U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRI^ftptjRE. BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY— BULLETl/ jfc>s{ L. O. HOWARD, Entomo MISCELLANEOUS RESULTS Sfeirf*^/ \ OF THE WORK OF THE BUREAl] OF ENTOMOLOGY. VIII. PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE EN«^M£lI t OOIST. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING 19 05 OFFICE. BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. L. O. Howard, Entomologist and Chief of Bureau. C. L. Marlatt, in charge of c.vpcvinicntul field irovk. F. H. Chittenden, in charge of breeding experiments 1 . A. D. Hopkins, in charge of forest insect in rest if/at ions. W. D. Hunter, ip charge of cottoii insect investigations. Frank Benton, in charge of apicult a ral investigations. F. M. Webster, in charge of field-crop insect in ccsligntions. A. L. Quaintance, in charge of deciduous-fruit insect investigations. E. A. Sghwarz, D. W. Coqlillett, Th. Tergande, Nathan Banks, Assistant Entomologists. R. S. Clifton, Chief Clerk. E. S. G. Titus, F. C. Pratt, August Busck, Otto Heidemann, A. N. Caudell. R. P. Currie, J. G. Sanders, F. D. Couden, Assistants. R. C. Althouse, W. F, Tastet, Mary G. Champney, A. J. Leister, E, C. Wood, T. A. Keleher, Jessie E. Marks, Stenographers and Clerks, Lillian L. Howenstein, Artist. Mabel Colcord. Librarian. W. E. Hinds. A. W. Morrill, Springer Goes, J. C. Crawford, W. A. Hooker, W. W. Y others, A- C. Morgan, W. D. Pierce, F. C. Bishopp, C. R. Jones, Wilmon Newell. E. C. Sanborn. E. S. Hardy, R. C. Howell, engaged in cotton insect investigations. J. L. Webb, H. E. Burke, W. F. Fiske, J, F. Strauss, engaged in forest insect ' investigations.' . ~~ J. M. Rankin, Leslie Martin, E. F. Phillips', in apicultural in rest i- gM0Lf a thorough study of 1 1 1 i > insect. It may be in time a dangerous enemy to cotton cultivation in Texas, and possibly in other near-by State- in which it also occurs. The sugar-beet crown borer has not previously been detected injuring sugar beet or other useful plants. The dock false-worm, considered in the next article, is also new as a pest, as is the pepper weevil, so far a> regards published rec- ords. Everything points to the accidental introduction of the weevil from Mexico. The article on cold storage for COWpeas is of value for obvious reasons, one of which is that the experiments reported have been conducted over a considerable period and the cost of this method of treating seeds has been definitely ascertained; it is also shown that the vitality of the seed is not injured by treatment. The larger canna leaf-roller and pond-lily leaf-beetle have been unusually destructive during the year, and have not previously been treated in any publica- tions of this Department. The report on the grasshopper conditions of the Wesl -how - that grasshoppers have been, on the whole, very much less destructive during the year L904 than is usual. It also (3) 4 demonstrates the value of remedies, which are more effective when the insects are not overabundant, and should then be practiced as a means of limiting injurious occurrences in the immediate future. The article entitled " Collective Notes on the Behavior of the Colo- rado Potato Beetle in Great Britain" indicates that this Ameri- can insect does not now exist in England, but that it is capable of flourishing to a remarkable degree on the Continent. Some interest- ing facts in regard to the use of hydrocyanic-acid gas as a remedy for indoor insects have been gained during the year, a portion of which are embodied in an article and a note in this series. During the year Mr. Frederick Maskew, of California, has cooperated with this office in several investigations, two of which are made public — one on the subject of Fuller's rose beetle and the other on the success of an intro- duced ladybird beetle. Among general notes are short accounts of a very injurious caterpillar enemy of velvet bean in Florida, an instance of the complete destruction of the imported cabbage worm by para- sites, and other notes of minor interest. Respectfully, L. O. Howard, Entomologist and Chief of Bureau} Hon. James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture. C ( I X T E X T S . Page. Thk S('(iAK-< ANE Beetle (Liai/nts rufficepa Lee), with Notks on Asso- ciated Species (illustrated) K. S. (!. Titus 7 BbPOET on a MEXICAN Cotton Pest, the " Conchuela " (Pvnttttomtt Hgota&kj) (illustrated) ..-1. W. Morrill 18 Thk Sr< J a r-heet ( 'kown-ikikkk (Hn/stra it lalulateUa Clemens) (illus- trated) E. S. O. Titus. . 34 Thk Dock False -woum (Tu.rmuis n i(jrismiiu Nort. i, F. II. Chittenden and P. 8. (1. Titus. 40 Thk Pkppkb Wkkvm. [Anthonomtu oeneotinchu Champ.) (illustrated). C. M. Walker 43 Cold BlOBAOl for COWPEAS (illustrated) ../. W. T. hunt 49 Thk Lakokk ('anna Lkat-ROLLEB [Calpodes ethliue Cram. ) (illustrated). F. If. ( fhUtenden . 54 Thk Pond-uly Lk a k-ukktlk (CkderueeUa nymphceat Linn.) (illustrated). F. ll. ( %ittenden . 58 GRASSHOPPER ( 'ONDITIONS IN Nf.HRASKA. NORTHl VSTI KN ( 'oLORADO, WYO- MING. Montana, and Wkstkrv Kansas diking thk Simmkr OF 1 904. Lawrence Bruner 60 COLLECTIVE NoTES ON THK BkHAVIoR oK THK CoLoRADO PoTATO BKKTLK in Great Britain Fred. V. Theobald 65 An EXPERIMENT with HtdROOTAMIO-AjOID Gas as a Rkmkdv FOB thk Cigarette Bkbtlb in Dwellings F. ll. Chittenden and F. C. Pratt 68 Notks on Filler's Rosk Bebtli in L904. Fdk. Masketo.. 70 The Giant Sugar-Cank Borkr {Castnia licua Fab.) (illustrated). C. L. Marlatt 71 General Notes Reported Success of an Introduced Ladybird Scale Enemy in California (p. 7.")); Locusts. Malaria, and Mosquitoes in the Transvaal (p. 70): The Caterpillar of Anticarsia tjem mat His Hbn.. Injuring Velvet Bean (p. 77); An Instance of Complete Parasitism of the Imported Cabbage Butterfly (p. 79); Spread of the Mediterranean Flour Moth in Pennsylvania (p. 80): Tnsaock Caterpillars in Florida (p. 80); A Squeaking Sphinx Caterpillar (p. 80); A Jumping Gall (p. 84); The Great Elm Leaf-beetle (Monoeesta coryli Say) (p. 81); The Malodorus Carabid, Nomius pygmoBUS Dej., in Oregon (p. 83); Re- ported Occurrence of the Asparagus Beetle in California (p. 83); The Scientific name of the Plum Gouger— a Correction (p. 83); Unusual Food-plants for the Squash Ladybird {Epilach na boreal is Fab. ) (p. 84) ; Notes on Orthoptera Collected on Sugar Beets in 1904 (p. 85) ; A Mexican Kissing Bug (p. 80) ; Hydrocyanic-acid Gas Against the Bed- bug (p. 86); Singular Increase of " Lerp"' on Trees of the "Yellow Box" {Eucalyptus melliodora) (p. 87): A Red Spider on Cotton (p. 87); Some Sugar-cane Insects (p. 88); Some Observations on Kansas Insects (p. 88); Some Local Names for Common Insects (p. 89). (5) ILLUSTRATIONS PLATES. Page. Plate I. Fig. 1. — Anthonomus oeneotinctus: weevil, work, and pupa in situ. Fig. 2. — Work of pepper weevil, showing punctures, larva in situ, and exit hole 46 H. Fig. 1. — Weevil-eaten cowpeas kept under trade conditions. Fig. 2. — Cowpeas from cold storage - 50 III. Fig. 1. — Cowpeas in cold storage from March 7, 1903, to May 1, 1903, after which time they were stored in the Seed Labora- tory. Fig. 2. — Cowpeas in cold storage from March 7, 1903, to November 1, 1904 ... 50 IV. Cant nia licus: stages and details 72 TEXT FIGURES. Fig. 1. Ligyrus rugiceps: cane, showing injury 9 2. Ligyrus rugiceps: corn, showing injury . 10 3. Ligyrus rugiceps: larva 12 4. Ligyrus rugiceps: stubble cane, showing feeding place of larva 13 5. Chalepus trachypygus: beetle, larva and details 14 6. Erax lateralis: fly. larva, puparium. and details 16 7. Pentatoma ligata: adult and eggs 21 8. Pentatoma ligata: supposed work on cotton boll 29 9. Hulstea undulatella: adult and larva 35 10. Hulstea undulatella: longitudinal section of injured beet 36 11. Hulstea undulatella: upper portion of injured beet 37 12. Exorista pyste . 39 13. Chelonus iridescens 39 14. Spilochalcis torvina 40 15. Taxonus nigrisoma: larva, cocoon, and adult 41 16. Anthonomus oeneotinctus: weevil, much enlarged 44 17. Bruchus obtectus, B. chinensis, and B. guadrimaculatus 49 18. Calpodes ethlius: adult, larva, and pupae - 55 19. Galerucella nymphcece: adult - - 59 20. Anticarsia gemmatilis: moth, larva, and details. 78 (<;) SOME MISCELLANEOUS RESULTS OF THE WORK OF THE BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. \ nr. THE SUGAR-CANE BEETLE. ( lAffifi im i iniicrps Lee ) [ Wit h nntrs on ass the growing of this crop and turned their energies t<> rice cultivation. This was especially true along the Mis- sissippi River north of New Orleans ami at some points along the Southern Pacific Railroad. Prom i^ s " until the present time there have been many reports of injury caused by this beetle (and some other closely related species) to sugar cane, corn, and other crop-. Throughout Louisiana, Missis- sippi, ami other Southern State-, and even SO tar north as North Carolina in the east and Iowa in the west, have come reports of a beetle that "eat- into the plant to the heart." The injury to corn in the north is usually caused by Ligyrus gibbosus DeG., a species very closely related to the sugar-cane hectic. The reports of injury to sugar cane appear to l»e on the increase throughout the sugar-cane growing States, doubtless partially owing to the fact that consider- able new land is each year being opened for cultivation and also to the fact that the planters are beginning to notice more closely when the\ see their crops suddenly cut down. Under instructions from the entomologist, two trips were made by the writer in L904 to Louisiana to study the life history of this in- sect — one in April and May and the other in the latter part of Octo- ber, when the cane harvesting was in progress. An investigation of the 1880 outbreak was made by Dr. L. O. How- ard in the spring of that year, his report being published as Special Keport Xo. 58 of the Department of Agriculture, and later appearing in the report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for 1880. a In this report there i> given a very complete account of the history of the "1881: Rept Comm. Agile f. 1S80, pp. 236-240. (T) 8 beetle as known at that time, its method of attack, and some sugges- tions regarding remedies. The sugar-cane beetle measures from one-half to five-eighths of an inch (15 to 18 mm.) in length, is jet black above and black and piceous beneath; head roughly shagreened; thorax with minute rather sparse punctures; elytra with longitudinal stria 1 and many small punctures; thorax and elytra polished and shining; on each wing cover near the tip a smooth, slightly elevated prominence, be- yond which the elytra are abruptly truncate; abdomen projecting slightly beyond the tips of the elytra. The legs are coarsely spined, the front tibia? being broad and armed with four large, broad teeth. This species can be readily separated from the rice beetle (Ohalepus trachypygus Burm.) by its smaller size and more parallel sides. The rice beetle is more rounded across the thorax and elytra. The carrot beetle {Ligyrus gibbosus DeG.) is distinguished readily by the under side of the abdomen being quite densely covered with reddish hair. HABITS AND METHOD OF ATTACK. At the time of the first trip in 1904 much of the sugar cane was from 10 to 18 inches high. The previous season had been rather unfavorable, owing to excessively dry weather, and in some fields the * cane was sprouting poorly. Plant cane continued to sprout and push through the ground until late in June, and many of the buds on mother cane that were examined in April and May had died from lack of sufficient moisture. During the four Aveeks of the first trip the principal cane-growing regions of Louisiana were visited, special attention being paid to plantations at Olivier, Berwick, Morgan City, Broussard, and St. James. At all places visited the beetle was found injuring cane severely. In some of the districts it was reported that this was the first year there had been serious injury, but most of the planters interviewed stated that they had had more or less loss from the beetles for several years. Those who had been raising cane for long periods could recall records of injuries at varying intervals for the past forty- live or fifty years. Especial injury Avas reported to have occurred in 1884, 1880, 1876, 1872, and once before the civil war— about 1856-5.7. At times, in some areas, almost the entire cane and corn crops had been cut down. This past year (1904) the beetles commenced work on the cane before the tips had appeared above the ground and continued until early in July to do serious damage. The injury to corn began as soon as the corn appeared above ground, whole fields being, in many ca BS, completely laid bare; and even the second planting was destroyed. 9 The injury is usually made a few inches below the surface of the ground, in cane generally 1 or 2 inches above the base of the stalk. FlG. 1. — Ligyru* rugiceps: cane show-ins? injury — one-half natural size (original). The depth below the surface of the ground of course depends much upon the previous treatment of the cane and the amount of dirt 10 thrown up by the early cultivations. The beetles cut a horizontal burrow into the growing stalk until they reach the center, the center roll of leaves usually being cut through. The coarser fibers of the outer sheaths are shredded away with the mandibles and front tarsi, the latter being used more especially to pull away the stringy fibers after they have been cut loose at one end. As soon as the hole is large enough for the head and a portion of the thorax, the beetle uses the middle legs as braces while it cuts its way deeper into the stalk (fig. 1). Some instances were noticed where small and tender shoots had been entirely cut through and in a few cases shoots that stood against a larger stalk had been cut through, the beetle continu- ing its work into the next stalk. The beetles seemed indifferent to the size of the stalk attacked, larger older shoots being injured as often as the small tender ones, even when growing in the same clump of cane. The effect on the shoots is very different from that on the older stalks, the latter sometimes recovering from the injury if not too severe, while the former soon wilt, the center leaves dying first. On account of the beetles* habit of working underground it was found very difficult to determine the length of time necessary to cut a hole to the center of the stalk. One beetle was seen to enter the ground, and twenty minutes later it had reached the center of a a stalk three-fourths of an inch in diameter, as was readily de- termined by pulling out the cen- tral core of leaves. At times stalks containing several partially completed and one complete burrow are to be found. Usually but one rutting is made on a stalk, and, if this reaches through the cen- tral core of rolled leaves, the shoot quickly dries up and in a few days falls to the ground. When examined, the point at which the Cutting was made now appears decayed, and in and on the rolled leaves in the interior may often be found small dipterous larva' feed- ing on the fermenting and decaying cane or corn. Corn is attacked in the same manner as cane (fig. 2), but the injury i- usually closer to the base of the stalk and more disastrous in its Fig. 2. —Ligyrus rugiceps: corn showing injury (after Comstock). n effect^ since corn rarely sucker- when thus cut back. On grass, on account of it- -mall diameter, the beetles nearly always sever the attacked stem. Lira HISTORY. The female beetle does not appear to attack the -talk, primarily at least, for the purpose of obtaining food, bul in order that the cane may be deadened and the root- may -often and decay SO as to afford a place for the young Larvae to live and feed. The female, after cut- king the hole in the -talk. blirrOWS down among the young rootlets alongside the stalk, sometimes going beneath the old stalks of mother cane, and there deposits an egg. It was not possible to ascertain the number of eggs laid by a single hectic. LTnder natural conditions the beetles appear t<» always lay the egg after having made the cut in the stalk. I fsually DUl one egg was found for each cut in a cane stalk, l>ut some instances were discovered where there were two or more and in one case ten. The case where the ten eggs were found was in stubble cane, a large clump having hut a single sprout growing From it. Some stalks were found that had been attacked by hectics as many as six time-, and in one there were four of the cuts that reached to the center or beyond. No attempt wa- made to ascertain the exact number of eggs contained in the ovaries of the female, hut from those examined I should judge it would exceed a hundred. Eggs of this beetle were first found in the ground April 28, hut the size of young larVffi present ;it that time in the cane fields -which I could not. distinguish from those later hatched from the cane beetle eggs — would -how that the egg-laying period begins much earlier. The egg of Ligyrus rugiceps i- pure white, shining, smooth, pol- ished, globular, o.7r> mm. in diameter, and doe- not appear to differ from the egg of Ohdlepus trachypygus, Ligyrus gibbosus, or Cyclo- <■< l>lmlj>s and one of L. gibbosus were found in earthen cells at Olivier and St. James. Adults are not usu- ally common in the fields in October, but a few may be found in the soil of fields that have shown the most injury the previous spring, pome being in earthen cells, others in (he loose soil. A few adults were also found in the soil at the bases of clumps of " Grand Marais " grass (Pa8pahtm dilataturn ). Adults did not appear at lights at any time in October and very rarely in the spring, nor were they seen Fig. 3. — Ligyrus rugiceps: larva slightly en- larged; b, leg; r, face view of head, more en- larged (original ). bases of growing cane stalks. Quite a number of the larvae are now in our breeding cages in Washington (April 1), but none have as yet transformed. Many of those dug out of the cane fields in October had formed earthen cells of considerable solidity and were evidently full grown. These cells were usually placed 5 to 6 inches below the surface and often close to the canes. A few were found in the mother cane. Some were dis- covered at the summit of stubble L3 flying in the daytime in the fields, as was the rice beetle. In April •and May collections of beetles wining to light were made at Morgan Fig. 4. — LUjynns nujicvps: stubble caue showing feeding place of larva— two-thirds natural size (original). 14 City, on the shores of Atchafalaya River, Berwick, Olivier, St. James, Donaldson ville, Lafayette, New Iberia, and St. Charles in Louisiana, and at Beaumont in Texas. The percentage of cane beetles coming to light was extremely small when compared with. (7 'halejms trachypygus, the rice beetle. In the fields in the spring practically no rice beetles occurred, while at lights fully 90 per cent of the beetles belonged to this species. The remaining percentage was divided among Hydrophilida?, Lachnosterna, and the sugar-cane beetle, Ligy- rus (jibbosus was rarely seen at lights, and not over 3 per cent of the beetles were L. rugiceps. OTHER SPECIES OCCURRING IN FIELDS. FlG. 5. -Chalepus trachypygus: a, beetle; ft, larva, natural size; e, iiruler side of head in detail, enlarged (after Comstock). Of the other white grub larva3 occurring in the cane fields in early spring and summer, the most common appears to be that of Cyclo- cephala immaculata 01. The adult of this species is a much smaller beetle, pale in color, and with dark markings. Nearly full-grown larvae were found not uncommonly in the fields in April and May. They occur at the bases of the stubble cane and be- neath grass roots along the margins of the fields. It may be this species that is reported as cutting suckers of the cane late in the summer. The in- jury is reported to be of nearly the same character as that of the cane beetle, but the holes are smaller. Adults appeared in our breeding cages in Washington early in July and laid their eggs freely in rich soils. The eggs hatched from six to fifteen days after deposition, the white grubs at once forming tiny cells in the soil and within twelve hours beginning to show traces of soil in their intestinal tracts. It is quite probable that the eggs in nature are laid in the same gen- eral way as those of Ligyrus rugiceps, but since the species appears so late in the year there will rarely be sufficient damage to cause rem- edies to be sought for other than those later on recommended for the sugar-cane beetle. It is probable that the rice beetle does some damage to the cane field-, especially in the rice regions, where it occurs in enormous numbers. Very rarely was it found in the spring, in the soil around the cane, or cutting cane, as was the cane beetle. Eggs were twice found that apparently belonged to this species, but they could not in the lield be distinguished Prom those of (he Ligyrus. Attempts to 15 get eggs from adults in captivity were unsuccessful, but eggs, appar- ently fully developed, were dissected from these beetles. Ligyrus gibbosus occurs in the fields, but not commonly. It was bred from larvae found beneath young cotton plants in recently manured soil. It was also noticed in a few instances cutting cane. It- eggs are a trifle smaller than those of the supir-cane beetle and are placed in the same positions about the roots of the cane. Adults bred from the cotton fields emerged early in May from pupae formed in captivity about ten days previous. In the northern part of Louis- iana this specie- ha- at time- been very destructive to corn in early spring, ami it- ravages in the northern corn States are well known. At time- it occur- in truck gardens and will doubtless he found breed- ing wherever the soil is enriched sufficiently with stable manure. ENEMHBS. Birds. — Blackbirds may he considered as one of the most efficient enemies of white grubs throughout the South. Unfortunately, how- ever, they are becoming each year more scarce in many parts of Louisiana, owing to the fact that the da— of immigrants now coming into the State a- plantation laborers are constantly, in their spare time, on the outlook for birds, and especially all -mall birds, for use as food. Iu the evenings I have several times noticed Laborers com- ing home from a hunt with blackbirds, quad, sparrows, and other small birds. None of these seem t<> come ami-- for food and the direct result is rather bard on the bird population. Inseets. Cocoon- of a hymenopterous parasite, probably a species of Tiphia. were found in the cell- of a Cyclocephala and a Ligyrus in a few held- at Olivier, and in Several places in cell- of white - beneath the roots of Grand Maraia grass. But one specimen was bred out. and tin- was too badly damaged to admit of iden- tification. Dipterous larva; (Erax lateralis Macq.) (fig. 6>), were not uncom- mon at several places in the sugar-cane region. These usually Occurred at the base of Stubble cane or in decaying mother cane, hut a few were found among grass root-. In almost every instance there were found with them either injured white-grub larvae or portions of the harder remains of such larvae or pupae. From nearly full-grown larvae taken in the spring there emerged, during the latter part of June and early July, several specimens of a predaceous fly deter- mined by Mr. Coquillett as Kra.r lateralis Macq. The full-grown larvae are about 20 to 25 mm. long, very slender, shining white, with darker spiracles and a dark chitinous head. The puparia are dee]) brown in color, the spines being almost black. Adult flies vary considerably in size, being from -JO to 28 mm. in length; the thorax is dark brown, more or less covered with a gray 16 pubescence; abdomen black, shining, with a narrow band of gray hairs at tip of first segment, sometimes interrupted in the middle; second and third segments with apical triangular gray patches at sides; anal segments pale or covered with pale pubescence; the other seg- ments may have gray patches on the sides. Adults of this fly were not uncommonly taken in October, and were at that time seen cap- turing wild bees of several species and an unidentified butterfly. They are very swift, fliers. Small dipterous larvas, found in the fall in the cane fields with injured larva? of white grubs and in cells made for pupation, will doubtless prove to be this same species. Fig. 6. — Erax lateralis: a, adult; b, face view of head of adult; c, larva; d, head of larva; e, puparium — all enlarged (original). Several carabid larvae were seen in the fields feeding upon young white grubs, but none were reared to maturity. REMEDIES. Cultural remedies. — These will doubtless prove to be most suc- cessful. Doctor Howard, in his report on this insect in 1880, advised postponing the planting of infested fields until spring. This will prove to be one of the best remedies, especially on the higher, lighter soils. On two large plantations at Broussards it was suggested by the writer that the owners " offbar " the cane in April and May and keep the dirt away from it as late as possible. This suggestion was 17 also tried at St. James <>n a portion of one plantation. The other fields on this plantation were handled in the ordinary manner. The offbarred stubble-cane yielded from 15 to 17 tons, while that handled in the ordinary way was yielding from 8 to 12 tons per acre, and much of this was of a rather poor grade. The offbarred cane suckered well. mikI (lie suckers grew well and were not nearly SO badly injured ;i- those growing on the other cane. Mi-. Leche, at St. dame-, put in a few acres of cane in the fall of L904, but will plant most of his cane in the spring. This will give him opportunity to thoroughly clean the -talk- and also to -til- the -oil in the spring and disturb the beetles that are hibernating or the pupa; of those not yet fully devel- oped. No tall cane was put in on one Large plantation at Broussards, while at most of the other places visited the planter- have planted as much cane thi- past fall a- the season would allow. It i- the custom on many plantations to allow the trash to remain on the field as it fall- from the knives at the time of cutting. Thi- i- plowed under, either in the fall or the next spring, and the plant cane thus gets the full benefit. It serves, however, a- an admirable hiding place through the winter for all kinds of insects that are present in the field-, and even when plowed under Serves the -aiue plirpo-e for other insects that prefer to go beneath the soil for winter. It i- the genera] practice to follow stubble-cane with corn. Some planters, however, are -till attempting to run stubble-cane for two or three year- before making the change. Cornfields that follow second or third year stubble suffer a much greater percentage of injury than those following <>nly first-year stubble. Where plant-cane was injured badly it was found that the cane had been laid in the same row- that were in corn the previous year, the furrow- being cut out down the corn row. the cane- laid in. and then dirt, stubble, and trash turned back over them. In any of the plans used, there is bound to be more or le-s trash buried with the cane at the time of planting, and often three successive layer- of decaying vegetable matter are found, the two lower of which are scarcely disturbed throughout the year. It will readily be seen that thi- affords an ideal place for the breed- ing of white grubs of all kinds, as well as the larva 1 of several other insects. The headlands and road-ides in the held- almost invariably con- tain grass -od. sometimes sufficient to enable quite a cutting to be made for hay. In thi- sod were found the larva? of several specie- of white grub-, wireworms. and root worm-, all of which are injurious to corn or cane in either the larval or adult stage or both. It would appear that some such simple remedies as the following would materially aid in reducing the ravages of these insects, espe- cially that of the sugar-cane beetle: Clean culture of headlands, 28739— No. 54— Oo M L> 18 ditch banks and roadsides; burning oft' in the fall of all trash on stubble field — both corn and cane ground ; thorough cleaning of cane before planting; running no second or third year stubble, and offbar- ring stubble-cane as late in the spring as the weather Avill allow. Hand-picking of the beetles in the spring was quite successfully employed by one planter. Children were paid small sums to follow the " hoe gangs " and plows and pick up the beetles turned out. While further studies on the life history and habits of this insect are necessary and desirable, there are some points in its con- trol which will readily be evident. One of the most important of these is the disturbing of the grubs in the ground after freezing weather sets in. Rather deep fall plowing will turn them out and kill many, and if this is followed by a heavy harrow many more will be destroyed. Planters in almost all the districts visited have stated that this would also be of advantage to the soil. REPORT ON A MEXICAN COTTON PEST, THE " CONCHUELA." (Pentatoma ligata Say.) By A. W. Morrill. INTRODUCTION. A report reached the Bureau of Entomology in March, 1904, to the effect that a considerable falling off in the cotton crop for the season of 1903, on a large plantation in the Laguna district of Mexico, was believed to be due to the work of an insect. It Avas desired that the matter be investigated by this Bureau, owing to the possibility of obtaining information of value in connection with the study of cotton pests in the United States. The writer was consequently detailed to visit the plantation, the headquarters of which are at Tlahualilo, State of Durango, Mexico, and to ascertain if an insect was concerned in the reduction of the yield of cotton for the previous season. At this plantation can be seen probably the most extensive con- tinuous cotton fields in the world, covering from 25,000 to ?>0,000 acres of laud very nearly level, and comprising a portion of an old lake bed, with line alluvial soil, the great fertility of which would be almost entirely unavailable but for water which conies through irri- gation ditches from the Nazas River, some 40 miles distant. Sur- rounding the many thousand acres of cultivated lands is a desert, the principal vegetation of which consists of scattered mesquite trees. At the time of the writer's first visit (March 7 to 10) there was absolutely no green vegetation on the estate', except a few cactus plants in the outlying uncultivated portions, thousands of poplar trees growing along the banks of the irrigation canals, and a few ornamental trees and shrubs growing about the offices and living quarters of the managers. 19 The decrease in yield per acre of planta (planted) cotton on this plantation for the season of 1902-3 as compared with the average yield per acre amounted approximately to one-third bale, or a total in round numbers of (>.00O bales. The resident manager of the plantation ascribed a considerable part of this difference to lack of water for irrigation at the most advantageous times on certain parts of the estate. In the cotton fields an examination of various portions indicated that fully 10 or 15 per rent of all the bolls had been ren- dered valuless by some agency. A conservative estimate would place the loss on this plantation at between 1,200 and 1,500 bales. The resident manager of the plantation believed this injury to the bolls to have been caused by ;i bug which occurred in abundance on the cotton plant- the previous season. Fragments of several pentatomid bu Pentatoma ligata Say. The injured bolls showed no boll weevil attack and Less than 1 per cent of injury which could be traced to the bollworm. Specimens of the insecJ believed to bave caused the injury during the previous season were senl to the writer in duly, and an accom- panying letter from the resident manager stated that the bugs had appeared in the cotton fields for the first time in the season. It was impossible, however, to again visit the locality until several weeks after these specimens were received* The second visit to Tlahualilo was from A.ugin4 30 to September s . L904, and it was during this period that the observations recorded in this paper were made on the life history and habit- of the insect believed by many to have occa- sioned damage to the cotton crop of a single plantation amounting to many thousands of dollars. HISTORY. The species is known to the native- of Mexico, more especially in the northern part of the country, by the name of " conchuela." a Spanish word, meaning M Little shell.' 5 That thi^ species should have received a common name and that it should be so generally known among the cotton growers and laboring classes in the leading cotton-producing district in Mexico, indicates in itself that it has long been a common pest in the cotton fields. The specie- was first described in 1831, but, while mentioned in entomological literature several times since, the writer is unable to find mention of it as a pest, 6 except for a few ■ The yield of seppa. or zoca cotton as it is known in the Laguua, is not here considered, as it receives only surplus water varying in amount from year to year. & Doctor Fitch referred to what he supposed to he this species feeding on juniper and grape in New York State, hut it seems prohahle that his insect was /'. juniperma Linn. See footnote, page 20. 20 allusions to it in the newspapers in the summer of 1004 as being de- structive to cotton in Mexico. Several specimens of Pentatoma ligata were received by this Bureau in August, 190-2. from Doctor Duges, taken at San Pedro de la Golonia, Coahuila, Mexico. The labels bear the inscription, " Injuring cotton." DISTRIBUTION. The original description of Pentatoma ligata, by Thomas Say." was based on a specimen from Missouri. Uhler h notes that the species occurs in Missouri and Texas, doubting the statement of Fitch c that it occurs in New York. Herrich-Schaeffer d described what is now generally considered Say's species under the name of Gimex rufo- cinctns, from specimens from Mexico, and Kouchakevitch e described specimens from " Russian America," under the name of Cimex rufo- marginatus, which Van Duzee f places as a synonym of P. ligata. Smith" records P. ligata Say as occurring, though "rare." at Cald- well, X. J. Van Duzee f says of the distribution of this species: "P. ligata ranges from Mexico northward through the Rocky Mountains to Vancouver Island, and apparently still farther north to Alaska." In the collections of the Bureau of Entomology and of the United States National Museum are specimens bearing locality labels, as follows: Pecos, N. M. (Ckll), July IT, 1903; Los Angeles, Cal. (Co- quillett) ; Arizona: San Diego, Texas (Schwarz) ; Abilene, Texas (Morrill). Nov. 8, 1904; Tlahualilo, Dgo., Mexico (Morrill). Sept. 3, 1904; San Pedro de la Colonia, Coahuila, Mexico (Dr. Duges), Inj. cotton, Aug. 12, 1902. DESCRIPTION. The egg. — Diameter about 0.9 mm. and height about 1.2 mm. There are three distinct parts of the egg which may be termed body or lower part, neck or intermediate part, and the lid or cap. The last- named portion usually remains attached by a hinge after the hatch- ing of the young. The body, the height of which is about two-thirds a Description of New Species of Heteropterous Hemiptera of North America, 1831. ''Say's Entomology of North America, Vol. I. p. 315. r The following references to /'. ligata by Fitch and subsequent writers seem to refer to /'. juniper ina Linn.: Pitch, Aim. Report N. V. State Agric-. Soe., No. ."», p. 389, No. t. p. 748 ; Packard, Guide, p. 54G, 1869; (Hover. .Manuscript Notes from My Journal, p. .*!<), 1876; Provancher, Petite 1 Fauna Entom&bgique du Canada Hemlpteres [II, pp. 11 12, 1886; Jantnor. Fourth Report State Ent, p. :r>. 1888, Tenth Report State Fait., p. 432, 1895. i Wanzewartigen Insecten, p. 94, 1839. ' Nor. Soc Ent. Rossicae, Vol. I v. p. 99, is»',7. f Tr.-ins. Am. Ent. Soc. Vol. XXX, |». H. 1904. ?Cat ins. N. J., p. 120, 1900. 21 of that.of the entire egg, is subcylindrical, being constricted in the middle, rounded more <>r Less at the lower end. and at the upper abruptly curving inward to inert the neck. The width of the neck on the side (dorsal) opposite the hinge of the cap is about one-sixth of the entire height of the egg, and on the ventral side about one- third ;i> wide as on the dorsal side. On the upper margin of the neck are pure white blunt processes, numbering as a rule 22. The cap is subcorneal, diameter at base two-third- of diameter of body of egg, height one-fourth or one-fifth the diameter of base, apex rounded <>r Bomewhat flattened. The appearance of the egg is affected by trans- lucent and opaque areas, which seem t<> be due t<> the absence and pres- ence n leases; r, ej;y jast ho fore emer- k'enre (if nyiii|ih ; ir. except those on the outside, being in contact with six others. 22 Nymphs. — As only three of the five nymph stages were observed and described by the writer, it has seemed advisable not to publish at this time a technical description of any stages except the ego- and adults. A brief description follows, which will suffice to give a gen- eral idea of the appearance of the immature stages. The newly hatched nymph appears to the naked eye entirely black, but under a lens the abdomen is seen to be very dark slate-colored, with light spots on the lateral margins and a pair of shining black tubercles at the middle of the second and third abdominal segments above. This stage is about 1 mm. in length and nearly as broad as long; the head is appressed, making the broadly oval outline almost unbroken; the dorsum is rounded, giving the insect the appearance of a minute turtle. The next two stages are much alike, with reddish or orange border on thorax and abdomen, thorax otherwise black, head black, abdomen sometimes entirely black, but more often dark violaceous with black punctures. The fourth and fifth stages — al- though as stated above not seen by the writer — are without much doubt characterized by a general black, violaceous, or olivaceous black color with a reddish or orange border to the thorax and abdomen as in the first three instars. Also reasoning from what takes place in other pentatomids, without exception as far as known the wing pads first make their appearance in the fourth stage as backward-curving extensions of the sides of the mesonotum, not reaching the posterior margin of the metanotum. In the fifth or last nymph instar of all pentatomids observed by the writer, includ- ing representatives of three genera, the wing pads extend to the middle or slightly be} r ond the middle of the third abdominal segment. Adult. — The original description of the adult of P. ligata by Say is as follows : P. ligata. Dull olive green, external edge sanguineous. Inhabits Missouri. Body olive green, rather dull; continently punctured; antenna black; second joint rather longer than the third; thorax, lateral margin sanguineous passing to yellowish on its inner side; seutel at tip bright sanguineous; heinelytra san- guineous on the lateral margin nearly to middle, abdomen on the lateral margin from Hie middle to the tip sanguineous; beneath tinged with yellow on the pectus; 1'eet greenish, yellowish at base. Length, eleven-twentieths of an inch. Presented to me by Nuttall as .1 native of Missouri. The edge of the head is not reddish. The top of the head is more closely set with punctures than the I horax and is quite black in all (he specimens I have seen ; when there is an olivaceous or pale tinge it is scarcely noticeable. The basal joint of the antenna' is sometimes, but not always, pah 1 . The eyes may be entirely black, or, as sometimes occurs, the outer rows of facets are olivaceous or more rarely slightly reddish. The under 23 side of the head is more or less pale or bright olivaceous. The lateral margin of the pronotum is acutely carina ted. The ground color of the body above, while usually m dull olive green, may have a slight purplish tinge. Lateral margin of prothorax above and below and the basal third to the basal two-third- of the costal margin of the wing coriuin varies in color from dull yellowish to bright crimson; among the specimens seen by the writer the brighter shades being the more common. The tip of the scutellum corresponds in color t<> that on the margin of the thorax. In some specimens the legs are entirely black, but in most specimens there i- more or less green- ish or olivaceous on the coxa?, trochanters, and bases of the femora. The lateral margins of the abdominal segments above and below are colored Like the margin of the thorax. The wing membrane- are fuscous. The renter is quite variable in color, sometime- almost black, but more commonly olivaceous. One specimen at hand ex- hibits distinct purplish spots at the base of the prothoracic legs, another with a wry large olivaceous venter ha- a pair of large light- green spots, one on each side of the middle, on the venter of the sec- ond, and a pair on the venter of the third abdominal segment. In all specimens -ecu the Stigmata are paler than the surrounding area and not black, a- in Cirnex tu fomarginatus A. Kouch., which Van Duzee place- a- a synonym of /'. ligata. The length given by Say. equaling about 1 I mm., is within a frac- tion of a millimeter the average of ten specimens at hand, which range from L3 to 1 1! nun. The greatest width of the prothorax in the same lot varies from 6.75 to 7.50 nun., averaging about 7.25 mm. FOOD PLANTS. Besides Doctor Fitch's mention of /'. ligata feeding on grape and hemlock, which, as I have indicated in the footnote on page 20, prob- ably refers to another species, I am unable to find any reference in scientific Literature to the food plant- of this insect. Specimens in the collections of the Ibireau of Entomology and of the National Museum show it to have been taken on cotton at Abilene. Tex.; Tla- hualilo, DurangO, Mexico; and San Pedro de la Colonia, Coahuila, Mexico. Mi-. John Conduit and other- connected w ith the TIahualilo Agricultural Company believe the insect identical with one which occurs in more or less abundance on mesquite tree-, feeding princi- pally on the bean. In confinement adults fed on steins of mesquite Leaves and also on the berry of the China tree {.]/f these observations a male was ob- served courting a female, and later in the same afternoon, in a brief stop in a field, two pairs of the bugs were seen copulating. During the last three day- -pent in investigating this insect many pairs were found mating< The reason for the reappearance of the mating instinct was not apparent. Messrs. Conduit and Vaughan, both in lie' employ of the Tlahnalilo Company, assert that live or six weeks earlier in the season the adults were frequently seen copulating on the cotton plant-. LIFE HISTORY AND HABITS. AIKI.TS. Methods* — Owing to the scarcity of the bugs during the investiga- , tion and to the ease with which they can be detected when present, the plan of tagging bolls and plants in the field and making record- twice a day. was found to ^ r ive L r <>od results. Some observation- were made with adult- in confinement in tumblers, and with others con- fined in large wire screens in the field-. Feeding habits* — The adult- seem to he able to detect food from a distance, though this point was not definitely determined. In each of three ( - ;i -e- when an adult escaped from a cage out of door- in a lield where the plants were widely separated, it was afterward found on the plant nearest in it- direction from the cage; in other words, the butems. 10. The bugs were recorded resting on boll- in the field ten time-: on the leaf, once: and on the stem, once. The bolls are undoubtedly preferred on account of the rich juice of the seed which the insect is able to reach (except probably in the older boll- with well-matured lint ) by means of its mouth -eta*. The examination of many bolls show- that the immature seeds are the objective points of the insect's attack. A preference is almost invariably shown for bolls growing near the tops of the plants. In feeding on the cotton plant, the adult generally occupies a con- spicuous position, especially when on a boll. The writer has never found them inside the bract- of a square, and when on a boll, never entirely hidden by the bracts. When feeding upon a cotton boll the mouth seta 1 do not remain 26 in the usual position in the groove of the rostrum, but the insect, after inserting the setaa into the tissue of the plant, either folds the rostrum directly back, freeing the seta 1 entirely from it, or doubles it up in the form of the letter "Z," the upper angle representing the joint between the first and second, and the lower angle that between the second and third segments. At the latter joint the setse remain in the groove. When feeding, the bug constantly raises and lowers its head. When the seta? are entirely withdrawn from the boll, the spine, located on the inner side of a fore tibia slightly beyond the middle, is used to replace them in the rostral groove. The seta 4 are pressed into place by one stroke of the tibia. These insects have been observed to feed upon a cotton boll for ten minutes without withdrawing their setae. One adult under observa- tion in the field visited four bolls, two on each of two plants in two days, and remained for over thirty-six hours on the last of the four bolls. Another adult bug remained on the same boll for two and three-fourths days. Three remained on the same plant for over thirty hours, and three others were found on the same plant thirty- two hours after they were first recorded. In none of these cases was it known how long the insects had been on these plants previous to their being first noted. They do not always remain so long, but have been observed to alight for but a few minutes on a cotton plant and then fly to another without feeding. In cages in the field during the middle of the day the insects are more restless and are more frequently seen crawling about on the screens; after sundown they are usually found quietly feeding. Flight. — When liberated in a room the adults fly readily and inva- riably nearly straight toward the light. In the field their direction of flight is usually curving and the greatest distance obtained in any of six flights observed and recorded was 25 feet. In four successive llights from the hand, held at a height of 4 feet from the ground, an adult female covered on an average 15| feet per flight. An adult male, apparently in normal condition, taken when feeding on a boll, in attempting to fly from the hand dropped directly to the ground. It is probable that these records are not indicative of the distance which these bugs are capable of (lying when newly matured. Gregariou8ne88. — II very frequently happens that more than one conchiiela is present on a plant, even though no others can be found on plants for a considerable distance in any direction. The Relief thai this gregariousness is not due to the adults found on a plant having developed from eggs laid on that plant is supported by the fact that careful search failed to reveal the remains of the egg batch, by the fad that adults under observation did not remain on the same plant in any case for as long as three days, and also by the frequently noted occurrence of two or three adults appearing at nearly the same 27 time on a plant which had been free from the insect-, as shown by examinations for two or three previous days. The following is the record of M specimens of /'. ligata collected in the cotton fields. Bach record refers i<> collection from a single plant when none could be found on near-by plants: August 31, 2 : September 1. first plant, second plant, :'>: September 2, first plant. 3, second plant, 1: Sep- tember •"*>. first plant. 2 (male and female), second plant. 5 (3 females, 1 male, and 1 escaped); September 3, first plant. 1. second plant. 1. third plant, 2; September 1. first plant. 1. second plant, 2; September <• mentioned that not infrequently after searching for the insects without results one found on each of the two adjacent plants, while, a- in the case for single plants referred to above, none could lie found on any other plant- near by. To determine whether this gregarious tendency i^ due to sexual attrac- tion or to sight would require more careful attention than it was pos- sible to give on the occasion on which these observations were made. Egg laying. — All of the ejrirs of Pcntutoma ligata which were obtained were deposited by females in confinement. They were deposited in batches of from 1 s to \.\ eir«rs. One batch was deposited on a mesquite leaf, the others <»n the bract- of cotton bolls and on cot- ton leaves. It i> believed that three and possibly four batches were deposited by the same female. The three batches probably deposited by the insect referred to numbered together l n 7 eggS. A female pen- tatomid bug of another genus | Podisus) has been known to deposit nearly .">()() e0 (o September 8. Concerning some of the bolls, there was more doubt as to the cause of the injury, which consisted in the locks dying after reaching a late stage in their development. The opened bolls showed more or less stained fibers remaining closely matted together, and at the extreme tip noticeably shriveled. In consideration of the possi- bility thai this injury was due to a vegetable disease 1 , dry specimens were submitted to Dr. A. F. Woods, pathologist and physiologist of the Bureau of Planl Industry, with a request that they be examined for evidence of trouble of (his nature, but it was found that no fun- gous disease could have been responsible for their condition. There being no evidence of a disease of a bacterial or physiological nature, there is but little doubt that the condition described above is due to 29 injury by heteropterous insects, principally by the predominating species in this particular Locality, Pentatoma ligata. The difference in the nature of the damage produced can probably be explained by the difference in the degree of development attained by the bolls be- fore they receive the first injury. In.jiky to Cotton a i Tlahuaulo in 1904. At the time of the second visit of the w riter to Tlahualilo it was possible to obtain more definite information concerning the character of the injury caused by the conehuela. This was done principally by means of tagging in the field cotton bolls known to have been fed upon more or less by the insect. External evidence of injury by tlii- bug never appears, except when a boll i- f'cil upon when very small and one or more locks are injured, so that growth ceases in the injured port ions and a deformity of the boll results. The inner side of the carpel- of green bolls which have been I'd upon by the conehuela show a minute dark spot, indicating the point at which t he -eta entered, and surrounding this may be an abnormal wart like growth which is of more frequent occurrence in -mall bolls, or a smooth circular area which befcomes dark green Pio. 8.— Supposed work of Ppntatoma ligata on cot- , -i • i ton boll (from photo by W. £. Hinds). and contrasts sharply with the Lighter background. Large boll> nearly mature have been ex- amined with as many as twenty-five or thirty of these spots, but with uninjured seeds, these probably having been protected by the resistance of the lint to the entrance of the insect's mouth organs. This difficulty probably increases with the increasing age of the boll. In examining smaller bolls it was found that a single spot on the inside of the carpel was good, though not positive, evidence of injury, which could be seen only by breaking open the developing lock. In lields where no bugs of any kind could be found none of the bolls showed these >pots, while in every case a certain injury to seeds and surrounding lint, which I learned to ascribe to P. ligata and a few less common species of heteroptera, was accompanied 30 by one or more of these spots directly opposite on the inner side of the carpel. The conchuela usually inserts its mouth setoe through the carpel and developing lint into the seed. An injured immature seed at first is characterized by a watery appearance, later it takes on a brownish color and appears decayed, finally shriveling. Two or three clays after the seed is injured by the feeding of the bug, the surrounding lint becomes slightly discolored. If only a short time was spent in feed- ing upon the seed of a nearly matured boll, the injury consists simply in a yellow staining of the lint, but if the boll be less than two-thirds grown the injury is likely to be more serious. The decayed appear- ance then spreads throughout the lock, which shrivels and is spoiled. The observations thus far made show that a bug must spend at least several hours to destroy the usefulness of a lock of a cotton boll instead of only the few minutes necessary to deposit an egg, as is the case with a female boll weevil. Several observations were made in the field to establish the con- nection between the conchuela and the injury described above. A few of these will be outlined. Bug No. 1 was found on a plant upon which it remained for over twenty-four hours, it being unknown how long it might have been on the same plant previous to discovery, or how many, if any, other bugs had been present. On examination of the unopened bolls it was found that there were uninjured 5, slightly injured 1, badly injured 6. Two opened bolls were uninjured. As a check for this plant, the bolls on the next one in the row were ex- amined, and of the 12 unopened and 3 open bolls all were perfect. This same insect moved feet to another plant and was found upon the same boll at each of the several visits to the field during the fol- lowing thirty-six hours. The insect then disappeared and was not afterwards found. An examination of the 15 bolls on this second plant showed only 2 injured ones, the one on which the bug was known to have fed for thirty-six hours, which was badly damaged, and another the injury to which was apparently caused by a bacterial disease of the nature of anthracnose. On September 4, L904, at 11.45 a. in., two specimens of P. ligata were found in the cotton field on a plant, surrounding which for at leasl 50 Peel in all directions were plants which after careful search were found to be free from the insect. Six hours later two more adults were found on this plant, an examination as before showing the -iii'rounding plants to be free. Two days later the plant under observation was entirely free from the insects, and on September 8 all the I k jI Is on the plant were opened and each lock' was examined. Of the ir> bolls 7 were badly injured; I ( 3 of which were produced on the lower branches close to the ground) were perfectly sound in every way. As a check, an examination was made of the 16 bolls on 31 a very similar plant standing 3 feet away in the same row: 14 of these were perfect in every way. 1 boll was injured by a boll worm, and the remaining injured boll had the appearance of having been fed upon when quite small by P. ligata or some other heteropterous insect. One lock of this boll was decidedly stunted, giving it a de- formed appearance. The inside of the carpel of the stunted portion showed the characteristic mark of injury already described, as did several seeds with the surrounding lint. On September s an examination was made of the bolls of a plant upon which three specimens of P. ligata were taken on September <>. As before, the surrounding plant- were five from the in>ects and their bolls only in few instances showed injury of the nature described as occasioned by this species. Of the <>} bolls over 1 inch in diameter which were on the plant, 20 were -elected at random and carefully examined, and l>nt 2 <>f them were found to be uninjured. A.s the above observations might lead to an exaggerated idea of the injury believed t<» be caused by the insect here considered, it should be explained that in the held where the above instances oc- curred the conchuelas at the time were more abundant than elsewhere on the plantation, and even here (with the exception of a limited area) on not more than 5 <>r ('» stalks to an acre could the insects he found. The observations indicate, however, that when they are very numerous the conchuelas are capable of causing considerable damage to the cotton crOp. The exceptional area referred to above consisted ."> per cent of them were injured, and of the open bolls on these plant- L9 per cent had at least one lock damaged by shriveling, apparently caused by the attack of a heterop- terous insect. AjS a check' to this examination. 30 boll.-, from one-third to throe- fourth- grown, were examined on a portion of the plantation which was remarkably free from insects, and w here no heteropterous insects of any kind could be found. Each lock in each boll was carefully examined a- before, with the result that only 2 bolls were found to show the slightest internal discoloration, and this did not extend to the seed, nor was it accompanied by the spot on the inside of the carpel, which the evidence obtained -howed to result from the punc- ture of P. ligata. Cage experiments were conducted for the purpose of learning how long after a boll is fed upon the injury become- apparent and also how long feeding must be continued to work an injury. Neither 32 ot those points was satisfactorily determined, owing to the brief period available for this investigation. As has been stated, the size of the boll is an important factor; probably a single bug in a few hours, or perhaps minutes, can produce an injury to a boll one-fourth or one-third grown which will prevent its developing perfect lint. On the other hand, it seems that after the lint reaches a certain degree of development, perhaps when the boll is about three-fourths grown, it is beyond the limit of danger of serious injury from the conchuela. The following records show the only information obtained from the cage tests relating to the question of how long after being attacked, the injury to the boll appears: Results of cage tests with Pentatoma Ugata, 190J/. Cage No. Num- ber of bugs. Apparent- ly sound bolls. When caged. When examined. Injured bolls. Severely injured bolls. 1 2 5 6 8 26 Sept ember 3 September 4 September 7 do ___ 4 16 2 The cage tests were made in a portion of the plantation apparently free from the conchuela and other bugs, and where no injury to bolls could be found which was likely to have been caused by such insects. Relation of Mesquite to Infested Fields. The co;ichuela is believed by Mr. Conduit to be identical with an insect which breeds upon mesquite beans." In the early summer of 190)). owing to specially favorable weather conditions the crop of mesquite beans was unusually large, and it is generally believed in the Laguna district that an unusually large number of the conchuelas developed in the mesquite, and upon the maturing and drying of the beans the insects made their way into the cotton fields in correspond- ingly large numbers. ISoth of the writer's visits to Tlahualilo, made at times when there were no green mesquite beans, and no specimens of P. Ugata could be found in the mesquite or anywhere else except in the cotton fields, nor could any remains of their immature stages be round, except a batch of eggs from which the nymphs had emerged, which was found on the ground among the dead leaves on March 8. Although no direct evidence could be obtained concerning the origin of the large numbers of the insects which infested the cotton fields in 1903, tlx' statements' of Mr. Conduit concerning the portions of the estate where the insects occurred in greatest numbers, both in 1903 and L904, seem to show a connection between these portions and I he parts of the uncultivated land surrounding the estate on all sides, upon which the mesquite growth was most abundant. " Since the above was written this has heeh verified hy the writer. 33 Injury to Cotton at Tlahi alii.o. Mkxico, by other Heteroptera. The injury to cotton by P. Ugata is probably the same a> might result from the attacks of many other heteropterous insects. Several specie- of pentatomid bugs were collected feeding on cotton bolls. hut uouc were numerous enough to cause appreciable damage. Next to P. Ogata, the most abundant beteropteron found feeding on cotton bolls was Leptoglo88UB sonatus DalL The injury found on the ex- amination of boll> upon which bugs of the latter species had been feeding I was unable to distinguish from that resulting from the feeding of the former. The individuals of the above coreid were not common enough in the cotton field- during the first few days of Sep- tember to interfere with observations on the conchuela. The fol- lowing heteroptera. in addition to the species above mentioned, were found on cotton at Xlahualilo between August 31 and September B, 1 ( J04. For their identification the writer is indebted to Mr. ( ). I Ieide- niiiiin. of the Bureau of Entomology : Apiomeru* spisstpes Say. Zelus /■< nardii KoL, Largtn ductus 11. S.. Oncopeltus fasciatus DalL. Mut'(jantin Jiistrionira Ilahn. and TJiyt>. Occa- sionally, however, we find reports of a species of this family, pre- viously unknown except, perhaps, for a scientific description, spring- ing suddenly into prominence as a pest in one locality or another and the following season becoming of the same slight importance as usual. An instance of this kind i> briefly mentioned in a previous bulletin of this Bureau." Pentatoma sayi Stal being there referred to as appearing as a serious wheat pest in Colorado. Arizona, and New Mexico in the summer of 1903. Many pentatomids and other heter- opterous insects, which probably all cause damage to cotton similar to that of P. ligata, occur in the cotton fields in this country. It is pos- sible that this species may be sporadically of more or less importance locally, especially under circumstances where, by the unavoidable Losses occasioned by the boll weevil, the small margin of profit makes it necessary to reduce to the Lowest practicable limit injuries from the minor pests. Assuming the truth of the report that this species breeds upon mesquite beans, it is evidently much more likely to ■ Bulletin No. 44, Division of Entomology, p. 86. 28730— No. 54—05 II 3 34 appear in cotton fields in injurious numbers in such irrigated dis- tricts as the Laguna of Mexico, where, when their chief food supply in the desert becomes unfit for them, they are driven to the cotton plants from necessity, there being almost nothing else available for food. In other localities the insects might become widely distributed among various crops and only small injury be done to any one of them. SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTROL. As these insects in the cotton field almost invariably occupy a conspicuous position on the cotton plant, usually on a boll, there is little trouble for even an inexperienced person to find them when present. Their habit of segregation is of much importance in this con- nection. Whenever they become abundant enough to deserve atten- tion from the cotton grower, hand picking, or knocking into collect- ing pans containing oil, will probably be preferable to spraying with contact insecticides, the value of the former depending in a measure upon the availability of cheap labor. Clearing up the fields in the fall, destroying both the cotton stalks and the weeds surrounding the fields by burning, would prevent, in a large measure, the hibernation of this, as well as many other cotton pests, and constitutes a practice the adoption of which by all cotton growers is strongly urged by eco- nomic entomologists. It may be advisable under some circumstances to provide for the treatment of the conchuelas on mesquite trees when it is found that they are developing thereon in threatening numbers, and when experience shows that these trees growing close to cotton fields are an element of danger, it might even be good policy to remove them entirely. THE SUGAR-BEET CROWN-BORER. (Hulstea undulatella Clemens.) By E. S. (i. Titus. While investigating the general insect enemies of the sugar beet the past season (1904), the writer found at Waverly, Wash., Echo, Oreg., and Spreckles and Oxnard, Cal., evidences of an in jury to sugar beets that could not be traced to any insect at that time occurring in the fields. The injury at these places was quite local, usually occurring in small patches over some of the fields, and was most noticeable on the richer soils. The beets had been injured earlier in the year and their growth practically stopped. Some of (he tops had lived on for some time, but had eventually dried down. When these were lifted only a small portion of the beet usually came with them, and this a rather ragged portion of the crown. Digging into the soil, the remainder of the root could usually be found, shriveled and dried up, but rarely showing marks of injury. Vacant -paces could be seen extending sometimes 10 or 15 feet down a row and covering an area from '2 to .*> row- wide. Those few injured beets that had survived the attack were dry. almost lifeless, the leaves being small and the root of no value. rpon reaching the Santa Ana Valley and neighboring beet regions in southern California, especially at Chino, the work of tin- insect became more common and the damage in place- was quite severe. The owners attributed the loss to plant lice and cut worm-, but a very slight examination was sufficient to -how that the beets had been attacked by some borer, and that work on them was -till in progress. At Huntington Beach, near Los Angeles, ami at Chino, the Larvae causing the injury were found in several fields, ami at the latter place moth-, which later proved to be the adult form of this phycitid borer, were rather common in one field on the beet-sugar company's ground. Prom examination of the beet- it i- evident that the young larva at first WOlk- oli the beet jll-t he- low the bases of the Leaves, eating through the (Miter -kin and either n , ^ x boring directly into the beet or ^ t ^^ 1 ^^^2^^L^^-^^^ working it- w ay around the crown •> 'Mfv-. beneath the epidermi-. thu- making » ^ Li "•■ Aj ^ J ?f a swollen line that ha- the appeal - - W ^ ance of a mine, often much like- early work of Pegomya VtCtfM and v?*^ >.,f..:rri - •• ; v-;v>rf- similar species mining in Leaves. ^^h^^iij^^ci^^^' As the larva grows in Size it forces • i g .i i j? . i *i Fi(1 , orifdnaR beet until it reaches t he center, when it may bore directly downward or pa>s on through the beet and then return and feed up and down inside the root. In all the gal- leries examined I found more or less evidence of a silken tube. Those of the older larva 1 that wore feeding on the outside of the beet had constructed tube- covering their operations and protecting them from contact with the soil. Sometime- these tubes extended for a considerable distance away from the beet. These tubes are very fragile, and not nearly so firm in construction as those made for hibernating purposes by the suecoine full grown in the fall, and probably most of the adult- emerge at this time, although two of the larva- taken last October are still ( April 1 ) in that stage in our breeding cage-. It may be that in southern California the adult emerge- in the fall and lays egg- on some native food plant. Adult- were quite common in that region in late September, especially in the early evening before dark. They would fly quickly when disturbed, but only for short distances, and u-ually alighted on the under -ide of beet leave- or on the ground, the color of which they clo-ely resemble. Some minute white eggs were found at the ba-e- of leave- of beet-, which may belong to this species or to the tortricid mentioned below. This moth ha- a wide distribution, having been taken in many part- of the United States. Specimens in the National &fuseum bear label- from the follow- ing 1 oca lities: Maine < Packard) : Massachu- setts : New York ( Bur* pet( ) : Angle-a. X. .1.. J ii lie 23 I K ea rfoot) ; Hastings, Fla.. April ( Kearfoot i : Wisconsin : Stockton. I 'tab. numer- ous specimens, date-. dune :M. •_".». AngUSl 1. 6, 7. B, 11. 28, and Septem- ber l. B, 1 1 i Tom Spald- ing) : I Denver, ( !olo., May 1. 1.'). and September L5 : Pueblo, Colo.. July ( Kearfoot ) : Pullman, Wash. (Piper): Kaslo, British Columbia (I)yar & Oaudell) : San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Alameda. Cal. (Koebele): Williams, Ariz.. July 7. 10, 28 ( Schwarz & Barber) : Flagstaff, Ariz.. July 8, -24 (Barber); Sapello Canyon, N. Mex. (Oslar). The species was described by Clemens" under the genus Xephopteryx in I860 from specimens " From Dr. Charles Girard. Washington, D. C. Pennsyl- vania. Canada, and Massachusetts." The statement that the insect was reared from elm. which has Fig. 11. -L T i>]*.»r portion of l>eet injured by Hulstea tmduiaUUa (original). a I860 : Clemens, Proc Acad. Nat Sc. Phila., p. 205. 38 several times been accredited to Clemens, has very little foundation. Following his description he says: Early in October I found the pupa of this insect at Niagara Falls, on the Canada side, under shelter of loosened portions of the hark of American elm. They were inclosed in a cocoon of silk, mixed with particles of bark. On the same tree I took a number of larva' which were ascending the tree to undergo pupation. I did not, however, obtain imagoes from any of the specimens. The body was nearly uniform in diameter, with the ordinary number of feet. Head as broad as the body and dark green. Body dark green, between the seg- ments yellowish and dotted with yellow ; first rings with two black dots on the sides. Doctor Hulst, a after giving the following localities for this spe- cies — " Canada, Massachusetts. New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia, Texas, Colorado, Utah, California " — states that he has received it from Texas in August and September, and then quotes Clemens's remarks given above, but omits the important statement that no specimens were bred to maturity. The other published ref- erences to the species simply record it as feeding on elm, an error evidently derived from the original reference or from Doctor Hulst's paper. Doctor Clemens's description of the larva he found does not accord with the larva? taken on sugar beet, and from which specimens were bred that were identified by Dr. H. G. Dyar, of the United States National Museum, as belonging to this species. Our larva' when fully mature were 16 to 18 mm. in length, head slightly narrower than first segment following; pale brown in color, darker on tip of clypeus and tips of mandibles, antenna? and palpi paler, almost yellow; body varying from pale green to dirty yellow, paler be- tween segments, usually a single black dot on each side of the first segment ; feet all tipped with black. The larva is very transparent, so that the internal anatomy is clearly visible. The adult measures 12 to 16 mm. across wings when fully spread. Fore wings dark gray, varying to a pale gray, with traces of fuscous and black scales interspersed, a red spot usually present within (he basal line, irregular dentate lines along outer margin are darker: hind wings dark fuscous, shading out darker on outer mar- gin, fringe very pale; thorax with a dark spot on each side near front: abdomen varying from gray to almost black: antenna gray, hall* the length of the fore wing: palpi varying from white to brownish red, darker at tip. Many of the larva* or pupa 1 were parasitized. A dipterous para- site was identified by Mr. I). W. Coquilletl as Exorista pu>0: HulBt, Trans. Anicr. Fait. Soc, v. 17, pp. 187-188. 39 Fi«i. VL- Kanritia pytn much enlarged (original ( fig. 12). Tt bred from pupse taken a< Chino and Oxnard, Cal. This parasite was also reared from the pupae of an unidentified tortricid found feeding on the leaves of sugar beet at the same places. Three specie- of Ilymenop- terous parasites were reared, but with the exception of the one noted below it was im- possible to tell whether they were bred from larvae or pupae. They were identified by Dr. W. H. Ashmead, of the Dhited States Na- tional Museum, as ( 'In Ion us i rid t set a s Or., SpUocTialcvi tor- vino Or., and Hcibro- b/'tn on In ht tin' Say. Specimen- of Che* loti us hridi Sd ii i ( fig. 13), issued from pupa* of the crown borer in early October. This parasite is represented in the National Museum collections by specimens from Agricultural Col- lege, Mich. : Washington, I >. ( !. ; South I takota ; Colorado; Wyoming; Corvallis, ( tareg. : ( Sar- land. I'tah : Kukak Bay, Alaska; Easton, Wash., and San I >iegO, ( The last of these specimens (bearing the T. S. Dept. Agr. No. 7«>7I > ) was bred from a phyticid larva (or from the pupa) found feeding in the seed pods of Aphyllon tuberosum. This spe- cies is entirely black except the legs, which are marked with pale yellow: about -1- mm. in length : very rugosely punctured on thorax with longitudinal stria* on abdomen. But one specimen of HabroSracon hebetor Say was reared from the Fig. 13. — Chetomu iridetcen* — greatly enlarged (original). 40 crown borer; this issued October 5, 1905. This species has been reared from several of the flour and meal moths a in this country. A European species, Bracon brevicornis Wesm., is, as stated by Dr. Chit- tenden, quite probably a synonym of Say's species. It has been reared from two species of Ephestia and from lepidopterous larvae in Europe. The species has black antennae, head, and thorax ; abdomen fuscous ; leg more or less pale yellow ; femora usually black at base ; ovipositor of female black. Spilochalcis torvina (fig. 14) was bred from the crown borer, and also from pupae of the unidentified tortricid before mentioned from Chino, Cal., in early October. This dainty little chalcid is jet black, with many pale markings, though usually there is a brownish-red shading from white into the black; the abdomen is somewhat fuscous on the side beneath. REMEDIES. Cultural remedies tending to thoroughly disturb the soil at the time the larvae are nearly mature and destruction of the beets show- ing injury will doubtless aid the control of this pest. It will com- plete the destruction of the injured beet, since the larvae will in all probability breed out even if the beets are removed from the soil. A more complete study of the life history of the insect may show opportunity for other remedies. Fig. 14. — Spilochalcis torvina— much en- larged (original). THE DOCK FALSE-WORM. {Taxonus nigrisoma Nort.) By P. H. Chittenden and E. S. (J. Titus. September 5 and fi. 1004, the junior writer observed larvae of this species of tenthredinid at Menominee, Mich., attacking sugar beet and a yellow dock {Rumex patientia or brittanicus) . The larva* were feeding on the upper sides of the leaves, usually placing themselves parallel with the larger veins; often several larvae were found feeding side by side, reminding one of colonies of the grape social caterpillar (Harrisina [Procris] americana Guer.). From 6 to 20 larvae were counted on single leaves both of sugar beei and dock, and as many as TO were taken from a single plant. 1807, Chittenden. Bui. 8, n. s.. Div. En toni., Dept. of Agric, pi>- 39-41. 41 They are quite active, readily curling up when disturbed and usually rolling down the leaf into the mass of young leaves at the base. It is interesting to note that larvae were also active in confinement, but not easily di-turbed. not culling up unless considerably agitated. This was doubtless due to the handling they had received in packing and unpacking and to the jarring incident to their long journey, all of which had the effect of causing them to be less easily disturbed than under norma] condition-. Dock was rathci- scarce in the field at this time, the beets having been recently cultivated, and their leave- at this season of the year -o covered the ground that the young dock leaves had not had oppor- tunity for growth. It is probable that the larva' on the bee! leaves had been hatched from egg- deposited OD dock, and that they had h'u,. 15.- ITurOJttM Higriaoma : n. adult ; h. larva : <•. hoad <>f same; also brief, it is tran- scribed herewith. The original description appeared in L862. fl 9. Color Mae blade; abdomen rattier long, fattened, acnte; antenna? slender, baaal joint enlarged, third longer than fourth, apical Joint as long as the preced- ing; clypenfl ttngulate emarginate; labram and baae of mandibles pale rufous; 1» i:s rufous or boncy yellow; base of coxa* and tarsi black; wings faintly clouded, stigma and costa black. The length of tho body, including the head, is three-tenths of an # inch, and the expanded wings measure double that, three-fifths or about five-eighths of an inch in length. Tho type locality is Dorches- ter, Mass. It has also been reported from Canada by Provancher and from New York City by II. <». I>var. This species has been reared by Doctor Dyar from larrse taken in New York City feeding on Rumea -p.' and knot weed (Polygonum lapathifolium ): and the larvae have been described by him under the name Strongylogaster ahnormis Prov. (a synonym). Quite recently Dr. .lame- Fletcher ha- mentioned the occurrence of this species in Canada. During ll>02 the larvae were reported in sev- eral localities in western Ontario, a- also at Ottawa, Injuring apples, the damage being of ^<> serious a nature that the fruit was much dis- figured and in many instances it was rendered unlit for market and was fed to pigs. The larva- have also been observed feeding on Rumex and Polygonum in Canada. ' REM BOIES. The remedy is to prevent the growth of dock and knotweed in beet fields and apple orchard-, a matter not difficult of accomplishment if the weed- are hoed out in spring before the sawflies appear for ovipo- sition. THE PEPPER WEEVIL. (Anthonontut ttweotinctut champ.) By c. M. Walker, Temporary Field Agent* October 2G. 1004. Mr. J. F. Nooe, Boerne, Tex., brought to the writer's attention specimens of sweet peppers which were infested with a species of Anthonomus. The close resemblance which this insect bears to the Mexican cotton-boll weevil has given rise to some confusion regarding the two species on the part of those interested in the growing of the affected crop. " Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist.. Vol. IX. p. 110. & Trans. Anier. Ent. Soc, Vol. XXII, p. 311, 1895. cjour. X. V. Ent Soc, Vol. V. p. 199, 1897. a Pail. 40, Div. Ent.. U. S. Dept. Agric, p. 81 (1903) : 34th Ann. Kept. Eut. Soc. Ont, 1903 [1904J, p. 70: 1. c 1902 [1903]— brief mention. 44 DETERMINATION OF THE SPECIES. Specimens of the pepper weevil Avere submitted to Mr. Schwarz, who reports as follows: It is a species of Anthonomus hitherto not recorded from the United States, and is no doubt A. wneotinetus, described by Mr. G. C. Champion in the Biologia Centrali-Americana.«' The few specimens found at San Antonio in November by Mr. Walker and myself on pepper plants agree perfectly with Champion's description. However, all the numerous specimens bred by Mr. Walker from pepper plants at Boerne, Tex., uniformly differ in having the legs throughout of a bright orange-yellow coi<3r, whereas in the more typical specimens the thighs are dark except at base. The difference, striking as it is, is most probably due to the immature condition of the Boerne specimens and the mature condition of the types. The pepper weevil, which is often con- founded by farmers with the cotton-boll weevil, is much smaller and much shorter than the smallest specimens of the cotton-boll weevil. The legs are much shorter ; the elytra are more convex and much less elongate than in the cotton-boll weevil ; and, more especially, the front legs do not have a double tooth as in the boll weevil, but are furnished with a single, not very conspicuous tooth. DISTRIBUTION AND DESTRUCTIVENESS. FlG. 16. — Anthonomus ozneo- tinctus: weevil, much en- larged (after Hunter and Hinds). According to Mr. Louis Lamm, of Boerne, Tex., upon whose farm the insects occurred in large numbers, the weevil had been no- ticed there for two seasons, having been seen for the first time in October, 1903, and again during the summer of 1904, causing a loss of more than one- third of the crop each year. At San Antonio, Tex., a number of farms were so seriously infested during the previous season that the growing of sweet peppers as a market crop was discontinued by a number of market gardeners. Reports received at the San Antonio market show that a pepper weevil had been common for three or four year- in that vicinity: there is not. however, conclusive proof that the insect referred to is identical with the species here considered, since a similar species has been reported on peppers in Texas. There exists an erroneous idea that peppers are often infested with the COtton-bolJ weevil, and it is possible that a confusion of these two species has given rise to some of the reports. According to present information, this species is not abundant in the State in localities other than those above mentioned. oColeoptera, IV, pt 4, February, 1903^ p. 160, PI. X, fig. 5. 45 INDICATIONS OF INJURY. The fii>t indications of injury by the pepper weevil may be seen in the dropping of the peppers and the general unhealthy aspect of the plant and of the fruit remaining thereon. The small peppers, becoming infested immediately after the blossoms fall, drop in Large numbers, so that the ground at the base of the plants becomes strewn with the decaying fruit. This condition may be taken as a tolerably certain sign of infestation. Not only i- the small fruit affected, but the full-grown peppers also fall to the ground; and if one of these be opened the interior will be found either wholly or partly black- ened and decayed, the Beeds having been eaten into and the pulp consumed, until finally decomposition completes the work of destruc- tion. The author of this damage may be found, in mo-t cases, within the pepper, either in the Larval or pupal stage (PI. I), or the adult itself may be found in the pod. from which it would ultimately have escaped by cutting away a hole jusl Large enough to allow the passage of it- body I PL I. fig. 2, '/>. In the -mall fruit the occurrence of egg- or young Larva? is indicated by the presence of scars made by the weevils either for oviposition or feeding. The Large fruit often appears unsightly and misshapen from this injury. The absence of bloom- i- another indication of the presence of this pest. Although only a -mall proportion of the bud- are usually infested, -till, as those that have been punctured fail to bloom, the lack of blossoms is undoubtedly due. to a considerable extent, to the work of this insect I. h i: HISTORY. As is common with other species of Anthonomus. the eggs are placed in such a position as to be invisible to the naked eye and well protected from any condition- detrimental to their future develop- ment. Kggs are laid in the very -mall buds of the pepper plant, in the blooms, or in the young fruit ju-t after the blossoms fall. The intermediate and also the mature stages of the fruii offer favorable conditions for the deposition of eggs. The weevils apparently pre- fer, however, to oviposit in the pepper- immediately after the blooms fall, observations made in the tield showing that fruit affected at this stage contained a relatively larger number of eggs than did the more mature peppers. The female, with her long snout, bores a small hole through the pod (PI. I, fig. 1, £>, and fig. 2, b) and, if necessary for the reception of the egg, excavates a cavity in the adjacent seeds of the fruit. If the pepper has already attained sufficient growth so that the seeds do not come in contact with the outer wall of the pod, the egg may be left protruding, with about one-half of its length exposed on the inner 46 side of the pod. When oviposition occurs in small buds the egg is placed in a cavity excavated among the immature anthers. The egg is pearly white when first deposited, but turns somewhat darker with advanced development. The form is quite regularly elliptical, tapering slightly toward the micropylar end, but varies somewhat according to the conditions of pressure encountered within the pepper. The average length is about 0.5 mm. and the width 0.3 mm. (-^q by gVi ncn )- There appear to be no characteristic mark- ings on the outer membranes of the egg, which are soft and delicate and easily ruptured. Under normal conditions the egg hatches in from two to four days. The newly hatched larva is about 0.5 mm. in length and has the appearance of a minute, white, legless grub. As it grows larger its color is modified by the contents of the alimentary canal. The larva has the characteristic crescentic form common to most curculionids, with a large, light-colored head bearing darker colored mouth parts. Its growth is at first very rapid, especially during the first three days, and at the end of this time it is about three times its size when first hatched. At this stage the head is very large in proportion to the body, the latter being deeply wrinkled and cov- ered with tubercles. At the age of 2 weeks, after undergoing at least one molt, the length averages nearly 5 mm., while the body has become much larger and stouter and the body wall more deeply wrinkled. Viewed laterally, the body tapers considerably from the middle toward the extremities. The head is of a light amber color, with conspicuous mouth parts. This stage appears to be that of the full-grown larva. The amount of food available and the climatic changes naturally influence the growth of the larva 4 , but under normal conditions the size of the same stage varies but little. This conclusion is borne out by the resulting slight variation in the size of the adults. The larva? retain their crescent-shaped form throughout their growth, except that when about to change to the pupal condition they become somewhat flattened and the lateral swellings are more apparent. After attaining full growth the larva transforms to a pupa within a cell (PI. I, fig. 1, c) formed of dried excreta and decaying matter, and situated within the pepper pod, usually occupying the space which lias been eaten away among the seeds. The cell is oval in form and varies somewhat in size, the average length being about <'» mm. Two <)]• three cells are often present in a single pepper, and in some cases each one of the four interior compartments into which the pod is divided has nourished a larva. The location' of the pupal cell appeal- to he a matter of no significance, as cells may be found at many different positions within the seed pod, the larva? evidently Bui. S4, Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Oept. of Agriculture. Plate I. 47 pupating near the portion upon which the la>t feeding was accom- plished. The pupa is short and robust, about 4 nun. in length, and nearly :; mm. in breadth ;it it- widest part. In color it is pale amber, with dark-brown eve-. The snout lies close to the ventral surface of the body. Above, the wing pads are conspicuous, and below them the legs protrude. The antennae, arising from the snout, arc folded below the head, and appear dor-ally a> knobbed appendages at the Bides of the wing pads. The abdomen taper- to a point behind and, the outer segments being free, the tip can wriggle nervously, as it often doc- when the pupa is disturbed. The pupa i- covered with tubercles, from each of which arises a long hair or -pine. A short time before transformation to adult the color becomes much darker, the abdomen, however, retaining the original hue. 'The pupal stage occupies from six to ten day-. (Jpon tlif full development of the adult the cell i- broken open and the weevil emerges into the cavity of the pepper pod, remaining there until hardened, after which it cuts its way out through the pod wall (1*1. I. lief. 2, '/). The color immediately upon emergence is light yellow, hut in a few days this changes to a darker yellow-brown, becoming, finally, almost black, with the exception of the bases of the femora, which are orange. POOD \M> FEEDING HABITS. So far as LS known to the writer, this insect ha- no other food plants than peppers; yet it is certain that it can exist upon at lea-t three varieties of the plant, including the common " sweet pepper" and two varieties of the so-called " hot pepper." The weevil may also, perhaps, live upon a wild pepper which i- common in wooded localities in southwestern Texas. The fruit of this plant, a -mall red berry, has an exceptionally pungent flavor and i- used rather extensively in the manufacture of a variety of pepper sauce. There is a possibility that this " wild pepper " may prove to be the original food plant, but thus far the weevil has not been observed feeding upon it. The young larva, when lirst hatched, feed- upon the soft, pulpy tissue forming the interior lining of the pod. This food it can obtain in abundance, since it is here, in the majority of cases, that the egg i- deposited. Usually the larva does not attack the seeds until it has attained considerable growth, except in those cases in which the egg is placed in a cavity excavated for its reception in a seed. The seeds, extending out laterally in a cluster from the bases of attach- ment, offer secure lodgment for the larva, which eats away the outer edges and excavates the interior, thereby causing serious injury (PI. I, fig. *2, c). The adult weevils appear to feed equally well in the fruit at different stages of growth, although the small, tender buds 48 seem to be the most seriously injured (PI. I, fig. 2, a). By means of the sharp mandibles at the end of the snout the weevil will bore its way through the pod, eating from the center in a circle as far as the length of the proboscis will permit, sometimes increasing the dis- tance by forcing the head and thorax into the opening made. A number of such punctures in a tender bud or young pepper will soon cause it to fall to the ground. REMEDIAL SUGGESTIONS. In view of the fact that the discovery of the work of this insect was made so late in the season that no experiments in the application of insecticides or other remedial measures could be performed, it is impossible at present to describe any sure method of destruction. A few suggestions, howeA T er, may prove of value to those who are directly interested. From the knowledge already gained concern- ing the feeding habits of the adult insect, which are very similar to those of the Mexican cotton-boll weevil, it is evident that the use of internal or stomach poisons, such as Paris green, would not give sat- isfactory results. Since the area devoted to the cultivation of pep- pers is not, as a rule, very extensive, there is one remedial measure which may be advised with some assurance of success, i. e., the gath- ering and destroying of the infested fallen fruit. As a general rule the peppers found upon the ground contain larvae, pupae, and even adult weevils in large numbers. If the fruit thus fallen be collected and destroyed by burning, or some other equally certain method, immense numbers of the weevils will be killed and the future crop protected to a certain extent from further infestation. If the fruit is allowed to remain on the ground, however, it will furnish a favor- able opportunity for the development of the immature stages within the pods, and the adult weevils emerging therefrom will at once attack the peppers whieh may have escaped previous injury. The expense involved in this procedure would be slight, since the work may be done by unskilled persons with a reasonable chance of success. Judging from what has been learned of the life history of the insect, it is safe to say that, beginning as early in the season as the young bud- or peppers begin to drop, a collection should be made as often as every fifth or seventh day. gathering not only all fallen fruit, but also all buds and pods still on the plants showing an unhealthy color, a deformity of shape, or any other sign of having been attacked. Whether the infestation be severe or slight, the interval between the collections, if this method of control be adopted, will be the same, since the interval depends upon the developmental period and not upon l he abundance of the fallen fruit. If the collection of the fallen fruit be steadily followed up. the damage done by the weevil can, in all probability, be very largely prevented. 40 COLD STORAGE FOR COWPEAS By -T. W. T. Duyel, Seed Laboratory, Bureau of Plant Industry. INTRODUCTION. The value of cowpeas for the improvement of the *oil as well as for forage has Long been recognized. In recent years the area on which cowpeas are grown has been greatly extended. With the in- creased acreage there has been a more widespread distribution of the weevils destructive to cowpeas. Large quantities of seed are destroyed annually in this way, entailing a great Loss t<» seedsmen. ( larefully conducted experiments, extending over a period of nearly two yeai-. have shown that cowpeas can he kept free from weevils if stored at a temperature of 32 to .">! V. It i- understood that this method i- practiced to a limited extent by a few seedsmen, who find it WlQ. 17. — a, Bruchut obtectUS b, H. chinvtmix : c. It. qundrimaculatutt — all much enlarged (after Cblttendea). far more satisfactory than the methods of fumigation which have been so generally used. WEEVILS INFESTING COWPEAS. 6 There are three kind- of weevil- which do considerable damage to cowpeas during storage — the common bean weevil (Bruchus <>I>tcctiis Say), the cowpea weevil (Bruchus chinensis Linn.), and the four- spotted bean weevil (Bruchus quadriniaculatus Fab.). The adult beetle of each of these species i- shown in figure 17. . and c. The o What is here said concerning the storage of cowpeas applies equally well to garden p;>as and heans, and presumably to other seeds of a similar character w hich are attacked by weevils. & The notes on the ravages and life history of these weevils are based on Dr. F. II. Chittenden's " Insects injurious to heans and peas," Yearbook United States Department of Agriculture for 1898, pp. 233-260. Figure 17 is taken from the same paper. 28730— No. 54—05 m 1 50 first-named species is met with in cowpeas much less frequently than the last two. The species breeding in the cowpeas which served as check samples to the series kept in cold storage were the cowpea weevil and the four- spotted bean weevil. The principal food of these two species is the cowpea. and they are found in most countries where cowpeas are grown. The first eggs are usually deposited in the field, but the greatest damage is generally done after the seed is stored. The beetles continue to develop in the dried and stored seed for several generations. Under favorable conditions, depending chiefly on the temperature, six or seven broods may develop within a year, according to Doctor Chittenden's observations. If not checked their ravages continue until the cowpeas are unfit for any practical purpose, not even serving for the sustenance of the weevils. Plate II, fig. 1, shows cowpeas which have been destroyed in this way. CONDITIONS AND RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS. The experiments herein discussed were conducted with Clay cowpeas grown in Georgia in 1902. A germination test made of the bulk lot in February, 1003, showed a vitality of 83.5 per cent. March 7. 1903, duplicate sets of twelve lots each, put up in cloth bags, were stored in " trade conditions," and in cold storage at Wash- ington, D. C. Richmond, Va.. Jacksonville. Fla., and Xew Orleans, La. At each of these places the " trade conditions " were represented by seed warehouses. The cold-storage samples were subjected to a temperature of 32° to 31° F. The remainder of the original bulk was kept in the seed laboratory at a temperature varying from 55° to 80° F. Samples from the entire series were tested from time to time for germination. The results of the tests are given in Table I. Table I. — Percentage of (termination of cowpeas stored at various place* under ''trade conditions" and in cold stomge on March 7. 19Q8, and returned from storage at various dates. Date of re- turn of seeds from stor- age." Percentages of germination. Original hulk lot kept in seed lab- oratory.'' Washington, D. C. Richmond, Va. Jacksonville, Fla. New Orleans. La Trade condi- tions. Cold storage. Trade condi- tions. Cold storage. Trade condi- tions. Cold storage. Trade condi- tions. Cold storage May 1,1903 si K4.r> 92 83.5 90. 5 90. 5 91.5 S3 82.-1 June 1,1908 1: 98 98. 5 97. 5 92. 5 94.5 92 94 90 July 1,1908 98 94,5 74.5 87 (<*) 90.5 £11 90 Aug. 1,1903 « 68-8 98. 5 87 (<*) 88. 5 #27 88 Sept, 1,1908 (<•) (<0 84 88. 5 CO 83. 5 «<•) 85 Nov. 1,1909 H ('•) 98: 5 (<•) 94.6 (<•) 97 ( c ) 93 June 1,1904 M H7 5 to 70. 5 ft) 85 75 Nov. 1.1904 92 M 84.6 (n .50 (3 77 ■The diites given are approximate only, varying slightly from actual dates of return o seed i from storage. Germination tests In all cases were made within a very few dayi after return of seeds from storage. ''The original imik sample germinated 83.5 per oenl In February, 1903. r Destroyed by weevils. , *' Many destroyed by weevils. Bui. 54, Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. Plate II. Fig. 2.— Cowpeas from Cold Storage, Washington, D. C, September 1. 1903— Natural Size (original). Bui. 54, Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. Plate III. Fig. 2.— Cowpeas in Cold Storage from March 7, 1903, to November 1, 1904 (original). 51 The table shows that the period of storage extends over two sum- mers, from March 7. VMK). to November. 1 ( .»04. Throughout this entire period the cowpeas kept in cold storage were not injured by Weevils and showed practically no deterioration in vitality. On the other hand, the cowpeas stored in "trade conditions' 1 were all de- stroyed by weevils (hiring the first summer. The bulk lot kept in the -red Laboratory, Bureau of Plant Industry, where the temperature was very favorable for the development of the weevil-, was the first to be dot roved. In May. this seed germinated M per cent, but one month later the weevils had destroyed every seed. At this time the beetles were present in such numbers as to cause a rise In tempera- ture w ithin the bag of -red of ( '. (•_!<>. 7 F. ) . Sample- from Jacksonville germinated JMX5 per cent in May and 94.5 per cent in June. 1903, but by the 1st of duly the -red had been destroyed by weevils. The seed stored at Richmond was not all destroyed until the August test. The Washington and New Orleans -eric- -bowed Complete failure in the September test, but in each of these cases many -eed- were destroyed at the time earlier tests were made. The foregoing results with the cowpeas kept in ** trade condition- n illustrate exactly what has been experienced by every seedsman w ho has attempted t<> carry cowpeas over the summer in his warehouse. However, where the seeds are handled in large bulk they will be de- stroyed much earlier in the season, as a result of the brat generated by the weevils during the transformation stage. As a result of this heat the second brood will develop much more quickly than was the case with small lots as used for these experiment-. The actual com- mercial condition- with seed stored in quantity would be much the same a- shown in the control sample stored in the seed laboratory — that is, the -eed would be destroyed earlier In the season. Plate II show - row peas which were kept in " trade condition- " < fig. 1 ) and in cold storage (fig. -2) at Washington, D. ('. The photographs were taken Septeiriber 1. L903, approximately six months after the seeds were stored. Figure 1 -how- the weevil-eaten cow pea-, which failed to -how a -ingle germinable seed; figure 2, the cow pea- after -i\ months in cold storage. These cowpeas had not deteriorated in vital- ity and germinated s 1 per cent. EFFECT OF COLD STORAGE oX THE VITALITY OF Till-: SEED AND THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT or TIN: WEEVILS. The samples of -eed were tested for germination as they were taken from cold storage. The remainder of each sample was then stored in tin boxes. The temperature of the laboratory where the seeds were stored was slightly higher than that of the ordinary living room 52 It was supposed that the weevils would develop in the cowpea^ after they were taken from cold storage and subjected to a higher temperature, but in no case did the weevils ever develop, not even in the samples which were taken from cold storage May 1, 1903, less than two months from the time they were first put into the cold- storage room. The samples from cold storage were tested again for germination March 11, 1905, two years after the beginning of the experiment, The results of the germination tests are shown in Table II, together with the approximate time the samples were in cold storage and the time they were subsequently stored in the seed laboratory. Table II. — Percentages of germination of cowpeas stored at various places at a temperature varying from 32° to 34° F. for from two to twenty months, and then in seed laboratory at a temperature varying from 60° to 80° F. for from four to twenty-two months." Duration of storage.'' Percentages of germination. In cold storage, 32°-34° F. In labora- tory. 60° -80° F. Washing- ton, D. C. Richmond, Va. Jackson- ville, Fla. New Or- leans, La. Months. 2 3 4 5 6 7 15 20 Months. 22 21 20 19 18 17 9 4 Per cent. 79.5 81 73.5 80.5 81 75 83.5 70.5 Per cent. 80 84.5 83 77 82.5 78 85 79.5 Per cent. 81.5 86.5 77.5 81.5 83.5 92 79 64.5 Per cent. 77.5 84.5 76 71 86 79 79 79 Average 78.06 81.21 80. 75 79 - 1 « Seeds placed in cold storage March 7, 1903; tested March 11, 1905. ?' Durations of storage here given are approximate only, varying slightly from actual number of days of storage. Table II shows that the vitality of the samples remained practi- cally uniform, regardless of the length of time they were kept in cold storage. This fact should clear up any doubts, which so many seedsmen have entertained, that seeds kept in cold storage would de- teriorate very rapidly if afterwards subjected to atmospheric changes of temperature. The results, it is true, are somewhat lower than those given in Table I, and the average percentages of germination are likewise lower than the germination of the original control sample. But this must be considered as a natural deterioration, inasmuch as the peas at the time of this test were two and one-half years old. The test showing the lowest percentage of germination, No. 8, was Prom Jacksonville. When (his sample was received it bore indication- of being damaged by moisture, and the test made at that time ( November 1, L904) showed a vitality of only 50 per cent. There was. however, a marked difference in the color of the cow- | >eas. The earlier samples taken from cold storage had darkened in color, while the peas fresh from the cold storage room were not discolored, save, perhaps, an occasional seed. These differences in color are shown in Plate III (figs. 1 and 2). 0091 OF COLO STORAGE. While a few seedsmen have adopted the method of keeping cow- peas in cold storage, the majority contend that it i- too expensive. Those who practice the cold-storage treatment, however, find it entirely practicable and economical. Data obtained from a number of the largest and best equipped cold-storage houses in the I nited State- show that the cost of storing a bushel of seed of this kind varies from 3.6 to 7.5 cents a month, depending chiefly upon the quantity stored. The former price i- for seed stored in carload lot- and the latter for quantities of 100 bushels or less. The cosl of cold storage for t he season, from four to seven months, ranges from lf> to -i:> cent- per bushel, depending upon the length of time and the quantity of seed stored. A number of the cold-storage men are already familiar with the handling of stock of this kind, and from those the Lowest price- were submitted. Bui to pay the highest price, 2f> cent- per bushel for the -ea-on. i- analogous to paying that price for a new stock of seed. HOW SEED SHOULD BE STORED. CowpeaS, when kept in cold storage, should be handled in hag-, just a> in the warehouse. The objection frequently raised by those who are unfamiliar with the cold-storage method i- that of excessive moisture, the contention being that cold storage would necessitate special containers. This objection, however, i- not a valid one. for, I at a temperature of 32° to 34° F. the air can retain but a compara- tively -mall quantity of water vapor. Furthermore, at low tempera- tures moisture is much less deleterious to vitality than at temperatures Mich as are found during the summer months in warm, moist climates, where seeds of all kinds soon lose their vitality. It is. however, de- sirable to keep the seed as dry as possible, and separate cold-storage Rooms should be provided for stock of this character. If the bag- of seed are taken from cold storage and placed in a warm, moist room, there may be in exceptional cases a sufficient con- densation of moisture to cause "sweating." But if the cold storage room has been dry and a good circulation of air is maintained between the bags for a short time after they are taken from cold storage, the temperature of the seed will soon be the same as that of the surround- ing air and the danger of " sweating " will be overcome. 54 SUMMARY. Cowpeas can be kept free from weevils if maintained at a tempera- ture of from 32° to U° F. The vitality of the seed is in no way injured by the cold-storage treatment. Cowpeas can be carried through the summer in cold storage at a cost ranging from 15 to 25 cents per bushel for the season. It is not necessary that the seed be planted soon after it is taken from cold storage and subjected to atmospheric temperatures; for this is not followed by a more rapid deterioration in vitality. The storage room should be kept as dry as possible, and the seeds handled in bags as in the warehouse. THE LARGER CANNA LEAF-ROLLER. (Calpodes ethlius Cram.) By F. II. Chittenden. t During the past two years the leaf-rolling caterpillar of Calpodes (thl/ us ("ram. has attracted considerable attention from its ravages in fields of canna in portions of South Carolina and Alabama. In September, 1903, Mr. H. M. Simons wrote of its attacking the foliage of the canna plant in the vicinity of Myers, S. C, sending specimens in all stages except the egg, the first adult issuing Sep- tember 21. In September, 1901, a similar lot of specimens were received from Mr. L. H. Read, Fruitdale, Ala., who wrote of the difficulty of cap- turing the butterflies, although they were quite plentiful among the canna plants. Thousands of the caterpillars were in the fields, and hand-picking was out of the question. All bronze A T arieties of canna were injured, including eight or ten varieties. Among those most attacked were Mississippi, Mont Blanc, Explorateur, Crampbell, and Italia. A few green varieties were somewhat affected, but as a rule Were scarcely touched, obviously owing to their thicker and tougher leaves. The caterpillar was observed at work only at night. In 11)04, also, the species was observed somewhat abundantly at Baton Rouge, La., by Mr. A. L. Quaintance, and sparingly at New Orleans, La., by Mr. E. S. G. Titus. Although only two instances of severe injury are cited, these are doubtless merely representative of many which were not reported. This species and its injuries have been known for many years, yet no comprehensive article on it has, to our knowledge, appeared in any work on economic entomology, although the insect in its various tages was described in detail by Dr. S. II. Scudder in his Butterflies DO of the Eastern United State- and Canada.'' The entire appearance of the insect from the larval stage to the adult i> indicative of its tropical origin, and it is -till somewhat restricted to the South. There is a possibility, however, that it might gradually extend its present distribution if it could obtain a footing in greenhouses where cannas are grown. DE84 IR1PTIVE. The butU rf/y. — The parent of this singular leaf-roller i- a butterfly belonging to the subfamily Pamphilinae of the family Hesperiidae, or skippers. It is one of the larger skippers, with a wing expanse of between 1 and \ \ inches, The head i- very broad, with large eyes, and the body is thick and heavy. The upper surface of the head. Fig. IS. — Calpoilrs cthlius: a. butterfly ; b. larva: C, pupa, front view: in six days, while iu Florida, according to Witt- feld. they may hatch in four days. On hatching, the caterpillar, a- i- common with many species, de- vours a portion of it- eggshell, whereupon, after feeding Lightly on a leaf, it fold- the latter over and confine- it in place with a few stitches of silk, enlarging it- retreat a- it develop-. From the tubular case thus formed it feed- along the edges and retreats within when dis- turbed. It i- careful to eject all excreta and exuviae, hut in spite of its cleanliness the caterpillar i- frequently attacked by disease. A good account is given by Mi— King in the article above noted, which i- largely republished in Scudder's work. Doctor Dyar has ascertained that there are customarily five stages of this larva, and describes them fully in Entomological News. * The larva, when full grow n, develops to n pupa in it- resting place, " held by > transverse loop and a band of -ilk for the cremaster." " The cremasterial band is attached at one end to the leaf: at the other to the transverse thread." This accurately describes the pupal case as observed in specimens received at this office. Under other conditions this case might be different, as described by Mr. Charles K. Dodge.' According to data accumulated by Scudder, the butterfly is on the wing in southern Florida in May. and from eggs laid in the middle of the month the butterflies reappear in the first half of dune. In South Carolina the season i> a little later, and there mature cater- pillars have been observed before the middle of dune and fresh but- terflies from the 12th of the month to the end. Scudder concludes that there are two generations before midsummer. Judging by recent experience there are likely to be two more generations before cold weather, but we do not know how the winter is passed. The moths from one of these generation- appear in the latter part of Sep- tember. Of the butterfly Angus has stated that he was attracted to an indi- vidual, which he captured near New York City, "by the peculiarity of its movements on the wing: they were very undulating, like those of gnats, a- they rose and fell almost perpendicularly and in a very easy manner.' 5 Wittfeld adds that one of the favorite times for flight of the butterfly in fair weather i> after sundown. Miss Helen King describes its motion as " very rapid." a Psyche, Vol. Ill, pp. 322-821, 1882. & Pages 163-1(55, 1898. c Rural Carolinian, Vol. Ill, p. 593. 58 REMEDIES. The large holes made by this leaf -roller in the leaves of canna and the rolled-up leaves, together with the excrement, which will be found below the affected leaves, will serve to indicate its presence, and its large size permits the control of the insect by hand-picking. Any of the arsenicals Avill kill it. but their use is not always desirable because of the presence of children in the vicinity and the fear of their being poisoned. An ordinary spraying with an arsenical, preferably arse- nate of lead combined with Bordeaux mixture, could, however, be made without any real danger of poisoning. After an arsenical has been used. Bordeaux mixture should be tried alone as a repellent. THE POND-LILY LEAF-BEETLE. (Galcruccllu nymphcew Linn.) By F. H. Chittenden. During the first week of August. 1904, this leaf-beetle became so abundant in the District of Columbia that it deserted its natural food plants — aquatic species of the genera Nymphaea, Sagittaria, Brasenia, and Xuphar — and attacked near-by plants of other botan- ical families not at all related to those which form its normal food. Mr. George B. Sudworth. of the Bureau of Forestry, reported the species on basket willow, remarking that it appeared capable of doing considerable damage to this plant. Mr. Sedgwick X. Lander reported injury to beans. In both cases numerous living specimens of the beetles were furnished. August 4 Mr. J. L. Reeves visited Mr. Lander's place, and with little effort obtained a thousand or more of the beetles by sweeping the infested plants. In confine- ment the beetles fed for several weeks on the leaves of both willow and bean, gnawing minute holes from the epidermis of the upper surface, thereby producing the effect of fine network. This species is evidently of foreign origin and is now common to both continents, and its seniiaquatic habits are familiar to most collectors. The writer has in mind another report, made August 3, by Mi-. R. Balluff, of injury to a native pond lily (Nymphwa -p.) growing on the grounds of the Executive Mansion at Wash- ington. A- this leaf-beetle does not appear to have been mentioned hitherto in any publications of this Department, a short account may be interesting. The species ha- frequently received mention under the name GdU - ruca sagittarim Gyll. It is related to the common cucumber beetle-, belonging to the same tribe, the Galerucinse, of the Chrysomelida? or leaf-beetles. The beetle (tig. L9) measures about one-fourth of 59 may be distinguished from other species in an inch in Length, and our fauna by a number of character-, among which are its per- fectly -month thorax, pale elytra] margin, acute sutural angles, and completely separated middle coxa". this separation being: due to a prolongation of the mesosternum meeting the metasternum. The thorax LS dull yellow, with three picOOUS -pot-, and the elytra are darker brown, somewhat coarsely and densely punctate. This in-rct occiii- abundantly throughout northern Europe and Siberia, and in the northern portion of our own continent from the Hudson Bay region southward to the District of Columbia and Virginia. It i> recorded also from Texas, California, and Oregon, 'out doe- not seem to have lx»en recognized in neighboring States. It seems probable that it was introduced many year- ago from the Eastern Hemis- phere. An account of the earlier stages of this Species, with notes on its habits and illus- tration of larva, pupa, and adult, were given as early a- 177.") by Baron De Geer. - Later writer- have also described the earlier stages, the list including Bargagli, Gadeau, Weise, and Quilter. 6 The de- scription by the Last-mentioned author, in the writer'- opinion, can only he doubt- fully referred to this species. He states that the larva 1 occur on Polygonum . ">4. d Bill. 68, N. V. State Mus.. 1903, pp. 325, 326. 60 under surface, of elongate form, when full grown measuring three- eighths of an inch in length; Avidest at the middle, and tapering toward either extremity. Many larva? are frequently found together on a single leaf, where they eat the upper surface, doubtless because the lower surface of the leaves of the natural food plants rest on the water. As a result of these attacks the leaves become brown and unsightly. The white lily is less affected than yellow lilies. As to remedies, the arsenicals are quite effective, and Paris green is reported by Mr. Sudworth as checking the ravages of the beetles on willow. When spraying bean plants, arsenate of lead is prefer- able, owing to the danger of scalding the more tender leaves if Paris green is used. When this species occurs in troublesome num- bers on aquatic plants it might readily be destroyed in all stages, and especially as larva, if the ponds, fountains, or other places in which the lilies are growing could be flooded so as to bring the insects to the surface. A few drops of kerosene spilled on the water would then destroy the floating insects.* GRASSHOPPER CONDITIONS IN NEBRASKA, NORTHEASTERN COL- ORADO, WYOMING, MONTANA, AND WESTERN KANSAS DURING THE SUMMER OF 1904. By Lawrence Bruner, Temporary Field Agent. In compliance with instructions received last July, the writer spent the greater portion of the month of August in endeavoring to ascer- tain the existing status of the grasshopper, or locust plague, through- out the region lying to the east of the main divide of the Rocky Mountains and west of the Missouri River. In order to accomplish this work in a satisfactor}^ manner several journeys were undertaken over the various lines of railroads located in the region under inves- tigation. The officers of all of these roads cooperated in the work by kindly providing all transportation necessary for visiting the various localities known to have been infested by these insects during recent years. In order to ascertain more clearly the conditions in Colorado, the entomologist of the State Agricultural College, Prof. C. P. Gil- lette was consulted. Visits were also made to the Agricultural College of Montana and to the State University of Wyoming, where important data bearing on the subject under investigation were obtained. Some additional records of grasshopper abundance were gathered from the daily press reports, while data bearing on the presence of locusts in other localities not visited were gleaned from various persons. By carefully arranging and studying all the information accumu- lated it would seem that the general status of the locust pest, over 61 the region embraced in these studies, is greatly improving. Practi- cally everywhere these insects arc rapidly decreasing and getting down to their normal number- or even below the normal. Of course, the cau-e- for this decrease arc various, being somewhat different in each locality affected. These causes were given and discussed to some extent in my report at the close of the season's work during the bummer of 1901. - Augu-t l\ L904, the writer left Lincoln for the purpose of visiting southwestern Nebraska and eastern Colorado, taking a daylight train. A careful outlook was kept from the car window- for signs of locust injuries or the presence of these insects in more than ordinary num- bers. Not until after leaving Oxford, however, were such indications observed. But from a few mile- west of thai place all the way to McCotffe it was clearly indicated, both by the presence of the insects on weeds along the right of way and by more or less damage to the outer row- of Corn growing near alfalfa and -mall grain, a- well as by deserted and weedy fields. Bach of these condition- wafl occa- sionally quite apparent. even From the moving train, and increased westward. The species of locusts most concerned in these ravages were two: M chinophis differentialis Thos. and M. h> vittat us Say. These two forms habitually frequent low ground and other areas overgrown with rank vegetation. The morning of Augu-t 3 was spent in the vicinity of McCook. Here it was found that several additional specie- of locusts, like J/. wemur-rubrum DeG. and J/, atlanis Riley, were quite numerous, both in alfalfa fields and on the prairies. The deserted fields which had grown up to rank- weed- were the home- of -till other species, of which .KoJo j,l us rcyulis ^vw\\(\vy and Melanoplw lakinus Scudder were the chief forms. These latter were quite partial t<» Russian thistle and jambs-quarters as food plant-. Hesperotettl.i sperioxu* Scudder. which is a feeder on Helianthus, was very common, while several of the grass-infesting specie- were present in numbers above the normal as observed during ordinary year-. These latter, however, were con- centrated at places where the grasses still showed green, and possibly, on account of this bunching, their abnormal abundance may have been only seeming. It might be well to state that this particular region was suffering greatly from drought, a fact which undoubtedly had much to do in causing the more than ordinary locust injury. Leaving McCook, the writer had an opportunity of seeing the con- ditions along the Republican Valley almost to the southwestern corner of the State Ju-t beyond the junction of the Frenchman and the Republican rivers it was noted that the drought conditions were less severe, and vegetation improved a- we progressed west- o See Bui. 38, n. s., Divisou of Entomology, U. S. Dept. Agr., pp. 39-49, 1904. 62 ward. Some species of locusts and a few signs of their injuries were still occasionally apparent, even as far as Haigler, Nebr. Here a halt of over a day was made. A comparison of the conditions as found here this year with those of a year ago showed a great improve- ment. Possibly only half as many of the insects were present this year as last, and these were pretty well bunched in certain weed patches and alfalfa fields located in the valley near the river, whereas last year they were quite generally distributed. Beyond Haigler but few locusts were found in hurtful numbers, indicating that this local- ity is almost on the western boundary line of the plague. From Wray, Colo., all the way to Denver, their numbers seemed to have dwindled to normal, or even below. At least, such appeared to be the condition along the line of the Burlington Railway. In fact, as nearly as I was able to ascertain, this condition prevails throughout most of Colorado east of the Rocky Mountains, save perhaps in two or three isolated localities in the valleys of the Arkansas and South Platte rivers near the State line. The diminution in their numbers appears to be due chiefly to fungous diseases and natural enemies, both of which seem to have been abnormally effective during the past two or three years. All of the region lying along the eastern base of the range between Denver and Fort Collins was at this time remarkably free from these insects. None whatever were seen while riding between the two cities named, although a careful watch was kept throughout the journey, and an inquiry at the agricultural college located at the latter place elicited the information that hoppers were scarce in Colo- rado, while few or no reports had been received the present season concerning their presence or ravages. Going east from Fort Collins, a few of the insects, it was learned, were to be found in and about alfalfa fields in the vicinity of Greeley. Northward from Greeley to Cheyenne, Wyo., no species of grasshoppers were seen in abnormal numbers. Nor were they found to be present along the Union Pacific Railroad between Cheyenne and Laramie in sufficient numbers to be noticeable. At Laramie few individuals of any species were to be seen, although several trips were made for the special purpose of obtaining specimens. Professor Buffum, director of the experiment station, who does the entomolog- ical work in that State, also informed me that, so far as he knew, similar conditions prevailed over much of the State of Wyoming. Leaving Laramie and proceeding eastward over the Union Pa- cific Railway, no grasshopper signs were visible at any point between Cheyenne and North Platte. Tt was ascertained by inquiry that although considerable injury had been done by locusts for sev- eral years, and even as recently as the year 19Q3, they appeared to have dwindled to such an extent that this year they were not 63 present in numbers above normal. Then, too, the person in charge of the branch of the Nebraska Experiment Station located near that place reported Like condition-. A- the train approached Gothen- burg, and from that point as far eastward a- Kearney, some signs of local abundance and slight injury by two or three species were apparent. Now and then corn field- and weed patches adjoining alfalfa field- showed their ravage-. In two instances magnificent examples of the usefulness of birds as Locust destroyers wore noted. In both cases the birds in question wore gulls, possibly Franklin's or the laughing gull. These birds were present in Hocks of fifty or more and wore congregated on alfalfa fields which showed decided mark- of Locust injuries: and it w a- plainly evident from their actions that the bird- wore feeding, since some of them were on the ground and other- in the ail'. One of these flock- wa- near Gothenburg and the other not far from Kearney. Some day- afterward- a gentle- man from the latter place told me of a similar sight thai lie himself had witnessed. It i- probable that these bird- wore nesting on the artificial Lakes made by damming up the month- of ravine- in con- nection with irrigation and power ditches in the vicinity, and were occupied in foraging. There appeared to be no locn-t injuries along the Platte Valley much Lower down stream than Kearney, although it was followed as far a- Grand Island, where a change wa- made to the Burlington road SO as to reach Lincoln via Aurora and York. Leaving home again on Augn-t in. and going by way of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad up the Elkhorn, the writer (lid not observe hoppers in hurtful numbers east of Chadron and Craw- ford on the Little White River. Even here a comparison with con- dition- a- observed by the writer a year ago showed the pest to be largely on the decline. Scarcely any trace- of injury wore visible feven about the edge- of eornlield- adjoining alfalfa and weed patches — the localities most commonly frequented by the species of locust- most abundant here. The journey was continued westward as far as Casper, Wvo.. w here in L901 considerable grasshopper injury occurred, a- observed by the writer during a visit made at the time. A trip into the country a few mile- from Casper showed but few Locusts. Even the usually abundant prairie or plains forms were below the normal in number-, and in some places decidedly scarce. Inquiries among ranchmen elicited the information that the pest was gradually becoming scarcer throughout the alfalfa growing district to the southeast of the town, where some marked damage had been done by the insects as late as a year ago. Returning to Crawford, Nebr., a -top was made in order to observe conditions away from the town and railroad. The result vas as stated for Casper. From here the writer returned to Lincoln over the Billings and Black Hills 64 branch of the Burlington, but no locust depredations were encoun- tered or reported en route. Learning that several good rains had fallen since his former visit to the upper Republican Valley, the writer, on August IT and 18, made a second trip to southwestern Nebraska. At this time vegeta- tion was greatly improved in appearance and the hoppers were some- what scattered as compared with two weeks before. The last trip of the month was made to northern Wyoming and portions of Montana, where last year considerable locust injury occurred both in cultivated districts and on the ranges. While locusts were this year normally abundant in the valley of the Yellowstone River from a short distance above Billings nearly to Livingston, their work was only occasionally perceptible from the car windows. In this particular district the reports of greatest injury came from Red Lodge and vicinity, not far from the Wyoming line. Here the species concerned were chiefly Aulocara elliotti Thorn., A. femoratum Scudd., and several other plains-inhabiting species like Melanoplus infantilis Scudd., M. occidentalis Thorn., M. pack- ardii Scudd., Cordillacris occipitalis Thorn., and Mestobregma kiowa Thorn. Besides being infested with abnormal numbers of these insects, the region in question, as well as much of the adjoining territory, was badly affected by drought. These two causes com- bined to render the grazing exceedingly poor. Considering the dwindling in numbers from last year to the present time it seems that the pest is quite certainly on the decrease, even in the district of greatest abundance. August 23 to 25, inclusive, a drive was taken through the Galla- tin valleys in company with President Reed and Professor Cooley of the Montana Agricultural College. No locust injuries of importance were found, but in certain areas several species Avere present in num- bers most certainly above normal for the district. There were two species of Melanoplus, a form of atlanis and an undetermined species, and Camnula pellucida Scudd. Last year a much more extended district was overrun. Encoptolophns sordidus Burm., which was abundant in 1903, was rare this year. A visit to Helena and the immediately adjoining regions showed the various local species of locusts to be much below the normal in abundance as compared with former years. While no work was done in western Kansas and southeastern Colo- rado, it was learned through others that some locust damage occurred in tin' vicinity of Garden City, Kans., among the alfalfa fields, but efforts at remedying the evil were being made. Machines were in use, poisoning with the bran-arsenic mixture was regularly carried on, and large flocks of turkeys were being employed to rid the fields of the pest. 65 NOTES ON THE BEHAVIOR OF THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE IN GREAT BRITAIN. ( Li€pttitotQT8Q [Doryphora] decetnlineata Say). By FugD. v. Theobald. Wye Court, Wye % England. The advent of the Colorado potato beetle into Great Britain in 1901 gave rise t<> grave apprehensions, which, judging from its behav- ior during it > stay on our shores, were certainly not unfounded. For once tin' country was prepared t<> deal drastically with this Unwelcome intruder, for a hill hail been passed by hoth House- of Parliament in l s 77 by means of w hich the existing hoard of agricul- ture ha- power to take over land infested with the Colorado potato hectic so as to injure it- eradication. The necessity of this measure was amply shown during 1901 and L902 when the "spearman"* was present in t lii- count rv. The lew note- I made on the general behavior of this hectic during it- -lay with u- may not he unwelcome to tho-c in whose land it flourishes, and of interest to other- into whose country it may any day he imported. I believe the British invasion is only the third thai has occurred in Europe, the tw<> previous outbreaks having occurred in Germany some year- ago. '1 he beetle was reported to the officials at the board of agriculture in August, L901, a- being present in some allotment- in Tilbury Dockyard. ( )u the 22d of that month I visited the dockyard and found tin 1 beetles very active and full of generative vitality. They were not numerous, some two dozen or more only being observed, hut many more had evidently been at work and some had been collected and killed. At this time they wen' depositing eggs, and I found larvie in nil stages of development. At a glance one could see that the beetles had been at work some time; probably the colony had been there -oine month- before it was detected. The potatoes were noticeably defoliated, hut mainly, it seemed, by the Larvae and not by the adults. The hectic- did not seem to take wing, but were most active, crawling about in the bright sunshine. I never saw one take wing in the open, hut those I brought away for further observation became most active in the breeding cages, frequently using their rosy wings and dashing up against the glass of the cages. Later I noticed them in my garden taking short flights under their muslin tents. The land where this colony had taken up it- abode was treated in "A name sunietin.es given to the Colorado potato beetle, based on tbe old generic term I >orv|»bora. 2st::;>— No. 54—05 m 5 66 a very drastic manner by the board of agriculture's officials, but as avc shall see, without clearing the land completely of this serious pest. The potato haulm a was cleared and fired with paraffin and the ground heavily coated with gas lime and later plowed up. The land was also soaked with paraffin, and gas lime was put on at the rate of 60 tons per acre. I may here mention that one of the inspectors of the board of agriculture and myself found that the beetles could live in a tin of gas lime unharmed ; one would not, therefore, expect this unknown quantity to be effective against the adults, although its caustic properties should destroy larva? and pupae. It does not do so, however, for reasons which I shall point out. The land and the neighboring plats of potatoes and the district for some 3 miles around were examined later and no further specimens were found. I went to Tilbury again on September IT, 1901, and could find no trace of beetles, larvae, or eggs around the invaded area. I brought some twenty beetles and larvae away with me on the first visit arid kept these in confinement in breeding cages under safe guard- ianship in my garden. The larvae all became mature by September 23. In very few cases did I notice the beetles feeding, but the larvae, especially in their closing stages, were most ravenous. Besides potato, I fed some on tomato and found they did not thrive so well, others on deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) and on sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceiis)^ on both of which they flourished admirably. Some eggs were found on the sow thistle at Tilbury; hence I tried it as a food plant. Soon after bringing the specimens home I found that the adults readily buried themselves in the earth when the weather was dull and cool. Several adults which I took in August lived until the following spring, a feAV died, and others deposited eggs. The eggs found at Tilbury varied greatly in color according to age, some being yellow, others deep orange. The}^ varied in number in I lie last batch from 9 up to 40. The beetles, it seemed, did not mind whether they laid the eggs on the upper or under sides of the leaves. Those laid in my garden were nearly all on the upper surface, while those at Tilbury were mostly seen on the under surface. The egg stage lasted with us ten days, and in one case seventeen, the larval stage from three to five weeks, and the pupal stage from seven to ten days in summer. One larva lived seven weeks and then died. A few larvae existed for (wo weeks without any food and eventually transformed to adults after being fed. To my surprise, one warm day in November, some dozen beetles ' Mine out of (he ground and remained on the surface in a sluggish condition, but before nightfall they had buried themselves again. 1 dug up the ground in January and found they were all lying about " I )ry stalks, stubbie. — Ed. 67 6 inches down in the soil. Although the land was lumpy, they had gone into the solid >oil and did not shelter under the clods or stones. Certainly all those I kept passed the winter in the adult condition. In my laboratory they came out of their winter quarters in March. I>nt in the open not until April 17. and the Last on May 4. Some early potatoes had been planted with them and they commenced egg laying on May "JO. All these check specimens were then killed. ( )ne could tell at a glance from their dingy color that they were hiber- nating, and as none had appeared to my knowledge by that date at Tilbury it was hoped the measures taken by the hoard had been suffi- cient. On the contrary, the beetles had survived the rough usage, and fresh specimens were reported at the end of May on the same land. I went there on dune 2 for the hoard and found the beetles emerging from the ground in -mall number-, and was at once -truck by the difference in appearance between them and those I had so recently killed at home. One could easily see that they were only jn-t hatched, the elytra being soft and almost cream colored between the dark line-. One of the Inspectors noticed them emerging from the ground that had been treated in the previous autumn with gas lime and paraffin. There is not the least doubt that these specimens had just hatched from pupa?. A- i- well know n, the pupa?, especially in light, friable -oil like that at Tilbury, are found at a great depth, 50 that in this case neither the gas lime, paraffin, nor plowing had affected them. The land wa- only plowed to a depth of 1<> inches and many larva 1 may well have previously burrowed deeper than that and so have escaped harm. We thus had the in-ect living in two way- with n- during the win- ter, namely, as adults and as pupae. The latter i-. I believe, excep- tional in America, although my friend. Doctor I low aid. tell- me it has been observed by Professor Smith. Very few specimens were found in 1902 and these were dealt with by constant hand picking. During the la-t two years none have been seen at Tilbury, so that we may safely say that the energies of the officials in charge have been rewarded with success. Another -care occurred in L904, live specimens being taken to the Hereford Museum, but these had been brought over by a lady from the United States as curios, little knowing the penalty attaching to the introduction of the live insects into this country. I think we may safely say that Leptinotarsa decemlineata does not now exist in this country, but that it can flourish to a remarkable degree has become a well-established fact. One point of interest I may mention in conclusion — namely, that it -oon found an enemy in Britain in the form of the larval seven- spotted ladybird (Coccinella If -punctata Linn.). These larvae are 68 normally aphis feeders, but I found quite a number at Tilbury, which were observed in several instances feeding on the Colorado potato beetle's eggs, devouring them most greedily; and I can not help thinking that they did much of the work in getting rid of the enemy. The eggs of this ladybird were deposited on the potatoes and were sent in, in many instances, as Colorado potato beetle eggs. They certainly present a general rough likeness, but can at once be told by their smaller size and paler yellow hue. The pupa? of this beneficial insect also bear a slight resemblance to those of the potato "bug'' and have frequently been sent in as such. They are very much smaller in size, however, and could not be mistaken by an expert. AN EXPERIENCE WITH HYDROCYANIC- ACID GAS AS A BJ MED Y FOR THE CIGARETTE BEETLE IN DWELLINGS. By F. H. Chittenden and F. C. Pratt. During the first week of September, 1904, two persons residing in the northeast section of Washington, 1). C, complained of injury to furniture, rugs, and tapestry in their dwelling houses, submitting specimens of the larva and adult of the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne Fab.) as the cause of their troubles. The first house- holder was very fearful lest the insects would spread from the only room infested to others, including one containing a valuable library; and the other, a lady, was in an exceedingly nervous condition, brought about through her ineffectual struggles to evict the " bugs' 1 from her domicile. Gasoline, benzine, k " black flag/' and various other insecticides, including formaldehyde, had been used without avail, as had also red pepper. The insects were believed, and with reason, to have fed and multiplied on the last-mentioned substance. As no experiments had hitherto been made with the hydrocyanic- acid gas treatment for this insect, experiments were instituted in the second house. A visit to this house showed injury plainly visible on the upholstered furniture, and the edges of a carpet were frayed. Numbers of beetles and their larva 1 were observed, the last in cells preparatory to pupation. Experiment No. 1. — The gas was used at the usual strength — 1 ounce of cyanide of potash to 100 cubic feet of space, the doors and windows being quite securely closed. The exposure was seventeen hours. 1'poii aerating the following morning many beetles were found apparently dead on (he floor and were swept up and kept in a box to ascertain if they might revive. All died, however, and the result w as looked upon as satisfactory. Experiment No. L -About two weeks later more adults were noticed about the bouse, and as they continued to accumulate notice 69 was given to this office, and a stronger test was recommended, three times the usual strength — that is. 3 ounces of cyanide of potash to 100 cubic feet of space — and a longer exposure. This was applied September 28, and renewal was made the following day, twenty- three hours later, arrangements having been made so that jars con- taining fresh acid could bo introduced and charged with cyanide through a window. The second exposure lasted nineteen hours, or practically forty-two hour- in all. • Prior to experiment it was ascertained that the insects had been breeding in the lower covering of the chair-. Dozen- of Lame were found between the covering and the webbing which was nailed across the latter. After airing the Infested room hundreds of larvae were observed that had fallen from the lower covering of chair- (which had pre- viously been ripped oil' to facilitate the effed of the gas) to the floor, ami all adult- observed were dead, a- were al-o house flies. Some of the larvae and beetle- which had been subjected to treatment were placed in a rial to determine the effect of the experiment. They all died, but considerably later it was found necessary to dispose of the chair-, a- they were -till infested. Ow ing to the failure of our first experiment with hydrocyanic-acid ga- against the cigarette beetle, a- al-o of another experiment on the confused Horn- beetle (Tribotium confv&um Duv.), it was suspected that something might be wrong with the ingredient-, and accordingly a sample of cyanide of potash was selected at random and submitted to Mr. J, K. Haywood, of the Bureau of ( Chemistry, for analysis. He reported that it contained -)~A^ per cent cyanogen. !>..~>7 per cent chlorine, and the remainder a mixture of potassium and sodium, the analysis showing that this sample was not the product paid for: in other words, not 98 per cent potassium cyanide, but a mixture of potassium cyanide, -odium cyanide, and -odium chloride. The three compounds were present in such proportions that the mixture yielded |P3 per cent of the amount of hydrocyanic-acid gas it should yield if the -ample were pure potassium cyanide, and yet the amount of cyan- ogen which might be produced by this mixture could be 53 per cent, whereas in pure potassium cyanide it is 40 per cent. In the second test against this species the potassium cyanide was psed three times as strong a- in the first. In the meantime, a sample was being analyzed by Mr. J. K. Haywood. His results were as follows : Per cent. Potassium cyanide 51.70 Sodium cyanide 2.07 Sodium chloride 3.80 Potassium carbonate 39.28 Other impurities 2. 7(5 Moisture 0.30 70 This analysis showed that the sample on treatment with sulphuric acid yielded only 54.50 per cent of the amount of hydrocyanic acid demanded by theory for pure potassium cyanide. An examination of the residue from the sample after treatment with sulphuric acid was also made, and it was found that the blue color of this residue ap- peared to be due to Prussian blue (ferric ferrocyanide) , a compound left in the mixture by a faulty method of manufacture. Mr. Haywood also made an examination of two samples of flour which had been treated with hydrocyanic-acid gas October 11 for Tribolium confusum, with the result that no traces of the acid were to be found in either sample, showing that the flour is not affected in any way by this method of fumigation. NOTES ON FULLER'S ROSE BEETLE IN 1904. By Fdk. Maskew, Long Beach, Cal. The following notes are compiled from observations on Fuller's rose beetle (Aramigus fulleri Horn) made by the writer during the season of 1904 in Los Angeles County, Cal. Throughout the month of May larva? of all sizes were abundant in the infested berry fields, both in the strawberry plants and in the surrounding soil. The greatest depth at which larva? were found in the strawberry fields approximated 5 inches. In the case of black- berry and logan berry they were found attacking the roots at a depth of from 15 to 18 inches. May 23, in the soil surrounding a strawberry plant, the first pupa w as found. This plant, while wilted, was still green, and contained no grubs in the borings in the stem. The writer was unable to esti- mate the depth at which the pupa was found, since it came up in a trowel full of loose soil. June 17 the first beetle was noticed. It was feeding on the foliage of an ornamental shrub, Lagunaria pattersonii. During this month beetles became numerous. July 29 the writer was asked by a local nurseryman what was the matter witli a large potted ornamental asparagus (Asparagus plu- mosus nanus). The plant presented a very sickly appearance, the stems.being hard and dry, and the foliage yellow. Finding no evi- dence of scale insects or mealy bugs, the roots were investigated, with i he result that s| larvae and pupae of Fuller's rose beetle were found in the -oil and upon the roots contained in the 10-inch pot. The pot and plant had been suspended from the rafter of a lath house and had not been disturbed for eleven months. August L9 a beetle was observed in the act of ovipositing. The i ggs, -2<'> in number, were laid in an irregular mass upon the upper sur- face of the foliage of a crested wattle (AlMzzia lophantha), a potted 71 plant. The foliage was about feet above the ground, and above the egg mass it was drawn together and fastened by a webby substance. These eggs, placed in a phial and carried in the pocket, hatched August 24. Many egg masses were subsequently found and hatched Ollt. The beetles were very numerous and destructive during the months of August ;ind September <>n ornamental trees and plants in the nursery yards, no plants except different species of Auricarias being exempt from attack. They appeared t<> cat the foliage of the castor bean with as much gusto a- that <>t' the Lima bean, and the pungent flavor of the young grow th of the camphor, pepper, and the different eucalypti apparently suited their palate- equally as well as the succu- lent young growth of canna. They were repeatedly taken at work on the>e plant.-. The foliage of all -pecie- of acacia for sale here is greedily eaten, excepting perhaps .1. i ultriformis and .1. armata, and the writer ha- -ecu the market value — *"J..">0 — of potted camellias and Sterculia acerifolia destroyed by these pests in twenty-four hours. While at Oceanside, San Diego County. September the writer noticed, in the orchard of the Rev, Mr. Dodd, a large number of insect castings on the foliage. While searching for the cause, an immature and apparently sound apple dropped to the ground. An examination showed that it- stem had been freshly severed by some insect Mr. Dodd. on having hi- attention called to this, stated that, he had found a brown beetle eating the -tern-, and upon Investigation the writer traced the injury to Fuller's rose beetle, the culprit being found at work in -evcral instances. Time wa- very limited here and no opportunity was offered of studying this interesting phase of the subject. This insect, in ;ill of it- Stages, ha- been found by the writer, from Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County, to El Cajon, San Diego County. THE GIANT SUGAR-CANE BORER. {Ciutnia Hens Fab. > P»y C. L. Marlatt. The appearance of an important new sugar-cane pest in Demerara, British Guiana, ha- some interest for us. inasmuch as the West Indian sugar-cane borer, also known a- the " larger cornstalk-borer" (Diatrcea saccharalis Fab.), for many year- an important enemy of cane and corn in the United States, traveled northward through the West Indian I-land- from the same region, reaching Louisiana at an early date and now ranging a- far north as Virginia and Maryland. That this new cane bisect may come north seems doubtful, as the family to which it belong> i- essentially tropical. While belonging to an entirely distinct family, the habits of this new cane pest closely par- 72 allel the older and better-known enemy of this staple. The adults, larvse, pupa?, and eggs of this insect, together with canes showing the larval burrows and containing the larvae, were transmitted to Col. G. B. Brackett, pomologist of the Department, by Mr. B. Howell Jones, of Georgetown, Demerara, who gave a rather interesting account of it in a letter which is quoted below. The insect proved to be Castnia licus Fab., and the only known food habit hitherto re- corded is the breeding of the larvae in the Upper Orinoco in the roots of an orchid. As shown in Westwood's Monograph of the genus Castnia (Transactions of the Linnaean Society, 2d series, Zoology, Vol. I, p. 173, 1875, and by Herbert Druce in his Lepidoptera- Heterocera (Biologia Centrali Americana, Vol. I, p. 26, 1883), this insect has been collected in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, east Peru and Bolivia, Guiana, Trinidad, Amazons, and Brazil. Accord- ing to Druce, it is a scarce insect in Central America, but seems to be more abundant in its more southern range. The material sent by Mr. Jones was so ample and in such an excellent state of preservation that it seemed worth while to have careful drawings made, which are reproduced for this note. (PI. IV.) The large size of this insect, in comparison with Diatrcea sac- charalis, commonly known in this country as the " larger cornstalk- borer " to distinguish it from the smaller cornstalk-borer {Elasmo- palpus Ughosellus), warrants the application of the term given at the head of this article to this new cane pest. The assumption of the cane-feeding habit by this insect is another illustration of the sudden development of an injurious food habit in an insect which for years has had no economic importance, and shows how little can be predicted of any insect from its known food habits. It is to be hoped that this insect will not develop a northern trend through the West Indies as did its forerunner, the larger cornstalk-borer. The fact that it is not especially abundant in its northern range in Central America is an element of security, but can not necessarily be relied upon, because this scarcity may be due to a lack of suitable plants in which it can breed. Mr. Jones's letter is a most interesting contri- bution to the knowledge of the history of this insect, and it is signifi- cant that now that it has found a food plant furnishing abundant means of reproduction it breeds in enormous numbers. I quote the letter referred to in full: Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana, November 2H- Jf)0.' h B. Brackett, Esq. Deab Sir: I ;iin taking the liberty of sending you ;i small box containing the ej^s. caterpillars, chrysalis, and butterfly that has been doing some damage to some of our cane fields, it is entirely now to us here, though some planters say they have soon it before, hut they did not think it did much damage. In the present case it is doing a great deal of damage, and a few children with nets Bui 54. Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agr.culture. Plate IV. * d ■ M Castnia licus Fab. Female moth: b, larva. lateral view: r. lirst abdominal segment with proleg; d, egg; e pupa \ cut ml view: ./. pupa, dorsal view: y. spiraeular cleft: //. abdominal segment, enlarged to snow row s ot retlexed spines: i. segment of cane showing larval burrow and larva— larva pupa, ami moth natural size— egg and anatomical details variously enlarged— cane one- halt natural size (original). 73 have caught upward of ■ thousand of the butterflies in a week. At present the attack is confined to one estate, hut. of coarse, it may spread. This is the third year it lias been noticed. In the two first years comparatively slight damage was done, hut at present time a trreat deal of damage has heen done. The caterpillars enter the cane both from the bottom, close to the root, and work upward through four or five joints, or enter above and wni-u downward, form- ing a chrysalis at the bottom of the cane or in the ground at the hase of the cane. The caterpillars appear in Ootoher and November, and. as this is our chief reaping season, many of them are destroyed by the mill. They have heen found in fields of loose vegetable soil which have been top-dressed with filter- preSfl refuse. My object In Writing to you is to ask you If you would put this before the entomologist of your Department to see if the butterfly is known, and to ascer- tain its name, if it is. it also ulght he Interesting to those engaged in studying the cultivation of sujrar cane and the disease from which it suffers. Hoping I am not giving you too much trouble and trespassing on your kind- ness, believe me. yours faithfully, p.. Rowell Jones. In a subsequent letter, under date of February 2, 1905, Mr. B. Howell Jones gives the additional information thai the plague of these insects -till continues on the Knnmiv e-tate and many thousands of the moths are being caught weekly. He says the only remedies so far practiced an- catching the moth- and destroying the grubs when found. An attempt to attract the moth- by putting a strong 1 iirlit in the fields at night was without success, SYSTEMATIC RELATIONSHIP and DESCRIPTIVE NOTES. The family Castnidse, to winch this insect belongs, include- a con- siderable number of very showy and large moth- limited to the neo- tropical region and more abundant in South America than in Central America and Mexico, one species, however, having been reported in the United States. The systematic position of this family has been the subject of some controversy among specialists. On account of the clubbed antennae and general showy character of the moths they were originally assigned to the Rhopalocera and to the genus Papilio. The discovery of the Larval and pupa- and something of the habits of some of the species has led to more correct idea- of their relationships. In larval and pupal characteristics one is reminded of Cossus. The examination of the material submitted by B, Howell Jones to Doctor Dyar led him immediately to place them in the family Tineidse— an anomalous disposition in view of their great size, but warranted by evident structural character-. The habits of but few species of this genus are known, and these agree in being internal feeders, and this is probably true for all. In this particular species pupation occurs within the larval burrow. Other species, however, leave the burrow and form loose cocoons. The following brief description of the 74 different stages is appended, not as a technical contribution, but as supplemental to the plate : Adult. — The wing expanse of the adult female is 3 to 4 inches. The male is smaller, having a wing expanse of 2| to 3 inches. Con- siderable variation is exhibited in the ornamentation of the Avings, two distinct varieties being illustrated in the material in the Na- tional Museum. The general color is rusty brown. The forewings are crossed with a broad diagonal white band; the posterior wings have a similar band, broader and less sharply defined, crossing them at right angles to the band of the forewings. The hindwings have also a submarginal row of 6 or 7 reddish-yellow spots, the central spots being much larger than the lateral ones. A variation in colora- tion, as in the example figured, is seen in some specimens in the pres- ence on the forewings of an additional irregular row of spots forming a band exterior to and irregularly parallel to the broad transverse band. The notable feature of the wings is the brilliant opalescence, especially notable near the body. The antenna^ are clubbed, giving them a resemblance to the true diurnal Lepidoptera. The under sur- face is lighter than the upper, with the markings approximately repeated and rather more distinct save for the yellow spots, which are faint. There is also an additional submarginal row of white spots on the anterior wings. Larva. — The larva, illustrated on Plate IV, figs, b and c, varies from '2 to inches in length, is white or flesh-colored, and very elongate. The head is relatively small and pointed, of a light chest- nut, with mandibles and more or less of mouth parts black. The body is smooth and practically devoid of hairs, although minute ones which have significance in classification are found, as indicated in the drawing. The prolegs bear two transverse rows of stout curved spines or hooks. The spiracles are very large, oval, prominent; the prothoracic pair and the pair on the last abdominal segment are about twice the size of the others. Pupa. — The pupa (figs, e and /) measures an inch and a half in length, is fairly robust, chestnut brown in color, and in general smooth and shining. There is a strongly excavated crescent-shaped spiracular pocket on either side of the pronotum. The prominent features are the two transverse rows of strong reflexed spines, or teeth, on the dorsum of each of the abdominal segments extending laterally, a little beyond the spiracles. The anterior row of spines is much Stronger than the posterior, and the latter is wanting or nearly so on the two terminal segments. The tip of the pupa is squarely truncate and ornamented with a series of sharp ridges. Egg. — The egg (fig. d) is flesh colored, white when empty, very elongate, and witli live strong carina 1 , giving in cross section the 75 stellate figure shown in the illustration. Length, one-sixth of an inch. The segment of cane showing the characteristic larval burrow with larva in situ i fig. /) was drawn from one of the canes sent by Mr. Jones. The pupa is formed in a little cell similar to that occupied by the larva in the cane. GENERAL NOTES. KKI'ORTKl) SI CCKSS OF AN I NTK< >I>1< EI> LADYBIRD SCALE ENEMY IN CALIFORNIA. Under date of September 28, L904, Mr. Frederick Maskew, Long Beach, CaL, sent specimens of the introduced ladybird beetle, Rhizo- bius lophantha Blaisdell, with the statement that it has very effectu- ally controlled the purple scale (Mytilaspis citricola Packard) in the Chula Vista lemon orchards during the year, this report being based upon testimony furnished by Messrs. Allen and Copeland, extensive grower- and competent close observers, Our correspondent's per- sonal experience with this ladybird was limited to the lemon orchards pf Pacific Beach. Reviewing his long acquaintance with the pur- ple scale in the seedling orange orchards of Los Angeles County, his finding- were highly gratifying. He reports as follow-: Old purple SC&Ifl were Qbundanl Oil most of tin- trees, but were [D every in- stance dead, the eggs haying apparently batched. The most diligent search failed to find any live young scale on either wood, foliage, or fruit At the time of this investigation, September 7. the parasites were found only occasion- ally, bn1 I wms assured that they had been rery numerous during the past year. Knowing the vagaries of the different Khi/.ohiids. I am Inclined to look upon these results in Sun Diego County as an adaption to local food supply, induced by the absence Of other forms due to extreme drought rather than a case of true parasitism. This same beetle is very generally distributed throughout Los Angeles County, and I have often found it in very singular locations. It has attracted milch attention during the past year and lias been Identified by different local "au- thorities" as Rhizobius toowootnbWt Soptnnus marginicollis, Scymnus lophnnthtB, and Rhizobius debilis. In commenting on the identity of these specie-. Mr. E. A. Schwarz of this office furnishes the following notes: Rhizobius tootooombce Blackburn is a synonym of Rhizobius lophanthne Blais- dell. Rhizobius debilis Blackburn is closely allied, but a little larger, more metallic, and with darker prothorax and darker underside of the body. Seym mi* marginicollis Mannh. is entirely different from Rhizobius, yet is frequently mistaken for Rhizobius lophanthce. It is a native of California, and feeds, both as larva and Imago, on plant lice that affect various fruit trees and many herbaceous plants. It never feeds on scale insects. 76 It is claimed that Rhizobius lophanthce was probably in California some years before it was introduced by Albert Koebele from Austra- lia, having evidently been introduced accidentally. It was noticed among the mountains north of Pomona, Cal., in 1891, and in San Diego the following year. Some notes on this and related species have been furnished by Prof. John B. Smith in an article entitled " Scale Insects and their Enemies in California,'' published in Bul- letin No. 6, n. s.. of the Division of Entomology, pages 46-48. There can be no doubt that the effectiveness of some of these ladybirds has been handicapped by the somewhat careful methods followed by growers of citrus fruits in California in spraying and fumigating scale-infested orchards. Nevertheless, it is extremely doubtful if any of these ladybirds, after having once obtained a foothold, could be exterminated by fumigation or spraying, as some affect to believe. If any species have died out, it has probably been due chiefly to natural causes, such as insect and other enemies, and climatic condi- tions deleterious to their development. LOCUSTS, MALARIA, AND MOSQUITOES IN THE TRANSVAAL. We have just finished a most successful locust campaign. I do not know how many swarms of locusts Ave have killed, but it will evi- dently run into thousands. In one little valley about 20 miles wide and 20 miles long our official force killed about 1,500 swarms, varying in >ize from 10 by 12 feet up to swarms occupying an area of 5.000 square yards. In this valley there were also 30 farmers working on their own farms, and I would not care to estimate how many locusts were killed. From evidence given by old residents and by the natives * find that this has been one of the worst locust years in their memory. They all agree that if these swarms had not been destroyed nothing would have been harvested in this locality, whereas at present all the damage could be easily compensated by a $5 note. The Kaffirs arc especially keen on this question of destruction, and have turned out in hordes to aid the district locust officer. Our success in this valley is one of the many successes which we have had throughout the infested districts of the colony. We an 4 placing our main reliance upon a strong arsenical spray. The spray consists of 1 pound of arsenic, half a pound of carbonate of soda, 1 pound of sugar, and 10 gallon of water. These chemicals are boiled together so as to make the solution arsenite of sodium, which is sweetened by the sugar. In order to -how you how effective this is. I need only cite one in- stance of a farmer who noted a swarm of fully grown " voefc- gangers that is, grasshoppers in their last stage before obtaining wingi — which was 200 yards long and 50 yards wide. These locusts were advancing down a hill toward his "mealies." (The term 77 u mealies " is used in this country instead of corn.) This swarm was so numerous thai it stopped a railway train, the latter being obliged to go l>ack- seven] times before it could cross it. The farmer sprayed a semicircle about 60 feet wide in front of the swarm, using the arsenical spray. A- a result not a single locust escaped. It seems that the sugar in the spray has a great attraction for them, and they eat their lill of it to their utter destruction. AlS to the prevalence of malaria on our eastern line of railway, we have at last succeeded in awakening the railway people to the serious- ness of the situation. Next Tuesday we expect to start on a mosquito survey of about L50 mile- of railway, in cooperation with one of the railway medical officers. I -hall make accurate surveys of the breeding places and the kind- of mosquitoes found, while the doctor will make blood studies of the inhabitants, including the natives, horses, sheep, goat-, birds, and other animal-. We are being fur- nished with three car- one for living purposes, one for a laboratory, and one for kitchen and dining room. If I am not mistaken, I think that thi- i- the first tune that any entomologist ever had the oppor- tunity of conducting studies of thi- character under such favorable circumstances. C. B. Simpson, Entomologist^ Transvaal Department of Agriculture ) Pretoria^ Transvaal^ South Africa. THE CATERPILLAR OF WTK AIM \ GEMMATTLIS INJURING VELVET BEAN. October s . L903, we received from Mr. A. Fredholm, Fort Drum. I'd a., numbers of the caterpillars of the Noctuid moth. . 1 nticarsia gem- matilis Hbn., found on velvet bean- [Muerma utilis). We have also received a communication relative to the great injury accomplished by this species in Florida (localities not stated). The insect- were stated by Mr. John Parker to occur in great number- and to destroy the vines by entirely denuding them of their foliage. Mi". Parker thought th.it several generations were produced each season, as they appeared to be well-nigh continuous breeder-. The larvae are exceed- ingly active, and at th<' slightest disturbance jump to the ground, where they wriggle about rapidly until a place of security is found. Blackbirds and rice birds eat them, but the insects are often too nimble for the more clumsy bird- and many escape. When, how- ever, the bird- are in Large Hock-, a- frequently happens, they must undoubtedly be of service. The "green sparrow" was said to be the most active as well a- successful enemy of the larvae. These bird-, however, do not occur in great number-, but one of them would evt in under a vine and pick off larva after larva. The larva 1 remain on the under sides of the leaves. The velvet bean i- highly recommended for winter pasturage in the extreme South, for hay. and for soil renovation; it is also used as a nitrogen gatherer in orange groves. The occurrence of this insect, 78 according to Mr. Parker, is the principal drawback to the extensive planting of the velvet bean in that section for either winter pasture or hay, as it leaves no foliage on the plants to be fed to stock or to be cured, nor. in fact, vegetation to plow under for fertilizing. For sev- eral years velvet beans have been planted, and invariably the caterpil- lars alone were benefited. Many fields and a small grove have been badly damaged. In the groves 50 to 60 per cent of the plants were injured ; in open fields injury was still greater. Our correspondent had heard of several complaints of this cater- pillar destroying velvet beans. A Mr. J. A. Willis, Alger, Fla., had had his crop ruined for several year-. The caterpillar of this species is long and slender, cylindrical, the last pair of legs projecting backward and spreading. The body is sparsely coated with rather stiff black hairs which arise from small white button-like tuber- cles. The head is large, a little wider and higher than the body, rounded, and with a slight notch in the middle. The head is orange yel- low or greenish yel- low with a few FlG. 20.— Anticarsia gemmatilis: «, moth; b, larva, dorsal view; Small blackish dots, c, head, seen from front; r/, first abdominal segment, lateral Xhe °"eiieral Color of view— a. b. enlarged: c\ d. more enlarged (original ). . . to , . „ the body varies rrom dull green to olive brown, which becomes yellow in inflated speci- mens. It has a number of fine white lines, one dorsal, two lateral — separated by a blackish shade — and a distinct yellow and white pair along the stigmata or breathing holes, with a little dark edging below. It has eight pairs of legs. The mature larva measures about one {Mid one-half inches in length, and one-sixth inch in width. Alto- gether it is an attractive spceies. as will be seen by the illustration [fig. -20. b). The character of the head and the arrangement of the stripes on the >ides of the body are shown at c and r pole and carried by a man mounted on a mule or horse. Later generations of the caterpillars will he apt to he more numerous ,iiid more difficult of treatment on account of tin 1 difficulty of placing the poison where all of the caterpillars will he reached. — F. II. C. \.\ [N8TANCE OF COMPLETE PARASITISM 01 THE [M PORTED CABBAGE WORM. A numher of maturing caterpillars of Pieris rapa were gathered at Washington, August 28, L904, to ascertain what percentage might he parasitized at this time a- many were obviously injured. Sixty percent of all that could he found in the Last stages developed para- sites of the imported Braconid Apanteles glomeratus Linn., all of which issued in masses of cocoon- From their h<>M within two days after the latter were taken under observation. The remaining cater- pillars all transformed to pupa- and thereafter to perfect butterflies. During the first week of September another lot of these cabbage "worms" was obtained from cabbage and other cruciferous plants from our experimental garden, all of the mature individuals that could he secured. These were counted and cared for in the same manner as before, and toward the end of the first week it was noticed that not a single Larva had survived. No pupa' were formed, and therefore n<> butterflies issued, and since a mass of Apanteles cocoons was counted for each caterpillar that had been gathered, a case of complete parasitism was proven. A- soon as it was noticed that the caterpillars had failed to pupate, both larvae and pupae were sought for <»n the grounds, hut with negative results, showing that the same condition existed both in rearing jars and in the open. The COCOOns of A /> Sphinx atropos)^ makes a hissing or, more correctly, crackling sound which seems to be pro- duced by the rubbing together of the mandibles or jaws, each of these being provided on its outer surface with a row of prominences serving as a stridulating organ. The sound is not unlike that made by the discharge of an electric -park or the snapping of the finger nails together. Sometimes the -ound Is continuous and resembles that made by winding a watch. The death's-head moth itself also make- a sound, which has been compared to the squeak of a mouse. There has been wide difl'erence of opinion as to the manner in which these sounds are produced, and the reader is referred to Tutt's British Lepidoptera, Vol. IV. pages 1H 158, where the matter i> treated in detail. The pupa, shortly before emergence, is capable of emitting a sound similar to that of the moth, although fainter. a JUMPING GALL. July 6, L904, Dr. Morris Gibbs, Kalamazoo, Mich., sent a number of galls found underneath oak trees. When received nearly all of the specimens were jumping about in a very lively manner and to a considerable height for such small objects. Their motions are considerably different from those of the better-known jumping bean, which are caused by a lepidopterous larva similar to the codling moth, and known as Carpocapsa 8altitans. These nails occur at the rate of a thousand to a single leaf, and are formed on the under surface of different species of oak. They have at first glance the appearance of a clover seed, having an average diameter of only 1 mm. Closely examined they are found to resemble a miniature acorn. The insect which produces this gall i- a cynipid fly. Neuroterus saltatorius Ily. Edw., a common Bpecies, reported from Ohio to Michigan and Mis- souri and westward to California. It has been surmised that the peculiar bounding motion of this gall is caused by the larva within, whose motion i> similar to the leaping of the cheese skipper (Piophila < occurrence in various portions of this country, from the Pacific coast to Michigan. August 20, 1004, Messrs. Woodard. Clarke & Co. called attention to an invasion in Portland. Oreg., where the insect was the occasion of unpleas- ant comment on the part of those who were >o unfortunate as to he obliged to work in the vicinity of the bugs. Considerable ex- pense was incurred in the payment of plumbers' bill- for efforts to locate dead rat- which failed to materialize, and employees of the firm feared typhoid fever, and were loath to remain at their post of duty. Out correspondents stated that there was no evidence that these beetles were dependent on extraneous influence or disturbance as a cause for their emitting the odor. They watched very care- fully around a drain pipe on the Lower roof, and the hectics seemed to emit the odor at all time-. It was believed that their presence in numbers might he accounted for by dense forest fires which might have driven them from the wood- and surrounding fields, the air being at times thick with smoke. This beetle is discussed more in detail in Bulletin No. 9, n. >.. of this Bureau, pages 19-53. REPORTED OCCURRENCE OF THE ASPARAGUS BEETLE IN CALIFORNIA. During Deceinher, 1001. we received word from Mr. R, E. Smith, plant pathologist at the University of California Agricultural Ex- periment Station at Berkeley, CaL, reporting that the common asparagus hectic (Crioceris asparagi Linn.) now occurs quite com- monly in that State in certain Localities, and that it Is becoming a serious pot. It was. he writes, observed incidentally in connection with asparagus rust, and growers were satisfied that they had seen the insect only within recent years, and that it seemed to have come at about the same time as the rust, which has been prevalent since 1901 or 1 902. It i> not as yet generally distributed over the State. No specimens of the species appear to have been seen by an ento- mologist, hence some doubt attaches to this report. Till. SCIENTIFIC NAME OF THE PLUM GOUGER — A CORRECTION. There has been so much confusion in regard to the scientific name of the plum gouger, particularly since the appearance of our note on this subject in Vol. II of Ensecf Life (pp. 258, 259), that it seems desirable to bring the matter up again. As long ago as 1876 Lc Conte wrote, in hi- Rhynchophora of North America (p. 104) that Anthonomus prunicida Walsh., which was originally described in the 84 Prairie Farmer for 1863, and redescribed in the Proceedings Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. (Vol. IX, p. 309), was a synonym of A. Scutellaria Lee, the latter having been described in 1858 (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., p. 79), thus antedating Walsh's name. In Doctor Dietz's revision of the Anthonomini (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, Vol. XVIII, 1891, p. 191) this point of synonymy is only briefly mentioned on the authority of Le Conte. Until the appearance of the note in Insect Life quoted above, Henshaw, in his Bibliography of Economic Entomology, corrected this synonymy in accordance with Le Conte's views ; but in consideration of the facts that Dietz did not see speci- mens of A. prunicida Walsh, and that many are still in doubt concern- ing the right name to use, some further elucidation of the matter seems desirable. We have therefore asked the opinion of Mr. E. A. Schwa rz, custodian of the coleoptera of the National Museum collec- tion. He reports that there is in the museum a specimen in the handwriting of Walsh and from the old Riley collection, labeled prunicida, which agrees with the description and specimens of Scu- tellaria of Le Conte as accepted by systematists. Therefore the true name of the plum gouger is Anthonomus scu- tellaris Lec. As to Coccotorus Scutellaria Lee, the name Coccotorus is treated as a subgenus by Dietz. Mr. C. F. Baker mentions an Anthonomus Scutellaria reared in great numbers from wild plums in Colorado (Entom. News, Vol. VI, 1S95, p. 29), which may belong to this same species or to .1. hirautua Brunei", recorded, so far as we know, only from Nebraska (West Point ) and on a single food plant, P run us pumilo. Hence the note by Bruner in Vol. I, Insect Life, page 89, really refers to his new species, hirst/tux. and the figure there used should be continued for Scutellaria in preference to the two figured in Vol. Ill of the same publication, neither of which is quite correct. L' NI SI A L FOOD PLANTS FOR THE SQUASH LADYBIRD. August 20, 1908, the writer found larvae of Epilachna borealis Fab. about two-thirds grown feeding on leaves of niuskmelon, beans, and Ambroaia artemiaicefolia. These larvae were kept in separate breed- ing cages and reared to maturity. They fed freely on the plants on which they were found, pupated at about the same time, and the pupal period was practically the same — eight to ten days. There was n<> squash or pumpkin growing in the fields where these larvae were found and no cucurbit in the field where those on bean and Ambrosia were taken. The muskmelon field was separated by shrubbery from the bean field. It is. however, extremely doubtful if this species could develop from egg to adult on any other than cucurbits. — E. S. G. T. 85 NOTES OM OHTHOPTERA COLLECTED OX 8UGAB BEETS IX 1004. During a trip through portions of the sugar-beet growing sections of the United States made in May and June and in September and October, L904, a Dumber of Orthoptera were collected, and these have recently been identified by Mr. A. N. Caudell, <>f this Bureau. Only those marked by a star ( :;: ) in the list have been previously reported on this crop. Mos! of the Ortlioptera taken the first trip were immature and could be identified at the most only to the genus. Nymphs identified by Mr. Caudell as belonging to "Mi lanpplus atlanis Riley or M. fern ur- rebrum DeO." were found at [aongmont, Colo.: Montrose, Colo.; Paonia, Colo., and Lehi. I tali, doing considerable damage to young beets. At Echo, Oreg., several species were captured feeding on beets adjoining an alfalfa field that had recently been cut. They had entirely defoliated the beets along the border- and in some places had advanced well into the field. At qo other points were grasshop- pers -ecu doing aerious injury, though several of the beet growers complain of severe injury in year- past The following is a li-t of the species identified: BUpator minutus Thorn. : Olney, Colo. I t Oct.), t $. [i/riiroh tti.r srinhh i i l'.nill. : Lagrande. Oreg. (14 Sept.). 1 Spreekels, GaL (20 Sept. >. - Vkvotettix ocoidentalis Bran.: Spreekels, Cal., s <£. 39. Qomphocerus olavatus Tbom. : Longmont, <'<>1<>. (8 June). ArpHUk pseudonitana Tbom. : Fairfield, Wash. (10 Sept.), common. Chortophapa vtridAfusdata De <;.: Port Collins, Colo. hand, would make an excellent gas check for any reasonable length of time, and afterwards would come off easily without requiring hours of labor SINOLLAI! IX< KKASK OF " I. Kill* " (>N TKKKS OK THE " YELLOW BOX." When traveling <>ii the train between Melbourne and Aiacedon, I noticed a patch of probably some hundreds of acres of land on which the tree- of Eucalyptus melliodora appeared to be covered with snow, hut winch on close inspection proved t<> be an enormous number of the lerp insect (LasiopsyUa rotundipennis Frogg.), covering the leaves so closely as to give the trees the aspect before alluded to. I can not account for thi> abnormal increase, as, although the lerp insects are common enough in the forests around Melbourne, never before in over fifty year- of occasional bush life have I -ecu these singular waxy coverings in such great profusion. This season has been a hot one. and the lerp is by no means confined to the one species of Eucalyptus. It will be interesting to note how far the tree- will be affected, and I hope to supplement thi> short note very soon. — Charles French, Government Entomologist for I ictoria* Australia. \ BED SPIDEB on COTTON. Under instruction- from the Entomologist the writer proceeded, July 9 to id, 1904, to Batesburg, S. C, in order to ascertain the pri- mary cause of injury to cotton which had been reported in that section, whether red spider or some disease of the plant. On the plantation of Mr. E. F. Strothers was found a small field of cotton in which a red spider was becoming common. The field was first attacked, according to Mr. Strothers, on the south side, or nearest the load, and was found infested for a distance of some 200 or 300 yards into the held. Some plants were 1 already dead, while others had lost nearly all of their leaves. The leaves at first have the pecul- iar scarlet appearance due to the attack of this mite. This coloring occurs between the larger ribs, near the base of a leaf, and gradually spreads in all directions. As the injury becomes common over the leaf, the red color dies out. giving place to a dirty yellow, which later fades out, and the leaf shrivels and falls. Larger and older leaves are attacked first and soon commence to curl: younger leaves, when attacked, do not curl until injury has spread quite extensively over the leaf. The mites also attack the squares, flowers, bolls, and stems. These mites were found on five plantations in and around Bates- burg, and in every case north or northeast of water oak or elm trees 88 that had been injured by red spiders earlier in the year — presumably this species. On Mr. Cunningham's place violets and. roses had been injured by this red spider, these plants being in a northerly direction from seriously affected water oaks. Across the road from this place is a small piece of cotton which was the most seriously affected of any seen. A field adjoining the yard and west of the house showed no injury. Earlier in the year this region was visited by strong south- erly winds, and it is quite probable. that the species living on the shade trees at that time were carried into the cotton fields. On Mr. Mitchell's plantation, 2 miles out of town, injury was slight, but the red spiders could be found over a considerable portion of the field. Other cotton fields on this place and between here and Batesburg showed no injury, not a specimen being found. Cotton fields in all directions from Batesburg were visited and general con- ditions were the same in all cases. Several insects (such as grasshoppers and smaller Hemiptera) Avere found on cotton leaves in infested fields with young red spiders attached to them. From material collected by the writer Mr. Nathan Banks deter- mined the species as Tetranychus gloveri Bks. — E. S. G. T. SOME SUGAR-CANE INSECTS. Anomala semilivida Lec. and Myochrous denticollis Say were found feeding on leaves of sugar cane and corn at Berwick, Morgan City, Broussard, Billeaud, and Olivier in April and May, 1904. At Brous- sard they occurred in all the fields visited; at other places they were rare. At Berwick small red ants were noticed carrying living adults of M. denticollis to their nests. Larvae of the boll worm (HeMotMs ohsoleta [armiger] Hbn.) were found very rarely, feeding on the upper unfolded cane leaves in early spring, working downward from above. The sugar-cane borer (Diatrwa saccharalis Fab.) was quite rare in young stalks in the spring, but in the fall some fields of " Trinidad " cane near Berwick were quite badly infested. — E. S. G. T. SOME OBSERVATIONS ON KANSAS INSECTS. We arc in receipt of a communication from Mr. F. F. Crevecoeur, Onaga, Ivans., in which he reports a few observations made during 11)01. During the fall he observed (he twelve-spotted encumber beetle (Diabrotica 12-punctata 01.) feeding on apples that had been injured by birds or other insects. 89 The cotton worm (Alabama argUlacea Ilbn.) and a common wasp (Ve-spa (jcrunuilcn Fab.) were also quite abundant, feeding on apples. The wasp especially was observed to eat apples so that nothing was left but the -kins. October 'i a curciilio, Conotrachelus posticatus Boh., was observed feeding on apple. May 1~> one of the willow weevils, Itorytonai.s tnitcidits Say, was ob- served in the pupa] stage under stones by the water's edge along a creek. The adult issued two days later. dune L5 he observed a dipteron, Ecthodopa pubera Loew., feeding on a wild bee of the genu- HalticUS, A moth. Glaphyrid {IIoimtphij.su) scstjutstrtiilts Ilbn.. was reared from larva] cases in the nests of the ant, ( ' rctmistr< rruyi licit* Say. the "red spider hawk;" kills: spiders and buries them. An individual was observed dragging along a large gray spider. INDEX Acacia Bp., injury by Aram inn* fuUeri ! 71 32oloplus regalis, on weeds <»i Ahihnnni a r . 1 pionu i as spissiftcs, on cotton 33 Apple, unreported enemies 88,89 steins cut by Arami;tns fnllcri 71 Apples, injury by '1'a.ronns niarisoma 43 Arachnophroctonus fenrugineus, local name 80 Aramigus fnllcri. Good plants and injury 70,71 Arsenical spray against locusts 70 sprays agaln8t pond-lily leaf beetle 60 Asparagus beetle, report from California 83 ornamental, injury by Aramigus fnllcri 70 Atropa belladonna, food plant of potato beetle 00 Aulocara elliotti, in Wyoming and Montana 64 fcmoralnm, in Wyoming and Montana 04 Bean, velvet, attack by Anticorsia gemmatiUs 77-70 Bean weevil, common, cold storage 49 four-spotted, cold storage 49 91 92 INDEX. Page. Beans, injury by Epilachna borealis 84 Qalerucella nymphaw 58 Bedbug, notes on remedy 80 Beetle, asparagus, occurrence in California 83 carrot. (See Ligyrus gibbosus.) cigarette. (See Lasioderma serricorne.) confused flour. (See TrWolium cqnfusum.) cucumber, feeding on apple 88 offensive ground 83 potato. (See Leptinotarsa decemlineata.) rice. (See Chalepus trachypygus.) rose. (See Aram ig us fuller}.) sugar-cane. (See Ligyrus rugiceps.) (See also Leaf-beetle.) Berry plants, injury by Aramigus fulleri 70 Birds, insectivorous 15, 63, 77 Boll worm, feeding on sugar-cane 88 Borer, crown. (See Hulstea undulatella.) giant sugar cane. (See Castnia Hens.) larger corn stalk, spread and range 71, 72 smaller corn stalk 72 West Indian sugar-cane 71, 72 Bracon brevicornis=Habrobracon hebetor 40 Brasenia, food plant of Qalerucella nympha w 58 Bruchus chinensis, cold storage 49 obtectus, cold storage 40 quadrimaculatus, cold storage 40 Bbuneb, Lawrence, article CO Caladium esculentum, injury by Calpodes ethlius 5G California, beetles, notes 75,70,83 Calpodes ethlius, article by F. H. Chittenden 54-58 description of butterfly 55 egg 55 larva 56 pupa 50 injury to canna 54, 50 life history and habits 57 origin and possible distribution 55 present distribution 50 remedies 58 Camnula pellueida. in Montana 04 Camphor, injury by Aramigus fulleri 71 Canna, injury by Aramigus fulleri 71 leaf roller, larger. (See Calpodes ethlius.) Carabid, the malodorous, in Oregon 83 Curpoeupsu sal titans, gall production 81 Carrot beetle. (See Ligyrus gibbosus.) Castnia lie us, article by C. L. Marlatt 71-75 description of stages _' 74 records and range 72 systematic relationship , 73 Castor bean, Injury by Aramigus fulleri 71 INDEX. 93 rase. Caterpillar, a squeaking sphinx SO ( huh pus trachypvfftu at light u damage to sugar cane 14 egg 11 tlying in field 13 size and appearance 8 ChauHogmtthus pennsylvonicus, predaceoiis enemy so Chel&MMM iridescent, notes on 91 parasite of llulxtcn uml tilntclla 39 phycitid 30 China tree, food of Prntatonm lii/ata 23 Chittenden, P. EL, and k. s. <;. Tms. article 4<> and F. C. I'katt. article 88 articles 54,58 notes 77. 70 "Cicada wasp." scientific name SO Cigarette beetle. {See LotioeU rum werricome,} cinn.r nifocinrtiis = l > it<>iiinvel 40-54 cost of treatment 58 expert menu ">o method of storing 53 results of experiments 50-52 summary M Colorado potato beetle. {See LeptinotsrsQ decetnlinetitti.) M Concbnela," the. {See Pentatoma Ugata.) Confused flour-beetle. {See TriboHum confusnm.) Ocmotradhehu potticatus, feeding on apple 89 CordillOCriS occipitalis, in Wyoming and Montana 64 Corn, injuries by locusts « (11 sugar-cane beetle S. 10, 17 Corn-stalk borer, larger 71. 72 smaller 72 Cotton, injury by " conchuela." {See Pentutoma Hf/ata.) heteropterous insects 33 red spider 87 worm, feeding on apple SO " Cow -killer ant." scientific name SO Cowpea weevil, cold storage 40 Cowpeas. {See Cold storage.) Cremastogaster lineolata, note on nests 80 Cressonia iiiglandis, a squeaking caterpillar 80 Crioceris asparagi, occurrence in California S3 Crown borer, sugar-beet. {See Hulstea undviatella.) Cucumber beetle, feeding on apple 88 Cyanide of potash. (Sec Potassium cyanide.) Cyclocephala immaxiulata, damage to cane 14 egg 11 occurrence in fields 14 Page. Ddsymutilla orca, note on common name 89 Diabrotica 12-punctata, feeding on apple 88 Diatrcca saccharalis, occurrence on cane 88 spread and range 71, 72 Dock false-worm. (See Tawonus nigrisoma.) yellow, insects injuring. (See Taxonus nigrisoma.) Doryphora—Lcptinotarsa 65 Dorytomus mycidm, pupa observed under stone 89 Droughts, relation to grasshoppers (11 Duvel, J. W. T., article 49 Ecthodopa pubera, feeding on wild bee 89 Elasmopalpus lignosellus 72 Elm leaf-beetle. (Sec Monocesta coryli. i red, defoliation by leaf beetle 82 Encoptolophus sordidus, rarity in Montana 64 Ephestia Jcuehniella, spread' in Pennsylvania 80 Epilachna borealis, note on food plants 84 Erax lateralis, breeding note 15 description and habits 15-16 occurrence near white grubs 12 Eucalyptus mclliodora, increase of " lerp " 87 spp., injury by Aramigus fuller i 71 Exoriste pystc, parasite of Hulsiea undulatella 38 False-worm, dock. (Sec Taxonus nigrisoma.) Flour, effect of hydrocyanic-acid gas 70 moth, Mediterranean, in Pennsylvania 80 Flour-beetle, confused. (Sec Triholium confusum.) French, Charles, note 87 Fuller's rose beetle, article by Fdk. Maskew 70-71 Galeruca sagittariw—Galerucella nymphwer ' 58 Galerucella nymphwee, article by F. H. Chittenden 58-00 description of adult 58 egg and larva 59 feeding habits 00 food plants 58, 59 origin and distribution 58,59 remedies 60 Gas lime, treatment for potato beetle (50 Germination of cowpea, effect of cold storage 50-53 .Glaphyria sequistrialis, in ants' nests 89 "Grand Marais" grass, food for white grubs 12 Crape caterpillar, social, feeding habit 40 Grasshopper conditions in the Western States, article by Lawrence Bruner. oo-04 Grasshoppers on sugar beets, list 85^80 Grubs, white. (See Ligyrus rugiceps.) Tfabrobracon hebetor, notes 40 parasite of Hulstea undulatella 39 Flackberry, food plant of Pentatoma ligata 23 Halictus Bp., predaceous enemy '. 89 INDEX. 95 Page. Ilnnis'nm a nicrica na 40 HeliothU obsoleta, feeding on sugar eane 88 Hepterocampa inomata, in Florida SO Hesperotellix 8pecio8U8, feeding habits, etc 61 Heteropterous insects injurious to cotton 33 " Hominy beater," scientific name 80 HuUttCQ iiiululutcUu, article by E. S. (i. Titus 34-40 broods 37 character of injury 34,35 description of larva and adult 38 distribution 37. 38 elm as a possible food plant 37 extent of injury 35 parasites 38,30 remedies for 40 Hydrocyanic-acid pis against bedbug 86 cigarette-beetle 06 confused flour-beetle 00 Jones, B. Howell, letter regarding Castnia licut in British Guiana 72-73 Ju rutin (ttrrr'uiut, attacked by robber tly 80 Kansas grasshoppers in 1904; other insects 64,88,89 Kerosene Rgatnsl pond-lily leaf-beetle 66 Kissing bug. Mexican, note 86 Knot weed, f l plant of Tostmus nigrisoma 43 Ladybird, enemy of scale in California ! 75 seven-spotted 67 squash, note 84 Ladybirds, effect of fumigation and spraying 70 l.nnjtis ductus, on cotton 33 Lasioderma serricorne, remedy, article by P. H. Chittenden and F. 0. Pratt 08-70 La8i0P8yllQ rotundipennia, note on increase 87 Leaf-beetle, great elm, notes 81-82 pond-lily. (See Ualcruvclla njnnphaa.) Leaf-roller, the larger canna. (See Calpodes ethlim.) Lemon, control of purple scale 75 Leptinotarsa decemlineata, article by Fred V. Theobald 05-08 duration of egg stage 66 food plants 66 emergence from hibernation (57 hibernation 66 outbreaks in Europe 0." predaceous enemy 07 report of appearance 65 status in Great Britain (57 treatment of infested land 05 Leptoglo88US zonatus, on cotton 33 " Lerp." increase on " Yellow Box " 87 Ligyrus gibb08U8, at light 14 damage to cane 15 corn 7, 15 Page. Ligyrus gibbosits, egg 11 how distinguished 8 larval cells 12 rugiceps, article by E. S. G. Titus 7-18 at light . 12, 14 damage to cane in 1004 8 corn in 1904 8 description of adult 8 egg 11 enemies, birds 15 insects, parasitic 15 predaceous. (See Era.r lateralis.) flying in field 13 larval cells 12 life history 11 nature of injury to cane 9 corn 10 previous investigation 87 records of injury 8 remedies 16-18 Locusts in Transvaal, note by C. B. Simpson 70 Loxostege stieticalis, tubes for hibernation 35 Malaria in the Transvaal, note by C. B. Simpson 77 Manduca atropos, a snapping caterpillar 80 Marlatt, C. L., article _ 71 Maskew, Fdk.. article 70 note 75 Meccus pallidipennis, attacks on children 8(5 Mediterranean flour-moth in Pennsylvania 80 Melanoplus atlanis, attack by asilid 89 in Nebraska 61 bivittatils, in Nebraska (51 differentialia, in Nebraska (51 femur-rubrutn, in Nebraska (51 infantilis, in Montana (54 lakinus, in Nebraska 01 occidentalis, in Montana (54 packardii, in Montana (54 spp., in Montana (54 Melia sp., food of Pentatoma ligata 23 Mosquito, food of Pentatoma ligata 23, y>2 M€8tobregma kiowa, ravages in West 04 Mexican cotton pest. (See Pentatoma ligata.) Monedula Carolina, local name 81) MonoC€8tQ cor////, notes on 8 1 --82 Mokkill, A. W., article 18 Mosquitoes in the Transvaal 77 Moth, death's head, noise 81 Sour, Mediterranean, in Pennsylvania \ — 80 Mucrma at His, injury by 1 nt icarsia gem mat His 77 .1/ vrgantia histrlonica, on cotton 33 Muskmelon, food of Epilachna b<>r< aiis 84 INDEX. 97 Page. MwochrOMS 4 60, 61, 63, 64 < )akgall. cause of nioveinents 81 Oncopcltux fuxciut tlx, on cotton 33 Orange, purple scale in California 7." Orchelimum vuhjare (7), attacking hectic 89 Oregon, offensive ground heetle, remarks S3 Orthoptera on sugar heets. list 85-86 Paraffin, use against potato heetle 66 Parasitism, complete, note on 7!) Paspehm tUUttatwn, food <>f white grabs 12 PegomyQ vkHna, mining In leaves 35 rennsylvania. damage hy floor moth so Pettt&tomo junip&rinQ, confused with /'. ligato 20 lif/ata. article hy A. YV. .Morrill 1S-34 bibliography, synonymy, and distribution 20 character of injury t<> cotton :\o confusion with /'. juniperiHQ '20 description of adult 22 egg 20 nymph stages 22 distinguished from Cimr.r rufOtimrffiMtUS 23 egg laying, period of Incubation, and hatching 27 feeding habits 25 food plants 23 gregariousness 20 habits of flight 20 nymphs, molts, etc 28 history of species 19 identification 10 injury to cotton at Tlahualilo in 1903 25 in 1904 28 capability 31 evidence 20 extent of. on selected plants 30 in the United States 33 time necessary 31 other crops, possibility 34 relation of mesquite to infestation of cotton fields 32 seasonal history 24 suggestions for control and remedies 34 sayi. injury to wheat in 1003 33 Pepper, injury hy Aramigus fulleri 71 weevil. (See Anthonomus wneotinctus.) 28730 — No. 54 — 05 M 7 98 INDEX. Page. Peppers, varieties, injury by pepper weevil 47 Pieris rapcr, parasitism, note 79 Piophila casei, movements of larvae 81 Plum gouger, synonymy 83 Polygonum amphibium, food of Galerucella nymphww 59 lapathifblium, food of Taxonus nigrisoma 43 Pond-lily leaf-beetle. (See Galerucella nymphcece.) Potassium cyanide, analysis of sample 69 Potato beetle. (See Leptinotarsa decemlineata.*) "bug." (See Leptinotarsa decemlineata.) Pratt. F. C. and F. H. Chittenden, article G8 Pr6cris=Harri8inia 40 Proniachus vertebratus, attacking tacbinid 89 Prussic acid. (See Hydrocyanic acid.) Pyrophorus physqderus, local name 89 "Red spider hawk," scientific name 89 Red spider on cotton 87 sbade trees 87 Rhizobius lophanthw, bibliography 76 predaceous on purple scale 75 synonymy 75 Rice beetle. (See Chalepus trachypygus.) Rose beetle. Fuller's. (See Aram igus fullcri.) Ranter patientia or brittanicus, injury by Taxonus nigrisoma 40 Russian thistle, food of Melanoplus lakinus 61 Sagittaria, food of Galerucella nymplura' 58 Scale, purple, enemy of, notes on 75-76 Simpson, C. B.. notes 76-77 Skipper, cheese, note on movements 81 Social caterpillar, grape, feeding habit 40 Sonchus oleraceus, food plant of potato beetle 66 Sow thistle, food plant of potato beetle 66 Sphinx atropos=Manduca atropos 81 Spider, red. (See Red spider.) 8pUochalci8 torvina, breeding notes 40 parasite of Hulstea undulatella 39 Squash ladybird, food plants 84 Sterculia aceri folia, injury by Aramigus fuller x 71 Storage. (Sec Cold storage.) Strawberry plants, injury by Aramigus fulleri 71 Strongylogaster abnormis=Taxonus nigrisoma 43 Sugar-beel crown borer. (See Hulstea undulatella.) sawfly injuring. (See Taxonus nigrisoma.) web worm 35 cane beetle. (See Ligyrus rugieeps.) borer, giant. (See Cn8tnia licus.) West Indian, or larger 71-72 insects on, note 88 Taxonus nigrisoma, article by F. H. Chittenden and E. s. (i. Titus 40-43 bibliography -13 INDEX. 9 99 Tage. T axonus niyrisoma, description of adult 42 larval stages 41. 42 pupa 42 feeding habits 4«» food plants 43 remedy 43 Tetranychus ylorcri. injuring cotton, note ST-SS Tetrastich us microgastri, a secondary parasite 70 Texas, pepper weevil, reports 43. 44 Theobald. Fred V. t article 65 Thyanta perditor, on cotton 33 Titus. E. S. G., and F. H. Chittenden, article 4<> articles 7.34 notes 81,85,87,88 Tribolium con fusion, hydrocyanic-acid gas as remedy 00 in Pennsylvania 80 Vespa germanica, feeding on apple SO Virginia, great ehn-leaf beetle, reports 81.82 Walker, G If., article 43 Wasp, apple-eating, note 80 Webworin, sugar-beet, hibernating tubes 35 Weevil, common bean, cold storage 40 cowpea. cold storage 40 foil r-spot ted bean, cold storage __ 4!) pepper. ( Srr AwthOnONl Mi tCflCOtinCtUS. ) willow, note 89 West Virginia, great elm-leaf beetle, report 82 White gnibs. I Scr Liyynis ru;jir> p$, I Willow, injury by GulrrurrHd nyntitlwir 58 weevil, note on pupa 89 Worm. dock, false. {Bee Tu.ro tins uiffrisotna. ) Wyoming, grasshopper conditions, 1004 02.03.04 Yellow dock, sawtiy injuring. {See Tu.ronus tligrisoma.) Zelu* renar&U on cotton 33 U