XJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
 
 BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY — BULLETIN NO. 38, NEW SERIES. 
 
 (Revised Edition.) 
 L, O. HOWARD, Entomologist. 
 
 SOME 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS RESULTS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 WORK OF THE DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
 
 ■v i. 
 
 PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
 1904. 
 
BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
 
 L. 0. Howard, Entomologist and Chief of Bureau. 
 C. L. Marlatt, in charge of experimental field work. 
 
 F. H. Chittenden, in charge of breeding experiments. 'L^M 
 A. D. Hopkins, in charge of forest insect investigations. 
 W. D.' Hunter, in charge of cotton boll weevil investigations. 
 Frank Benton, in charge of apicultural investigations. 
 
 F. M. Webster, in charge of field crop insect investigations. 
 A. L. Quaintance, in charge of bollworm investigations. 
 
 E. A. Schwarz, D. W. Coquillett, Th. Pergande, Nathan Banks, Assistant Ento- 
 mologists. 
 
 R. S. Clifton, E. S. G. Titus, F. C. Pratt, August Busck, Otto Heidemaxn, A. X. 
 
 Caudell, J. Kotinsky, R. P. Currie, F. D. Couden, Assistants. 
 R. C. Althouse, W. F. Tastet, Mary G. Champney, A. J. Leister, D. J. Partello, 
 
 T. A. Keleher, Stenographers and Clerks. 
 Lillian L. Howexstein, J. F. Strauss, Draftsmen. 
 
 G. H. Harris, W. E. Hinds, A. W. Morrill, Springer Goes, C M. Walker, J. C. 
 Crawford, Jr., W. A. Hooker, W. W. Yothers, A. C. Morgan, W. D. Pierce, 
 E. D. Sanderson, E. C. Sanborn, A. C. Lewis, A. F. Conradi, H. A. Morgan, 
 S. E. McClendon, E. S. Hardy, R. C. Howell, A. W. Buckner, J. B. Garrett, 
 
 engaged in cotton boll weevil investigations. ~ ' : -> ^§9 
 
 F. C. Bishopp, C. T. Brues, A. A. Girault, C. R. Jones, engaged in bollworm inves- 
 tigations. 
 
 J. L. Webb, H. E. Burke, W. F. Fiske, engaged in forest insect investigations. 
 
 Leslie Martin, J. M. Rankin, engaged in apicultural investigations. 
 
 Henrietta A. Kelly, C. J. Gilliss, W. A. Keleher, Marie Rey, Mabel F. Clayton, 
 
 engaged in silk investigations. 
 
 Herbert Osborn, J. S. Hine, C. E. Chambliss, Lawrence Bruner, Temporary Field 
 
 Agents. v. .^-g^M 
 
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
 
 BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY— BULLETIN NO. 38, NEW SERIES. 
 
 (Revised Edition, 
 
 L. O. HOWARD, Entomologist. 
 
 S O M E 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS RESULTS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 WORK OF THE DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
 
 PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING 
 19 04. 
 
 OFFICE. 
 
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
 
 U. S. Department of Agriculture, 
 
 Bureau of Entomology, 
 Washington, July 22, 1904-. 
 Sir: I have the honor to transmit revised copy of several articles 
 and shorter notes, none of which are of such a nature as to justify 
 their publication in separate form. The matter presented is similar 
 to that which has been published in other bulletins of this series, 
 namely, in Bulletins 7. 10, 18, 22, and 30; and I recommend the pub- 
 lication of the present material under the title "Miscellaneous Results 
 of the Division of Entomology, VI," as Bulletin No. 38, new series, 
 revised, of this Bureau. 
 Respectfully, 
 
 L. O. Howard, • 
 
 Entomologist. 
 
 Hon. James Wilson, 
 
 Secreti try of Agric ulture. 
 
 3 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2013 
 
 http://archive.org/details/saneouOOunit 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 The Southern Grain Louse (Toxoptera graminum Rond. ) (illustrated). 
 
 Theo. Pergande. 7 
 Report of an Investigation of Diseased Cocoanut Palms in Cuba. 
 
 August Busck. 20 
 
 The Palm and Palmetto Weevils (illustrated) F. H. Chitttenden. . 23 
 
 Notes on the Rhinoceros Beetle (Dynastes tityus Linn.) (illustrated). 
 
 F. H. Chittenden. 28 
 Notes on Enemies of Mushrooms and on Experiments with Remedies. 
 
 August Busck. 32 
 
 Notes on Colorado Insects A. N. Caudell. . 35 
 
 Grasshopper Notes for 1901 Laurence Bruner. . 39 
 
 Killing Destructive Locusts with Fungous Diseases Lawrence Bruner.. 50 
 
 The Conflict of the Russian Zyemstvos with the Enemies of Agriculture, 
 
 (abstract) V. Morachevski 61 
 
 The Tobacco Stalk Weevil (Trichobaris mucorea Lec.)-...F. H. Chittenden.. 66 
 The Leaf-Mining Locust Beetle (Odontota dorsalis Thunb. ), with Notes on 
 
 Related Species (illustrated) F. H. Chittenden.. 70 
 
 General Notes 90 
 
 On the Erroneous Belief that Common Native Insects are Introduced from 
 Abroad in Seed (p. 90) ; Capture and Possible Introduction of the Nun 
 Moth in America (p. 90); Estimated Loss Occasioned by the Varie- 
 gated Cutworm in 1900 (p. 91); Occurrence of the Mediterranean Flour 
 Moth in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan (p. 92); The Angoumois 
 Grain Moth in 1901 (p. 93); Recent Injury by the Cigarette Beetle (p. 
 94); Injurious Occurrence of an Exotic Dermestid in the United States 
 (p. 96); Some Blister Beetles Injurious to Fruit Trees (p. 97); Notes on 
 Vine-chafers (p. 99); The Colorado Potato Beetle in the South (p. 100) ; 
 The Rice Weevil an Important Factor in the Failure of Germination of 
 Corn in the South (p. 101); The Sandwich Islands Sugar-cane Borer 
 Again (p. 102) ; Umbrella Ants in Cuba (p. 104) ; The Gage Bug (p. 104) ; 
 The Probability of the Occurrence of the Mexican Cotton-boll Weevil 
 in Brazil (p. 105); The St. Andrew's Cotton Stainer (p. 106); Stoppage 
 of Electric Lights by Insects (p. 107) ; A Variety of Wheat Said to be 
 Immune from Hessian Flv (p. 107); A Western Cricket in Oregon 
 (p. 107). ' 
 
 Notes from Correspondence 108 
 
 Tobacco for Mushroom Fumigation (p. 108); Insect Injury in Texas (p. 
 108) ; The Apple Twig-borer {Amphicerus bicaudaius Say ) Injuring Honey 
 Locust (p. 108); The Pear-blight Beetle in the Pacific Region (p. 108); 
 Peculiar Larval Habits of a Leaf-beetle Affecting Prickly Ash (p. 108); 
 Blister Beetles Attracted to Lights (p. 109); Parasites of the Tent Cater- 
 pillar (Clisiocampa americana Harr. ) (p. 109); Parasites of the Plum 
 Curculio (p. 109); Note on Pogonomyrmex barbatus, one of the Agricul- 
 tural Ants of Texas (p. 109); A Cimbex in British Burma (p. 109); the 
 Ox Warble in Mississippi (p. 109); Christian Science for Cattle (p. 109); 
 Scavenger Flies as a Creamery Pest (p. 109); Notes on Kissing Bugs 
 (p. 109); Tobacco as a Remedy for Grape Leaf-hoppers (p. 110); The 
 Use of Harvest Spiders in Medicine (p. 110); Negro Superstition in 
 Regard to Stinging Ants (p. 110); Successful Infection of a Wireworm 
 with Cordyceps Fungus (p. 110); Cutworm Injury to Ginseng (p. 110); 
 The Unicorn Worm in a New Role (p. 110). 
 
 5 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PLATES. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Plate I. The Southern grain louse ( Toxoptera gram inum ) 16 
 
 II. Rhinoceros beetle (Dynastes tityus) : Fig. 1 — Larva. Fig. 2 — Pupa.. 28 
 
 TEXT FIGURES. 
 
 Fig. 1. Palmetto weevil (Rhynchophorus cruentatus) 26 
 
 2. Rhinoceros beetle (Dynastes tityus) : male 30 
 
 3. Leaf-mining locust beetle ( Odontota dorsalis) : stages 72 
 
 4. Leaf-mining linden beetle (Odontota rubra) 84 
 
 5. Octotoma plicatula: beetle 89 
 
 6. Pomphopcea sayi: beetle * 98 
 
 7. Anomala undulata: beetle 99 
 
 8. Sphenophorus obscurus: stages 102 
 
 9. Sphenophorus obscurus: work in sugar cane 103 
 
 6 
 
SOME MISCELLANEOUS RESULTS OF THE WORK OF THE 
 DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
 
 VI. 
 
 THE SOUTHERN GRAIN LOUSE. 
 
 ( Toxoptera graminum Rondani. ) 
 By Theo. Pergaxde. 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Aphis graminum Rond., Nuovi Ann. della Science, Series III, Vol. VI, p. 10, 
 1852. 
 
 Toxoptera graminum Passerini, Aphididse Italicee, p. 28, 1863. 
 
 This destructive little Aphidid was first observed and described under 
 the name of Aphis graminum, by Dr. C. Rondani, who stated that the 
 winged migrants were swarming during the month of June in immense 
 numbers in the streets of Bologna to the great annoyance of the 
 inhabitants. In connection with his description he gives a list of the 
 following graminaceous plants on which this plant-louse had been 
 observed to feed: Oats (Avena sativa and elatior); wheat (Triticum 
 vulgar e); spelt {Triticum spella); couch grass (Triticum repms); Hor- 
 deum marinum; soft chess (B ramus mollis), and corn (Zea metis). 
 
 A lengthy article on the grain aphis was also published the same 
 year by Dr. Dom. Luigi Mazzanti (Nuov. Ann. Sc. Nat. Bologna, Ser. 
 Ill, Vol. 6, pp. 31:2-352), which I have been unable to consult. 
 
 Dr. J. Passerini redescribed this species in 1863 (Aphididae Italicae, 
 Genoa, pp. 28, 29), removing it to Koch's genus Toxoptera. He men- 
 tions as its food plants Triticum, Hordeum, Avena, Zea, and Sorghum. 
 The same food plants were also mentioned by Passerini (Flora degli 
 Afidi Italian!; Bui. Soc. Ent. Ital., Vol. Ill, pp. 151, 248, 310, and 313). 
 
 In 1881 Dr. G. Horvath, of Budapest, Hungary, published some 
 observations on this species ("Rovartoni Lapok," vol. 1, pp. 113-115 
 and XIX, and a second article on the same insect in "Fauna Regni 
 Hungarian," p. 60, 1897), dividing the area infested by it into regions, 
 Regions I-IV comprising the central, eastern, and northern sections, 
 and VI the southernmost central area. Neither of these publications 
 is at my command. 
 
 An interesting article on the destructiveness of this species to oats 
 was published by Dr. Karl Sajo, Budapest, Hungary (Zeitschrift fur 
 
 7 
 
8 
 
 Pflanzenkrankheiten, Beitrage zur landwirthschaftlichen Insekten- 
 kunde, Vol. IV. p. 1. 1894). He says: 
 
 Fifteen or sixteen years ago I always raised excellent oats on a field bordering a 
 meadow; all of the plants were of a strong and healthy growth, and about one meter 
 in height. Later, however, notwithstanding heavy manuring, the stalks became 
 gradually more slender and lower, and the crop of the grain so scant as not to pay 
 for cultivation. Happening once to inspect the grain during summer at the proper 
 time, I found that the cause of the decline was a plant-louse, which Dr. Geza v. Hor- 
 vath,at Kecskemet, in 1884, discovered to be the cause of "reddening" of the leaves 
 and the total destruction of the young plants, and which proved to be the grain aphid, 
 Toxoptera graminis JRond. 
 
 It occurred to me that, by abandoning the common or Bauern oats and replacing 
 it by liner and stronger varieties, they might be able to successfully withstand the 
 attacks of the Toxoptera. I was, however, much mistaken. I planted on some of 
 my best fields adjoining the meadow a row of triumph oats, Anderbeck oats, and the 
 common Bauern oats, and found that lice showed a decided preference for the finer 
 varieties with broad, bandlike, and juicy leaves, particularly the triumph oats. Of 
 this variety absolutely nothing was left; all of the plants were destroyed before they 
 reached a few inches in height; the whole field was completely ruined as if it had 
 been swept by fire. Anderbeck oats resisted somewhat, though not much better, 
 whereas the common oats showed the best results, of which at least half a crop was 
 obtained. 
 
 I am of the opinion that this invasion of the aphides had its origin in the meadow, 
 because the trouble began first along the edge of the meadow and spread gradually 
 to the middle of the field. Unfortunately all of my fields suitable for the cultivation 
 of oats are in the immediate neighborhood of meadows or along patches of grass, 
 while the more distant fields are of a sand}' nature and can only be used for cultiva- 
 tion of rye, corn, etc., which renders a comparison impossible. 
 
 The consequences, therefore, were that I had to reduce the cultivation of oats to 
 a minimum and to replace it with fodder corn, turnips, clover, etc. 
 
 Professor Sajo (p. 150, loc. cit.) says that this species has probably 
 nowhere else, except in Hungary, shown itself to be so destructive, 
 but that in Hungary it is one of the most destructive enemies of barley 
 and oats. He states that its destructive habits were first described by 
 Dr. G. v. Horvath, who discovered it to be the cause of the reddening 
 of the oats at Kecskemet, and that during the following years similar 
 complaints were reported from the provinces of Bacs-Bodrog, Borsod, 
 and Csanad. 
 
 The latest contributions regarding the food plants of this species 
 were published hy Dr. Giac. Del Guercio (Nuove Relazioni R. Staz. 
 di Entom. Agraria, Firenze, serie prima, No. 2; Prospetto Dell* 
 Afidofauna Italica, p. 115, 1900) with the statement that this plant 
 louse is found in considerable numbers on Triticum vulgare, Hordewm 
 vulgare, Avena satwa, Zea mats, Dactylis glomerata, Brorrws sp.. and 
 Loll um perenna. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE SPECIES IN AMERICA. 
 
 Xhe earliest record in the possession of the IT. S. Department of 
 Agriculture of the presence of this pest in the United States dates 
 
9 
 
 back to June, 1882. Unfortunately, however, the locality from which 
 the insects were received was not obtained. 
 
 In June of 1884 this species was discovered on wheat at Cabin John 
 Bridge. Md.. though not in sufficient numbers to cause any appreciable 
 damage. During summer and fall of the same year, and January of 
 1 s ^>. specimens were observed by Prof. F. M. Webster at Oxford, Ind., 
 on wheat transferred from the field to breeding cages, in which they 
 continued to breed and multiply, enabling him to make some interesting 
 observations on the rapidity of reproduction of the species. On isolat- 
 ing some pupae, which soon became winged, he found that during the 
 following twenty days they produced about 10 young, or at a rate of 
 1 to 1 a day; as a rule, however, the apterous or wingless females are 
 still more prolific. 
 
 During June of 1890, after an intermission of about five or six 
 years, this grain louse again became quite abundant, and was found in 
 Indiana by Professor Webster in injurious numbers upon wheat at 
 Lafayette and in southern portions of the State, while in Posey 
 County, in the extreme southwestern section, they were so numerous, 
 both on the fully developed and on the tender unfolding leaves of 
 wheat, as to cover them in some cases completely. The oat crop was 
 a total failure; many of the fields were as brown as though the plants 
 had been winter-killed. Daring the same year they spread over a 
 large area of some of the grain-producing States of the South. They 
 were first reported about the middle of January by Mr. P. C. New- 
 kirk, Jalapa. Monroe County. Tenn.. as being very injurious, killing 
 all the wheat in his section. The following March he wrote again 
 that the insects had not been able to survive the heavy rams and frost 
 of the month, as far as he could see, though much damage had been 
 done to wheat, patches the size of an acre or more being apparently 
 dead, and he had doubts that one of his fields would recover from the 
 damage done. 
 
 January 29, 1890, it was reported by Mr. B. F. White, Mebane, 
 Alamance County. X. C, as ruining all the wheat and oats there. 
 February 26 specimens of this insect were sent to this office by Mr. 
 J. L. Fookes, Era. Cook County, Tex., with the statement that the 
 species had played sad havoc with the wheat in that section. In a 
 communication of the 31st of March Mr. Fookes writes: 
 
 You ask me about the amount of damage done to the crop and how long they 
 have abounded in our fields. It is believed now that they have been in the fields 
 since early fall; they still remain in great numbers in some fields. As to the 
 amount of damage, we place it, after a careful estimate, at 75 per cent in one-half of 
 this county, which includes the Avheat belt. One-half will be planted in other 
 crops and the remainder will be about one-half stand. There are some small crops 
 of Fultz .vheat which are not hurt. The rest of the crop is Mediterranean wheat. 
 
 Early in April specimens were received from Mr. D. J. Eddleman, 
 Denton, Denton County. Tex. , with the statement that the species was 
 
10 
 
 destroying the wheat. It was also received June 2 from Mr. J. G. 
 Barlow, Cadet. Mo., who observed it to be very injurious to oats. 
 
 REPORTED INJURY DURING L901. 
 
 During the spring of L901 this species became extremely numerous 
 in the grain belt of Texas, as the communications received during 
 that year show. 
 
 Mr. W. R. Peters, Caddo Mills. Tex., wrote March 15: " I inclose 
 you a sample of red winter wheat that has been killed by a small 
 green bug. The wheat in our county is badly damaged by the insect. 
 I have 50 acres destroyed by this bug." The same day specimens 
 were also received from Mr. C. A. Kelsey, Sherman. Tex., who said: 
 '•These little flies are fast destroying the young wheat; they are 
 beginning to sap the oats, and have been working on the grain since 
 early fall." 
 
 Mr. H. K. Jones. Valley View, Tex., in a letter dated March 16, 
 says : 
 
 I inclose you a sample of insects which are killing the young wheat in this sec- 
 tion; they are on the wheat by the million. They first made their appearance 
 about ten years ago, at which time they killed all the wheat, or about all, in this 
 county, and what was left made only 1 to 3 bushels per acre. The next time we 
 noticed them was last year, when they made their appearance early in spring. After 
 the wheat headed they went to the heads, and we thought they would surely ruin 
 the wheat, but we had a good yield; after the wheat headed we had a great deal of 
 rain, which may account for it. We first noticed them this season in December 
 last; they were not numerous, but have been increasing ever since. We find that 
 cold does not hurt them; they have gone through a zero spell and come out all 
 right; have seen the wheat covered with sleet and the bugs frozen up, but on thaw- 
 ing they seemed to be as hungry as ever. Wet weather is no drawback to them ; we 
 have just had a good rain a week ago, but the wheat looks worse and the bugs better. 
 
 Mr. J. C. Coit. Denton. Tex., wrote March 18 that wheat in his sec- 
 tion was badly injured by this insect and that a few days previous it 
 was noticed that the wheat did not have so deep a color as usual at 
 that season. Upon an investigation it was found that the outer leaves 
 of the wheat were dead. The aphides were found on the ground 
 under the protection of the leaves, in some spots as many as six or 
 eight around the same plan 4 :. In 1890 the wheat was destroyed by this 
 or some similar pest. 
 
 In a communication from Mr. B. H. Hamilton. Weston. Tex.. March 
 18, it was stated that this insect was ruining the wheat in that part of 
 Texas, that it had been at work for six or eight days prior to the date 
 of writing, and it was noticed that on striking a bunch of wheat the 
 ground would be covered with numbers of the insects. It was in that 
 vicinity this year (1902), but did not appear until the last of April or 
 tirst of May.' 
 
11 
 
 March 26 Mr. F. C. Katcliff, Vernon, Wilbarger County. Tex., 
 reported that this louse infested the wheat fields, and that the crop in 
 some parts of that county was suffering from its depredations. 
 
 March 27 Mr. Oswald Wilson observed this species on wheat near 
 Houston, Tex., and on the 10th of April near McKinney, Tex. 
 
 March 29 Mr. D. M. Hamilton, Austin, Tex., reported that these 
 plant-lice were worse on stubble land of wheat than on corn or cotton 
 land. 
 
 On the 1st of April specimens were received from Mr. J. Booze, 
 Sherman, Tex., who stated that " these flies or gnats" were very 
 numerous in low places and that they had entirely destroyed the oats 
 and wheat. 
 
 Under date of April 22 Mr. A. E. Jenks, of the American Thresh- 
 erman. Madison, Wis., forwarded to this office specimens of this insect 
 received from- Elmont, Grayson County, Tex., with the report that 
 wheat, oats, and corn were all ruined by it, and that during the year 
 or two previous it had done great injury to these crops in Texas. On 
 the same date the following note was received from Mr. S. E. Rus- 
 sell, Fate, Tex.: "I send you herewith a few of the little green bugs 
 which are destroying our crops in toto. Wheat and oats are gone; 
 there are not so many on corn to-day." 
 
 Specimens were also received April 21 from Ralli Brothers. New 
 York City, which they had obtained from their Greenville, north 
 Texas, cotton agency, with the accompanying report: 
 
 This insect has seriously injured wheat and oats and is now attacking young corn. 
 Wherever they have attacked wheat or oats the field looks as though it had been 
 ^wept by fire. A number of farmers have been forced to plow up their wheat and 
 plant corn. 
 
 A letter was received April 25 from Mr. J. W. Bussell through the 
 American Thresherman, complaining of injuries by this insect at 
 Mountain Peak, Tex., saying that it was pla}'ing havoc with the grain 
 crop there; oats were entirely ruined, and wheat cut 50 per cent. 
 
 April 30 specimens were received from Mr. J. C. Crispin, Saratoga, 
 McDonald County, Mo., with report that this insect was very numerous 
 on wheat, and that some fields might have to be plowed up. 
 
 In a communication of May 11, Mr. W. E. Campbell, of Ralli 
 Brothers Agency, Greenville, Tex., stated that a few da}\s previous to 
 writing the weather became quite warm, causing the insects to leave 
 that section and go farther north. They appeared to be better suited 
 to cold, damp weather. A number of fields in that vicinity were visited 
 where the insects had been particularly troublesome, without finding a 
 specimen at that time, the warmer weather having apparently driven 
 them completely out of the country. 
 
12 
 
 NEWSPAPER REFERENCES TO INJURIOUS OCCURRENCES IN 1901. 
 
 Numerous clippings wore received from newspapers relative to the 
 spread of this grain louse and destruction wrought by itto small grain 
 crops in Texas and adjoining territory during the spring- of 1901. The 
 following are transcribed: 
 
 [Galveston News, March 21. J 
 
 Denton, Tex., March IS. — W. E. Smoot, of Axgyle, was here to-day with a quantity 
 of the little green insects that are doing so much damage to the wheat. The insects 
 are present in myriads and the big wheat farmers are taking a very gloomy view of 
 the prospect, many of them believing that their crops are irreparably ruined. Many 
 of them, in fact, are making preparations to plant the injured wheat land in cotton 
 or corn. 
 
 Farmers who were here ten years ago say that the present visitation is exactly like ■ 
 that of 1891 and that the entire wheat crop of several counties was almost entirely 
 lost, some of the yield being as low as half a bushel to the acre and the highest not 
 more than 10 bushels. 
 
 Gainesville, Tex., March 12. — Dr. W. H. Freeman, who lives at Era, 15 miles west 
 of Gainesville, in speaking of the growing wheat, said: ''The wheat in my section is 
 literally ruined, and the farmers will have to plow it up and plant the ground in coi n 
 and other products." 
 
 Sht rrnan, Tex., March IS. — The condition of the wheat crop from the inroads of the 
 Hessian fly or some similar pest is attracting much attention. In some localities it 
 is said that the wheat crop will be plowed up and cotton or some other late crop 
 planted instead. 
 
 [Dallas (Tex.) Herald, March 21.] 
 
 Sherman, Tex., March 21. — Great alarm is felt here by the farmers at the ravages 
 of a small green bug that is infesting the wheat and oats. 
 
 [Dallas (Tex.) Herald, March 22.] 
 
 W. II. Marshall, a prominent farmer of YVhitesboro, Grayson County, said: "The 
 reports about the damage being done to the wheat in our part of the State are not 
 exaggerated in the least. Hundreds of acres have been killed around Whitesboro 
 and in other parts of Grayson County. The flies have also gotten into Collin County 
 and are doing considerable damage there, and some damage has been done in Denton 
 County. Unless the ravages are checked soon we will have to buy our flour and 
 seed wheat." 
 
 [St. Louis (Mo.) Republic, March 24.] 
 
 Reports from Texas say that at least 25 per cent of the wheat crop in the northern 
 part of the State has been ruined by the bug, and the entire crop is threatened. 
 
 The insects are seen in countless numbers in the growing wheat. Advices from all 
 parts of Texas say that the pest is spreading, but appears to be working only the 
 stubble-ground wheat. 
 
 Owing to the mildness of the winter, instead of being killed it propagated rapidly, 
 and apprehensions are felt for the entire crop. So far wheat on the cotton ground 
 does not appear to be damaged. 
 
 [Galveston (Tex.) News, March 26.] 
 
 Wdxakachie, Tex., March 20. — Mr. B. F. Cherry, of Midlothian, this county, re- 
 ported that a little green bug was doing a great deal of damage to wheat in that 
 
13 
 
 section of the county and that some of the wheat fields near there had been almost 
 entirely destroyed by the insect. 
 
 Hutching, Tex., March 96. — Mr. A. W. Games writes to the News that he has just 
 returned from an examination of the wheat and oat fields upon the county farm, and 
 finds that the entire oat crop — 30 acres — and 15 acres in a wheat crop of 75 acres, 
 have been entirely destroyed. The bugs are still working upon the wheat, marching 
 from east to west, maintaining a straight line from north to south, as though they 
 were under the leadership of a trained tactician. 
 
 Ennis, Tex., March 26. — Mr. E. D. Champion, a farmer of Oak Grove, said to a 
 News correspondent that wheat in his community has been suffering from an insect 
 pest, though it is coming out well since the recent rains. 
 
 [Houston (Tex.) Post, March 29.] 
 
 SJterman, Tex., March 28. — Holmes Colbert, one of the prominent Indian planters 
 of the Choctaw Nation, was in the city to-day. Colbert has 4,000 acres in wheat and 
 oats, and says the pest has appeared in the Indian Territory. 
 
 [Fort Worth (Tex.) Register, March 31.] 
 
 J. C. Martin, who lives at Riverside and has recently been in the northern part of 
 the county, says that the damage there is not as great as recorded, although there 
 are many spots perfectly bare. 
 
 D. M. Morgan, of the cotton belt, says the crop is ruined between that place and 
 Sulphur Springs, and between Dallas and Sherman, and also between this city and 
 Thurber. Mr. Morgan says he has saved his own crop by cultivation with a weeder. 
 
 Milt Hampton, who was in from near Crowley yesterday, said that his crop of 200 
 acres was so badly damaged that he turned his cattle in on it and will plow up the 
 ground and plant cotton and some other crop. 
 
 John Day, who was in from his farm in the northern part of the county, said that 
 he had not suffered much, but some of the crops in that portion of the county were 
 ruined. 
 
 T. X. Bradburn returned Friday night from a week's trip up the Fort Worth and 
 Denver road, stopping at nearly all the stations between here and Iowa Park. He 
 says that up to a week ago the Panhandle had the finest prospects for a great wheat 
 crop, but now the wheat has been greatly injured and in some places entirely ruined. 
 The bugs reached Wichita Falls on Tuesday last and now there are millions of them 
 laying waste the crops. Many fields, he says, between here and there are ruined. 
 
 [Dallas (Tex. ) News. April 2.] 
 
 Denison, Tex., April 1. — W. B. Chiles, a prominent farmer living near Pottsboro, 
 states that the grain-destroying insect is doing great damage in his section of the 
 country. They fly about late in the afternoon. At times the air is full of them and 
 they travel with the wind. They are now working especially on oats. 
 
 J. W. Badgett, who lives east of Colbert, Chickasaw Nation, said: " I stated last 
 week that we had no signs of the insect, but the case has been reversed; this week 
 we have them, and by the thousands. They seem to be concentrating on oats, but 
 I believe that unless steps of precaution are taken, they will kill our corn before it 
 is old enough to escape them. I have been farming a long time, but I have never 
 seen anything like this work on grain. I am going to make an experiment Monday. 
 I will run a harrow over my grain and then roll it with a heavy log. This will kill 
 the insects and even if our oats are killed by the remedy, we will thereby save our 
 corn. 
 
 [Dallas (Tex.) Herald, April 11.] a 
 
 Rhome, Tex., April. — The ravages of wheat and oats insects are causing great depres- 
 sion of spirits among the farmers of this county. A large part of the wheat acreage 
 
14 
 
 is completely ruined by the insects, while other portions are scarcely touched. Much 
 of the wheat will be plowed up and cotton planted. 
 
 [Galveston News, April 17.] 
 
 Entli8, Tex., April 15. — Mr. George Hoggs, of Telico, said to-day that myriads of 
 green bugs fell upon his corn yesterday and covered it up, and he will begin to-mor- 
 row to plant June corn between the rows. 
 
 [Dallas (Tex.) News, April 17.] 
 
 Kingston, Tex., April 15. — The ravages of the green bug have almost destroyed the 
 oat crop in this vicinity. The wheat crop is improving and looking better; it seem- 
 to be outgrowing the injuries of the bug. Yesterday it was warm and the bugs 
 seemed to be on the move south. The air was thick with them during the entire 
 ■ lav and some farmers report them leaving their fields. 
 
 Fate, Tex., April 15. — Large fields of the spring oats have been entirely destroyed 
 by the little green bugs. Winter oats and wheat have not fared better, but c an hold 
 out longer on account of being better rooted. It was thought that the little pest 
 would not bother the corn, but all corn is badly damaged and some fields look as if 
 they would have to be planted over. 
 
 [Nevada (Tex.) News, April 19.] 
 
 We have interviewed several farmers this week from different parts of the county 
 relative to the work of destruction that has been done to the small grain crop. The 
 majority of them say that the oat crop will be a total failure and that the wheat crop 
 at the outside will be cut short 50 per cent. The farmers say that where corn has 
 come up that it is being attacked by the pest and will no doubt be ruined. Some 
 few have begun to plant their corn over. 
 
 [Dallas (Tex.) Herald, April 23.] 
 
 McKinney, Tex. } April 23. — The green bugs filled the air yesterday, making their 
 exodus, leaving behind them hundreds of acres of blighted wheat and oats. 
 
 [San Antonio (Tex.) Express, April 23.] 
 
 Sherman, Te.c, April 23. — Farmers from various sections of the country who were in 
 Sherman to-day stated that green lice are still swarming. They seem to be leaving 
 the corn, to the great satisfaction of the farmers. 
 
 [Galveston (Tex.) News, April 24.] 
 
 Fort Worth, Tex., April 23. — The executive committee of the Millers' Association 
 held a meeting here this afternoon, and the greater portion of the time was consumed 
 in hearing reports of the damage done to the wheat crop by the green bugs. 
 
 Henry Landa, a member of the committee, from Xew Braunfels, said that the dam- 
 age to the large wheat counties would reach 75 per cent; and that, in Grayson, Cook, 
 and Denton counties especially, it was reported the farmers would not make seed, and 
 would not, in a number of the larger wheat counties, get back as much wheat as they 
 had put in the ground. Mr. Landa thinks the situation is very unfavorable for the 
 millers, as some will not be able to run their mills, and others will have to go out of 
 the State to get their grain. 
 
 [Dallas (Tex.) News, April 24.] 
 
 Persons who were on the streets in certain portions of this city were vexed by the 
 countless numbers of little bugs that clung to their clothing so tenaciously that it was 
 almost impossible to brush them off. In some places they were so numerous as to 
 present the appearance of an Indian summer haze. 
 
15 
 
 These were the famous green bugs or plant-lice, whose ravages in this section this 
 year have cost the farmers many and many a dollar. They were all northward bound, 
 their departure from the grain fields being caused doubtless by the warm weather 
 now prevailing. 
 
 Of the number that took wing for cooler regions there are probably several billions 
 that will never raid another grain field. The English sparrows — the pest of the city — 
 began at daybreak a war of extermination upon the pests that ended only at twilight. 
 Twittering with delight, they sailed in flocks through the clouds of bugs, devouring 
 all they could hold. These attacks, however, caused no perceptible diminution in 
 numbers. 
 
 An instance of the loss caused by the lice was reported here during the day. A 
 Dallas County tenant farmer had many acres in wheat and oats which these bugs com- 
 pletely destroyed. 
 
 [Houston (Tex.) Post, April 25J 
 
 Cleburne, Tex., April 22. — The green bug is killing oats north of the city and has 
 devastated several fields in this neighborhood. 
 
 [Dallas (Tex.) News, April 25.] 
 
 McKinney, Tex., April 24. — The News correspondent traveled over the county from 
 McKinney to the Shain ranch beyond Celina, a distance of 22 miles; thence south 
 along the Denton and Collin County line to the ranch of Parvin, 18 miles west of 
 McKinney; thence east of McKinney yesterday. 'The devastated wheat and oat 
 fields presented a fall-like appearance, owing to the brown color so much like stubble 
 land. Thousands of acres will be idle this year for want of labor to replant. It is a 
 scene of desolation in every direction in west Collin. 
 
 Denison, Tex., April 24- — James Jacobs, a farmer from the country a few miles west, 
 says the bugs are still active and seem to breed as long as there is anything green to 
 feed upon. He has noticed, however, that the sun kills them as quickly as their 
 wings grow. 
 
 Sherman, Tex., April 25. — Statements from authentic sources that the green bugs 
 are leaving in great swarms continue to come in from all sides. 
 
 [St. Louis (Mo.) Republic, April 26.1 
 
 Kansas (My, Mo., April 24. — Grain men who are going over the wheat fields of 
 Oklahoma say there is a genuine alarm entertained because of an invasion of the 
 green bugs. 
 
 Henry Lason, of El Reno, and C. H. Stevens, of the Purcell mill, report the louse 
 as making inroads in the summer wheat to the extent of threatening to destroy a 
 vast acreage. The Government report shows last week the louse was confined south 
 of Guthrie, but now it is reported nearing the Kansas line. The winter hard wheat 
 is not attacked. Cold weather has no effect. In places the entire space in the fields 
 attacked is absolutely dead, though wheat is knee-high. 
 
 [Fredericksburg (Tex.) Star, April 27.] 
 
 The wheat fields of Meridian have a new and destructive enemy. The farmers 
 are very anxious about them. They fear that the wheat crop will be utterly 
 destroyed by them. Some crops are reported as already destroyed, and the owners 
 are thinking of plowing up the fields and planting them in corn. 
 
 The oldest inhabitants have never seen anything like them. They are about the 
 size and shape of the mites which are sometimes seen on cabbage-stalk sprouts in the 
 spring, but their color is a deep dark green, about the shade of the green blade on 
 which they feed, and sometimes 6 to 8 will be found on a blade. In a few days the 
 blade turns yellow and begins to dry up. They also abound on the winter oats. 
 
16 
 
 [Galveston (Tex.) News, May 18.] 
 
 Sherman, Tex., May 17. — J. P. Harrison, president of the Texas Grain Dealers 1 
 Association, in reviewing the grain crop, said to the News reporter: "There will be no 
 oats raised in Texas north of Waco. In Coryell and adjacent counties the reports are 
 not quite so discouraging, and it may be that sections may produce enough to supply 
 Texas with seed. The condition in Texas is duplicated in the Indian Territory, 
 where the situation can be attributed directly t<» the green bugs. In Oklahoma the 
 bugs did not do much damage. But for drought, which came and finished their 
 work, Oklahoma might have had a pretty fair crop. There will be little or no wheat 
 made. Occasionally a held is heard from that will harvest a fair yield. I can only 
 account for it on the theory that the fields were a little forward and the stalks tough 
 enough to withstand the bug." 
 
 [Galveston (Tex.) News, May 30.] 
 
 The small grain crop of the State will not exceed one-fourth of last year's yield. 
 The average in wheat and oats is less and the conditions 75 per cent below the aver- 
 age of May, 1900. The yield is cut short owing to the early spring drought and to 
 the ravages of the aphis or green bug. The damage by the pest, although amount- 
 ing to total losses in many fields in choice grain counties, is slight compared with 
 general damage due to want of moisture early in the growing season. The reports 
 annexed cover 161 counties, 105 of which were free of the insect pest, while all the 
 counties reported suffered for the want of moisture. 
 
 The pests appeared in numbers early in April, multiplied rapidly, were rapacious 
 of appetite, and gluttonous without apparent satiation, repletion, or surfeit, and began 
 to disappear in flurries in May. When the bugs attained the atrial stage they rose 
 in a body from the ravaged field, took flight, remained on the wing for hours, and 
 drifted with the wind. During storms they sought safety near the base of the wheat 
 or oat blades. The farms intervening between the points of ascent and descent 
 sustained no insect damage, but suffered from drought. The drought preceded 
 the advent of the aphis, the 40 counties reporting "green bugs " also chronicling an 
 early spring drought. The percentage of losses where not separately given combine 
 the damage from both causes. 
 
 The wheat crop in the Chickasaw and Cherokee and portions of the other three 
 nations in the Indian Territory,. and in Oklahoma, ravaged by the grain louse, has 
 greatly reduced the value of this year's crop in those Territories. In some regions 
 the injury has been so great that farmers have preferred to replant the wheat acreage 
 to some other crop. The louse, like its relative in Texas, is capable of very rapid 
 multiplication, is gluttonous in appetite, and is favored by dry weather. The gen- 
 eral trend of the migration of the insect, as in Texas, was from south to north. 
 
 GENERAL REMARKS. 
 
 In view of the overwhelming evidence as to the destructivenes> of 
 this pest to wheat and oats in the grain-producing- States, it seems 
 strange that it should have escaped notice until the year 1884. 
 
 Whether this plant-louse is indigenous to this country or whether 
 it has been introduced from abroad is a difficult question to answer. 
 At any rate according to the notes of the Department of Agriculture, 
 it was first observed in the more central section of States bordering 
 the Atlantic Ocean, which seems to indicate that in some way it man- 
 aged to reach our shores on a vessel from the southern part of Europe, 
 entering one or the other of the ports of this central section, from 
 
Bu! 38, New Series, Div. of Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 
 
 Plate I. 
 
 The Southern Grain Louse (Toxoptera qraminum). 
 
 a. Apterous female; l>. larva; e, pupa: d. w inged migrant: r, antenna of migrant— all enlarged 
 
 (original ). 
 
17 
 
 which it managed to spread and to establish small colonies here and 
 there on various grasses, suited to its taste, which insured it a foothold 
 in this country and enabled it to multiply without being detected in 
 time to adopt heroic measures for its extermination. The assumption 
 of its foreign origin seems the more reasonable since otherwise its 
 presence on small grain would have been observed from the earliest 
 time that these cereals were grown in this country. 
 
 After its introduction it has naturally migrated in various directions, 
 and established small, isolated colonies which have given it a chance 
 to obtain a foothold and to escape observation and detection. From 
 these ''enters of infection and with the assistance of air currents it 
 would be enabled to spread unobserved to far distant sections until it 
 reached grain-pyoducing areas, the tender and succulent plants of 
 which are more suited to its taste. Thus it has multiplied rapidly and 
 spread from held to held and from State to State. Notwithstanding 
 that millions of the migrants are killed during this flight, enough remain 
 to stock new regions. 
 
 At the time of migration, which in the Southern States, as far as 
 observed, takes place in May, most of the wheat and oats which 
 escaped injury had become so tall and vigorous as to withstand attack. 
 Possibly such growth may be unfit for the sustenance of this plant 
 louse. 
 
 Whether the species really thrives on corn or not is an open question. 
 Thus far it has never been received by this Department from any of 
 the corn-growing sections. The writer is rather of the opinion that 
 the plant-louse frequently observed on corn is the common corn aphis. 
 Aphis maidis Fitch, which somewhat resembles this grain louse both 
 in size and general coloration. 
 
 What becomes of the survivors after leaving the grain remains an 
 unsolved problem. It seems, however, quite natural that during the 
 warmer season, after the harvesting of the grain, the}' will subsist 
 upon various succulent grasses growing in damp and moist localities, 
 such as the borders of rivers, creeks, swamps, or similar places, and 
 perhaps also on volunteer wheat and oats coming up in the fields. 
 These would afford them a chance to survive and multiply until the 
 new grain makes its appearance above ground. 
 
 As with other aphides, a sexual generation will appear at the proper 
 time, and with it the eggs, for the preservation of the species. The 
 great majority of our indigenous species of plant-lice produce the 
 sexual generation during the fall of the year, the eggs of which remain 
 dormant till the time at which a new cycle of plant life appears. A 
 few, however, produce the sexes and their eggs during the latter part 
 of spring or early summer, to hatch the following spring. What are 
 the habits of this grain aphis in this respect it is difficult to say. 
 Taking into consideration the very early appearance of the lice in 
 3622— No. 38—04 2 
 
18 
 
 perceptible numbers on young grain, it appears probable that one or 
 another generation, descendants of the migrants from grain, produces 
 a sexual generation and consequent eggs on some kind of grass, which 
 may hatch during the fall of the same year instead of the following 
 spring, in time to produce a winged generation. This last probably 
 re-migrates to young winter wheat, to restock it with lice, and many 
 would undoubtedly perish during the cold and wet season, though 
 enough of them would survive to reproduce when the climatic condi- 
 tions become more favorable. 
 
 The whereabouts of the species after leaving the grain, the hiding 
 place of the sexes and their eggs, and the reappearance on grain, are 
 highly interesting and important questions, which entomologists of 
 infected sections should strive to solve for the benefit of those engaged 
 in the cultivation of small grain. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES. 
 
 Apterous female. — Length 1-1. 8 mm ; color yellowish green and slightly pruinous. the' 
 median line darker green, the head and prothorax somewhat paler than the rest of 
 fhe body. Eyes black. Antennae black, the two basal joints and more or less of 
 the third joint at base yellowish. Legs yellowish, the tibiae brownish toward the 
 apex, tarsi black; nectaries greenish and frequently with a dusky tinge, their apex 
 black. Tail dusky. The general color of the larvae and pupae is like that of the 
 apterous female. Wing pads of pupa dusky to black. Antennae slender and about 
 one-half the length of the body. Nectaries slightly tapering, reaching to or slightly 
 beyond the end of the body. Tail slender, somewhat constricted about the middle, 
 and about two-thirds the length of the nectaries. There is a distinct fleshy tubercle 
 each side of the prothorax and similar tubercles along both sides of the abdomen. 
 
 Migratory female. — Exjmnse of wings 5-7 mm ; length of body 1.5-2 mm . General color- 
 ation of the abdomen as in the apterous forms; head brownish yellow; the eyes brown; 
 antennae, thoracic lobes, the posterior margin of the scutellum and the sternal plate 
 black; the two basal joints of the antennae yello wish green; legs yellow, the femora more 
 or less dusky, the posterior pair darkest; apex of tibiae and the tarsi black; nectaries 
 and tail yellowish, the latter changing gradually to dusky or black toward the end; 
 wings transparent; costa and subcosta yellow; the stigma somewhat paler, its inner 
 edge and the veins black. Third discoidal vein with but one fork. Antennae long 
 and slender, reaching nearly to the end of the body, the third joint provided with 
 3 to 7 sensoria. Nectaries, tail, and lateral tubercles, as in the apterous females. 
 (See PI. 1.) 
 
 NATURAL ENEMIES. 
 
 As natural enemies of this species in Europe, Rondani mentions 
 Scyrrmus b-pustulatus Fab., a small Coccinellid or ladybird, the adult 
 and larva? of which feed upon the lice; Paragus coadunatus Rondani. 
 a two-winged S} T rphid fly, whose larva preys extensively upon all 
 kinds of plant-lice; and a minute h}mienopterous insect, Aphidim 
 aphidwm L., a true internal parasite. 
 
 Of the most effective predaceous insects which have been observed 
 to feed upon this grain Aphidid in the infested regions of the United 
 States, the following ma}' be mentioned: Two ladybirds, Hippodamia 
 
19 
 
 convergent Guer.,and Cocdnella 9-notata Hbst., both of which, in the 
 adult as well as in the larval state, feed ravenously on the lice, though 
 the larvae are frequently suspected by grain growers of being the 
 parents of the lice, especially if found to be numerous in infested fields; 
 and larva? of various Syrphid flies and Chrysopids or lacewing flies, 
 which are even more voracious than those of the Coccinellids. 
 
 Man}' of the lice are also killed by the larva? of a small and slender 
 black internal parasite, Lysiplilehus tritici Ashm. , which preys upon 
 various species of plant-lice, frequently killing large colonies within a 
 short time. The larva of this species does not leave its host, but 
 transforms within the puffed up and empty shells of the aphides, 
 man}' of which may readily be observed adhering tightly to the stems 
 or blades of the grain. The little parasite, when ready to leave its 
 host, cuts out a neat circular piece, generally near the end of the 
 body, and escapes through the opening. 
 
 METHODS OF CONTROL. 
 
 Owing to the practical impossibility of applying kerosene emulsion 
 or similar washes so as to destroy insects which develop on standing 
 grain, particularly such as feed by suction, we must look to other 
 methods for the successful treatment of this plant-louse. Three or 
 four other forms of plant-lice usually occur in more abundance than 
 the species under discussion, and it has been found by experience that 
 these, as well as the present species, are very largely controlled by 
 natural conditions, sudden changes in the atmosphere, and such para- 
 sitic and other natural enemies as have just been considered. Lady- 
 birds and fungus diseases are the most important factors in reducing 
 the numbers of this pest. The year 1901 was particularly favorable 
 for the multiplication of this plant-louse in Texas, but, as usually 
 happens, the cool, moist weather of early spring, which . favored the 
 increase of the pest, was followed later in the season by a sufficient 
 period of dry and sunny weather to enable the natural enemies, nearly 
 all of which are most active in such weather, to gain the ascendency, 
 and this they did, practically exterminating the lice in the region 
 affected. It should only be necessary to add that most other species 
 of plant-lice are controlled in precisely the same manner, and it is sel- 
 dom that they are destructive for more than one or two seasons in 
 succession. Examples are to be found in the cabbage louse, melon 
 louse, and the destructive green pea louse, which was such an enemy 
 to the pea industry throughout the more northern portion of our coun- 
 try during the years 1899 and 1900, from the Atlantic coast to Wis- 
 consin. This last insect practically disappeared as a pest during 1901, 
 and up to the date of writing has only appeared in numbers in a few 
 isolated localities, so far as we know, in the District of Columbia and 
 immediate vicinity. 
 
20 
 
 REPORT OF AN INVESTIGATION OF DISEASED COCOANTJT PALMS 
 
 IN CUBA. 
 
 By August Busck. 
 
 Iii August, 1901, I was instructed to proceed to Habana, Cuba, and 
 report to the military governor there in order to investigate a disease 
 which threatened the cocoanut industry in the province of Santiago. 
 
 In accordance with instructions, I left Washington August 7 and, 
 arriving- in Havana on the !<>th, reported in the palado to the adjutant- 
 general. Col. J. H. Seott. The same day I sailed with his instruc- 
 tions for Baracoa, on the northeast corner of the island, arriving there 
 August li. The country around Baracoa is the only remaining cocoa- 
 nut region of importance in Cuba, and the industry is the main sup- 
 port of that part of the island, from which large shipments of great 
 value are annually exported to the United States. 
 
 The country of that region is mountainous, rough, very fertile, and 
 picturesque with palm-covered mountain sides, deep valleys, and large 
 rivers. There are no wagon roads, and travel is on horseback along 
 narrow and often difficult trails. 
 
 There were no diseased palms in the immediate neighborhood of 
 Baracoa, but going out some 10 miles east along the coast, yellow, 
 drooping tops and naked trunks began to appear, and still farther out 
 around Mata and neighboring towns the disease reached its highest 
 development. Here large areas were attacked, and already from 10 to 
 nearly 100 per cent of the trees were lost. Serious damage was quite 
 evident, and the lamentations of the natives and their anxious inquiries 
 as to how to save their sole property were most natural. 
 
 The first outward indication that a palm is attacked is the falling of 
 the young fruit; shortly afterwards the larger nuts drop and the leaves 
 assume a pale yellowish color. 
 
 Within a month all the large lower leaves droop and fall, leaving 
 the pale, sickly tops, which at the first heavy wind blow over and then 
 only the naked trunks stand as ghastly tombstones where a few months 
 before stood graceful valuable palms. Palms of all ages are subject 
 to this disease, though it seems more prevalent among the older plants. 
 
 On felling a palm and examining it. it is apparent that tin 1 trouble 
 is not found in the root or main part of the small trunk. From the 
 root upward to within a few inches from the top, the trunk may be 
 fresh and sound with practically no insect of any kind and with no 
 fungus mycelium. Just below the top and in between the bases of the 
 leaves were found, in nearly all of the three hundred odd palms in 
 different stages of disease which were cut down during my investiga- 
 n tion, the galleries of Scolytids or ambrosia beetles {Xyleborus spp.), 
 rarely, however, in such numbers as to arouse suspicion of the beetles 
 being the cause of the death of the palms. 
 
21 
 
 In and around these holes and perforating the entire upper part of 
 the trunk for 2 to 10 inches downward was found the mycelium of a 
 fungus, the fruiting bodies of which came forth as small white spots 
 on the under side of the leaves and which might easily, on hasty exam- 
 ination, be confounded with Aspidiotus scales which were often found 
 there. 
 
 This parasitic fungus has been identified by Mrs. F. W. Patterson, 
 mycologist, and Mr. A. F. Woods, pathologist, of the Department of 
 Agriculture, as Pestalnzz'm paimarum Cooke. They inform me that 
 though they have no record of the particular damage, " it is extremely 
 probable that this fungus is the cause of the diseased condition of the 
 trees.'* as they have records of similar causes in other trees. 
 
 Breaking off the lower leaves and cutting the center of the green 
 growing part open, the heart of the palm is found to be one putrid 
 offensively smelling mass, filled with maggots of various scavenger flies. 
 By examining palms in various stages of sickness, it was found that the 
 putrefaction began within the sheet around the young, still unfolded 
 flower stalks and gradually worked downward to the center of the 
 plant, and while the primary cause of the death of the palm undoubtedly 
 is the fungus, the nature and foul smell of the diseased parts seemed 
 to indicate some bacteriological influence, when the palm is already 
 weakened by the fungus and doomed to die. 
 
 In from one to three months after first attack full destruction takes 
 place and the trunk stands naked; and though it is still fresh and appar- 
 ently sound, it soon disintegrates through the work of termites or white 
 ants and other insects. 
 
 The fatal nature of the disease precludes a remedy for trees already 
 infected and leaves only the prevention of the spread of the disease as 
 the object for man's intervention. 
 
 As the most natural means of preventing the spread of the disease, 
 the cutting down and burning up of the diseased palms suggests itself, 
 and Mr. A. F. AVoods agrees that this is one of the best ways of com- 
 batting it. In a small and necessarily incomplete way I satisfied 
 myself of the practical results of this preventive. Shortly after my 
 irrival I observed one large grove with only two isolated dying palms. 
 These I had cut down at once and removed the infested parts to my 
 aeadquarters for examination. During my entire stay no more palms 
 in that grove showed signs of disease, although in other tracts with 
 ack palms left standing new cases of infestation were observed in 
 lumbers every week. 
 
 The procedure of felling and burning many palms ma}' seem too 
 enormous an undertaking, but considering the interests at stake it is 
 i small matter and comparatively easy of execution. 
 
 Without such drastic measures the present conditions and the rapid 
 spreading of the disease certainly foreshadow total destruction of the 
 
22 
 
 cocoanut industry, a very serious matter for the population of that 
 part of the island of Cuba. 
 
 It is not necessary to burn the entire trunk, which would involve 
 extra labor, but only the top with a couple of feet of the upper end 
 of the trunk. 
 
 But it is necessary to have united action in order to make the remedy 
 of any real value, as it is evidently futile for the proprietor of one 
 estate to eradicate the disease within its limits if the owners of neigh- 
 boring estates omit the precautions and allow the disease to multiply 
 and send its spores abroad to the others. I therefore suggest local 
 legislation, which would make it compulsoiy on every owner to cut 
 down palms as soon as they show infection and have the diseased parts 
 burned; and, furthermore, that some trustworthy, intelligent man be 
 constituted inspector with the duty to inspect weekly the entire region 
 and with power to have cut down at once and burned at owner's 
 expense any sick palm found omitted. 
 
 Such action, together with advice to plant new cocoanut palms, will, 
 1 fully believe, save the greater part of this important industry, which 
 otherwise seems doomed to annihilation. 
 
 The insects found to be connected with the cocoa palm in this 
 Baracoa district were few and all of secondary or of no economic 
 importance. The only ones which may form an exception are the 
 Scolytids {Xylehorus spp.) through the holes of which the fungus 
 doubtless gains eas} T entrance to the palms. These beetles are not 
 alwa} T s present and evidently do not constitute the only means for the 
 spores to reach their destination. It is not impossible that they are 
 altogether innocent and merely come after the weakened condition of 
 the palm, as Mr. E. A. Schwarz suggests is probable. But as carriers 
 of the spores from palm to palm these insects and numerous scavenger 
 flies which are attracted to the sick palms may be of importance. The 
 most common of these are the strikingly beautiful metallic-green 
 Volucella obesa Fab. and the curious long-legged Odtobata nebulosd 
 Loew. 
 
 On the underside of the leaves and on the green fruit was found 
 quite commonly, but never in dangerous numbers, the destructive 
 scale insect, AspidwUis destructor, which everywhere in that region 
 was kept well in check by the black, red-spotted ladybird, Ohilocoru^ 
 cacti Linn. 
 
 A large beetle, Strataegus titanus Fab., was often found among the 
 flowers of the cocoas and was invariably accused hy the natives of 
 being the cause of all the trouble, while in reality it did little or no 
 harm in eating the pollen and possibly the tender shoots. The larva 
 lives in decayed wood. 
 
 Of the palm weevil, Rhynchophorus palmarum, which before nry 
 trip was suspected as being the possible cause, not one was found and 
 no other borer than the Scolytids previously mentioned. 
 
23 
 
 The long double rows of egg-holes of the large Cicada bicosta Walk, 
 were quite commonly found on the underside of the stalks of the lower 
 leaves, but the damage is insignificant. 
 
 THE PALM AND PALMETTO WEEVILS. 
 
 By F. H. Chittenden. 
 
 As in a measure supplementary to the report of an investigation 
 conducted by Mr. August Busck, of this office, on diseased cocoanut 
 palms in Cuba, due to the fungus Pestalozzia palmarum Cooke, but 
 supposed to have been caused by the palm weevil {Rhynchophorus 
 palmarum Linn.), the following account of that species and the pal- 
 metto w r eevil (R. cruentatus Fab.) has been prepared. It is somewhat 
 singular that at the time Mr. Busck was prosecuting this investiga- 
 tion the palm weevil was not once encountered, but the palmetto 
 weevil was doing injury to the date palm in Florida. The latter, 
 although well known, has not attained any prominence as a pest, but 
 we have an extensive account of the palm weevil by Mr. W. F. H. 
 Blandford, published originally in the Kew Bulletin of February- 
 March, 1893 (pp. 27-60). 
 
 THE PALM WEEVIL. 
 
 (Rhj/ncJiophorus palmarum Linn. ) 
 
 With the establishment of the growing of cocoanut palms in British 
 Honduras, the ravages of the palm weevil seriously discouraged that 
 industry. In the year 1888 the government of that country, becom- 
 ing cognizant that the losses apparently resulting from the palm weevil 
 menaced the prosperhVy of the colony, appointed an investigating com- 
 mission, the result being the publication of the article above cited. 
 Until the injurious occurrence of this species in British Honduras, the 
 palm weevil was better known to the public as the parent of the 
 "gini-gru^ worm, which was eaten by the natives of Central and 
 South America, and mentioned by most writers of early times as 
 "being considered a delicacy." On this head Mile. Merian, in her 
 " Dissertation sur la Generation et les Transformations des Insectes 
 de Surinam," etc., published in 1726 (p. 48), wrote as follows: 
 
 The Dutch name it Palmy t- Worm, that is, the Worm of the Palm, because it feeds 
 on that tree. In the trunk of the palm tree, swarm certain worms feeding on the 
 pith. At first no larger than cheese-maggots, they grow like the one here repre- 
 sented. Certain folk grill them, and consider them a most savory morsel. From 
 this worm comes a black beetle, such as I have depicted, which the Indians and 
 the Dutch both call the Mother of the palm worm. 
 
 The next article of importance bearing upon this species is entitled 
 '^Insects infesting the Sugar-Cane." It was written by Rev. Lansdown 
 Guilding, and published in 1828 (Trans. Soc. Encour. Arts, LXVI). 
 
24 
 
 Through the kindness of Prof. M. E. Peck, Iowa Falls. Iowa, we 
 have received some information relative to this same insect and its 
 injuriousness to palms in British Honduras. Under date of January 
 L, L902, he writes that during several months' stay there he became 
 considerably interested in the cocoanut industry, and especially in the 
 methods in use for meeting attacks of this palm weevil and other 
 beetles infesting the cocoanut. Numerous plantations were reported 
 to be seriously injured or wholly ruined by these insects, which are 
 considered the chief drawback to the industry in that region. One 
 grower, Mr. John T. Sea}', of Manatee District, British Honduras, 
 succeeded to some extent in conquering these pests. Mr. Seay had a 
 plantation about 2<> miles south of Belize and extending for 3 miles 
 along the coast. His trees were in flourishing condition, ranging in 
 age from two or three to fifteen years. Mr. Peck examined the larger 
 part of the adult trees and found that nearly half of those with trunks 
 over <) feet in height had been attacked Iry the weevils, but had been 
 successfully treated and the insects destroyed. Mr. Seay's method of 
 treatment was described as so easy and rapid that one man could attend 
 to many thousands of trees at very slight expense. He stated that if 
 these beetles were as destructive in our newly acquired tropical terri- 
 tory (according to present accounts they are not) as they are in Cen- 
 tral America, it would certainly be worth while for the Department 
 of Agriculture to inquire into the matter. 
 
 Mr. Seay was written in regard to his experiences, and he answered 
 January 22, and later in 1902, giving much information concerning 
 this and other insects associated with injury to palms cultivated in 
 British Honduras. His acquaintance with this weevil dated back 
 about thirty years, and for half of that time he had been studying its 
 habits in order to be able to use his knowledge to advantage in the 
 application of remedies. 
 
 ASSOCIATES OF THE PALM WEEVIL. 
 
 The associates of this weevil, specimens of which accompanied other 
 material, were a large shining black Histerid beetle (Hololepta quad- 
 ridentata Say), a large dipterous larva or maggot, which proved on 
 rearing to be WUlistonidla pleurqpunctata Wied., also Epiplatea erosa 
 Loew — both the young of Ortalid flies— and two forms of mites iden- 
 tified by Mr. N. Banks as belonging to the genera Uropoda and 
 Holostaspis. The latter mite was observed singly, in the material 
 furnished us, on both the weevil and the Histerid, sheltering in clus- 
 ter- on the hairy portions of the under surface of the weevil and more 
 especially on the tibiae, although also clustered on the abdomen and 
 presternum. There is no doubt that these mites are of some value in 
 destroying the weevils in their different stages, more particularly, 
 perhaps, when in the pupal stage, if they have opportunity to penetrate 
 
25 
 
 the pupal cells. Histerids are. as a rule, predaceous, at least in the 
 larval stage, and these may also do some good by destroying the eggs 
 and young of the weevil when the latter are first hatched. 
 
 Rhina ftarbirostris Fab. — June 19. 1902, we received from Mr. 
 Seay. through Mr. E. J. F. Campbell, superintendent of agriculture, 
 botanic station, Belize. Honduras, specimens of this large weevil, with 
 the expression of opinion that, first of all. the cocoanut trees were in 
 a more or less unhealthy state when attacked by it and that it did no 
 harm to healthy trees: but. to attract the insect, some injury must in 
 the first instance happen to some part of the plant, stem, roots, or 
 leaf, to cause a now and subsequent fermentation of sap. 
 
 Tlit Ambrosia beetles [Xyleborus and Monarthrum spp.) bore into 
 the cracks of the stem of the injured plants; and the palm weevil 
 (Mhynchopkatmjpalmuruin \ follows. The ambrosia beetles make holes 
 in the trunk and bore straight ahead, the size of the holes never increas- 
 ing, and throw out sawdust, which the weevil does not usually do. The 
 latter makes a small hole and inserts an egg which hatches into a grub, 
 and the grub excavates cavities which constantly increase in size, until 
 finally it forms its cocoon. 
 
 AS TO WHETHER INSECTS ATTACK HEALTHY OR ONLY SICKLY TREES. 
 
 The belief is quite prevalent in British Honduras that the palm 
 weevil is the chief cause of the great damage to cocoanut trees in that 
 colony. Mr. Seay is of the opinion that the ambrosia beetles are more 
 responsible as conveyers of disease than the palm weevil. Mr. Camp- 
 bell states that the disease locally known as •'fever/' presumably due 
 to the fungus Pestalozzia jHdinarum, or a similar species, is the sole 
 forerunner of the trouble. He supposes it to be conveyed from 
 unhealthy trees growing in unsuitable ground. On this head he 
 expresses himself substantially as follows: 
 
 From my own observation I am of the opinion that cocoanut trees are never 
 attacked by weevils unless the plant is more or less in a sickly condition — a fever of 
 some kind. This fever may originate from different circumstances, such as sudden 
 cold weather, excessive wet, causing water to lie around and affect the roots, the 
 want of good drainage, inferior soil, sudden exposure of the stem to the direct rays 
 of the sun, or other conditions due to planters neglecting to clean their trees for 
 months or years. * * * 
 
 He is convinced that "no fly. bug. or weevil" will attack a perfectly 
 healthy cocoanut tree that receives proper attention by its owner. 
 
 THE PALMETTO WEEVIL. 
 
 (Mkynchbphorui cruentatus Fab.) 
 
 September 10, 1901, we received specimens of this species in the 
 grub state from Mr. Lee Mulford, Fort Ogden. Fla.. that had been 
 taken from a 10-year-old seedling date. The entire trunk was found 
 
26 
 
 to be honeycombed, and fifty or more of the grubs were observed. 
 They were stated to be quite active and capable of traveling some little 
 distance, and to be noisy when at work, making a sound like the 
 escape of water with an occasional screech like a choked hen. 
 
 April 4, L902, Mr. AY. F. Fiske, Atlanta, Ga., sent fragments of 
 this beetle, taken from its coeoon in the trunk of Sabal palmetto, 
 the tree having died and the crown fallen. Other trees in the 
 neighborhood were killed and some showed evidence of attack. 
 
 The beetle. — The general appearance of the beetle is shown in figure 1, at a. The 
 thorax, and frequently the elytra, are usually more or less reddish; sometimes both 
 are decidedly red, marked with black spots which form a pattern more or less like 
 that depicted. The under surface is also partly red and partly black, but frequently 
 specimens are met with which are entirely black, some decidedly polished, and 
 
 Fig. 1.— Palmetto weevil {Rhynehophorus crnentatu.<): a, male beetle; b, head and appendages of 
 female from side; e, larva; d, head of same; e, last ventral segment seen from above; /, pupa — 
 a, e,f, slightly enlarged; b, d, e, more enlarged (original). 
 
 others dull and velvety. The body above is depressed and, as with other weevils, 
 the head is prolonged into a snout, which is comparatively short and very rough in 
 the male, while in the female it is longer and more slender and almost perfectly 
 smooth along the upper surface. (Compare a and b, fig. 1, the latter a side view of 
 the female head with snout and antenna. ) The antenna' are geniculate or elbowed, 
 as in most curculios of this group, and the last joint is strongly expanded. The 
 elytra, or wing-covers, are deeply striate or furrowed, as shown in the figure. The 
 legs are fringed on the inner surface with long reddish-yellow hairs, and the tip of 
 the tibia bears a long apical spur and two shorter teeth. The length, exclusive of 
 the snout, measures from eight-tenths of an inch to upward of an inch and an 
 eighth. A technical description is furnished on. page 408 of Dr. Horn's paper enti- 
 tled "Contributions to a knowledge of the Curculionida^ of the United States." 
 (Proceedings American Philosophical Society, 1873.) 
 
 sThe larva is shown in figure 1, at c. It very closely resembles that of B. palmarum, 
 which is figured in both the articles of Messrs. Guilding and Blandford. It is of 
 robust form and somewhat different from any other rhynchophorous larva that has 
 
 DESCRIPTIVE. 
 
 / 
 
27 
 
 ever been under observation by the writer. Its color is rather pale yellowish-brown, 
 with exceptions of the first thoracic segment, which is chitinous, and the head, which 
 is dark brown. The latter is illustrated at c (fig. 1). A large proportion of the head 
 is divided into irregular reticulated areas, giving the appearance of very large eyes. 
 As will be seen in the illustration, the segments are quite distinct, and there are 
 9 spiracles, including 8 abdominal ones. The length, when in somewhat retracted 
 position, is about H inches. In many respects this species resembles that of 
 R. pcUmarum; hence a detailed description is scarcely necessary, as nearly two pages 
 have been devoted to the description of that species in Blandford's article pre- 
 viously quoted. It should be stated, however, that Horn, quoting LeConte as 
 authority, says that these stigmata are completely absent, because neither of these 
 specialists had an opportunity of observing fresh alcoholic specimens, and drew 
 their deductions from "a carefully prepared skin." 
 
 Tfte pupa (fig. 1,/), in specimens which the writer has had under observation, is of 
 a similar color to the larva, and is noticeably larger than the beetle, a rather unusual 
 matter with pupa?, but readily accounted for because the pupa is necessarily rather 
 delicate, while the beetle is decidedly hard like all of its kind and quite compact. 
 The length of four pupse before the writer afford an average of If inches. This 
 species appears to be most abundant in Florida, but is recorded as occurring from 
 South Carolina to Louisiana. 
 
 REMEDIAL TREATMENT. 
 
 Owing to the somewhat peculiar habits of these weevils and their 
 resistance to poison, we can not treat them by any single method, but 
 must employ several, both cultural and mechanical. Perhaps one of 
 the best preventives that has been suggested consists in cutting 
 down or wounding several young trees or wild species of palm or 
 palmetto which may be found growing in the vicinity of the date or 
 cocoanut trees to be protected. The sap which exudes from the dead 
 or wounded trees ferments and acts as a strong attraction to. the 
 beetles. Frequently a multitude are thus attracted and can be cap- 
 tured without trouble and killed before they have had time to oviposit. 
 The trunks of felled trees soon become rilled with larva?, and infected 
 portions should be sawed off and burned before the insects mature, 
 leaving the remainder of these trunks to act as traps for other insects. 
 It is also recommended that care be taken in the choice of sites for 
 new plantations, undue proximity to what is known as a " cohoon " ridge 
 being avoided, and that all stumps and felled trees not used as traps 
 be promptly destroyed. Thorough drainage and wide planting are 
 also advised. The trees should be left as far as possible in a natural 
 state and unnecessary trimming should be avoided. Wounds might 
 be dressed with any mixture that would deter the beetle from attack- 
 ing them and prevent fermentation, such as tar or grafting wax. 
 
 The beetles can easily be killed by dropping them into hot water. 
 
 Some of the remedies above described were first suggested by Mr. 
 Blandford (loc. cit.) and others by this Division. 
 
 Mr. Seav is most successful in the treatment of the palm weevil by 
 the use of traps, which have been in use for many years by himself 
 
28 
 
 and others, both against this species and related ones. The traps he 
 uses are mostly what is termed the cabbage portion of the palm, while 
 it is fermenting. When fresh cut, the "cabbage" will attract the 
 weevils somewhat, but when it reaches the vinous stage it emits a 
 powerful odor, which the insects can detect from a great distance. 
 They soar about for a while, then alight and proceed to work. After 
 feeding for some time, they look about in search of a ■'nice heap of 
 rubbish to hide and sleep in, but if no suitable place is close, they fty 
 away. The idea of a handful or two of rubbish catching them took 
 me live years to find out, r says Mr. Seay. kept trying everything 
 I could think of to hold them, but as soon as the vinegar fermentation 
 sets in, the weevils stop coming and the yellow bugs [ambrosia bee- 
 tles] come; also several kinds of flies. " When the putrid stage arrives, 
 Mr. Seay destroys his traps. The " salt- water pimento " is the palm 
 most used, and one or two cuts of a machete an inch or an inch and a 
 half above the "cabbage'' takes off the top, and with the point of the 
 machete a hole is opened into the "cabbage,'' breaking it a little. 
 Then the trap is set. The odor arising from these bruises attracts 
 the insects in the vicinity, and the weevils enter the holes and also 
 stow themselves in the leaf-stalks. In the afternoon of the following 
 day until 2 or 3 o'clock our correspondent states that he frequently 
 obtains half a dozen or more in such a trap. The trap lasts a week 
 or two. When the trap has been thus used, it is cut off below the 
 "cabbage," and the scraps are burned or thrown into the sea. 
 
 There seems little doubt that all of the flying species of insects — 
 the weevil, the Histerid, and the two-winged flies — whose larva? w ere 
 received are instrumental in spreading the disease or so-called fever 
 which attacks palms grown both in British Honduras and in the West 
 Indies. Mr. Seay is unfortunate in having neighbors who also grow 
 palms and who do not take the pains to employ remedies against the 
 weevils. He states that 3 or i miles is no distance for the insects to 
 fly in search of a sickly tree or one that is beginning' to bear fruit, 
 because then the bark is soft and the sun will make cracks and the 
 sap, which is liked by all of these pests, oozes out in quantities. 
 
 NOTES ON THE RHINOCEROS BEETLE. 
 
 (Dynastes tityus Linn.) 
 By F. H. Chittenden. 
 
 Few insects attract greater attention when they occur in any num- 
 bers than the giant Scarabseid known as the rhinoceros beetle. Dynastes 
 tityus Linn., sometimes called the spotted hornbug. In former years 
 it w as tolerably abundant in the vicinity of the District of Columbia, 
 and is still to be found quite frequently in neighboring portions of 
 
Plate II. 
 
 Fig. \.—a. Larva (natural size): b, c, mandibles of larva (enlarged) 
 
 Fig. 2.— Pupa: a, lateral view, b, dorsal view— natural size 
 
 Rhinoceros Beetle (Dynastes tityus). 
 
29 
 
 Virginia, and more commonly southward. It was not until the year 
 1801 that any considerable information regarding the insect's earlier 
 stages was published. In that year Dr. J. A. Lintner published in his 
 Seventh Report on the Injurious and Other Insects of the State of 
 New York an extensive account (pp. 2I0-255), which included detailed 
 descriptions of the larva and papa by Mr. E. A. Schwarz. of this 
 Division, with figures prepared in this office under the direction of 
 the 1 late Dr. Riley. These illustrations, not hitherto used in depart- 
 mental publications, are now used as an accompaniment to the present 
 notes, which add somewhat to our knowledge of the life history of this 
 our largest and most striking native beetle. 
 
 Recently Dr. A. K. Fisher, of the Biological Survey of this Depart- 
 ment, furnished the writer with a pair of this species from Sandy 
 Spring, Md., and from these July 16 we obtained the egg and later 
 the young larva. As this stage has not hitherto been described, the 
 following description is submitted with other notes: 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE EGG AND YOUNG LARVA. 
 
 The egg of Dynastes tUr/'/s looks precisely like a very small bird's 
 egg/' In outline it is broadly oval and perfectly symmetrical, of firm 
 consistency, and quite elastic. It is of a dull cream color and without 
 polish or visible sculpture. The length of a freshly deposited egg is 
 a little more than i inch (3.5 ram ). and the shorter diameter 3 mm . 
 
 The newly hatched larva is nearly a counterpart of that of Lach- 
 nosterna and related white grubs, being about double the size and width 
 of that of Lachnostema arcuate, which was figured and described by the 
 writer on pages 71 and 70. respectively, of Bulletin 19 (n. s.). of this 
 office. These differences, however, are observable: The head is larger, 
 more globular, darker brown in color, and of lirmer consistency, being- 
 more strongly chitinized than that of Lachnosterna: the mandibles are 
 proportionately shorter and less sickle-like, and the teeth are nearly 
 the same on both sides, the single tooth being placed nearer the tip of 
 the mandibles. [In Lachnostema fusca there are two teeth on the left 
 side, near the base of the mandibles, and only one tooth on the right 
 side.] The legs are proportionately shorter and the pubescence longer. 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF EATER STAGES. 
 
 For the benefit of those who have not seen this species, the accom- 
 panying illustration of the male is furnished, slightly enlarged, in fig- 
 ure 2. It measures from 2^ to 2h inches from the tip of the horns 
 to the end of the body. The female is similar, but is unarmed with 
 horns. The general color above is a pale bluish gray in life, and the 
 
 a It should be noted here that the egg of a large African Buprestid, Stemocera ori&sa, 
 has been found by Dr. Howard to measure 9.2x6.4 mm (Ent News, Vol. VII, p. 244). 
 
30 
 
 elytra, or wing-covers, are marked with darker irregular spots similar 
 to those on many kinds of birds' eggs. The ventral surface is a 
 bright mahogany brown, and moderately hairy.. 
 
 The larva, shown in Plate II, figure 1, at a, in natural position, is of 
 the usual curved Scarabaiid form, dirty yellow or yellowish white in 
 color, measuring when mature upward of 5 inches in length when 
 extended. Enlarged illustrations of the mandibles are shown at 1> and 
 c of the same figure. 
 
 The pupa is light brown in color and covered with a very tine 
 velvety pruinosity. The male is illustrated in Plate II, figure 2, a 
 showing a lateral view and h the dorsal, natural size. 
 
 The peculiar odor of the beetle is shared by larvae and pupae and 
 lasts long after death, preserved specimens seeming never to lose this 
 strange scent, which also remains for years in the insect boxes in 
 
 which the beetles have once 
 been kept. 
 
 In the reports of Dr. Lintner 
 rather full bibliographical ref- 
 erences can be found. 
 
 DISTRIBUTION. 
 
 The exact distribution of this 
 species has never been defined, 
 hence the following list of lo- 
 calities from which specimens 
 have been sent by correspond- 
 ents of this Department together 
 with some recorded localities 
 should be of interest, this bee- 
 tle being so well known to 
 collectors of insects: 
 
 Fig. 2.— Rhinoceros beetle (Dynastes tityus): male— 
 
 slightly enlarged (after Riley i. York County, Marietta, Lancaster, 
 
 Wrightsville, Pa. ; Cape May, Wild- 
 wood, N. J. (Smith); Baltimore, Hughesville, Sandy Spring, Centerville, Md.; Wash- 
 ington, D. C. ; Amherst, Sewells Point, Bonney, Perrowville, Gills, Friedens, Coffee, 
 Culpeper, Warren County, Va.; Wilkesboro, Raleigh, Happy Home, Fayetteville, 
 Hooverhill, Greensboro, Asheville, Laurelbranch, N. C; Coozan, Coronaca, Beau- 
 fort, AVinnsboro, Pomaria, S. C; Molino, Liveoak, New Smyrna, Archer, Fla.; 
 Smithville, Pearson, Albany, Ga.; Florence, South Calera, Birmingham, Mobile, 
 Selma, Ala. ; New Orleans, Cypress, Gansville, La. ; Covington, Memphis, Claiborne 
 County, Tenn. ; Ojo Caliente, Grafton, N. Mex.; Louisville, Scottsville, Ky.; Hackett 
 City, Ark.; Paoli, Columbus, Ind.; Missouri. 
 
 x BIOLOGIC NOTES. 
 
 The date of deposition of the egg was not ascertained, but was about 
 July 18, or a few days before. When examined a week later it was 
 
31 
 
 found to have grown half a millimeter in diameter by a process of 
 absorption well known in eggs of the beetles of this family. 
 
 The exact duration of the egg stage could not be observed, but it 
 was at least sixteen days and probably longer, the weather for this 
 period being a little warmer than normal. 
 
 Several years ago the writer received from the late George D. 
 Bradford, at that time traveling irKthe South, a number of larvae of 
 this species collected in the spring at Beaufort, S. C, from which 
 material some interesting observations were made. 
 
 For several weeks after the receipt of these larvae they did not 
 manifest any signs of feeding, but later in July and August they ate 
 freely of the mold or dead woody matter in which they were sent. 
 There was originally over a gallon jar full of this mold, and as that 
 in the jar was consumed, the remainder, perhaps a quart, was added. 
 Three larvae were kept in this, and almost the entire contents had 
 become consumed and converted into pellets, resembling on a small 
 scale those of a goat or rabbit, when the larvae became full fed. 
 They ceased feeding during the third week of August and remained 
 for a few days as if resting, then went to work to form cells for the 
 pupal transformation. When larvae are disturbed the\ T roll over and 
 over, like the larvae of many other Coleoptera and some other orders 
 of insects, and the same motion was continued by the pupa. By this 
 motion, in time, the interior of the pupal cell is rolled quite smooth. 
 
 August 27 the skin was noticed to be shriveled, and on the folio wing- 
 day this increased. On the 29th all three pupated. One was still 
 white toward evening, the other brown. Transformation to the imago 
 occurred on the 20th of October, all undergoing this metamorphosis 
 the same day. This gives a pupal period of fifty-one days, probably 
 the longest warm weather pupal period of any of our Coleoptera. 
 
 The pupal cells were coated externally with excremental pellets and 
 bits of rotten wood, and showed an average measurement of from 2 
 to 3 inches in length and 1^ to 1J inches in width. 
 
 Hibernation takes place normally in the beetle state, and the beetles 
 obtained in this instance were kept until some time in July of the 
 following year, when they died during the writer's absence. 
 
 The rhinoceros beetle seldom occurs in such abundance as to be 
 reckoned a pest. According to Dr. Lintner, however, the beetles are 
 sometimes capable of injuries of considerable importance. He states 
 (Fifth New York Report, p. 230), on the authority of Mr. J. W. Mur- 
 rell, Perrowville, Ya., that numbers of the beetles were observed 
 feeding on the tender shoots of spring growth of ash trees, causing 
 the leaves to fall and cover the ground as if a frost had passed over 
 them. Their food consists largely of sap. which flows from the plants 
 attacked. Beetles may be attracted by bruising ash twigs. 
 
 The beetles are sometimes troublesome on account of their strong 
 and disagreeable odor. 
 
32 
 
 Ash. although evidently the favorite, is not the only food plant of 
 this species, The larvae are probably not particular, as they live upon 
 decaying wood and have been found feeding in decayed wood of cherry, 
 willow, oak. and other trees. 
 
 During June, 1898, we received a specimen of this species from 
 Mr. W. W. Thompson, Smithville, Ga., with the statement that it had 
 been found eating a pear, an unusual food habit, judging from records. 
 
 In writing of the noise produced by this species when alarmed, the 
 late Dr. John Hamilton says (Can. Ent., Vol. XVIII, p. 112): 
 
 "While no real stridulating organs are present, they have the power to produce a 
 sound that may answer the same purpose, somewhat resembling that of an angry 
 goose. The pygidium and part of the last ventral segment are very hairy, and by 
 withdrawing the abdomen from the elytra so as to admit air, and then suddenly 
 forcing it out through the hair by a sudden extension, a noise is produced that is 
 rather alarming to one unacquainted with their harmlessness. 
 
 NOTES ON ENEMIES OF MUSHROOMS AND ON EXPERIMENTS 
 
 WITH REMEDIES. 
 
 By August Busck. 
 
 During the winter 1901-2 four enemies of mushroom culture came 
 under observation: (1) snails, (2) roaches, (3) maggots of some unde- 
 termined Diptera (not bred), and (4) mites. 
 
 (1) Against the snails was used with perfect success the old remedy 
 of trapping them under loose boards. 
 
 (2) The roaches {Periplaneta americana) were quite troublesome, but 
 were at least temporarily driven away by the pyrethrum and bisulphid 
 of carbon experiments, employed against the mites and mentioned 
 below. 
 
 (3) The maggots, which in the cases under observation were scarce 
 and of small importance, were not bred. They worked in the fruit 
 bodies of the mushroom and of course spoiled such individual mush- 
 rooms as were infested. Possibly the experiments with all kinds of 
 insecticides, conducted against the mites, killed the majority of adult 
 flies, and thus prevented egg laying and consequent injury. 
 
 Reports from other places show that certain flies (Phora spp. and 
 DrosopMla spp.) may be very dangerous enemies of successful mush- 
 room culture. 
 
 The present experiments tend to show that the screening of all win- 
 dows or beds, where feasible, and the liberal use of pyrethrum, are 
 effective preventives against these pests. 
 
 (4) The only truly important and at the same time the most perni- 
 cious and difficult enemy to handle which has come under my obser- 
 vation hitherto is the very prolific and astonishingly destructive mite, 
 Tyroglyjjhus lintneri. 
 
33 
 
 It attacks the fruit bodies in all stages, thereby making these 
 unsightly and unsalable. When present in large numbers it actually 
 eats big holes right through them. It not only attacks the fruit bodies, 
 but even feeds on the mycelium underground, thus destroying the plant 
 entirely. 
 
 Many cases where beds have not yielded at all, and where the blame 
 has been credited to "old and dead" spawn, are doubtless truly the 
 results of this pest, which being so small has escaped notice. 
 
 In two or three cases where the failure of a bed was attributed to 
 poor spawn, it was found on investigation that the "brick" had been 
 all right and had begun sending out mycelium under favorable condi- 
 tions, but that myriads of these mites in the ground actually consumed 
 it as fast as it grew. In some beds they were so numerous that they 
 covered the surface entirely, and any such bed might as well be given 
 up at once, and the danger to surrounding beds somewhat minimized 
 by the killing of all the mites. This may be done by pouring boiling 
 water on the bed, using enough to reach the bottom and soak the bed 
 thoroughly. 
 
 The following remedies were thoroughly experimented with and 
 none proved of much value: 
 
 (A) Bisulphid of carbon. — Some twenty-odd beds, 3 by 6 feet, and 
 two beds, 5 by 10 feet, were under observation in two different places. 
 These beds were originally prepared with these experiments in view, 
 and the boxes were made \\ to 2 inches higher than is usually necessary, 
 so as to leave that much space above the ground. In other respects 
 the beds were prepared in the usual manner, the spawn was put in, 
 and in due time mycelium developed and mushrooms appeared. 
 
 As soon as the mites put in their appearance (they were probably 
 brought in the adolescent stage with the manure) the bisulphid of 
 carbon was applied. From one-fourth of a pound to 1 pound was 
 poured into each of three or four shallow receptacles placed on top of 
 the bed, and the whole was then tightly covered with heavy oilcloth. 
 
 This was done in the evening and the bed left overnight till the 
 next noon, when the soil was examined. 
 
 It is possible that some of the mites had perished from the effect of 
 the poison. Several were found dead or dying, but many more speci- 
 mens crawled upon and in the soil as lively as ever and apparently not 
 the least harmed. 
 
 The treatment was repeated next night on some of the beds, and for 
 several nights on other beds, but with the same very doubtful success. 
 
 A number of living mites were placed in a vial on a bit of mush- 
 room and the vial closed with cotton saturated with bisulphid of car- 
 bon. After two days several mites were still alive, and the cause of 
 the death of the others may as well have been lack of moisture or 
 injury in handling them as the bisulphid of carbon. 
 3622— No. 38—04 3 
 
34 
 
 One thing was ascertained through these experiments, namely, that 
 the mushroom mycelium is not injured by the treatment with vapors 
 of bisulphid of carbon; in fact, the growth seemed rather stimulated 
 if affected at all, and such beds, when not ultimately killed by the 
 mites, produced as good a crop as those not treated. The fruit bodies 
 above ground, however, can not stand the treatment, but disinte- 
 grate very soon, for which reason all should be plucked before the 
 application. 
 
 (B) Pulverized sulphur was applied liberally with a blower, and 
 mixed with about 1 inch of the top soil by means of a rake. Aside 
 from such mites as were injured in the handling, and such as were 
 actually buried in the sulphur, from which the}^ had difficulty in extri- 
 cating themselves, none seemed in the least affected. 
 
 (C) Vapors of sulphur. — The burning of chips of sulphur in proper 
 receptacles on top of the beds did not have any apparent effect on the 
 mites. 
 
 (D) Pyrethrum powder applied liberally with bellows had no serious 
 effect on the mites, though they evidently did not like it. It did not 
 seem to act even as a deterrent in such beds as were little or not at all 
 infested. However, the undoubted beneficial results against roaches 
 and flies, which might otherwise have become serious factors, would 
 warrant the use of this insecticide freely in all mushroom beds as a 
 good precaution.' 
 
 (E) Hydrocyanic-acid gas. — Conditions did not allow a thorough test 
 of this, but 1 have no doubt, from what was done, that it is as ineffect- 
 ive against the mites as bisulphid of carbon. One large bed in a 
 cellar by itself was left from Saturday 4 o'clock to Sunday 4 o'clock, 
 exposed to the fumes of hydrocyanic acid, produced in the usual way. 
 When the windows were pulled open on Sunday strong fumes were 
 still found. 
 
 No living mites were noticed at the inspection on top of the bed, 
 but digging into the bed the following day revealed them apparently 
 as well as ever. Concerning the influence of these vapors on the 
 growing mycelium this experiment gave no information, as the 
 mycelium in this bed was already dead when exposed to the gas. 
 
 (F) Tobacco dust was tried in a single bed, and gave the same nega- 
 tive result as sulphur, acting at most only as somewhat deterring but 
 not killing the mites. 
 
 (G) Chloride of lime and gasoline. — Neither was given sufficient 
 trial to warrant final conclusions. The former killed the mites which 
 came in contact with it, but two beds on which it was applied did not 
 produce an}^ mushrooms either. The gasoline did not seem to have 
 Bny fatal results either to mites or mushrooms. 
 
 (If) Moisture. — A mushroom bed does not allow much variation in 
 moisture if good results are to come. However, it was soon observed 
 
35 
 
 that the mites easily got too much moisture, and in this direction 
 observations should be continued to find out whether it be possible to 
 find a degree of moisture which will either kill or drive away the 
 mites without being detrimental to the growth of the mycelium. 
 
 NOTES ON COLORADO INSECTS. 
 
 By A. N. Caudell. 
 
 Acting under authorization from the Department of Agriculture, I 
 arrived at Denver, Colo., May 5, 1901, where I was joined by Dr. H. G. 
 Dyar. With Denver as headquarters, daily excursions were made 
 into the canyons and foothills of the mountains, and the life histories 
 of many western Lepidoptera were worked out, notes being taken on 
 more than 200 species. In the months of J uly and August trips were 
 made across the divide to various localities, adding materially to our 
 collections. According to instructions, I ' 4 collected such economic 
 and other insects as came convenient and made observations on eco- 
 nomic species whenever possible. " My first duty of assisting Dr. Dyar 
 in working out lepidopterous life histories prohibited my making 
 large collections in other orders. Some 5,000 specimens of Orthop- 
 tera, however, were collected, together with some hundreds of miscel- 
 laneous insects, mostly Coleoptera, of which a few were reared. Such 
 observations on economic insects as I was able to make are here 
 reported. 
 
 The minute false chinch bug {Nysius minutus Uhl.). — At Delta 
 occurred an extreme case of injury to radish by this insect. The 
 leaves were completely killed to the ground, and the shriveled remains 
 were still covered by many hundreds of the little pests. Mr. O. 
 Heidemann identified the species. 
 
 The beet army worm (Zaphygma exigua Hbn.). — This has become an 
 important enemy of the sugar-beet industry in the West. Specimens 
 of the larva in all stages were taken on sugar beets at Palisades in 
 Mesa County, and at Delta. At the latter place they were taken also 
 on the table beet, though they did not occur in injurious numbers. 
 This insect is reported as having caused great injury to sugar beets 
 in Colorado, defoliating thousands of acres of beets. It is also said 
 to be injurious to potato, pea, and apple leaves. Professor Gillette, 
 of the Colorado experiment station, has employed arsenical sprays 
 against it with beneficial results. Professor Forbes concludes from 
 data furnished b} T Professor Gillette that there may be expected at 
 least two broods of larvae each year — one in June and one in August. 
 But the broods doubtless merge one into the other, as larvae in all 
 stages were taken at Palisades on July 8. 
 
 The bean ladybird (EpilacJma corrtvpta Muls.). — An extreme case 
 
86 
 
 of injury by this spotted bean beetle was observed near Fort Collins, 
 where a large patch of beans had nearly every leaf killed by the 
 larvae of this insect. At that time, in July, the beetles were in the 
 pupal state, hanging in great numbers on the underside of the leaves. 
 Professor Gillette stated that no effective remedy for them was 
 known, the insect being able to withstand anything that did not 
 injure the plants. The adult beetles are said to exude a tiny drop of 
 3 T ellow liquid of a pungent odor from each knee joint when disturbed. 
 The insect is discussed by Professor Gillette in Bulletin 19 of the 
 Colorado Experiment Station. 
 
 The nj>j> 1 < flea-beetle {Haltica bimargmata 111.). — July 10 a collecting 
 trip was made up Platte Canyon. At Pine Grove, some miles up the 
 canyon, the alders along the river were found to be infested by beetle 
 larvae which ate the upper side of the leaves, in some cases complete^ 
 skeletonizing them. An attempt was made to rear the adult beetle, 
 but other duties interfered and it was not successful. A number of 
 the larvae were collected, however, and Mr. Schwarz identities them as 
 those of Haltica bimarginata. 
 
 The tent caterpillar {CI isiocampa fragilis Stretch). — On July 20 the 
 ascent of Pike's Peak was made, and here occurred the worst case of 
 forest depredation by insect foes that ever came under my observation. 
 The aspens were completely defoliated by the larvae of Clisioca mpa 
 fragilis. The imagos were then issuing, and, even in the middle of 
 the day, they swarmed about the tops of the leafless trees like bees, 
 thousands and thousands of them. The cocoons literally covered the 
 twigs, one a foot in length often containing a dozen or more of them. 
 So completely defoliated were the trees at this place that Dr. Dyar 
 failed to find a single leaf with which to supply an aspen-feeding Not- 
 odont larva which he was rearing. Our observations were made 
 mostly at 9,000 to 12,000 feet altitude. The willow and rose were also 
 attacked, but not nearly so severely as the aspen. Over what area this 
 injury extended I can not say, having been unable to make sufficient 
 observations. In the vicinity of Cripple Creek the aspens were also 
 infested, but not nearly so badly as those on Pike's Peak. On reach- 
 ing the summit of the peak we found hundreds of the moths lying dead 
 or helpless on the snow banks. They had evidently flown up from the 
 timber line, and, becoming benumbed, fallen in the snow, there to die. 
 
 The lilac borer {Podosesia syringm Harr.). — In West Denver numbers 
 of ash trees were completely killed by this Sesiid borer. The trees 
 were small, about 6 inches in diameter, and dozens of empty pupal 
 shells were protruding through the bark. 
 
 The fruit-tree leaf -roller (Cacaeeia argyrospHaWsHls..). — The leaves 
 of living ash trees were badly infested with the larvae of this Tortricid. 
 
 A new tent caterpillar {Clisiocampa tigris Dyar). — The scrub oak in 
 the eastern foothills, especially just west of Sedalia, between Denver 
 and Colorado Springs, was badly infested with the larvae of this new 
 
37 
 
 species of Clisiocarnpa. Many of the trees (or more properly bushes, 
 as they seldom, if ever, attain sufficient size to be properly called 
 trees) were killed through repeated defoliation by the larva? of this 
 insect. A resident farmer stated that the caterpillars were much more 
 numerous some years than others. This beautifully marked larva was 
 first found some 5 miles up Platte Canyon, back of Denver, but 
 occurred there very sparingly. It eats only oak and confines its attacks 
 to young, tender leaves. It seems unable to eat old leaves, and so 
 must mature before they become tough. 
 
 The eggs are laid near the ground on twigs at the base of the trees, 
 and have no frothy covering as have many species of the genus. The 
 larva? are gregarious when young, but soon scatter and feed singly. 
 They spin no web. 
 
 Trypeta galls on Bigelovia. — At the little station of Platte Canyon, 
 at the mouth of the canyon of that name, there are great numbers of 
 Bigelovia. During the latter part of May every bush bears a number 
 of white fluffy but compact galls as big as hazelnuts. Often there 
 will be found 50 or more galls on a single bush. They are caused by 
 a beautiful little fly, Aciura bigloviae Ckll. At this time of the year 
 the pupa? may be found within the galls, snugly incased in cells at the 
 center. The pupa is about 5 mm long by 3 mm wide, oval in shape, and 
 varying in color from pale yellowish red to brown, probably according 
 to age. The insects emerge by the first of June, the first ones appear- 
 ing in the breeding cage on May 28. 
 
 The cabbage looper (PI usia brassicse Riley). — In the early part of July 
 a few observations were made on injurious insects of the garden in the 
 vicinity of Delta, in Delta County. Several interesting items were 
 •noted. The larva of Pkma brassieae was the main pest, and seemed to 
 be quite omnivorous, eating not only the cabbage, but also the potato, 
 turnip, rutabaga, lettuce, and table and sugar beets; it was also 
 found on a prickly poppy-like plant locally called "wild lettuce." 
 While the cabbage in some cases was almost ruined, it was on the 
 lettuce and potato, especially the lettuce, that the most damage was 
 done. Quite large fields of potatoes were so eaten by this larva as to 
 be easily noticeable at a considerable distance, having something the 
 appearance of being badly infested with the potato beetles. On the 
 lettuce the damage was extreme. In some cases the plant was entirely 
 devoured and was eaten out below the surface of the ground. The 
 rutabagas and peas were also badly eaten. The larvae occurred in 
 various stages, some very small and others full grown. Specimens 
 were sent to Dr. Dyar at Denver to be reared, but they failed to trans- 
 form. An inflated larva was preserved. 
 
 The cottonwood leaf-beetle (Lina sorlpta Fab.). — The willows in the 
 eastern foothills visited by Dr. Dyar and myself were badly infested 
 with a Chrysomelid larva which often occurred in sufficient numbers to 
 completely skeletonize the leaves of large branches. The beetles were 
 
38 
 
 reared, and were determined by Mr, Schwarz. The eggs arc deposited I 
 on the leaves about the middle of May, and are continually deposited I 
 for two or three weeks thereafter, all stages — ovum, larva, pupa, and 
 imago — being found on the trees in the earlier part of June. They I 
 remain in the pupa state about five days, specimens in the breeding 
 cage pupating on June 1, and giving forth imagos on the 6th. The 
 Larval period lasts but a couple of weeks, and breeding experiments 
 would probably show the insect to be at least double-brooded. 
 
 The hollworm, or corn ear-worm (Heliothis armiger Hbn.). — Young 
 corn a couple of feet in height near Delta was badly infested with the 
 bollworm. The leaves were in some cases completely riddled near 
 the base, and the stalks badly burrowed and eaten. This exceptional 
 injury was probably accounted for by the nearness of the worst 
 infested patch (a small area) to an irrigating ditch of considerable 
 size. Corn in dryer locations seemed little injured. Corn on Low 
 wet soil is usually much more liable to excessive injury from the corn 
 worm than on high dry ground. Some } r ears ago in Oklahoma I saw 
 a small area of field corn planted in a very low wet spot in the bend of 
 a small creek that was completely eaten up by the worms. The stalks 
 attained a height of only about 1 feet and were very weak and 
 slender, yet 20 or more larvae could be found in a single plant, bur- 
 rowing the stalks so that many fell over. Some plants had all the 
 leaves riddled and the stalk so completelly eaten out that but part of 
 the outer shell remained. So numerous were the larva? that maivy of 
 them were in a fully exposed position, feeding upon the leaves. 
 
 Grasshoppers. — Grasshoppers were veiy abundant in Colorado this 
 year. Several reasons may be assigned for their unusal numbers. 
 The season was favorable for their development, and the increasing 
 abundance all over the State of the Russian thistle, which is a food 
 plant of a large number of species, may have had considerable influence 
 in the matter. Professor Brunei- suggested also that the rapid killing 
 off of pheasants may be a cause of grasshopper increase. 
 
 The prairie along the eastern foothills was swarming with various 
 kinds of Acridiinse. Melanophis bivittatus was probably the most 
 common species. At Delta this locust threatened to do some damage, 
 and it occurred sparingly at Grand Junction, while at Palisades, 12 
 miles north, none at all were seen. This is a very injurious species, 
 and Professor Gillette places it on an equal footing with the codling 
 moth as an injurious insect. 
 
 The saltbushes, Sarcobates vermicidaris, about Palisades were 
 infested with yEoloplus chenopodu Brun. in large numbers. A small 
 patch in the center of the little town was swarming with them. They 
 were quite active, diving headlong into the prickly bunches of weeds, 
 and proved quite difficult to capture. They were not at all common 
 at Grand Junction, and were not taken on the saltbush there. 
 
39 
 
 GRASSHOPPER NOTES FOR 1901. 
 
 By Lawrence Bkunek, Temporary Field Agent. 
 
 Owing- to numerous reports received at Washington from many 
 localities in the central West concerning the continued presence in 
 more than normal numbers of several species of native grasshoppers 
 or locusts, the subject was deemed worthy of investigation. Reports 
 coming from portions of western Nebraska, eastern Colorado, and 
 eastern and central Wyoming seemed so serious in their nature that 
 the writer was commissioned by the United States Department of 
 Agriculture to make an investigation, so as to ascertain, if possible, the 
 true causes leading up to this undue increase among the several species 
 of locusts concerned, and to report the results to the Entomologist. 
 
 Accordingly, August 8, in company with Mr. M. A. Carriker, jr., an 
 assistant, who was to make some special observations and collections 
 of specimens for the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station, a 
 start on this tour of inspection was made. The route chosen was first 
 to southwestern Nebraska via the Denver branch of the Burlington 
 and Missouri River Railroad, and the first stop was at McCook. From 
 this place the party proceeded by short journeys to Haigler, then to 
 Akron, and to Brush. At the latter place turning to the north, and 
 passing through Sterling, Colo., Sidney, Nebr., Bridgeport, and Scotts 
 Bluff, they reached westward as far as Guernsey, Wyo. , before return- 
 ing to Alliance, Nebr., and Lincoln, by way of the Billings branch of 
 the same railroad. On this return journey the central sand hill region 
 was crossed and some notes on locust abundance were there secured. 
 
 Leaving Lincoln again on August 18, a second journey was made; 
 this time via the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad up 
 the Elkhorn Valley, the Niobrara, the White River, and the North 
 Platte, to Lusk, Douglas, and Casper, Wyo., where investigations 
 were made concerning the locust problem as it existed in those regions; 
 then returning as far as Crawford, in which vicinity some work was 
 done, and finally going on to Denver, Colo., where the annual meeting 
 of the economic entomologists was attended. From here the return 
 trip to Lincoln was made over the Union Pacific Railway down the 
 Platte River Valley. Thus most of the remaining territory occupied 
 by the locust pest under consideration was covered. In these investi- 
 gations the writer was greatly aided by having transportation fur- 
 nished him by the railroad companies mentioned. 
 
 Other sections of the country were also visited and carefully studied, 
 both before and since the period embraced by the commission men- 
 tioned, and the results of such investigations have been included in the 
 conclusions arrived at and hereto appended. 
 
 The following notes pertaining to the subject under investigation 
 were jotted down as the work progressed, and in part form the basis 
 for the conclusions reached: 
 
40 
 
 At McCook, Nebr., August i>, we collected some thirty -odd species 
 of the native grasshoppers, which abound in this vicinity. Most of 
 these were from common to numerous as regards abundance. In fields, 
 both on the table-lands and in the valley, the Melanojjlus differentialis 
 was exceedingly abundant; in fact it appeared to be the principal 
 species that was causing the injury to crops and cultivated plants. It 
 was aided, however, in this work by such other forms as M. bivittatus, 
 M. atlanis, M. packardii — of the form usuall}^ referred to as M. 
 fcedus — and M. fevkur^rubrum. Among the other species which 
 existed in unusually large numbers were Dissosteira longipennis, 
 jEoloplus turnbullii, M. occidentalism M. conspersus, M. lakinus, 
 Amphitornus bicolor, Aulocara elliotti, Mestobregma kiowa, etc.; but 
 these latter were feeding mainly upon grasses, weeds, and special food 
 plants other than cultivated ones. 
 
 In trying to ascertain just where the insects which were concerned 
 in the devastation of crops had hatched, it was found that old break- 
 ings seemed to furnish many, while the forsaken roads, edges of fields 
 and irrigating ditches, railroad beds, and like places, grown up to 
 weeds, had provided still others with the required breeding places. 
 Alfalfa fields growing next to corn nearly invariably occasioned much 
 injury to the corn. Some of the fields of corn observed between 
 McCook and Culbertson had been entirely destroyed, and in some 
 instances even the weeds between the rows and about the edges were 
 badly eaten. A few fields showed only here and there the remnants 
 of bare stubs, just as I had seen fields appear in the early seventies 
 after a visit from the Rocky Mountain locust plague. 
 
 In observing what plants, if any, were free from the ravages of the 
 various locusts mentioned above, it was noticed that sorghum in most 
 cases had suffered but little, while Kaffir corn was nearly exempt. 
 Only when Kaffir corn was wilted did the locusts seem to touch it at 
 all, and then but slightly if other food was available. Millet, too, 
 seemed to be fairly immune against their attacks. Of course most 
 kinds of garden truck suffered severely. 
 
 One feature noted in connection with the abundance of the sup- 
 posedly harmless locusts was the presence in large numbers of M. 
 I til- lints and jEoloplvs turnbullii on the Russian thistle and lamb's- 
 quarters. Nearly everywhere that these weeds grew the grasshoppers 
 just mentioned abounded. Only a few years ago both of these species 
 of locusts were rare, usually extremely rare, and at the same time very 
 local in their distribution. Since they have already been observed to 
 attack the beet, they may both prove troublesome in the future should 
 attempts be made at sugar-beet growing in the regions now overrun. 
 
 On the prairies and other uncultivated grounds two or three grass- 
 hoppers besides those mentioned above seemed to be abnormally abun- 
 dant, Merrniria bivittata, Opeia obscura, and Amjiliitornus bicolor or 
 
41 
 
 coloradensis being the chief ones. These, with the exception of the 
 first, are found upon the higher grounds among the shorter grasses 
 like the Boutelouas. 
 
 In driving and walking about over the country, in which move- 
 ments 10 or 12 miles at a time were covered, few dead or sick locusts 
 were seen, and inquiry among the farmers and other interested parties 
 gave the same impression as to their comparative healthiness. No 
 Empusa-killed 'hoppers had been seen by an} T one during the present 
 year, so far as could be learned, and only a few had been observed to 
 die from "grubs" and from what is apparently either a bacterial 
 disease or such a disease in conjunction with a Sporotrichum. At 
 least this last surmise seems to be warranted, since the conditions of 
 death coincide with observations made a week prior in an alfalfa field 
 on the North Platte, about 17 miles to the northwest of the little town 
 of Ogallala, where the locusts of various species had succumbed in 
 large numbers. When these were placed in a dish for the purpose 
 of ascertaining the cause of their demise there was obtained a fun- 
 gous growth, pronounced by Dr. C. E. Bessey, of the University of 
 Nebraska, to be a species of Sporotrichum. Several bacteria were also 
 present in large numbers within the bodies of some of the above- 
 mentioned dead locusts. 
 
 Inquiries made among the railroad employees at McCook showed 
 that these insects reached eastward as far as Red Cloud in numbers 
 sufficiently great to perceptibly injure cultivated vegetation in both 
 gardens and fields. 
 
 In passing westward from McCook along the line of the Burlington 
 and Missouri River Railroad, locust injury was observed all the way to 
 Haigler. but seemed to be the most pronounced between the former 
 place and Stratton. 
 
 From different persons questioned concerning the various measures 
 that had been taken to combat the locusts in this portion of the State, 
 it was learned that the kerosene pan had been used in a few cases, 
 while disking had been resorted to by some, and several had even 
 attempted the use of poison in the form of Paris green mixed with 
 bran. In some instances also large flocks of chickens and turkeys pro- 
 duced some good results. Altogether, however, but little had been 
 accomplished, and no concerted action had been undertaken by the 
 settlers to rid themselves of the pest. It would require a concerted 
 action over the entire area affected, for at least two or three years in 
 succession, to obtain complete control of the pest. 
 
 Whether or not the killing off of the native birds in this section of 
 the State has been much of a factor in permitting this abundance of 
 the locust is a query. One farmer near McCook remarked that a 
 couple of years ago a certain locality near one end of a particular 
 field of his had been protected by blackbirds, a hundred or more pairs 
 
42 
 
 of which built nests and reared their young near b}\ Recently, how- 
 ever, the small willows among which these birds nested had been 
 removed, and the birds no longer protected that particular field. 
 
 At Haigler it was ascertained that various species of locusts have 
 been more than normally abundant for the past six years. At least 
 this can be said of the species which attack cultivated plants like 
 alfalfa, corn, wheat, garden truck, etc. If an} r change in their num- 
 bers has occurred it is thought that perhaps there is a slight decrease 
 from last } T ear. As in the vicinity of McCook and farther east, they 
 seem to breed chiefly in alfalfa fields, along roadsides, and in old 
 breakings. In addition to the breeding places here recorded, the 
 Russian thistles, which have become generally dispersed over this sec- 
 tion of the State, seem also to offer safe and desirable retreats for 
 several species of these insects when laying their eggs. Not only is 
 this true at egg-laj T ing, but also at other times. These rank-growing 
 plants provide shelter during hot, dry w T eather, as well as from rain 
 and hail storms, and offer safe retreats to the insects, even when pur- 
 sued b} T such enemies as predaceous insects and birds. 
 
 Of the enemies to wild plants among these insects those which appear 
 to be most be} r ond the normal in numbers in this vicinit} T seem to be 
 Opeia obscura, Mestobregma kioioa, Melanoplus lakinus, M. bowditchi, 
 M. packardi, Mermiria bivittata, M. neomexicana, and one or two 
 others. As noted at McCook, several of these latter are partial to cer- 
 tain food plants which have recently increased enormously, which fact 
 probably explains their excessive numbers. On the other hand, spe- 
 cies like the Mermirias and other grass-infesting forms now abnor- 
 mally abundant have become so from some other cause. Perhaps the 
 nonoccurrence of prairie fires for a number of } T ears may account for 
 this, at least in part, while the destruction of such birds as the sharp- 
 tailed grouse and Bartramian sandpiper, w T ith the meadow lark, and a 
 few other kinds of prairie-inhabiting species, will explain the excess 
 in numbers of some of the remaining grasshoppers. Three species of 
 Decticina? were also quite abundant here, as was also one of the walk- 
 ing sticks. 
 
 In journeying westward from Haigler grasshopper injuries were 
 detected nearly as far as Akron, Colo., but beyond this point only 
 about the normal numbers of these insects appeared to be present, 
 since none of their injury was visible from the train. At Brush, where 
 a great deal of alfalfa is grown, not many of these insects were reported 
 or seen. Hence it was judged that matters here were nearly normal 
 as regards locust abundance. From this point the direction of the 
 journey was changed and we went north. At Sterling, which was 
 passed before daylight and where considerable injury was reported a 
 year ago, the condition was not ascertained, but judging from what 
 was seen some distance beyond along the line of railroad toward Sid- 
 
43 
 
 ney the locusts may be on the decrease — a result, perhaps, of some 
 concerted efforts on the part of the farmers toward their destruction 
 during- the past two or three years. 
 
 It was also found upon investigation that these insects were not 
 nearly so numerous at Sidney as they were farther to the east along 
 the Lodgepole Creek and the South Platte River. Still, even at Sid- 
 ney*, wherever and whenever cultivated fields occurred, more of these 
 insects were to be met with than is normally the case in the region. 
 They were of the usual species observed under similar conditions the 
 present year, viz . various species of the Melanopli. as differentialis, 
 J&mttatu&^ femuT^rvbrum, and atlanis. Some of the other forms that 
 were not so rare as at times in the past were species like M. packardii, 
 31. occidentalism M. luridus, M. infantilis, etc., while a few of the 
 prairie-inhabiting species mentioned before w*ere also quite plentiful. 
 
 In conversing with Mr. George Oberfelder. a merchant of Sidney 
 and a ranchman. I learned that at Lodgepole the locusts were not 
 nearly so plentiful on his ranch as elsewhere in the neighborhood. It 
 developed from further conversation with him that on this particular 
 ranch are located several quite extensive private fish ponds and low and 
 swampy ground, where two or three species of blackbirds breed, and 
 were, at the time referred to, gathered in immense flocks. The presence 
 of these birds will undoubtedly explain this comparative freedom from 
 locusts on the ranch in question. Mr. Oberfelder also mentioned the 
 fact that a great destruction of the bird life, in general, of the region 
 had been accomplished during recent years by local and other would-be 
 sportsmen. 
 
 While at this place, in conversation with a gentleman from Gering, 
 Scotts Bluff Count\*, it was learned that during the present year there 
 were more grasshoppers in the Pumpkinseed Valley, to the south of 
 Gering and Mitchell, than there were last year, and also more during 
 the present year (1901) than at Gering and Mitchell. This he accounted 
 for on the ground of a partial migration southward both by the old 
 insects prior to their egg laying last fall, and again since hatching 
 during the past spring and early summer. Just what species of these 
 insects were present in this last-named region was not ascertained, but 
 it is presumed that most of them were of the kinds noted at nearly all 
 other points where cultivated vegetation suffered from grasshopper 
 depredations. It is also quite evident that several of the prairie- 
 frequenting species like J/, packardii, J/, occidentalism the Aulocaras, 
 some of the species of Trimerotropis, Trachyrhachis ldowa, Ojh ?ia 
 obscura, etc.. were present in more than normal numbers, since a 
 scarcity of food on the ranges is reported, notwithstanding the fact 
 that more than the usual amount of rain had fallen during the past 
 spring and summer. 
 
 In running west from Bridgeport to Guernsey, Wyo., it was observed 
 
44 
 
 that locust depredations appeared to lesson materially as the train pro- 
 gressed west ward after entering Wyoming. Still even here more of 
 these insects were to l>o seen among the weeds along the railroad track 
 than was the case during their normal abundance in past years. There 
 were a number of kinds to be met with in the grasses about Guernsey, 
 but the prevailing species seemed to be M. packardii, M. occidentalism 
 J/, atlanis, An!<><'<<r<i elliotti, A. femoratus, and still others, which, like 
 M. differentialis and 3f. atlanis, seem to hatch among rank-growing 
 weeds as well as upon cultivated or disturbed grounds. 
 
 In trying to find a reason for the greater increase of locusts in cer- 
 tain localities during different years, the matter of rainfall seems to 
 offer an explanation for at least a portion of this variation. It is quite 
 noticeable that when rains fall early in the season the eggs of these 
 insects hatch much earlier than they do when the rains come later, 
 although the temperature may be normal or even above normal. Then, 
 too, after each shower during late spring and throughout the summer, 
 it is seen that additional young ones hatch. During some } T ears it may 
 even be possible for many of the eggs that were deposited the previous 
 fall to remain unhatched for lack of the requisite amount of moisture. 
 Should the following year prove to be a wet one these eggs might then 
 hatch along with those deposited a year later. That the present year 
 has been an exceptional^ wet one in portions of the Northwest may, 
 therefore, account for the immense numbers of grasshoppers that were 
 to be found in that section. Still, there are limited localities even in 
 this region where scarcety any of these insects were to be met with 
 during the present summer, while immediately adjoining they were 
 literally swarming. While returning eastward from Guernsey a severe 
 rainstorm accompanied by hail was passed through. Fully an inch and 
 a half or two inches of rather large hailstones fell over a strip of country 
 several miles in width and many miles in length. During the progress 
 of this storm the thought occurred to me that possibly here was an 
 explanation of the comparative freedom of certain areas right in the 
 midst of others that were greatly overrun by destructive locusts. The 
 hail in this instance certainly fell with force and in quantity sufficient to 
 crush out the life of the majority of locusts inhabiting the region in ques- 
 tion. Then, too, these sections of comparative freedom from the pest 
 so frequently observed by the writer are such as are subject to severe 
 hailstorms. 
 
 As intimated on a previous page, the Russian thistle, in addition to 
 affording an abundant food supply for certain species of the native 
 locusts, provides excellent shelter for their eggs as well as the insects 
 themselves. Tucked away beneath these formidable plants both the 
 insects and their eggs are well protected from most of their natural 
 enemies, as well as from sudden changes of weather. This being true, 
 the Russian thistle no doubt must have had something to do with pro- 
 
45 
 
 ducing the present conditions in portions of the region now covered 
 by the locnst plague. 
 
 At Caspar, Wyo., August 20, conditions while rather bad were not 
 nearly so alarming as they were in some portions of Nebraska, and 
 farther east in Wyoming. In driving out among the ranches and 
 over the range some new light on the probable cause of the recent 
 increase among grasshoppers in this and other regions of the country 
 was secured. 
 
 Upon driving up to the buildings on a ranch on Goose Creek, about 
 10 or 12 miles southeast from Caspar, a very nice flock of sage grouse 
 (30 or more) was observed walking about the premises and picking up 
 grasshoppers. These grouse were so tame that they reminded one of 
 domestic fowls as they worked about among the vegetation in search 
 of grasshoppers. During the da} T several additional coveys of these 
 grouse were seen and the remnants of several dead birds that had been 
 shot and drawn by hunters offered opportunities for examining the 
 stomach contents. Such examinations invariably resulted in the find- 
 ing of large quantities of grasshopper fragments. By inquiring 
 around among ranchmen it was also ascertained that a great slaughter 
 of these birds had been going on for the past few years in the sections 
 of Wyoming now most overrun by locusts. A careful survey of the 
 field brought out the fact that a similar destruction of these birds, as 
 well as of the sharp-tailed grouse, has been progressing over con- 
 siderable country. It was learned that such slaughter had occurred at 
 Chadron, Crawford, Harrison, McCook, Culbertson, Trenton, Haigler, 
 North Platte, and Sidney, in Nebraska; and at Lusk, Douglas, Orin 
 Junction, Guernsey, and elsewhere in Wyoming. At each of these 
 localities the grasshoppers were more numerous during the past sum- 
 mer than formerly. 
 
 When this idea first came up in connection with other probable rea- 
 sons for the increase of the various species of locusts found it did not 
 seem at all probable, but the more I consider it, the more I am inclined 
 to accept it as an important factor in the problem. When we take 
 into consideration the fact that when man occupies a new area he 
 finds the forces of nature nearly or quite in a state of equilibrium, 
 no one form of life having much the advantage over others, then does 
 this explanation of the matter appear quite possible. The country 
 undisturbed by man affords food for a certain number of mammals, 
 birds, reptiles, and insects, all of which are more or less interdependent. 
 If, for instance, man removes a few hundreds of the individuals of any 
 one species, he soon finds a change taking place in the numbers of indi- 
 viduals of some other form. The birds feed on both vegetation and 
 insects. If grasshoppers are included in their food a smaller number 
 of birds will require a less number of 'hoppers, and the latter will 
 thus be given the opportunity to increase beyond the normal. This 
 
46 
 
 surplus goes on increasing and ver} T soon causes a greater drain on the 
 vegetation that forms their 1 > 1 1 1 of fare. Supposing that a single 
 sage hen will destroy on an average 100 locusts each day during 
 the months of June, July, and August, the removal of this bird from 
 the held of action will mean at least 9,000 grasshoppers saved to swell 
 the army of these insects that may go on eating and propagating. If 
 half of these should be females, and each one should deposit its normal 
 quota of 100 eggs, there would be a possible 150,000 more of these 
 insects than if the bird had not been killed. But when we destroy the 
 birds by the hundreds of thousands the possibilities become startling, 
 and this solution to the problem seems more than probable. 
 
 Aside from the killing off of these birds by man, it is stated that 
 they are destroyed to a considerable extent b}^ grazing sheep which 
 break up their nests. While conversing with an intelligent sheepman 
 and herder on this feature of the subject, he mentioned the fact that 
 he had heard of more than a hundred nests being thus destroyed in 
 a single year on Hams Fork in western Wyoming. Whether or not 
 the destruction of locusts by the trampling of sheep will equal the 
 number that would have been killed by the birds thus destroyed, I am 
 not prepared to state at this time. 
 
 The species of grasshoppers concerned in the depredations on culti- 
 vated tracts in the vicinity of Douglas and Casper, Wyo., were: M. 
 Mvittatus, M. atlanis, M. femur-ruhrum* and Carnnula pelkicida ; while 
 the ones most abundant on the range were Aulocara elliotti, A. femo- 
 rata, Mestobregma pardalinwn, Melanoplus jpackardii, M. infantilis, 
 M. occidental/is^ and several others. 
 
 While occupied in other work in portions of Dawes and Sioux coun- 
 ties during June, July, and August, 1901, the writer gave consider- 
 able attention to the locust problem as it existed there. A couple of 
 students who were engaged in making collections of various forms of 
 the animal life of northwestern Nebraska were also instructed to pay 
 particular attention to these insects in the region being worked by 
 them. The forms that frequent both cultivated and uncultivated 
 grounds were found to be unusually abundant over much of the countiy 
 traversed. Still some sections were much more overrun by them than 
 others. Especially was this found to be the case in portions of Dawes 
 and Sioux counties, Nebr. In the latter county in particular the 
 insects were most plentiful on the slopes adjoining the Pine Ridge and 
 for a few miles away; but not so on the table-lands nor in the Hat 
 Creek Valley itself. In many places the insects were so numerous as 
 to cause a shortage in the feed on the range notwithstanding the great 
 amount of rain that fell here during the early part of the year. As 
 noted in other localities, some species of insects normall} 7 rare in this 
 section of the State were found to be present in large numbers. 
 
 Not only were the " native" locusts abundant throughout the western 
 
47 
 
 counties of Nebraska, but in many localities even in the central and 
 eastern portions of the State, where they did much local injury to 
 garden truck and some field crops. Some of the localities where such 
 a state of affairs existed were in Antelope, Knox, Dixon, Cedar, Holt, 
 Valley, Custer, Lancaster, and counties adjoining these. In these 
 sections the differential, two-lined, red-legged, and lesser migratory 
 species predominated, though others were also present in fair numbers 
 both upon the prairies and in cultivated fields. A number of the 
 local districts thus overrun were visited by myself or some member 
 of the entomological department of the University of Nebraska, while 
 others could not be reached for investigation. It was found that some 
 of these outbreaks embraced only a few farms or several hundred acres 
 of territory, while others extended throughout entire counties. The 
 species of locusts concerned in these also varied with the districts and 
 the nature of surroundings and crops grown. It was noted, however, 
 that Melanoplus different talis and M. bivittatus were usually the chief 
 offenders. 
 
 One of the most important of these local or detached areas of locust 
 abundance was that in Custer County, with Broken Bow as a center. 
 In this region the plague assumed really alarming proportions, and 
 caused not a little uneasiness among the citizens, who earnestly sought 
 aid from the State entomologist and all other persons who might be in 
 a position to give expert advice. 
 
 After carefully going over all the notes which have been brought 
 together during the various trips made while investigating this and other 
 insect pests and those accumulated in other ways, it is found that the 
 area now occupied b}^ these insects in injurious numbers has become 
 much larger during the present summer (1901) than it was a year ago. 
 Practically all of the State west of the one hundredth meridian is 
 embraced, while the valleys of the Niobrara, Elkhorn, North and South 
 Loup, Platte, and Republican rivers are all more or less largely over- 
 run for 50 to 100 or more miles eastward. In some instances this is 
 true locally, even to the extreme eastern edge of the State. 
 
 In order to show clearly the principal species of locusts thus con- 
 cerned, and their distribution over the country, the following list has 
 been prepared: 
 
 Mermiria bivittata Serv. — McCook, Haigler, Sioux County, and in the sand hills 
 generally on unburnt prairies. 
 
 Mermiria neomexicana Thorn. — Haigler and other southwestern Nebraska localities, 
 where it is found in company with the preceding species. 
 
 Amphitornus bicolor Thom. — A plains locust which occurs from middle Nebraska 
 westward to the Rocky Mountains, where it is to be met with in great numbers, 
 especially on the higher grounds among the shorter grasses. 
 
 Opeia obscura Thom. — McCook, Culbertson, Haigler, Sidney, Scotts Bluff, Craw- 
 ford, and Harrison, Nebr. ; Akron, Sterling, and Brush, Colo.; and Guernsey, Doug- 
 las, and Casper, Wyo. ; most abundant in buffalo grass. 
 
48 
 
 Alpha occipitalis Thorn. — Western Nebraska and eastern portions of Colorado and 
 Wyoming; partial to gravelly and sandy soils. 
 
 Alpha crenulata Bruner. — Southwestern Nebraska, western Kansas, and the plains 
 of Colorado, in company with the preceding. 
 
 Phliboetroma quadrimaculatum Thorn. — In the same general region as the two 
 preceding. 
 
 Ageneotetti.c scudderi Bruner. — This locust occurs throughout the plains region, but 
 is most abundant among the short grasses on high grounds. 
 
 Bo'dpedon nubilum Say. — Observed in abnormal numbers at Haigler and Stratton, 
 Nebr., and Wray, Colo. 
 
 Aulocara elUotti Thorn. — McCook, Culbertson, Haigler, Sidney, Scotts Bluff, Sioux 
 County, Nebr., and Guernsey, Lusk, Douglas, and Casper, Wyo. It was also present 
 in abnormal numbers in portions of western Kansas and eastern Colorado. It is a 
 grass-infesting insect. 
 
 Aulocara femoratum Scudd. — With the preceding species, but most abundant 
 southward. 
 
 Camivda jiellucida Scudd. — This locust was seen only in the extreme western part 
 of Nebraska and at Casper, Wyo., where it occurred on low land about streams and 
 in mountain meadows. 
 
 Dissosteira longipennis Thorn. — A native of the high prairies of western Kansas and 
 Nebraska and eastern Colorado and Wyoming; not nearly so abundant as it was four 
 or five years ago. 
 
 Mestobregma hiowa Thorn. — A grass-infesting locust that occurs everywhere between 
 the Missouri River and Rocky Mountains, but chiefly on high ground. 
 
 Mestobregma pardalinum Sauss. — A grass insect found chiefly in western Nebraska, 
 northeastern Colorado, and eastern and central Wyoming. 
 
 Schistocerca alutacea Harr. — This insect was reported to be present in large numbers 
 at Neligh, Albion, Haigler, Ogallala, and throughout the sand hills of central Nebraska 
 generally. 
 
 Hesperotettix pratensk Scudd. — Antelope, Holt, and Wheeler counties on the 
 prairies, but usually on low ground, where certain species of golden-rod abound. 
 
 Hesperotettix riridis Thorn. — Eastern Colorado and Wyoming and western Nebraska, 
 where it is restricted to certain localities. 
 
 Hesperotettix speciosus Scudd. — Western Kansas and Nebraska and eastern Colo- 
 rado, among different species of sunflowers. 
 
 JEoloplus turnbullii Thorn. — In the same general region as the preceding, where it 
 seems to be partial to chenopodiaceous plants. 
 
 JEoloplus regalis Dodge. — Northwest Kansas, southwest Nebraska, and eastern 
 Colorado, on rather high grounds. 
 
 Melanoplus boicditchi Scudd. — Western Kansas and Nebraska and eastern Colorado 
 and Wyoming on Artemisia longifolia. 
 
 Melanoplus flavidus Scudd. — This insect was noticed in numbers at Culbertson, 
 Sidney, Scotts Bluff, North Platte, Ogallala, and Neligh, Nebr., and at Guernsey, 
 Wyo. It appears to be partial to low, sandy soil. 
 
 Melanoplus packardii Scudd. — McCook, Culbertson, Haigler, Ogallala, Sidney, 
 North Platte, Crawford, and Harrison, Nebr., Wray and Sterling, Colo., and Guern- 
 sey, Douglas, and Caspar, Wyo. The rufous form usually mentioned as M. foedus is 
 by far the most numerous. 
 
 Melanoplus coccineipes Scudd. — Fairly abundant at Culbertson, Sidney, Ogallala, 
 North Platte, and Fort Robinson, in Nebraska, where they seemed to choose Cleome 
 sei^rulata as a food plant, or at least upon which to perch. 
 
 Melanoplus infantilis Scudd. — On the high prairies in western Nebraska and eastern 
 Wyoming. 
 
49 
 
 Melanoplus femur-rubrum DeG. — Throughout the region in cultivated districts. 
 Melanoplus plumbeus Dodge. — At Haigler, Nebr., on weeds and other rank vege- 
 tation. 
 
 Melanoplus lakinus Scudd. — Western Kansas and Nebraska and eastern Colorado, 
 on Russian thistle and lamb's-quarters. 
 
 Melanoplus occidental is Thorn. — On the open prairie, west of the one hundredth 
 meridian, in all four States in which work was done during the summer. 
 
 Melanoplus atlanis Riley. — Cultivated grounds generally, but less numerous than 
 M. femur-rubrum. 
 
 Melanoplus biviUatus Say. — In ne dy every locality where locust depredations were 
 reported, and especially in cultivated districts. 
 
 Melanoplus differ enixalu Uhler. — Possibly the most abundant of all the species of 
 locusts mentioned in this paper, and present in all localities except those in the 
 extreme northwestern corner of Nebraska and central Wyoming. The chief insect 
 in alfalfa districts. 
 
 Of these the following species seem to be confined more or less closely to special 
 food plants, and are therefore somewhat restricted in their distribution: 
 
 Hesperotettix pratensis Scudd. — On Solidago graminifolia or 8. caroliniana. 
 
 Hesperotetti.v viridis Thorn. — On Haplopappus spinulosus. 
 
 Hesperotettix speciosus Scudd. — On Helianthus, several species. 
 
 jEoloplvs turnbuUii Thorn. — On Russian thistle and lamb's-quarters. 
 
 Melanoplus bowditchi Scudd. — On Artemisia longifolia. 
 
 Melanoplus lakinus Scudd. — On Russian thistle and lamb's-quarters. 
 
 Those which are especially noticeable as enemies of cultivated crops are Mi lanoplus 
 diferentialis, M. bivittatus, M. femur-rubrum and M. atlanis, along with M. packardii. 
 The remainder are chiefly grass eaters or feed upon various uncultivated plants. 
 
 WHY LOCUSTS INCREASE ABNORMALLY. 
 
 After having carefully scrutinized the notes relating to the locust 
 problem in the region embraced in the investigations chronicled on 
 the preceding pages, together with all other available information on 
 the subject in general, the writer has come to the following conclusions 
 as to why grasshoppers increase abnormally: 
 
 (1) The growing of alfalfa without regularly disking the ground each spring. 
 
 (2) The abandoning of once cultivated fields, and permitting thereon the growth 
 of weeds and other rank herbage. 
 
 (3) The very general carelessness of allowing weeds and other rank growths to 
 flourish along roadsides, irrigating ditches, and railway tracks. 
 
 (4) The presence in great abundance of the Russian thistle in portions of the 
 country year after year. 
 
 (5) The non-burning of prairies over wide areas for a number of years in succession. 
 
 (6) The undue destruction of game and other insectivorous birds over wide areas. 
 
 (7) The recurrence of unusually wet years after several abnormally dry ones. 
 
 (8) The absence of insect enemies and diseases brought about by various causes, 
 chiefly climatic. 
 
 It is but just to state here that lack of space prevents a very elab- 
 orate discussion of these various reasons for locust increase. 
 
 3622— No. 38—04 4 
 
50 
 
 KILLING DESTRUCTIVE LOCUSTS WITH FUNGOUS DISEASES. 
 
 By Lawrence Bkuner, Temporary Field Agent. 
 
 The fact that various kinds of insects are at times attacked and 
 destroyed by different species belonging to several distinct genera of 
 fungi has been known to both botanists and entomologists for many 
 years. It is, however, a matter of comparatively recent discovery that 
 some of these fungi can be artificially grown and afterwards commu- 
 nicated to the insects which it is desired to destroy. Numerous exam- 
 ples of the propagation and spread of such fungi have been recorded 
 in this and other countries. Some noted examples of this kind are the 
 artificial spread of Isaria densa Link, the fungus that attacks the 
 European cockchafer and that has also been tried on the white grubs 
 here in the United States; Sporotrichum globvliferum Spag. as used 
 against the chinch bug and several other insects, and Empusa muscae, 
 the common fungus of the house fly. Along with what has been 
 recorded concerning these attempts at utilizing the fungi just men- 
 tioned, it might be well here to outline some of the efforts that have 
 been made during recent years toward fighting destructive locusts or 
 grasshoppers b} r similar means. It is not necessary, however, for one 
 to devote much time in investigation to ascertain that the whole matter 
 relating to this subject is still in great confusion. It will at once be 
 apparent that nothing very definite exists in the shape of reliable infor- 
 mation concerning the particular fungi that may be present and avail- 
 able in each of the regions where there is need for waging war against 
 the locust plague. Even the botanists who are interested in this group 
 of plants seem to have done comparatively little toward isolating and 
 separating the species, from the standpoint of the systematist. 
 
 During the early seventies, when such vast swarms of the Rocky 
 Mountain or migratory locust were devastating the country between 
 the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, attention was fre- 
 quently called to an apparent disease which occasionally made its appear- 
 ance among the devouring hordes of that pest in various sections of 
 the country. After a little investigation on the part of members of 
 the Entomological Commission and others, this fatality among the 
 locusts was found to be due to the presence of a fungus which is now 
 generally recognized as Empusa grylU, although it has been several 
 times described under other names. 
 
 While locusts in general are more or less frequently attacked by 
 these fungi, particular ones among the locusts indigenous to each 
 country seem to be more subject than others. These usually, though 
 not always, happen to be the forms that at times become so greatly 
 multiplied as to be pests. This fact would indicate that it is necessary 
 for the insects to come in contact one with another in order to spread 
 the fungus sufficiently to develop an epidemic. 
 
51 
 
 These epidemics of the disease usually occur during warm, wet 
 weather, or after such conditions of climate have been prevailing for 
 several weeks in succession. They are also quite apt to develop 
 among the insects living along the edges of irrigating ditches or on 
 grounds which have been thoroughly watered, rather than on those 
 which are, comparatively high, dry, and more or less widely removed 
 from water or rank, succulent vegetation. 
 
 Early in 1890 (March) the subject of utilizing locust-attacking fungi 
 as a means of destroying these insects came more prominently before 
 the public. In South Africa, where two species of these insects had 
 been a pest for several years, it was found that a disease of a virulent 
 nature had broken out and was prevalent in the form of an epidemic 
 among the swarms in certain localities. An investigation instituted at 
 the time showed this disease to be due to the presence of one of these 
 species of fungi. Armed with the assurance that other insects had 
 been successful^ inoculated and destroyed by fungous diseases in 
 Europe and the United States, members of the staff of the Bac- 
 teriological Institute in that country took the matter in hand and 
 were successful in their attempts to isolate a fungus which was thought 
 to be the one that was destroying the insects in question, a species of 
 large migratory locust (Acridium purpuriferum Walk.). A brief 
 account of the methods followed and results Obtained from this work 
 is given by Alexander Edington, the director, in his annual report for 
 1898 of the Colonial Bacteriological Institute, located at Grahamstown, 
 Cape of Good Hope. 
 
 A year or so later (June, 1897), during investigations that were being 
 made at the time in connection with the large migratory locust of the 
 Argentine Republic {Schistocerca paranensis Burm.), the writer dis- 
 covered what appeared to be still another and quite distinct species of 
 these locust-destroying fungi — a Sporotrichum. This discovery was 
 made at Carcarana, a little town in southern Santa Fe, on the Central 
 Argentine Railway, and some experiments conducted later during the 
 same year demonstrated its usefulness, under certain limitations, as a 
 means of combating that insect. The South African fungus referred 
 to above was also tried on the same locust, but with exceedingh T poor 
 results so far as could be ascertained at the time. Still more recent 
 attempts at destroying various kinds of our North American locusts 
 with both of these fungous diseases (South African and Argentinian) 
 have resulted in no marked degree of success, so far as the writer is 
 concerned at least. 
 
 During the past two or three } r ears other persons have been con- 
 ducting similar experiments with these same, and apparently some 
 other, locust-killing fungi. A few of these recent experiments carried 
 on by other workers seem to have proven more successful than those 
 just mentioned above. One in particular appeared to be very prom- 
 
52 
 
 ising at the time it occurred. This was at Sterling, Colo., and was 
 conducted by a Mr. George W. Martin, who obtained tubes of the 
 fungus culture from the Department of Agriculture in Washington. 
 The writer on visiting the localit}^ found that, although the native 
 locusts of two or three species were dying in large numbers, they all 
 fell to the ground instead of clinging to the vegetation, as they should 
 have done if death had resulted from the South African disease accord- 
 ing to the account referred to above. Then, too, reports of similar 
 fatalities among the "hoppers, coming from localities widely removed 
 from where the fungus in question had been distributed, seemed to 
 indicate the presence of another and entirely distinct disease. During 
 the present }^ear (August, 1901,) a culture of a species of Sporotrichum 
 has been secured from such dead insects gathered on the North Platte 
 River and about 16 miles from Ogallala, Xebr. 
 
 In Australia it is reported that a fungus determined as Mucor race- 
 mosw, cultures of which were obtained from South Africa, has proved 
 so useful in destroying the destructive locusts of Victoria that it is no 
 longer considered an experiment, but has passed into a matter of every- 
 day practice. Either this same Mucor or a closely allied one is also 
 claimed to have been secured from insects which died as the result of 
 an outbreak of a locust disease in Mississippi, as will be referred to 
 more fully further on. 
 
 It will be seen from what has just been said that there are without 
 doubt several distinct kinds of these locust-killing fungi, and that they 
 are not the same the world over. The knowledge of this fact is per- 
 haps very fortunate if we are to profit at all in our attempts to make 
 use of them in dealing with the locust pest. 
 
 Since each species of locust differs in structure and habits more or 
 less markedly from all others, and the climatic and other conditions 
 by which the} T are surrounded in their respective habitats are so dis- 
 similar in many instances, it must be true that a great diversity like- 
 wise exists among them as regards hardiness. Hence it is natural for 
 us to suppose that the various fungi which are apt to attack and destroy 
 them must also vary in these respects. That such a conclusion is 
 warranted can be gathered from what follows. 
 
 EMPUSA GRYLLI. 
 
 Perhaps the most characteristic of these different locust-attacking 
 fungi is the one recognized the world over as Emjpusa grylli Fres. 
 It has been known, botanically at least, since 1856, when it was first 
 described by G. Fresenius (Botanische Zeitung, Band XIV, p. 882, 
 1856). Not only does it attack the different species of destructive 
 locusts (members of the family Acridiidre), some of the hairy cater- 
 pillars, and a few of the crane flies along with their larva?, but it is 
 also frequently to be found as an enemy of various other orthopter- 
 
53 
 
 ous insects. Among these latter it has been observed especially as an 
 enemy of some of the representatives of the two remaining families 
 of saltatorial Orthoptera — Locustidge and GryllidaB. 
 - This malady is quite readily recognized, since the host when affected 
 by it has a tendency before death to crawl upward upon the vegeta- 
 tion where it chances to be at the time of infection. Here it grasps 
 the leaf, twig, or stem closely and fastens itself so securely that it 
 remains clinging tenaciously even after death. As stated above, all 
 kinds of locusts and also their relatives are affected alike by it; and 
 many of their dead bodies may frequently be seen still attached to the 
 vegetation in late fall and early winter. Just what the pathological 
 effect is upon the victim, which causes this tenacious grasping or 
 clutching with the front and middle legs, may never be known. Yet, 
 in a general sense, it may be remarked that all insects dying from the 
 effects of any of the allied species belonging to the genus Empusa 
 exhibit this same characteristic of climbing before death. Even such 
 characteristically subterranean insects as the various species of Ceu- 
 thophilus. or camel crickets, when attacked by this fungus, are known 
 to leave their customary moist, dark haunts and climb up bushes and 
 other vegetation even to the height of several feet, where their dead 
 bodies may occasionally be seen hanging for some time afterwards. 
 
 Whether or not the Empusa? which attack the various orthopterous 
 insects in different portions of the earth are identical in species is not 
 definitely known, although they are supposed to be so by some of the 
 leading mycologists who have studied these peculiar parasitic plants. 
 Be this as it may. minor variations in growth and structure have been 
 noted among the forms indigenous to the different countries where 
 collected and studied. These differences have led to the multiplying 
 of names, so that we now have at least three distinct names, if not that 
 many actual species. 
 
 An insect, when once attacked by this fungus, soon shows signs of 
 unrest and ceases feeding. It shortly becomes "dumpish" and in due 
 time attaches itself to the vegetation as stated above. The whole body, 
 but more especially the abdomen, swells greatly and seems to be lit- 
 erally filled with a mushy, granular substance which, upon drying, 
 changes to a brownish, dust-like character. A little later this dust, 
 which is made up largely of resting spores, escapes through the breaks 
 between the joints of the insect's body and is scattered broadcast by 
 the winds. 
 
 Comparatively little is known concerning the life cycle of this fungus 
 or of the methods by which infection of the host occurs from year to 
 year. That it must be done by contact rather than through the ali- 
 mentary canal is quite probable, judging from reports of experiments 
 made by Dr. Roland Thaxter and mentioned in his Monograph of the 
 Entomophthoreae of the United States. The resting spores must also 
 
54 
 
 be exceedingly tenacious of life, since several years may elapse between 
 outbreaks of the disease. Still no such regular intervals of recurrence 
 of the disease have been noted as would tend to show a periodicity. 
 Neither does there seem to be a regular time of the year for its appear; 
 ance. nor has it a preference for insects of any particular age, since 
 those of all ages seem at one time or another to succumb to its attacks. 
 Sometimes, though rarely, it may he noticed first in late spring or 
 early summer; at other-, and more frequently, during midsummer, 
 and again even in late summer and early autumn, or possibly not until 
 just before cold weather commences in late fall, when it seems to be 
 most common. 
 
 Dr. Thaxter says: " The artificial propagation of Empusse by the 
 infection of fresh hosts I have found a much more difficult matter 
 than one w ould suppose, even where the infected host was of the same 
 species as that from which the spores were obtained for this purpose." 
 (L. c, p. 152.) Not alone has Dr. Thaxter found this difficulty in secur- 
 ing artificial infection, but other persons have also learned the same 
 fact fully when attempting to make use of the fungus as a means of 
 destroying locusts. In truth, the writer has found it impossible to 
 impart the fungus artificially to a single insect in either the laboratoiy 
 or the held. It might be well, however, to state here that these exper- 
 iments by the writer were purposely carried on in a very crude man- 
 ner, since their object was to secure results that might also be obtained 
 by farmers who are not equipped with carefully arranged laboratories. 
 
 If we make an exception of the matter on this subject that has been 
 reported from the Bacteriological Institute of Grahamstown, Cape of 
 Good Hope, it appears that up to the present time all of the experi- 
 ments that have been attempted for the purpose of growing this fungus 
 artificially in the laboratory have been very unsatisfactory. After hav- 
 ing studied the subject carefully by reference to the available literature, 
 and noting critically such facts as appear pertinent, and which are 
 given below, it is the writer's opinion that the exception just suggested 
 is justifiable. 
 
 The typical region for Empusa grylli is Europe, and in that country 
 perhaps it has been most frequently reported. But the reader should 
 not infer from this statement that this fungus is of rare occurrence 
 elsewhere, for such is not the case. Here in North America it is among 
 the most abundant of fungus plants, and it is to be regularly met with 
 each year in suitable localities throughout the length and breadth of 
 the land. In fact, it very frequently occurs as an epidemic among the 
 locusts in regions where various species of these insects have developed 
 as pests. This same or a closely allied fungus was occasionall} T 
 referred to by correspondents as indigenous to Argentina while the 
 writer was in that country several years ago, and quite recently 
 notices of its occurrence in Japan and the Philippine Islands have 
 been seen. 
 
55 
 
 By referring to the annual report of the Director of the Colonial 
 Bacteriological Institute of the Cape of. Good Hope for 1898 it will 
 be learned that the much-advertised South African locust fungus has 
 been determined by the working force of that institution to be an 
 Empusa; and the name Empusa acridiihm been suggested for it since 
 it was reported to have attacked other species than the red locust 
 tAcridium purpuriferum Walk.), one of the chief destructive species 
 of that section. Plates I, II, and HI. which are photographic repro- 
 ductions accompanying that report, show these locusts as they appear 
 upon the vegetation after death caused by the fungus. Judging from 
 what is known concerning the actions of insects after having been 
 attacked by different fungi, a person who is conversant with the sub- 
 ject would at once pronounce the malady portrayed here to be that 
 resulting from the presence of an Empusa. To verity this conclusion 
 in part we have the following records: Mr. Charles P. Lounsbury, 
 government entomologist, in the Agricultural Journal of the Cape of 
 Good Hope, February 2, 1899, says that the disease is apparently 
 identical with Empusa (fryJIu and quotes as authority for this state- 
 ment Dr. Schonland and Dr. Black, of the Bacteriological Institute of 
 Natal. Also Dr. Munro, in his book on the Locust Plague (p. 182), 
 quotes from a Mr. Evans as follows: 
 
 On the 4th of this month I wrote a letter stating that a fungus had been found in a 
 locust causing its death, and it was afterwards determined by Mr. George Murray, 
 F. L. S., head of the botanical department of the British Museum, as Empusa gryUi. 
 
 While the insects in question have apparently died as a result of the 
 presence of an Empusa, an entirely different fungus appears to have 
 been isolated from the dead locusts and afterwards grown in quantity 
 and sent out from the laboratoiy to be utilized in fighting the same 
 pests. In this report, referred to above, we find a description and 
 illustrations of a fungus which in no wise resembles or approaches 
 Empusa. In fact, both the descriptions and figures suggest a Mucor 
 instead, and possibly the world-wide distributed Mucor raeemosus Fres. , 
 which does not belong to the insect-destroying fungi at all, but to the 
 ordinary molds. Strangely enough the tubes of the so-called South 
 African locust fungus received by the writer, both while in Argentina 
 during 1898 and here in Nebraska two } T ears later, contained fine 
 growths of what was evidently the above-named Mucor. 
 
 In glancing over the files of the Journal of the Department of Agri- 
 culture of Western Australia for July, 1901, a statement was found 
 to the effect that " The destruction of locusts by means of a parasitic 
 fungus {Mucor raeemosus) has now passed from the domain of experi- 
 mentation into that of everyday practice. The method which has been 
 tried in various places where swarms of locusts proved troublesome 
 to vegetation, notably South Africa, has been for the past two or three 
 years successfully applied in Victoria." 
 
56 
 
 The Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales (vol. 10, 1899, 1 
 p. 1213) contains "A brief report of locust fungus," by D. McAlpine, 
 in which the writer says that a fungus which has been used against 
 locusts at Cape of Good Hope with good success has also been intro- 
 duced into New South Wales and identified by him as Mucor racemosus. 
 
 In looking up the bibliography of the fungus called Mucor racemosus 
 it was found that two quite distinct plants have received this name. 
 One of these was described hy Bulliard in Hist. Champs., France, and 
 is said by DeCandolle to belong to the genus Botrytis as now limited. 
 The name of this fungus would then appear as Botrytis racemosa 
 (Bull.) DC; while the other, which has been the one under considera- 
 tion, should be known as Mucor racemosus Yves, (Beitrage zur Mykolo- 
 gie). The Botrytis has been found upon putrid, oily, or greasy 
 substances in France and Germany, while, on the other hand, the 
 Mucor occurs quite generally over the world as a common mold that 
 attacks decaying, starchy, and other substances. 
 
 Being so generally distributed, and withal so readily grown, there 
 is no wonder that this last mentioned should have been the fungus 
 isolated, as heretofore stated, instead of the Empusa, which is 
 extremel}' difficult to grow upon various culture media, such as are 
 used for the artificial propagation of bacteria. 
 
 It might be mentioned also that in our experiments here at the 
 University of Nebraska we have experienced great difficulty in isolat- 
 ing any particular fungus, and especially with recognized insect- 
 attacking genera like Empusa. Botrytis. Sporotrichum, and Isaria. 
 Almost invariably these would be accompanied by saprophytic fungi, 
 such as Mucor, Fusarium, Alternaria, Macrosporium, Aspergillus, 
 etc., which would very quickly crowd the others out. 
 
 If the reader will take the trouble to refer to the instructions which 
 accompany the various tubes of this South African locust fungus 
 when they are distributed he will find the following directions given 
 for securing an abundant supply of the material: 
 
 Collect a large number of grasshoppers which have died from the fungus. Dig a 
 hole in the ground about 18 inches deep and 1 foot wide. Strew some grasshoppers 
 over the bottom, then sprinkle some water over them. Kepeat with grasshoppers 
 and again sprinkle until the hole is full. Do not press the grasshoppers in the hole, 
 but leave them lightly packed. Then cover with a piece of tin or board and keep 
 the hole thus carefully covered for four or five days. If warm weather, four days 
 will be sufficient, but if colder a longer time will be required. At the end of this 
 time remove the grasshoppers and spread them out in the sun for an hour or two, 
 or until thoroughly dry. Now grind them into a meal. Of this meal, which may 
 be kept dry for a long time until wanted, take two tablespoonfuls and add it to a 
 large tumblerful of water, into which some sugar has been placed. Leave this in a 
 warm place for twelve to forty-eight hours, and then treat live grasshoppers by dip- 
 Ding, etc., just as one does when using the fungus when supplied in tubes. 
 
 If such a proceeding as that just described does not result in the 
 growth of a variety of common molds, Mucor racemosus among them, 
 
57 
 
 nothing will do so. Even had the insects which were collected and 
 buried been killed by poison, boiling water, heat, or in some other 
 violent manner, and treated in a similar way, the result would in all 
 probability have been quite similar. But when these insects die from 
 disease and drop to the ground in a variety of localities, and later are 
 gathered together, there is no telling how many different kinds of 
 saprophytic fungi may have come in contact with and adhered to them. 
 Even Empusa-killed insects, attached to vegetation a considerable dis- 
 tance from the ground, would themselves become infested, and under 
 favorable conditions support a great variety of these molds. 
 
 In our experiments with the fungus mentioned in this paper as 
 Mfucor racemosus we have found that such locusts as have been dipped 
 or sprinkled with sugar- water cultures of it are killed: but when 
 turned loose in the field there is no apparent spreading of the fungus 
 to other ? hoppers. Neither did we have any success in destroying 
 them when the inoculation was attempted by feeding the fungus to the 
 insects along with bread crumbs, etc., that had been used for culture 
 media. It is surmised that by thus dipping the insects into the liquid 
 containing the fungus some of the mycelial threads and spores of 
 the latter enter the stomata. as well as the sutures between the rings 
 of the abdomen and thorax, and start to grow, and in a short time use 
 up the fluids and vital tissues of the body sufficiently to cause death. 
 
 Since none of the other fungous diseases of locusts, aside from that 
 caused by Empusa grylM, seem to have received much attention 
 heretofore, it has been thought best to devote some space to their dis- 
 cussion here. Especially does this seem warranted because of the 
 numerous references made to them in these pages. 
 
 SPOROTRICHUM Sp. 
 
 The first of these other locust-attacking fungi that deserves mention 
 was discovered by the writer in 1897 while investigating the destruc- 
 tive locust problem of Argentina. South America. In the month of 
 June, when the insect then under investigation was hibernating, or. 
 more correctly speaking, resting, and confined chiefly to the more 
 northern districts of that country, it was thought best to occupy the 
 time in gathering data of various sorts. It was on one of the field 
 excursions which were regularly made at intervals, as this work was 
 progressing, that dead fungus-covered nymphs of the destructive 
 locust were discovered securely tucked away in dense bunches of a 
 species of grass common to a large portion of the open country. 
 These dead saltonas (as the nymphs of these insects are called in that 
 country) had evidently been destroyed by the fungus in large numbers 
 during the previous year. Still, so securely were they tucked away 
 in these clumps of grass that fully eight months later the}' not only 
 remained nearly perfect in form, but also retained their colors suffi- 
 ciently to make their identity certain. 
 
58 
 
 Having bad some previous experience with an insect-destroying 
 fungus of a similar appearance in the destruction of quite a different 
 insect in the United States, a preliminary examination of these fungus- 
 cove 4 red locusts at once suggested a Sporotrichuin. But in order to 
 obtain a verification of this surmise, or to learn definitely the nature 
 of the tind, specimens of the dead fungus-covered insects were sub- 
 mitted to Prof. C. E. Bessey, of the University of Nebraska, who 
 reported that the identification was correct. Although the genus to 
 which this South American locust-killing fungus belongs has been 
 definitely settled, various unavoidable circumstances have thus far 
 prevented its specific identification. 
 
 Locusts that have been attacked by this South American fungus, 
 instead of climbing to the top of various plants so as to get as much 
 air and light as possible, creep away from the light and seek dark, 
 moist places in which to die. Consequently they are most often found 
 hidden away near the roots of bunch grasses, in the midst of dense, 
 juicy foliage. Here, after death, their bodies become entirely filled 
 w 7 ith mycelial threads and spores of the fungus. In many cases, 
 under certain conditions, the fungus growth also appears upon the 
 outside and almost completely covers the dead body of the insect. 
 
 Some breeding-cage experiments attempted later in the year indi- 
 cated that the fungus could be quite readilv transmitted from these 
 dead fungus-covered saltonas to live, healthy locusts of the same 
 species. While out in the open "camp," the invading swarms soon 
 began dying in rather large numbers in the vicinity w T here the fungus 
 had first been discovered. On gathering the dead bodies of these latter 
 and pulverizing them, and afterwards strewing this powder upon others 
 along with their food, the result was that they too were found to sicken 
 and die. 
 
 The action of this fungus upon the host is similar to that of Spcro- 
 trichum gTobuliferum on the chinch bug. At first the victim becomes 
 restless, ceases feeding, and begins to wander aimlessly about, and, 
 shortly before death, it seeks a secluded spot in some dark nook upon 
 or near the ground. Quite frequently, after a passing flight of an 
 infected swarm, the ground was found to be strewn with the dead 
 bodies of such insects as had succumbed to the disease. These soon 
 turned bright pink in color, and where %hey failed to reach a suffi- 
 ciently moist and shad} T place shortly became quite hard and leathery 
 in texture instead of rotting and breaking into fragments, as is custom- 
 ary with dead insects of this class. Also at the ' roosting places" of 
 such swarms many of these pinkish-colored locusts were found upon 
 the ground, having succumbed and dropped during the night. Some 
 of these latter, although w inged, have been known later to exhibit the 
 characteristics of those shown in the illustration already referred to. 
 
 During the period in which this fungus was epidemic among the 
 
59 
 
 locusts iii the southern portion of Santa Fe, and while under the obser- 
 vation of the writer, only four distinct species of locusts were found 
 that had died as the result of its attack. These were the large migra- 
 tory species of Argentina and the neighboring countries, Schistocerca 
 paranensis Burm. , Zon iopoda tarsata Serv. , Dipdnth us communis Brun. , 
 and Dichroplus elongatus Giglio-Tos. It might be of interest, however, 
 to know that each of these, aside from the paranensis, becomes locally 
 destructive at times. This fungus, like Empusa, flourishes best during 
 warm, humid weather. 
 
 Having obtained such satisfactory results in transmitting this disease 
 to other locusts while conducting experiments in Argentina, a quantity 
 of dead fungus-covered insects, like those described above, were 
 gathered and brought back to the United States for use in attempting 
 to destroy our North American species. Accordingly, in July and 
 August, 1898, large numbers of several of our most common Melanopli 
 were gathered and placed in breeding cages along with a goodly supply 
 of green food and the bodies of the dead fungus-covered insects. The 
 powdered bodies of such dead locusts were also strewn over the food 
 and moistened earth at the bottom of the cages. In addition to these, 
 similar experiments were attempted in fields where our native locusts 
 were exceedingly numerous, but in all cases these experiments failed 
 to show a single instance of the possible transmission of the fungus to 
 our native species. 
 
 More recent attempts at obtaining an artificial growth of this South 
 American locust-killing fungus on various media in the laboratory 
 have likewise proved utter failures, the reason for this being, no doubt, 
 the great age of the material at hand. 
 
 Notwithstanding the failures in the experiments just recorded, this, 
 in the opinion of the writer, is one of the most promising locust- 
 attacking fungi, since it was found to withstand considerable variation 
 in climate and to attack at least four widely different insects. Then, 
 too, its close relationship with the so-called chinch-bug fungus (Spo- 
 rotrichvmi globuliferuui) gives us some reason for encouragement in 
 the future. 
 
 On July IT, 1900, a letter was received from Mr. George W. Martin, 
 Sterling, Colo. , who had undertaken some experiments with the South 
 African locust fungus, a supply of which was furnished him from 
 Washington. This letter reads as follows: 
 
 Dear Sir: I have succeeded in killing a large number of grasshoppers on 60 acres 
 of alfalfa, covering the ground with them for one-fourth mile. The disease is still 
 spreading and is now 500 yards from where the infected ones were placed. I do not 
 see why it will not kill all of them. I use corn meal, 2 parts sugar, 1 part, for dose, 
 feeding at 4 p. m., again 6 p. m., putting them out at 7. 1 drive over the fields to be 
 infected. The fungus seems to be better a week old than earlier. 
 Yours, truly, 
 
 George W. Martin. 
 
GO 
 
 A visit to the locality, as already stated, revealed the fact that 
 although several species of native locusts were dying in large numbers, 
 yet, contrary to the rule with insects that had been attacked by Empusa, 
 these Colorado 'hoppers all fell to the ground instead of remaining 
 fastened to the vegetation. About the same time, and also somewhat 
 later in the season, other reports were received of similar epidemics 
 occurring among the grasshoppers in localities where no infection of 
 any kind had been distributed. This year again other reports of 
 similar epidemics occurring among these insects were received here at 
 the University of Nebraska. One of these was so remarkable in nature 
 that a representative of the experiment station visited the locality to 
 make an investigation. He was also requested to secure specimens of 
 the dead and dying insects so as to ascertain, if possible, the cause of 
 the epidemic. Other material was received at the station from corre- 
 spondents, and from both of these lots of dead insects there was 
 obtained, among other things (as Spirillum and Bacterium), a Sporo- 
 trichum, the specific identification of which was not ascertained at the 
 time, as the botanists were then all away on their summer vacations. 
 Since their return school duties have prevented their giving the neces- 
 sary time to the matter, hence we can only suggest that this may be a 
 second species of the genus which attacks locusts. 
 
 While most of these local outbreaks among our native locusts occur 
 in moist localities, such as irrigated fields and bottom lands, the one 
 near Ogallala, Nebr. , was in a field which irrigation did not reach, and 
 came at a time when little or no rain had fallen for several weeks. 
 The species of locusts found generally among the dead were Melano- 
 plus differential!*. M. Mvittatus, M. atlanis, M. femur-rvbrum, M. 
 packardii, Sphwagem-on collare, Brachystola magna, and Dissosteira 
 Carolina; these were numerous in the order named; a very encourag- 
 ing record when we take into consideration the differences in the 
 habits and structure of these insects. All the occurrences of this 
 last-named disease were in fields of alfalfa. 
 
 The isolation of this fungus came so late in the year, and at a time 
 when other matters were so pressing, that further work with it was, for 
 the time being, impracticable. It is impossible, therefore, to predict 
 its probable future value as an artificial factor in the control of the 
 locust pest in the region where it was found. 
 
 The Sjjorotrichum globiiliferum is reported as having been success- 
 fully used against the different species of destructive locusts in Algeria 
 during 1899, but whether the identification of the fungus concerned is 
 reliable is not known. 
 
 CONCLUSIONS. 
 
 After having spent considerable time in experimenting under vari- 
 ous conditions and in different regions, as well as in the study of the 
 researches carried on by others, it is the opinion of the writer that 
 
61 
 
 the utility of fungus diseases in killing off insect pests is greatly over- 
 estimated. Especially is this true with reference to their use against 
 destructive locusts. The chief objections are the difficulties with 
 which pure cultures are obtained and later transmitted to the insects to 
 be destroyed, and the frequent adverse influence of climatic conditions. 
 
 Much of this false notion as to the absolute effectiveness of inocula- 
 tion as a cure-all. which has gained a firm lodgement in the minds of so 
 many people throughout the land, is, no doubt, due to the careless 
 way in which agricultural and other newspapers of the country make 
 definite statements on incomplete information. Then. too. very fre- 
 quently contributors to such papers write concerning matters they 
 know little or nothing about. This sort of business on the part of the 
 press certainly places the economic entomologist in a peculiar posi- 
 tion since it creates a misunderstanding between him and the people 
 in whose interest he is supposed to labor. 
 
 Were the writer required to give his opinion as to which of these 
 different fungi seems the most promising, he would, without hesita- 
 tion, say. "The native one.** He would say this, because the impor- 
 tation of these locust-killing fungi from one country into another 
 depends greatly on the similarity which exists in the climatic condi- 
 tions of the countries concerned, in the relationship of hosts to be 
 considered, and in the ease with which the fungi can be handled in 
 the laboratory. Between the Empusse and Sporotricha the latter 
 seem the more preferable, because they are more readily handled arti- 
 ficially, growing, as they do. quite readily on different culture media. 
 
 THE CONFLICT OF THE RUSSIAN ZYEMSTVOS " WITH THE 
 ENEMIES OF AGRICULTURE. 6 
 
 By V. Morachevski. 
 [Abstract by Dr. Peter Fireman.] 
 
 Not the measures employed by the individual farmer in his fight 
 against the animals and insects injurious to agriculture are described 
 in the present article, but those adopted by the local self-government 
 organs in Eussia. 
 
 Grasshoppers ( AcfiEDinxfi) . 
 
 (a) PachytyJus migrator! us. It is at present accepted as proved that 
 the islands of some rivers (Ural. Volga. Kuma. Kuban. Terek. Manich, 
 Egorlik, Don, Dnieper. Danube, and Sarpa) serve as nurseries for this 
 insect. Such islands furnish an enormous store of food for grasshop- 
 
 «Zyenistvo — A governmental body in Russian provinces and local districts, elected 
 by the people. It consists in each case of a council and an executive board. 
 
 &(Syelskoye Khozyaistvo e Lyesovodstvo (Agriculture and Forestry), vol. 193, 
 1899, April, pp. 183-208; vol. 194, 1899, August, pp. 193-226, September, pp. 445-454. ) 
 
62 
 
 pers, sufficient in the great majority of cases to maintain them from 
 the time of their hatching to their death. Moreover, on these islands 
 they are safe from their natural enemies. Therefore, the investigators 
 of the grasshoppers, as well as some of the zyemstvos, have arrived at 
 the conclusion that radical measures for preventing the calamities 
 caused by the incursions of these insects must be directed not so much 
 toward the destruction of the insects as toward the conversion of these 
 islands into cultivated lands. 
 
 In the appearance of the grasshoppers in enormous numbers some 
 periodicity has long been observed. 
 
 In the Taurida government some of the zyemstvos took up the com- 
 bat against the grasshoppers in 1877. The rules which are at present 
 obligatory in the contest in the whole province were elaborated by the 
 provincial zyemstvo and confirmed by the Minister of the Interior. 
 The work is paid for according to a scale fixed by the district zyem- 
 stvos. For the performance of the work all persons of the lower 
 classes are required to present themselves (peasants, workingmen, and 
 the like, not excluding the women and children above 10 }^ears of age). 
 Each relay of workmen can be held not longer than three da} r s. The 
 council of the district zyemstvo elects special organizers for stated sec- 
 tions of the district, whose duty it is to watch the appearance of the 
 grasshoppers in the district, to study the extent of the area infested 
 with the eggs of the grasshoppers, to keep the district as well as the 
 provincial zyemstvo informed about their observations in this regard, 
 and to personally participate and superintend the work of destroying 
 the insects. In 1896 there were 17 such organizers in the Simpheropol 
 district, with a compensation of 3 rubles per day during the time of 
 fighting the grasshoppers. 
 
 The Bessarabia government began the contest in 1876 and stopped 
 it in 1887, since when the grasshoppers have not appeared. 
 
 In the Kherson government the provincial zyemstvo conducts the 
 fighc against these insects as well as against others, and sussliks 
 (Spermophilus citillus), covering the expense by collecting a tax of 
 one-half cent per dyessyatina (2.7 acres). 
 
 In the Voronyezh government the provincial zyemstvo in 1882, in 
 view of the fact that the grasshoppers deposited their eggs in the 
 autumn over an extended area, especialh T in the Novo-Khopyor district, 
 petitioned the Imperial Government to defray the expenses of fighting 
 the grasshoppers from the general funds of the Empire, to appropriate 
 for this purpose 1,000,000 rubles, and to impose a natural tax. Mean- 
 while the Novo-Khopyor district zyemstvo was directed to urge the 
 land owners to plow up those places where the eggs were deposited. 
 The Minister of the Interior, however, refused to grant to the pro- 
 vincial zyemstvo the subsidy of the Imperial Government, but agreed 
 to loan that sum to the zyemstvo. In 1883 the grasshoppers made 
 
63 
 
 their appearance in the spring-. They were combated very energet- 
 ically, with the cooperation of the police, local population, and six 
 battalions of soldiers. At an expense of 52,000 rubles the zyemstvo 
 destroyed completely the grasshoppers in the province. 
 
 In the Orvol government all the work directed to the destruction of 
 the grasshoppers is divided between the provincial zyemstvo and the 
 district zyemstvos, the duty of the former being the ascertainment of 
 the places infested with the eggs of the insects, the instruction of the 
 population in the methods of combating them, and a general super- 
 vision over the carrying out of all the operations, while the duty of 
 the distric zyemstvos is the immediate execution of those operations. 
 
 The Tambov government in 1893 petitioned the imperial administra- 
 tion to consider the destroying of the grasshoppers as a duty of the 
 whole nation. The minister of the interior replied that similar peti- 
 tions were received repeatedly from zyemstvos, but were invariably 
 declined by the minister of the interior, with the concurrence of the 
 ministry of finance, on the ground that, according to the existing 
 laws, measures for the destruction of the injurious insects are incum- 
 bent upon the zyemstvos. The executive board of the provincial 
 z} T emstvo then organized the fight against the grasshoppers, a fund of 
 100,000 rubles being appropriated by the zyemstvo. The wages were 
 fixed as follows: To a workingman with a horse, 12£ cents a day;, to 
 one without a horse, 5 cents a day; for 36 pounds of grasshoppers 
 collected, 12£ cents. 
 
 The zyemstvos of the Ekaterinoslav, Chernigov, Kursk, Ryazan, 
 Samara, and Penza governments had also to fight grasshoppers, which 
 they did more or less successfully . 
 
 (b) Caloptenus italicus (Italian grasshopper). — This insect appears in 
 some places in enormous quantities. In three districts of the Sara- 
 tov government the peasants destroyed in one season 36,000 poods 
 (1 pood = 36 pounds); on one estate alone during five weeks 15,000 
 poods were collected; in the Bobrov district 40,000 poods were 
 destroyed. 
 
 In 1897 the following regulations were adopted by the Bessarabia 
 government, with the approval of the imperial administration: A 
 natural tax and a money tax are fixed. The natural tax is imposed on 
 persons belonging to the lower classes (peasants, workingmen, etc.), not 
 excluding women and children; all these persons must do the work of 
 destroying the Italian grasshoppers, without compensation, within a 
 radius of 7 versts (1 verst = f mile); if called to more remote places 
 they receive a certain compensation fixed by the provincial zyemstvo; 
 each relay of workingmen can not be held longer than three days. 
 The money tax is imposed upon all the landowners who are not 
 subject to the natural tax. The money so collected goes to cover the 
 expenses incurred in fighting the grasshoppers, in payment to the 
 
64 
 
 owners for their crops destroyed, in payment of the workers who 
 came from places farther than 7 versts, etc. For the crops destroyed 
 while fighting the insects the owners are reimbursed to the amount of 
 the value of the seeds, the cost of cultivation, and the rent for the 
 land. 
 
 In the Orgueyeev district, over an area of 2,000,000 acres, the fight 
 against the Italian grasshoppers in 1897 required more than 26,000 
 adult workers, 20,000 boys, and over 2,000 wagons. 
 
 In the Kherson government the Odessa district zyemstvo spent in 
 lighting the Italian grasshoppers in 1895, 4,000 rubles; in 1896, 20,000 
 rubles (paying to the workingmen 25 cents per day, young lads 12£ 
 cents, to children 6i cents, and for man and wagon 50 cents, and 12J 
 cents, besides, for each pood of grasshoppers killed and collected); and 
 in 1897, 9,500 rubles. 
 
 In the Taurida government the Dnieper district z} T emstvo reports 
 that the lighting of the grasshoppers pursued by it at a great outlay of 
 money during three years is quite successful, as witnessed, among other 
 things, by the considerable falling off of the expenses: The expendi- 
 tures in 1894 were 37,000 rubles; in 1895, 9,000 rubles; and in 1896, 
 only 2,760 rubles. 
 
 The Kursk, Ryazan, Voronezh, and Saratov governments light the 
 Italian grasshoppers by similar methods. 
 
 (c) Gomphocerus sibiricus, Stenobothrus degans, Stenobotlirus mela 
 nopterus, PsopTius stridulus, Bryodema tuberculata, Staaronotus cruci- 
 atus or Stethophyma jlavicosta, Stethophyma fuscum, and Pezotettix 
 pedestris. — These do much damage, chiefly in the east of European 
 Russia, in the Ural region, and in western Siberia. 
 
 The z} T emstvos of the Ufa, V} T atka, Perm, Nizhni Novgorod, and 
 Kostroma governments conduct the fight against these insects on lines 
 similar to those described with regard to the grasshoppers. 
 
 MEANS OF COMBATTING THE GRASSHOPPERS. 
 
 (1) Shallow replowing or harrowing in the autumn of those places 
 which are infested with the eggs of the grasshoppers, etc., is one of 
 the best and most effective measures. By shallow plowing, 2 to 2£ 
 inches deep, the eggs are turned out to the surface of the ground and 
 perish, partly from atmospheric conditions and partly from birds. 
 
 (2) Burning up by means of straw is practiced with great success to 
 the destruction of the larvae of the grasshoppers. The straw is usually 
 piled up in the field in a few places; the larvae gather to these piles 
 toward evening in large numbers in search of drier places; the straw 
 is then ignited simultaneously from all sides. In extreme cases, when 
 it is too late to drive out the insects from among the crops, the crops 
 themselves are burned up. For cereals thus destroyed the owners 
 
65 
 
 receive from the zyemstvos an indemnity, which is usually somewhat 
 less than the real value of the burned crop. 
 
 (3) The larvae are sometimes destroyed by crushing with shovels, 
 rolls, bundles of brushwood, etc. The brushwood drags give the best 
 results. The laborers surround a certain section and drive the insects 
 toward the center. When the circle becomes small a few brushwood 
 drags are drawn along the circumference of the circle, describing 
 circles of smaller and smaller diameter each time. 
 
 (4) The driving of the larvae into ditches and destroying them there 
 by crushing or burning is not effective in the case of adult insects or 
 loo young larvae (the latter remaining immovable when the attempt is 
 made to frighten them up by brooms, etc.). Protective ditches used 
 for preventing the insects from passing over into the unattacked fields 
 must be deep and well guarded to be effective. 
 
 (5) Collecting by means of bags, sheets, etc.. is also much practiced. 
 Certain trap bags have been invented and are very effective. 
 
 (6) Some apparently successful experiments were also made in 
 destroying the insects by infecting them with the fungus Em/pv&a 
 grylli. 
 
 OTHER INJURIOUS INSECTS. 
 
 The zyemstvos have so far confined themselves principally to the 
 combating of the sussliks and of the grasshoppers (including in the 
 latter a number of allied insects), not taking up at all the contest against 
 other insects equally injurious to agriculture, or taking it up only now 
 and then, without regularity or system, in years of very great ravages. 
 
 (a) Agrotis segetum and Agrotis eavlamationds are the most danger- 
 ous and most common enemies of the winter cereals. Their caterpillars 
 are usually called (in Russia) the winter worms. Against these insects 
 a fight is conducted only by the zyemstvos of some northeastern gov- 
 ernments — Kostroma, Perm, Kazan, and others. Only the provincial 
 zyemstvo of the Kostroma government has imposed a natural tax. In 
 this government peasants have to appear Avith plows, brooms, and 
 shovels for two days: within a radius of 7 versts they get no remunera- 
 tion, but beyond that distance a certain daily wage. 
 
 (h) Anisoplia austriaca (grain beetle). — The Imperial Government 
 proposed in 1879 to all the southern zyemstvos to hold an extraordinary 
 meeting in order to discuss the question of the grain beetle. All the 
 lyemstvos (viz, of the Kherson, Poltava, Bessarabia, Taurida, and 
 Kharkov governments, and also the Don z^^emstvo) gave their opinions 
 in favor of the mechanical methods of fighting the beetle, and peti- 
 tioned the Imperial Government to prohibit the use of ropes and to 
 declare the measures obligatory for all the southern governments. 
 The Imperial Government granted the petition, making the following 
 tax. as a temporary measure, obligatory for the enumerated govern- 
 
 3622— No 38—04 5 
 
66 
 
 merits during a period of two years: Persons of the lower classes must 
 appear for three days' work without compensation at a distance of 7 
 srersts and with compensation at a greater distance, not exceeding 20 
 versts; upon persons of the higher classes, on the other hand, a mone} T 
 tax is Levied, the amount of the imposition per dyessyatina (2.7 acres) 
 depending on the value of the work performed by the persons of the 
 lower classes. The use of the rope was prohibited by the same law. 
 After the lapse of two years the law was not renew ed, each govern- 
 ment conducting the contest according to its discretion. The Taurida 
 and Ekatcrinoslav governments leave the fight of the weevil to the 
 population, and allow the use of the rope. The Kharkov government 
 has imposed a tax of 1 garnts (2.88 quarts) of weevils from each dyes- 
 syatina (2.7 acres) under rye, wheat, and barley; for each garnts not 
 presented a fine of 12J cents is imposed. 
 
 The means of fighting the weevil emplo\ T ed by the zyemstvos are 
 almost all mechanical: (a) Collecting the weevil with the hands or with 
 specially designed machines, and (b) frightening off the weevils by 
 means of a rope. 
 
 (c) Ceddomyia destructor Say. — The only measure enforced by the 
 zyemstvos in fighting the Hessian fly consists in not allowing the early 
 sowing of winter crops. 
 
 THE TOBACCO STALK WEEVIL. 
 
 ( Trichobaris mucorea Lec. ) 
 By F. H. Chittenden. 
 
 In a consideration of the potato stalk weevil, Trichobaris trinotata 
 Say., which was treated somewhat in detail in Bulletin No. 33. new 
 series (pp. 9-18). it was remarked, in defining the food habits of this 
 species, that tobacco and tomato appeared to be exempt from its 
 ravages, although nearly all other Solanacea? growing within its range 
 were attacked. Before the bulletin in question had appeared in print 
 we received a communication from Mr. Lawson H. Shelfer, tobacco 
 expert of the Bureau of Soils, and located at Willis, Tex. , that a related 
 species of weevil was greatly injuring tobacco in that section. Our 
 correspondent first wrote in regard to this species, transmitting adults, 
 and in the following months sent much material and many valuable 
 notes on the habits of this insect and the nature of its ravages. The 
 remarks which follow, on the insect's life history and habits, are 
 based mainly upon Mr. Shelf er's letters and the material received 
 from him. 
 
 The larva of this species also, as might be expected from its close 
 relationship to the potato stalk weevil, inhabits the stalk of tobacco 
 and also the main ribs of leaves, sometimes completely severing them 
 or injuring them so badly that the winds which blow almost constantly 
 in that region break them off and thus greatly weaken the plant. 
 
67 
 
 This weevil first appeared, according to the testimony of residents 
 of that vicinity, in 1898, and has become more numerous each year. 
 At the date of first writing, May 20, from 2 to 6 beetles were found 
 on single plants, frequently in pairs. It was concluded, as a result of 
 conversation with many local growers, that the tobacco crop had been 
 attacked even earlier than the specified date, but the cause was not 
 iefinitely known. 
 
 May 28 some tobacco plants showing infestation were sent to this 
 office. It was discovered a few days before this time that nearly 
 every plant in a four-acre field was affected. In some neighboring 
 fields it was impossible to find a stalk that did not contain one or 
 more larva?, but all fields were not so badly affected. 
 
 The larva is locally known as ^ pith worm." from its habit of boring 
 through the length of plants. 
 
 The beetles were also stated to be doing great damage to tobacco. 
 
 June 1'2 Mr. Shelter stated that the beetles were still cutting the 
 leaves and depositing eggs. Owing to the fact that twenty-six days 
 had elapsed at that time since rain had fallen and many nights were 
 without dew, the tobacco crop suffered much, and more especially 
 when this insect was at work in the stalks. During the last week of 
 June and first of July we received considerable material from our cor- 
 respondent, the insect being present in the three stages of larva, pupa, 
 and adult at this time. In some stalks the pupal cell was constructed 
 4: inches from the root system, while in others on a level with the 
 surface of the ground. It is evident that in tobacco this insect works 
 in a different manner from that which it employs in other plants which 
 it may infest, the reason being the very woody condition of the lower 
 portions of the stalks. It is evident also that the larvae, after attain- 
 ing maturity or thereabouts, turn and bore upward for the construc- 
 tion of their transformation cells. The lowest individuals will mature 
 first, and those which form their cells higher will mature much later. 
 As a consequence there will be intervals of a week or more between 
 the time of their transformation. Thus it happens that the older 
 individuals must wait for the younger ones to make their exit, since 
 there is hardly space for the former to pass the latter. Some of the 
 insects penetrate to the very tops of the stalks. 
 
 Jamestown weed, which we have record of this insect attacking, was 
 a comparative rarity in that section of Texas, and no other solanaceous 
 plants could be found growing wild within half a mile of the infested 
 fields. At other points (Liberty and AVoodville. Tex.) this weed was 
 found, but no weevils, this verifying an opinion hazarded by the writer 
 that the insect was local as well as periodical as regards injuries. 
 
 Mr. J. A. Blohm, of Willis, verified Mr. Shelter's account as to 
 injuries of this stalk weevil, his experience practically duplicating that 
 of our correspondent in most essential particulars. 
 
 Attack was at first attributed to improper farming. 
 
68 
 
 September 5, 1902, Mr. Shelfer called at this office and furnished 
 the writer w ith some additional information on the insect's occurrence 
 and life history. Tobacco was first set out April 8, and the beetles 
 were observed at work the following day, as a rule in pairs, attacking 
 the leaves, which soon after attack began to droop. After the mid- 
 ribs had been eaten for some time the leaves curled over, and under 
 this protection the beetles congregated for feeding. The beetles, as 
 well as larvae, were still in the field the first week in September. 
 
 DESCRIPTIVE. 
 
 The tobacco-destroying species of weevil, Trichoharis mucorea Lee, 
 may be readily separated from the potato species, T. trinotata Say, by 
 its much larger size. The former will average one-fourth of an inch 
 or a little longer (5-6 mm ), Avhile the latter does not exceed three- 
 sixteenths of an inch, averaging about one-sixth inch or a little smaller 
 (3-4.5 mm ). The tobacco species is, moreover, a little more robust and 
 of more uniform size, and is distinguished, according to Casey, "by 
 its rather depressed upper surface and the subdentate area at the 
 sides of the prothorax beneath." Also by the "pronotum densely 
 and confluently punctate, sometimes longitudinally rugose, the sides 
 more or less feebly sinuate just behind apical third; antennal club 
 more slender and elongate, less abrupt, the outer funicular joints 
 more transverse; pronotum with a narrow impunctate median carina." 
 
 •In T. tr!n of <if a the pronotum is simply punctate and without an 
 impunctate and subcarinate median line, as in mucorea, and the anten- 
 nal club is robust and abrupt. In a large series of specimens, such as 
 the writer has at the present writing, it is seen that there is also a 
 difference in color. All of the specimens of trinotata are darker, the 
 pubescence being darker gra} T than in mucorea. There is no observa- 
 ble difference in specimens collected in the field and those taken from 
 the stalks of eggplant the first week of September. In hibernated 
 individuals of mucorea the scales are very pale, nearly white, while in 
 those which have recently issued from stalks they are dull, some- 
 what yellowish brown/' In all specimens of mucorea there is an api- 
 cal line of yellowish pubescence on the thorax, forming a collar above 
 the head. This collar is scarcely at all indicated in trinotata, and the 
 color of the scales here is of the same uniform gray as of the entire 
 upper surface. 
 
 INJURY IN FLORIDA BY A RELATED SPECIES. 
 
 July 14, 1902, Mr. William M. Cony, Quincy, Fla., wrote, in response 
 to inquiry, that at various times in previous }^ears — though not in 
 
 " This difference in coloration has been noted in another species of scale-covered 
 weevil, Ceutorhynchus rapse Say, Bui. 23, n. s., p. 43. 
 
69 
 
 1902 — he had observed affected stalks in fields of tobacco there, and 
 when the leaves were broken off it was found that a hole was in the 
 center, caused by a small insect known there as "the borer." The 
 insect seemed to start at the root and make its way gradually up into 
 the heart of the stalk, its presence being indicated by the leaves 
 dropping- and the stalk gradually withering and turning yellow. 
 
 There can be no reasonable doubt that the species in question is 
 Trichobaris insolita Casey, a species rather commonly found in that 
 portion of Florida. 
 
 DISTRIBUTION. 
 
 In defining the distribution of the potato stalk weevil it has been 
 said that that species was rather generally distributed throughout 
 the Carolinian and Austroriparian regions, and that it was found 
 Westward to Texas. Such a statement has previously been made by 
 Casey and probably others, and it may be that the insect really inhabits 
 Texas, but in a series of ?A specimens at present available Texas- 
 labeled individuals are not in evidence. 
 
 Trichobaris mucorea is represented in the national collection and 
 others at present under observation by upwards of 50 individuals, 
 from which the following locality list is taken: Columbus and Willis, 
 Tex.; Los Angeles, Kern County, and elsewhere in California (no 
 definite locality) ; Tucson, Galiuro Mountains, Santa Rita Mountains. 
 Catalina Springs, and Oracle, Ariz. LeConte records the species from 
 Cape San Lucas, Lower California, and there is little doubt that it 
 occurs elsewhere in Mexico. The type specimen was found near Fort 
 Yuma, Cal. (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Phila., 1858, p. 59.) 
 
 METHODS OF CONTROL. 
 
 In spite of the close relationship of this species to the potato stalk 
 weevil, it is very evident that we have an entirely different problem 
 to solve. The similarity of the insects is structural. The habits are 
 materially different; for whereas the potato weevil has a definite time 
 of appearance and disappearance, from April to May, and again the 
 following } r ear at the same time, we see no more of the insects until 
 after they have laid their eggs and the larvae have transformed to 
 pupae and thence to adults in the stalks. Here they remain during 
 the winter. The tobacco weevil, on the contrary, evidently escapes 
 from the stalks after the tobacco leaves have been cut. and hibernate- 
 in other places. 
 
 Paris green, Mr. Shelfer has observed, applied as a spray by means 
 of a knapsack outfit, will kill the beetles, and he is of the opinion, in 
 which the writer concurs, that if an arsenical is used at interval- during 
 the season at the proper time, beginning with the time that plants are 
 set out, the insect may be kept under control. 
 
70 
 
 The following suggestions for another season are made: 
 
 Alter the leaves are cut the stalks should be destroyed as promptly 
 as possible, and the entire fields should be cleaned of refuse; and this 
 applies also to barns and other places where the tobacco is stored. If 
 tli's be done systematically over the entire affected area it will leave 
 very few insects to combat the following year. 
 
 The first appearing insects could be attracted and successfully dealt 
 with, there is do doubt, by setting early plants as traps here and there 
 over the area to be grown in tobacco. The growth of the plants could 
 be stimulated, and they could be protected from insects and the weather 
 until ready for use, by covering them with square frames covered with 
 cheese cloth or similar material. A few days before planting the 
 main crop the covers should be removed and the plants thoroughly 
 coated with a spray of some arsenical. 
 
 Before setting out the main crop the plants should be dipped in a 
 solution of arsenate of lead, prepared at the rate of 1 pound of poison 
 to 100 gallons of water. This would not scorch the plants, and it 
 would be preferable to Paris green, as it remains longer, requiring 
 more rain to wash it off. In a week or ten days, according to the 
 growth of the plant, a second spraying should be made, and for this 
 purpose either arsenate of lead or Paris green and Bordeaux mixture 
 can be used. 
 
 It is suggested by way of experiment that one plat of, say, 25 or more 
 plants be sprayed with arsenate o"f lead; a second with Paris green, 1 
 pound to 150 gallons of water; a third with Paris green at the same 
 rate, with the addition of Bordeaux mixture used instead of lime as a 
 diluent; and the fourth, with Bordeaux mixture alone. It is not 
 known to what extent Bordeaux mixture would prove repellent to this 
 weevil (possibly not greatly), but if sufficiently distasteful it would 
 drive the insects from the plants treated with it to others which should 
 be poisoned with Paris green alone. 
 
 THE LEAF-MINING LOCUST BEETLE,. WITH NOTES ON RELATED 
 
 SPECIES. 
 
 By F. H. Chittexden. 
 
 The foliage of the common yellow or black locust tree (Rdbinia 
 pseudacacici) is subject to the attack of a leaf -beetle, sometimes called 
 in literature the locust Hispa ( Odon tota dorsalis Thunb.) and which we 
 may call the leaf -mining locust beetle to distinguish it from several 
 other forms of insects, mostly the larvae of Tineidag, which also mine 
 x the leaves of this tree, and from other beetles which attack the trunk 
 and other portions of the tree. Injury by the species under discussion 
 is due mainly to the work of the larvae, although the beetles also assist. 
 
71 
 
 Damage usually becomes manifest some time in July in the more 
 northern States, and southward earlier, in June. In cases of severe 
 attack the leaves turn brown as if scorched by fire. Injurious attack 
 is not often brought to the notice of economic entomologists, which is 
 rather remarkable considering that the locust is of great value as a 
 timber tree, for posts, etc., though of less importance as a shade tree 
 than elm, oak, maple, and others with which everyone is familiar. 
 Thus it happens that although year after year this insect has done 
 much harm to the locust, where this tree is of value, comparatively 
 little has been published concerning the insect's ravages, its life history 
 and habits. 
 
 Like many other insect pests, it is subject to considerable fluctuation 
 in numbers, in some years being quite destructive while in others it 
 attracts little notice. It is nearly always more or less troublesome to 
 the locusts in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, and in 
 recent years has been reported as more or less destructive in neighbor- 
 ing States. Injury has been reported in West Virginia from 1890 to 
 
 1897, in New York and New Jersey in 1896, in Maryland from 1896 to 
 1899, in Ohio and Kentucky in 1897, in Pennsylvania and Kentucky in 
 
 1898. These reports probably do not by any means sum up the entire 
 area infested during the past ten years. In 1898 this beetle did more 
 than usual damage over a considerable portion of this territory. 
 
 In most seasons this beetle does little more harm to the locust than 
 to mar its beauty as a shade tree, but in years of its greatest abun- 
 dance it is probable that trees are so badly weakened by the combined 
 ravages of this and other leaf -miners that the result is practically the 
 same as that of defoliation; the trees are so weakened that they readily 
 succumb to disease, to unfavorable atmospheric conditions, and to the 
 destructive work of different species of borers, such as the painted 
 locust borer (Cyllene robiniw Forst.), a species which is of still more 
 importance as an enemy of this tree. 
 
 In the vicinity of the District of Columbia the damage effected by 
 this leaf -miner is frequently as bad as reported elsewhere, and we 
 have observed locust groves where the injury was almost entirely due 
 to the work of the beetle, while in others the Tineid leaf -miners were 
 more numerous. As a rule, however, this locust beetle is more 
 abundant about Washington than all of the leaf-mining Tineida? and 
 other locust pests taken together, and its importance in economic 
 entomology is deserving of a more detailed consideration than has 
 hitherto been given to the public. 
 
 Injury is usually most severe to young trees and to such as have 
 low, vigorous branches, and to others growing on the edges of sunny 
 lawns and in similar locations. There are, however, some striking 
 exceptions. In many localities such plants suffer greatly year after 
 year. Taller trees, on the contrary, are much less subject to injury. 
 
72 
 
 In speaking of damage effected l)y this leaf-miner, Chambers (Amor. 
 Ent., Vol. Ill,, p. 61) says: 
 
 The young trees seem to suffer most, as the insect seems to prefer their foliage; 
 and large old trees seldom exhibit the burnt appearance of the young groves. 
 Young shoots growing up around an old trunk will sometimes have nearly all of 
 their leaves blistered, while few, comparatively, on the old tree will be injured. 
 
 DESCRIPTIVE. 
 
 Few species among our native Coleoptera exhibit more striking 
 coloration than Odontota dorsalis® so that with the accompanying 
 illustration (fig. 3, a) and description even an inexperienced observer 
 can not fail to recognize it. 
 
 b cu e> 
 
 Fig. 3. — Odontota dorsalis: a, beetle; b, larva; c, pupa — 5 times natural 
 size (original). 
 
 The beetle. — Elongate in form, moderately convex, only moderately shining, the 
 color of the dorsal or upper side being bright orange red with the head and a vitta 
 or stripe along the suture of the elytra or wing cases black. The ventral or under 
 side, including the legs, is also black. The black sutural vitta occupies usually 
 about one-third of the width of the elytra and widens behind, but sometimes it is 
 much narrower and of equal width and still more rarely widest at the base. The 
 structural characters which, besides the coloration, distinguish 0. dorsalis from other 
 species of the same genus are as follows: Form rather slender, not cuneiform; elytra 
 of equal width, each having ten series of punctures and three of the interstices form- 
 ing elevated costae. 
 
 It measures a little less than a fourth of an inch in length (5-5.5 mm.) and is less 
 than half that in width (2.2-2.4 mm.) at its widest part. 
 
 The egg is short, oval in outline and flattened on two sides, its color when freshly 
 
 « As this species has been given other names than the one here used, a word should 
 be added in regard to nomenclature. The specific name dorsalis was proposed first 
 by Thunberg in 1805 (Gotting Gel. Ang., p. 282); in 1808 Olivier redescribed it as 
 Chrysomela scutellaris (Ent. Hist. Nat., Coleop. Vol. VI, p. 771), and Harris also 
 described the species as new, using the name Hispa suturalis, which was first intro- 
 duced by the Rev. F. V. Melsheimer in his Catalogue of the Coleoptera of Pennsyl- 
 vania, published in 1806 (p. 15, no. 308) , and seems to be based on an erroneous 
 identification of our species with the Hispa suturalis of Fabricius. 
 
73 
 
 laid being milk white, with the shell extremely thin and pliable. A very fine net- 
 like sculpture is barely visible even under a strong magnifying glass. 
 
 Tlie larva. — The more obvious characters by which the full-grown larva (fig. 3, b) 
 may be distinguished are as follows: 
 
 Body depressed (but not flattened), elongate, very little tapering posteriorly, gla- 
 brous, color yellowish white, the head, larger portions of first thoracic segment, 
 upper side of anal segment, and the legs brownish or blackish. Head subquadrate, 
 about half as wide as the first thoracic segment, brown, shining, impunctate, with 
 a deeply impressed median line. First thoracic segment more than twice as wide 
 as long, a little longer than the head, distinctly bisinuate at the anterior margin, 
 sides strongly rounded; a large brown spot divided by a narrow median line occupies 
 the greater portion of the upper surface, but does not reach the posterior and side 
 margins. Second thoracic segment a little shorter, but wider than the first, sides 
 very strongly arched but not gibbous, surface uniformly whitish; third thoracic seg- 
 ment equal to the second. First abdominal segment a little shorter than the last 
 thoracic one and also a little narrower, but produced on each side into a triangular, 
 semitransparent tubercle, capped with a more horny point which in its turn termi- 
 nates in a short spine. Second, third, and fourth abdominal segments equal to the 
 first; on the following segments (which are slightly longer than the first) the lateral 
 tubercle is directed gradually more backward; anal segment unarmed, shorter and 
 much narrower than the preceding, subtruncate at tip, its upper side being of a 
 brown color. 
 
 The general color of the dorsal surface is not uniform, but variegated by the trans- 
 parency of the skin as the fat corpuscles of the body appear on the surface as yellowish- 
 white spots, the rest of the body being grayish white. The sculpture of the dorsal 
 surface (excepting head and anal segments, which are smooth) consists of a very reg- 
 ular fine granulation and besides this of vague impressions arranged as follows: On 
 the first thoracic segment an undulating impression each side on the disk; on the 
 two following thoracic segments a long transverse median impression accompanied 
 each side posteriorly by a foveiform impression; on the abdominal segments a trans- 
 verse median impression and another oblique one each side, causing the spiracles to 
 be placed upon a kind of blunt tubercle. 
 
 The ventral surface is colored like the dorsal and only the head and median por- 
 tion of the first thoracic segment are brown, while the general sculpture is like that 
 of the upper side, legs being brownish or blackish, stout, and widely separated. 
 
 There are nine pairs of rather conspicuous stigmata, all visible from above and sit- 
 uated as follows: One pair at the anterior angle of the second thoracic segment, one 
 pair on each of the first seven abdominal segments, each stigma being at the base of 
 the lateral tubercle a little before the middle of the segment; the ninth pair is situ- 
 ated on the dorsal side of the anal segment, The thoracic and anal stigmata are 
 larger than the intermediate ones. a 
 
 o It is interesting to observe that most leaf-mining larvae of different families or 
 even of different orders of insects exhibit a strong uniformity in general appear- 
 ance, viz, a more or less depressed body, the head being much narrower than the 
 first thoracic joint, while all joints of the body (excepting head and anal joint) are 
 strongly arched at the sides and often tuberculate or even spinose. Thus the larvae 
 of our leaf-mining Buprestidae (genera Brachys and Pachyscelus) and Rhyncho- 
 phora (genus Orchestes) have an unmistakable resemblance to our Hispine larvae, 
 and all of these agree in shape with the numerous Tineid leaf-miners. 
 
 There can be no mistake about the number and position of the stigmata, and the 
 account given by Chapuis & Candeze appears to be based upon a wrong interpreta- 
 tion of Harris's figures, entirely ignoring the correct description of that author. 
 
74 
 
 The young larva* differ from the mature ones by being more con- 
 tracted, thus appearing more strongly tuberculate at the sides. More- 
 over, very young larvae are entirely whitish. 
 
 The pupa (fig. 3, c) is at first whitish, but soon assumes a uniform rich honey color. 
 In general shape it resembles the lull-grown larva, though a little shorter and some- 
 what more convex. The head has become more convex and especially wider in 
 comparison with the first thoracic segment; the second and third thoracic segments 
 have of course changed the appearance of the wing pads, which are longitudinally 
 striate and bent downward along the sides of the body, resting between the second 
 and third pairs of legs and reaching with their extremities to the posterior end of 
 the first ventral segment. The abdomen still show T s the lateral tubercles so con- 
 spicuous in the larva and these tubercles are furnished each with two or three 
 stiff bristles. The edges of the median transverse impressions on the dorsal sur- 
 face of the abdominal joints of the larva are in the pupa much sharper, ridge-like, 
 and also furnished with sparse bristles. The fourth abdominal spiracle is replaced 
 by a long stout spine directed backward. On the ventral surface the armature of spines 
 is even more conspicuous than on the dorsal, each segment having a sharply raised 
 transverse line which is sinuate and more raised at the middle and there furnished 
 with five or six setiferous tubercles. On the penultimate segment the transverse 
 line is not sinuated and is furnished with eight tubercles, the two median ones being 
 much less prominent than the lateral ones. . The anal segment is also furnished with 
 two obsolete transverse lines and with a few inconspicuous tubercles. 
 
 This array of bristles and tubercles enables the pupa to move rapidly 
 forward or backward by a wriggling motion of the abdomen. The 
 power of locomotion exhibited in this pupa is really astonishing; in 
 fact, the pupa is much better afoot, so to speak, than the larva. a 
 
 The mine produced by the larva has not hitherto been described so 
 that it ma3 r be distinguished from the mines produced by the various 
 leaf-mining Tineidse which are usually working in company with it. 
 As already stated, the beetle larva consumes the whole of the paren- 
 chyma within its mine, thus causing the mine to be equally visible on 
 both sides of the leaf, whereas in the case of the Tineida? the larva 
 destro} T s only a thin layer of the upper portion of the parenchyma, 
 causing the mine to be invisible on the underside of the leaf. The 
 Tineid larva very neatly separates the epidermis from the parenchyma 
 so that not a particle of this last is left adhering to the skin-like 
 epidermis forming the roof of the mine, and this roof is of a uni- 
 form pale buff color strongly contrasting with the green of the leaf. 
 On the other hand, the larvae of the beetle accomplish their work much 
 less carefully; numerous small particles of the parenchyma are left 
 adhering to the epidermis, and consequently the latter forms a much 
 thicker covering to the mine than in the case of the Tineidse. The 
 color of the mine is a pale green slightly tinged with brown, its surface 
 
 The power of locomotion in the pupa becomes still more remarkable if we take 
 into consideration that the pupa, which always remains within the mine, has really no 
 occasion or opportunity to make use of it, unless w r e except the possibility that by 
 wriggling about in their mines the pupae might succeed in evading parasitic or pre- 
 daceous attack. 
 
75 
 
 being lightly roughened and never so smooth as in the lepidopterous 
 mines. In outline the beetle-larva mine is neither uniformly rounded 
 nor provided with finger-like processes, but irregularly undulated. 
 As soon as the larva has left the mine or has changed to pupa, the 
 affected part of the leaf dries up and assumes the dismal brown color 
 already alluded to. 
 
 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
 
 This species is native to North America, and apparently partial to 
 the upper austral life zone, but its full distribution does not appear 
 to have been clearly defined beyond published statements that it occurs 
 in New England and the Middle, Southern, and Western States. 
 Northward, we know of its occurrence in Massachusetts, Connecticut, 
 and Canada, but it does not appear to have ever been taken in Michi- 
 gan, a State which has been rather thoroughly collected over by Messrs. 
 Schwarz and Hubbard. In Missouri, although numerous collectors 
 and observers have made collections in that State, the species appears 
 to be rare, although taken in two localities. It will thus be seen that 
 although the southern and western range is practically limited by the 
 States of Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri southward, and by Mis- 
 souri also westward, the precise limits of its range remain to be 
 determined. 
 
 In his Check List of the Forest Trees of the United States (Bui. 17, 
 Div. Forestry, U. S. Department Agr. . 1898, p. 82) Mr. George B. 
 Sudworth speaks as follows regarding the distribution of Robinia 
 jpseud<irtic'nt : 
 
 Range. — From Pennsylvania (on the Appalachian Mountains from Locust Ridge 
 in Marion County) to northern Georgia. Widely naturalized through cultivation 
 and other agencies throughout the United States east of the Rocky Mountains; possi- 
 bly indigenous in parts of Arkansas ( Crowley s Ridge, etc.) and eastern Indian Ter- 
 ritory; also in the Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee (Sevier County). 
 
 From the entomological record it would seem, therefore, at least at 
 the present writing, that this locust Hispid has a more limited range 
 of distribution than its food plant, a fact which is not infrequently 
 noticed among insects and which obtains also in another species of 
 Hispidae, viz, the trumpet-creeper leaf-miner, Ocbotoma plicatula, to 
 be considered later on in the present article. 
 
 The following is a list of localities from which the species has been 
 received at this office or is known to the writer or recorded: 
 
 Massachusetts; Connecticut; Allegheny, York, Pa.; Coney Island, Rockaway 
 Beach, Yaphank, L. I., X. Y.; New Jersey (throughout the State — Smith); Ten- 
 nallytown, Washington, D. C. ; Oakland, Bladensburg, Glen Echo, Cabin John, 
 Marshall Hall, Md.; Cherry dale, Rossi yn, Ya. ; Monongalia, Wood, Hancock, 
 Harrison, Upshur, Tyler, Preston, and Tucker counties, Morgantown, Kanawha, 
 Clarksburg, W. Ya. ; southern Ohio, particularly Brown, Clermont, and Hamilton 
 counties; Nazareth, Frankfort, Ky. ; Cadet, Louisiana, Mo.; Indianapolis, Ind. 
 (Blatchley). 
 
76 
 
 INJURIOUS OCCURRENCES IN 1898. 
 
 Frequent inquiry has been made concerning this species and the 
 injury committed by it, but it will be sufficient for present purposes 
 merely to recount the occurrences of the year 1898 as an example of 
 what is liable to happen any year. 
 
 May LQ beetles were observed in a raspberry patch at Tennally town, 
 1). C, feeding* upon the upper surface of the leaves. July 1 we 
 received a communication from Sister Marie, Nazareth, Ky., about 
 injury to locust in that locality. July 22 Maj. Henry E. Alvord, of 
 this Department, transmitted specimens of locust leaves from Fairfax 
 County, Va., with accompanying statement that all locust trees over 
 an area of several square miles in that county were at that time appar- 
 ently dead, looking as if a fire had swept through the country, but 
 without actually consuming the foliage. Major Alvord was interested 
 to the extent of 300 acres, canning a very large locust growth of 
 considerable value. On this tract not a tree could be found, either old 
 or young, protected or exposed, that was not in bad condition. The 
 cause of the affection of the plants was not at first attributed to insects, 
 but believed to have developed as a result of a recent period of excep- 
 tional dryness and heat, a remark which applies to much injury to 
 locust that is caused by this leaf -miner. Ravages were so extensive, 
 also, that it was practically out of the question to attempt any general 
 remedy or means of prevention. August 1 we received from Mr. J. E. 
 Herbert, York, Pa., specimens of leaves showing injury by this species 
 and attributed to blight or rust. Injury was stated to be general 
 along the Susquehanna River, in York County, where every locust 
 tree seemed to be affected. 
 
 HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF THE SPECIES. 
 
 The natural history of the leaf-mining locust beetle was first made 
 public in an article "Upon the Economy of Some American Species 
 of Hispa," by Dr. Harris, printed in 1835 (Boston Journ. Nat. Hist., 
 Vol. I, pp. 141-151), an account which, until comparatively recent 
 years, constituted the only source of information regarding the early 
 stages of the Hispini. It is noticeable that neither Harris nor subse- 
 quent authors of early times mentioned this species as particularly 
 troublesome, the first instance of observed injury having been pub- 
 lished in 1868 in an editorial answer to a correspondent of the American 
 Entomologist (Vol. I, p. 58). The injury in question was at Frank- 
 fort, Ky. , and it was stated that the beetles had eaten the leaves of 
 black locust in that section so severely as to kill the trees in some 
 x cases, and generally to injure their growth and appearance. It was 
 pointed out in the editorial reply that the principal damage was doubt- 
 less due to the insidious work of the larvae in the pulpy internal sub- 
 
77 
 
 stance of the leaf, rather than to the feeding of the beetles on the 
 leaves. 
 
 The nature of the damage effected by this insect is well illustrated 
 in an article which appeared in Volume III of the American Ento- 
 mologist (pp. 59-61) by V. T. Chambers. Injury by this species is 
 stated to have been rather general in northern Kentucky. 44 By the 
 1st of August the groves look as if a tire had swept over them; and on 
 examining the leaves in many groves almost every leaflet will be found 
 to contain a 'mine,' as the burrow of the larva is technically called, 
 and many of them will contain three or four, while the imago or 
 mature insect of JSispa suturalis will be found in great numbers feed- 
 ing externally on the leaves.*' 
 
 About half of the injury A\as attributed to the leaf-mining locust 
 beetle, the remainder to other species of leaf-miners. 
 
 The bibliography of this species has been brought together up to 
 1896 in Dr. Lintner's Twelfth Report on the Insects of the State of 
 New York for that year (pp. 264, 265), and the subject need not be 
 entered into here in detail. It should be mentioned, however, that 
 the ravages of this species had assumed sufficient proportions in West 
 Virginia to call for special investigations on the part of Dr. A. D. 
 Hopkins, these studies having been begun in 1890, the results being pub- 
 lished in a short article in Bulletin No. 16 (p. 87). In the Canadian 
 Entomologist for 1896 (p. 248) the same writer mentions the destruc- 
 tiveness of this species in AVest Virginia, adding some new food plants, 
 and in Bulletin No. 9, n. s. (p. 20), the junior author called attention 
 for the first time to the fact that this species feeds also upon herbaceous 
 plants, and that the larvae develop in the leaves of soy bean. Other 
 accounts, which appeared with and since the year 1896, contain little 
 more than mention by State entomologists of ravages made by this 
 insect in their respective States, all of which have been briefly brought 
 together in the introductory chapter on this species. Exceptions are 
 Dr. Lintner's article previously cited and a column article by Prof. E. D. 
 Sanderson on page 672 of American Gardening for September 30, 1899. 
 
 FOOD PLANTS. 
 
 This species forms a rather interesting example of an insect with a 
 well-known favorite food plant, which will also feed, even in times 
 when this plant is available, on numerous other forms of vegetation, 
 both related and otherwise. 
 
 The prime, and no doubt the original, food of the larva and beetle is, 
 of course, common locust {Hobi/nia pst udaccudd)^ but there is no doubt 
 that larvae could develop equally well in the leaves of other species of 
 the same genus, and perhaps of most other trees of the same family. 
 On the grounds of the Department of Agriculture at Washington the 
 
78 
 
 insect has been found in about equal abundance on various cultivated 
 varieties of this locust, and the larva has also been observed in the 
 leaves of false indigo (Amorpha fruticosci). Beetles are not infre- 
 quently met with upon various other trees, and more especially oak, 
 but the larva has not been found until recently on any other plants 
 than the two above specified. Tn the year 1880 this species was stated 
 by Dr. John H. Warder (American Ent., Vol. Ill, p. 151) to be devour- 
 ing the foliage of Siberian crab apples, and rendering it quite shabby, 
 other forms of apple of the immediate vicinity escaping attack. The 
 Crataegus tommtosa and some quinces appeared eroded in the same 
 manner, and, although the insect was not seen, the injury was proba- 
 bly due to this species. The same correspondent mentions the young 
 leaves of red oak (Q Kerens rubra) and European white oak (Q. pedun- 
 culata) as having been attacked, while nine or ten other species of oak 
 observed escaped injury. It seems probable that the larva does not 
 develop in oak, or in other plants outside the order to which the locust 
 belongs, the Leguminosre. The leaves of TJlmus americana, or white 
 elm, were also stated by Dr. Warder to have been eaten." The beetles 
 have been observed by Dr. Hopkins (Bui. 32, W. Va. Agric. Ex. Sta,, 
 1893, p. 202) attacking beech, apple, wild cheriy, and Wistaria leaves; 
 as also birch and hawthorn (Can. Ent., Vol. XXVIII, p. 248). Dur- 
 ing the summer of 1897 the writer observed this species feeding upon 
 the foliage of red clover, which grew under locust trees upon which the 
 larvae had originally fed, on the leaves of hog peanut (Falcata com<»«i) 
 growing under locust trees, while larvae were found and reared on the 
 large hairy leaves of soy beans on the grounds of this Department about 
 200 yards from where locust trees were growing (Bui. 9, n. s., Div. 
 Entom., pp. 22, 23). 
 
 LIFE HISTORY AND HABITS. 
 
 The heetle. — In the vicinit}^ of Washington the beetle makes its first 
 appearance as soon as the leaves of the locust tree have fully devel- 
 oped, usually about the beginning of May, and is then to be seen 
 without interruption throughout the summer, until the first half of 
 September,^ being quite abundant from the first week of July to near 
 the middle of August. During 1902 the beetles of the first new gen- 
 eration began to develop July 7 and had transformed for the most 
 part by the 12th of that month. 
 
 The beetle is usually seen, apparently motionless, upon the surface 
 of the leaves, but upon close inspection it will be found busily engaged 
 
 a Owing to the confusion in the scientific nomenclature of our locust Hispid, these 
 other records are not quite reliable, and may refer either to Odontota rubra or to 0. 
 nervosa, as these species are now known. 
 
 &Dr. Hopkins has recorded the occurrence of 0. dorsalis in West Virginia as late 
 as October 3, but does not state whether the beetles were feeding at this time. 
 
79 
 
 in feeding*. Early in the season, when the leaves are still tender, the 
 beetle eats small oblong holes in the leaves, but later in the season it 
 asually leaves the lower half intact and the upper portion finely skele- 
 tonized. At any rate, the damage done by the beetles, even when they 
 arc very numerous, is trifling when compared with that inflicted by the 
 larva. The beetle is a slow walker and apparently dislikes to move 
 about without cogent reason, but if disturbed it takes wing rapidly 
 and is capable of sustained flight for long distances. During rainy 
 weather, at night time, and during the act of oviposition the beetle 
 is to be met with on the underside of the leave-. 
 
 Hibernation. — There can be no doubt that the perfect beetle alone 
 hibernates. It seeks winter quarters rather early in the season, some 
 time in September. During mild winter days a specimen may occa- 
 sionally be found under accumulated leaves at or near the base of 
 locust trees, but even for an experienced entomologist it is not an eas;v 
 task to find them in their sheltered retreats. 
 
 Mode of oviposition. — Dr. Harris's description of the eggs of Hispini 
 (Treatise, etc., Flint ed., p. 120) does not apply to this locust beetle, and 
 appears to have been made from dried cabinet specimens. The fact is 
 that in our species the eggs are not laid on the upper side of the leaf but 
 always on the underside, and. further, that they are not laid sinsrly but 
 in masses, each composed of from three to five eggs, which are glued 
 together by a sticky substance and partially covered with an excremen- 
 titious secretion. We succeeded in July in partially observing the act 
 of oviposition. which may be described as follows: One egg was already 
 deposited, representing a somewhat flattened, short, oval object of 
 yellowish-pink color fastened to the leaf by its flat side. The female 
 beetle was quietly resting with the forepart of her body much erected 
 and the last abdominal joints covering the egg. while the tip of the elytra 
 touched the surface of the leaf beyond the egg. After a while the tip 
 of the abdomen was bent toward the egg and a yellowish-pink semifluid 
 matter was excreted; then an egg appeared at the genital opening, but 
 was several times retracted and again protruded, when finally, with a 
 sudden effort, the beetle moved its abdomen a little backward and 
 deposited the egg so that with its end it rested upon the leaf and with 
 its greater portion over the first egg. Then the beetle rested for about 
 two minutes, when the same process was repeated. The act of oviposi- 
 tion itself takes only a fraction of a second. When the last egg has been 
 laid the beetle makes a sudden movement forward, sweeping with the 
 tip of the abdomen the upper side of the egg mass and discharging at 
 the same time a large quantity of fluid fecal matter of dirty-yellow 
 color, which <oon hardens and darkens. 
 
 From this mode of oviposition the form of an egg mass can be readily 
 understood. Since the second and the following eggs each overlap 
 the preceding egg, but at the same time touch with one end the surface 
 
80 
 
 of tin 1 Leaf, it is evident that each egg is placed somewhat more ver- 
 tically than the preceding one. But as there are never more than five 
 eggs in a single egg mass, the last of these is still placed obliquely, 
 and the egg mass when viewed from the side slopes very gradually in 
 the direction toward the first egg while it ends more abruptly at the 
 last one. Owing to the glutinous and excremental coverings the indi- 
 vidual eggs can not be distinguished from above, but on the sides and 
 t'roin beneath, where the glutinous covering is very thin or absent, the\ T 
 may be plainly distinguished. The glutinous substance appears to 
 possess some caustic properties, for the place of an egg mass can always 
 be seen on the upper side of the leaf as a small brown spot. It hardens 
 very rapidly, and becomes so tough and firmly adherent to the eggs 
 that these can not be taken out from a mass without destroying them. 
 
 The duration of the egg state appears to be very variable, most of 
 those which were gathered (in July) when apparently quite freshly 
 laid hatching in from six to eight days, while others of the same 
 batch hatched nearly a week later, but in every instance all the eggs 
 of one egg mass hatch nearly at the same time, or at least within the 
 space of a few hours, the first-laid egg usually hatching first. 
 
 The larva <hkI its work. — The young larvae invariably break through 
 the egg shell on the underside of the egg mass and at once begin to 
 gnaw through the epidermis of the leaf without leaving the protecting 
 egg mass. Then they proceed to eat out the inside of the leaf, leaving 
 only the epidermis of both sides of the leaf intact, thus forming what 
 in scientific terminology is known as a tentiform mine. There is only 
 one entrance to the mine, that made by the first-hatched larva, the other 
 larva? entering the inside of the leaf by the same hole. Thus from 
 three to five young larvae are usually found within the same mine, 
 which rapidly grows through their united efforts. In fact, within a 
 few hours four young larvae had hollowed out about one-fourth of a 
 large leaf, and it is evident that a single leaf is not sufficient to nourish 
 the larvae during their life duration. Moreover, the larvae have the 
 habit of hollowing out not more than one-half or at most two-thirds 
 of a leaf. Thus in from tw T o to four da} T s after hatching (the time 
 varying according to the state of the weather, the number of the 
 larva 1 , and the size of the leaf) the larvae leave their original mine, 
 wander off along the leaf stems, often to a considerable distance and 
 to another twig, and form new mines, but this time each larva lives 
 by itself. There are never two separate mines on one and the same 
 leaf, and only once were two nearly full-grown larvae found in the 
 same mine. In captivity- this process of migration was repeated as 
 often as the leaves began to wilt, but we did not succeed in ascertain- 
 ing the number of these changes in nature, owing to the difficulty in 
 following the individual larvae in their migrations, which appear to 
 take place at night. This much has been ascertained, that at least 
 
81 
 
 some larvae change their habitation three times, but whether all larvae 
 have the same habit, or whether they change of tener than three times, 
 is uncertain. However that may be, it will be seen that the damage 
 inflicted by the larvae is greatly increased by these migrations, for 
 every leaf attacked is doomed to destruction. 
 
 The duration of the larva state appears to be quite variable. In 
 captivity no larva was actually carried through from the time of 
 hatching to pupation, but from observations in the field it is pretty 
 clear that this period, even in the height of the season, is never less 
 than two weeks, and probably lasts on the average three weeks, being 
 somewhat longer in the beginning of the season than in midsummer. 
 
 The pupa. — The pupa state is assumed within the mine and lasts from 
 six and a half to ten days, after which the perfect beetle breaks its way 
 through the brittle epidermis of the leaf. 
 
 At 11 a. m. of August 5 a larva taken from its mine was found to 
 have transformed to pupa within two or three minutes, the change 
 having taken place while it was being taken from one room to another 
 and returned. August 12 the imago was found fully colored early in 
 the morning, the pupal period having been passed in about six and a 
 half days. Temperature, 75°-80° F. 
 
 The number of generations annually. — This is a point in the natural 
 history of the insect w T hich has not hitherto been clearly made out. 
 Dr. Harris (Ins. Inj. to Veg., Flint ed., p. 121) is evidently in favor 
 of a single generation, and we have no doubt that this will hold true 
 for the more northern States; perhaps elsewhere. In the latitude of 
 Washington the insect, as has been stated, appears in May, one month 
 earlier than in Massachusetts, and is then to be found in all stages 
 throughout the summer, until the beginning of August, when egg 
 laying ceases. It is therefore evident that individuals produced from 
 eggs deposited early in the season developed to the mature insect early 
 enough to produce a second generation in the same manner, but no 
 second generation has as yet been segregated. 
 
 NATURAL ENEMIES. 
 
 Of nonparasitic enemies we have observed at Washington the wheel 
 bug {ArUus a cristatus), which appears to be particularly attracted by 
 the presence of the Odontota. 5 The young larvae of the wheel bug 
 may frequently be observed slowly walking over the leaves until they 
 have found a mine inhabited by the Odontota. This found, the wheel 
 bug deliberately pierces with its beak the Odontota larva through the 
 
 « Formerly Prionidus. 
 
 ''The abundance of the wheel bug on the Agricultural grounds on the trees infested 
 by the Odontota is in striking contrast to its comparative scarcity on the elm trees 
 infested with the imported elm leaf-beetle ( GcderuceUa luteola) and which are in close 
 proximity to the locust trees. 
 3622— No. 38—04 6 
 
82 
 
 epidermis of the leaf. Should a beetle be met by the wheel bug it is 
 at once lifted in the air on the tip of the bug's proboscis. 
 
 In its earlier stages the leaf -mining locust beetle appears to be well 
 protected from the attacks of true parasites, the eggs being inclosed 
 in an armor-like covering, and the pupa remaining out of sight in the 
 snug retreat of the mine, but still we have reared in a single season 
 no less than four different species of parasites, and Dr. Harris men- 
 tions and describes still another species {Ichneumon hisp<z) which has 
 thus far remained unknown to us. These four species of parasites are 
 as follows: 
 
 Trichogramma odontotse How. — This species was reared quite commonly from the 
 egg masses of this beetle. In cases of parasitism all the eggs of an egg mass were 
 generally ]>arasitized, and only in a few instances were two or three parasitized eggs 
 found where the rest produced larvae. The fly emerges usually from the underside of 
 the egg and gnaws its way through the leaf. Dr. Howard described this and the 
 other three species which will be mentioned below, in Volume I of Entomologica 
 Americana (pp. 117-118). 
 
 Derostenus primus How . — A few specimens of this chalcis fly were obtained from 
 the egg masses of the Odontota. The breeding of one of these species from the 
 peculiar pupae of a Eulophus would seem to indicate that it may in all cases be a 
 secondary parasite, and that the specimens bred from the egg of the Odontota may 
 have fed in the larva state upon the larvae or pupae of Trichogramma odontota. 
 
 Sympiezus uroplatte How. — Upon opening the mines we observed in a few instances 
 a whitish hymenopterous larva feeding externally on the Odontota larva and having 
 already devoured the posterior half of its body. The host larva was of course dead 
 when thus found. Whether or not this parasite in its earlier stage lives within the 
 Odontota larva has not been ascertained. It appears to be very rare, and of the 
 three specimens observed only one was raised to the perfect insect. It formed a 
 naked black pupa within the mine. 
 
 Spilochalcis odontotx How. — This parasite was observed emerging from the Odontota 
 pupa, and no doubt lives as larva within that of the Odontota. The parasitized 
 pupae can be distinguished from the healthy ones by being darker and rigid. Upon 
 opening such pupae the parasite larva, apparently full-grown, was found to occupy 
 the empty cavity, but the specimens thus disturbed died without changing to pupa. 
 Only one winged parasite was obtained from a pupa which was left undisturbed in 
 the mine. 
 
 The Ichneumon hispx described by Harris was obtained by him from the pupa of 
 Odontota quadrata (=rosea) and 0. scutellaris (=dorsalis). It may belong to the 
 Braconidae. Harris's description was published in 1835 (Boston Journ. Nat. Hist., 
 Vol. I, p. 150). 
 
 REMEDIES. 
 
 From what has been said in regard to the feeding habits of the leaf- 
 mining locust beetle it is obvious that whatever of a remedial nature 
 is employed must be directed toward the beetles, since the larvae 
 are completely hidden in their mines in the leaves during their 
 \ short lifetime, and the eggs and pupse are similarly protected from 
 contact poisons. The beetles can be killed by means of the arsenicals 
 
83 
 
 administered in the form of a spray a in the same manner as for the 
 imported elm leaf-beetle. 
 
 The leaves of locusts are so smooth that they are apt to shod an 
 ordinary spray of Paris green, but this can be obviated by the addi- 
 tion of glucose or molasses to the spraying mixture, or by the more 
 adhesive arsenate of lead. It should be unnecessary to state that the 
 proper time to spray is upon the first appearance of the beetles in May 
 or June, according to the localities infested, that the hectics may he 
 destroyed before egg-laying commences. 
 
 Small groves can be protected by jarring the beetles from the trees 
 into sheets prepared for the purpose and saturated with kerosene in 
 the same manner as in use against the plum curculio and other beetles 
 which drop to the ground and feign death when disturbed. The best 
 time for this remedy is in the early morning, while the beetle- are 
 still somewhat sluggish. This method could only be employed with 
 benetit before the beetles have oviposited, and with the cooperation 
 of neighbors who possess similar trees, or in localities where the 
 locust trees are isolated, not surrounded by others growing wild. 
 This manner of collecting the beetles, to be effective, would have to be 
 practiced every few days so long as the beetles continue to be attracted 
 to the trees. 
 
 Where only a few trees in yards or lawns are to be protected, even 
 more simple mechanical methods could be employed, such as jarring 
 the beetles into inverted umbrellas and picking off the egg masses 
 before these hatch. The egg masses are not difficult of detection and 
 are sufficiently conspicuous by reason of their size and color to be 
 easily seen by looking for them from beneath the branches toward the 
 light. 
 
 In connection with any remedy that might be employed, clean culture 
 must always be practiced, which includes the destruction of all volun- 
 teer locust growth in the immediate vicinity of trees planted for shade 
 and ornament, and the prompt raking up and destruction of the locust 
 leaves and other debris about the trees in the early autumn. 
 
 The protection of extensive woody tracts in which locust predomi- 
 nates is practically out of the question. 
 
 THE LEAF-IUIXIXO LINDEN BEETLE. 
 ( Odontota rubra Web. ) 
 This is also one of the specie- observed by Harris. He states 
 that he discovered the larva' in 1827 and afterwards feeding upon the 
 
 a Instructions for the application of the arsenical poisons against the ehn leaf-beetle 
 are given on pages 3 and 4 of Circular No. 8 of this Division, as also on pages 10-12 
 of Farmers' Bulletin Xo. 99; and since both of these publications can readily be 
 obtained by .application t> this Department, i:o further instructions need be given 
 bere. 
 
84 
 
 parenchyma of a Leaf of white oak. A description of the larva is 
 given, \\ ith biologic notes (1. c). Since that time this species (fig. 4) 
 has been found to attack numerous other plants, and the writer has 
 already expressed the opinion that the foliage of linden, or basswood 
 (TUia americana), is the favorite food tree. Larva 1 and adults, the 
 former mining the leaves and the latter feeding on the lower surface 
 of the same, can be found in abundance at Ithaca and elsewhere in 
 New York during the month of June, the imago occurring as late as 
 September (Proc. Ent, Soc. Wash., Vol. II, pp. 266, 267). 
 
 Among other food plants are English filbert and orange, the imago 
 having been found occasionally attacking the leaves of the last men- 
 tioned plant in Florida by the late H. G. Hubbard. It is more par- 
 ticularly, however, as an enemy to apple that this species has received 
 mention by Harris (Ins. Inj. to Veg., 1863 ed., pp. 120, 121). 
 Chokecherry {Primus virginiand) is also recorded as the food plant 
 by Harris, as also the shadbush or service berry 
 (Amelanch ier canadensis). 
 
 It has been called the rosy Hispa, from one of 
 the Latin names (Hispa rosea Web.). 
 
 According to published statements the beetle 
 makes its appearance during the latter part of 
 May, and soon afterwards deposits its eggs on the 
 leaves of the trees which form its larval food 
 plants. The eggs are described as small, round, 
 and of a blackish color, fastened to the surface of 
 the leaf either singly or in groups of four or five. 
 
 In most respects the life history of this insect 
 appears to resemble very closely that of the leaf- 
 mining locust beetle. Fortunately it seldom oc- 
 curs in abundance and has not often been re- 
 ported, to the writers knowledge, as having been 
 the source of any considerable trouble. The experience of Mr. W. L. 
 Devereaux at Clyde, N. Y., cited in the Fifth Report of the United 
 States Entomological Commission (p. 480), that this insect is a very 
 conspicuous pest in that vicinity, u destroying the entire foliage of 
 every basswood in many forests except trees of great height," appears 
 to be unique. 
 
 Concerning this species Mr. William Beutenmuller writes in 1890 
 that it "mines the leaves of apple and linden." The perfect insect may 
 also be found on white birch, horn bean, cherry, Juneberry (Amelan- 
 chier), and Pyrus arbutifolia (Entom. Amer., Vol. VI, p. 178). 
 
 Fig. A.—Odontota rubra: 
 beetle — about seven 
 times enlarged (origi- 
 nal). 
 
 Odontota nervosa Panz. 
 
 This common little species, which has also received rather frequent 
 mention under its two synonyms, in&qualis Web. and rosea Web., is 
 
85 
 
 mentioned by Chambers (Canadian Ent., Vol. IV, 1872, p. 125) as 
 mining the leaves of Eupatorium ageratoides, one of the bonesets. a 
 During the season of 1890 it was stated by Dr. Hopkins (Bui. 16, 
 W. Va. Agric. Ex. Sta., p. 88) to be "found quite plentifully with 
 the locust Hispa feeding upon the surface of the leaf [of locust]," 
 while in Bulletin No. 32 of the same station (p. 202), the same writer 
 states that this species is "very common on yellow locust leaves; also 
 feeds on apple leaves," recording capture of the adults from April 30 
 to July 16 in Monongalia, Wood. Hancock, and Jackson counties. 
 During 1902 the writer also observed it on locust in Maryland, and 
 reared the beetles from mines in the leaves. There is also a Divisional 
 record of the rearing of this leaf -beetle on a species of aster in the 
 District of Columbia, July 29. September 1, 1899, Mr. Th. Pergande 
 reared it also from Cassia nietitdns. 
 
 A pale variety or race was found by Messrs. Hubbard & Schwarz 
 feeding in great abundance on the leaves of Bobinia neomexicana in the 
 Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona during the months of May 
 and June, but no trace of either eggs or larvae could be seen on this 
 plant. 
 
 Odontota bicolor 01. 
 
 This species is not rare in the District of Columbia and vicinity, but 
 the writer has frequently sought for its mines on various wild plants 
 without success. It remained for Mr. Th. Pergande to ascertain its 
 true habits. The larva mines the leaves of grasses, Mr. Pergande 
 having found it in the leaves of Panicum macrocarpon from June 18 
 to 26, 1899, at Cabin John Bridge, Md. The first beetle issued July 1. 
 The beetles have been collected by the writer in greatest number dur- 
 ing the second and third weeks of June. 
 
 Odontota horni Sm. 
 
 Mr. H. W. Wenzel has found this species on Cracca [Tephrosia] 
 vvrginiana, a papilionaceous plant commonly known as goat's-rue, at 
 Da Costa, Atlantic County, N. J. (Ent. News, Vol. V, p. 41). It has 
 been found also near Washington, D. C, on the same plant. 
 
 Odontota notata 01. 
 
 This species was also taken by Mr. Wenzel on Tephrosia virgin ana 
 with O. Jwmi previously mentioned. 
 
 It is common near Washington, D. C, in Virginia, and the penir*sula 
 of Florida in localities where Tephrosia is absent. Mr. Scl.warz 
 thinks that the food plant will prove to be a species of Solidago. 
 
 "Mr. Beuttenmiiller (Ent, Am., VI, 1890, p. 178) states that he reared this species 
 from Eupatorium and asters. 
 
86 
 
 Ol)( IN T< VTA OA! iIFORNIOA Horn. 
 
 Tlif larval food plant of this species, Ceanothus integerrimus, has 
 been placed on record in Volume V of Insect Life (p. 269) from rear- 
 ings made by Mr. Coquillett while agent for this office in California. 
 He found it mining the leaves of this plant, and reared the adult in 
 September. 
 
 A Chaleidid was also reared from the larva' of this species. 
 
 Odontota scapularis 01. 
 
 Nothing appears to be recorded of the food habits of this species 
 further than that it was captured on a species of hazel (Corylus) in 
 Kansas (E. A. Popenoe, Trans. Kan. Acad. Science, Vol. V, 1877, p. 36). 
 The beetle has also been taken on Solidago in and about the District 
 of Columbia, but the larva' have apparently not yet been identified. 
 
 Microrhopala vittata Fab. 
 
 This is one of the common species which are to be found northward, 
 and was observed by Harris in 1833 on the leaves of Solidago "Idevi 
 gata"=semper / virens, or seaside golden-rod. The account in question 
 includes a description and figure of the larva, as also the mature 
 beetle. What were presumed to be the eggs were also described. 
 
 The larva, which has been observed on other species of Solidago, 
 including lanceolata and canadensis, forms blister-like mines in the 
 leaves much like those of other species of the same group. This 
 insect appears to be most abundant upon plants growing near the sea- 
 shore and along the river banks, and is quite abundant along the coast 
 of Massachusetts, Long Island, and New Jersey. It is common but 
 not nearly so abundant along the Potomac River and its branches in 
 and near the city of Washington. 
 
 The eggs have been found near the tips of the leaves on the lower 
 surface. They were covered with a brown substance evidently excre- 
 mental, and mixed with the hairs of the leaf. 
 
 A female was noticed which had just deposited two eggs, May 13, 
 at Rosslyn, Va. She was at this time quietly resting, head downward 
 with the tip of her abdomen just touching the eggs. 
 
 This species has also been found parasitized by a Chaleidid. 
 
 Microrhopala xerene JSfewm. 
 
 This attractive little species occurs in considerable abundance in the 
 vicinity of the District of Columbia and has been given some study by 
 the author. It appears to have a somewhat greater diversity of food 
 habits than the innoxious species which have been previously con- 
 
87 
 
 sidered, this being especially true of the larva, which has been found 
 mining the leaves of several genera of Composite, although different 
 species of golden-rod appear to constitute its principal food. The 
 plants upon which the larvae have been observed to make their mines 
 and from which the beetles have been reared include: Solidago cana- 
 densis, C3esia,jtmcea, et al. ; Boltonia asteroides; Sericocarpus asteroides, 
 or toothed white-topped aster, and several species of the true aster, or 
 starwort. So far as observed, this species has confined its attacks to 
 wild plants, but as the Boltonia mentioned and many asters are culti- 
 vated it will probably be found to attack some of these in time. 
 
 The beetles eat out little elliptical holes in the leaves of their food 
 plants after the manner of the commoner M. vittata. Frequently 
 three or four beetles have been observed crowded closely together 
 upon a single leaf of golden-rod. In such cases they sometimes nearly 
 strip the leaf attacked. What is true of the beetle is equally true of 
 the larvae. Unlike the locust-mining species, as many as four larva? 
 can develop in a single large leaf. June 24 four pupae of normal 
 size were found together in a leaf of Solidago caesia, the mine occupy- 
 ing about three-fourths of the apical end of the leaf. 
 
 It would be a difficult matter to describe the mines accurately, as 
 these are so variable and, as previously stated, sometimes occupy a 
 very considerable portion of a leaf. The mine, at the point where the 
 pupal cell is formed, puffs up so as to form a hard blister, more or less 
 rounded oval in shape, usuall} 7 a little over an eighth of an inch wide, 
 which sometimes becomes as thick through, its dimensions being 
 dependent upon the number of individuals which inhabit it. 
 
 The eggs, as might readily be inferred from the smaller size of this 
 beetle, are not so large as those of other species which have been 
 described. They are very closely appressed to the surface of the leaf 
 on which they are deposited and are covered with dark, nearly black, 
 excrement, sometimes all the eggs of a group which are placed closely 
 together being covered with a common coating. The eggs are usually 
 deposited on the lower side of a leaf, but in one instance a batch of 
 five eggs were found on the upper surface. Most frequently they are 
 placed near the edge, sometimes midway between the tip and the base 
 of a leaf, but generally above the middle. 
 
 The larvae possess the same power as do those of the locust-inhab- 
 iting species of passing from one leaf to another, and larvae in con- 
 finement have been seen in the da} T time crawling out of a leaf and 
 re-entering in a fresh place. Larvae have been noticed to forsake their 
 mines when the leaves were not in a condition that was entirely to 
 their liking. Such desertion of mines was observed on one occasion. 
 June 16 all of the larvae transforming to pupae, and, in due time, to 
 adults, the first imago appearing June 24. 
 
88 
 
 The pupal condition was observed in three individuals during the 
 last week of June, in hot weather, and lasted four and a half, five, and 
 five and a half days, respectively. From finding several pupal cells as 
 early as dune 10, it was evident that the first of the new brood, or 
 generation, of beetles begins to appear at least as early as that date. 
 
 The larvae and pupae resemble in a general way those of the preced- 
 ing species and no detailed descriptions have been made. The larva 
 when full grown measures from 6 to 6.5 mm and the pupa about 5.5 ram . 
 It was noticed that the pupa? moved by elevating the abdominal seg- 
 ments and bringing forward the last segment, thus giving a forward 
 impetus. The pupa? moved slowly, however, at the rate of about 1.5 mm 
 at each step (if this expression can be used to describe the motion) 
 which is as fast or faster than the pace of the larvse. Pupa? were noticed 
 to make as many as twent} 7 consecutive movements. 
 
 No less than four distinct parasites have been reared from this leaf- 
 miner about the District of Columbia. All are Chalcidida\ and the list 
 is as follows: 
 
 Eurytoma albitarsis Ashm., from mines in Solidago. 
 
 Closterocerus tricinctits Ashm., from a mine in Sericocarpus asteroides. 
 
 Tetrastichiis microrhopalde Ashm. — A large series was raised from 
 the dried larval skins, July 7-14. 
 
 Mesocrina microrhopalde Ashm. — A single example reared July 6 
 from a white cocoon in a mine of this beetle. 
 
 A single example of the beautiful little Hippocephalus multicinctus 
 also issued from mined leaves, but may possibly have bred from some 
 species of Tineidae as this Chalcidid is known to live parasitically on 
 this order of insects and has not been observed to attack Coleoptera. 
 
 MlCRORHOPALA MELSHEIMERI Or. 
 
 Mr. Henry Ulke found a specimen of this beetle in an ant's nest at 
 Pen Mar, Pa., but it is probable that this was an accidental capture. 
 (Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., Vol. I, 1890, p. 248.) 
 
 MlCRORHOPALA FLORIDANA ScllWOTZ. 
 
 This species was reared by Messrs. Hubbard and Schwarz at Crescent 
 City and Bartow Junction, Fla., from larva? found mining in the 
 terminal portion of the leaves of grass-leaved golden aster (Chrysopsis 
 graminifolia). 
 
 OCTOTOMA PLICATULA Fab. 
 
 The Virginia creeper, Tecoma radicans, has been known as the food 
 plant of this species (fig. 5) since about 1879, but was not placed on 
 record until 1890, when a short note was published in the Proceedings 
 of the Entomological Society of Washington (Vol. I, p. 232). The larva 
 makes a tentiform mine in the leaves of this plant, and the imago eats 
 
89 
 
 Fig. 5. — Octotoma plicatu- 
 la: beetle — about seven 
 times natural size (orig- 
 inal). 
 
 oblong holes in the leaves. It is somewhat remarkable that the food 
 habits of this species had been overlooked, as far as published records 
 go, until that time, considering that the insect is widely distributed and 
 frequently found in large numbers. The plant 
 has 'd still wider distribution than the beetle, which 
 is proved by failure to find it upon this plant in 
 Michigan and in central and southern Florida, as 
 well as in other localities. Even in the A'icinity of 
 the District of Columbia the species is local and 
 not to be found wherever its food plant occurs. 
 
 May 25, 1879, the habits of this species were 
 first observed by Mr. Schwarz at Columbus, Tex. 
 It was noticed that a pupa was always to be found 
 in a pocket adjoining the midrib. The beetle feeds 
 also on the plant. The mines consist of several 
 sinuous branches starting from the midrib, these 
 branches being of varying length and shape. • At 
 the end toward the base of the leaf there is usually an oblong, or 
 nearly oblong, blackish spot, presumably where the egg has been 
 deposited and where the excrements of the larvae collect. 
 
 OCTQTOMA MARGIXICOLLIS Rom. 
 
 The perfect beetles were found by Messrs. Hubbard and Schwarz in 
 great numbers riddling the entire foliage of certain small ash trees in 
 Madera Canyon, Sta. Rita Mountains, in southern Arizona, during the 
 months of May and June. Neither eggs, larva?, nor larval mines were 
 seen on the trees at this season, and it would seem that the real food 
 plant of the species is a vine or some other plant which makes its 
 appearance only after the beginning of the rain}' season toward the 
 end of July or in August. 
 
 Stexopodius flavidus Horn. 
 
 From various structural details of this genus, Dr. Horn suspected 
 that the habits of the only species would prove to be subaquatic. 
 While nothing definite has been ascertained regarding the larval habits, 
 the imagos have been found in various localities remote from any water, 
 and under conditions which strongly suggest the larval food plant. 
 Near Brownsville, Tex., Mr. Townsend and Mr. Schwarz found a 
 number of specimens on a malvaceous plant which appears to belong 
 to the genus Abutilon. 
 
90 
 
 GENERAL NOTES. 
 
 ERRONEOUS BELIEF THAT COMMON NATIVE LNSECTS ARE [NTRODUCED 
 FROM ABROAD IN SEED. 
 
 Every month or two during the warm season we receive communi- 
 cations from farmers in various portions of the country, more particu- 
 larly in the more sparsely settled States w here new crops are being 
 cultivated, concerning the probable introduction from abroad of many 
 common species of insects in seed furnished by the United States 
 Department of Agriculture and experiment stations. Such a commu- 
 nication was received from a correspondent in Texas who had never 
 seen the Colorado potato beetle there before, although the insect has 
 been present in that State since about L882, and probably earlier, with 
 the remark that it was supposed to have been introduced with seed 
 potatoes from Minnesota. May ^7. 1902, another correspondent at 
 Gainesville. Cook County, Tex., wrote in regard to the striped cucum- 
 ber beetle, which he believed had been introduced with seed received 
 from this Department. In response to inquiry as to particulars, he 
 wrote, that although for twenty-five years he had had experience each 
 year with nearly all the vegetables named in circular No. Hi as food 
 plants of this beetle, he had never seen the insect before, and thinks 
 it impossible for it to have been present oif his plants without his 
 having noticed it. Neither had any of his neighbors taken notice of 
 this insect. It seems to have first appeared there in destructive num- 
 bers in 1902. 
 
 CAPTURE AND POSSIBLE INTRODUCTION OF THE NUN MOTH IN AMERICA. 
 
 On the occasion of a visit to Washington by Dr. W. J. Holland, a 
 well-known authority on Lepidoptera, he mentioned the fact that the 
 nun moth (Psilura monacha Linn.)" had been obtained from a collector 
 in the vicinity of Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. George Franck, an experi- 
 enced collector of that city, was referred to as authority, and in answer 
 to an inquiry for the particulars of the capture of this insect, he Avrote 
 substantially as follows: In looking over a small collection of a local 
 collector during the summer of 1901, he found, among other material, 
 five individuals of this species, identified by comparison with European 
 specimens of which he possessed a number. The collector in question 
 had no communication with others than Mr. Franck. from whom he 
 obtained material in exchange. He was questioned regarding this 
 species and its occurrence, and Mr. Franck was assured that the speci- 
 mens had been captured at light in Brooklyn. No other person who 
 had been consulted in regard to this species knew anything of itsoccur- 
 
 «Also frequently mentioned in literature as IAparfo monacha, and recently placed 
 by Meyrick in the same genus as the gypsy moth, Ocneria. 
 
91 
 
 rencs in that vicinity, and it was put down as an accidental importa- 
 tion, which is probably the truth. The collector resides in a district 
 where there are numerous lumber yards, and shipping is carried on to 
 a great extent. The exact location is described as being around North 
 Second street and Metropolitan avenue, near a creek which adjoins 
 that portion of the bay running through the eastern part of Brooklyn. 
 
 As only live of the insects were captured it does not necessarily 
 imply that the species has been introduced, but we may have here a 
 parallel case to that of the gypsy moth, which was known to have been 
 actually introduced in this country twenty-five years before it attracted 
 the attention of economic entomologists. As the two species are 
 related and have similar habits, there is reason to believe that if the nun 
 moth does become permanently located in the vicinit}" of New York, 
 it will prove a national calamity, and more troublesome even than the 
 gypsy moth, as it will be difficult to deal with the pest in such a local- 
 it}'. The gypsy moth is established inland, while the nun moth, if it 
 has obtained permanent foothold (which may not be ascertained for a 
 number of years), will probably have spread to the immediate vicinity 
 of waterways on either side. It is a matter that should be made public 
 at once, that all persons interested in entomology and in agriculture 
 may be warned to keep a sharp lookout for this species during the 
 coming years. The Division of Entomology should be notified of cap- 
 tures of anything suspicious, and any insect suspected of being the 
 nun moth should accompany the letters. 
 
 ESTIMATED LOSS OCCASIONED BY THE VARIEGATED CUTWORM IN 1900. 
 
 In looking over accounts of injuries recently occasioned by various 
 well-known species of noxious insects, the writer noticed the lack of 
 reliable estimates of money losses sustained. The question of the 
 extent of the damage due to the ravages of the variegated cutworm 
 (Peridroma saucia) in 1900 was entirely lost sight of by the writer as 
 well as by others who published in regard to injuries. 
 
 Occasion was therefore taken, in writing Dr. James Fletcher. 
 Dominion entomologist of Canada, to make inquiry in regard to injuries 
 in the Dominion. Through him we obtained information from Mr. J. R. 
 Anderson, deputy minister of agriculture for the province of British 
 Columbia, as follows: u Replying to Mr. Chittenden's inquiry as to 
 the loss from the variegated cutworm last year — from all the informa- 
 tion obtainable and making an addition for unreported districts, the 
 losses foot up to $168,000." 
 
 Next, Prof. C. V. Piper was written to in regard to damage inflicted 
 by this cutworm in the State of Washington, and he obtained from 
 Mr. David A. Brodie an estimate of $1,012,500 in western Washington, 
 this being based upon the estimate of damage in British Columbia. In 
 commenting on this, Professor Piper stated that he could well believe 
 
92 
 
 the loss in Washington to be ten times as great as that in British 
 Columbia, that is, $1,680,000. 
 
 In Oregon, Prof. A. B. Cordley, entomologist of the experiment 
 station at Corvallis, placed injuries at the modest estimate of $50,000. 
 
 If to the estimated damage in British Columbia we add the injury 
 which was accomplished in the Provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, 
 there will be no difficulty in raising the figures for the Dominion to 
 $200,000. Then it must be remembered that isolated instances of 
 injury were also reported in various States, for instance, in California, 
 Texas, Missouri, Kansas, West Virginia, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, 
 and the District of Columbia. Taking all data into consideration, 
 accounting for many localities from which no reports were received, 
 admitting that this species was undoubtedly responsible for much 
 injury merely attributed to cutworms in general and not reported to 
 any official entomologist, also that it is cosmopolitan and practically 
 omnivorous, it would seem that an estimate of $2,500,000 would not 
 be too high as the total cash value of crops injured in the United States 
 during the single season of 1900. — F. H. C. 
 
 OCCURRENCE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN FLOUR MOTH IN MINNESOTA, 
 WISCONSIN, AND MICHIGAN. 
 
 During the past two years several complaints have been made to 
 this office of trouble occasioned by the presence of the Mediterranean 
 Hour moth {Ephestia Tcuehniella Zell.) in flouring establishments and 
 warehouses in Milwaukee, Wis.; in Minneapolis, and neighboring 
 cities in Minnesota; and quite recently in Detroit, Mich. Through 
 other sources of information we have knowledge of the insect spread- 
 ing to neighboring States and being further disseminated in other 
 States where it has alread} 7 been established for some time; in fact, it 
 is apparent that it is now only a matter of a few years when this insect 
 will become permanently established in most portions of the Union 
 where milling is an important industry. All communications were 
 accompanied by specimens, usually with all stages of the insect, in 
 infested flour webbed up in the manner characteristic of this species. 
 
 February 23, 1901, Mr. George W. Peckham wrote of the injurious 
 occurrence of the pest at Milwaukee, Wis., transmitting material 
 received from a gentleman largely interested in flour mills in that 
 vicinity who had experienced a great deal of trouble with it. April 
 20 Mr. Harry D. Cushman, Minneapolis, Minn., stated that although 
 he was not aware that mills in that city were badly infested with this 
 moth, he understood that some mills in Superior had to close because 
 of infestation. The modern system of keeping the mills scrupulously 
 clean, not permitting dust or dirt to accumulate, and the turning of 
 the stock of grain and its products every few days, had eliminated to a 
 
93 
 
 great extent the trouble that had previously been experienced. Our 
 correspondent believed that this statement would apply to the larger 
 mills, at least, of his locality. November 20, a correspondent at Balls 
 Ferry, Shasta County, Cal., reported this flour pest in that vicinity. 
 This appears to be a new locality in California, although the species is 
 rather more widely distributed there than in any other State of the 
 Union. 
 
 January 28, 1902, the president of a flour company at San Francisco, 
 Cal., wrote in regard to the Mediterranean flour moth in that city. In 
 putting up breakfast cereals his firm had been seriously annoyed by the 
 eggs and larvae of the moth developing several weeks from the time of 
 packing. He said that the food material in question could be exposed to 
 a temperature of 212 3 F. or thereabouts without serious damage. J une 
 30 a merchant miller, of Detroit, Mich. , sent this species in flour from a 
 mill in that city. He was anxious to obtain information in regard to 
 the use of hydrocyanic-acid gas, as the insurance companies refused to 
 grant permission for the use of bisulphid of carbon as a f umigant. Two 
 years earlier it was reported that one mill in Detroit was infested by 
 this insect, and it was surmised that the present invasion was due to 
 the introduction of wheat or secondhand bags from the Northwest, with 
 little doubt from Milwaukee and Minneapolis, where this species as 
 just reported is now known to be present in great numbers. It is now 
 said that nearh' all the mills in those two cities are completely over- 
 run with this pest. 
 
 THE ANGOUMOIS GRAIN MOTH IX 1901. 
 
 In spite of the employment of precautionary as well as remedial 
 measures that have been generally used against the Angoumois grain 
 moth (Sitotroga cerealella Zell.) in the more northern States in which 
 it is found, it continues to be injurious year by } T ear, and it seems to 
 be as troublesome now as ever, if, indeed, not more so. The follow- 
 ing notes are extracts from correspondence during the year 1901. In 
 nearly every instance specimens of the insect accompanied the letters. 
 
 February 8 we received word from the Larrowe Milling Company. 
 New York City, that this species was a general pest throughout New 
 Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. 
 
 On the 27th of the same month Mr. James R. Kirby, Smiths 
 Grove, Ky., wrote that the farmers of that vicinity were seriously 
 troubled by this species. 
 
 March 4 Mr. William J. Haverly, Los Angeles, Cal., complained 
 of injury to the seeds of held corn. 
 
 September 28 Mr. Horace L. Dilworth reported this species as 
 doing great damage to wheat in the neighborhood of Centerville, Del. 
 
 October 17 Mr. Walter Geist, Shawan, Md., who runs a thrashing 
 
94 
 
 machine, stated that in some places in that vicinity grain was very 
 badly infested, 
 
 November L3, 1901, Mr. C. 8. Scofield, of the Bureau of Plant Indus- 
 try, exhibited specimens of wheat badly infested by the Angoumois 
 grain moth, received from Mr. Charles Dunwoody, Philadelphia, Pa., 
 who stated that his firm had handled through its warehouse about 
 30,000 bushels of this year's crop which showed the work of this insect. 
 It was noticed that the insect had been gradually working a little 
 farther west each year. Early threshing had been the principal remedy 
 employed. All varieties of winter wheat and rye appeared to be infested 
 alike. The ravages of this insect had first been noticed about four or 
 live years previous to the date of writing, and had been increasing from 
 year to year since. Mr. Dunwoody stated that the greatest damage 
 was at that time reported from the counties of Delaware, Chester, and 
 Montgomery, in Penns} T lvania; as well as in some sections of western 
 New Jersey. Nearly tw r o-thircls of the grain in the regions mentioned 
 appeared to be infested, and it was estimated that the damage was 
 about 20 per cent of the value of infested lots. Mr. Dunwoody asserted 
 that field-threshed grain is seldom infested, but that nearty all grain 
 w T hich goes through the " sweat" in barns is more or less affected. 
 
 From Kev. J. F. Sheppard, Conshohocken, Pa., we received informa- 
 tion, under date of November 29, that this insect was ravaging granaries 
 in that vicinity. 
 
 December 19 Mr. Theodore C. Search, Philadelphia, Pa., reported 
 that this species was very destructive to the wheat crop of Bucks 
 County, Pa. In a badly infested sample from Chester Count}^, Pa., 
 he stated that the wdieat weighed only 38 pounds to the bushel, and 
 was worth for feeding purposes 60 cents per bushel of 60 pounds on 
 our present market. This same variety of wheat, if sound and in 
 good condition for milling purposes, would bring 78 cents. Later he 
 wrote that one reason wiry the Angoumois grain moth is so destructive 
 in certain portions of Pennsylvania is the fact that in the vicinity of 
 Philadelphia the farmers prefer to thresh their grain during the winter 
 season at odd times. 
 
 In one sample of wheat from Penns} T lvania infested b} r this moth 
 many specimens of a parasite occurred; in fact, in this lot the moths 
 were almost completely killed off, only one breeding out in the course 
 of three weeks, the parasites occurring in the proportion of something 
 like 50 to 1. The parasite having a somewmat novel appearance, it 
 was referred to Mr. W. H. Ashmead, of the National Museum, who 
 states that it is undescribed. It is a species of Catolaccus. 
 
 RECENT INJURY BY THE CIGARETTE BEETLE. 
 
 More complaints were received of injury by the cigarette beetle 
 (LasiooZerma serricorne Fab.) during the seasons of 1901 and 1902 than 
 
95 
 
 ever before in its history; judging by correspondence, this insect is 
 rapidly widening its range, and unless radical measures are taken by 
 the individuals whose products suffer from its attack, the insect will 
 undoubtedly continue to increase and spread and will soon become a 
 species of the highest economic importance. Complaints of injury 
 were received from different firms, mostly tobacconists, wholesale and 
 retail, in New York City; Baltimore, Md. ; District of Columbia; Dan- 
 ville. Va.; Cincinnati. Ohio; Detroit. Mich. ; Porto Rico; and Kingston, 
 Jamaica. The insect was the subject of considerable correspondence 
 from the Localities mentioned. In most cases destruction was to 
 tobacco, but certain other products were affected. 
 
 During February we received complaint from one of Cincinnati's 
 largest department stores of injury to cigarette tobacco. September 21 
 a manufacturer and importer of cigars in New York Citv complained 
 of this species, stating that the beetles were in every can of tobacco 
 received from a certain firm. They were eating through the wrap- 
 pers of cigars. October 10 complaint was made of considerable injury 
 by this insect to upholstered furniture in department stores at Detroit, 
 Mich. The insects were stated to be infesting the very best furniture 
 in one house. In the latter days of October Mr. Frank D. Gardner, 
 agent in charge of the experiment station at Porto Rico, stated that 
 cigar dealers in San Juan had considerable trouble in keeping their 
 stock for any length of time on account of the cigarette beetle boring 
 holes in the cigars and practically ruining them. November 13 a cigar 
 dealer at Baltimore. Md., stated that his firm had lost about 700 of 
 their best cigars through the attacks of this insect. 
 
 During July. 1901. complaint was made by a large wholesale and 
 retail tobacco establishment in the city of Washington of injury by 
 this beetle, and an opportunity was afforded for disinfecting the estab- 
 lishment infested by means of bisulphid of carbon. This work was 
 undertaken by Mr. W. E. Hinds, temporary assistant in this Division. 
 The results of these experiments, which were eminently satisfactory, 
 were published in Bulletin No. 30, new series, (pp. 78-82). This led to 
 a further study of carbon bisulphid as an insecticide and to the treat- 
 ment of this topic in a general manner. The results of further study 
 and investigation have found expression in Farmers* Bulletin 145. pre- 
 pared by Mr. Hinds with the cooperation of Mr. E. £. Ewell, assistant 
 chemist of this Department. The cigarette beetle was also found b} r 
 Mr. J. Kotinskv. of this office, in a pharmacy at Washington. D. C, 
 affecting American saffron. 
 
 January 23, 1902, complaint was received from a prominent cigar 
 manufacturer of New York City of injuries by this insect. April 9 
 Mr. H. H. Cousins, island chemist, of Kingston, Jamaica, requested 
 information on dealing with the cigarette beetle, which he stated threat- 
 ened the tobacco trade of Jamaica. 
 
96 
 
 In practically all of the instances of attack that have beeD mentioned 
 letters of complaint were accompanied by specimens of the insects at 
 work in tobacco or other products affected. 
 
 INJURIOUS OCCURRENCE OF AN EXOTIC DERMESTI I) IN THE UNITED 
 
 STATES. 
 
 Among the beetles of the genus Dermestes, treated by Dr. Horace 
 F. Jayne in his paper entitled "A revision of the Dermestidae of the 
 United States" (Proceedings American Philosophical Societ}^ Vol. 
 XX, 1883, p. 353), D. cadaverinus Fab. is included, Florida being 
 given as its only locality. Correspondence during September, 1901, 
 shows not alone that this species is apparently established in this coun- 
 try in New York City, but that it is probably an exotic form, perhaps 
 originating in China. 
 
 September 6, 1901, the Clifton Silk Mills, town of Union, N. J., 
 sent specimens of this species, with accompanying information that 
 the beetles and their larvae were found in bales of dried China silk- 
 worm cocoons imported from Shanghai for reeling. Many of the 
 beetles were noticed at this time wandering about among the cocoons, 
 and a lesser number of larva?. A friend of our correspondents having 
 a silk-reeling establishment in France said that this (or perhaps a 
 related) species emerged from the cocoons when the latter were kept 
 in moist places. Another friend interested in silk culture stated that 
 he found the larvae or ' 1 worms " in bales of reel silk, and that they 
 cut the silk as with a knife, establishing themselves generally beside 
 the cords which tie the bundles, and working their wa}^ along the 
 grooves made by the cords, cutting the skeins as they go. He recol- 
 lected that larvae had been occasionally found in Italian silk. 
 
 Our correspondents stated that the beetles made short flights, but 
 were disinclined to use their wings. 
 
 September 14 our correspondents called attention to the small clean 
 holes made by the insects in the cocoons, in contrast to that made by 
 the silkworm moth, which in emerging makes a ragged hole, stained 
 brown for some distance in from the edges. It was further stated 
 that in France, where this species is found in reeling establishments 
 in raw silk, that when the packing of the silk was done near w 7 here 
 the cocoons were stored infestation was noticed. B} r removing the 
 packing department to a distance from the cocoons this trouble was 
 averted. 
 
 September 25, 1901, the Payne Spring Tanning Company, Cumber- 
 land, Md., sent specimens of this beetle with sample of leather received 
 from a tanner in New York City, showing holes through which the 
 beetles had bored. Our correspondents stated that the leather was 
 rolled in bundles of 12 and 24 sides each, and upon opening the same 
 they found that the leather had numerous holes in it about the size 
 
97 
 
 that would be made by large shot. According to their description, 
 the beetle or its larva would start on one side and cut a bole through 
 an entire bundle of leather. An attempt to disinfect the leather with 
 carbolic acid had no apparent effect. 
 
 Writing again September 28. this company stated that there was little 
 doubt that the leather became infested in a hide house in New York 
 C ity where it had been stored for some time, and where large quantities 
 of foreign hides are handled. Damage of the nature mentioned was 
 common in foreign dry hides, but oar correspondents had never known 
 of domestic tanned leather being attacked in this manner before. 
 
 All of the material received from the New Jersey and Maryland 
 correspondents from silkworm cocoons and leather, respectively, was 
 referred to Mr. E. A. Schwarz. who pronounced the species D< rmestes 
 cadcv&erinus Fab. This species is comparatively rare in the United 
 States, as Dr. Jayne's note on its distribution ** merely occurs in Flor- 
 ida " would indicate: but it is one of the many species which affect stored 
 material, and which are thus destined in time to become cosmopolitan. 
 
 EEMEDIKS. 
 
 The best remedy for these insects, when they occur in leather and 
 similar substances, is undoubtedly the bisulphid of carbon, and this 
 should be freely used where the insects are most abundant. Where it 
 is possible to remove leather to tight rooms, it can be disinfected in the 
 usual manner: but where this cannot be conveniently done it is more 
 advisable to disinfect entire rooms in the storehouse infested. Silk and 
 cocoons can be even more readily reached by the use of bisulphid of 
 carbon, and this applies to the fumigation of entire rooms; but the 
 hydrocyanic-acid gas treatment can also be employed. This latter 
 is useful where insurance companies object to the use of bisulphid of 
 carbon on account of its inflammability. Directions for the use of bisul- 
 phid of carbon are given in Farmers* Bulletin 145. and for fumigation 
 with hydrocyanic-acid gas in Circular -±6 (second series), both of which 
 publications can be obtained by application to this office. — F. H. C. 
 
 SOME BLISTER BEETLES INJURIOUS TO FRUIT TREES. 
 
 For many years past blister beetles of three or four species have 
 been reported at intervals as doing more or less destruction to the 
 foliage of various fruit trees in different portions of our country. The 
 bisects in question are quite different from the common species of 
 blister beetles found in potato patches and in fields and gardens gen- 
 erally. They are strictly arboreal, while the latter are terrestrial. 
 Some accounts of recent injury may be of interest, together with the 
 accompanying illustration of one of our best-known forms. All of 
 these insects are handsome creatures of graceful form, and in color 
 different shades of green or olive with yellow or yellow and black legs. 
 3622— So. 38—04 7 
 
98 
 
 Say's blister beetle (Pontphopim myt Lee, fig. 6). — April 29, 
 L901, Mr. R. J. Black, Bremen, Ohio, sent specimens, as did the other 
 correspondents who will presently be mentioned in connection with 
 this and other species, stating that the beetles were found in great 
 numbers devouring blossoms of Japan plum. The species had not 
 been noticed in previous years, and other varieties of plum, cherry, 
 and peach were not affected. May 13 Mr. C. W. Nash, Toronto, 
 Canada, also reported this species on plum doing great damage to the 
 blossoms. 
 
 The pear-tree blister beetle (PompJiopcea senea Say). — May 1, 
 1901, Mr. Joseph Hampson, jr., reported this species to be destroying 
 the petals, stamens, and pistils of pear blossoms at Pen Mar, Pa. An 
 invasion of this species on pear was recorded as occurring in central 
 eastern Ohio in 1894 (Ins. Life, Vol. VII, p. 201). In 1898 and 1899 it 
 
 was reported to be destroying the blos- 
 soms of } T oung plum at Wooster, Ohio, 
 and Tazewell, Tenn. 
 
 The Texas plum blister beetle 
 (Pomphop<m texana Lee). —March 18, 
 1902, Mr. David Hunter, San Antonio, 
 Tex., wrote of the occurrence of this 
 blister beetle on plum in that vicinity. 
 Six years earlier our correspondent had 
 noticed this beetle feeding on Chicka- 
 saw plum in Blanco County of the same 
 State. 
 
 The peach blister beetle (Pom- 
 phopma unguicularis Lee). — April 8, 
 1902, Mr. Franklin Sherman, jr., wrote 
 Fig. g. — Pomphopoxi sayi: beetle — 1\ times f the occurrence of this blister beetle 
 
 natural size (original). ^ filowing Rqc ^ N# qu wiM moun . 
 
 tain laurel, devouring both blossoms and leaves. It occurred there 
 literally by thousands, attacking also peach trees, eating those which 
 had previously been attacked by leaf curl. The beetles also affected 
 cultivated roses to such an extent that one owner had to resort to 
 spraying to save them. In Volume VI of Insect Life (p. 36) we 
 recorded the occurrence of this species in immense numbers at White- 
 sides, N. C, where they denuded the locust, Rolinia viscosa, of foliage. 
 This was at an elevation of 5,000 feet above sea level, and occurred in 
 1893. 
 
 Remedies.— All of these blister beetles undoubtedly feed, in nature, 
 on the blossoms of wild fruits, such as plum, mountain laurel, and the 
 like. On low trees it is not difficult to control them by hand-picking. 
 On higher trees they can be destroyed by means of a spray of Paris 
 green applied in the usual manner. On peach, however, arsenate of 
 lead is best, owing to the danger of scorching the tender foliage of 
 
99 
 
 that tree. Another manner of holding them in check is by jarring 
 them upon curculio-catchers, which can be constructed by means of 
 a sheet stretched and held taut on a frame. If this catcher is saturated 
 with kerosene such insects as come in contact with it will die. As to 
 the success of these remedies, Mr. Hunter, writing of the Texas species, 
 states that it was easily destroyed by hand-picking, as the beetles were 
 not readily disturbed, while Mr. Nash, writing of Say's blister beetle, 
 states that arsenicals could not be applied owing to the danger of 
 killing bees. — F. H. C. 
 
 NOTES ON VIXE-CHAFERS. 
 
 Recent years have witnessed considerable injury locally and, as 
 usual, periodically to grapevine and the foliage and blossoms of vari- 
 ous fruit trees by some species of beetles of the genus Anomala. Of 
 the dozen described forms of this genus, four are known to affect the 
 grape; hence the name of vine-chafer, which is rather commonly 
 bestowed on them. 
 
 Anomala >i,,</iil<it<i Mels. — This, one of 
 the commonest species, has been reported 
 during the last two years at Gadsden, Ala., 
 and Tazewell, Tenn. In the first locality 
 the beetles were first noticed by Mr. C. W. 
 Ewing, April 10 at sunset, flying in great 
 numbers from a valley below and settling 
 on peach trees, where they ate both blos- 
 soms and leaves. In the latter locality. 
 Mr. H. Y. Hughes observed the beetles 
 destroying buds, bloom, and young fruit 
 of cherrv. In earlier vears we have re- FlG - i-^nomaia muiuiata: beetle-- 
 
 " * * . four times natural size (original). 
 
 corded the occurrence of this species as 
 
 injurious to the blossoms of grape, apple, and pear at Grand Bay, 
 Ala., and to grape at Greenville, S. C. 
 
 The life history of this species is in some respects like that of the 
 common rose chafer, which is treated in Circular No. 11 of this Divi- 
 sion. The beetle, however, is quite different in appearance. It is 
 shown in fig. 7. The color is shining pale yellow, with the thorax 
 mostly black, and the elytra or wing covers spotted with black, much 
 as illustrated, the pattern, however, being quite variable. 
 
 Anomala margmata Fab.— This, the margined vine-chafer has been 
 quite destructive recently at Carterton, Va. Dr. E. K. Harding 
 reports that it occurred in June, 1900, about the middle of the month, 
 and did considerable damage to cherry and Japan walnut, but did not 
 trouble the vine. Many holes were found in the earth under the trees, 
 and when the beetles were shaken off they disappeared into the ground, 
 an occurrence which led our correspondent to infer that eggs might 
 be deposited in the earth from which the larva? would hatch. This is 
 
100 
 
 probably true. The beetles, like the rose chafer, were seen in copu- 
 lation at any hour during the day. Subsequent observations showed 
 that these beetles also occurred in abundance on sycamore and that 
 they even relished the acrid foliage on black walnut. 
 
 The beetles also resembled the rose chafer in their sudden appear- 
 ance, their time of activity (about one month), and their equally sud- 
 den disappearance at the end of that time. 
 
 Anqmala m in uta Burm. — The black form of this species was received 
 May 2, 1901, from Mr. B. H. Frazier, Fruitdale. Ala., where it was 
 observed working on young peach and plum trees set out that spring. 
 The beetles burrowed in the ground around the trees to a depth of 
 1 to 3 inches into the moist earth. They ate only the young, 
 tender leaves. It was also noticed that they seemed to be most 
 numerous in the drier and sandier soil of that vicinity, which suggests 
 that the larva? probably fed on grasses grown in such locations. 
 
 While writing of the habits of these vine chafers it may be well to 
 add that on one occasion ^i. unchdata was observed affecting growing 
 wheat, in another case attacking petunias, and in still another affect- 
 ing grape. A. marginata is most commonly found on the vine, as is 
 also minuta. A. Jucicola is also a grape-feeding species, and biriotata 
 has been found on the grape as well as on strawberry and locust. 
 
 Remedies. — In the treatment of these vine chafers we have prac- 
 tically the same problem, in many cases, as in dealing with the rose 
 chafer. The beetles f requently occur in such numbers and devour the 
 leaves of young and tender fruit trees so rapidly that Paris green 
 does not produce the desired effects. In ordinary cases, however, an 
 arsenical spray is sufficient for their destruction. Dr. Harding has 
 met with good success both with spraying and with shaking the beetles 
 off and burning them, in much the same manner as described in con- 
 nection with the blister beetles which affect fruit trees. — F. H. C. 
 
 THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE IX THE SOUTH. 
 
 We have recently received information from many correspondents 
 in Southern localities furnishing evidence that the Colorado potato 
 beetle (Doryphora 10-lineata Say) has been making a general effort to 
 extend its range southward. Such migration has been noticed for a 
 number of years past, but has never been so noticeable as during the 
 season of 1901. The species will doubtless continue to spread south- 
 ward until it is overcome by natural enemies or perhaps killed out by 
 the weather. It has been noticed that this species has been destroyed 
 in great numbers during severe dry spells, such as was experienced 
 during the summer of 1900, the larvae being literally dried up on their 
 food plants. 
 
 Our first information in regard to recent spread by this species was 
 from Mr. N. L. Willet, of Augusta. Ga. For the first time in his 
 remembrance, that section was being devastated. He wrote, May 12, 
 
101 
 
 1900, that within a radius of about loO miles the country was being- 
 devastated, his drug firm receiving daily orders from railroads radi- 
 ating from the city for Paris green, more of this insecticide being 
 sold in the previous week than in the preceding four years. The 
 opinion was expressed that in future the inhabitants of that region 
 might have to count upon this beetle as one of the expected annual 
 arrivals in spring. The country round about appeared to be alive 
 with them. 
 
 May 14. 1901, Maj. Harry Hammond wrote of this species and its 
 destruction of potatoes in the vicinity of Beech Island, S. C. May 21 
 Mr. John Conner, Ripley, Tenn., wrote of injury in Lauderdale 
 County. The insects were first noticed about the middle of May, 
 and by the end of the month early potatoes were entirely stripped of 
 their leaves. A similar report of injury was received from Mr. Albert 
 E. Seddon, Atlanta, (la.. May -J^>. 
 
 Mr. J. P. Rudulph, Pleasant Hill, Ala., wrote May 27 that the Colo- 
 rado potato beetle made its first appearance in that locality that year, 
 but the timely application of Paris green checked its ravages. 
 
 June 1 we received a communication from Mr. J. C. Russell, Clarks- 
 ville, Tex., in regard to the occurrence of the insect in that vicinity. 
 
 It should be remarked that Mr. H. E. Weed, when entomologist of 
 the Mississippi Agricultural College Experiment Station, writing of 
 this species in 1S97. published a map showing that in 1896 it had occu- 
 pied the northern two-thirds of Mississippi, the prediction being made 
 at that time that owing to the large increase in the acreage devoted to 
 Irish potato in that State and throughout the South it was probable 
 that the insect would continue its southward spread to the Gulf of 
 Mexico (Bui. 11. Miss. Agr. Exp. Sta., Mar., 1897, pp. 186, 187). 
 
 THE RICE WEEVIL AX IMPORTANT FACTOR IX THE FAILURE OF GER- 
 MINATION OF CORN IN THE SOUTH. 
 
 In the course of investigations conducted by Mr. E. A. Schwarz, of 
 this office, in Texas, to place the hibernation of the Mexican cotton-boll 
 weevil, it was ascertained that not only the boll weevil but the rice 
 weevil (Calandra oryza Linn.) or so-called corn weevil, as it is better 
 known in that portion of the South, made use of cornstalks for winter 
 quarters. Only a few of the boll weevil were observed in comparison 
 to thousands of the rice weevil that habitually hibernate in this manner. 
 The latter beetle also sometimes passes the winter in cotton bolls 
 and in other plants, but cornstalks, owing to the greater degree of 
 moisture which they contain in the pith, form a favorite winter 
 home of this insect. Thus it happens that the careless farmer has to 
 contend not only with the weevils that are present in his corn when 
 planted, but with others which come out of the cornstalks on the 
 approach of warm weather and undoubtedly dig down into the soil to 
 the kernels. 
 
102 
 
 Frequent complaint has been made of the failure of corn to grow 
 in the South, and this explains the reason to a very considerable extent. 
 Most of Mr. Schwarz's observations were made in the vicinity of 
 Victoria, and he related having seen long, uninterrupted rows of these 
 beetles on fences when warm weather tempted them from their places 
 of concealment. Mr. Schwarz brought with him specimens of corn 
 seed that had been planted showing- the holes made by the ravages of 
 this insect, which ate out the germ, leaving the remainder practically 
 intact. The farmers usually attributed this failure of germination to 
 crows and other birds, and the truth has never been ascertained 
 hitherto. 
 
 The necessity of selecting good seed for planting has been pointed 
 
 out in Farmers' Bulletin 
 45, on insects affecting 
 stored grains, as well as in 
 a pamphlet entitled "In- 
 sects Injurious to Beans 
 and Peas." It is now in 
 order to advise cleaner cul- 
 ture, consisting of the 
 destruction of cornstalks 
 before the insects which 
 have hibernated in them 
 issue. .This is a measure 
 of the greatest value not 
 only in controlling the rice 
 weevil, but many other 
 granary insects which lead 
 a more or less outdoor ex- 
 istence in the South, such 
 as the grain beetles, Sil- 
 vanus and Cathartus, the 
 
 Fig. 8. — Sphenophorus obscurus: a, adult, enlarged; b, head 
 of adult, from side, still more enlarged; c, full-grown 
 larva, from side; d, pupa, ventral view, both enlarged 
 (from Insect Life). 
 
 flour beetles, Tribolium, etc., and some other species. 
 
 THE SANDWICH ISLANDS SUGAR-CANE BORER AGAIN. 
 
 It may be remembered by our older correspondents that we pub- 
 lished in Volume I of Insect Life, on pages 185-189, an illustrated 
 account of Sphenophorus obscurus Boisd., a species which we may call 
 the Sandwich Islands sugar-cane borer. We have several times received 
 this species from different sources, and some articles and shorter notes 
 have been published in regard to it, most of which are referred to in 
 the article cited. February 18, 1902, Mr. Jared G. Smith, special 
 agent of this Department in charge of the Hawaii Experimental Sta- 
 tion at Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, wrote us from Spreckelsville, 
 Maui, in regard to severe injuries by this insect. As some of our 
 
103 
 
 present readers may not have access to the volume of Insect Life to 
 which we have referred, the illustrations there presented are repro- 
 duced (figs. 8 and 9). Mr. Smith writes substantially as follows: 
 
 I am sending you herewith specimens of the cane-borer which infests the sugar- 
 cane plant throughout the rainy districts of Hawaii. It is quite rare in the dry dis- 
 tricts or in dry years, but is terribly destructive in wet years or on plantations in 
 regions with abundant rainfall. On one plantation on Maui the loss last year from 
 the cane-borer was estimated at between 1,000 and 1,500 tons of sugar— 20 per cent 
 of the crop. At an average price for sugar of §70 per ton it is not difficult to figure 
 up a pretty stiff bill against the cane-borer. 
 
 Fig. 9.— Sections of sugar cane showing work of Sphcnophorus obscurus: a, larva, b, pupa, in situ; 
 c, probably points of oviposition— somewhat reduced (from fnsect Life). 
 
 From its habits I judge there is no hope of trapping, poisoning, or otherwise 
 destroying it, and it looks as though we would have to find a natural enemy for it. 
 The toad has been tried, but the mongoose is too fond of toad for breakfast. 
 
 The eggs are apparently laid in the sheath of the old leaves of the cane a little 
 above its junction with the node. The egg hatches out in the sheath and the young 
 grub eats its way into the cane just above the node. The hole where it enters is 
 very small and hardly visible. Once inside the grub grows rapidly and channels 
 back and forth, rapidly converting the lower internodes into a mass of fceces. The 
 grub pupates in the cane and only emerges from the stalk as a beetle to copulate, and 
 do it all over again. Several of those which I send were caught in the act. The 
 
104 
 
 imagos are found inside the sheaths of the dead leaves on the lower part of the stalk 
 during the daytime, and apparently only fly at night. 
 
 Not heing an entomologist, I don't know what other information would be of value 
 to you. The grub is found only in the mature basal joints of the cane stalk — the 
 portion of the stalk which is richest in sugar. I do not think that the imago is 
 attracted by light; anyway it would be dangerous to have a light in a cane field on 
 account of the danger of fire. 
 
 Ten tons of cane per acre are sometimes destroyed by the borer. 
 
 Since writing the above I have talked with Mr. A. Koebele. He says the borer is 
 probably a native of Tahiti, or at least that it was introduced here from there, but 
 that it also occurs in Samoa, Fiji, New Guinea, and other southern Pacific island 
 groups. Also that it infests the banana, wine palm (Caryota urens) and other palms, 
 the papaya (Carica papaya), and a good many other tropical crops. 
 
 Hon. H. P. Baldwin, who gave me most of the preceding information, says that 
 the cane borer is the worst insect pest in Hawaii, and that a conservative estimate 
 of the amount of damage done by it would be at least $500,000 per annum. 
 
 UMBRELLA ANTS IN CUBA. 
 
 During the first week of June we received two communications in 
 regard to an ant native to Cuba and designated by the natives as " bibi- 
 jagua." Mr. Thomas R. Towns, Quiebra Hacha, province of Pinar 
 del Rio, wrote May 27 that this insect, which is probably Atta msfUr 
 laris or a related species, is as industrious as an}' animal alive, work- 
 ing as late as 12 o'clock at night, when the dew puts a stop to its work. 
 At 10 next day it is out again. The ants stripped a nursery of 
 ever} 7 leaf of orange, showing a preference for the tender leaves. 
 They are described as taking a row of young stock about an eighth of 
 a mile long, tree by tree, never missing one nor leaving a leaf. When 
 this row is finished they take the next. Our correspondent stated that 
 he " ran them out " by tarring a rope with pine tar and laying this 
 around the plot attacked. 
 
 Mr. E. T. Fries, Santa Fe, Isle of Pines, complained of the same 
 species and its injury to orange. He had noticed its habit of living 
 in colonies in immense hills of earth, with galleries, chambers and 
 tunnels, and with well-beaten paths in many directions leading to the 
 hill. Along these the ants traveled, each carrying a bit of leaf often 
 several times as large as the ant itself. The ants are officered by one 
 of larger size. 
 
 THE GAGE BUG. 
 
 During the time that this Division issued the periodical publication, 
 Insect Life, which reached an edition of seven volumes and has now 
 been discontinued, we had frequent occasion to mention the popular 
 names of our common insects. Such notes as we published frequently 
 elicited interesting correspondence. 
 
 January 30, 1902. Mr. James Riley, of New Dorchester, Mass., 
 wrote in regard to popular names, giving an account of the "Gage 
 
105 
 
 bug," which we reproduce below in its entirety. There is little doubt, 
 from the description of the insect, as chunky and not flying, that he 
 has reference to the common squash bug. a well-known enemy of 
 pumpkin and squash vines. It is probable that General Gage did not 
 have a very extensive knowledge of entomology, and judged this 
 insect to be more destructive than it really was. owing to its somewhat 
 disgusting appearance and still more displeasing odor. The following 
 is in reference to one of the Entomologist's lectures delivered at the 
 Lowell Institute during the month of January: 
 
 In common with all your auditors I have been pleased and instructed with your 
 heart and head talks on insect life. I was waiting all the time to hear of one of my 
 old enemies, the Gage bugs. You may have mentioned them in your second lecture, 
 which I missed. They may have been the Hessian fly, but if my memory serves 
 they came with them, but were more chunky, and did not fly. I was reminded of 
 them when in your first lecture you said that people often named pests after what 
 they disliked,' as the French weed in English-speaking Canada and the Abe Lincoln 
 bug in Georgia. So too with the Gage bug. The old man who brought me up was 
 an Alden but five generations from the historic John. He used to tell me in hoeing 
 time (in the late 50' s and early 60' s of the century that was) that General Gage after 
 the battle of Bunker Hill, finding he could not " whip us," went up on the hill the 
 next day and, opening his snuff box, let out the bugs that we were then killing on 
 our pumpkin and squash vines. He would describe most lucidly the battle before 
 telling the story, and so I never stooped to "squash" a Gage bug in those days 
 without seeing a general in red on a high hill, snuff box in hand, out of which 
 issued a living line of pestilence as the bugs swarmed in perspective down the thir- 
 teen colonies. Such was a lesson in natural and political history of an old-time 
 Yankee to an Irish boy forty years ago. 
 
 THE PROBABILITY OF THE OCCURRENCE OF THE MEXICAN COTTOX-BOLL 
 
 WEEVIL IX BRAZIL. 
 
 \Ye have received information leading toward the conclusion that 
 the cotton-boll weevil (Anthononvus grandis Boh.), or an insect of very 
 similar habits, has been present for some years in the cotton regions 
 of Brazil, notably in the State of Bahia. Professor d'Utra, director 
 of the State agricultural station of Sao Paulo, has written a rather 
 extensive article upon this subject, in which he considers that there is 
 no doubt that the insect is AntJumomus grandis (Boletin de Agrieul- 
 tura. 2d ser., No. 4, pp. 211-229, 1901). In our efforts to obtain 
 specimens we have been favored by Prof. Adolph Hempel, of the same 
 station, with the information that, although there may be some uncer- 
 tainty about the identification, the fact remains that in the State of 
 Bahia there occurs a small beetle that lives in the cotton bolls, espe- 
 cially within the seeds. This describes exactly the method of work of 
 the boll weevil in southern Mexico and Central America, as noted by 
 Townsend, though in Texas it never occurs within the seeds. 
 
 In the absence of specimens only speculations regarding this mat- 
 ter are to be indulged in. There is. however, an authentic record of 
 
106 
 
 the occurrence of this insect in Cuba in 1871. Nevertheless, it is 
 practically certain that in 1882, at the time of the visit of Branner and 
 Koebele to Brazil, Anthonomus grandis did not exist as an enemy of 
 cotton in the State of Bahia or elsewhere in that country. Moreover, 
 none of the principal works dealing with the Coleoptera of that por- 
 tion of South America mentions the species. Although this by no 
 means demonstrates that Anthonomus grandis may not now be found 
 there, it certainly tends to indicate that if the species has made its way 
 into Brazil, it has, in less than twenty years, increased its range 
 remarkably. — W. D. H. 
 
 the st. Andrew's cotton stainer. 
 
 Mr. J. J. de Barril, the proprietor of a cotton plantation in the 
 interior of Cuba, has given us interesting details concerning Dys- 
 dercus andrese L. This species, like D. suturellus H.-S. of the south- 
 eastern United States, is a cotton stainer. It sometimes occurs in 
 such numbers that if cotton culture is again engaged in extensively in 
 the West Indies it may become considerably more important there 
 than its congener in this country, which has for many years ranked as 
 a pest of only secondary importance. 
 
 Some years ago this insect was the subject of one of Prof. T. D. A. 
 Cockerell's stylographic notes (Institute of Jamaica, Notes from the 
 Museum, No. 9, Feb. 21, 1892). The common name we have used 
 was suggested by Professor Cockerell, and is in allusion to the white 
 cross formed by the markings on the hemelytra which Linnseus also 
 referred to in the Latin name he gave the species. In the adults this 
 coloration is quite striking. More than a century ago Sloane, a 
 traveler in Jamaica, referred to the insect as "a Cimex of a scarlet 
 colour with a white St. Andrew's cross on its back. This is one -third 
 of an inch in length. It is very often to be met with amongst 
 flowers." 
 
 Our correspondent states that on his plantation, where until last 
 year no cotton had been planted for nearly half a century, the cotton 
 bolls were frequently so covered that nothing but a mass of red and 
 black insects was visible. This happened an January and February, 
 before the fruit opened, and no effect upon the plant, except that of 
 dwarfing the bolls, was observed. Toward the end of March, how- 
 ever, when all of the bolls had burst open and most of the staple had 
 been gathered, the pests fell upon what remained, and then the stain- 
 ing of the fiber became most noticeable. The color of the stain was 
 yellowish brown or ferruginous. Another observation suggests a 
 probable effective method of destroying the pests. All the hollows 
 of stumps or trees in the cotton fields were noticed to be filled by 
 millions of the immature insects. These did not eat the leaves of the 
 cotton plant, but were found ci*awling over the grass and tobacco 
 
107 
 
 plants which were planted in the vicinity of the cotton. In these 
 situations it would be an easy matter to destroy the pests by means of 
 hot water, or kerosene emulsion, or a mechanical mixture of kerosene 
 and water. 
 
 The species is generally distributed in the West Indies. It has 
 been reported from San Domingo, Jamaica, and St. John, and Mr. O. 
 Heidemann's collection contains specimens from Cuba and Mont- 
 serrat. It did not appear, however, in the extensive Smith collection 
 of Hemiptera from Granada, W. L, and likewise seems to be unknown 
 in Mexico and Central America. — W. D. H. 
 
 STOPPAGE OF ELECTRIC LIGHTS BY INSECTS. 
 
 The Electrical World and Engineer of August 9, 1901, says that 
 recently at St. Paul, Minn., the electric lights were stopped by an 
 accumulation of shad flies, 18 inches from wire to wire, shutting off 
 the current of 25,000 volts. The shut down by a short circuit between 
 the wires lasted an hour, and it was found necessary to station an 
 attendant to remove the constantly accumulating insects with a hoe. 
 The figure illustrating the article represented a Bibio, but the text says 
 that the creatures were shad flies. 
 
 A VARIETY OF WHEAT SAID TO BE IMMUNE FROM HESSIAN FLY. 
 
 Maj. William K. King, ex-chief of the seed division, Department of 
 Agriculture, returning from Buffalo, and having interviewed several 
 New York wheat growers, reports that he is authoritatively informed 
 that the only variety of wheat which practically escaped the great 
 damage which the Hessian fly did in that part of the State during the 
 season of 1901 is Dawson's Golden Chaff. The peculiarity in the wheat 
 is that the straw is very stiff and tillers abundantly. It originated at 
 Guelph, Ontario, Canada, at the Dominion Experimental Farms. It 
 has been extensively planted in Canada, also in western Michigan, not 
 only at the Agricultural College, but in the vicinity of Grand Rapids. 
 
 A WESTERN CRICKET IX OREGON. 
 
 July 30, 1901, Mr. R. J. Hollis sent specimens of one of the so-called 
 western crickets (Andbrus purpurascens Uhl.) from Andrews, Harney 
 County, Oreg. Our correspondent had never seen this species in 
 California or elsewhere, but knew that it was a yearly visitor in the 
 vicinity from which he wrote, staying about six weeks, after which 
 it either died or disappeared in some unexplained manner. It was 
 noticed that it was migratory. In some places there were millions 
 of them, and they ate everything from garden truck to leather and 
 canvas, and even each other. They appeared to be sensitive to heat 
 and cold, and were described as herding together like hogs during the 
 
ins 
 
 night, while in the hottest part of the day they got under cover out of 
 the sun. It was an interesting Bight to see so many of them jumping 
 and bopping like Progs. They were so Large and ravenous that it took 
 much vegetation to appease their appetite-. They soon cleaned out a 
 garden. The species appears to be peculiar to arid regions. 
 
 NOTES FROM CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 Tobacco for mushroom fumigation. — John T. Cochran, Claymont, Del., writes 
 that tohacco fumigation has been practiced with some success for mushrooms. It did 
 not entirely remove the insects, but killed many of them. Our correspondent 
 believes that a mild fumigation with tobacco stems, as suggested by us, at frequent 
 intervals before the crop begins to show, will keep down insect pests. 
 
 Insect injury in Texas. — Mr. John Xagle, a Texas correspondent, of Gaines- 
 ville, Cook County, writes under date of July 4, 1902, that every year the State loses 
 25 per cent of all crops through insect depredations, not including losses from other 
 causes, the latter modifying clause being added because the year 1902 at that time 
 gave promise of being one of great deprivation, as many farmers would suffer for the 
 bare necessities of life in that portion of the State at least, where people were going 
 10 miles for water for use on their farms. 
 
 The apple twig-borer (Amphicerus bicaudatus Say) injuring honey locust. — 
 This species, which is also called grape cane-borer and which is known to attack a 
 variety of fruit, forest, and shade trees as well as shrubs, was received May 24, 1902, 
 from Mr. W. S. Robb, Lacrosse, Kans., who reported that it was feeding on honey 
 locust. As in the case of attack to apple, the beetles perforate the bark near a bud, 
 thorn, or branch, generally above, and work directly toward the heart. 
 
 The pear-blight beetle in the Pacific region. — May 23, 1902, Mr. Harry I r. 
 Smith, Vancouver, Wash., sent twigs of Italian prune injured by this species, known 
 also as the shot-hole borer {Xyleborus dispar Fab.), with the information that con- 
 siderable injury was done in that region. Mr. Smith stated that the proportion of 
 trees killed in his young orchard was about 10 to 75. June 12 we received a package 
 of specimens from Ely, Oreg., containing beetles and a score or so of bits of twigs 
 showing injury by this insect. These are the first instances of injury, to our knowl- 
 edge, that have been recorded for this species in the far West. It would be inter- 
 esting to learn how general the attack is, and whether the insects were introduced from 
 our Eastern States, where the species has been present for half a century or more, 
 or from Asia, where it occurs in Siberia. 
 
 Peculiar larval habits of a leaf -beetle affecting prickly ash. — During 1901 
 and 1902 Mr. J. D. Mitchell, Victoria, Tex., sent specimens of Trirhabda brevicollis., 
 stating under date of May 4 of the former year that the larvae burrow into the ground 
 where it is slightly raised, making runs or galleries, from which they crawl out and 
 about day and night, but never more than a few inches from the colony home. The 
 following year he reported that he had found a large colony tunneling into a small 
 hillock and crawling around on the surface of the ground, and had observed also that 
 the pupal stage was passed in the ground, the mature insects issuing about ten days 
 from the time that the larvae disappeared. May 7, 1902, he noted that a large colony 
 of the beetles, which are not unlike the common elm leaf-beetle (Galerucella luteola) 
 in appearance, had about ten days later completely defoliated a large prickly ash 
 I Xanfhoxylum americanum). As with other species of this genus, the beetles are 
 very sluggish, seldom flying, but dropping to the ground when touched or disturbed, 
 and crawling slowly. Mr. E. A. Schwarz, of this office, has observed the same species 
 at Victoria, Tex., often entirely defoliating the brush-like trees of this worthless 
 plant. What is considered to be the same species occurs in Michigan and all over 
 the Eastern States wherever this plant occurs. 
 
109 
 
 Blister beetles attracted to lights. — Mr. Otto Holstein, Cline, Tex., wrote dur- 
 ing August, 1901, that he succeeded in getting rid of blister beetles as well as other 
 insects by placing a lighted lamp in a basin of water; the insects flying about the 
 light invariably fell into the water and drowned, a little oil upon the surface render- 
 ing it impossible for them to escape. This is an old-time remedy against a number 
 of insects, and it is well known that blister beetles are frequently attracted to lights 
 in considerable numbers. The trouble with this remedy, however, is that it is apt 
 to destroy also many beneficial insects. 
 
 Parasites of the tent caterpillar (Clisiocampa americana Harr. ). — Writing June 
 17, 1902, Mr. F. E. Brooks, Frenchcreek, W. Va., sent specimens of parasites of this 
 species, with report that out of 43 cocoons collected on apple trees 9 yielded moths 
 and 8 the tachina fly (Front ina frenchii Will.) , while all the remainder gave 201 indi- 
 viduals of the ichneumon (Pimpla maura Cr. ). Later, our correspondent sent two 
 chalcis fly parasites (Miotropis clisiocampx Ashm. and Dibrachys boucheamis Ratz.), 
 as well as a species of Compoplegine from the same host, 
 
 Parasites of the plum curculio. — Mr. Brooks also sends us from the same locality 
 a Braconid parasite of the plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar), viz: Bracon mel- 
 litor Say; and a chalcis fly, a species of Eurytoma, also a parasite of the curculio. 
 
 Note on Pogonomyrmex barbatus, one of the agricultural ants of Texas. — 
 Mr. G. M. Dodge has recently sent specimens of this ant, together with samples of 
 seeds on which he observed it feeding at Ingram, Kerr County, Tex. These seeds 
 have been identified by Mr. A. J. Pieters, of the Bureau of Plant Industry of this 
 Department, as Texan grama (Bouteloua texana), sand bur (Cenchms tribuloides) , and 
 lance-leaved sage (Salvia lanceolata) . Our correspondent stated that he had seen the 
 ants harvesting these seeds. 
 
 A Cimbex in British Burma. — Mr. George Field, of Washington, an importer 
 of orchids, found attached to the roots of Dendrobium icardianum, an orchid from 
 British Burma, a rough, brown silken cocoon from which issued May 17, 1902, in 
 the insectary of this Department, a new species of sawfly of the genus Cimbex. This 
 fact is of A ery considerable interest, since it seems that no species of this genus has 
 ever been taken in Farther India. 
 
 Note on the ox warble in Mississippi. — March 27, 1902, Mr. Lawrence C. 
 Johnson, geologist, Pachuta, Miss., wrote in regard to this species, which is also 
 called the ox bot or heel fly (Hypoderma lineata Vill. ), stating that about two weeks 
 prior to the date of writing, with the first spring-like weather, this species had 
 appeared in large numbers and had proved a great torment to cattle. The insect did 
 not confine itself to attack on the heel, this, according to popular belief, being because 
 the cattle stamped so much. 
 
 Christian Science for Cattle. — Mr. Franklin, formerly district attorney at San 
 Antonio, Tex., vouches for the fact that two cattle owners at Llano, Tex., treat their 
 cows for screw worms by Christian Science. 
 
 Scavenger flies as a creamery pest. — A correspondent at Garrison, Mo., 
 writing May 16, 1902, transmitted specimens of the fly Calliphora viridescens Desv., 
 with the report that these insects were new, and that they were troublesome in a 
 room where milk was kept. They laid eggs in the cream when it was nearly sweet 
 and beginning to turn. They did not appear to infest the butter, but tried to get into 
 the sweet milk. 
 
 Notes on kissing bugs. — June 28, 1902, we received a specimen of Reduvius p< r- 
 sonatus Linn., from Mr. W. T. Hubbell, Philo, Ohio, with the information that it 
 was caught in the night within the folds of a lady's nightdress after twice stinging 
 her. The lady described the sensation as like the sting of a wasp, causing sickness 
 and something like a chill, symptoms which, however, might have been due to nerv- 
 ousness, as the lady was not very strong. 
 
 July 28, 1902, Mr. J. C. M. Johnston, Xew Wilmington, Pa., sent a minute larva 
 of a lace-winged fly (Chrysopa sp.), with report that it had bitten him on the hand, 
 
110 
 
 and the sensation which followed was similar to that due to the bite of a mosquito, 
 but no inflammation took place. 
 
 Tobacco as a remedy for grape leaf-hoppers. — Mr. Fred W. Card, Kingston, 
 R. I.j writes October 19, 1901, that a Mr. Saunders found tobacco stems on the floor 
 of his grapery an effective remedy against grape "thrips" or leaf-hoppers (Typhlo- 
 cyba). Mr. Card also suggested that after thoroughly clearing out the leaves and 
 refuse during the fall the vines and houses should be thoroughly sprayed with kero- 
 sene emulsion. 
 
 The use of harvest spiders in medicine. — A correspondent from South Caro- 
 lina sends us specimens of IAobunum formosum Wood, with the legs removed and the 
 bodies packed carefully in gelatine capsules, with the remark that he has found them 
 a sure cure for malarial fevers. 
 
 Negro superstition in regard to stinging ants. — The negroes of Louisiana 
 have a superstition, an animistic belief in the little ant (which we call the bulldog 
 ant (Mutillid) for the reason that it is always running around hunting other insects) 
 that if they cook this in a piece of corn bread or mush and feed it to a young pup 
 that it will make a good hunting dog out of the pup. As a general thing, this has to 
 be done by some old hoodoo doctor. I went to work and did the thing myself, and 
 the results were not satisfactory. So I told him it didn't pan out, and he said: 
 " Well, that is because you didn't send for me. Give him to me, and I'll fix that 
 dog up." — E. S. Hattock, Washington, D. C. 
 
 Successful infection of a wireworm with Cordyceps fungus. — July 6, 1902, 
 Mr. C. W. Nash, Toronto, Canada, wrote that he had been successful in infecting the 
 larva of an Elaterid beetle with a fungus disease, a species of Cordyceps. Somewhat 
 prior to the date of writing, larvae were noticed affected by this disease, and the 
 spores were confined with other larva? received from a distance, with the result that 
 several of these larvae were taken with the disease. Writing later, July 21, our 
 correspondent sent a specimen of infected wireworm which Mr. E. A. Schwarz has 
 identified as a species of Drasterius, and with little doubt dorsalis. This specimen 
 had the fungus growing from the side of the head. The fungus was described as 
 growing straight up until it reached the top of the jar in which it was confined. The 
 specimen sent measured between 4 and 4£ inches. 
 
 Cutworm injury to ginseng. — Mr. George Adams, Detroit, Mich., writes in 
 regard to injury done by cutworms to 2,000 valuable ginseng plants (Aralia quinque- 
 folium). He states that they were all gnawed off at night, and that the plants were 
 vigorous and healthy until cut down. In Pulaski County, Mich., he states that gin- 
 seng seed is selling at from $5 an ounce to $120 a pound, and that he had lost his 
 entire crop of seed for the year. 
 
 The unicorn worm in a new role. — Under date of July 29, 1902, Mr. C. P. . 
 Crowell, Rochester, N. Y., sent a specimen of the larvae of Schizura unicornis S. & A., 
 with report that it was devouring the leaves of plum in that vicinity, literally eat- 
 ing everything as it went, leaves and plant-lice included. This insect, as is well 
 known, is a rather general feeder on deciduous woody plants, but its habit of feeding 
 on Aphides has not been recorded to our knowledge. 
 
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