as one can climb, certainly within ten feet of the top ; but the in- festation at the highest point is not as extensive as that of the lower limbs. Cecidomyia (?) foliora n. sp.* Female. — Length, 1.95 to 2.55 mm. Antennae of 14 segments, length •95 to .99 mm. ; the two basal segments light yellow, the others brown, thickly clothed with coarse brown hairs. Face bright orange- red; back of head with a fringe of dark brown setae. Mesonotum Van Dyke brown, with pale submedian lines, sparsely covered with fine setae. Sternum, pro and metapleura light brown, mesopleura dark brown. Abdomen with the five basal segments bright orange-red, thence gra- dually fading to a light yellow at the apex and lemon yellow on the protrusible ovipositor; — within a few days the color of the ovipositor often darkens to an orange-red. Surface sparsely clothed with yellow setae. Legs light yellow, thickly covered with dark brown pubescence. Male. — Length, 1.20 to 1.65 mm. Antennae 1.50 to 1.65 mm. Scutel- lum orange-red; pleura pale brownish yellow, mesopleura marked with black. Abdomen orange-brown. The large bright orange-red abdomen and larger size of the females, make them quite conspicuous among the smaller males with their dull-colored abdomens. The color darkens within a few days after collecting, so that fresh material is necessary for identification ; the gall, however, is quite characteristic and cannot be mistaken. Described from nineteen specimens on eight pins, and from sixteen specimens mounted on six microscopic slides — eighteen male and seventeen female cotypes. These have been deposited as follows: Two females and one male (one slide), and two females and three males (two pins) in the collection of the United States National Museum at Washington, D. C. ; two females and one male (one slide), and two females and three males (two pins) in the collection of the New York State En- tomologist, Albany, N. Y. ; the remainder — five females and five males (four slides), and four females and five males (four pins) in the collection of the Massachusetts Agricultural College. * Foliora from folium, leaf and ora, edge. Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 351 Six females and seventeen males (six slides) and five females and six males (six pins) from the same series have been marked Paratypes and are in the collection of the Massachusetts Ag- ricultural College, as are also slides of the early stages. This insect may ultimately prove to belong to another genus, but I follow Dr. Felt (in litt.) in referring it tentatively to Cecidomyia. LIFE HISTORY. Adult. — The adult insect emerges from the ground from May i to 20, and all have disappeared by June I. In the spring of 1908, the author caught five adults May 4, and by May n the insects were found under the tree in thousands, being so numerous that it was only neces- sary to sweep an open cyanide jar over the top of and through the grass to obtain all the specimens desired. The adults appear just as the leaves begin to unfold. For a time, after emerging, large numbers will be found in the early morning and on wet days especially, under the tree, but as it gets warmer and the dew dries off, they rise among the branches. They have a feeble flight, however, and do not fly out beyond the borders of the tree. When the leaves are one to two inches long, the females fly to the leaves and begin to lay their eggs, for the most part on the under side. Eggs. — The eggs are laid without any regular order, attached to the leaf by the posterior pole and placed diagonally to the plane of the leaf surface. The egg is minute, appearing to the eye like a reddish protuberance. Under the microscope it is seen to be almost perfectly oval, .27 mm. long and .09 mm. wide. The surface is smooth and the egg shell transparent, the reddish color more intense at one end, being due to the larva inside. Most of the eggs are scattered irregularly between the veins on the lower surface, but a few are generally laid, ap- parently by chance, on the upper side. From fifty leaves, an average of seventy eggs was obtained for each, with not over six on the upper side, but the total number varied from forty to one hundred and twenty. On one leaf, an inch and three-quarters of in inch wide, there were two hundred and eighty-one eggs on the lower saiface and one hundred and seventy-five on the upper. This, however, is an exceptional case. Larva. — The larva hatches in from four to six days, the time varying with the weather. The body is pale orange, the head a shade darker. Length .27 mm.; width .TO mm. They go at once to the edge of the leaf, or to any hole in it, and begin to feed on the upper surface. After about four days of this feeding, the edge beings to curl over on to the upper surface, forming a roll, the upper side of which becomes 352 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 more or less reddish. Within this roll, the larva continues to feed, extending the roll as it grows. Occasionally, a young larva feeds for a time in a circle on the exposed surface of the leaf, causing it to become reddish and wrinkled. By May 22, nearly all the leaves near the ground show the rolls, which in some cases, nearly encircle the leaf, while in others, they may be about one-quarter of an inch long. In one roll, an inch long, twenty-five larvae were found ; while in others, only a few were present. As a rule, the longer the roll, the fewer insects they contain relatively. The insects remain in the larval stage through the summer, becoming full grown by the last of September or first of October, when all but those parasitized descend into the ground and pupate to pass the winter. In exceptional cases, perfect larvae are not able to escape from the roll in the fall, and so pass the winter in the gall, emerging at the usual time in the spring through cracks or punc- tures in the drier rolls. Parasites. — This gallfly is attacked by a chalcid egg parasite which appears at the same time in swarms almost as large as those of the host. The female chalcid walks around among the Cecidomyia eggs touching them rapidly with her antennae and stopping every now and then to insert her ovipositor and lay an egg in one of the host eggs, but neg- lects those surrounding it. A species of mite was also found to be very abundant under and on the tree, and though it was not seen attacking eggs or larva, con- ditions were such that it may be considered as possibly a parasite. EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIV. 1. Lower side of leaf showing galls, half natural size. 2. First stage of larva, not over six days old; just beginning to form galls on oak leaves. X 190. 3. Wing of C. foliora. X 25. 4. Segment of antenna of male; greatly enlarged. 5. "Wishbone" of full grown larva ; greatly enlarged. 6. Dorsal view of head of full grown larva ; greatly enlarged. MOSQUITOES INVADE CITY. — Swarm Comes to Town and Plays Havoc Before Storm. — Just before the heavy storm last night a large swarm of mosquitoes flew into the city and caused a great deal of annoyance and plenty of work for physicians in the hospitals of the northeast section. In about fifteen minutes after the swarm struck the city the hospitals began to receive patients with their faces and hands so badly swollen that it was necessary in some cases to lance them to draw out the sting of the bite. On Girard Avenue, east of Belgrade Street, the pests stripped all the trees of their leaves. After they had passed the trees looked as though autumn had come. — Philadelphia Press, July 24, 1908. [!!!] Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 353 Insect Transmission of Bubonic Plague : a Study of the San Francisco Epidemic. BY M. B. MITZMAIN, B.S. The role of the flea in the transmission of bubonic plague lends particular interest to observations on the species of fleas infesting rats in the San Francisco epidemic. In the present campaign of rodent extermination eighteen hundred rats have been examined by the writer. From the lat- ter part of August to December ist he spent much of his time in the plague-infected districts of San Francisco and other towns where the existence of the plague was suspected. In this connection an effort was made to locate the source of the rat and flea introduction into the infected regions. SOURCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES OF FLEAS. From coasting ships and river steamers the common flea ob- tained was of the species Ceratophyllns fasciatus Bosc, and those collected from ships from oriental ports were of the species Ctenopsylla musculi Duges and Pule.r cheopis Roth. There appeared to be a definite invasion of the introduced spe- cies. Along the water front and east to the Latin quarter in San Francisco there came to my obseravtion certain evidence of flea introduction. As far as could be determined the orien- tal rat flea seemed to disappear east of this line within ten city blocks, and only the common rat flea, Ceratophyllus fasciatus. made its appearance. In outlying districts I have not succeeded in collecting ship rat fleas. I have secured negative evidence to determine that the foreign fleas are alone responsible for plague transmission. On twenty plague rats not one of the alien species was obtained. The flea in evidence was that com- mon to the Pacific coast, Ceratophyllns fasciatus. This spec ir- is the predominant rat flea in the counties bordering the bay. It was collected in San Francisco, Oakland, Point Richmond, and in districts where plague had been reported by the local health boards. At Point Richmond nineteen rat fleas were col- lected in a warehouse which was a probable source of human plague, and all proved to be the common species. From one in- 354 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 fected rat (Mus de cum anus} taken from old Chinatown, nine- ty fleas were obtained, eighty-five per cent, of which were C. fasciatus. In Oakland, Alameda and Berkeley the rat flea C. fasciatus predominates to a marked degree. Ninety-five per cent, are the common species, the remainder being for the greater part Ctenocephalus canis, the cat and dog flea. Ctenopsylla musculi Duges is suspected of being a recent immigrant. This species was first collected in North America by Dr. Duges from a seaport town in Mexico. It was origin- ally described as a new species with the name Ctenopsylla mexi- cana. It is, however, synonymous with Ctenopsylla musculi. This species was found principally on ships from the orient and on one ship which came from Mexican ports Ctenopsylla musculi was found. It is found along the harbor front and one-half mile inland. Rats from the orient are no doubt re- sponsible for its introduction into San Francisco. Pule.v chcopis Roth, originally was collected by Rothschild in Egypt, but is universal in its distribution. It has been recorded from southern Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, but never from North America. This is the flea which is charged with eighty to ninety per cent, of insect transmission of plague in India. It was collected from ships in the harbor which had visited ports in the Philippines, Japan and Hawaii. It was col- lected in San Francisco two blocks from the water front on Mus decumanus, the brown rat. On shipboard its host was found to be the black rat, Mus rattus. On land it was found in company with Ctenopsyllus musculi on rats from a water front grain warehouse. Nine species of this flea, Pulex cheopis, were received from Assistant Surgeon Ebert, who removed them from his person. Dr. Ebert is an officer in the United States Public Health and Marine Hospital Service and employed in plague quarantine on ships from the orient and South America. It was while on duty sulfuring the holds of the S. S. "Mon- golia" that he first became aware of the attacks of the parasites. Fortunately for the victim, the "Mongolia" enjoyed a clean bill of health. The significance of the oriental flea introduction may be appreciated by the fact that eight or ten cases of the Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 355 plague have been removed from shipboard since the present San Francisco epidemic. Ctenocephalus canis Curtis on rats appears to be more nu- merous in the metropolis than on rats collected in the trans bay region. This species was perhaps contributed to the rat by its feline and canine hunters. This accounts probably for the greater number of Ctenocephalus canis found on rats in the more densely populated, quarters. On shipboard Ctenocephal- us canis was never collected from rodent hosts. The ship cat is not reputed to be a rat hunter. The constant petting and feeding by the sailors does not stimulate hunting natural prey and the inaccessibility of holds of vessels is a substantial check to rat catching. Thus an interchange of parasites between the two animals was not to be expected nor in any instance has it been known to occur. Numerous ship pets inadvertently left in the cabins during fumigation proved victims to the sulfur fumes. One species of flea only, the cat flea, was found on these. Relatively few fleas of the human species Pulex irritans Linn, were obtained from live or dead rats. It was the least numerous of all the fleas found on animal hosts. Those collected were harbored by brown rats in a grain warehouse and stable in San Francisco. In the study of ship rat fleas twenty-five vessels were in- spected and methods of rat extermination investigated. The vessels in every instance were thoroughly sealed and fumigated with three per cent. SO2 gas obtained from burning crude sul- fur. The rats when exposed to five hours of sulfuring are blinded after the third hour, when they scamper about to escape the deadly fumes before they succumb. Invariably the dead rats are found with opaque lenses, — an evidence of blindness before death. Formerly three hours was the length of expos- ure to sulfur fumigation. The rats were rarely killed, but mere- ly rendered stupid by the fumes and men with clubs killed them. Upon collecting these rats I found that the fleas soon revived and gave evidence of their activity when the contain- ers were opened. It was concluded that three hours' exposure 356 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 was not sufficint to kill the parasites in this peculiar environ- ment. It appeared that a blanket of pure air enveloped the rodent's body which the gas would not penetrate in the three hours of sulfuring. After these facts were established an exposure to five hours was the minimum time set. In an expos- ure to five hours this hypothetical layer of air surrounding the animal's body was presumably destroyed and the fleas exposed directly to the sulfur fumes. Endeavoring to escape, the fleas would jump about when the rats became blind and succumbed to the slowly penetrating sulfur fumes. Some \vere found on the floors of the holds and the comparatively few fleas found on the rat were asphyxiated in attempting to extricate them- selves or jumped on the rat from the floor when the deadly fumes were becoming effective. Evidence of this was obtained in the fact that all the specimens collected from the rats wrere found clinging to the ends of the hairs. When a vessel had received its fourth or fifth fumigation, providing the captain had observed the legal precautions (keep- ing the vessel fended off six feet and wearing rat guards on all her lines when alongside the docks) the rats aboard proved to be a negligible quantity. Efforts were taken under these circumstances to collect the fleas directly from the holds by means of fly-paper wound about the shoe tops of a person who walked through holds and between decks. This method proved ineffectual for trapping purposes, though it is followed with success when fleas are plentiful. The claim made — perhaps on unsubstantiated evidence — that live fleas invariably leave the dead body of a rat is considered untenable. I have found fifteen live fleas on the carcasses of forty black and brown rats. These had been cold for thirty-six hours, showing signs of de- composition. Dr. Hobdy, Chief Quarantine Officer of the United States Public Health and Marine Hospital Service, lo- cated a number of dead rats in a stable near the harbor. Four of these were examined by him and showed about sixty live fleas in the cervical region of each. These rats had been dead for at last forty-eight hours, infested as they were with half- grown larvae of blow flies. At the City Board of Health head- Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 357 quarters and the district plague sub-stations live fleas have been taken from numerous rats (as many as ninety-seven from a single rat) which had been dead from periods ranging from eighteen to sixty hours. The British Indian Plague Commission has demonstrated beyond a doubt the method of rat flea plague transmission. Hundreds of plague rat fleas have been carefully dissected and their internal organs minutely inspected for any evidence of plague bacilli. The salivary glands, the theoretical centre of infection, were, after many painstaking attempts, successfully isolated from the body cavity. These were examined and a plague like organism was found within the secretory ducts. In addition, many fleas were crushed and inoculated into healthy animals. These latter, in every instance where the fleas had been removed from plague rats, succumbed to typical plague lesions. It was taken for granted upon experimental evidence that the transmission was due directly to the co-operation of the salivary glands in the action of the blood-sucking mandibles and epipharynx. In a second series of experiments the commission attempted to test further the validity of this theory. Live fleas were re- moved from septicemic Plague Rats and placed in small vials covered with flea net gauze. A flea-clean healthy animal was selected and from a small area on the back the hair was shaved. The mouth of the vial was then placed against the smooth skin and the flea permitted to bite through the gauze, After biting, the insect was immediately withdrawn and the animal placed in a flea-proof cage and observed. A similar animal was taken and treated in an identical manner, but im- mediately on withdrawing the flea, after it had bitten, a plati- num needle loopful of a plague flea's intestinal evacuation was rubbed into the bite. These experiments were duplicated and the results showed a marked uniformity. In no instance did the flea bite alone prove fatal, but in a large percentage the bites which were accompanied by the inoculation of the intes- tinal discharges caused a rapid death with post mortem plague positive verifications. It appears, then, that the disease trans- 358 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct. , '08 mission from rat to man is due essentially to the introduction of the intestinal evacuations into the bite of the flea. It is the "rubbing it in" which is significant. In the first experiments performed by the British Indian Plague Commission a technical oversight was suffered in their premature conclusions concerning the infectivity of the sali- vary glands. In this instance the investigators neglected to provide control measures. A bacteriological determination of the natural flora of the healthy flea's salivary glands should have been first obtained. I have isolated from the body cavity of this insect in the normal state numerous bipolar rod organ- isms resembling the plague bacilli. Experimentally an insect like the Stom o.vys, the stable fly, affords a good medium for transmission of Bacillus pcstis. In the laboratory one can inoculate the stable fly by feeding plague cadaver. In this respect the flea is not a good subject, as it seems to prefer starvation to feeding on cadaverous tissue. By keeping the plague meat moist with sterile broth the fly is able to subsist for six to ten days. An examination of the proboscis and intestinal tracts of a fly thus nourished reveals innumerable plague-like organisms, proving also culturally positive. The Stomo.vys which commonly bites man could transmit Bacillus pestis directly through the proboscis from the salivary glands. The intestinal discharges would be vastly greater in volume of bacterial content than even those of the flea, which is reputed to evacuate ten to one hundred thousand bacilli per cc. Consequently, the rubbing process in the case of the fly would have to be reckoned with. The question arises in what environment, in nature, would the flies be exposed to contamination by plague. We know that rats devour each other ; that the weak and sick are at all times exposed to the attacks of the stronger. Thompson, Journal of Hygiene (1906, Vol. vi., 550) makes the statement that in Bombay at the Plague Laboratory more than eight per cent, of the rat car- cases brought in had been devoured by their fellows, and sometimes so completely that nothing but head, paws, tail and skin remained. The cadavers of plague rats, as we have seen in San Francisco, are soon torn open, and the viscera exposed. Many of these have been found in harbor front stables covered with flies. The stable fly will feed on the plague tissue thus Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 359 presented when live tissue is not directly available. A bite from the fly after such infection would indeed prove disastrous. Careful observers have noted in the history of an outbreak- in its incipiency that it becomes effective in this wise : First, it is observed that an unusually large number of rats in a cer- tain locality come out into the open and, acting queerly, un- conscious of the presence of enemies, die in a short time. Then ensues a lull of several days, followed by the illness of the first human victims. It is during this lull in the history of a plague epidemic that there appears to exist an abnormal supply of rat fleas. This latter fact is amply illustrated from incidents in the San Francisco epidemic. In the early part of the cam- paign Dr. William Wherry, Bacteriologist of the San Fran- cisco Health Department, collected one hundred and eighty fleas from two rats sent in from the Latin Quarter, a pest- ridden district. On four rats taken from Meigg's wharf in San Francisco there were counted approximately two hundred and forty fleas. Three of these rats were autopsied and one was found to have a pronounced case of plague, verified by Dr. Hobdy, U. S. A., clinically and bacteriologically. Under nor- mal conditions and in districts removed from plague, the rats harbor an average of three or four fleas. Observations were taken to determine whether rat fleas will bite the human. Baker states (Proc. U. S. Nat. A'lus. '05) that rat fleas in America were never known to bite man. Since we know definitely how the plague is transmitted from rat to man it must be taken for granted at the outset that man has been rat flea bitten in many instances, as the San Francisco official plague records will show. Specific instances can be cited. In the improvised bacteriological laboratory of the San Francisco Health Department hundreds of dead and live ro- dents were brought daily. Fleas from these rats hopped freely about the floors and work tables, making things irritable for attendants and health officers. On shipboard nine specimens of rat fleas were collected preying on one of the surgeons in the United States Public Health Marine Hospital Service. My personal experiences contribute the fact that rat fleas taken directly from live rats or even rats which have been dead for several hours, will not bite the human until they have been per- mitted to starve in a test tube for two days or longer. 360 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 Notes on Tiger-Beetles and Elevations. FRANKLIN SHERMAN, JR., Dept. Agric., Raleigh, N. C. In company with Air. C. S. Brimley, I spent the first two weeks of May this year (1908), in the southern part of the mountainous region of western North Carolina, for purposes of zoological exploration. This region contains some of the highest peaks and ranges of the entire Appalachian mountain system, and as it is near the southern terminus of the system, it furnishes an excellent field for observations on the effect of elevation upon distribution. During the trip the counties of Transylvania, Jackson, Macon and Cherokee were collected in to greater or lesser extent, the localities ranging from 2,000 to 4,300 feet elevation. The season was undoubtedly too early for the best observa- tions on some species of Tiger-beetles, but certain ones which were observed, especially C. purpurea, seemed to show such definite limits of distribution, that it seems worth while to place these observations on record. Oicindela repanda. Already recorded throughout all the western two-thirds of the state, and at various elevations, but is generally restricted to lighter-colored soils, gravels, sands, etc., in vicinity of streams. One specimen was taken along roadside on moun- tain at Andrews at about 2,500 feet elevation. The only water near was small rills, hardly large and deep enough for me to find opportunity to drink. At Lake Toxaway, 3,000 feet ele- vation, several specimens were taken along shores of lake. Cicindela sexguttata. The specimens collected on the trip may belong to the variety harrisi. The species was frequently taken, and still more fre- quently seen, at various elevations from 2,000 to 3,500 feet. At Andrews in Cherokee County it was a common species on the lower parts of a mountain road, being mingled at the high- er elevations with splendid a and pur pur ea. It was also com- mon at an elevation of 2,500 to 3,000 feet along road from Highlands to Franklin, in Macon County, and was also taken at Blantyre, Transylvania County, and at Aquone, Macon County. Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 361 Cicindela vnlgaris. This species which is found throughout at least the greater part of the state occurs principally in early spring and in fall. Only one specimen was taken, — at Andrews, Cherokee County along a mountain road at about 2,'5oo feet elevation. This species is on record from so many parts of the state that it was not specially sought for or noticed on this trip. It was probably present at other places. Cicinnela unipunctata. This species has been recorded from our N. C. mountains before, but this was the first time I had ever taken it. Four specimens were taken at Andrews, at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 feet. In accordance with the observations of others we did not find it in hot, open, sunny places, but in shady corners, or where shade was close at hand. Possibly it does not usually become active until dusk. Cicindela patruela. Henshaw's check-list gives this as a variety of 6-guttata, but Leng, in his Revision, regards it as distinct. It averages larger than 6-guttata, has the middle band complete, and in this state is known only from the mountain region while 6-guttata has been taken in all sections. One specimen of patruela was taken at Blantyre, Transylvania County, at the very top of a mountain at about 3,000 feet elevation. I do not recall ever having taken this species at less than 2.000 or 2.500 feet, and I have come to consider it as a strictly mountain species in this state. Cicindela splendida. Henshaw lists this as one of the many varieties of purpurea, but Leng recognizes it as a distinct species, with which my observations agree, though the two may be connected by in- termediate forms in other sections. Splendida averages small- er, is quite local in its distribution, is decidedly different in color, (the dorsum of prothorax being bright green, and not cupreous as in purpurca) is found (in this State) at lower ele- vations, and is in my experience a quicker, more wary species and harder to capture. Several were observed along the road from Highlands to Franklin in Macon County. But it was 362 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 on a road going- up a mountain at Andrews that we found it most common. Here it was abundant between elevations of about 2,500 to 3,500 feet. At the lower part of this range it was mingled with about equal numbers of se.vguttata, and at the higher elevations a few purpurca were found with it. My first specimens were taken in this same part of the State several years ago and I have come to regard it as mainly a mountain species, though I have taken it at two localities fully a hundred miles east of the mountains. Cicindela purpurea. Even before this trip, I had come to regard purpurca as one of the typically northern insects which ranges in our state only along the higher ridges. I first took it here (six years ago) at an elevation of about 4,000 feet, and it reminded me forcibly of western New York State where I first knew it. I have on other occasions taken it at other places in North Carolina but only at high, cool elevations. On this trip I took special note of its occurrence. It was taken at five different localities but in every case at elevations of not less (as best I could deter- mine) than 3,000 feet. At Sapphire, (Jackson County) where the whole county is a plateau of about 3,000 feet elevation, it was found at ordinary levels. At Aquone, which is a much broken section it was found on ridges above the valleys at about 3,000 feet and upwards. At Blantyre, our only specimen was taken at about 3,000 feet on the top of the same mountain with our one specimen of patruela. In driving from Highlands to Franklin (Macon County) we traversed country ranging from 2,200 to 4,000 feet. Purpurea was encountered several times at the higher elevations but not seen at all at the lower levels. At Andrews in ascending a mountain road we found our first specimens at about 3,000 feet and it was found from there to the top at about 4,000 feet. It is of course unsafe to draw sweeping conclusions from the casual observations of a few weeks, but my experience on this trip, as well as others before, leads me to believe that in our mountain section many interesting facts can be worked out in regard to the distribution of insects (of all kinds) at varying elevations. Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 363 The Occurrence of the Remarkable Braconid Genus Helorimorpha in America. BY CHARLES T. BRUES, Public Museum, Milwaukee. In 1907, Professor Otto Schmiedeknecht described a very pe- culiar little species of Braconid?e to which he gave the name Helorimorpha cgregia (Hym. Mitteleuropas, Jena, 1907, p. 523). The genus was new to science and for its reception, its author established the subfamily Helorimorphinne. which he placed between the Meteorinse and Leiphronin?e in the scheme of classification adopted in that work. The single specimen upon which Prof. Schmiedeknecht based his description seems to have been the only one so far recorded, and I was therefore very much surprised recently to receive from my friend Professor A. L. Melander, a second specimen which represents a very distinct but closely allied species collected by him some years ^igo at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Like its European con- gener, the American species is probably very rare, as the pres- ent specimen is the only one taken during several summers of active collecting in the vicinity, by both Professor Melander and myself. It gives me great pleasure to dedicate the species to its dis- coverer, in remembrance of the many entomological excursions which we have taken together into the interesting territory sur- rounding Woods Hole. Helorimorpha melanderi sp. nov. Female. — Length 4 mm. Honey-vellow : the head, except mouthparts, and the antennal flagellum black. Head seen from above, transverse, two and one-half time? as wide as thick, and full behind the eves. Eyes small, nearly circular, no longer than the large, broad cheeks. Front strongly excavated on each side above the insertion of the antenna?, the depressions separated by a strong median carina which ex'ends from below the base of the antenna? nearly to the median ocellus. Ocelli small, placed in a small equilateral triangle which is distinctly raised and bordered by a raised line. Head margined behind on the occiput, temples and cheeks. Clypeus transverse, elliptic, very broadly and slightly emarginate anteriorly; mandibles long, acute, apparently with a broad tooth some distance before the tip. Surface of head faintly puncHilate above, very closely so below, clypcus sparsely punctate, cheeks, temples and occiput smooth and polished. Antenna? i8-iointed ; scape as long as the first flagellar joint, pedicel small, subglobose: flagcllar .ioints gradually shortening to the ninth which is ovoid, following moni- liform. Maxillary palpi 4-jointed. Entire thorax, including pleura, reticulated or coarsely pitted with large, almost confluent thimble- shaperl punctures. Mctathorax short, abruptly declivous behind: longi- tudinally concave on the posterior slope. Abdomen Miiooth and highly polished, inserted very low down between the hind coxa?, its petiole long and slender, curved and dilated at the tip as in some males of the Cryptinse, with a few delicate striae at the base. Remainder 364 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 of abdomen narrowly ovate, second segment concealing all the others, the ovipositor barely projecting beyond its tip. Legs rather stout, all the femora and the posterior tibiae clavate, tips of posterior tibias and their tarsi black; posterior tibiae with two short, subequal spurs. Wings hyaline, with dark stigma and pale venation. Stigma large and broadly ovate, as long as the marginal cell. Radial vein bent at a right angle, its second section regularly arcuate. First transverse cubitus as long as the first section of the cubitus, second very short, almost interstitial with the first section of the radius ; submedian cell a little longer than the median, second cubital cell two and one-half times as long as wide. Helorimorpha melanderi sp. nov. Described from one female, Woods Hole, Mass. (A. L. Melander) July 21, 1902. The present species differs from H. egregia Schmied. by its honey-yellow thorax and abdomen, and more strongly clavate abdominal petiole. The abdomen is also less distinctly truncate and the wing venation slightly different. The genus Helorimorpha is the representative of a truly re- markable group and reminds one strongly of certain Euphor- inse, except for the well developed wing venation, longer sec- ond abdominal segment, and more distinctly moniliform an- tennae. I cannot but think that it must be an archaic form re- lated to the stock from which the modern Euphorin?e have de- veloped. In fact, I have a typical member of the Euphorinse, probably representing an undescribed genus with an abdomen almost exactly like that of Helorimorpha. Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 365 Upon the Aphis-Feeding Species of Aphelinus. BY L. O. HOWARD. Down to a comparatively recent date, the only Chalcidoid of the subfamily Aphelininae known to parasitize Aphididae was Aphelinus mail Hald., described by Haldeman in the Proceed- ings of the Boston Society of Natural History, Volume VI, 1860, pages 402-403, under the name of Eriophiliis mail. It was reared by Haldeman from Schizoneura (Eriosoma) lani- gera, and is referred to under this name by Comstock in his Re- port as Entomologist for the United States Department of Ag- riculture for 1879, and is figured at Plate VI, figure 6, from specimens reared by the writer from Schizoneura lanigera oc- curring upon apple upon the grounds of the Department of Agriculture at Washington. The species had apparently also been reared from the same host by Walsh in Illinois and by Riley in Missouri. Since then it has been found to be a rather general parasite of Aphididae, and the following records oc- cur in the writer's Revision of the Aphelininae of North America (Technical Series No. I, Division of Entomology, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1895) where it was placed in its proper genus, Aphelinus: by F. M. Webster from Glyphina era- grostidis at Lafayette, Indiana, September 6 to 10, 1885 ; by the same observer from Aphis brassicae on turnip ; by T. A. Williams, at Lincoln, Nebr., from Pemphigus fra.vinifolii, June 10, 1890; by the same observer from Aphis monardae at Ash- land, Nebraska, May 24th, 1890, and by W. H. Ashmead from Siphonophora rosae at Jacksonville, Fla., in April, 1881 (de- scribed by Doctor Ashmead as Blastothri.v rosae, unfortunately placing it in the wrong family). Still later and as yet unre- corded rearings of this interesting species have been made by Zehntner from Aphis sacchari at Pasoroean, Java, and in the insectary at Washington by Pergande from Tetraneura colo- phoidea, November 7, 1897, from Cabin Johns Bridge, Mary- land. The species seems, therefore, to be not only a very gen- eral parasite of Aphididae, but also seems to be of wide distri- bution. Aphelinus mail was at once set off from the other species 366 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 of Aphelinus, with one exception, by the possession of hairy eyes, and this character, taken in connection with its different host relation, has suggested the advisability of erecting a new genus to contain it and the allied forms that have since been discovered. It also differs in its black color from the Coccid- iiihabiting species. A single individual of an Aphelinus having hairy eyes and being black except for the head and extremities of the abdomen was collected by Koebele in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California, and has been described by the author (Technical Series No. i) as A. naviceps, the statement being made at the same time that the species would probably ulti- mately be found to be parasitic upon some Aphidid, this con- clusion being reached from the prevalence of the dark color and from the possession of hairy eyes. A. naviceps, however, has never since been reared, and the accuracy of this theoretical suggestion has not been proved or disproved. Comparatively recently however two additional species have been reared from Aphididae, which are also characterized by the possession of a preponderance of black in the coloration and by eyes that are hairy. These species, A. seminavus n. sp. and A. nigritns n. sp. are described below. TABLE SEPARATING THE APHELINUS PARASITES OF APHIDIDAE. FEMALES. Eyes obviously hairy. Head black, base of abdomen yellow, hind femora pallid . mail Hald. Head yellow, abdomen yellow at base and tip, all legs orange- yellow flaviceps How. Head and abdomen entirely black iiigritus n. sp. Eyes obscurely hairy. Abdomen light yellowish, darker at margins, all legs yellowish or slightly dusky seraiflavus n. sp. MALES. Third funicle joint twice as long as pedicel and six times as long as broad ; club one-fourth longer than third funicle joint semiflavus n. sp. Third funicle joint very slightly longer than pedicel, and slightly more than three times as long as broad ; club rather more than twice as long as third funicle joint mail Hald- Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 367 Aphelimis semiflavus n. sp. Female. — Length 1.08 mm. ; expanse 1.87 mm. ; greatest width of fore wing 0.3 mm. Antennae short, excluding scape about the length of face ; pedicel long, more than three times as long as wide ; funicle joints i and 2 subequal in length and width and each slightly less than one-third length of pedicel; joint 3 two-thirds length of pedicel and about as wide as its tip ; club slightly swollen, ellipsoidal, and about twice the length of pedicel. Eyes faintly hairy. General color black; thorax smooth, shining, scape and pedicel dusky, flagcllum pallid, club becoming somewhat dusky at tip ; front and middle femora and all tibiae somewhat dusky; hind femora straw yellow. Abdomen light yellow shaded around margin with brownish. Wings rather short, otherwise normal. Male. — Length 0.85 mm.; expanse 1.58 mm.; greatest width of fore wing 0.204 mm. Differs from female in having antennae nearly uniform brown, scape slightly darker, and in the proportions of third funicle joint and club. Third joint cylindrical, twice as long as pedicel and six times as long as broad; club one-quarter longer than third funicle joint, elongate ovate in shape. Described from 14 $ 9. specimens reared by C. P. Gillette, Fort Collins, Colo., July 15, 19, 1908, from Myzus persicae, and reared at Washington from the same host sent in by Pro- fessor Gillette. The parasitized host turns black. U. S. N. M. type No. 12031. Aphelinns nigritns n. sp. Female. — Lenth, 0.68 mm. ; expanse, 1.7 mm. ; greatest width of fore wing, 0.26 mm. Flagellum of antennae short, not as long as face; pedicel obconical, about twice as long as wide; first and second funicle joints very short, together less than half as long as pedicel; third funicle joint about as long as thick, and about as long as, or slightly shorter than pedicel; club about three times as long as third funicle joint, about twice as long as broad, obliquely truncate at tip. Body uniformly black, shining. Mesoscutum, including parapsides, with faint, sparse, small, irregular punctures. All legs and antennae pale yellow except for a duskiness of the hind tibiae and the tip of the antennal club. Male. — Unknown. Described from six 9 specimens reared by G. G. Ainslie, Bureau of Entomology, Spartanburg, S. C., from To.voptera graminum. U. S. N. M. type No. 12032. 368 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 An Interesting new Agrilus from Cincinnati, Ohio. BY CHARLES DURY. Agrilus ferrisi n. sp. Color, shining cupreous. Head coarsely, strigosely punctured. An- tennae serrate from the fourth joint. Front densely pubescent with white hairs, and with a deep median groove. Prothorax slightly broader than long. Sides almost parallel, rounded at front angles and sinuate in front of obtuse hind angles, which are carinate in both sexes. Disk coarsely punctured and strigose, with a dense patch of white pubes- cence each side, extending from base to apex. Scutellum transversely carinate. Elytra costate from humeri nearly to tip. Sides slightly sinuate behind the humeri and dilated behind the middle, thence taper- ing to tip, which is serrulate and prolonged into an acute spine. The surface of elytra is muricately punctured and transversely wrinkled. The elytra project beyond the tip of last abdominal segment in both sexes. The pygidium is not carinate. Beneath, the entire thorax, sides of meso- and metasterna, and a large patch on the sides of each ventral segment, densely white pubescent. Claws bifid. The sexual organs are very peculiar. The male organ is composed of three pieces, the middle one being longest and bluntly pointed at tip. The shorter side pieces are acute at tip, and with a fringe of long hairs each side. There is a channel down the centre of the tip of the middle piece. The tip of last ventral segment is bluntly rounded and has a deep groove running around it near the edge. In the female the last segment is squarely truncate, and the projecting ovipositor is tapering and emar- ginate each side, and squarely truncate at tip. The segment has a feeble longitudinal carina at middle and a curved groove each side. Length, 10-n mm. Fifteen specimens. Beaten only from Hackberry Celtis occi- dentalis. Cincinnati, Ohio, June 7 to July 2. This species leads to a large group of forms found in Mexico and Central America, in which the elytral apices are prolonged and other- wise curiously modified in various ways. I am unable to find anything like it described in the Biologia, or Dr. Horn's paper, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., xviii, p. 277. Named in honor of Miss Phoebe Ferris, in whose woods I found all of the specimens. During her lifetime she was a devoted lover of our virgin forests, and realized the import- ance of their preservation. A specimen deposited in U. S. Nat. Museum. Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 369 A list of Local Lepidoptera found at Decorah, Iowa. BY A. F. PORTER. RHOPALOCERA. 14 Pa pi Ho thoas. 1 1 turnits. 22 polyxenes. 37 Pontia protodice. 36 occidentals. 40 rapae. 60 Zerene eurydice. 61 caesonia. 6 1 " rosa. 65 Eurymus eurytheme. 65 ariadne. 65 eriphyle. 66 philodice. albino. 83 Euretna nicippe. 85 euterpe. 85 " alba. 92 Euptoieta claudia. 95 Spcyeria idalia. 99 Argynnis cybele. TOO " aphrodite. TOO alcestis. 102 atlantis. 131 Brenthis myrina. 141 " bellona. 185 Charidryas nycteis. 1 86 ismeria. 189 Phyciodcs tharos. 205 Polygonia interrogation's. 205 umbrosa. 206 comma. 206 dryer*. 209 faunus. 214 progne. 215 Eugonia j-album. 217 Euvanessa antiopa. 219 Vanessa atalanta. 220 " huntera. 221 " cardui. 223 Junonia cocnia. 236 Basilarchia astyanax. 237 arthemis. 239 archippus. 244 Chlorippe ccltis. 248 clyton. 258 Cercyonis alope. 258 " nephele. 286 Etiodia portlandia. 299 Cissia enrytus. 308 Anosia plexippus. 311 Hypatus baclunani. 347 Thccla calain/s. 384 Strymon titus. Feniseca tarqniniits. 390 Gaeides dione. 393 Chrysophanus thoe. 399 Hcodcs hypophleas. 440 Cyaniris ladon. 440 marginata. 442 Et'crcs comyntas. 484 Atrytone hobomok. 512 Hylephila campestris. 516 Thymelicus brettus. 523 c ernes. 526 Polites peckiits. 528 Euphyes verna. 584 Epargyrcus tityrus. 601 Thorybes fylades. 605 Pholisora catullus. 625 Thanaos jurenalis. 617 " fcr/^ro. 642 Hesperia tcssellata. 643 inontivagus. HETEROCERA. 653 Ilciiniris diffinis. 656 " ///v^tf. 667 Aitiphion ncssus. 670 Dcilephila gallii. 671 " lincata. -370 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 672 Thcretra tersa. 678 Pholus pandorus. 679 " achemon. 681 Ampelophaga choerilus. 682 myron. 686 Dilophonta ello. 696 Phlegethontius quinqueinacu- lata. 697 sexia. 700 Sphinx kalmiae. 701 drupiferarum. 706 c her sis. 713 canadensis. 716 eremitus. 720 Chlaeno gramma jasminea- rum. 721 Ceratomia amyntor. 722 undulosa. 728 Marumba modesta. 729 Smerinthus jamaicensis. 731 Paonias excaecatus. 732 myops. 734 Cressonia juglandis. 739 Samia cecropia. 747 Tropaea luna. 748 Telea polyphemus. 753 Automeris io. 2806 Catocala epione. 2865 2826 2827 2828 2831 2890 2864 2907 2877 2892 2851 2854 2857 2830 2848 2902 2872 2868 2900 ilia. relict a. cara. nurus. calif arnica. whitneyi. celia. lineella. desdemona. crataegi. mariana. briseis. parta. concumbens. unijuga. grynea. cerogama. piatrix. praeclara. 2907 2911 874 892 882 8/9 875 895 878 895 3226 3123 3124 771 767 770 4008 3214 3090 2448 1053 2986 2986 851 840 840 842 3180 3922 3923 3229 972 984 1031 1041 1037 991 1 002 993 859 2487 2519 2207 1774 1800 1807 1822 Catocala nerissa. Euparthcnos tiubilis. Apantesis virgo. figurata. rectilinca. virguncula. vittata. par then ice. phalerata. Oreta rosca. Nadata gibbosa. Nerice bidentata. Anisota rubicunda. stigma. virginiensis. Caberodes majoraria. Malacosotna americaiia. Apatelodes torrefacta. Stiria rugifrons. Harrisiincmna trisignata. Homoptera lunata. Estigtncne acraea. Haploa lecontei. mili tar is. contigua. Euthyatira pudens. Ennomos subsignarins. magnarius. Drcpana genicula. Apatela americana. lepusculina. impressa. oblinita. xyliniforvnis. interrupta. clarescens. lobcliae. /^/a isabella. AutograpJia rogationis. simplex. Scoliopteryx libatri.r. Mamcstra imbrifcra. grandis. />/<•/«. ligitiina. Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 371 1837 1842 1845 1812 1721 1698 3096 4336 4307 3248 3262 1235 1250 1232 1 149 1166 1227 1241 922 798 914 911 912 808 3925 2428 2656 45 1 3 3332 2755 3867 4059 4417 3354 3352 3349 3232 3223 3388 4277 860 834 832 3080 2310 Mamestra laudabilis. lorea. anguina. adjuncta. Paragrotis furtivus. redimicula. Porosagrotis retusta. Melalopha albosigma. Evergestis straminalis. Pantographa limata. Eudule mendica. Heterophleps triguttaria. Hadena arctica. lignicolor. devastatrix. bridghami. inactata. dubitans. verbascoides. Halisidota tessellaris. maculata. Ctenncha virginica. EucJiaetias antica. oregonensis. pud ens. Hypoprepia fucosa. Xanthotype crocataria. Euthlsanotia unio. Chamyris cerintha. Hypsopygia costalis. Enchoeca albovittata. Drasterm crassiuscula. Lya'a cognataria. Cicinnus melsheimeri. Pyrausta pertextalis. Eustroma atrocoloratum. prunata. Dysptcris arbortivaria. Epicnaptera americana. Hydriomena autumnalis. Desmia funeralis. Phragniatobia fuliginosa. Eubaphe brevicornis. Hypena humuli. Rhodosea julia. 2921 Parallelia bistriaris. 1540 Fcltia herilis. 1538 " subgothica. 1544 gladiaria. 1549 volubilis. 3294 Tephroclystis absinthiata. 2613 Eustrotia carneola. 1963 Heliophila albilinea. 1979 cownwides. 1954 pseudargyria. 1953 unipuncta. 3120 Lophodonta ferruginea. 3121 angulosa. 1295 Pyrophila pyramidoides. 3327 Eiicymatoge intestinuta. 3173 Habrosyne scripta. 3971 Euchlaena kentaria. 4516 Py rails farinalis. 3208 Tolype velleda. 2469 Panchrysia purpurigera. 3934 Hyperitis nepiasaria. 3468 Hacmatopsis gratarla. 2078 Xylina disposlta. 2095 innominata. 3664 Sclagraphla mellistrigata. 3931 Plagodis phlogosaria. 3929 fervidaria. 787 Scepsis fulvicollis. 2300 Heliothis annlger. 1370 ^4diVa chionanthi. 2206 Eucirroedia pampina. 862 Diacrisia virginica. 1464 Peridroma astricta. 3117 Notodonta simplarla. 2945 Phurys perspicua. 1454 Agrotis ypsilon. 1455 genictihita. 21/9 Papalpema nitela. 2183 cerussata. 2187 cataphracta. 2190 rutila. 2230 Orthosia helva. 2222 " bicolorago. 2536 Abrostola urentls. 3916 Eugonobapta nivosaria. 3850 Cleora pampinaria. 1267 Po/ia diversilineata. 372 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 3487 Synelys ennucleata. 3881 Phigalia titea. 3245 Paleacrita vernata. 4016 Sabulodcs lorata. 4011 Tetrads crocallata. 3986 Metanema quercivoraria. 3913 Metrocampa praegrandaria. 4007 Caberodes confusaria. 3956 Euchlaena obtusaria. 3957 effectaria. 3964 marginata. 3960 jolmsonaria. 3886 Cingilia catenaria. 792 Lycomorpha pholus. 2149 Sphida obliqua. 2204 Trigonophora periculosa. 1054 Microcoelia dipteroides. 2197 Pyrrhia mnbra. 2920 Panapoda rufimargo. 2979 Pheocyma lunifera. 2915 Phoberia atomaris. 2760 Euclidia cuspidea. 836 Utetheisa bella. 2131 Cucullia speyeri. 957 Panthea furcilla. 1422 Eueretagrotis sigmoides. 2165 Gortyna immanis. 2161 velata. 2162 nictitans. 2060 Tricholita signata. 1297 Heliotropha atra. 2456 Plagiomimicus pityochromus. 968 Raphia frater. 2328 Schinia cumatilis. 1300 Prodenia ornithogalli. 2551 Marasmalus inficita. 4208 Sesia tipuliformis. 2389 Dasyspondaea lucens. 1289 Trachea delicata. 3177 Pseudothyatira expultrix. 1087 Crambodes talidiformis. 2618 Galgula partita. 2044 Graphiphora garmani. 2015 oviducta. 3065 Bowolocha baltimoralis. 2556 Anomis erosa. 1921 Ulolonche modesta. 1481 Noctua c-nigrum. 1496 clandestina. 1491 collaris. 3100 Datana angusii. 3098 ministra. 3106 perspicua. 3108 integerrima. 3118 Pheosia dimidiata. 3092 Melalopha apicalis. 3096 albosigma. 3095 strigosa. 3111 Hyperaeschra stragnla. 3148 Sc hi stir a ipomoeae. 3151 unicornis. 3150 semirufescens. 3153 6a. ii. — — californicus. Baker (First joint of middle tarsi not dis- tinctly longer than second 12) '04. Baker Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. XXVII, 395, 440. On field mouse, Micro tits californicus. 12. — — ciliatus. Baker (A single row of bristles on ventral abdom- inal segments 13) '04. Baker Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. XXVII, .597, 441, on chipmunk, Eutamias sp. 13. — — fasciatus. (Bosc), Curtis, '07 Mitzmain Bull. Cal. State Board Health HI, 39. Pulex '01 Bosc d'Antic. Bull. Sci. Soc. Phil, in No. 44, 156. European rat flea. On rats and mice and occasionally on other animals and man. Demonstrated to be an agent in the con- veyance of bubonic plague on the Pacific Coast. C. CTENOPSYLLIDAE. i Ctenopsyllus musculi (Duges) Wagner. 1898 Wagner Horae Soc. Ent. Ross XXXI, 577. Pulex 1832 Duges Ann. d'Sci. Nat. XXVII, 163. The European mouse flea — on rats and mice. WE HAVE RECEIVED an interesting letter from Dr. McCook. He says : "I have just finished the MS. of my book — 'Ant Communes and How They Are Governed ; A Study in Natural Civics.' It will be issued next spring by Harpers, who printed my 'Nature's Craftsmen' a year ago. In connection with the first part of that book it will complete my popular studies of ants, giving a summary of my long observations and bringing the leading facts of their known habits up to date. My first printed studies were of the Pennsylvania carpenter ant, Camponotus pennsylvanicus, and appeared in the Transactions of our American Entomological Society, December, 1876, thirty-two years ago ! Ah, what changes in that generation. Next year is our fiftieth anniversary. Should we celebrate the semi-centennial? We should at least have a special historical number." Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 383 Standards of the number of eggs laid by Insects — .VII* Being averages obtained by actual count of the combined eggs from twenty (20) depositions or masses. BY JOHN J. DAVIS, Office of State Entomologist, Urbana, 111. The following table gives the actual counts of the numbers of eggs in twenty egg-masses of Pseudotoccus citri. They were collected on Sali'ia in a greenhouse at Urbatia, Illinois, March, 1907. The table shows a wide range in the numbers per egg- mass, namely : 147 to 414 ; but, as will be seen in the succes- sive averages, there was little divergence from the final average. The "corn" or clay-colored eggs are laid in a mass beneath and spreading beyond, the tip of the abdomen in an entangle- ment of white cotton}- secretion. They are elliptical-oval, somewhat glossy, and measure 0.309 to 0.326 mm. in length, and 0.146 to 0.180 mm. in width. The average, from 15 eggs measured, was .0313 mm. in length by 0.164 mm- in width. 8. PSEUDOCOCCUS CITRI (Risso). No. No. counted per mass Successive Totals Av. per Egg mass Max. Min. Range I 354 354 354- 414 2 346 700 350. 3 2IO £91° 303.3 4 157 1067 266.6 5 414 1481 296.2 414 6 208 1689 281.5 7 346 2035 290.7 8 302 2337 292.1 9 1 66 2503 278.1 10 3'9 2822 282.2 ii 292 3'I4 283. 1 12 159 3273 272.7 13 39i 3664 281.8 14 1 80 3844 274-5 15 206 4050 270. 16 399 4449 27S.I 17 266 4715 277-3 18 147 4862 270.1 147 19 292 5'54 271.2 20 329 5483 274.1 147 20 54S3 274.1 4'4 147 267 *"This series will hereafter contain independent articles bv myself and Mr. J J. Davis, who has consented to include such studies along this line that he may make from time to time, in order to bring them together under the same general heading for the convenience of bibliographers and others. No. VII is Mr. Davis' first of this series. For similar studies bv Mr. Davis on Sainia cecropia Linnaeus, JJiili-inafia iiinu»i,-in^ili^ Kathvon and Culex pipiens Linnaeus, see EN r. NKWS, 1906, pp. ^68-369. For the first six of this series, see KNT. NKWS, IQOI, p. 305; 1904, pp. 2-3; 1905, p. 167 ; 1906, p. 6; 1907, p. 89, and 1908, p. 4. — A. A. GIRAULT." ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS solicit and will thankfully receive items of news likely to interest its readers from any source. The author's name will be given in each case, for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] To Contributors. — All contributions will be considered and passed upon at out earliest convenience, and, as far as may be, will be published according to date of recep- tion. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS has reached a circulation, both in numbers and circumfer- ence, as to make it necessary to put " copy " into the hands of the printer, for each num- ber, three weeks before date of issue. This should be remembered in sending special or important matter for a certain issue. Twenty-five "extras," without change in form, will be given free, when they are wanted ; and this should be so stated on the MS., along with the number desired. The receipt of all papers will be acknowledged.— ED. PHILADELPHIA, PA., OCTOBER, 1908. It is held that about 999 house-flies in every thousand breed in horse excrement, and horse excrement is manufactured in and around stables. House-flies have several important func- tions ; they make the bald-headed individual wonder whether life is worth living and wipe their dirty feet all over the jam and other articles of food. They are not a bit particular where they walk and are just as likely to wade into a Bacillus typlwsns discharge as anything else. It costs from five to three hundred and fifty dollars to screen a house, and we think a law some- thing like the following would be appropriate : An Act. Be it enacted etc., That on and after this date stable owners shall supply and pay for all window and door screens for their neigh- bors' houses within a radius of one-quarter of a mile from said stable or stables. Be it further enacted, that no stable owner be allowed to screen his own home and that he be compelled to eat house-flies in his cake in lieu of raisins, pay all doctors', druggists' and undertakers' 'bills when any of his neighbors die of typhoid fever or kindred diseases. There shall be no other penalties enforced. TACHOPTERYX (ODONATA) IN VIRGINIA. — On June i2th, I took two specimens $ and 9- of Tachoptcryx tJwrcyi at Great Palls, Va. One at ii in the morning, the other at 4 P. M. Both were resting vertically mi the trunk of tree. Several places near by where the water is nearly dried up. Neither specimen was hard to capture. On June 25th, at Great Falls, I again took Tachoptcryx thoreyi, 2 $ and i $ ; the latter on a log across the path, others on trees. Not hard to catch. Saw two or three more. — NATHAN BANKS. 384 Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 385 Entomological Literature. INHERITANCE IN SILKWORMS, i. By Vernon L. Kellogg, Professor of Entomology and Lecturer in Bionomics, with the partial col- laboration of Ruby Green Smith, former Instructor in Entomology Leland Stanford Junior University Publications, University Series No. I. This is a work of 89 pages and four plates. For a number of years Prof. Kellogg has given much study to the biology of the silkworm and this important paper is one of the results of his investigations. INSECT STORIES. By Vernon L. Kellogg. Published by Henry Holt & Co., New York. Price by mail, $1.62. Professor Kellogg has, in this volume of strange, true stories, suc- ceeded in describing the habits of certain insects in so fascinating a way that there are few people, either old or young, who will not be held by its charm. Simplicity is the keynote to the studies and observations of the old scientist and the little girl who figure in the book, and their ingenuousness and the subtle humor, hold one's interest as much as the marvelous doings of the little ground folk themselves. It is a splendid illustration of how interesting a book of natural history stories may be, while yet purified of all "nature faking" and of all the exaltation of animal hero-composites so popular in recent years. THE MOUND-BUILDING PRAIRIE ANT. By T. J. Headlee and G. A. Dean. Kansas State Agricultural College (Agricultural Experiment Sta- tion) Bulletin 154 (April, 1908). It is quite pleasing to see an original and interesting piece of work from an Agricultural Experiment Station. This paper tells the life of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Cresson in a concise and graphic way and the species is of considerable economic importance as its mounds must be a great nuisance to farmers in some sections of the country. The half-tone illustrations are excellent, but lose much of their effec- tiveness by not being printed on plate paper. We consider this a model short paper and would be delighted to see more like it from our Experi- ment Stations. The article purports to be under the joint authorship of T. J. Ueadlee and George A. Dean. Mr. Headlee is entomologist and Mr. Dean assistant entomologist to the Station. A foot note says : "Tin- work on this bulletin as printed was independently planned and executed Mr. Dean, who also made the photographs for illustrations." It therefore appears that Mr. Headlee had nothing to do with the work. This is therefore a most reprehensible piece of officialism and a kind of piracy that we thought had ceased to exist. — H. S. \ 386 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct, , '08 Notes and. Ne\vs. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OP THE GLOBE. C. F. BAKER is returning to Claremont, California, as Associate Pro- fessor of Biology in Pomona College. AFTER September i, 1908, my address will be Bussey Institution, For- est Hills, Boston, Mass.— W. M. WHEELER, Professor of Economic Entomology, Harvard University. SPHAERIDIUM SCARABAEOIDES, LINN. IN OHIO. — August 22, 1908, while collecting near Ira, Summit County, Ohio, I found numbers of the above introduced beetle. It was swarming in piles of fresh cow excre- ment.— CHARLES DURY. THE trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural College at Amherst have voted to establish a graduate school with Professor Charles H. Fernald as its head. It will confer degrees of master of science and doctor of philosophy. JUNONIA COENIA. — While collecting near York, Maine, on August igth, I saw (within five feet) but failed to secure, a fresh specimen of Junonia cotnia Hbn. It was darker in color than specimens taken on Long Island and in Connecticut, resembling rather the dark specimens often seen in southern Florida. I do not know whether its occurrence so far north has been recorded previously.— W. C. WOOD, New York. DR. W. J. HOLLAND WEARING DECORATIONS CONFERRED UPON HIM BY EMPEROR WILLIAM OF GERMANY AND PRESIDENT FALLIERES OF FRANCE. — Dr. W. J. Holland, former chancellor of the Western University of Pennsylvania and now director of the Carnegie Museum, has been honored by both the Emperor of Germany and President Fallieres of the French Republic, who conferred upon him the orders of the Knight of the Crown and Officer of the Legion of Honor. He is the first Pitts- burger and the first man in the United States to be doubly honored in this manner. Dr. Holland will rarely wear these orders in public. In Europe on public occasions it is the custom to wear all such decorations. In America it is not customary, and so Dr. Holland will only wear them on special occasions. The Royal Prussian Order of the Knight of the Crown, is a cross of white enamel inscribed, "Gott Mit Uns." The order was founded by Emperor William in 1861. The cross of Olificier de la Legion d'Honneur is a five-pointed cross bound in gold. It differs from the original form of the cross as it was first fashioned in the days of Napoleon I, as France is now a republic. Dr. Holland is known to all entomologists through his valuable books and papers. Oct., *08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 387 THE LITTLE MEN OF SCIENCE. — Lord Rosebery's character sketch of Lord Kelvin was fine and felt. ''What most struck me was his tenacity, his laboriousncss, his indefatigable humility. In him was visible none of the superciliousness and scorn which sometimes embarrass the strong- est intellects. Without condescension he placed himself at once on a level with his companion. That has seemed to me characteristic oi such great men of science as I have met." W'e have often wondered how it is that while the great men of science — the Darwins, Kelvins — are like this, the smaller men, the men who have never originated any- thing but have merely tried to suck in the ideas of the masters, so often are impatient, spiteful, jealous, assertive, impressed as profoundly by their own superiority as by the stupidity of nine-tenths of humanity. That this is the attitude of the lesser fry of science, its sticklebacks and tadpoles no one will deny. The little scientist is almost invariably too clever by half. He hangs up pictures of Darwin in his study. His talk is of Darwin. Yet he has as little of the heart as he has of the brain of that great master. — From the Saturday. DR. ALFREDO DUGES, of Guanajuato, Mexico, has sent a wasp to the U. S. Bureau of Entomology, which has been determined by Mr. J. C. Crawford as Polistcs carnifcx Fabr. It is a male specimen. Concern- ing this insect Doctor Duges writes : "In a metal box you will find a yellow hymenopterous insect, the only one which I have been able to obtain, for the people of the country have such a fear of it that I can engage no one to collect it. It is by chance that the individual which I send you has been found dead. It comes from Barranca de Ahiiijillo, south of the State of Jalisco, on the border of Michoacan. They call it Ahorcadora (strangler) or Em borrachadora (that which intoxicates), because its sting occasions a rush of blood to the head, violent fever, and a sensation of strangula- tion. It is said that death arrives in a quarter of an hour if the wound is not sucked. This insect is, then, a curious one from the point of view of the fright which it causes. You know how prejudiced country people are, so that no one can never tell the exact degree of truth there is in such stories." FIGHT MOTHS WITH LIGHTS. — Saxon Authorities Adopt Novel Plan To Protect Forests From Pest. — Zittau, Germany, August 8. — The Sax- on authorities have discovered what seems to be an excellent way to put an end to the caterpillar plague which is ravaging local forests, by a method of catching the brown nun moths that lay the eggs from which caterpillars come in enormous quantities. They make use of an electric light lamp, consisting of two power- ful reflectors placed over a deep receptacle, and powerful exhaust fans, erected on top of the municipal electric plant. At night two great 388 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 streams of light are thrown from the reflectors on the wooded mountain sides half a mile distant. The results have been astonishing. The moths, drawn by the brilliancy, come fluttering in thousands along the broad rays of light, until near the reflectors, when tiie exhaust fans, with powerful currents of air, swirl them down into the receptacle. On the first night three tons of moths were caught. It has been de- cided to build another trap on the Rathhaus tower, and the fight with the moths will be continued. The forests of central Europe have from time to time been ravaged by moths from Russia, whose larvae denude the trees of their foliage. The splendid pines of the Lausitz Mountains are this year threat- ened with destruction. — Newspaper. DR. C. L. MARLATT, Bureau of Entomology, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. DEAR DR. MARLATT: A little over two weeks ago there was a very marked migration of butterflies that took place in this vicinity, Miami, Fla., in early June. For a week or two from daylight to dark the air was full of butterflies,* resembling closely the cabbage butterfly, flying south. They usually flew fairly close to the ground, rarely ascending higher than the tops of the trees, mostly keeping within ten feet of the ground. The belt extended from the shore westward to the ever- glades, and possibly out into the everglades, which were dry at the time, but they were present in the greatest numbers within half a mile of the shore. Apparently the same migration was noticed about 200 miles north of here along the Indian River, and on a trip I made to Key West at the time, I found that the butterflies were present in great numbers on the line of Keys extending south and southwest from the east coast of Florida. They were still keeping up their southerly flight on Key Largo. However, only a few were seen as far south as Knight's Key, the terminus of the railroad, and these, in- stead of continuing out over the water, seemed to be flying around on land in a more or less confused manner. At the time the swarm was about the greatest Mr. Fawcett (my scientific assistant) made observa- tions on the number passing and found that in a space one rod wide 300 passed on the average in five minutes, making about 120,000 an hour crossing a line a mile long; since they were flying from early morning till dark, it would mean that probably over a million and a half would cross such a line a day. As this was kept up for two or three weeks, you may imagine what a number of butterflies must have passed. I am sending you a small box containing a few that Mr. Faw- cett collected at that time. A few butterflies of apparently the same species are still around. Very truly yours, ERNST A. BESSEY, Pathologist in Charge, Sub-tropical Laboratory. KEEPING A LOG. — I once read in the NEWS, from the facile pen of Annie Trumbull Slosson, of how she worked an old log in Florida for insects, and what interesting captures she made. May 17, 1906, I found a small uprooted stump and log in a shady woods, alongside of a path. The decaying wood was damp and fungus-grown, and of a *Pieris monuste. Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 389 rusty red color. The log and roots were honeycombed by several species of ants. I worked May ijth, ipth and 22nd crumbling and sifting this log; every inch of it was worked over. I found it a verit- able mine of coleopterous treasures. I took more than 300 beetle-- from it, a number of which are new to me. It was swarming with Psfliiphidni\ Scydinucnidae and Trichopterygidae. Maj. Casey has de- scribed three species of these Pselaphidae in Can. Ent., August, '08. Many of these beetles were exceedingly minute, such as oprcssus, lutcus Csy. and Leptoplectus exilissimus Csy. being the smallest of their respective families. The little Tenebrionid, Dioedus pnnctatits Lee. was in numbers, those freshly hatched being pale, while the ma- ture ones were jet black. This species can generally be found in red rotten wood. I collected only the coleoptera, though other orders were numerously represented. The proper conditions as to season, degree of moisture and food were present in this log, a combination of condi- tions not always to be had together. When a collector finds such a favorable combination, the locality should be worked until exhausted. In the language of the Hoosier schoolmaster, "While your gittin', git a plenty." In a locality that has been so thoroughly gleaned as Cincin- nati, it is only by patient search for the small forms that new species can be found.— CHARLES DURY. DEALS DEATH TO THE FLY. — French Surgeon Has Preparation That Is Terrible and Certain. — Doctor Delamarre, an eminent army sur- geon, has just published the result of his investigations concerning the contagion-bearing qualities of the ordinary housefly. Without hesita- tion he condemns that familiar insect to death. He points out that numerous plans for executing this sentence have been evolved by scientists of all times and every country, but flies are apparently as numerous as ever. He suggests a mixture composed of one part formol to nine parts of water. This may be put in ordinary plates, and placed wherever flies are likely to congregate. Twenty-four hours later, says the doctor, not only the plates themselves, but a considerable space around them, will be covered by flies and mosquitoes which the mixture and emana- tions from the mixture have poisoned. The insects are attracted by the solution as though it were sugar. To be perfectly effective it should be changed every twenty-four hours. — Newspaper. Doings of Societies. PHILADELPHIA, June ijth, 1908. At the meeting of the Feldman Collecting Social, held at the resilience of Mr. II. W. Wenzel, fifteen members were present. A letter from Professor Philip P. Calvert was read, in which he stated that he had examined the scale insects exhibited at our last meeting, and found them to be the San Jose scale ; slides were also shown. 390 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 Mr. H. W. Wenzel read a communication from Mr. Wm. D. Kearfott, with reference to Evetria wenzelli, a new species bred on Jersey Pine, Pinus virginiana Mill. Mr. H. W. Wenzel stated that after having read Mr. Manee's article in "News," p. 286, '08, in which reference is made to the habits of Stratcgns antaeus, he had found the said species at Malaga, N. J., under the same conditions as stated in this arti- cle ; Mr. Wenzel said that this is the westernmost point at which he had collected this species. Mr. Geo. M. Greene exhibited specimens of Mygale avicu- laria, "Bird-killing Spider," from Para, Brazil. Mr. Geo. M. Greene reported the finding of larvae of Trich- ius piger at Castle Rock, Pa., on April I7th, 1908, in dead oak. The larvae pupated on April iQth, and the images appeared on April 27th. Mr. H. W. Wenzel suggested the planting of little twigs along the edges of lakes, say two feet above the water, for the purpose of collecting Odonata. Mr. C. T. Greene reported captures of the following Dip- tera : Theresia tandroc Desv., 58 specimens in two days, by Geo. M. Greene, and C. T. Greene, at Malaga, N. J., August 4th and 5th, 1907. Sphegina keeniana Will., by Frank Haim- bach, at Roxboro, Phila., Pa., May I7th, 1908. Dexia vertc- brata Say, at Lehigh Gap, Pa., July I3th, 1907. Symphoro- myia hirta Johnson, at Roxboro, Phila., Pa., May 3ist, 1908. Sphecomyia vittata Wied., by Geo. M. Greene, at Unionville, Phila. Co., Pa., May 3d, 1908, and Palloptera superba Loew., by Geo. M. Greene, at Roxboro, Phila., Pa., June 7th, 1908. Mr. Daecke exhibited a specimen of Lapara conifcrarum S. & A., bred from a larva found at Brown's Mills, N. J., in October, and which emerged on June 2d, 1908. FRANK HAIMBACH, Secretary. A meeting of the Newark Entomological Society was held March 9th with sixteen members, and Dr. H. D. McCormick, a visitor, present. Mr. Edwin Holden, of Newark, was elected to membership. Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 39! Mr. Wasmuth exhibited specimens of Hyperchiria pamina, Attacus jorulla and Eaclcs imperalis var. didyma; also two fine variations of Philosamia cynthia, in which the lavender posterior-transverse cross line was three times the ordinary width and without a defined internal edge ; the angular anterior- transverse line, also, was unusually broad, much further re- moved from the base of the wing than ordinarily and connected with the t. p. line, forming therewith a well-shaped K. In consequence of the abnormal breadth of the t. p. line the discal lunules were deeply inserted into it. Altogether, they were widely remote from the normal type. These specimens were bred from cocoons collected in the vicinity of Brooklyn. Mr. Kircher showed a box of Hymenopterous parasites bred from chrysalids of Papilio tnrnus. From twenty-four pupae collected at random, he obtained one perfect butterfly, one crippled example, seventeen Psilomastcx e.resorius, and, from two, a multitude of Chalcids. The remaining three pupae were hard and dry. He also exhibited a box of Catocala, showing the range of variation in relicta, aniatri.r, parta, itnijiiga, habilis and basalis. Mr. Wormsbacher reported the following species of Lepi- doptera from New Jersey : Acronycta modica, Guttenberg, June 3Oth. Sarrothripa lintnerana, Guttenberg, July 3Oth. Hadena diversicolor, Edge water Heights, September loth. En.voa velleripennis, Guttenberg, August 2Oth. Feltia v^olubilis, Guttenberg, May 25th. Mamestra congcrmana, Fort Lee, July 3Oth. Lithomia napae, Forest Hill, April 2Oth. Scopclosoma morrisoni, Forest Hill, April 4th. Polychrisia formosa, Edgewater, August 4th. llntolypc rolandi, Forest Ilill, April nth. Cossus ccnterensis, Guttenberg, June 3Oth. He also read a paper on the occurrence of Chlaeno gramma jasmincarnm at Fort Lee, N. J., where in certain years the species was collected in the egg and larvae stages in numbers, but in other years was entirely absent. He believed that the 392 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 species was a southern one and that it is unable to maintain itself in a northern latitude. The periodical -occurrence of the larva he explained by the supposition that the impregnated females migrated northwardly and laid eggs which developed mature larvae. The pupae, however, are unable to survive the winters and consequently another brood would depend on an- other chance wanderer. This supposition lacked the support of the other members who believed that if the species were truly a migrant, it would not continually pass over certain regions harboring its food plant immediately to the south of Fort Lee, where the insect had been often searched for but never found. It would be more reasonable to suppose that in the off years the species was re- duced almost to extinction by parasitism, and that it took sev- eral years to again multiply to noticeable numbers. Mr. Erhard showed specimens of Phlyctacnia profundalis Pack. (Lep.) and El codes grandicollis Mann. (Col.) taken alive at Newark, N. J., from celery imported from California and a number of living Conacephalids shipped with the same product from Florida. JOHN A. GROSSBECK, Secretary. A meeting of the Newark Entomological Society was held on April 12, with twenty-one members present, and Messrs. Chris. Roberts, of Connecticut ; Henry Dietz, of Newark, and Chas. J. Martin, of Brooklyn, visitors. Dr. H. D. McCormick, of Little Falls, was elected a member. Mr. Roberts addressed the Society on how and where to collect aquatic Coleoptera. Of first importance is a strong- rimmed net, perfectly rigid, and capable of resisting a dense vegetation. Deep water harbors little beetle life, but water several inches in depth or less is exceedingly prolific, and in using the net it is best to begin as far out from the shore as the shallow water extends and work inward. It is a habit of the insects to dart away from the pursuer into deep water if the opposite method is followed. If a long bag is used the contents Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 393 need not necessarily be examined after each sweep, but when a considerable quantity of matter is accumulated it may be spread upon a piece of cloth, carried for the purpose, upon the shore, and when ten minutes or so has elapsed the beetles will leave the drying mass — sometimes by the hundred. One of the best places to collect is along the edges of shallow water areas among the vegetable mould and old leaves. The material is swept up with a net, placed on a cloth as above described, and broken up into small pieces in order that dessication may be- gin promptly. At first the mass may seem devoid of life, but as the material becomes dry, the beetles will begin to emerge. In this way Mr. Roberts has taken hundreds of Hydroporus dif- formis which until then had been regarded as an extremely rare insect. To collect in flowing streams a loosely woven cloth should be stretched across and through the stream, and the stones, gravel and sand overturned and stirred up a short dis- tance above it. The dislodged beetles will be swept into the cloth to which they will cling for support, and it is only neces- sary to draw up the cloth and reap the harvest. On one occa- sion Mr. Roberts collected by actual count seven hundred bee- tles in this manner after stirring up about two feet of sand and gravel. He also spoke of the absolute necessity of mounting small aquatic Coleoptera from the side, i. e., by bending the tips of the point downward at an angle to conform to that of the side of the beetle and attaching the specimen in such a way as to leave the center and one-half the under side free. Color is often de- ceiving in the identification of water beetles ; but the characters on the underside are good and reliable, hence the necessity of this method of mounting. Mr. Brehme exhibited a box of Hcmilcuca clcctra, showing the tendency toward black individuals, and Mr. Wasmuth ex- hibited a specimen of Telea polyphemus with almost black sec- ondaries. Mr. Doll showed specimens of Fapilin acanthi Oberth. and spoke of the differences between that species and P. philcnor. JOHN A. GROSSBECK, Secretary. 394 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 OBITUARY. PROF. PAUL BIOLLEY. Among the numerous naturalists which Switzerland has given to the world the late Paul Biolley occupied a noteworthy place. Born at Neufchatel, February 15, 1862, the son of Prof. August Biolley, he studied in his native city., taking his degree in letters. In 1885, after teaching two years in Holland, he was selected with two other compatriots, by the government of Costa Rica to organize in the capital of that republic a college — the ''Liceo de Costa Rica." There he remained many years, also occupying a professorship at the Girls' College — "Liceo de Senoritas," as well as teaching in the city of Cartago. In the years of his teaching he trained many young men who are now prominent citizens of the republic of Costa Rica. Prof. Biolley 's right to our recognition rests, however, nol upon his work as a teacher, but upon years of indefatigable natural history field work in his adopted country, the inverte- brate fauna of which he undoubtedly knew better than any liv- ing man. Soon after his arrival in the country he began study- ing its natural history, preparing collections of botanical speci- mens, insects, reptiles, etc., his spare time for years being thus occupied. His excursions yielded material of very great value and the results enriched the two scientific institutions of the republic, the "Institute Fisico Geografico" and the "Museo National," while collections of great value were sent to special- ists and museums in Europe and the United States. His work was continuous, from early morning until late at night, both in the field and in his room. All of his excursions, even those to distant places, were made on foot and his work was not merely collecting, but with his keen powers of observation he noted many facts concerning the life of the animal, and the labels placed by him on his material bear witness to the intense interest he had in his work. He maintained a valuable correspondence with prominent naturalists and his numerous collections sent to them gave rise to a number of publications, forming, no doubt, the most com- plete series of papers on the natural history of Costa Rica. ENT. NEWS. VOL XIX. Plate X V THE LATE PROF. PAUL BIOLLEY. Oct., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 395 Through his work many new species were made known to sci- ence and a considerable number were named after him. The peculiar roach, Biolleya alaris, taken by him, was dedicated by the late Dr. Henri de Saussure in recognition of his work. Several books on botany and zoology were published by him, while numerous zoological papers came from his pen, one of the last being a study of the mdlusca of L'oeos Island. On public instruction his opinion was held in high esteem and among other things he published a Greek and Latin grammar for use in the Costa Rican schools. For the Paris Exposition of 1900 he prepared an interesting and unbiased work on Costa Rica, and he was the mainstay of the National Society of Agri- culture, contributing valuable papers to every Bulletin pub- lished. Death came just as he was preparing a resume of his twenty-one years of continuous work and study, and, as he was a man of order, it will be possible at any time to publish the work. His demise occurred at San Jose, January 16, 1908, from pneumonia. Personal knowledge of Prof. Biolley 's work compels us to pay some tribute, in addition to the facts given above, if only in return for the very valuable collections which he transmitted to us for study, work on a particularly extensive sending hav- ing occupied our attention when news of his death reached us. With the greatest generosity and most hearty spirit of co-opera- tion this energetic and enthusiastic colleague sent specimens, lot upon lot, unconditionally, supplying most complete cap- ture notes, while at the same time he stirred up and sustained interest in the same field in others around him. We who have good libraries and abundant opportunities to do that in which we are interested, do not fully realize and appreciate what de- votion and energy in the cause are necessary to produce a man like Paul Biolley under the circumstances in which he worked. Most of the notes in the above article concerning Prof. Biol- ley's life have been very kindly furnished by his intimate col- league, Prof. J. Fidelio Tristan, of San Jose, and K. TT. T.nnkr- ster, Esq.; who during his residence in Costa Rica, became acquainted with Prof. Biolley. The portrait was kindly sup- plied by Prof. Tristan. J. A. G. R. 396 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 SIMON H. M. SEIB It is with the deepest regret that we record the death of Simon H. M. Seib, of Jersey City, who died at his home on August 27th. Mr. Seib was an ardent collector and breeder of Lepidoptera who took great pains in mounting his speci- mens. He was one of the original members of the Newark Entomological Society ; was its first president and held the office of treasurer at the time of his death. MONSIEUR P. A. P. FINOT. In the death of Monsieur Pierre Aclrien Prosper Finot, sys- tematic entomological science has lost one of its most devoted adherents. He was "Chevalier cle la legion d'honneur" and "Capitaine d'etat major en retraite." A most befitting tribute to his memory printed by his relatives in the form of a memor- iam has been sent out to his correspondents in foreign lands. Monsieur Finot was 70 years old at the time of his death, April 14, 1908, and he lived at Fontainebleau, 27 Rue Saint-Honore. His published papers were mostly devoted to Orthoptera. His monographs were prepared with painstaking care and were often embellished with exquisite drawings made by his own hand. His plates and figures were works of art, showing a great refinement of the art sense as well as close devotion to his subject. He will be remembered more, perhaps, by his well-known monograph on the Orthoptera of France, which is a model of its kind, though his other works are none the less valuable contributions to Orthopteran literature. He was always kindly and courteous toward correspondents, and his letters indicate a man of sympathetic scientific feeling. J. L. HANCOCK. Biological Experiment Grounds, Lakeside, Berrien Co., Michigan, July Qth, 1908. PROF. GUSTAV MAYR. Professor Dr. Gustav Mayr, the distinguished Hymenopterist and special student of the Formicidse, died July I4th, 1908, at his home in Vienna, after a prolonged illness, in his 78th year. NOVEMBER, 1908. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Vol. No. 9 Halter americana Cockereil. EDITOR : HENRY SKINNER, M. D. PHILIP P. CALVERT, Ph.D., Associate Editor. EZRA T. CRESSON. PHILIP l.AURKNT. ADVISORY COMMITTEE: HKNRY I.. VIKRKCK. WILLIAM J. rOX. J. A. G. REHN. H. W. WENZEL. PHILADELPHIA: ENTOMOLOGICAL ROOMS OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, LOGAN SQUARE. Entered at the Philadelphia Post-Office as Second-Cla»« Matter ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Published monthly, excepting August and September, in charge of the Entomo- logical Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and the American Entomological Society. ANNUAL, SUBSCRIPTION, $1.OO IN ADVANCE. Outside of the United States and Canada, $1.20. SINGLE COPIES 15 CENTS Advertising Rates: 30 cents per square inch, single insertion ; a liberal discount on longer insertions. No advertisement taken for less than 60 cents — Cash in advance. P&- All remittances should be addressed to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, Academy of Natural Sciences, ]9th and Race Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. SPECIAL Papilio androcles 2.00 blumeii '-1-50 buddha 60 mayo 75 " rhodifer z.oo Ornithopiera hephaestus 50 heliconides, male i.oo . " female 7.25 Actias selene, small but perfect 75 Teinepalpus imperialis, female 2.75 perfect specimens exotic Lepidoptera, in papers, all desirable tf* fT f\f\ 12 Papilios, including Pap. blumeii, Ornithoptera hephaestus ^p C3 • \J \J Antomerus pamlna, per pair, $7.00 Crinodes biedermani, per pair, $3.50 Extra fine specimens of PhyUium siccifolinm ^i.oo Send 12 cents additional with each order to cover postage and packing JOHN H. MATTHEWS, 3219 N. 13th Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA. I'll be happy in Corrrsponding and Exchanging Papers and Material of Study with Economic Entomologists, and especially with Miriopologists and Acarologists. — Prof. Carlos E. Porter, Casillo 2352, Santiago, Chile. CATALOGUE OF THE NEUROPTEROID INSECTS (EXCEPT ODONATA) OF THE UNITED STATES BY NATHAN BANKS Complete to Summer of 1907 Price 50 cts. (net) per copy Mailed on receipt of price *Seml for copy of New Additions toe Price List; just issued. E. T. CRESSON, Treas., P. O. Box 248, Philadelphia, Pa. •* When Writing Please Mention " Entomological News." ENT. NEWS. VOL. XIX. Plate XVI. THE LATE DR. WILLIAM H. ASHMEAD. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. VOL. XIX. NOVEMBER, 1908. No. 9. CONTENTS: Dr. Win. H. Ashtnead 397 Houijhton — Coleoptera of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y 399 Plitt— Collecting in Baltimore Co., Md. 402 Doane — Variations in the Wing; Vena- tion in some Tipulidae 405 Laurent — Notes on the early stages of some Pamphila 408 Rohvver — Four new Hymenoptera 417 Kwiat — One Day's Collecting, with a description of a new Noctuid 420 Slosson — A hunt for Saldoida Osborn 424 Williamson— A new Dragonfly (Odo- nata) belonging to the Cordulinas, and a Revision of the Classification of the Subfamily 428 Fox— Ceratophyllus niger n. sp 414 •Fditorial . . '. 4^6 Notes and News 437 Doings of Societies 439 Dr. Wm. H. Ashmead. William Harris Ashmead died in Washington, D. C, Octo- ber 1 7th, aged fifty-three years. He was descended from an old Philadelphia family and was born in that city September 19> l&55- His father was Captain Albert S. Ashmead and his mother Elizabeth (Graham). Educated in private and public schools, he received the degree of A. M. from the Florida Agricultural College in 1901, and the honorary degree of D. Sc. from the Western University of Pennsylvania the same year. While in Philadelphia he was with the large publishing house of J. B. Lippincott & Company, which he left in 1876 and with his brother established a publishing house in Jackson- ville, Florida. They specialized in agricultural books and pub- lished an agricultural weekly journal and a daily paper. Dr. Ashmead edited the scientific department of the weekly, devot- ing himself chiefly to the investigation of injurious insects. His excellent work attracted attention, and in 1887 he was made a special field entomologist of the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture. From this time his career as an ento- mologist was rapid and he occupied the following positions : Entomologist, Florida State Agric. College (1888), Lake City, Florida; Assistant Entomologist and Investigator, U. S. Dept. 397 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov., '08 Agric. (1889). During- the winter of 1890 he went abroad and studied in Berlin. After this he returned to the United States Department of Agriculture, and in July, 1897, was ma-de as- sistant curator in the department of insects of the United States National Museum, which position he retained until his fatal illness. At various times he occupied important posi- tions and was honored by different societies, having been a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science ; corresponding member American Entomological So- ciety ; vice-president Biological Society of Washington ; presi- dent Cambridge Entomological Society ; president Washington Entomological Society ; vice-president Washington Academy of Sciences; honorary member Entomological Society of On- tario; vice-president Association Economic Entomologists. He was a prolific writer, his larger productions being Orange insects ; a Bibliographical and Synonymical Catalogue of the Cynipidae ; Hymenoptera of the Harriman Alaskan Expedition ; Classification of the Ichneumonoidea ; Parasitic Hymenoptera of the Island of St. Vincent ; Monograph of the Proctrotry- pidae ; Classification of the Chalcid Flies and various classifica- tions of the Hymenoptera published in the Canadian Entomolo- gist. In all, he published over two hundred and fifty papers. Dr. Ashmead had a profound love for entomology, and his great traits were enthusiasm and industry. He was clearly the leader of students of the Hymenoptera in this country during his career. He was thoroughly a gentleman, being courteous, generous and thoughtful of the rights of others. His manuscripts were always carried with him when he vis- ited Philadelphia, as he never lost an opportunity to add to their completeness. As an officer of the United States Na- tional Museum he encouraged work among younger men and was quick to recognize ability and secure material to aid their studies. He had the general esteem and love of his co-work- ers and friends, and will be universally missed and mourned. In 1878 he married Harriet, daughter of Thomas O. Holmes, who, with a daughter, survives him. Nov., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 399 Coleoptera of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. — I. BY C. O. HOUGHTON, Newark, Del. The present list of beetles embraces only those species that have been taken by the writer in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., at odd times during the past fifteen years. No systematic col- lecting has been done at any time, and during the past nine years only my summer vacations — in some instances less than a month's time — have been spent in St. Lawrence County, and but very little of this time has been devoted to collecting. This list is, therefore, very incomplete and some families, which should be represented by many species, are hardly repre- sented at all. However, it is thought that the list, incomplete as it is, may be of some interest to collectors, and of value as giving some data relative to the geographical distribution of our Coleoptera ; for so far as the writer is aware, no list of the beetles of this section of New York State has ever been published.* The collecting has been done principally at Potsdam and in its immediate vicinity, but some excursions have been made into the Adirondack Mountains and their foot-hills at distances from Potsdam varying from ten to fifty miles. The village of Potsdam, which is situated in the township bearing that name, is in latitude 44 deg. 40 min., longitude 74 deg. 58 min. The length of the day at summer solstice is fifteen hours, thirty- nine minutes and fifty-eight seconds. The altitude above sea level is about four hundred feet. Potsdam is a place of about 4500 inhabitants, and is located on the banks of the Racket River. The surrounding country is typical of the farming section of northern New York. It is fairly 'level, with scat- tered pieces of woodland and occasional small brooks which *In the "News" for October, 1902 (p. 247), Dr. A. D. MacGillivray and the writer published a list of Coleoptera taken at Axton, N. Y. ; and in the "News" for Feb., 1905 (p. 50), the writer published a list of beetles collected by Dr. MacGillivray and himself on the summit of Mt. Seward, N. Y. These places are in Franklin Co., which ad- joins St. Lawrence. None of the species which were collected only at these places are given in the following list. 400 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov., '08 usually have their sources in springs in the foot-hills of the Adirondack Mountains. My collecting has been done in the fields and woods and along roadsides and water courses, where some dredging has been done. No collecting with trap lanterns has been at- tempted, but a few specimens have been taken at various times at light. The determinations of the species given in this list have been largely made by Mr. Chas. Liebeck, to whom my thanks are due ; the writer is responsible for the remainder. CICINDELIDAE. Cicindcla Linn. 6-guttata Fab. purpurea Oliv. Calosoma Web. calidum Fab. Elaphrus Fab. ruscarius Say. Blcthisa Bon. julii Lee. multipunctata Linn. Notiophilus Dum. scmistriatus Say. Leistus Froh. ferruginosus Mann. Dyschirius Bon. globulosus Say. sphaericollis Say. Schizogenius Putz. crenulatus Lee. Nomius Lap. pygmaeus Dej. Bcmbidium Lat. ustulatum Linn. picipes Kirby. variegatum Say. versicolor Lee. mutatum G. & H. quadrimaculatum Linn graciliforme vulgar is Say. repanda Dej. 12-guttata Dej. CARABIDAE. Tachys Schaum. nanus Gyll. incurvus Say. Ptcrostichus Bon. adoxus Say. honcstus Say. coracimis Newm. lucublandiis Say. convexicollis Say. caudicalis Say. corvinus Dej. mutus Say. vitreus Dej. luczotii Dej. erythropus Dej. patrnclis Dej. Amara Bon. latior Kirby. angustata Say. pallipes Kirby. impuncticollis Say. cuprcolata Putz. intcrstitialis Dej. Badistcr Clairv. notatus Hald. bipustulatus Fab. Nov., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 401 Patrobus Dej. longicorms Say. Calathus Bon. gregarius Say. Phitynus Bon. sinuatus Dej. extensicollis Say. pnsillus Lee. moercns Dej. atratiis Lee. inelanarins Dej. affinis Kirby. metallescens Lee. cupripcnnis Say. nutans Say. placidus Say. bogemanni Gyll. quadripunctatus DeG. rubripes Zimm. sordens Kirby . ruficornis Lee. retractus Lee. lutulentus Lee. Lffcza Lat. tricolor Say. viridis Say. pumila Dej. Blcchrus Mots. nigrinus Mann. Mctabletus Sch. — Goeb. americanus Dej. Axinopalpus Lee. biplagiatus Dej. Callida Dej. punctate, Lee. Cymindis Lat. cribrata Lee. Chlaenius Bon. sericeus Forst. pennsylvanicus Say. Brachylobus Chd. litlniphiliis Say. Agonoderus Dej. pallipcs Fab. pauperculus Dej. Harpalus Lat. erraticus Say. viridiaeneus Beauv. Harpalus Lat. pennsylvanicus DeG. pleuriticus Kirby. j/>., j/t'o;- pleuriticus herbivagus Say. fuliginosus Dej. conjunctus Say. Acupalpus Lat. hydropicus Lee. Bradyccllus Er. rupcstris Say . Anisodactylus Dej. harrisii Lee. nigrita Dej. baltimnrensis Say. lugtibris Dej. NOTES Cicindcla 6-guttata. Common on fences, stone walls, along the roads and on sidewalks in town. Cicindela purpiirca. I once found this species abundant the last of April on a slight slope, facing south, in an open pasture near Potsdam. Cicindcla vulgaris. This species seems rather rare at Pots- dam. I have taken but one or two specimens there ; one taken in the Adirondacks. 402 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov., 'o8 Cicindela repanda. Not at all common at Potsdam. Cicindela i2-gnttata. Fairly common; abundant in the Ad- irondacks, principally along the roads. Elaphrus ruscarius. Have taken but two specimens of this species : these were on wet ground at the edge of a brook. Blethisa julii. Have taken but a single specimen of this spe- cies. This was, I think, taken under stones on the river bank, not far from the water. Notiophilus semistriatus. Have taken two or three in pas- tures. Bembidiinn graciliforme. One taken in the Adirondacks. Amara augustata. Abundant at Potsdam. Taken princi- pally by sweeping grass on fairly low ground. They are often high up on the grass-stalks, near the heads. Calathus gregarius. Quite common at Potsdam : usually found under boards, rails, stones, etc., in the fields. Generally several will be found together. Platynus pnsillus. One taken in the Adirondacks. Platynus rctractus. One taken in the Adirondacks. Lebia pitmila. One taken in the Adirondacks. Metablctus americanits. Very common: have taken dozens about stones in open pastures. Cymindis cribrata. Rather rare : have taken five or six at the base of mullein stalks, under the leaves, in a dry pasture. Collecting in Baltimore Co., Md By EDW. A. PLITT, Baltimore, Md. Although we should think that in and around so large a city as Baltimore there would be very few butterflies and moths, yet I have found that nearly /all of the various species of the Middle Atlantic States are here represented. One of the best places for an ardent collector is the well known Clifton Park, situated near the outskirts of the city- The presence of innumerable southern flowers and shrubs, cul- tivated in the nurseries of the park, is a great attraction for thousands of insects, butterflies and moths. Nov., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 403 During the months of June and August I am at this place from early morning till late at night collecting butterflies and moths. Between nine o'clock in the morning and four in the afternoon is about the best time for this purpose. During these hours I have collected beautiful specimens of Argvimis idalia and aphrodite, Limenitis ursnla, Papilio philcnor, tumns, glaucus and troilns, some of which have an expanse of from four to five inches. One of the finest specimens taken last season was a Papilio glaucus, which had two bright yellow spots on the upper wings and whose lower wings were almost completely yellow like those of turnus. Besides these there are great numbers of others, such as Vanessa antiopa, atalanta, huntcra, cardui, etc. In the evening just as it is getting dark, this same place be- comes a regular paradise for a collector of moths, etc. Going in amongst the beds of Phlox, I have caught great numbers of the different species of the Sphinx family ; but these always fly so very fast that it is extremely difficult to get at them with the net, for the slightest noise made by the breaking of a twig or the rustling of a leaf will frighten them, and off they go. As soon as night has settled, the larger moths, i. e. Cith- eronia regalis, imperialis, polyphemus, cecropia, cynthi-a, pro- inethea, Actias lima and great numbers of Catocalas, among which are the red, yellow, white and black kinds, begin to fly around the lamps and electric lights of the park, which attract them in so great numbers that the collector is kept busy with his net and jar, until he returns home, weary with a good day's work and the proud possessor of a fine collection for his cabinet. Besides this park there is another fine place, called Druid Hill Park. Here I have taken great numbers of Papilio aja.v, Apatura cl\ton, Grapta comma, Tcrias nicippe, Anisota sen- atoria and virgiuicnsis, also many other kinds peculiar to swampy and wooded regions. The only difficulty in collecting at this place is the presence of large numbers of copper-head snakes, which make this region very dangerous for a collector, for he has to be very 404 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov., '08 careful where he places his foot. Even such a danger as this will not be thought of when one is chasing a fine specimen. I clearly remember on one occasion when I surely thought my last hour had come. I had been collecting for a good while, when a beautiful nrsula crossed my path, flew over the tops of some trees, across a small brook and over a field. It did not take me long to get up to the place where it had. alighted, but instead of letting itself be caught, it flew up and then across a wide stream. My mind was quickly made up as to what to do. I waded through the stream, scrambled up on the other bank and ran toward the bush on which it had alighted. I quickly threw the net over my prize, and, stepping closer, wanted to transfer it into my jar. Just as my foot touched the ground I heard a fearful hissing, and before I could look for the cause of it a large snake jumped out at me from under the bush. Thanks to my net, it did not strike me, but got entangled in the bag. Now instead of getting one specimen, I had two, one of which I could not kill very well with my jar. The first thing I did was to get a good strong stick, with which I managed to kill the serpent, which proved to be about five and a half feet long, of a dark brown color, but fortu- nately for me, not a copperhead. Thus we see that although collecting here is a little danger- ous, Baltimore County ranks high in the production of butter- flies and moths, which will always be the delight of our collec- tors and admirers of Nature. MR. HENRY L. VIERECK has accepted a position as entomologist with Parke, Davis & Co., Detroit, Mich. THE collection of butterflies and moths made by the late Dr. Her- man Strecker, of Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, has been sold to the Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois. BUTTERFLY BOOTH. — At the State Fair Pavilion the Most Interesting Section in Big Hall. — The collection of butterflies being displayed this year at the pavilion by Fred Burns, of Reno, Nev., attracted hundreds of people daily, and well it might, as they have been sent Mr. Burns from all over the world. — Newspaper. ENT. NEWS, VOL. XIX. Plate XVII. 10 8 16 VARIATIONS IN THE WING VENATION IN SOME TIPULIDAE.-DOANE. Nov., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 405 Variations in the Wing Venation in some Tipulidae. R. W. DOANE, Stanford University. (Plate XVII.) In all systematic work on the Diptera the wing venation is a character that is used perhaps more than any other in sep- arating the larger groups and in many instances is of real gen- eric and often of specific value, so close does the venation hold to a type. In the families with the more generalized type of venation, however, there is more or less of a tendency to varia- tion especially in the relative length and position of some of the veins in the outer portion of the wing. In the Tipulidae the presence or absence of the second pos- terior cell and the length of the petiole by which it is joined to the discal call are characters that are largely used. The cell is always present in normal specimens of Tipula. I have be- fore me a specimen of T. simplex Doane, in which this cell is entirely wanting in both wings, the wings otherwise being perfectly normal (See Fig. i; in all the figures only the out- line of the wing and the venation is shown, as the marking would in some instances obscure the point that we wish to show). The wings of the male of this species are subject to considerable variation in size and shape and intensity of the markings, but the venation is, as a rule, quite constant. (Com- pare Figs. 2 and 3.) One of the principal characters that is often used for separat- ing the genus Tipula from Pachyrhina is the presence or ab- sence or short length of the petiole of the second posterior cell. In Pachyrhina this cell is sessile or with a very short petiole, while in Tipula the petiole is usually longer. There is con- siderable variation in this respect in both genera, however, even within the species, and indeed sometimes in the two wings of the same individual as shown in figures 4 and 5, which are the right and left wings of a specimen of Pachyrhina ferruginea, more or less variation is often shown. In the right wing, Fig. 4, the second posterior cell has a very distinct and, for a Pachyrhina, rather long petiole. In the left wing, Fig. 5, this 4°6 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov. , '08 cell is sessile. Fig-. 6 is from another specimen of the same genus showing this cell broadly sessile. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show the variations that occur in the length of the petiole of this cell and also variations in the size and shape of the discal cell in Tipula aequalis Doane. The position of the posterior cross-vein is a specific character that is often used and is quite constant in some species. In other closely related species it may be of no value on account of the variations that occur. Fig. 10 shows the wing of Dicranomyia badia O. S. with the posterior cross-vein in its normal, that is, most usual, position, but it is often found much anterior to this as shown in Fig. n. Figs. 12 and 13 show the variations that may occur in the position of this vein in the right and left wings of the same individual. (Limnobia trio- cellata O. S.) In certain groups we often find extra or "supernumerary" cross-veins that may or may not occur in all the individuals of the species or they may be present in only one or in both of the wings. Whenever they do occur their position is quite constant for the species and sometimes for the genera. Fig. 14 shows such a vein occurring in the sub-marginal cell of both wings of a specimen of Limnobia triocellata O. S. A short stump of a vein often occurs near the origin of the praefurca in some species. In Fig. n (Dicranomyia badia O. S.) and Fig. 15 (D. Stigmata Doane) two such veins are shown. Fig. 15 also shows a remarkable case of a distinct piece of a vein occurring in a part of the wing where a vein never oc- curs normally All or a part of a vein may sometimes be wanting in species where it normally occurs. Fig. 10 shows two such veins in the region of the discal cell. Only rarely do we see interpolated cells as shown in Fig. 16 (Limnobia sciophila O. S.) and Fig. 17 (Tipula simplex Doane). Both of these aberrations occur in the right wing only of these two specimens. These few examples selected from many that might have been used show two things : first, the ever present tendency to NOV., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 407 vary particularly among the more generalized types of wing venation ; second, the danger of drawing wrong conclusions in regard to the systematic position of a specimen of a species when represented by only one or two individuals. These varia- tions are doubtless of no value in the history of the species, as they probably disappear in the next generation, although I know of no experiments to test this. The figures are redrawn from photographs. The markings on the wings, if any, are not indicated in the drawings. EXPLANATION OF PLATE XVII. I. Tipula simplex Doane, 2nd posterior cell wanting in both wings. 2 and 3. Tipula simplex — to show difference in size and shape within the species. 4 and 5. Pachyrhina ferruginea Fabr, right and left wing from same specimen. Note presence of petiole of 2nd posterior cell in 4 and absence in 5. 6. Pachyrhina ferruginea Fabr. Note 2nd post, cell broadly sessile. 7, 8, 9. Tipula acqualis Doane, to show variation in shape of discal cell and length of petiole of 2nd post. cell. 10. Dicranomyia badia O. S. Note abbreviated vein at end of discal cell and abbreviated branch of the 4th vein ; posterior cross vein in normal position, ir. Dicranomyia badia O. S. Note posterior cross vein before the discal cell ; also spur on praefurca. 12 and 13. Lininobia triocellata O. S. Note difference in the position of the posterior cross-vein in the right and left wing of the same specimen. 14. Lininobia triocellata O. S. Note supernumerary cross veins in submarginal cell. 15. Dicranomyia stigmata Doane. Note short piece of vein in spurious cell. 16. Lininobia sciophila O. S. Note two interpolated cells. 17. Tipula simplex Doane. Note interpolated cell. MR. DAVID T. FULLAWAY, of California, has received an appointment to the Hawaiian Experiment Station at Honolulu. PRINCE FERDINAND, now King of Bulgaria, is an entomologist of note and a member of some of the European societies. An article on the King appeared in a recent number of Rovartani Lapok. We believe a good entomologist should make a good ruler. 408 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov. , '08 Notes on the Early Stages of some Pamphila. BY PHILIP LAURENT. Several years ago the writer on observing a species of Pam- phila depositing her eggs on a blade of grass made up his mind to try and see if he could not do something towards un- raveling the life history of some of these interesting butter- flies, a genus of butterflies of which there is comparatively little known of their early stages — and yet so easy to find out if one will but go to the trouble. The reason that the preparatory stages of many of the species mentioned in this article are not complete, is not because the species are hard to raise; but to the fact that business or something else always called me away about the time I should have been at home attending to my larvae. It is true that, on several occasions I took my larvae along with me, but as a rule I had very little success when I did this; this is particularly true of Pamphila aaronii, the larvae of which I carried from Philadelphia to Johnson- City, Tenn., only to loose them on my arrival at the latter place by the lid of the jelly jar becoming loose. The eggs of Pamphila are easily secured ; the larvae are easy to raise ; and the food plant (grass in nearly every, if not in every case) can be found by every one. With care in keeping the cages (which should consist of test tubes or jelly glasses during the early stages) free from moisture, there is no reason why one should not be successful in rearing Pamphila. To secure the eggs, plant a small piece of grass sod in a flower pot and cover the same with netting — the high, wire fly-traps answer admirably for this purpose. In the cage place your female "skipper," and the chances are that in forty-eight hours or less time eggs will be found on the blades of grass. As a rule, the eggs are deposited during the night. In securing the butterflies I follow the same method as if I was collecting specimens for my cabinet; with the exception that, when the butterfly has suc- cumbed to the effects of the cyanide, I immediately remove the insect from the jar, placing each one in a separate pill box. On arriving home you will find that your butterflies have recov- NOV., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 409 ered from the effects of the cyanide and are as lively as crickets. In nine cases out of ten you will find that the females will de- posit fertile eggs. The eggs should be placed in cardboard boxes until they hatch ; by no means place them in glass or metal boxes, as they are apt to mildew. The larvae seem to feed more readily on the coarser specie^ of grasses ; this is particularly true after they have passed the second moult. I have left out several interesting facts concerning the breed- ing of Pamf^ Juki, as I do not wish to consume too much of the valuable space of the NEWS. 1. Pamphila massasoit. Two females of this species captured on the fifth of July, deposited eggs on the seventh of July. The eggs are nearly round ; the base is slightly flattened ; color of egg, opake white. The eggs hatched on July eighteenth. When first hatched the larvae are of a dirty yellow color, and rather slen- der; body sparsely covered with long yellow hairs. Head nearly smooth, and of a light chestnut color. First moult oc- curred on July twenty-eight. The larvae are now of an olive green color, otherwise same as when first hatched. This spe- cies has been reported as being double brooded in New England, but in the vicinity of Philadelphia I think we have but one brood. I have never seen the butterfly on the wing before the fifteenth of June, or later than the fifteenth of July. It is very common in southern New Jersey about the fourth of July, and at that time the butterfly can be found on the flowers of the button-ball bush, as well as on the flowers of the cranberry and the flag. 2. Pamphila zabulon. A female of this species was confined in a cage on May the twenty-fourth, and the next day several eggs were laid. The egg is of a pale green color and somewhat broader than high : the egg is covered with numerous fine depressions, and the apex is slightly flattened. The eggs hatched on the eighth of June. When first hatched the larvae are of an opake white color, but this changes to a dark green twenty-four hours after 410 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov., '08 the larvae start to feed. Head and collar dark brown, the head being roughly corrugated. The first moult occurred on the sixteenth of June, the larvae now being of a yellowish green color, otherwise the same as before. June the twenty-fourth the second moult occurred. Larvae are now of a grass green color, and are sparsely covered with numerous dark colored stiff hairs and also with numerous white spots, a greenish dorsal line is also in evidence, along with a sub-dorsal line of the same color. The head is light, or chestnut brown, with the suture very distinct. July third, the third moult occurred. The larvae are now of a darker green, and the anal shield shows a pinkish tinge, otherwise same as before. On July the thirteenth the larvae moulted for the fourth time. I noticed no difference in the larvae since the third moult. July the twenty-fourth the larva; went into the chrysalis state, first forming a resting place in which to undergo this change by drawing two or more blades of grass together. On August the fourth a female butterfly emerged, the next day two males made their appearance. This species is double-brooded in the neighborhood of Philadelphia. 3. Pamphila hobnmok, A description of the -egg and larval stages of this species would be almost identical with that of P. zabnlon, so I omit the description. However, some of my larvae went into the chrysalis state after the fourth moult, while others passed a fifth moult. The larvae when full grown are somewhat larger than those of P. zabitlon, and somewhat darker. Have had this species to hibernate over winter in the egg, larval and chrysalis states. The species is double brooded in the vicinity of Philadelphia. 4. Pamphila metea. On the fifteenth of May, at Clementon, N. J., I secured sev- eral females of this species. The eggs were laid on the seven- teenth of May. The egg is of an opake color, and covered with very fine reticulations ; the egg is nearly hemispherical in shape, and has the apex slightly flattened. The eggs hatched Nov., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 41 1 on June the ninth, or twenty-two days after they had been laid. When first hatched the larvae are of an opake white, but twenty-four hours after starting to feed they were of a dark green color, with the body sparsely covered with long, light grayish hairs. The head and collar are nearly black, and shiny. Feet and prolegs of an opake white color. The first moult occurred on June the nineteenth. Shortly after moulting the larvae assumed a clear green color, otherwise I see no change. The second moult occurred on June twenty-eighth. The body is now of an oil green color, otherwise can notice no change since last moult. Third moult occurred July the ninth, but I notice no change in the appearance of the larvae. Fourth moult occurred July the eighteenth. The larvae are now of a very dark green color, almost approaching a brown. Fifth moult occurred on July the thirty-first. The larvae are now of a dark brown color, and covered with numerous brown spots of a darker color than the body; a distinct narrow dorsal line of a greenish color is also noticed. August eleventh. The larvae are now about full grown, and are about one and an eighth inches in length when body is extended. August twelfth. First of the larvae changed to chrysalis to-day. The chrysalis is. about three-quarters of an inch in length, at first of a light green color which two days afterwards gives way to a drab color. I kept the chrysalids under my eye until the first of October, when no imagoes having emerged, I placed the cage containing the chrysalids in a cool, -dry part of the cellar. I removed the cage from the cellar about the first of May of the following year. Three specimens emerged between the seventh and the eleventh of May. I believe the species is single brooded in southern New Jersey. 5. Pamphila leonardus. Secured several females of this species at Atco, N. J., on September the third, fertile eggs were laid on the fifth of Sep- tember. The egg is half again as broad as high : of an opake white color, and very finely punctuated. Eggs hatched on the sixteenth of September. The larva when first hatched is of an opake white color, and sparsely covered with long hairs. 412 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov., '08 The head and collar are brown, and but slightly reticulated. The first moult occurred on October fourth ; twenty-four hours after moulting- the larvae were of an oil green color, and thickly covered with dark brown spots ; an almost indistinct dorsal line is also present. My larvae now refused to eat, al- though they remained alive until November first. The butter- fly is single brooded in southern New Jersey. 6. Pamphila otho. From a female confined on the fourth of July I secured one egg on the sixth of July. The egg is yellowish white ; apex slightly flattened, and is somewhat broader than high. On July the fifteenth the egg hatched. The larva when first hatched is of an opake white color, this color giving way to that of an oil green after the larvae had been feeding for twenty- four hours ; the larva is also covered with dark brown spots, and short, dark colored, spine-like hairs. The head is very finely reticulated, and of a blackish color. The first moult occurred on July the twenty-fourth, but I notice no difference in the appearance of the larva. On August the third the larva moulted for the second time, but I notice no difference except in the size. The third moult occurred on August the sixteenth. The larva is now about a half inch in length, and of a greenish brown color ; a distinct dorsal line is visible. October fourth my only larva died. 7. Pampbila mystic. On July the seventh I secured a few eggs of this butterfly from Mr. H. E. Wilford, of Batavia, New York. The egg is almost hemispherical in shape, and is covered with fine reticu- lations ; the color of the egg is pale green. Larvae emerged on the ninth of July, two days after I received them from Mr. W. Shortly after emerging the larvae assume a light yellow color. Head and collar are black and shiny, and covered with very fine reticulations. The first moult occurred on July the eighteenth. Twenty-four hours after moulting the larvae were light green in color, and covered with numerous white spots. Second moult occurred on July the twenty-sixth. The body is NOV., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 413 now covered with numerous spine like hairs ; a dorsal line of a greenish color is also in evidence. Third moult occurred on August the seventh. The larvae are now about a half inch in length, with the body of a dark brown color ; otherwise, same as before. 8. Pamphila cernes. Two females placed in the cage on May twenty-fourth de- posited some thirty eggs on the twenty-fifth. The egg is al- most round, of an opake white color, and finely reticulated. The first larvae appeared on the eighth of June. The larvae when first hatched are of the same color as the egg, but twenty- four hours after feeding they assume a dark green color. The head and collar are almost black, and but slightly punctuated. First moult occurred on June seventeenth. Shortly after moulting the larvae were of a yellowish green, and covered with numerous brown spots. A dorsal line is plainly visible. Second moult occurred on June the twenty-eighth, but I no- tice no change in the larvae since first moult. The third moult occurred July the sixth. With the exception that the larvae are larger, and the dorsal line more distinct, I notice no change since last moult. July sixteenth the fourth moult oc- curred, but I notice no change in the appearance of the larvae since the third moult. On July the twentieth a number of the larvae entered the chrysalis state ; for the first two days the chrysalis is of a greenish color, after which it changes to a drab color. The first imago made its appearance July twenty- eighth. Between July the twenty-eighth and August fifth some twenty imagoes made their appearance. The species is double- brooded in the vicinity of Philadelphia. 9. Pamphila manataaqua. A female of this species was placed in the cage on June four- teenth, and during the fifteenth she deposited a number of eggs. The egg is somewhat broader than high, and is of a pea green color ; distinctly marked with numerous punctuations, and the apex is slightly flattened. I was successful in raising this spe- cies, but aside from this description of the egg I cannot give the 414 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov. , '08 other early stages, as I have lost my notes. A number of the butterflies emerged from the chrysalis state from August the twenty-eighth to September the first. The species is double- brooded in the vicinity of Philadelphia. 10. Pamphila verna. From a female caged on June twenty-ninth, I secured a number of eggs on July first. The egg is of a light green color ; slightly wider than high ; finely punctuated, and apex flat- tened. The larvae hatched on July the thirteenth ; when first hatched they are of an opake white, but twenty-four hours after feeding the larvae were of an oil green color ; the body is marked with numerous brown spots. Head and collar almost black, with slight punctuations. First moult occurred on July the twenty-second. The larvae are now of a lighter green, with numerous black spine-like hairs scattered over the body ; a faint greenish dorsal line is present. Second moult occurred on August second; twenty-four hours after moulting the larvae showed a heavy, greenish dorsal line, as well as a sub-dorsal line on each side of the body ; the body is also covered with numerous white spots. August eleventh, the larvae moulted for the third time. Twenty-four hours after moulting the larvae assumed a lighter shade of green, otherwise I see no difference since last moult. Fourth moult occurred on August twenty-second. I notice no change since last moult. A fifth moult occurred on September fourth. The only change noticed since last moult is in the color of the body, which is now of a yellowish green. After carrying this insect successfully through its five moults, I lost them by a windstorm which blew my cage over, thus allowing the larvae to escape. n. Pamphila panoquin. Secured three female specimens of this butterfly at Anglesea, New Jersey, on June eighteenth ; from these females I secured some twenty fertile eggs on the nineteenth. The egg is of a pea green color, and is about as high as broad, with very fine reticulations. June twenty-seventh the eggs hatched. When first hatched the larvae are of an opake white color, and rather NOV., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 415 slender. The head is of a light brown color, and is much wider than any part of the body. Twenty-four hours after starting to eat the larvae assumed a greenish, yellow color. July the seventh my last larva died. I gave the larvae grass from the salt marshes as well as grass from my garden in Mt. Airy, and the larvae ate both, so the food plant had nothing to do with their death. The species is double-brooded, the first brood being at its height about the fifteenth of June, while the second brood is at its height about the fifteenth of August. It is strictly a maritime species, although, a specimen was cap- tured in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, by Mr. Haimbach some years ago. 12. Pamphila bimacula. Eggs of this species were sent to me by Mr. H. E. Wilford, of Batavia, New York. The egg is light green in color, and finely reticulated; somewhat broader than high, with apex slightly flattened. The eggs did not hatch. 13. Pamphila pontiac. Two females of this species were secured on the fifth of July, the eggs being deposited on July seventh. The egg is entirely different from any other Pamphila egg that I have ever seen, being rather flat, and half again as broad as high, and of a light lemon color ; finely reticulated, and apex slightly flat- tened. The eggs hatched on July the nineteenth. The larvae when first hatched are of a light lemon color. Head dark brown and finely reticulated. The first moult occurred on July the twenty-eighth. Shortly after moulting the larvae assumed a very light green color. Numerous dark brown, spine-like hairs are scattered over the body. The head is now of a light brown. The species appears to be single brooded in Eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. I have never observed the butterfly before the end of June or later than the middle of July. 14. Pamphila dion. Eggs of this species were sent to me by Mr. H. E. Wilford, of Batavia, New York. I received the eggs on the eighth of 416 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov., '08 July. The egg is of a light green color, and finely reticulated, and is somewhat broader than high ; the apex is slightly flat- tened. On July the sixteenth the larvae emerged from the egg. The body of the larva twenty-four hours after hatching is of a yellowish green, and is sparsely covered with yellowish hairs. Head and collar shiny black. Larvae moulted for the first time on July twenty-sixth. A few hours after moulting the body of the larva became a light green. 15. Pamphila aaronii. Brought home from Anglesea, New Jersey, on June the twelfth, three females of this butterfly. The eggs were laid on the thirteenth of June. The egg is slightly wider than high, and of an opake white color, finely reticulated, and the apex is slightly flattened. Eggs hatched on June twenty-sec- ond. The larvae when first hatched have the body the same color as the eggs, but twenty-four hours after starting to eat the larvae were of a greenish drab color, otherwise I notice no change in the appearance of the larvae. First moult occurred on July the first ; twenty- four hours after moulting the larvae assumed a beautiful, light green color ; all the legs are the same color. This species is strictly a maritime one, being very com- mon on the salt meadows of southern New Jersey. The spe- cies is double-brooded, the first brood being at its height about the fifteenth of June, and the second brood about the fifteenth of August. It is often found in company with P. panoquin, both species having the same habit, and both appearing on the wing about the same time. The August brood of both these species will outnumber the June brood by ten to one. 16 Pamphila fusca. A female secured on August the seventeenth deposited eggs the same day. The egg is shiny, pearl white, and not opake white as is so often the case with the eggs of Pamphila. The surface of the egg is very finely reticulated, and the apex of egg is decidedly flattened. Eggs hatched on August the twenty-seventh. The larvae when first hatched are of an opake white color. Head and collar very light brown. This NOV., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 417 was an exceptional case for me, as I could not induce the larvae to feed. The species is double-brooded in eastern Penn- sylvania and southern New Jersey. 17. Pamphila viator. Secured a number of eggs of this species from Mr. H. E. Wilford, of Batavia, New York. The eggs were laid about July the seventh. The egg is grayish in color ; finely reticu- lated, and somewhat wider than high, with apex but slightly flattened. The eggs hatched on July the sixteenth. The larva of this Pamphila is entirely different from the larvae of any other Pamphila that I have ever seen. Twenty-four hours after hatching the larvae were of a grayish color, and covered with numerous dark-colored, spine-like hairs. The head and collar are light yellow and covered with numerous dark brown spots. First moult occurred on the twenty-fifth of July. Twenty-four hours after moulting the larvae were of a brown color, other- wise the larvae are the same as before. Four new Hymenoptera. By S. A. ROHWER, Boulder, Colo. Belomicrus larimerensis n. sp. 9. Length 5 mm. Anterior margin of clypeus produced in middle to a broad, rounded process, at the side of which is a small tooth; clypeus shining, without punctures ; head finely granular ; behind the antennae is a shallow, smooth depression ; on the vertex behind the summit of each eye is an angular protuberance ; pronotum rounded, not carinated or dentate; dorsulum sculptured like the head, scutellum somewhat more coarsely so ; mesopleura sculptured about as the scu- tellum, below tegulae there is a deep vertical furrow ; squamae linear, at- tached to the postscutellum for their entire length, slightly rounded on the outer margin, perhaps a little broader anteriorly; spine very short ; posterior face of metathorax bounded on the sides by distinct carin;e which are abruptly truncate above, irregularly obliquely striated, below spine a vertical carina ; marginal cell pointed at apex, widest where the first tr. cu. is received ; tran. med. a little anterior to basal ; abdomen closely, finely punctured ; pygidium broad, rounded at apex, punctured with large separate punctures, color black ; two spots on pronotum, tubercles, tip of femora, tibiae beneath creamy-white; spot on scape beneath at apex, flagellum beneath somewhat, and tarsi tes- 418 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov., '08 taceous ; tegulae, narrow apical margin of abdominal segments, yellow- ish testaceous ; pygidium red ; wing dusky hyaline, nervures dark brown ; face, clypeus, side of thorax with silvery pubescence. Habitat. — Larimer Co., Colo., between 8000 and 9000 feet, July 18, (C. P. Gillette). Co-types in collection of Colo. Agri- cultural College and in author's collection. This may be the female of B. forbesii Rob. but differs as follows from his description of that species : no depression on posterior face beneath spine, sides of abdomen are not parallel, the wings are strongly dusky, nervures brown. Grabro (Paranothyreus Roll.) gillettei n. sp. 9. Length about 7 mm. Clypeus broadly truncate, very finely punc- tured, some large punctures near margin, carina very low and broad ; mandibles with a small subapical tooth, at apex obtusely truncate ; width of eyes at the clypeus a little more than the width of the clypeus ; facial basin smooth, shining, not strongly margined above ; between the ocelli and the facial basin the head is striated with irregular striae; outer orbits and head back of ocelli shining, with sparse, fine punctures ; ocelli in a low triangle, the distance between the lateral ones and the nearest eye margin about the same ; lateral ocelli back of a line drawn between the superior orbits ; furrow from lower ocellus distinct, strong, extend- ing to base of antennae ; pronotum not carinated or dentate, anterior angles sharp, but without teeth ; most of dorsulum and scutellum shin- ing, sparsely punctured with rather small punctures ; anterior margin of dorsulum with short longitudinal striae ; middle of dorsulum from anterior margin with a distinct carina ; mesopleura shining, punctured like dorsulum, below tegulae there is a distinct pit ; enclosure and sides of metathorax not strongly defined ; enclosure with a few longitudinal striae; middle furrow shallow, not extending on posterior face, slightly broader at apex ; posterior face with a triangular fovea, apex beneath ; finely reticulate ; metapleura finely, transversely striate ; longest spur of hind tibiae not as long as the first joint of hind tarsi; abdomen i in- punctate ; pygidium broad, flat, sparsely punctured with large punctures. Black; ocelli (dry) reddish; two spots on pronotum, tubercles, spot on scutellum, line on postscutellum, four anterior tibiae, except within, posterior tibiae at base, spot on each side of first three abdominal seg- ments (the two apical segments have faint indications of spots), yellow; tarsi testaceous ; wings at base yellowish at apex hyaline, nervures and stigma testaceous ; the usual pubescence undoubtedly occurs, but the specimen is somewhat worn and it is wanting. •Habitat.— Larimer Co., Colo., between 8000 and 9000 feet, July 18, (C. P. Gillette). Type in the collection of Colorado Agricultural College. Nov., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 419 This belongs to Fox's group hilaris Sm. The black clypeus, mandibles and venter are good superficial characters to separate this species from its allies. The sculpture is much finer than in any allies except snowi from which it differs in the wider space between the eyes at the clypeus and other characters. Crabro (Xylocrabro Ashm. ?) besseyae n. sp. 9 Anterior margin of the clypeus rounded out, carina distinct; mandibles at apex tridentate, at base within with two large teeth ; width of the eyes at the clypeus a little greater than the width of the clypeus; first and second flagellar joints equal; head closely punctured with rather large punctures, more sparsely so on vertex and posterior orbits ; ocelli in an obtuse triangle ; distance between the lateral ocelli and nearest eye margin about the same ; furrow from anterior ocellus rather indistinct ; pronotum rather feebly carinated, anterior angle with a small tooth ; dorsulum punctured with rather large, strong punctures ; scutellum sparsely punctured ; mesopleura anteriorly sharply truncated, transversely striated, with some large punctures among the striae; enclosure and sides of metathorax not sharply defined ; enclosure and posterior face rather coarsely, irregularly, closely punctured ; post- scutellum more finely so ; furrow of metathorax extending to below middle of posterior face ; metapleura very finely, transversely striate ; anterior femora at base beneath with a small tooth ; first rec. rather near apex of first cubital cell; abdomen, both dorsal and ventral sur- faces, punctured with rather small, distinct, well-separated punctures ; pygidium about twice as long as width at base ; apical half strongly contracted and narrowed, basal half broad, punctured with large punctures ; scape at apex, spot on mandibles, two spots on pronotum, tubercles, anterior femora beneath, four posterior femora beneath for basal half, spots on dorsal abdominal segments 2-5 bright yellow; clypeus, cheek and inner orbits with dense silvery pubescence ; thorax with some white hairs ; wings strongly dusky, iridescent ; venation black. Habitat — Boulder, Colo., May 26, 1908, at flowers of Bcs- seya plantaginca (S. A. Rohwer). This species is nearest to stirpicolus Pack., but differs as follows : metathorax above and behind not coarsely striated, etc. The shape of the pygidium should distinguish this species at once. Ichneutidea secunda n. sp. 9 . Length 4l/> mm ; length of anterior wing 4 mm. Head shining, impunctate; ocelli in a low triangle; a furrow from lower ocellus to occiput ; antennal fovese quite distinct, wider above the antennae ; an- 420 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov. , '08 tennae 25-jointed, third joint but little longer than fourth, the last five joints but little longer than wide; sides of the supercly.peal area de- pressed ; clypeus round on anterior margin ; mesonotum shining, im- punctate, except anterior lobe, which finely punctured; scutellum with well-scattered, small punctures; mesopleura shining, impunctate ; meta- thorax smooth, shining, without an areola ; posterior femora rather robust; posterior tibiae tapering from base to apex; first joint of hind tarsi a little longer than 2. .3 ; tarsal claws simple ; stigma angulate beneath ; first abscissa of radius a little longer than second, but not as long as the oblique transverse cubitus ; second transverse cubitus about equal to the second abscissa of radius ; second cubital cell pointed at base beneath ; basal nervure bent ; transverse median more than half its length beyond basal nervure ; abdomen impunctate ; lateral carinas of first dorsal segment more or less developed. Color, reddish- yellow ; antennae, eyes, black spot enclosing ocelli, middle lobe of mesonotum. scutellum, metathorax, mesopleura and mesopectus ; spot on apical dorsal segments of abdomen, sheath, black; apex of hind tibiae and their tarsi infuscated ; wings hyaline, iridescent, apical third a little darker, nervures and stigma pale brown; dorsulum of abdomen and legs with short reddish-yellow pubescence. Habitat. — Geneva, Nebraska. Type in the collection of the University of Nebraska, paratype in author's collection. This species is quite distinct from /. abdominalis Cress, the only other species of this genus, being known at once by the different color — abdominalis has the head and thorax black. One Day's Collecting, with a Description of a new Noctuid. BY ALEX. KWIAT, Chicago, 111. On Decoration Day, May 30, 1908, the writer, with Messrs. Beer and Kidlica, went on a collecting trip to Hessville, Ind., where we were joined by Will Hartman, Jr., who resides there, making a party of four, all Lepidopterists. Hessville, Indiana, is just four miles east of the Illinois line and about four or five miles south of Lake Michigan. It is not strictly in the sand dune region, although there are occa- sional blow holes and shifting ridges. Generally speaking, it may be described as a succession of sloughs and sandy ridges, the latter usually covered with stunted oak, hop elm, cotton- wood, the small-leaved poplar, some willow, birch, sassafras, Nov., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 421 button bush, hazel, blueberry and other trees and shrubs. There is a great variety of low woody perennials on the sides of the ridges. Most of our collecting is done on the Hartman Farm, which is largely wooded. Drainage and a little care has resulted in a larger timber growth and grassy sloughs. The woods are over- grown with ferns. The open ridges are covered with black- berries and lupine, phlox, goldenrod, milkweed of various kinds and other flowering plants abound here and on the edges of the sloughs. There is also a lot of flowering spurge (Eu- phorbia corollata) . The ride from Chicago, about 23 miles, occupies an hour's time, and after depositing the greater part of our luggage at the Hartman home, we got after the butterflies. It was a windy and more or less cloudy day. In exposed places the butterflies and moths would not rise unless disturbed and would then be difficult to capture, for the wind would carry them away. One object we had in mind was to locate Lycaena scudderi and if possible observe its ovipositing habits. We found the butterflies, a few of them including several females, but they would not lay an egg, even though we entreated them and coaxed them to do so. A little farther on where the sloughs were somewhat pro- tected by timber along the sides collecting was better. In the woods there was practically nothing to be had and we spent little time there. Toward the middle of the afternoon we were more or less discouraged, for nothing particular had been taken except a tattered specimen of Cirrhobolina dcducta by Mr. Beer, and we were trailing back to the house when the writer caught a glimpse of a small moth resting on the common field phlox (Phlox pilosa}, which was in full bloom. The flower was swaying wildly in the wind and the moth seemed to disappear immediately. A call bi ought the others running and while they stood ready to bag it with the net if necessary, the speci- men was bottled without difficulty. 422 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov., 'o8 The moth was such a fine example of protective resemblance that even when the exact spot was pointed out where it rested, Mr. Beer and Mr. Hartman were unable to see it. Immediate search was instituted for more and during the balance of the day we took twenty-three specimens, some of them in coitu. The moth has since been sent to Prof. John B. Smith, who de- clared it to be a new species and has described it as Heliolonche indiana. It seems paradoxical that a new species and seemingly a com- mon one should be found in such a well-collected territory as this near Chicago. It can perhaps be explained by the habits of the moth, which are decidedly sluggish, specimens usually drop- ping to the ground when disturbed. This, coupled with its close resemblance to the flowers upon which it rests, may account for it. Following is a list of the other species taken during the day : Argynnis myrina Neonympha eurytris Chrysophanus hypophlaeas Lycaena scudderi Lycaena pseudargiolus Papilla polyxenes Papilio troilns Pamphila hobomok Nisoniades icehis Nisoniades juvenalis Enbaphe brevicornis Plusia aerea Erastria malaca Prothymia semipurpurea Acontia candefacta Metathorasa monetifera Pangrapta decoralis Euclidia cuspidea ' Apaecasia dctersafa Apaecasia defluata Xanthotype croc at aria Loxostege chortalis Tlwleria reversalis Crambus laqueatellus Stenoma schlaegeri Pamphila cernes Cirrhobolin-a deducta and several unidentified Micros. All perhaps not exceptional, but the new species enlivened an otherwise dull way, which was therefore declared a successful one. This, however, was not the end of the trip for us, for we came prepared to spend the night in the woods with lights and sugar to attract the night fliers. This, while not a long story, will be reserved for another occasion. Professor Smith's description of the new species is as fol- lows : Nov., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 423 Heliolonche Indiana n. sp , Smith. "Head, thorax and abdomen black, clothed above with long fine whitish hair : the tint on head tending to yellowish and on the thorax to purplish : in well preserved specimens the segments of the abdomen are marked with paler rings and in the males there is a tendency to a yellowish anal tuft. Beneath the hair is finer and more sparse, yellowish. The primaries at first sight appear to be almost uniformly purplish carmine. Closer examination of a large series shows that the narrow even terminal space is decidedly paler with a purplish wash over a luteous base, while the median area is paler and decidedly more purplish. The contrasts are not very marked in any case, and some- times almost absent. Fringes whitish. Secondaries black, immacu- late, fringes white. Beneath ; primaries black on disc, costal margin more or less carmine tinged the apex and outer margin tending to luteous, inner margin more or less yellowish : a large more or less obvious deeper black discal spot : secondaries with costal and apical areas carmine, then black to the inner margin, fringes whitish, an in- defined large discal blacker spot. Expands .62 - .72 inches or 15.5 - i8mm. "Habitat. — Hessville, Indiana, May 3Oth, June 6, 13. "Ten males and nine females, all in good or fair condition from Mr. Alexander Kwiat, at whose request I have prepared the above description and who will give further details concern- ing the habits of the species and the circumstances relating to its capture." On the upper side there is little variation. On the underside there is a considerable range in the proportion of the black and purplish areas. Sometimes the black predominates, leaving only a narrow purplish or carmine costal and apical area : the other extreme is where the wing has a carmine wash over a yellowish base, the black restricted to a large discal spot a sub- terminal band and a basal shade extending somewhat through the centre of the wing. In structural details the species agrees in most details with tnodicclla. The front is not protuberant and there is a nar- row thickened frontal ridge along the inferior border. The anterior tibiae are somewhat shortened, broad and flattened with a very long curved claw-like spine at the inner side of tip and two stout spines above it : at the outer side there is a shorter and smaller curved spine at tip and two others not much smaller 424 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov., '08 above it. The spines of the middle tibiae are long and distinct in the hairy vestiture; those of the posterior tibiae are small, scanty and concealed so that the member seems unarmed to ordinary examination. NOTE. — To complete the information on this species the writer and Mr. Arthur Herz found on July 4th, what we take to be the larvae of this species feeding on the seed pods of the Phlox. Unfortunately they pupated before a description could be taken. — • • « — A Hunt for Saldoida Osborn. By ANNIE TRUMBULL SLOSSON. In the winter of 1898-99 I was in Punta Gorda, on the west coast of Florida. One day while out collecting I sat down on a fallen tree to rest. It was a damp, grassy spot and there were many ants running over the ground. While idly watch- ing them I noticed one which seemed different from the others and stooped to pick it up for examination. To my surprise as my hand approached it the supposed ant, instead of running away, skipped, jumped or leaped like a flea or cricket and disappeared in the grass. I was puzzled and excited. Had I discovered a saltatory ant new to science? I searched carefully but saw no more of the odd creature that day. Returning to the spot a few days later I again saw it and with much difficulty captured it. It was an Hemipter but quite new to me and I thought it immature. A tiny, reddish- brown insect, its disproportionately large eyes and long, con- spicuous antennae gave it a queer brownie-like look. I saw no more specimens and soon after left Punta Gorda. In the following spring as I was sending some Hemiptera to Prof. Uhler I included this curious unique. He was much interested in it, told me it belonged to the Saldidae -and possi- bly represented a new genus. But he did not care to found such a genus on one specimen alone. The next winter 1899-1900 I spent a few days in Jackson- ville, Florida. Wandering one afternoon in the suburbs of the city I stooped to examine a plant growing in a sort of ditch NOV., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 425 at the side of the road. There was no water in this but the soil was damp and again ants were running over the surface. I watched them not thinking at all of my former experience and the little Saldiid, when suddenly I saw an alien among the others and soon captured it. It was the same big-eyed little imp I had taken at Punta Gorda or seemed so to me. But I searched vainly for other specimens. That summer when sending some Hemiptera to Prof. Herbert Osborn I put into the box my two Saldiids. Prof. Osborn at once decided that they represented an undescribed genus and also two different species. These he described — Can. Entom. Vol. xxxii, p. 181. The genus he named Saldoida, the two species, respectively, slossoni and connita. I visited Florida every winter after this and always searched for my agile, mud-loving treasures but in vain. I had, however, discovered in an old box of duplicates, one damaged specimen of Saldoida, about whose capture I could remember nothing. It was labelled simply "Florida." At this specimen I often looked to refresh my memory as to the general appearance of the rare insect and with ardent hopes that I might sometime again find similar species. I was detained in the North during the two winters of 1904- 1905 and 1905-06 and thought that I should never again visit Florida. But an attack of grippe last December changed my ideas and I decided to go a little later to the west coast, select- ing Belleair on Clearwater Harbor for my headquarters. This is about twenty-five miles west of Tampa and a charming spot. I reached there on January 22d, found few signs of spring and almost no insects. It was an unusually backward, tardy season, the nights cold and even frosty until late in February. But just before the advent of March the warm weather came very suddenly and animal and vegetable life became abundant. A few weeks before coming South I had received a letter from Dr. Otto Heidemann telling me that Prof. Renter of Finland was anxious to examine specimens of Saldoida while engaged in study of the family. I dared not risk sending my precious unique across the seas and told Dr. Heidemann so. 426 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov. , '08 But I added that I should soon be in Florida and hoped to find again specimens of the rare little creatures. As I had looked for them already for ten years with no success this hope seemed an uncertain and feeble thing. I cherished it, how- ever, and searched often in the most promising spots for the tiny Saldiid but always vainly. As often happens in this odd life of ours I found it at a time when I was not hunting for it, not even thinking of it. I had been delighted to discover for the first time a colony of Atta, one of the ants which make fungus-gardens. I had read with great interest of their habits and Mr. William T. Davis had told me of watching colonies at Lakehurst. I was much excited over my own recognition of the little gardeners. For several days I spent hours at a time bending over the nest and watching the ants returning from their quest with ma- terial for planting or keeping up the fungus-garden. It was while I was trying to keep track of one of those on its cir- cuitous, wandering way that I noticed a strange looking ant on the damp soil. Not thinking of Saldoida, interested at the moment in ants and ants only, I wet my finger and lifted the creature to drop into my bottle. As I did so I was conscious that I had crushed it. Now ants do not crush easily and the apparent softness of this one's body surprised me. But I forgot it in a minute as I intercepted the next little agriculturist and robbed him of his small burden. I was much occupied for the rest of that day and so did not even look over the con- tents of my various alcohol and cyanide bottles. But lying awake that night and living over, as one often does, the field experiences of the day I thought suddenly of the crushed in- sect. In a flash I remembered Saldoida and felt that I had again found one of the genus. I could not wait but struck a light, poured out the contents of the cyanide bottle and with my magnifying glass searched for the specimen. I found it, broken and crushed but plainly recognizable as what I had so long sought. Of course I went to the spot next morning; in fact I went nowhere else, spending hours at the damp piece of ground NOV., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 427 near the Atta's home, with eyes bent steadily upon the surface of the soil where ran scores of ants, watching for sign of a stranger. One single specimen of what I wanted rewarded my search and I went home, cramped, stiff, with aching eyes and muddy gown but a contented mind. I spent many days in a like manner. I soon learned to recognize at a glance the presence of a Saldoida. The little creatures have quaint ways of their own not at all ant-like. Their long, conspicuous an- tennae are waved from side to side as they run swiftly about. They never as far as I know, leap except when startled. But to recognize this insect is one thing, to capture it is quite another. I lost many, more, I think, than I secured. I tried varying methods, the most successful one being the holding my net near the prey and "shooing" the spry little fellow into it. But this often failed. However I succeeded in securing some half dozen specimens, full grown and perfect, with a few others which were either injured or immature. Among these Prof. Osborn found both the described species, slossoni and cornuta. Of slossoni there were one or two males, not before recognized, the species having been described from a fe- male specimen. The male of cornuta is yet to be discovered. Whether the association of Saldoida with ants is accidental I cannot say. I only know that I never found one except in their company. But again I never saw either ant or Saldiid take the slightest notice of one another or seem conscious of each other's presence. As is almost always the experience of a persistent and close searcher for a particular thing, T was rewarded, not only by success in finding what I was seeking but by discoveries and captures in other lines. Finding that the most likely spots were damp, grassy places especially where the little sun-dew (Droscra) was growing, I frequented such localities. The Saldoidas were apparently often in hiding among the low grass and herbage. To start them out 1 pulled up the plants by the roots. This would often send out a swiftly running little imp, waving his long antennae as he went. Hut it showed me otlirr things as well. Many small coleoptera were turned up. Ilctcr- 428 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov., '08 ocerus pusillus not common in any other locality visited by me was frequently seen, and Haltica rufa was so abundant about the roots -of grass as to be a nuisance. An unknown Acallcs was hailed with delight when the first specimen appeared, but it soon grew rather common and proved to be vcntrosus. Another weevil was abundant, its brassy hue shining in the sun as I stirred it up from the soil, Tyloderma aercum. Two or three species of Tachys, many small Staphylinids and scores of Limnichus nitidulns were taken thus. Several specimens of a carabid new to me with odd deeply pitted elytra proved to be Sclenophorns fossulatus and I took three specimens of Hydrochus rugosus which I had never found before. Some- times a pupa was found in the soil, or the whitish grub of some scarabid beetle. So my search was not a monotonous one but full of interest and excitement and I shall never regret the long hours I spent so near the earth itself in my hunt for Saldoida. A new Dragonfly (Odonata) belonging to the Cor- dulinae, and a Revision of the Classifi- cation of the Subfamily. BY E. B. WILLIAMSON. (Plate XVIII.) In the past, two groups of Cordulinae have been recognized and defined by the following characters : crossed or free super- triangles, and united (stalked) or distinct (separate) sectors of the arculus. These groups and the sub-groups are familiar to students of Odonata and need not be discussed here, except to call attention to the fact that the classification resulting from the use of these characters has been an altogether artificial one, resulting in an unnatural assemblage of genera. The sub-family Synthemiinae, proposed by Needham and Hart* but not defined, by inference includes the second legion or group defined by de Selys and later authors, but only the Illinois genera of this legion are mentioned. Later Needhamf * Bull. 111. St. Lab. Nat. Hist. Vol. VI, Sept., 1901, p. 5- t Aquatic Insects in the Adirondacks, N. Y. St. Mus. Bull. 47, Sept., 1901, p. 479. ENT. NEWS, VOL. XIX. Plate XVIII. WILLIAMSON ON ODONATA. Above, .\fii i in'i>i tti and the convergence of M4 and Cui in the front wing, and the reduction of wing area. It suggests Syncordulia. Neophya is its exact opposite in all these characters and sug- gests Idionyx. Pentathemis has as little in common with the other two as they have with each other, the 4-sided triangle of the front wing resulting from an entirely different switching of veins. It is related to Aeschnosoma and perhaps should be placed in the same group. PLATYCORDULIA new genus.* Related to Neurocordulia, Aeschnosoma and Libellulo- soma. Distinguished at once from all by the apically broad- ened and rounded anal loop which is widely sep- arated from the wing margin by 2 rows of cells (one row in all the others) . Of the four genera it has the densest reticula- tion. The two genera Aeschnosoma and Libellulosoma are close- ly related to each other and are distinguished from the other two. among other characters, by the strongly waved Ms and M 4 in both front and hind wings and the unsymmetrical and pecu- liar forking of MI and M2 in both front and hind wings. Two species of Neurocordulia are known. The venational dif- ference between them is slight, consisting of a greater number of antenodals in both front and hind wings in yamaskanensis as compared with obsoleta and scarcely definable differences in the form of the anal loop (differences in the form of the two distal angles and the direction of the distal side with reference to the long axis of the wing). Some of the venational differ- ences between the two species of Neurocordulia and Platy- cordulia xanthosoma n. sp. are discussed below. The denser reticulation of Platycordulia is a striking character, recognized at once by the increased number of rows of cells between the sectors at a relatively proximal position in the wing. Type of riatycordulia: P. xanthosoma, n. sp. * The name refers to the broadened anal loop in the hind wing. 432 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Nov., '08 Platycordulia xanthosoma n. sp. Length of abdomen, including appendages, 38 mm. ; hind wing, 36 mm. ; hind femur, 9 mm. Entire insect yellow or yellowish. Abdomen, excepting segment i, basal half of 2 and all of 10, darker than thorax ; 5-8 or 9 each with a Platycordulia xanthosoma cf — Profile view of segments 9 and 10. lateral basal paler spot. Head rounded, eyes contiguous for a distance about equal to the width of the vesicle. Wing membrane pale yellow- ish with clear yellow markings as shown in the figure of the wings (the photographic process produced in the figure a greater contrast Dorsal view of appendages. Profi!e Yiew of accesory genitalia of abdominal segment 2, above. Ventral view of inferior appendage, below. in the color of the membrane in general and the yellow markings than appears to the eye.) Membranule white, posterior third dark brown, this brown color in the hind wing extending across the anal triangle and broadly margining cross-veins in the immediate wing area, not extending into the anal loop. Some venational characters may be briefly compared with the two species of N euro cor dulia. Certain characters of 10 males and 7 females of N. yamaskanensis were kindly furnished me by Prof. E. M. Walker. The supertriangle of front wing is free in 20. wings $ and 12 wings 9 yamaskanensis, and I wing $ and 4 wings 9 N. obsolcta; crossed in 2 wings $ and 4 wings 9 yainaskanensis, I wing $ and I wing 9 obsoleta and 4 wings $ of P. xanthosoma. Supertriangle of hind wing free in 22 wings $ and 16 wings 9 yamaskanensis, 2 wings $ and Nov., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 433 4 wings 9 obsoleta, and 4 wings $ .vanthosoma; crossed in I wing 9 obsoleta. Two cubito-anal cross-veins in front wing in 21 wings $ and 16 wings 9 yamaskanensis, 2 wings $ and 5 wings 9 obsoleta; 3 cross-veins in i wing 5 yamaska- nensis and 3 wings 5 .vanthosoma; 4 cross-veins in i wing $ xanthosoma. One cubito-anal cross-vein in hind wing in i wing $ yamaskanensis; 2 cross-veins in 21 wings $ and 16 wings 9 yamaskanensis, and 2 wings 5 and 5 wings 9 ofoo- /^fa; 3 cross-veins in 4 wings $ .vanthosoma. In 2 males yama- skanensis and i 5 obsoleta the anal triangle is 2-celled, in 2 : j-fi'- \. -,•'. -sy-T- :•. ..• •'^-<.;-z. MANEE ON BRADYCINETUS FERRUGINEUS. ENT. NEWS, VOL. XIX. Plate XXI. • •-' -•' .• \ . " ' --.-.-.I , ;. :/:. • MANEE ON BOLBOCERAS AND ANUROGRYLLUS. a. /lolhoci'ias /a'.iiiny. h Mound and sliaft of la-.iii'iis. r. . linn ,i^ iv/lits niiilii'iix. d. Mound and ^liaft of null i, 11.-.. <• Iloti/oiital i liainlirr of miilii-iif. t Krlroat slialls ol »/" Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 461 be called a scavenger, as it does not convey its larval food from the surface, but, like ferrugineus and the species of Strategus and Dynastcs, it seeks under-ground debris which is not polluting the air. Indeed, S. antacns buries dead leaves and D. tit\ns revels amid over-ripe and rotting fruit in the orchards. These are more nearly scavengers though not so like in form of wing-case to the Geotrupes. Anurogr\lliis initticiis. I mention this cricket because its mound, very common here, so nearly resembles the mound of B. lazanis. The latter is formed of stems, the former of crumbs, but they are alike in size and shape. A. innticus builds near some small weed whose leaves furnish the wide but shallow horizontal chamber, and the shaft where the insect lodges, may extend in any one of the three positions indicated in our illustration. On April i6th, in a sandy road we found several mounds almost exactly like those of A. muticus. At the base of the vertical quarter inch shaft from eight to ten inches deep we took in each case one or two specimens of the Carabid beetle, Geopinus incrassatits. Since my paper in the June Nws, I obtained a new date record for Strategus antaeus having dug out a female, June 15, or five weeks earlier than my previous first record. How- ever, this has been throughout a much earlier season than usual. I am also on the track of 5. splcndcns. I find that it comes out for a promenade just after nightfall, walking slowly over paths where its polish may reflect the lantern rays. Its neighborhoods are rare and far apart, but where one is found are traces of others. It is bradycinctus or slow-mov- ing and thus is seldom found perfect or entire. The voracious ants eagerly disintegrate and mutilate any beetle alive or dead they may master or meet. I took a splcndcns at near noon tumbling about the grass as if blind, but as it was minus one antenna I conjectured that its unusual diurnal wandering was due to its one-sided sense of smell and sound. The brooding haunt of splcndcns is still in part a mystery, but from certain hints from local diggings, I am more than guessing that it does 462 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 not make a mound or shaft, or nested chamber as does an- taeus, but burrows horizontally beneath dead oak roots some- what as does Dynastes tityrus, but not so deeply. Its life course as imago is from January i, to July I. At least these dates are the extremes of my record. P. S. The male of the Bradycinetus ferruginous has a profile resembling a pig. It should have been called porous. How a Hungry Flea Feeds. By M. B. MITZMAN, B. S., Entomological Laboratory, Univer- sity of California. A male squirrel flea (Ceratophyllus aculiis} was starved for five days and then permitted to roam at will on the back of the writer's hand. He took four strides and settled on a hairy space, and taking firm hold, ceased abruptly in his locomotion, projected his proboscis and commenced to clear for action. A space was drilled by the picking epipharynx and the saw tooth mandibles supplemented the movement by lacerating the cavity formed. The two organs worked alternately, the middle piece boring and the two lateral elements executing a sawing move- ment. The mandibles, owing to their basal attachment, are "capable of independent action, sliding up and down but main- taining their relative position and preserving the lumen of the aspiratory channel." The labium doubled back, the V-shaped groove of this organ guiding the mandibles on each side like an arrow from a bow. The action of the proboscis was executed with a forward movement of the head and a lateral and downward thrust of the entire body. As the mouth parts were sharply inserted the abdomen raised simultaneously. The hind and middle legs were elevated like oars resting above the surface of water. The forelegs were doubled under the thorax, the tibia and tar- sus resting firmly on the skin and serving as a support for the body during feeding. The maxillary palpi were retracted sharply beneath the head and thorax. The labium continued to bend at first acting as a sheath for Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 463 the sawing mandibles and as these were more deeply inserted it bent beneath the head with the elasticity of a bow, forcing the mandibles into the wound until the obtuse maxillae were embedded in the epidermis. When the proboscis was fully inserted the abdomen ceased for a time its lateral swinging. An acute pain \vas felt when the mandibles had half way penetrated and subsequently during each distinct movement of the abdomen. The swinging of the body continued at inter- vals of one to three minutes during the first fifteen minutes. In the next twenty minutes the lateral movement ensued every eight minutes and toward the end of the process the abdomen moved once very slightly. After the first twenty minutes the sting of the biting was not discernible ; indeed, after the first sensation of pricking the pain became duller. This was experi- enced quite distinctly four times during the process. The only intimation received that the parasite was pursuing its bloody quest toward the end of the experiment was a feeble downward thrust of the springy bow-like labium accompanied by the feebler oscillations of the elevated abdomen, through the translucent walls of which could be discerned a peristal- tic flow of blood, caudally from the pharynx. During the prehensile function the antepygidial bristles waved once quite perceptibly, and the mid-tarsi maintained a constant rhythmic aerial vibration. At the end of fifty-nine minutes the victim tired of maintaining the hand in one posi- tion, and changed the attitude too abruptly, jarring the indus- trious flea, which quickly withdrew its proboscis by lowering the abdomen and legs and shaking the head laterally. Prior to being bottled this untiring guest appeared much perturbed at the interference with its sanguinary feast. It wandered about seeking for another inviting spot — an oasis for its five day thirst. — • — *•* — « — \ COCKROACH NEW To THE UNITED STATES. — Among some undeter- mined material from Arizona in the collection of the National Museum has turned up an adult female of Steleopyya rhoinbifolia Stoll. This constitutes a new record for our fauna. The specimen was taken by Mr. E. J. Oslar, at Nogalcs, Arizona, in 1905, June 14. — A. N. CAUDELL. 464 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 Notes on the Egg and Larva of Goniops chrysocoma (O. S.). By W. R. WALTON, Harrisburg, Penna. (Plate XXII) The first fly of this species seen by me was presented by Mr. Warren S. Fisher, of Highspire, Pa., who took a female in the act of ovipositing on a leaf of what proved to be Angelica sp? on July 4, 1907, near the above mentioned place. The plant overhung a small, more or less permanent ditch of water and we naturally inferred that the larva might be aquatic in habit, in common with others of the family. However, during the present year on the I4th of June, while collecting on a dry hillside, in a brush patch, some five miles to the eastward of the former locality, I was attracted to a small oak sapling by a peculiar buzzing sound. After several minutes of stalking and intent observation, a female of Goniops chrysocoma was discovered in the act of ovipositing on the under side of one of the leaves. She made no effort to escape, indeed it required considerable force to remove the insect from her position near the eggs. The immediate locality was a hill- side pasture lot, half covered with scrub oak and berry bushes, dotted here and there with clumps of false indigo. The near- est water was a small overgrown ditch some 60 feet distant. On the 1 8th of the same month I visited the spot near High- spire mentioned above, in hope of securing additional data and was rewarded by finding another fly in a similar position on a leaf of the wild cherry, some thirty feet distant from the water. The two batches of eggs were placed in breeding jars and on the evening of July 25th the first larvae made their appear- ance. The second lot appeared two days later. The eggs are yellowish-white when deposited and change but little if any in color before hatching. The larvae are quite lively when hatched and it was a curious sight to see them come tumbling out of the eggs by dozens when the cluster was brought under the bright light. ENT. NEWS, VOL. XIX. Plate XXII. GONIOPS CHRYSOCOMA (O. S.).— WALTON. Dec., *08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 465 The larvae I divided into three lots, the first was placed in earth entirely submerged in water, the second in dampened sand without food of any kind, the third in a jar of damp earth together with some small angle worms. Twelve hours later the first lot were all dead, both of the other groups were lively and apparently in good condition, the second group continued to live without food for about ten days and then died. The remaining group lived for some weeks but finally died also, the angle worms being alive and unin- jured. From which I conclude, that in all probability the larva is terrestrial and the period of incubation is from seven to ten days. Prof. J. S. Hine kindly determined the fly for me. The eggs, which are deposited upon the under surfaces of the leaves of various herbaceous plants and trees, in a three-sided pyramidal heap, are yellowish-white in color, about 1.5 mm. in length, slender, slightly curved and resemble those of many other flies in general appearance. One of the heaps contained 534 eb&s by actual count. The freshly hatched larva is slightly more than 2 mm. in length, slender but capable of contracting its body into an al- most spherical mass ; in color it is pale yellowish-white, semi- translucent. The head, which is capable of being entirely with- drawn into the first thoracic segment, bears several pairs of an- tenna-like appendages and an obtusely pointed chitinous hook. On each side of the median line of the body, within the sec- ond thoracic segment, there is a distinct pinkish spot, also on the last segment there is a pair of round black spots resembling stigmata ; elsewhere the body seems to be absolutely devoid of hairs or tubercles. EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXII. a Dorsal view of female. b Front view of head. c Lateral view of same. d Top view of egg cluster. e Dorsal view of young larva. / Dorsal view of ist thoracic segment, head nearly concealed. g Lateral view of head and mouth parts. 466 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec. , 'oS A new Bee from Tahiti. BY T. D. A. COCKERELL. When Mr. R. W. Doane wrote that he was starting- for Tahiti, I begged him to look out for bees; as, to the best of my knowledge, not a single species had been recorded from that locality*. He has brought home two species ; the larger, respresented by three females, proves to be Lithurgus atra- tifonnis, Ckll., the smaller is a new Megachile. All were collected in August, 1908. L. atratiformis has hitherto been known only from the warmer parts of Australia ; the speci- mens from Tahiti are about i mm. smaller than the type, but otherwise identical. Megachile doanei n. sp. 5 Length, about 10 mm., with a large head and short abdomen ; gen- eral appearance almost exactly like that of the S. African M. latitarsis Friese, though the abdomen is shorter. Black, without any red color except that due to pubescence; head large; eyes dark purplish; an- tennae long and slender, entirely black, not expanded at apex; man- dibles tridentate, and with the usual basal inferior tooth ; face densely covered with long creamy-white hair, tinged with ochrcous about the level of the upper part of the clypeus, and from this level upwards black along orbital margins ; vertex dull and very densely punctured, with pale yellowish hair, except about ocelli, where it is black ; thorax with yellowish-white hair, but it is pale ochreous on scutellum, and black on disc of mesothorax and middle of pleura ; mesothorax and pleura dull and very densely and minutely punctured ; tegulae black ; wings strongly dusky, the nervures and stigma black; legs black, the hair on femora pale, on tibiae black or almost, on hind tarsi black on outer and copper red on inner side ; on middle tarsi, copper red on both sides, except a little pale yellowish at base beneath ; anterior tarsi a little flattened and broadened (basitarsus not much over twice as long as broad), with a strong yellowish-white fringe of hair; claws cleft at apex; abdomen broad and short, rather shining, the first segment with long pale ochreous hair, and indications of a red apical fringe ; third to fourth each with narrow orange-red apical hair bands ; fifth covered with orange-red hair, except at extreme base of middle ; sixth with orange-red hair at sides and paler in the middle; apex of sixth segment produced into two widely separated prominent blunt teeth, the interval between them strongly concave ; seventh segment with- out teeth or spines. Tahiti, Aug., 1908, 2 males. (R. W. Doane}. This species is related to several which inhabit Australia. It also appears to be close to M. diligcns Smith, from Hono- lulu ; differing in the black hair on the thorax, and other par- ticulars. * I find, however, one record of a bee from Tahiti : J.ilhnigiis alhotnnbi hit us Sii lid, Reise der Novara, 1867. This species is also known from Samoa. Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 467 Popular Fallacies Regarding Insects ; and some Insects that are Poisonous. BY W. R. WALTON, Harrisburg, Pa. In the paper which I shall present for your consideration this evening- there is included at least one organism that is entirely without the pale of entomology. I refer to the hair worm, but as the economic entomologist is often called upon to answer questions regarding this and other forms not included in the class Insecta we think it quite proper that some of them be mentioned in the present paper. When the speaker was a boy some ten years of age, his family moved from a large city in the middle west, to a farm in the southeastern corner of New York State. He had never been in the country before and the book of nature now opened to him for the first time became a source of wonder and delight. But this delight was not unmixed with dread because of the tales which were told, of this insect or that reptile, whose bite was instant death, or whose diabolical ingenuity enabled it to sew up one's ears or perform other unheard of and monstrous deeds of aggression. And from the fact that many of these wonderful stories, emanated from persons in whom he had the utmost confidence, they became part of his boyish faith for a time. But as months passed on and neither he nor his companions were attacked by the beings of whom the terrible tales were told, he began to doubt and (being nothing if not curious), at last to experi- ment with them. The results of the experiments tended to upset all of his lately acquired lore, but this gave him great prestige in the eyes of his companions, who, still believing in the old yarns, looked on with awe as he juggled garter snakes, or wooden horses (Phasmidae), or held devil's darn- ing needles by their wings while they champed their jaws in fury and curled their venomous tails in fruitless efforts to sew up his fingers. One of the most wonderful of the tales current among the country folk of that region and one which I believe to be very 468 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 widespread, was the fable of the "Hoss Hair Snake." We often came upon the snakes, as they were called, in little puddles of water left by the rain or in watering troughs and sometimes in spring houses. We were told that they were originally hairs from the mane or tail of the horse, and some persons declared that these wriggling creatures were also pro- duced from human hair. The bite of the hair snake was said to be very dangerous to man and was likely to cause the loss of the member bitten. One species of hair worm which is white in color, and is sometimes found in cabbage heads is reputed by the country people to be very poisonous. Prof. Surface has been called upon a number of times to refute this fallacy which seems to be a common one in some parts of Pennsylvania. An excellent article on this species is Mr. F. H. Chittenden's treatise published as Circular No. 2. of the U. S. Bureau of Entomology. I shall not forget my first attempt to rear a hair snake. Taking a long horse hair. I placed it in a pail of spring water and set the same in the sun as per directions, where it was to remain for seven days, no more, no less ; visiting it daily, my hopes gradually sank until the seventh day, when I took it out, examined it, and while limp and wet, never a wriggle or squirm could I get it to make, it was still a horse hair and nothing more. When I related my experience to the initiated, the oracle informed me that "O1 course ye can's make no 'boss' hair snake out of a hair that hain't got no roots on it; what ye wanter do is to pull one out by the roots and put it in the water right off, then ye'll git a boss hair snake sure." Alas for the credulity and the credibility of man ! I was again doomed to disappointment, for on the sixth day there was no change in the hair and on the morning of the seventh day when I looked, behold some thirsty creature had drunk three- fourths of the water including the hair. And it was some years later that I first read of the natural history of the hair worm or Gordius. Dr. Jos. Leidy of Philadelphia, published in the Entomolo- gist and Botanist, 1870, Vol. Ill, No. 7, a partial life history Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 469 of this nematode, by which it was shown that the larger por- tion of its life is passed within the body of some insect in a similar manner to the "Guinea worm" and other round worms in man and the lower vertebrates. Every spider, and especially the "black spider," was con- sidered as a deadly poisonous creature. The only exception to the rule that I can recollect was the "daddy long legs" or harvest man, which no one seemed to fear, and which the boys used to dismember (young savages that we were) to see the legs kick after they were severed. However, there is no denying the fact that some few species of spiders are capable of inflicting dangerous bites. This was brought out in Insect Life some years ago when an exhaustive dis- cussion of the subject, almost world wide in its scope, was carried on. It was shown beyond cavil that spiders of the genus Lathrodcctes had caused the death of human beings in a number of instances. Especially in New Zealand, where the Katipo, a member of this group, is greatly feared and justly so, because its bite is known to have caused serious results in a number of cases. There is a species occurring on the Atlantic sea board as far north as North Carolina, which is reported in a number of ap- parently well authenticated cases, as having produced in- tense suffering and even death, by its bite. We find a good account of this in Insect Life. Vol. I, No. 7, Page 204, where an illustration of the species is supplied. Notwithstanding the fact that the late Dr. Marx of Washington, secured en- tirely negative results from his experiments with the poison of this creature when applied to the bodies of the smaller mammals, it behooves us to observe the utmost circumspec- tion in handling black spiders having red and yellow spots on ihfir abdomens. The members of the genus Lathrodcctes are so marked and regarded with dread by both savage and civil- ized man alike throughout the world, wherever they occur. The same story is told by all. "It bites and its bite is pain- ful and dangerous." doing on up the scale of invertebrate life, the next form that 47° ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 I remember as terrorizing the exemplars of the simple life, was the "devil's darning needle," "snake feeder or snake doc- tor," as it is called hereabouts. We are all familiar with the story that this singular insect is capable of sewing one's ears up, for what purpose has never been divulged, which leaves us to assume that it was for "pure deviltry." Of course, no credence is placed in this absurd story at the present day by "grown nps," but the children in some parts of the country still cling to the fallacy. One of the peculiar local myths with which we were fa- miliar in boyhood, was that of the wooden horse, a local name for the walking stick insects. Its bite was said to be peculiarly fatal, one could not expect to live long enough to murmur even a short prayer if bitten by one of these creatures; you simply turned up your toes and died instanter. It is inconceivable that this sluggish, fragile creature could ever harm a human being, as it is incapable of biting anything but leaves, which form its ordinary food. Another fallacy more widespread and popular than the last is the one regarding the ability of the 17 year Cicada to in- flict a poisonous bite. This fable will not down. In this re- spect it reminds us of the old line in our copy book, "Truth crushed to earth shall rise again." It is counterfeit, however, and there is not a particle of truth in the yarn. There existed for some years a spirited discussion among entomologists, as to whether or not the cicada ever made any use whatever of its formidable beak, but the question was at last settled by Prof. Quaintance of Washington, who discovered a cicada in the act of feeding, with its beak in the sap wood of a tree. He killed it in situ and making a section thereof, proved with the help of a microscope, the facts above mentioned. It seems strange to me that in spite of the tendency of the people at large to attribute poisonous qualities to harmless in- sects, of many kinds, there should exist in considerable numbers in practically all parts of the country, insects that are capable of inflicting painful bites, but of which one seldom hears except through scientific publications. I refer especially to the Hem- Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 47! iptera Heteroptera, the true bugs. The speaker has had person- al experience of a painful nature with at least two species of these insects; the first of which was a pair of Notonectidae, or back swimming bugs. Having scooped up a pair of them in the hollow of my hand, on attempting to grasp them, one of the insects inserted its beak into the ball of my thumb. There was an immediate burning pain in the member, which began quickly to swell ; this pain and swelling extending to the elbow in a short time. The soreness remained for several days and was much more severe than the result of any bee sting I ever received. The other insect was a species of as- sassin bug (family Reduviidae), which bit me between the fingers and caused swelling and pain to no mean extent. There are many other species which are known to inflict painful and sometimes dangerous bites ; among which may be mentioned Conorhinus sangitisuga, sometimes known as the big bed bug. It is a southern species and is quite troublesome at times. Also, Rasalnis bit/ii flat its, a western species, said to inflict a severe wound, and two species which abound in Pennsylvania are Melanolestes picipcs and Opsccoctus pcrsonatns. In fact all the bugs of the family Reduviidae should be handled with the utmost care. There is no doubt in the mind of the speaker, that the giant water bugs, Belostoma aincricana and Benacus griseus, are capable of inflicting severe bites, as they are known to be able to kill small fish almost instantly by means of the beak. However, we must admit that no report of their hav- ing bitten any one has come to our notice. Many of us will no doubt recollect the kissing bug scare which swept over the country some few years back; of the insects reported as having done the kissing, fully 75 per cent, were true bugs which belonged to the family spoken of above. Another famous hoax of childhood was the "ear wig" ; this affectionate insect, which by the way carries a pair of forceps at the end of its tail, was supposed to crawl into the ear of a sleeping person where it remained to torture him till "king-, dom come." Of course, the story is a myth, although insects do occasionally enter people's ears accidentally and are a source 472 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 of intense pain and annoyance until removed. As a matter of fact, the ear wig appears to be rather an uncommon insect in collections and is seldom seen in nature. The forceps are used in arranging the true wings in folding them upon the back, the insects being harmless to the last degree. What were usually pointed out to me as ear wigs were several kinds of centipedes or millipedes. Some of the larger of these centi- pedes can and do bite severely when roughly handled. The house centipede or skein centipede, a really beneficial creature which feeds largely on roaches, should never be grasped with the bare hand as it is capable of inflicting a wound. We still retain a vivid recollection of an occasion upon which there had been a wholesale sacking of bumble bees nests and the slain bees strewed the ground in considerable numbers. Upon picking up one of the dead bees for a good look, we were very much pained and grieved because the headless corpse stung us on the finger quite badly. She was dead, but it had not occurred to her as yet. We cannot pass the Diptera by without saying a word re- garding the mosquitoes. It is only a few years since the mosquito was regarded as merely a troublesome insect, annoy- ing but not to be regarded in any way as dangerous. To-day, thanks to Economic Entomology, the mosquito is known to IK- the transmitter, if not the source of yellow fever, malaria, and elephantiasis ; three very serious diseases, all of which are on the wane in civilized countries, because of rational treat- ment made possible by the sacrifices of heroic scientific investi- gators. When the relation of the common house fly to disease shall have been fully studied we expect revelations more as- tounding than the facts mentioned above. There is an old ex- pression and I believe it is a verp ancient one, "As harmless as a fly." Go back for a few hundred years to the time when the first rays of the light of modern hygiene had not as yet penetrated the inky gloom of ignorance. During the early part of the i/th century, in the immense city of London, be- fore the coming of the "Great Plague," and the fire that fol- lowed it, sanitary sewers were unknown, the gutters ran filth Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 473 of every conceivable kind, and it necessarily follows that flies bred by millions ; they swarmed everywhere. Window screens were unknown or only within the reach of the rich. We need not wonder that 68,000 men, women and children paid the death penalty for the frightful conditions which must have prevailed at that time. But we have before us an example more recent than the one just mentioned in testimony against the fly. I refer to the frightful rate of mortality which pre- vailed among our soldiers at Chickamauga. There is not the least doubt now in the minds of persons who have studied the question, that the terrible typhoid scourge which occurred there, is directly traceable to flies, these insects flying from the open latrans or closets, to alight upon the very food which was being eaten by the men at mess. It is revolting to think upon, but it is nevertheless true. And we are convinced that if the effects of the house fly and its near relations upon the destiny of man, could be shown at a glance to the people at large, the world would stand ap- palled by the vision and the elimination of the house fly would follow as a matter of course. Additional Notes on the Life History of Culex perturbans. By JOHN A. GROSSBECK. (Plate XXIII) In the January number of this journal, page 22, the discovery of the larva of Culex perturbans in nature is reported by Pro- fessor J. B. Smith and in the report of the New Jersey Ex- periment Station for 1907 the life history as far as then known is given by the present writer in some detail. The method of egg laying and the habits of the larva were worked out, but on account of the hibernation of the latter the pupa remained unknown. It was with some interest therefore that the ap- proach of spring was awaited and early in March the first perturbans hunt was made at Trenton, N. J., — not for the pur- pose of securing pupa? but to gather in a host of larvae that 474 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec. , '08 pupation might be observed in the laboratory and the duration of the pupal period thus determined. Over a hundred larvae were soon under observation, but separated from their vegetable attachments they showed an evi- dent disposition to rise to the surface, there to become sluggish and finally die. Single strands of roots or even small bits of sod taken from the swamp were ignored by the larvae and we ultimately found that if we would bring any to maturing we must secure for them conditions as nearly natural as pos- sible. Accordingly an entire grass tussock was brought from the swamp and, with a new supply of larvae, was placed in a large battery jar. Soon the larvae disappeared, all of them hav- ing worked their way in among the roots of the tussock. From day to day this jar was watched but no pupae were observed until on May 2oth two dead male adults still attached by their feet to the pupal skins were on the water's surface. The sod was now removed from the jar for examination and four living and two dead larvae were taken from the vegetable mass ; also two living and one dead pupa. The two living pupae were transferred to clean water and unlike other Culcx pupae im- mediately sank to the bottom and aside from an occasional flap of the anal paddles showed no signs of life. At the bottom they rested with the abdomen curved under the thorax, the paddles closely appressed to the "face" (upon which it stood) and were most generally tilted to one side, though occasion- ally they assumed an erect position. For three days the pupae remained in this death-like attitude and were then placed in al- cohol, supposedly dead. In general build and appearance the pupa of C. perturbans resembles the normal Culex type but a strikingly characteristic feature is found in the long, slender air tubes which converge apically and finally meet at a common apex. In color it is light brownish with the head and thorax, except those portions inclosing the metanotum and eyes, soiled whitish. The length of the thorax is about 2.5 mm. and including the extended abdomen, which is unusually long, about 7 mm. The air tubes measure I mm. in length or slightly over, are strongly in- Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 475 fuscated and finely ringed for over two-thirds their length from the base and are suddenly constricted toward the tip, conforming in this respect with the air tube of the larva and evidently for a similar purpose. The entire pupa is destitute of external vestiture except for two small hairs situated near the base of the second abdominal segment. The anal paddles are long about four times as long as broad, and have finely serrated margins. On June 2d the first pupa was collected in the Trenton swamp and on the 5th two others were taken. They were washed from the bottom mud and vegetable debris and like those in the laboratory showed scarcely any signs of life. They grad- ually died without producing adults. By this time the water in that portion of the swamp which supplied us with larvae was so completely run off in consequence of drainage operations that further observations in this place were precluded. Mr. J. T. Brakeley, of Lahaway, however, was able to continue his studies throughout the season, getting his material from the pool in which eggs were first discovered in 1907. These notes now in the hands of Professor Smith will be collated and published in the Report of the New Jersey Experiment Station for 1908. Mr. Brakeley collected the first pupa on May 28th and on the 3 1st of that month three others were taken. From these he secured three male adults on the ist and 2d of June, his pupae having been apparently more advanced than those col- lected by myself and therefore maturing in spite of unnatural conditions. Additional pupae were collected at intervals throughout June and July, some producing imagoes, others fail- ing to do so. From what has been observed it is certain that the pupae never come to the surface for air as do the other forms of Culcx (sens, lat.) of which the early stages are known. It is almost equally certain that the air tubes used in unity are inserted into the grass roots and like the larva oxygen is secured through the tissues of the plant. That these tubes are not permanently fixed in one position is shown by the fact that 476 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 they separate when immersed in alcohol, and that they can be independently moved at the will of the pupa has been demon- strated by Mr. Brakeley who has observed them with one tube projected through the surface film of the water and with the other propelling itself in a rotating movement around the first which served as a pivot. An interesting fact in connection with the larva was 'also demonstrated by Mr. Brakeley when on July 3ist he obtained a small lot of young wrigglers apparently in the second stage of development together with a full grown larva which clearly belonged to last year's brood. Thus is the record established of the continuous prevalence of larvae throughout the entire year. This had been previously suspected because of the capture of newly emerged adults from May to September. EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXIII. Fig. r. Pupa of Culc.v pertnrbans, lateral view. Fig. 2. Pupa of Culc.v pcrturbans, rear view, showing convergence of air tubes. Fig. 3. One of the air tubes highly magnified. Fig. 4. Swimming paddles of pupa. The Life-History of Lycaena antiacis Bdv., with other Notes on other Species. By FRANCIS X. WILLIAMS, San Francisco, Cal. The fact that antiacis has exactly the same habitat as xcrces, and that there are immediate forms making nice stepping stones between the two would leave no doubt to my mind that they are one and the same species. However, being desirous of further satisfying myself on this point, I reared a number of larvae which, at different periods in 1908, proved to be all antiacis. I am still satisfied however that xerccs is dimorphic, antiacis being the other form, and that this dimorphism may be dependent on weather conditions. A good series of the two will show from the under surface of the wings, not only intermediate forms, but aberrations as well ; whereas viewed from the upper surface the two insects are indistinguishable. Xcrces is easily recognized from the under side of the wings ENT. NEWS, VOL. XIX. Plate XXIII. GROSSBECK ON CULEX PERTURBANS. Dec , '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 477 by the large white unpupilled or scarce-pupilled spots. The underside may be light gray to dark stone color, usually dark- est in the females; and the basal area and inner margin of the secondaries plentifully sprinkled with greenish scales, and clothed with long white hairs. There may be a white dash, plainest on the primaries from the discal arc to the base of the wings. Above in the male, the color is lilac blue, with usually a rather wide black border. The female is dusky, with blue scales about the base of the wings. Antiacis (from San Francisco) is the same above as xerccs. Below, the white spots form a wide margin to the black pupils, which may be quite small, especially on the secondaries, or quite large and more or less reniform on the primaries. The form incrtila is antiacis with the white dash from the discal spot to the base, and with small black spots on the secondaries. The insect figured in Wright's "Butterflies of the West Coast" as mertila apparently lacks the white dash to the discal spot (a character of mertila}, and is therefore not mertila, but antiacis. I have a female xerccs in my collection with four of the seven white spots on the underside of the primaries unpu- pilled, and the pupils on the secondaries are almost obsolete. Several other specimens in my series show these white spots with their pupils becoming obsolete. A male antiacis which I possess has two indistinct, unpupilled white spots below on the right primary, none at all on the left one, and but four (pu- pilled) spots on each of the secondaries. It is very plain there- fore that these "blues" are subject to much variation, and this has not been sufficiently considered. Lycacna belirii, as described by Edwards, is typically repre- sented in a "blue" frequenting the San Francisco Bay region, but is not found within the city and county of San Francisco. This insect is also lilac blue, but the lilac tint is not so strong as in antiacis and xerccs. It differs also from these two in the form of the wings; in bchrii they are more rounded, therefore blunter, and of greater breadth. The female behrii is duskier than that of antiacis and xerccs, and has little if any blue at the base of the wings. On the underside the wings are "uni- form dark brownish-gray" as described by Edwards, with the 478 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 black spots more narrowly encircled with white and usually larger than in antiacis. The ground color underneath is us- ually much more uniform than in the latter, less plentifully sprinkled at the base of the wings with metallic scales, and not having the suffusion of white markings occurring both in antiacis and xerces. Like them however it is a spring butterfly, flying in March and April, and sometimes even in February. It seems to me that bchrii is a distinct species and not a variety of antiacis, for it can be readily distinguished from the latter in the adult and larval state, and also by its habitat. I have not taken bchrii in northern central California, but a form quite distinct but closely allied to it. It flies a good ways south of San Francisco, but I have not taken it in Monterey county, about a hundred miles south of the city where there is a "blue" very close to if not identical with the southern L. polyphcmns, figured in Wright's book as antiacis but quite different from the latter. Lycaena xcrccs is said by Boisduval to inhabit the Yuba Mountains ("Montagues de la Juba") ; this appears unlikely, but cannot be discredited until that region is well explored entomologically in the proper season. It may fly locally in Marin Co., north of San Francisco. Both antiacis and xcrccs were formerly quite abundant in the Western Addition of the city ; and this is where most probably xerces now in collections come from. Here however it is nearly extinct, owing to the progress of civilization, but it is still present as a small col- ony in a limited area on the hills near the ocean, at the southern boundary of the city and county of San Francisco. It is found not on the sand dunes proper, but about sandy soil with rather low and scant vegetation, where its food-plant, Lotus glaber grows. Xerces always flies with antiacis. The latter is given a wide range, but as far as I can ascertain, it is not the same species of antiacis of other states or of other parts of this state. There remains much to be done in this group, as anyone can see who has a good series of these insects. Lycaena antiacis. Egg.— Of the usual echinoid form, depressed at the top; micropyle in a pit. A raised white net-work, the meshes quadrilateral, and sur- Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 479 mounted at each angle by a short rounded process, somewhat obliter- ates the delicate pale green ground color. Diameter about .65 mm. With few exceptions the egg is strongly glued to the dorsal surface of a leaf (rarely terminal) of Lotus glaber, a prostrate legume common in sandy soil. Though several eggs are sometimes found on one leaf, each was probably laid by a different female. First instar. — The larva in escaping from the egg eats a large ragged hole out of the top, but consumes no more of the shell. Head of moderate size, blackish, and retracted under the first seg- ment ; body in freshly hatched larvae of a pale yellowish green ; ob- long, and somewhat ridged, and covered with minute dark green gran- ulations, and bearing smooth conical, brown tubercles which give rise to rough, translucent whitish hairs arranged as follows : A double row on each side of the median line, the inner hairs the longest, some three- fourths the width of the body ; three infra-spiracular hairs on each seg- ment, the middle one the longest ; and a row of short clavate supra- stigmatal hairs. Cervical shield pale gray, with minute hairs. A sort of plate, possibly an osmaterium dorsad on the fused ultimate segments. Length at commencement of instar, 1.5 mm. Later in instar larva be- comes darker, and the various bands are indicated. Second instar. — Body plum color; median (heart) line of a darker plum, with a bordering band of dull lilac. Oblique latero-dorsal dash on segments, dull lilac, then below, two indistinct bands of the same color, and finally the dull lilac lateral band. Long hairs as in instar I, and in addition short whitish pile. Length at commencement of instar 3.5 mm. At the end of the instar the pattern becomes more distinct, and the larva assumes a dull green, or more rarely a dull gray color. The dull green larva has a dark green median band (brownish on seg. 2), with a yellow or yellowish-green bordering band. The oblique dashes and the two following bands are rather indefinite, and the pale lilac lateral band has a darker ventral border. The dull gray larva has darker markings. Cervical shield gray. Length at end of instar 5.3 mm. Third instar. — All markings much plainer now. General appearance gray, median line purple, bordering band whitish yellow ; oblique clashes lichen gray, the following sub-horizontal and horizontal bands of the same color ; lateral band pale lilac with yellowish tinge, darker at its edges. Dorsal plate (?) on seg. 10, and a pair of whitish evers- ible spiny bulbs on seg. 11. Length at commencement of instar 6.75 mm. At end of instar the larva is of a delicate pale green (sometimes yellowish-green) color; median line dark green, bordering band yel- lowish-green, fading out at segment 10, the median line going beyond; oblique dashes (which proceed dorsad anteriorly and form an acute angle with the median line) pale green, and indistinct after seg. 10. The band following the oblique dashes is sub-horizontal, and the next 480 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 horizontal. Both are pale green and indistinct. Lateral band pale creamy yellow. Head small ; blackish ; legs pale brown with a pale green band along their base. A well-marked dorsal ridge. Length 9 mm. Fourth instar. — Length at commencement of instar about 9.3 mm. Piliferous tubercles whitish; some smaller dark tubercles present. At the end of the instar the body is pale green; median line dark green, broad bordering band yellowish-green, oblique dashes distinct, yellow- ish-green, the following sub-horizontal and horizontal bands of the same color but more cbscure, the whitish spiracles running along the upper edge of the latter band. Lateral band yellowish-white, ventrad becom- ing indistinct pale lilac, present on all the segments, plainest from seg. 2-10, and of a pale green color around the last segments. A pale green- ish-yellow band on four prolegs. A long transverse plate ( ?) on seg. 10, with some dark tubercles. Eversible sacs whitish. Long hairs on each side of dorsum, some laterad and others on the sub-lateral fold. There are some small dark piliferous tubercles especially anteriorly, and the whole body is covered with a whitish pile. The larva is slug-shaped, with the posterior portion flattened, the segmentation is distinct, and the small black head usually deeply inserted into the apparently hori- zontal first segment. There is a distinct dorsal ridge, and some depres- sions along the sides of the body. Length 15. mm., width 4.75 mm. There is color variation here as in the preceding stages ; the larvae are sometimes greenish yellow, while those reared in tin boxes are more brightly marked than those taken in the field (on which specimens the descriptions are made), being of a more lilac tone. Pupa. — Stout ; venter nearly straight ; dorsum rounded ; thorax and wing covers pale grayish green ; abdomen pale wood brown, minutely reticulate ; median line appearing through cuticle as a rough rusty- brown line, broad on the abdomen, narrow on the mesothorax, where it is nearly black, and wide again and dark on the wood-brown pro- thorax, where it diffuses along its margin heavily anteriorly and lat- erally. A very fine greenish line runs through the dorsal line of the thorax. A latero-dorsal brownish-black blotch on the anterior portion of the mesothorax, and just lateral of this a roughened shoulder blotch. Another dusky patch in the basal angle of the primaries, and a more compact one on the first abdominal segment in the angle of the second- aries. Abdomen in strongly-marked specimens has the pale dorsal area emphasized by the dusky subdorsal to ventral reticulations and blotch- ings ; in paler pupae the dorsum is not well differentiated from the rest of the abdomen. On segs, 2-6 of abdomen are latero-dorsal depressions their centers ringed with black. Spiracles brownish, and on segs. 5-8 in pale yellowish-brown areas. A smooth transverse slit on dorsum of the seventh abdominal segment. Head pale wood-brown with an- tennae, maxillae and wing-veins peppered or blotched with dusky. A Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 481 few short hairs on stigmatal areas of segs. 6 and 7 of abdomen and on venter of the last two (fused) segments. Length 10 mm., width at seg. 3 of abdomen, 5 mm. Some pupae are quite pale, the general color being gray-green ; others are quite heavily marked. Antiacis larvae bred in tin boxes transformed to pupae about forty-eight days after hatching" from the egg, or from early April to the end of May. Mature larvae obtained in the field did not pupate until the first part of June or even later. The young- er larvae merely bite pits into the leaves, but older ones will devour the leaf entire. Though Lotus glabcr is the usual food- plant of this "blue," I have found one larva of antiacis on Lupinus arboreus, and they will readily devour the leaves and pods of Lupinns uiicrantlnis and Astragalus mcncicsii. Several days before pupation the larva loses its clear color and markings and assumes a dull sea-green shade, or more rarely becomes dull bluish-green, and semi-transparent in either case. It is now somewhat shortened, and choosing a convenient surface, spins a mat of silk where it later girdles itself for pupation. The silken girdle is rather weak, and where it joins the mat on either side the several strands are commonly united into one thread, but usually break up into several near the dorstim of the insect, so that it is wide in that region. In the larva, this girdle, starting from the mat at about the sec- ond abdominal segment, proceeds anteriorly and dorsally so as to support the third thoracic segment. Three days after girdling it sheds its exuvium and becomes a pupa. The larger hairs of the larva dry up and lie appressed to its body, and the latter in assuming the shape of the pupa becomes somewhat constricted in its middle. The larval skin, tightly drawn over the thorax, is loose and wrinkled over the abdomen. It splits on the thorax as in other larvae and exposes the pallid pupa, which in time assumes its proper shade. By the beginning of June, I had about twenty pupae from which I obtained sixteen butterflies, nine males and 7 females. They were all antiacis, though several had the white dash of mcrtila. With one exception they came out quite late as com- pared with antiacis in nature, emerging from the end of April 482 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 to the 7th of July. The exception came out in midwinter. The pupae were kept most of the time in a warm dry room. Three hymenopterous parasites were found preying upon the larva, and they all emerged the same season. One, presumably a braconid, spun a bright yellow cocoon but the adult escaped unobserved. But one larva parasitized each caterpillar, as was the case with the other two species. A single specimen of an ichneumon was reared from a pupa, but the commonest of the three parasites pupated within its host, when the latter was at the end of the third instar. Before pupating, the parasite in the now dead and elongate larva securely fastens the latter to some object by piercing the exuvium below the head and cementing it through this aperture with some secretion. But the perfect insect makes its escape not through the anterior portion of the skin, but through a hole in the dorsum of the Fig. i. Fig. 2. posterior end. Fig. I represents a larva of L. antiacis two days prior to pupation; Fig. 2 dorsal view of a pupa of the same. Lycaena behrii. Mature -larva. — Head black; body very pale coffee color; still paler below the spiracles ; median line reddish brown, with a purplish tinge. Pattern similar to that of antiacis, the oblique dashes whitish, the sub-horizontal and horizontal bands more obscure, all three being visi- ble from segs. 2-9. Lateral line white, purplish ventrad. Long, pale, roughened hairs on body, longest dorsad and laterad, and of a darker shade on seg. I. Shield grayish green. Length 15 mm., width at seg. 7, 5.7 mm. Another mature larva of this species is darker in color than the preceding, and is pale greenish sub-laterally; the median line blackish spotted, with a greenish tinge, broadest and purplish on seg. 2 and invisible on seg. i, where its course is indicated by a few piliferous dots ; bordering band paler than dorsal ground, oblique dashes and two following bands pale drab, the lowest with a greenish- Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 483 gray tinge; lateral band also pale drab, with a pale purplish dorsal border. This is a broader larva than anfiacis, and of a different ground color, lacking entirely or in part the pale green of the former species. Pupa. — Similar in size and form to that of antiacis, but the ground color is darker, being wood-brown with paler meta-thorax and wing- covers. The distribution of markings is the same as in antiacis, but more obscure, thus giving it a more uniform coloration. The eggs and larvae of this insect were taken in Marin Co., on the small annual blue lupine (L. micranthiis}. The eggs are laid on the flower buds, or more rarely on the young leaves. The -larvae feed upon the tenderer parts of the plant, and when of large size eat through the wall of the pod and devour the seeds. They are not very particular as regards food-plants and will readily eat Lotus glabcr, Astragalus, and the large yellow lupine. The single pupa obtained (June loth), 1907, disclosed a male on March 22, 1908. Lycaena pheres Bdv. This, like the following "blue"' is an early summer species. It was first described by Boisduval, and its habitat given as the environs of San Francisco. This is therefore its typical hab- itat, and as the food-plant of the larva is Lupinus cliainissonis, a large maritime blue lupine, true pheres is to be found near the sea in the vicinity of these plants, which are common on the sand dunes. No larvae of this blue were reared, but the fe- males were observed ovipositing on the densely tomentose stems of the lupine, some distance below its summit, but always in the vicinity of young leaves and sometimes upon them. The insect flies in May and early June. There is undoubtedly some confusion as to what pheres really is, and it is probable that it has a more restricted range than it is accredited with. Lycaena icaroides Bdv. Commo'i in the region about San Francisco, having the same habitat as behrii, but appearing much later. The larva like- wise feeds upon Lupinus micranthus, but it could not be in- duced to eat other legumes. 484 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., 'o8 Pemphigus tessellata : Alternate Host, Migrants and True Sexes.* BY EDITH M. PATCH. (Plate XXIV) Ever since Fitch recorded in his brief, original description in 1851 "I have searched in vain for winged individuals of this species," the alder blight has been from time to time an object of speculative interest to aphid observers, although if any real attempt has been made to trace the flight of the migrants and locate the winter eggs' it has been heretofore unrecorded. With a species so conspicuous and of such wide distribution, the absence of a knowledge of its different stages for the half century or more since it was described would seem strange were it not that the species certainly gives as defiant a dare to the life history detective as a Pemphigus can and that is saying a good deal. To begin with there seems to be no place in the apparently closed cycle of alder blight for an alternate host and winter eggs. According to the observations of the writer for the past five years, apterous viviparous forms of Pemphigus tessellata are present on the alder branches (Alnus woma) from about April 2Oth to late October, weather permitting, and the rest of the year hibernating as young apterous viviparous forms in clusters or singly among the fallen leaves at the base of the alder. The return of these hibernating young to the alder branches in the spring completes an apparent cycle for a single host plant and certainly suggests no need for variety in diet. It was not then with any thought of an alternate host that these observations were begun for this species in Maine but with the hope of finding at some time during the year a sexual gener- ation upon the alder. Protected under the flocculent mass secreted by this Pemphigus the presence of a winged gener- ation is not revealed (unless special collection and search for forms with wing pads is made) until the form is mature. From late August until the middle of September at the same time the * Papers from the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station: Ento- mology, 30. ENT. NEWS, VOL. XIX. Plate XX IV. PATCH ON PEMPHIGUS TESSELLATA. Showing masses of alder blight, containing both mature and apterous viviparous forms and migrants already winged and ready for flight. Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 485 last apterous viviparous generation is maturing and bringing forth an excessively numerous progeny which winter among the leaves on the ground, a generation of large winged forms ap- pears upon the alder stem in flocculent masses containing some- times a few apterous forms and sometimes in clusters where the apterous forms are the more numerous. These winged forms take flight without producing young upon the alder, and early in September in those seasons when the species1 is particularly numerous the flig'ht of this Pemphigus is so considerable as to give the appearance of a slight snow storm in the air. The bodies of the migrants are dark but the wings are whitish and powdered and much of the flocculent wax is retained upon the abdomen even in flight. One such flight was noticed September i, 1905 and several in late August and early September, 1908. On account of the ex- cessive numbers of syrphus maggots and the larvae of the wan- derer butterfly, Feniseca tarquinius* in 1906 the alder blight was nearly exterminated in the vicinity of Orono that season and during 1907 the colonies were not plentiful. This present season, however, they are again numerous and at the time of their flight a winged Pemphigus was seen to be congregating in conspicuous numbers upon the trunks of maple on the cam- pus, particularly Acer dasycarpum Ehrh. and the ornamental cut leaved maples. Microscopic examination showed no distinc- tion between the Pemphigus newly alighting upon the maple trunks and these taking flight from the alder and it was with intense interest that the following observations were made. August 27, 1908. Winged viviparous Pemphigus covering the trunk of cut leaved maple. They are seeking the crevices and rough places in the bark and are making no attempt to feed. August 28, Pieces of bark torn back from maple trunk show the winged viviparous Pemphigus and their numerous progeny, minute forms which under a lens prove to be the sexual forms, many of them being in copulation. August 28. Winged Pemphigus tcssellata removed from alder before flight and placed in cage upon twigs of maple * Me. Agr. Exp. Sta., Bui. No. 134, pp. 216-217. 486 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 in laboratory. They settled contentedly upon the twigs. Aug- ust 30. The progeny of winged P- tessellata placed on the maple twigs in laboratory are sexual forms proving upon mi- croscopic examination to be exactly like those collected from under bark of maple on campus. September 3. Numerous yellow eggs are present under bark among the Pemphigus on maple trunks on the campus. September 4. Pemphigus tessellata numerous on wing and observed floating in the air on campus. Individuals were watched and seen to alight on the maple bark where they set- tled and sought rough places in the bark. lic^c^^^^^H:^** We have, then, unquestionably the oviparous females and males of Pemphigus tessellata deposited upon maple trunks by the winged migrants from the alder and the eggs of this spe- cies deposited under the bark of the maple. Coupled with the fact that P. tesellata hibernates also in the young apterous vivi- parous form among the leaves at the base of the alder clumps this would seem rather to complicate matters than to prove a missing link. On the basis of these observations it seems safe to hazard the following guess as a working hypothesis. Pemphigus aceri- folii Riley, a flocculent species on maple leaves is very common from spring until mid July. A winged generation then appears and disappears. Pemphigus aeerifolii has been known only upon the maple leaf, — the rest of the cycle never having been recorded. With this in my mind my aphid notes were searched for these two species with the following suggestive coincidence : "No. 19-05. Pemphigus aeerifolii Riley, Orono. July 15, 1905. Winged forms present in great numbers on leaves of maple along river. Ready for migratory flight." "No. 30-05. Pemphigus tessellata. Orono. July 18, 1905. Single viviparous winged forms scattered about on the alder leaves (mostly on under side), followed by a group of young apterous viviparous forms present on the alder branches in great numbers, producing young." The foregoing record of viviparous tvinged forms on the alder leaves at the time it was taken seemed puzzling, as no Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 487 pupae, or individuals with wing pads, could be found on the alder tree ; but in the light of this fall's observations there seems little reason to doubt that these sporadic winged forms on the leaves of the alder are the return migrants from the maple, and that Pemphigus accrifolii Riley is merely the maple name for Pemphigus tcsscllata Fitch, the stem mother of which migrates from the bark to the leaf upon hatching in the spring. In accordance with my custom for five years, specimens of aphids have been saved, for every record made, either in balsam mounts or as alcoholic material, so that they are ready for reference at any time. During the winter of 1905-06 I made a careful comparison of all the winged species of Pem- phigus taken in Maine up to that time, and was particularly struck by the fact that mounted specimens of P. tcsscllata and P. accrifolii were indistinguishable and made the grumbling comment "If these are two species there is no structural basis for systematic work with Pemphiginae." However, there seemed no place in the tessellata cycle for acerifolii, several at- tempts to colonize maple with apterous forms of tessellata were entirely unsuccessful and for the next two falls the species was so scarce that the migrants were not much in evidence, and no clue was forthcoming until this fall. The life cycle of the alder blight is by no means solved by the location of the sexual generation. The true association of P. tessellata and acerifolii yet remains to be established upon *he alder. With the clues now at hand these species (two or one) can unquestionably be traced in time. The abundance of alder and maple at Orono and the usual presence in great num- bers of P. tessellata and acerifolii make it an ideal situation for work with these forms and favor my plans for thorough study of the Pemphigus upon the alder and maple. There is no need of crowding with further details from notes now at hand this preliminary paper, the object of which is merely to place the sexual forms of P. tcsscllata for which the following brief description will suffice. Oviparous female. — A pale yellowish form, apterous and non-rostrated, measuring 1.33 mm. in length. Antennae of 488 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 four segments. Two eyes with three separate dark globular pigmented masses. Abdomen ovoid. Deposited by viviparous migrant from alder, in crevices of bark on trunk of maple. Shortly after birth this form sheds a thin white membranous skin which commonly adheres to caudal tip of abdomen. After copulation the female deposits a single large egg. Male. — Darker than female and greenish. Apterous and non-rostrated, measuring .68 mm. in length. Antennae of four segments. Two eyes with pigmented area in one large irreg- ular mass. Abdomen linear. Sheds skin after birth as does the female. This form is smaller than the egg it fertilizes. Egg. — Comparatively large egg filling most of the abdomen of the female and measuring about .83 mm. It is yellow and glistening and deposits! usually with a downy white secretion. Notes on an Orthopterous Leaf Roller. BY W. L. McATEE, U. S. Biological Survey. (Plate XXV) Under a title, by prefixing two words to which, I have formed that of the present article, Mr. A. N. Caudell in 1903 described* some exceptional habits of Cawiptonotus carolincnsis Gerstacker. While I have but little, I fear, to add to Mr. Caudell's excellent account, the accompanying photographs will, I hope, prove welcome, especially since one of them, in a way, illustrates his article as well as my own. On August 2, 1908, while collecting insects on Plummet's Island, Md., in company with Mr. E. A. Schwarz, a heavily fruited specimen of the bladdernut (Staphylea trifoliata L.) attracted my attention and I proposed that we examine it for insect work. A brief inspection showed that a great many of the swollen triangular pods had rather large irregular holes in them. Mr.. Schwarz, in opening one, disclosed a locustid which escaped, but not before I recognized it as Camptonotus. A minute later, discovering another, I succeeded in keeping it in its lair, one of the 3 roomy cells of the bladdernut, in which *Proc. Ent. Soc., Wash. 'Vol. vi. pp. 46-49. 1904. Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 489 it was snugly curled, the long antennae, to my surprise, being completely withdrawn. These two were all that could be found on the bush. On August 15, Messrs. Schwarz and Knab looked over this bush again, and collected all of these locustids they could find. The next clay I examined the same individual shrub and captured two more, which indicates that in all probability the insects change quarters frequently and that one night is sufficient time for them to become com- fortably installed. On the same day an extended search, covering several bushes of Staphylca, revealed Camptonotns in numbers. I collected eight and could easily have secured a score. Three of the eight were males, which, heretofore, have much more rarely been collected than females. Carefully examining the first pod in which a Camptonotns was found, it was seen that as usual, a large irregular opening had been made in one of the cells, but it had been closed by a loosely constructed door, composed of bits of the pod and a network of fine spun silk- like threads. The locustid was visible within and scuttled about when the pod was handled, but did not attempt to bolt out like the first ones found, which probably were not spun up. Several other pods were found to be similarly inhabited. In some the opening had been closed by a well woven con- tinuous sheet (see middle figure, Plate XXV). Apparently nothing in the pods was eaten, they serving only as shelters. Some specimens of Camptonotus and twigs of Staphvlca were brought home and the twigs placed in water under bell jars. In a large jar two females and one male were confined with a twig bearing several entirely uninjured pods and many leaves. They were watched for some time by a light but did nothing with the plant. They sometimes moved nervously about, sometimes sat motionless, but they also spent much time cleaning all accessible parts of the body (even including the ovipositor in the case of the females), with the mouth. Dur- ing this process they showed wonderful control of the long antennae, which after being pulled down one at a time by the fore legs, by great muscular power at the base were slowly 490 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 drawn between the mandibles for their whole length. The dexterity with which they manipulate these seemingly un- wieldy appendages (which are about five times the length of the body), leaves the observer in no doubt as to how they stow them away in the cramped confines of their improvised retreats. Leaving the locustids in darkness for a while, no change was noticed upon returning, except that the male had ensconced himself in his old cell in a pod that has been left lying on the floor of the receptacle. From it he was reluctantly dislodged. They were then left for the night. In the morning it was found that both females had made cells for themselves, not however in the pods, but in leaves. Each had neatly rolled up a leaf, after making an oblique (with reference to the midrib) cut on one side near the petiole end. (See top figure, Plate XXV). At or near their edges the two halves of the leaf were bound together by fine silk- like strands, and I was fortunate enough to see one of the females finishing her work, she being inside the pocket. The thread flowed from between the points of the mandibles, they, the palpi, and in fact the whole mouth mechanism moving incessantly. The head was swung from side to side, and the mandibles merely touched to a spot, first on one flap of the pouch and then on the other, to which the thread immediately adhered. Rather an elaborate web was made across the more open upper portion of the pouch, but a passageway was left open. Later in the day, while I was necessarily absent, my wife observed the male making a pouch. Only through her watch- fulness am I able to give an account of this interesting process. The male, be it remembered, did nothing throughout the night, and he was further inactive till about 10 A. M. For an hour he had sat motionless on a leaf (which had a ragged indenta- tion almost reaching the midrib near the tip), when at seven minutes before ten o'clock he turned facing the apical end, grasped the edges of the leaf with three legs on each side, pulled them toward each other till they were separated by a space of only about a quarter of an inch, and immediately be- gan to run lines from edge to edge. Backing a little, more ENTT. NEWS, VOL. XIX. Plate XXV. McATEE ON CAMPTONOTUS CAROLINENSIS GERSTACKER. Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 491 threads were spun, then the insect went to the tip end, crawled into the tube he had just formed, and began to bind the edges together on the inside, at the petiole end, then returning to the apical end, then worked at the middle, rested, and finally spun in the open place near the mouth of the pocket. The sides were noticeably drawn together as he worked near the middle on the inside. Also, when the insect crawled over the first work done, while still on the outside, the edges were squeezed nearer together by the legs, and were held there, the threads becoming more oblique. The whole process was finished 2 minutes before ten. After completing the pockets the insects lie very quietly within them for hours. The work done by these captive Camptonotus indicates that they have no choice as to whether the mouth of the pouch shall be at the apex or base of the leaf. Their adaptability is shown by the use of a leaf weakened by injury, obviating the necessity of making a cut, as well as in the recognition of the pod of Staphylea as a handy substitute for a rolled leaf. Although three specimens of Camptonotus were confined for two days with uninjured pods and no leaves, not a pod was disturbed. Hence it is not proven that the locustids enter them through openings of their own making. Nevertheless, it is very probable that they do so; certainly they have mand- ibles equal to the task. The pods may be used for only a short period. At any rate, on August 23, not a Camptonotus could be found where a week before they were numerous. How- ever, on this date two specimens of Orocharis saltator Uhler, were discovered in torn pods. Mated pairs and nymphs of Banasa also were frequently found. EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXV. Top Figure: Leaflet of Staphylea trifoliata, rolled by Camptonotus carolinensis. Middle and Bottom Figures: Pods of Staphylea, with walls of cell cut away, showing Camptonotus, ensconced within. On upper left hand part of middle figure, note well woven sheet closing the entrance to cell. MR. FORDYCE GRINNELL. JR., collected last summer in the San Jacinto Mountains of southern California. Messrs. Grinnell and Brad- ley made a collecting trip to the summit of Mount Wilson in September. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NBWS solicit and will thankfully receive items of news likely to interest its readers from any source. The author's name will be given in each case, for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] To Contributors.— All contributions will be considered and passed upon at out earliest convenience, and, as far as may be, will be published according to date of recep- tion. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS has reached a circulation, both in numbers and circumfer- ence, as to make it necessary to put " copy " into the hands of the printer, for each num- ber, three weeks before date of issue. This should be remembered in sending special or important matter for a certain issue. Twenty-five "extras," without change in form, will be given free, when they are wanted ; and this should be so stated on the MS., along with the number desired. The receipt of all papers will be acknowledged. — ED. PHILADELPHIA, PA., DECEMBER. 1908. We not infrequently receive lists of species of insects for insertion in this journal that are hardly worth publishing and we also publish some that are hardly worth the room they take up. Our object in doing this is to encourage the writers and also in the hope that the lists may contain the names of some insects that will be of use in showing distribution later on when such matter is collated. The people who send these lists go out and turn over a few logs and pick up the conspicuous, common and widely-distributed forms and generally overlook the species peculiar to the district. In other words, they are too superficial in their work and do not wait until they can send in a list that is complete enough to be of value. Some time ago we received a sending of Diurnal Lepidoptera from Arizona and strange to say the box did not contain a single species that is not found in Pennsylvania. We recognize the great value of faunal lists when they really represent the locality or dis- trict where they are taken and we are glad to publish them as space permits. On the other hand a list that is only a surface skimming and contains the names of species that get in the way of the collector and are found from Winnipeg to Tampa and from Cape Cod to the Golden Gate is scarcely worth while. THE entomological societies of New York, Brooklyn and Newark gave a dinner at the Imperial Hotel, Brooklyn, on November 2ist in honor of Professor John B. Smith, State Entomologist of New Jersey, who on this date celebrated his fiftieth anniversary. 492 Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 493 Notes and Ne\vs. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE. MR. A. F. SHULL is now at Columbia University. MR. HENRY L. VIERECK is now connected with the Park-Davis Co., at Detroit, Mich. MR. LEONARD HASEMAN has been appointed assistant in entomology at Cornell University. MR. CHESTER JARVIS, of the Storrs' Connecticut Exp. Station is spend- ing a few weeks at Cornell University. PROF. C. F. BAKER has returned to the United States and will teach in Pomona College at Claremont, California. PROF. GLENN W. HERRICK, formerly of the Mississippi Agricultural College, is now located at College Station, Texas. DR. J. A. NELSON is conducting investigations on the embryology of the honey bee for the U. S. Bureau of Entomology. DR. A. FENYES, of Pasadena brought back from Cordoba, Mexico, this summer a very fine series of Coleoptera, especially Aleocharinae. THE following species taken this year are new to me: Cyaniris ladon, Thorybcs pylades, Nathalis iole, Papilio glaucus. — F. M. HOLMES, Pres- cott, Iowa. MR. A. G. HAMMAR, formerly of Ithaca, N. Y., has recently been engaged in the investigation of grape insects at North East, Pa., for the U. S. Bureau of Entomology. He has now returned to Washington. PROF. E. B. POULTON, of Oxford, England, is one of the invited speak- ers at the Darwin Celebration, convocation week, in Baltimore. He will also give the annual address before the Entomological Society of America. C. F. ADAMS, A.M., M.D., Professor of Entomology, has been ap- pointed Acting Dean and Director of the College of Agriculture and Agricultural Experiment Station, of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. C. W. HOWARD, A.B., F.E.S., has resigned his position of govern- ment entomologist of the Transvaal to become Chief of the Division of Entomology of the government of Portuguese East Africa. His address is box 255, Lourenco Marquez, P. E. A. AT THE St. Louis Exposition, New Jersey had an interesting exhibi- tion of mosquitoes, showing not only the different species and their life-histories but also the natural enemies of mosquito life. \Yhile 1 \\.is looking over this collection, two ladies approached it, one of them reading aloud the placard, "New Jersey Mosquito Exhibit." They stood ga/ing down into a case of large- dragon flics for a few moments, and then one exclaimed, "Dear me, I'd heard of New Jersey mosqui- toes, but I'd no idea they were as large as that." — F. M. HOLMES, Prescott, Iowa. 494 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 Doings of Societies. At the meeting of the Feldman Collecting Social held Sep- tember 17, 1908, at the residence of Mr. H. W. Wenzel, 1523 South 1 3th Street, Philadelphia, seventeen members were pres- .ent, also Mr. O. T. Elleder of Russia, Mr. W. S. Fisher of Highspire, Pa., and Mr. R. Pearce of Philadelphia, visitors. Prof. Smith spoke of the spread of Daremma catalpae Bois. throughout the State of New Jersey and its great abundance during several years. In 1906 it began to lessen in numbers in the regions that were first invaded, and parasitism became more obvious. In 1907 this tendency became even more mark- ed, and during the season of 1908, the larvae were really rare in most parts of the State, parasites seeming to have caught up with the species, and brought it under control. He also spoke of other natural controls of injurious species and ex- pressed his opinion that no one kind of check was controlling for all species, that diseases in one case did what parasites did in another, and that weather conditions were often as impor- tant as either, acting independently or with one or both the other factors. Some cases of hyper-parasitism were also re- ferred to as influencing the effect of the primary forms. Dis- cussed by Mr. Viereck, Prof. Calvert and Dr. Skinner. A letter from Mr. Roswell H. Johnson to Mr. H. W. Wenzel was read and specimens illustrating the color variation of Hip- pod amia convergens-quinquisignata group were shown. Mr. H. W. Wenzel exhibited pieces of floor boards of second story of a club-house at Anglesea, N. J., which were infested with Hylotrupes bajalus. The work of the insect is invisible until the destruction is complete. Dr. Skinner spoke of a case of the same insect, where the damage done was not noticed until the piano had fallen into the cellar. Mr. Elleder spoke about his collecting of Coleoptera in this country. He has been collecting in and near Philadelphia for about one year, and finds that many of the families are com- paratively rare here. The Cicindcla on the other hand are re- presented in all of Russia by only four species, while here they are very numerous, and he suggested that a Cicindcla should be incorporated in the coat of arms of New Jersey. The gen- Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 495 us Carabus he finds poorly represented here; he also referred to a species of Rhipiphorus, probably dimidiatus, which he found in numbers at National Park, X. J. on Monarda pnnc- tata. Mr. Harbeck said that he found Rhipiphorus species quite common at Trenton, N. J. this year. Mr. H. W. Wenzel said that Cychrns t'idnns had been very rare for many years, until within last two or three years, since which time a few specimens have been taken in the vicinity of Philadelphia. The same speaker reported the capture of a pair of Chlaenius prasinns at Philadelphia on July I4th and 23d. This species was not known to the speaker from this locality, being a mountainous species. Prof. Calvert exhibited a specimen of Erebus odoraius, which was found alive, resting on wall in room of Biological Hall, University of Pennsylvania, on August 27, 1908. On the same day a specimen of the same species flew into the win- dow at the Academy of Natural Sciences. On this and the preceding day a storm said to have come from the Gulf of Mexico occurred. Mr. Geo. M. Greene exhibited a block made of peat, used as a setting board for Coleoptera. Dr. Skinner called attention to the fact that small species of insects from the tropics have been almost entirely neglected, and that these should be more studied. Prof. Smith suggested that window screens should be painted with kerosene to prevent mosquitoes from coming in through the same, which, however, proves effective for a while only. Mr. Viereck after having made further investigations with Culicid larvae in fresh water from the "Philadelphia Neck," found the most of the specimens to be solicitans, and some pipiens. Mr. Charles Greene exhibited specimens of the following Diptera : Ccratiir^its cntcialiis Say, taken at Germantown, Phil- adelphia, July 2, 1908 : Hctcropogon gibbus Loew., Glenside, Pa., Sept. i, 1908; Myiolepta varipes Loew., Roxborough. Phil- adelphia, June 7, 1908, by George M. Greene ; TricJiopoda cilipes Wied., Newtown Square, Pa., August 23, 1908, by 496 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 George M. Greene ; and Spogostylum cephns Fab., German- town, Philadelphia, July 2, 1908. Dr. Castle exhibited two specimens of Clcrns quadrisigna- tus taken at Linglestown, Dauphin Co., Pa., June 27, 1908. Mr. Fisher said that he found the same Clerid very common at night, running around dead hickory trees near Harrisburg. Mr. Daecke reported Enaresta acqualis Loew. very plentiful at Philadelphia on August 3Oth and September 5th this year, having taken twenty specimens in one sweep on clotbur, Xan- thium strumarium L. while heretofore he had taken but two specimens, one of these at Baltimore? Md. Also the Geometrid, Eitchoeca albovittata Guen. was very common this year, and particularly at Castle Rock, Pa., on May 26th. The same speaker reported the capture of Atteva aurca Fitch at Nation- al Park, N. J. on August 2nd and 4th, resting on Asclcpias cornuti, which is probably a new record for the State; at the same place and date he found Culex jamaicencis very common. He also reported the capture of a specimen of Bembc.r spinolac with a Tabamis nigrivittatus in its grasp. FRANK HAIMBACH, Secretary. At the meeting of the Feldman Collecting Social held on October 22, 1908, at the residence of Mr. C. Few Seiss, 1338 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, fifteen members were pres- ent. Mr. Laurent exhibited a breeding cage consisting of the old fashioned high fly trap, placed over a flower pot. The speaker stated that he had been very successful in rearing Pamphihi larvae in these cages. Mr. Laurent also pointed out some de- ficiencies in certain naphthaline cones which have been re- cently placed on the market. Dr. Skinner spoke of the great value of melted naphthaline as an insecticide for all household insect pests. Wherever in- sects hide in houses, due to defective woodwork or poor car- pentering, naphthaline may be used with entire success. It melts at a very low temperature and on being poured into cracks or crevices sets immediately and hermetically seals them. It is most effective used this way against ants, roaches, fleas and bedbugs. Care should be taken to prevent flame coming in contact with the melted substance or the fumes as it is very inflammable. FRANK HAIMBACH, Secretary- Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 497 • A meeting of the American Entomological Society was held October 22, 1908, Mr. Philip Laurent presiding. Nine per- sons were present. Mr. Daecke exhibited a specimen of Argynnis cybclc en- closed in a Riker mount which had been partially destroyed by an Anthrcmts though the mount was tight. Dr. Skinner exhibited butterflies that had been mounted between sheets of mica 163 years ago. He also showed the male of Plagodis schuylkillensis Grossbeck, taken at the Falls of Schuylkill, Philadelphia in August. Mr. Weigand reported having captured a new species of Cucullia in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, on New England asters. Dr. Skinner exhibited both sexes of Trogolegnum pscn- dambnly.v Bd., a large sphinx moth taken at Real del Monte, Hidalgo, Mexico, by Mr. H. T. Van Ostrand. The sexes differ to a marked degree. Mr. Hornig said he had recently seen a number of Odonata mating and asked if it were not late in the season for this. Mr. Laurent remarked that he had Pampliila hobomok hibernate as egg, larva and chrysalis. Dr. Castle exhibited a naphthaline cone covered with a paper cover to prevent soiling the box. A tuft of cotton was put in the small end of the paper cone. The death of Dr. Wm. H. Ashmead on October I7th was announced. He was a corresponding member of the Society. HENRY SKINNER, Secretary. The June meeting of the Heink Entomological Club of St. Louis, Mo., occurred on the 2Oth at the residence of Mr. C. L. Heink, who presided. Mr. Schroers spoke on collecting pupae of Ecpantheria , each secondary. The under surface of the wings is beautifully striated, while the arrangement of the ocelli differs from that of a normal specimen. Mr. Kelbly exhibited a specimen of Pyrameis kershawii from Australia and a specimen of P. cardui iaken here, which showed hardly a trace of difference in markings. AUG. KNETZGER, Secretary. Dec., '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 499 The 26th regular quarterly meeting of the Pacific Coast Entomological Society was held on November 23rd. 1907, at the residence of Dr. F. E. Blaisdell, 1632 Post street. Presi- dent Fuchs in the chair. The Annual Election of officers took place with the follow- ing results: President, Dr. E. C. Van Dyke: Treasurer and Secretary, Dr. F. E. Blaisdell; Assistant Secretary, Leon Munier. Mr. Edw. Ehrhorn made remarks of appreciation for the services rendered to the Society by the retiring President, Mr. Chas. Fuchs. Mr. F. X. Williams reported the result of his collection trip to Siskiyou Co. during the last summer. Mr. R. W. Doane reported some entomological work at San Diego, Calif. Also results in collecting there in April, stating that some interesting Tipnlidac were taken. On foggy nights he found insects very abundant about arc lights. Mr. O. E. Bremner gave a talk on the White Fly. Mr. J. C. Huguenin reported results of collecting Coleoptera in San Francisco Co. Mr. J. G. Grundel gave an account of his collecting trip to Eureka. Mr. Ehrhorn spoke on the photographing of insects, and exhibited photographs. Dr. E. C. Van Dyke then entertained the Society by report- ing his recent trip to the Aleutian Islands. The results will be published later, when the material shall have been worked up. Dr. Blaisdell exhibited several species of Coleoptera taken in Alpine Co., California. Among which were Cicindela sierra, showing variations in color from dark with a small apical lunule to the fully marked, bright green examples; Dcrctaph- rtis orcgonensis. Bins estn'atus. ^fvcctina lioruii, Liodcs bi- color, Platvcerus opaca Fall, and Oucdiits debilis. Dr. Van Dyke exhibited two boxes of Coleoptera from the Aleutian Islands, many not heretofore recorded from that re- gion. Dr. Blaisdell reported that the 24th and 25th meetings of the Society were not held on account of the car strikes. F. E. BLAISDELL, M. D. Secretary. •A * 5°0 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '08 The 27th regular quarterly meeting of the Pacific Coast Entomological Society was held on February 22nd, 1908, at the residence of Dr. F. E. Blaisdell, 1632 Post street, Presi- dent Van Dyke in the chair. President Van Dyke delivered an address, reviewing the progress of Entomology on the Pacific Coast, after which Percy Baumberger presented a gavel to the President with a few appropriate remarks. E. T. Cresson, Jr., spoke of the work clone by Osten Sacken in the Seventies and also that of Pilate in Collecting of Diptera in Louisiana. Mr. Edw. Ehrhorn talked on the parasites of Phryganidia calif ornica, two new species being bred. Chas. Fuchs reported a collecting trip to St. Helena and Placer Co. Mr. F. X. Williams exhibited a box of Sesiidae. Mr. E. T. Cresson, Jr.. and G. R. Pilate were elected to membership. F. E. BLAISDELL, M. D., Secretary. The 28th regular meeting or Field Day of the Pacific Coast Entomological Society was held at Muir Woods, Marin Co., California, on May I7th, 1908. Eight members and eight guests participated in the outing. The Coleopterists collected the following interesting species : Dendroides picipcs, Platyccrns oregonensis and ac/assizii, i\Ic- gapenthes elegans, Ernobius sp., Phyinatodcs acncns, Pteros- tichus scutellaris, Bembidium spcctabilc, Leptalia 'macilenta, Trichochrous laticollis, Corphyra bivittata, Trigonnnis sp., Amnesia granicollis, and D c sin o cents cribripennis. The Lepidopterists found very little in their line. Mr. E. T. Cresson, Jr., found many good Diptera. Mr. Ehrhorn took a few Coccidae and Mr. Fuchs a few Pselaphides by sifting. The day was thoroughly enjoyed by the members and the several interesting catches made them enthusiastic. F. E. BLAISDELL, M. D., Secretary. INDEX TO VOLUME XIX. (Notes and articles on geographical distribution are indexed under the names of the States or countries concerned, and not under the species listed therein, except in the case of new or redescribed forms. New generic and specific names are marked with a *.) GENERAL SUBJECTS. Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila., Entom. Section of 440 Alberta collecting in 85, 108 Altitude and distribution of species 347, 360 American Entomological So- ciety 497 Angolan insects of economic or pathologic importance 26, 224 Arizona, collecting in 87 Association of County Ento- mologists of California . . . 149 Asymmetrical insects 191 Breeding cages 496, 497 Brooklyn Entomological So- ciety 84, 85, 142, 184, 238, 239, 347, 348, 439. r.ultonic plague, role of insects in transmitting 353, 380 Butterflies at ball 79 Card index system 188 Commensalism 497 Convergence in structure . . . 441 Death of insects, causes of 189, 439- Directory of Jesuit Natural- ists 291 Disease, flies and human 384, 389 472. Dryness and wingedness .... 122 Ear, removal of insects from the 317, 339 Editorials, 34, 78 140, 181, 233, 290 338, 384, 436, 492. Eggs laid by insects, Number of 4, 383 Entomological Literature, 35, 79 182, 183, 291, 339, 385. Entomological Society of America 78, 90, 493 Environment on colors, Ef- fects of 87, 147, 340 Errata 183 Examining insects under com- pound miscroscope 139 External wing buds in larvae of holometabolous insects . . 136 Feldman Collecting Social, 46, 185, 1 86, 1 88, 240, 342, 343, 389, 494- 496. Fighting moths with lights . . . 387 Floor-boards, Insect injury to 494 Graduate School of Agricul- ture of N. Y., Entomol- ogy at 340 Happy Family of Bugologists (poem) 294 Harrisburg Natural History Association 236, 344, 345 Heink Entomological Club, 55, 89 237, 238, 346, 497, 498. Household insect pests, Use of naphthaline against 496 Human fleas 353, 380, 435 Hybrids ... 88 Illustrations of insects, How to make MO Inflation of larvae 9 Insectivorous bats, Economic value of 184 Insects as food for man 29, 31, 32 Journal of Economic Ento- mology 79 Kcllogg's "Insect Stories" ... 385 Killing flies, Mixture for .... 389 Local lists of insects 492 11 INDEX. Mexico, Insect-formed ooliths in 291 Mimicry, 46, 224, 228, 230, 344 Mollusks, Blow-flies in dead. 234 Mouse-flea, A new 435 Myasis in man 32 Nason collection 75 Newark Entomological So- ciety, 86, 87, 88, 188, 189, 390, 392. Numerical distribution of in- sects 324, 393 Obituary: Ashmead, W. H 397 Biolley, P 394 Davis, C. A 234 Finot, P. A. P 396 Fletcher, J 445 Johnson, W. G 242 Konow, F. W 348 Mayr, G 396 Ridings, J. H 242 Seib, S. H. M 396 Snow F. H 447 Thomas, J 142 Ohio Lake Laboratory 292 Ooliths due to insects 291 Pacific Coast Entomological Society 499, 500 Paraffin sections attacked by insects 442 Parasites as cause of death of insects 189, 439 Personals : Adams, C. F 493 Baker, C. F 386, 493 Barrett, O. W 79 Bradley, J. C 491 Busck, A 322 Calvert, P. P 183, 437 Cresson, E. T 289 Cresson, E. T., Jr. ... 55 Daecke, E 322 Fenyes, A 493 Ferdinand, King 407 Fernald, C. H 386 Froggatt, W 234 Fullaway, D. T 407 Grinnell, F., Jr 491 Hammar, A. G 493 Haseman, L 493 Hebard, M 182 Herrick, G. W 493 Hinds, W. E 41 Holland, W. J 386 Howard, C. W 493 Jarvis, C 493 Kellogg, V L 183 Kincaid, T 130 Laurent, P 340 McCook, H. C. ...141, 382 Mitchell, E. G 202 Montgomery, T. H., Jr 234 Nelson, J. A 493 Patch, E. M 234 Poulton, E. B 493 Quayle, H. J 289 Rehn, J. A. G 182 Rivera, M. J 234 Shull, A. F 493 Slingerland, M. V. ... 234 Smith, J. B 141, 492 Van Duzee, E. P 234 Van Duzee, M. C 234 Viereck, H. L. . .41, 404. 493 Wenzel, H. W 183 Wheeler, W. M. ...311, 3§6 Pitcher plant insects 150 Plants attacked by insects : Acer 104, 131, 485 Alder 484 Alnus 484 Ampelopsis 143 Apple 101, 142 Astragalus 481, 483 Bean 230 Blackberry 212 Bladdernut 488 Boneset 168 INDEX. • • i 111 Brassica 314 Catalpa 197 Cat-tail rush 295 Celtis 368 Cherry .' . 142 Chestnut 101 Chrysanthemum 261 Cotton 210 Crinkle-root 142 Cucumber 227 Dentaria 142, 314 Eupatorium 168 Grass 438 Grenadilla 229 Hackberry 368 Hickory 118, 119,241 Honey locust 119 Iron-weed 166 Jacobinia 211 Live oak 13, 77 Lotus 481, 483 Lupinus 481, 483 Mains 101 Maple 104, 131, 241, 485 Melon 227 Onion 234 Papaya 229 Passiflora 229 Finns 390 Pitcher-plants 150 Poplar i Populus i, 69, 103 Potato 230 Primus 142 Quercus, 13, 77, 105, 106, ii9, 349- Salix 69, 102 Salvia 383 Sarraccnia 150 Shade trees 84, 238 Staphylca 488 Thoroughwort 168 Timber trees, African.. 28, 228, 229. Typha 295 Vernonia 166 Virginia creeper 143 Walnut 118, 119 Willow ..102, 118, 142, 443 Poisonous insects 467 Pollination by insects 153 Popular fallacies regarding in- sects 467 Publications of the Bureau of Entomology 183 Rat fleas 353, 3§o Relaxing single parts of dried insects 139 Scapanus, Flea from 452 Setting board, Peat 495 Size of copulating insects, Relative 188, 240 Smell in mosquitos, Sense of 81 Specialists willing to deter- mine insects 42 Squirrel flea 462 Stereoscopic pictures of in- sects 442 University of Illinois, Ento- mology at 338 Warning against unscrupulous dealers 337 Wings for lantern slides 83 ARACHNIDA. ainci'icaiia*, Tumidalvus 244 Angola, A. of 27 Blood-sucking ticks 27 flin'us*, Phthiracarus 450 Illinois, Acarina of 245,451 moubata, Ornithodoros 27 Poisonous spiders 469 rotundus*, Phthiracarus 451 Tumidalvus* 243 COLFOPTERA. Acid-ejecting C 229 Alabama, C. of 163 Angola, C. of, 26, 28, 31, 224, 226 -230. antacus, Strategus ...286, 390, 461 IV INDEX. Aleocharinae of U. S. and Canada 56 Aquatic C., How to collect and mount 392, 393 Arizona, C. of, 161, 163, 188, 241, 320. Arrow-poison from C 229 California, C. of, 66, 160, 499, 500 Chariessa 70 Cicindcla, Distribution of by altitudes 360 Cicindela, Parasite of 91 Coccinellid eggs, Aphid feed- ing on 132 davisi*, Histcr 318 Diamphidia 229 ferrisi*, Agrilus 368 ferrugineus, Bradycinetus 459 ficldii*, Thycc 160 Florida, C. of 187, 428 fuscttla*, Polyphylla 161 Geotrupcs 288 Horn-Roeschke School 38 Injurious C., 26, 28, 224, 226-8, 230 lazarus, Bolboccras 460 lenta*, Lachnosterna 162 Listrochelus 164, 319 lobctta*, Lachnostcnia 163 Long Island, C. of 84, 348 Massachusetts, C. of 114, 217 Megilla feeding on aphids . . . 132 Megilla, Parasites of 202 Necrophorus 120 New Jersey, C. of, 187, 241, 318, 319, 343, 390, 392, 494, 495- New York, C. of 84, 348, 399 niger, Sandalns 288 North Carolina, C. of 286, 360, 459 oblique fasciata*, Pyrota 320 oclirca, Macrobasis 240 Ohio, C. of 368, 386, 389 orbicollis, Necrophorus 120 Pachybrachys 216 Pennsylvania, C. of 325, 343, 390 495, 496. silicca, Diplognatha 26 splcndens, Stmtcgus 461 Strategus 286, 390, 461 Stridulation in Necrophorus . 120 tarsalis*, Listrochelus 319 Tennessee, C. of 217 texana*, Chariessa 72 Texas, C. of 202, 217 DIPTERA. acittus, Ccratophylhis 462 aenia, Chaetopsis 298 analc, Spogostylum 91 Angola, D. of, 26, 28, 30-32, 224 227-8. arcuatus*, Rhypholophus .... 201 Argyrophylax 236 Arizona, D. of 178 Bibio 76 Blood-sucking D. of Angola, 225 227, 228. brevicornis*, Pachyrhina 178 California, D. of, 7-9, 176, 178, 202, 380, 437, 452. calif or idea*, Pachyrhina 176 .Canada, D. of 9 Calliphora 234 Ceromasia 298 chrysocoma, Goniops 464 Colorado, D. of 9, 272 cornutus*, Rhypholophns .... 202 Corypsylla* 452 Culcx 4, 22, 30, 46, 81, 473 CuUcidac, classification of 28, 30 Dicranomyia* 5, 406 dissidais, Oscinis 274 divcxus*, Rhypholophus 201 domestica*, Psychoda ...282, 285 Eggs of Culex, Number of . . 4 fhwesccns*, Oscinis 272 Flea feeds, How a 462 Fleas in transmission of bu- bonic plague, Role of .-353, 380 Floor maggot 31 floridica, Psychoda 276 INDEX. foliora*, Cecidomyia 350 frontalis*, Oscinis 273 Glossina 26, 42 Guiana, D. of Dutch 95 House-flies as disease-car- riers 384, 389. 472 House-fly, Possibility of ex- terminating 345 Idaho, D. of 98 longicornus*, Rhypholophus .. 201 lute ola, Auchmeromyia 31 Maryland, D. of 496 Massachusetts, D. of 9, 349 Michigan, D. of 179 Missouri, D. of 274, 285 Montana, D. of 178 "Mosquito Life," Mitchell's.. 37 Nevada, D. of 178 New Hampshire, D. of 9 New Jersey, D. of 22, 46, 390, 441, 443, 473- New York, D. of 201, 202 nigei-*, Ccratophyllus 434 tiigra*, Oscinis 272 nocturnala, Psychoda ....277, 279 North Carolina, D. of 168 obscuricornis, Melieria 98 occidentalism, Pachyrhina .... 177 ornatus*, Corypsylla 452 Oscin is 272 Oviposition of Bibio albipcn- n\is 76 Pachyrhina 173, 405 palposa*, Zeugma 96 parallelus*, Rhypholophus . . . 202 Parasitic D 91, 235, 298 pcnetrans, Sarcopsylla 224 Pennsylvania, D of, 9, 187, 241, 336, 344, 345, 390, 464, 495 496. pcrturbans, Culex 473 Proctacanthus catching Bom- bus 440 Psychoda 275 Rhypholophus 200 Sarcophaga pollinating Sarra- ccnia 155 serpcntina, Anastrepa 98 simplex, Heptaphlebomyia ... 28 Smell in mosquitos, Sense of 81 snoivii*, Pachyrhina 176 Stonwxys as a plague trans- mitter 358 Tabanidae of Angola 228 Tabanidae of North Carolina 168 Texas, D. of 235, 273, 274 Tipula larvae, Outbreak of ... 437 Tipulidae, Variations in 405 trifasciata, Ortalis 298 Tse-tse fly 27, 42 t uber osa*, Xanthacrona 97 Washington, D. of 7, 9, 178, 201, 202. Wyoming, D of 177 Zeugma* 95 HEMIPTERA. ancylus, Aspidiotus 309 Angola, H. of 27,229 Aphid feeding on Coccinellid eggs 132 Aphididae i Aphididae, Parasites of 365 Arizona, H. of 234 Aspidiotus 309 bicoloripes, Phonergates 27 Chaitophorus 131 circularis, Aspidiotus 309 citri, Pseudococcus 383 Colorado, H. of i Corixa?, Ooliths formed from eggs of 292 Florida, H. of 424 folsomii*, Aphis 143 gossypii*, Contarinia 210 Illinois, H. of 143 Life-cycle of Pemphigus 484 Maine, H. of 484 Minnesota, H. of 131 New Jersey, H. of 443 VI INDEX. Pemphigus 484 Pennsylvania, H. of 336 Poisonous H 471 populi*, Schizoneura I rufomaculata*, Aphis 261 Saldoida 424 tessellata, Pemphigus 484 testudinatus, Chaitophorus ... 131 Van Duzee's "North Ameri- can Membracidae" 291 West Indies, H. of 210, 211 Winged Aphids, Production of 122, 484 HYMENOPTERA. alpestris*, Tachysphex foxii 223 Andrena 42 Angolan H. 33, 226, 227, 228, 230 Ant with Aphids 144 Ants and Saldoida 427 Ants associated with pupae 497 americanus, Perilitus 202 Aphelinus 365 Apis 227 Army ants 226 Bembicidae 373 besseyae*, Crabro 419 Bombus 86 Bombus caught by Asilid 440 brachycarpae*, Crabro 252 capitalis, Scolioneura 212 Carpenter mudwasp 231 cockerelli*, Crabro 255 Colorado, H. of, 78, 220, 245, 367, 373, 418, 419. Crabro 245, 258, 418, 419 crassus, Tachytes 224 Crematogastcr 144 Delaware, H. of 212 deltaensis*, Microbembex monodonta 375 dcpressicauda*, Noinada .... 323 doanei*, Megachile 466 Dorylus 226 drymocallidus*, Crabro 255 eriogoni*, Crabro 256 ferrugineipes*, Crabro 250 / oss or*, Oxybelus 179 foxii*, Tachysphex 222 gillettei*, Crabro 418 Headlee and Dean's "Mound- Building Prairie Ant", 385, 435 Helorimorpha 363 heraclei*, Crabro 253 hitci*, Tachysphex 221 Indiana, H. of 299 larimerensis*, Belomicrus ... 417 Light, Vespa crabro, attracted to 86 lineolata, Crematogaster 144 Massachusetts, H. of 363 megacephalus*, Crabro 249 mclanderi*, Helorimorpha . . . 363 mcliloti*, Bcmbidula 376 Mellinus 299 Mexico, H. of 387 militaris, Polyrachis 33 modcstu-m*, Rhopahim 257 Nebraska, H. of 420 neomexicana*, Microbembex monodonta 375 New Jersey, H. of 86 New Mexico, H. of, 179, 245, 375, 377, 379- nigrescens*, Tachysphex 220 nigritarum, Apis 227 nigritus*, Aphelinus 367 nokomis*, Crabro 251 Nomada 323 occidentalis*, Microbembex monodonta 375 operus*, Crabro 247 opzvana*, Crabro 248 Oxybelus 179 Parasitic H., 199, 202, 216, 365, 391, 439- Pennsylvania, H. of 323, 333 Pheidole 230 Polistes 107, 387 INDEX. \\\ Preoccupied names in An- drena 42 primae state*, Bembex 378 pruinosa, Tapinoma 154 quadridens, Monobia 231 Rhopalum 258 Salius 228 Schmiedeknecht's "Die Hy- menopteren Mitteleuropas". 182 secunda*, Ichneutidea 419 semiflavus*, Aphclinus 367 skitmcri*, Nomada 323 Sleeping habit of a bee 340 South Carolina, H. of 367 Tachysphex 220 Tahiti, Bees of 466 Tapinoma 154 Termite-feeding ant 33 Texas, H. of 202,375 townsendi*, Oxybelus 180 Virginia, H. of 323,436 Winter, Male Polities sur- vive 107 z^'olcotti*, Mellinus 299 LEPIDOPTERA. Aberrations of L., 89, 191, 239, 393, 498. Aborted tails of Laertias philenor 85 agrifoliella*, Lithocolletis ... 105 ajax, Papilio 191 Alberta, L. of 108, 124 Altitude and distribution of L. 347 amicta, Natada 29 Angola, L. of 29 antiacis, Lycacna 476, 478 appassionato, Papaipema .... 150 arcuella*, Lithocolletis 107 Argynnis 108, 124 Arizona, L. of . . .69, 77, 188, 263 astarte, Argynnis 108 astcrias, Papilio 237 ausonides, EuchUic 204 Basilarchia 347, 348 bassiformis, Sesia 164 behrii, Lycacna 477, 482 British Columbia, L. of, 103, 124, 340. Burns, collection of L 404 Butterfly fakers 259 California, L. of, 13, 14, 43, 105, 149, 314, 317, 340, 476, 483- cara, Catocala 116 Carolina*, Callosainia angnli- fcra var 231 castoria, Pontia 314 catalpae, Ceratomia 197 catalpae, Dareuuna 494 Catocala 47, 54, 115, 237 catskillata*, Eupithecia 192 Cocoons, Bunched 343 Compound 89 Hanging 41 Codling moth 1 1 Color of cocoons, due to en- vironment 87 Colorado, L of ..43, 135, 263, 264 Columbia, L. of District of . . 79 conformata*, Eupithecia . . 128, 195 Connecticut, L. of 47 cresphontes, Papilio 219 cyanosparsella*, Eriocrania . . 14 cyntliia, Philosamia 391 daeckeana, Olethrentes 151 dejecta, Catocala 47 Diseases of L 189, 439 Erebia 73, 341 Erebus, 83, 190, 260, 342, 444, 495 erpata*, Eupithecia 193 Eupithecia 128, 192, 196,312 Fernald's "Genera of Tortri- cidae" 339 filmata*, Eupithecia 129, 195 fiscellaria, T henna 189 Florida, L. of 348, 388 gratulata, Mesoleuca 189 hirsuta*, Papilio philenor .... 149 Homoptera 13, 141 Vlll INDEX. Hybrids of Smcrinthus 88 Illinois, L. of 3, 346 indiana*, Heliolonche 423 Indiana, L. of 421-423 ines, Thecla 69 Inflation of larvae 9 invictella*, Rccurvana 316 Iowa, L. of 369, 493 Java, L. of 293 kearfottella*, Lithocolletis . . . 100 Lithocollctis 99 luteata, En pi the da 196 Lycaena 476 Maine, L. of 152, 260, 321, 386 malimalifoliella*, Lithocolletis 101. Manitoba*, Catocala 54 Manitoba, L. of 55 Maryland, L. of 199, 402 Massachusetts, L. of .... 194, 260 meritata*, Eupithecia 195 mexicana, Tenets 43, 135, 437 Mexico, L. of 497 Migrating butterflies 218, 388, 437- miscrulata, Eupithccia 312 Missouri, L. of 89, 115, 237, 238, 437, 498. Monuste, Pieris 388 morenella*, Gelcchia 317 multiscripta, Centra 86 myrina, Brenthis 239 New Jersey, L. of 42, 84, 86, 100, 101, 102, 104, 1 86, 1 88, 239, 289, 344, 390, 391, 392, 409-417, 443, 494. New York, L. of 129, 130, 142, 193, 194, 195, 238, 239, 347, 412, 415, 417. Nonagria 295 normani, Crocigrapha 321 nymphulalis*, Blepharomastix 263 oblonga, Nonagria 295 obsoleta, Lime nit is 69 occidentalism, Blepharomastix. 263 ochralis*, Symphysa 263 odora, Erebus 83, 190, 342 odoratus, Erebus . . . .260, 444, 495 Ohio, L. of 106, 263 oslarellus*, Crambus 264 palpata, Eupithecia 196 pamina, Hyperchiria 87 Pamphila, Early stages of. . . . 408 Papilio .... 191, 219, 237, 391, 393 parallela, Ar chips 152 Pennsylvania, L. of 142, 164, 186, 194, 195, 239, 295, 316, 328, 333, 343, 409-417, 444, 495, 496, 497 pheres, Lycaena 483 philodice, Colias 239 plagalis*, Pyrausta insequalis 263. platanoidiella*, Lithocolletis . . 106 plexippus, Anosia 218,437 polyphemns, Telea 13, 141, 393 Pupae associated with ants.. 497 pyralidiformis, Sesia 166 rubra, Sainia 34° saccharella*, Lithocolletis 104 saliciz'orella*, Lithocollctis . . 101 Saturniidae, Causes of death of 189, 439 schuylkillensis*, Plagodis 315 Sesia 3, 164 sexta, Phlegethontiiis 235 skinneri*, Anisota 77 South Carolina, L. of.... 150, 231 Strecker collection 404 Texas, L of 190, 197, 235 titan, Sesia 3 tityrus, Eudannis 191 tremuloidiella*, Lithocolletis. 102 trinotclla*, Lithocollctis 99 troilus, Papilio 219 unijuga, Catocala 115 Variation in L., 89, 189, 191, 237, 239, 391, 393- Virginia, L. of 107, 199 Wisconsin, L. of 83 xerces, Lycaena 476, 478 INDEX. IX NEUROPTERA. Aeshna 264, 301 Aeshninac, Key to wings of.. 456 americana, Halter 34 Arizona, Odonata of 45, 235 California, N. of 204 Chauliodcs 133 clara*, Oliarccs 203 Collecting Odonata, Device for 390 Colorado, N. of 455 Cordulinae, Revision of 428 Fossil Dragonfly 455 Indiana, Odonata of, 302, 305, 306 jalapensis*, Aeshna 264, 307 Massachusetts, Odonata of. . 302 Mexico, Odonata of 307, 440 Missouri, N. of 437 multicolor, Aeshna 264, 301 iinttata, Aeshna 264, 301 Neuroma 134 New Jersey, N. of, 440, 441, 443, 444- North Carolina, N. of, 50, 133, 134, 443- Oklahoma, Odonata of 433 Oliarccs* 203 Panorpidae of North Carolina 50 Pennsylvania, N. of, 335, 337, 444 Platycordulia* 431 Scorpion-flies 50 solida, Aeshna 458 Virginia, Odonata of 384 Winds and Odonate Distribu- tion 442 xanthosoma*, Platycordulia . . 432 ORTHOPTERA. Acrididae, Morse on American 35 Alberta, O. of 444 Anabrns 44 Angola, O. of 29, 30, 32 Arizona, O. of 463 California, O. of 158 carolincnsis, Catnptonotus .... 488 chlorhan*, Cyrtophyllicits .... 158 Colorado, O. of 126 Convergence in Acrididae 441 Crickets as food 29 ( 'yrlopliyllicits* 156 Florida, O. of 44 1 Fossil O. 126 Leaf-roller, Orthopterous .... 488 maciilata*, Palaeorehnia 126 Maryland, O. of 488 mcmbranaccus, Brachytrypus. 29 Migratory locust 30 mnticus, Amirogryllus 461 New Jersey, O. of 444 North Carolina, O. of 16 Novel means to destroy grass- hoppers 439 Palaeorehnia* 126 Peculiar food of grasshopper. 498 Pennsylvania, O. of 327 peregrinatoria, Schistocerca . . 30 ^'cllinani, Dacnodes 32 AUTHORS. Banks, N 203, 340, 384 Bessey, E. A 388 Beutenmiiller, W 54 Biederman, C. R 77 Blaisdell, F. E 499, 500 Bowditch, F. C 216 Bradley, J. C 94 Braun, A. F gg Brimley, C. S. ...16, io~, 134, 168 Brues, C. T 182, 363 Busck, A 316 Calvert, P. P. 45, 83, 233, 235, 308 and Index. Casey, T. L 41 Caudell, A. N 45, 463 Cockerell, T. D. A., 126, 179, 211, 234, 323, 455, 466. Cockle, J. W 341 Cooley, R. A 139 Coolidge, K. R., 13, 66, 73, 135, 204, 314, 342. INDEX. Cresson, E. T., Jr 95 Davis, J. J 143, 383 Davis, W. T 42 Doane, R. W., 5, 173, 200, 405, 438 Dod, F. IT. W 108, 124 Dow, R. P 239, 348, 440 Dm-y, C 368, 386, 389 Easton, N. S 1 14 Ely, C. R 47, 79 Engel, H 164 Englehardt, G. P 85, 142, 185 Ewing, H. E 243, 449 Fall, H. C 159 Felt, E. P 210 Fenyes, A 56 Fernald, C. H 260 Fox, C 434, 452 Freedley, W. G., Jr 289, 293 Gillette, C. P i Girault, A. A., 4, 76, 132, 197, 202, 236, 383- Greene, G. M 241 Grossbeck, J. A., 87, 88, 89, 189, ipo, 315, 392, 393, 473- Haimbach, F., 46, 186, 187, iSS, 263, 343, 344, 390, 443, 496. Hancock, J. L, 396 Headlee, T. J 435 Hebard, M 156 Holmes, F. M 493 Hooker, C. W 349 Horn, W 235 Houghton, C. 0 120, 212, 399 Howard, L. 0 365 Hungate, J. W 234 Jones, F. M 150, 231 Knetzger, A., 55, 89, 237, 238, 337, 347, 437, 498. Kunze, R. E 69 Kwiat, A 420 Laurent, P 408 Manee, A. H 286, 459 Marlatt, C. L 309 McAtee, W. L 488 McClung, C. E 449 Melander, A. L 1 1 Merrick, F. A 9 Mitzmain, M. B 353, 380, 462 Morris, E. L 149 Newcomer, E. J 204, 314 Patch, E. M 321, 484 Paxson, O. S 324 Pearsall, R. F 128, 192, 312 Pergande, T 294 Plitt, E. A 402 Porter, A. F 369 Rehn, J. A. G 37, 395 Riley, W. A 136 Rohwer, S. A., 43, 78, 179, 220, 245, 373, 417. Rowley, R. R 115 Russell, H. M 349 Russell, J 141 Saverner, P. A 218 Schaeffer, C 318 Sherman, F., Jr 50, 168 Skinner, H., 34, 44, 78, 140, 149, 181, 290, 338, 384, 385, 397, 436, 440-444, 445- 49-', 497- Slosson, A. T 424 Smith, H. S 299 Smith, J. B 13, 22 Smyth, E. A., Jr 191 Snyder, A. J 3 Snyder, H. A 147 Swett, L. W 196 Tandy, M 231 Tucker, E. S 272 Viereck, H. L 38, 42 Walton, W. R., 237, 295, 345, 464, 467. Was, E 83 Webb, J. G 82 Wellman, F. C 26, 224 Williams, F. X 14, 476 Williamson, E. B. ..264, 301, 428 Wilson, H. F 261 Wolcott, A. B 70 Wood, W. C 386 Woodworth, C. W 122 Wright, J. D. E 66 Wright, W. S 44 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY Official Organ of the Association of Economic Entomologists Editor, E. Porter Felt. Albany, N. Y. ; State Entomologist, New York Associate Editor, A. F. Burgess, Wash., D. C. ; Sec, Asso. Econ. Ent. Business Manager, E. Dwight Sanderson, Durham, New Hampshire Advertising Manager, Wilmon Newell, Baton Rogue, Louisiana ... . (L. O. Howard James Fletcher Herbert Osborn Advisory Board^ A Forbes H A Morgan H. T. Fernald A bi-monthly journal devoted to the interests of Economic Entomology, publishing the official notices and proceedings of the Association of Economic Entomologists. The best ivork in Economic Ento- mology will appear in its pages. Terms of Subscription : — In the United States, Cuba and Mexico, two dollars annually in advance ; to Canada and foreign countries, two dollars and thirty cents annually in advance. Address JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY, Durham, New Hampshire BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS FOR SALE, CHEAP — A collection consisting of nearly 3000 named specimens representing an excellent lot of interesting exotics, as well as a good series of North American species, both diurnals and nocturnals. Fred. M. Mueller, 167 Evanston Ave., Chicago, 111. Printed from the smallest type made. About 30 on a stnp. No trimming-One cat makes a label. Send Hone; Orders Orders mast be in multiples of 500, and no order will be filled for less than 500 each of 2 labels or 1,000 of one c. v. BI*ACKBUR:N, 32 chestnut St., STOIVI:II AJI, m ASS. N. B. — Labels are limited to 25 letters. Each addition letter ic. per M. co^ectors who deal with insects, pupae, butterflies and larvae from Mexico, Texas, Arizona and California paying cash. Re- garding further information, communicate with JOSEPH SEVER, 335 East 4Qth Street, New York. NOVA SCOTIAN INSECTS LEPIDOPTERA— in papers— pinned— full data given— named -in finest condition- many rare kinds 100 specimens of 70 species, $6,00 200 specimens of 140 species, $11.00 Prires include cost of transportation Mounted Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and other insects of other Orders at very k>\\ i.it<.-> JOHN RUSSELL, DIQBY, NOVA SCOTIA When Writing Please Mention " Entomological News." THE MY-SCHEERER CO. Department of Natural Science, G. LAGAI, Ph. D. 4O4 WEST 27TH STREET, NEW YORK. ENTOMOLOGICAL SUPPLIES AND SPECIMENS. The Asta Insect Cabinets. K.-S. Section Cabinets. Schmitt Insect Boxes. K.-S. Lepidoptera Boxes, Coleoptera and Duplicate Boxes K.-S. Screw Handle and American Nets. The Asta Insect Pins : White, 60c. per 1000. Black, 70c. per 1000. Catalogue II, Entomological Supplies, on Application. THE KNY SCHEERER CO. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL SCIENCE. G. LAGAI, Ph.D., 404 W. 27th Street, New York, N. Y. PARIS EXPOSITION : Eight Awards and Medals PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION: Gold Medal ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION: Grand Prize and Gold Medal ENTOMOLOGICAL SUPPLIES AND SPECIMENS North American and exotic insects of all orders in perfect condition. Single specimens and collections illustrating mimicry, protective coloration, dimorphism, collections of representatives of the different orders of insects, etc. Series of specimens illustrating insect life, color variation, etc. Metamorphoses of insects. We manufacture all kinds of insect boxes and cases (Schmitt insect boxes Lepidoptera boxes, etc.), cabinets, nets, insects pins, forceps, etc.. Riker specimen mounts at reduced prices. Catalogues and special circulars free on application. Rare insects bought and sold. When Writing Please Mention "Entomological News." Stockhausen. Printer, 53-55 N. 7th Street, Philadelphia. * . SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES 3 9088 00844 5215