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Entomological News
AND
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION OF THE
ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES
OF
PHILADELPHIA.
&L vw
VOLUME V, 1894.
EDITOR : HENRY SKINNER, M.D.
PHILIP P. CALVERT, Associate Editor.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE :
Gro. H. Horn, M.D. CHARLES A. BLAKE. Ezra T. CRESSON. CHARLES LIEBECK. Rev. Hznry C. McCook, D.D.
~~ we
PHILADELPHIA : ENTOMOLOGICAL ROOMS OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, LOGAN SQUARE.
1894. | ol :
INDEX TO VOLUME V.
GENERAL ENTOMOLOGY.
Alpine insects . . I Arthropods, Claasiticoation mae 213, _ 35. Bisulphide of Carbon as an insecticide. . . ts iy BRE Chicago, Bittholey st sacs Se Bemease and flies... ..... 18 Doherty, W... e . . . 48
Economic Entomologists, he. sociation of 248, . . 249, 254.
Economic Entomology 15, 44, 73, 116, 143, 182, 220, 249, 283, 311.
Editorials 14, 42, 72, 115, 142, 181, 219, 248, 282, 310.
Elementary Entomology 65, 104, 138.
Entomological Literature 16, 21, 51, 81, 116, 117, t21, 143, 144, 148, 187, 220, 222, 225, 255, 284, 288, 310, 317.
Entomological Section, Pro- ceedings of 24, 85, 154, 193, 233, 292, 323.
Experimental Agriculture . . 19
Exportation of Beneficial in- la ae . 184
Feldman Ciilectiiy: Gocial, Meeting of . . . . 292, 322
Floriculture, Entomology in . 316
Field meeting at Jamesburg . 224
Fireflies, Experimenting with . 316
NN MOS te bats 9 ge SO Enpecticides.. .. . . « 22%, 223 Introduced insects . . . . 3II MMOM WW oo 2k cee Ree Legislation against tastes . 44 Local lists, Value of . . . . 119 Mails, Transmission of speci- IN gg oe. ay ee
Morris; Réev.:)2Gus_- es thio 88
Mt. Washington, Insects of 1, 271
Net, Graf-Kriisis’ . . . . 147
New genera, Formation of. on
Newspaper entomology 218, 247 253-
Norton, Edward . . . 161
Notes and News 17, 47, oa 118, 146, 185, 223, 253, 286, 313.
Parasites of wild bees . . . 170 Say Memorial Chapter A. A. . 18 merstery; Mo pee Jo.3 3 a Stowaways, Insectsas . . . 113 Texas, Cellecting in . . . . 307 Typéspecimens . .°. 2.442 US; Entomologist 2... >=. 7182 Waist. DDoS ee Whistiag tree . . .72° 2233 ARACHNIDA. ‘So: Ge rtee sey (Fo a <i). eee ee Mephila eadagascorrusis ante Jo Michigan Aranee . . . . . 163
New N. Amer. species 8, 56, 84, 124, 153, 192, 232@, 259, 299, 321.
Ochyrocera pacifica*. . . . 299 Orchestina saltitans*. . . . 300 Pear-leaf niites.. .. . . « aeegs Spider mimicry. . ...... -saq9 Spiders new to the U. S., Two familiesof. «|... . "ees MYRIAPODA. New N. Amer. species . . . 24 THYSANURA.
Lepidocyrtus cephalopurpureus* 324.
New N. Amer. species 56, 153, 322, 324.
* Denotes new North American species.
~
ii INDEX.
ORTHOPTERA.
Cockroach, Habits of 75, 116
Grasshoppers, Outbreak of . 216 Locusts, Flight of . ; « 237 Mantis, Robber-fly apd . . 169
New N. Amer. species 56, 85, 153, 192, 232a, 259, 291, 322.
Pink Katydids . . 278 NEUROPTERA.
Aeschna clepsydra and crenata, Specific indentity of . . . 9
Cannacria gravida . 193
Distribution of Odonata . 242, 314
Gomphus lividus . - 324
Hlagenius brevistylus - 324
Home among the tree tops, A 301 Kansas, N. of . ge Maine, Odonata of 4132 Myrmeleonidz new to Illinois 47 Mystacides punctata* . . 180 New N. A. species 85, 153, 180, 322
Pantala flavescens, - 324 White Ant again - 314 HEMIPTERA. Aspidiotus bowreyt* . . . . 59
“9 REM E, e Pe Bergrothia steelit* 263, 282 Ceroplastes albolineatus* . 157 Chinch-bug, Contagious dis-
eases of . dit Sa ae Chionaspis weiter” ves eer ae ae Cicada, Periodical . . 145 Coccidz on Ivy . ; 210
Diaspis lanatus. . . . . « 43
Eviococcus coccineus* . 204 Jamaica, New wax-scale from . 157 Lecanium urichi* . . 203
Meromyza americana . . 4 17 New N. Amer. spec 24, 43, 59, 84, 153, 192, 203, 232d, 260, 263, 291,
322. Oceanic H., Habits of Be at fe! Pecilocapsus lineatus . . . 17 San Jose scale . 182, 312
Scolopostethus . ; - 108 - Tettigonide, Synony mites
notes on N. A. » ‘555 COLEOPTERA, Agrilus sinuatus 311, 323 Aphanotus . .. Shure Bostrychus, An inipotted . 118 Briaraxis arthritica* . 159 " depressa* . . 159 Bryaxis albionica* . 195 California, C. of Oa a «a Carpophilus niger larva . . 260 Cassida nebulosa . 146 Cassididz, Notes on our . 224 Conibius » . . Bares = SAD Crioceris eer eeiee re . 292 Cryptohypnus . . Pea Cucujidz of San Diees Gai i ee | Cychrus elevatus . . . . . 18 Cyllodes biplagiatus larva . . 262 Desmoris . % . 205 Early spring trip, An . 175 Ecyrus dasycerus . : ss Euplectus raffrayi* . 196
Hispini of New Jersey . . . 40 Mine, An insect cay . 114 Mononychus vulpecu us and its parasites . 287 New Jersey, C. of . 40, II5 New N. Amer. species 56, 84, 124, 153, 159, 192, 195, 196, 232a, 260, 322. Ozyporus rufipennis and stygi- CUS Se a RN So Passing comments, Some Platypsyllus, Sexual characters
ie ~ 3 4 Pealaphidat os 0 rr Reared C. , 140 Saprinus sulcatulus . . . . 4 Scymnus . 293 Smicronyx 5 Rs eee . 205 Timber beetles ..: 4... tibiae oe
Tritoma humeralis larva
“* Denotes new North American species.
INDEX. ili
DIPTERA.
Asilide, Habits of 110, 169, 173 Brachycoma davidsoni* . . 172 Bugonia superstition . 48 Ceroplatus fasciola* . . 126 Criorhina (Cynorhina) john-
MP eigen ote ey #9 AZS nrex . Ate . 136 Flies and disease. . - . - 18 Holcocephala calva . 292
Mounting D., Hints in fesard to. . 245
New N. Amer: Leppeciea ai, 56 84, 125, 154, 193, 232@, 322.
Orthostethus infuscata . 292 Rhynchocephalus sackent -... 47 Robber-fly 110, 169 Sapromyzing, Amer. gerera of 196 ‘Tachinid attack .... =. 78 Townsend collection . . 186 LEPIDOPTERA. Alcathe caudatum 331 Aletia argillacea . 147 Apatura celtis . . 120 Arkansas, L. of . 108 Brooklyn, Collecting in . . 174 Catocalz of Pittsburg . 212 Classification of L. . 240 Codling moth . 284 Coinposia fidelissima . . 118 Connecticut, Butterflies of . . 77 Cossids and woodpeckers . . 73 Cossus centerensis . yay)
Destroying caterpillars blew method of . ‘ . 283
Destroy Zeuzera pyrina, To . 287
Dygoniide, New West African 57
_ Early L. - 79, 146, 147 Erebus odorain houses. 71, 117 Eudamus outis* (eae Weuniead tatila >. i a ee TF Euphoria inda* . 198 Geometrid larve, Deseriptvds
Be eee o Dain s One ae
Geometrina . . W685 Id., Types of N. Amer: in Bu
ropean collections . . 302 Grain moth at the Fair... . 15 Greenland Microlepidoptera . 129 Hepialus lembert®* . . . + 25 Hesperide, African . 26, 89 Hyparpax tyria* . 198 Martindale collection . . 146 Microlepidoptera 104, 129, 138 Missouri, Sphinges of . 176 Montana, Butterflies of . . . 36 Myscelia skinnert* . . «+ 96 New African species . . 26, 57, 89 New Genera, Formation of . 253
New N. Amer. species 24, 25, 56, 96, I10, 124, 131, 153, 193, 198, 2324, 260, 330, 331, 332.
Notes common or otherwise . 277 Pagara eudora* . 198 Papilio cresphontes 7a
‘“ homerus \arva and pupa Io1
‘< philenorin N.E. . 41,77 Philampelus licaon . 314 Pterophorina 208, 279
Pyralidina and Pterophorina,
relationship between . 208, 279 Sannina exitiosa n. var. ‘hax Sciapteron dollit* . . 330
fe seminole* . 330 Sericoris mengelana* Pa i, 5 Smerinthus geminatus a 3 4
% Interfaunal hybrid. 326 Sphinges of Missouri . . 176 Sphinx luscitiosa \arva and
pupa ; . 265 Tachyris saiee Vv. ‘Neuaiee
geni* SOPTO Thecla acis . 180
‘+ californica oo ee Timor-Laut, Butterflies of . . 39 Utah, Collecting in 133, 164 Venturesome insects . . 120
HYMENOPTERA.
Alyson radiatus* . . . » « 87
* Denotes new North American species.
iv INDEX.
Alyson striatus* . . .. . & Synopsis of . . . . 86 Ants from N. Mex. - 103 Bees fly, How far do? . 254 Bembex monedonta . BM Bees, Parasites of wild Pa by (3) Brachycistus ‘ . 296 et elegantulus* . 295 Calliopsis subalpinus* . 235 Chrysis mesille* . . 125 Didinets nodosa* . 51527 ‘‘ . peculiaris® . . 128
‘* Synopsis of . . 126
Harpiphorus maculatus, Num-
ber of annual broods of . . 275 Hemiteles . 118, 146 Longevity of parasites . 147 Mellinus, Synopsis of . 201 Melissodes tristis* . e334
Mounting H., Hints in regard to 245 New N. Amer. species, 56, 85, 87, 124, 125, 127, 128, 154, 193, 199, 232, 234, 260, 293, 297, 323, 328.
New localities for H. . 246 Nomada penniger* . 235 Northward range of southern species . . 224 Parasites of Micmac hus >. 287 Parnopes festivus* . 328 Perdita luteola* . 328 Pezomachus and Hemiteles, Identity of . 118, 146 Photopsis is nocturnal . 286 ‘ territus* . 200
=i versus Brachycistus 296 Sphere’ dugesit* . . 294 heterochroa* 293
megacantha* 294 o toumeyt* . , 297 = townsendi* . 199 2 tome”; . 199 CONTRIBUTORS TO VOL. V. Aaron, S. F., . IIO Aich, H., ; 147, 148 Arnold, Sir. E., ek yg
Baker, C. F., uae ae (Ge Banks, N., 8, 178, 213, 298 Bischoff, E. A., . 115, 118
Blaisdell F. B..s:. See
Boerner, C. R., . Ree yf." Brendel, E., 158, 194 Calvert, P. P., . 9, 242 Casad, Miss J. E., . 293 Casey, T.: Li, . 205
Cockerell, T. D. A. es 9; 79, 125, 157, 173, 199, 203, 210, 234, 263, 282, 287, 293, 328
Coquillett, D. W., . 125; 192 Daggett, F. S., . 216 Davidson, A., . 170 Davis, J. , ace) aetna . 108 Denton; 'S2Waos- sees . 4! Dyar, H. G., ae: 60, iok ans 329 Ehrmann, G. A., > 252 Fall, H.C. s.r ae
Fernald, C. H., 104, 129, 138
Fischer, E. R., 7 cee Fox, W. J., 24, 86, 126, 201, 296, 297 Hamilton, J., é . 288 Harvey, F. L., . 324 Heilprin, . 301 Holland, W. a “ ® 39, 57, 89 Hopping, R., 4 . 116
Horn, G. H., 6, 14, $6: T4I, 146, 224
Hulst, G. D., . 65, 279, 302 Kellicott, D. S., . 314 Kellogg, V.L.,. . 283 Kingsley, J. S., . + 338 Klages, E. A., eau Kunze, R. E., 265, 316 Laurent, Fi, 146, 147 Lembert, J. B., . 120 Marlatt, C. L., es . 255 McDade, J. E., 3... Menzel, Ly, Waist, «sa eee Merkel, A., 0 ee . 254 Moore, I. F., Jf; 0:7 eae Moore, , Wo) ais see Nason, W. A., 245, 246 Neumoegen, B., 326, 330
* Denotes new North American species.
Osten Sacken, Cr
Ottolengui, R.., Packard, A.S., . Patton, W. H., Pilate, G. R., Riley, C. V., Rowley, R. R., . Schaus, W.,
Sharp, F.,
Skinner, H., . Slingerland, M. V., Slosson, Mrs. A. T..,
INDEX. v
48
. 314
. 11g 119, 224 E20 185, 186 Bir76 17
. 307
. 110, 180, 332
17
¥,-¥98;. 271
Smith, J. B., 15, 44, 73, 116, 143, 182, 218, 220, 240, 249, 283, 311
Snyder, A.J., . 133, 164, 277, 309
|
|
Taylor, GB ee eae a th FOL Townsend 6. Best ees TOR Tutt, Je Wy ae pa 08 Van Duzee, E.'P.; 2.2” 108,155 Wadsworth, MissM., . . . 132 Walton, UL. Beis; tone been as Webster F. M., 78, 140, a 147, 275 Wenzel, H. W.. slehe ey AO Westcott, OO Sir ae ae oe White, H. G.,) 5 235 aa 2a7 Wickham, H. F., 33, 78, 117, 260 Wiley, C. A., . Te pehe nite Ate 5, Williston, S. W., 48, 5 186, 196 Wood, WC. 0 Sse Hie:
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION
ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA.
VoL. v. JANUARY, 18094. No. 1. CONTENTS: Slosson—List of insects taken in alpine PEO, «02.4... -.000:csecsesgunpendevent siutanens 1¢ region of Mt. Washington...........-. I | Economic Entomology.......ssssssesereeeees 15 Horn—A note on Cryptohypnus........... 6 BIGEeS. ANG NewS. ....00:.: dnlonedetipsdeenusates 17 Banks—Notes on Larinia and Cercidia 8 | Entomological Literature................. 21 Calvert—On the specific identity of AE. Entomological Section........ccccesesereecee 24 clepsydra and crenata ....cs.sseereeseeeee 9 | Dyar—A new Hepialus from Cala......... 25 Walton—Oxy. rufipennis and stygicus.. 13 | Holland—African Hesperiide............. 26
LIST OF INSECTS TAKEN IN ALPINE REGION OF MT. WASHINGTON.
By ANNIE TRUMBULL SLOsson.
In 1874, Mr. E. P. Austin (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. vol. Xvi, p. 265) published his ‘‘ Catalogue of the Coleoptera of Mt. Washington, N. H., with descriptions of new species by J. L. LeConte, M.D.’’
In 1877, Mr. F. Gardiner, Jr., published in ‘‘ Psyche’’ (vol. li, p. 211) a list of additional species taken by himself and Mr. W. Schaus, Jr., in July, 1877. In neither of these catalogues do the authors limit themselves strictly to insects collected in the alpine region proper, though in the latter list nearly all were taken there. . .
Mr. Austin’s camp was situated ‘‘a short distance below the- Half-way House,’’ about 3900 feet altitude, and nearly all of his collecting was done near that place. He includes, also, he says, Coleoptera taken by Mr. S. H. Scudder ‘‘near the foot of the mountain,’’ others gathered by Mr. Samuel Henshaw, locality not given, and some from a list of general White Mountain species by Mr. G. D: Smith, as far as I can discover comparatively few - of the insects named in this catalogue were.taken on the summit
I
2 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ January,
or above what is called the alpine line, 4000 feet above sea-level.
In the list of Messrs. Gardiner and Schaus the localities are carefully designated. Out of its 114 species not contained in Austin’s list, all but a half dozen or so seem to have been taken above the alpine limit. I know-of no lists in orders other than Coleoptera ever published.
In July and August, of 1893, as mentioned in a previous paper (Ent. NEws, vol. iii, p. 249), I spent several days on Mt. Wash- ington and collected many species. I herewith append a com- plete list of such, and add also a few taken in previous visits. These last are marked with an asterisk. Every insect here men- tioned was taken at or above 5500 feet altitude, and much the greater part of them on the summit, or cone itself, about 6300 feet. Among the Coleoptera there are fifty species not included in either Austin’s or Gardiner’s lists, and in other orders there are at least five entirely new species, and probably more. Let me again repeat here my grateful acknowledgement of assistance .rendered me in the identification of insects by Messrs. Liebeck, Fox, Davis, Van Duzee, Calvert and others, without whose aid I could not have prepared this list. :
COLEOPTERA. Amara hyperborea De. “* latior Kirby. 584 eS * Platynus cupripennis Say. Cicindela longilabris? Say. Agonoderus pallipes Fab. Carabide. Harpalus pleuriticus Airéy.
. t ® . Carabus chamissonis Fisch. Stenolophus cola
* Calosoma frigidum XA7rby. Elaphrus fuliginosus Say. Nebria suturalis Lec.
‘* sahlbergi Fisch. Bembidium pictum Lec. Patrobus rugicollis Rand. Trechus chalybeus A/ann. Pterostichus adoxus Say.
f coracinus Newm. * es lucublandus Say.
" vitreus De.
a; mandibularis Kirby.
i vindicatus Mann.
sf hudsonicus Lec. Amara arenaria Lec.
‘© similis Kirby.
Dytiscide. Laccophilus maculosus Germ. Bidessus affinis Say. Hydroporus sp. ?
Agabus confinis ? Rhantus binotatus Harr.
Hydrophilide. Helophorus linearis Lec. ? Hydrophilus mixtus Lec. Berosus striatus Say. Cymbiodyta fimbriatus J7Ze/sh. Creniphilus subcupreus Say.
Silphide. Silpha surinamensis /aé,
1894. ]
Staphylinide. Quedius sp. ?. Philonthus palliatus Grav. ? es debilis Grav. Xantholinus hamatus Say. Stenus sp. ? Acidota crenata Fad. .
Coccinellide.
Coccinella trifasciata Linn.
ig transverso-guttata Fad. Harmonia similis Rand,
= picta Rand. 12-maculata Ged Psyllobora 20-maculata Say. Brachyacantha ursina Fad.
“s
Byrrhide.
_ Simplocaria metallica Sturm.
Cytilus trivittatus J/e/sh.
Byrrhus cyclophorus Airéy ? “« geminatus Lec.
Elateride.
Cryptohypnus sanborni Horn.
«« —___ abbreviatus Say. restrictus Mann. Elater socer Lec.
“ semicinctus Rand. nigricans Germ. ? rubricus Say. apicatus Say.
Agriotes limosus Lec. Limonius sp. ?
Campylus denticornis Arby. Paranomus costalis Pay.
sd pictus Cand. Corymbites virens Schr.
Je resplendens Esch. spinosus Lec. medianus Germ. triundulatus Rand. propola Lec. hieroglyphicus Say. cruciatus Linn.
* Asaphes decoloratus .Say.
“ce
oe
“
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS.
Buprestidae. * Buprestis maculiventris Say. Melanophila longipes Say.
“ drummondi A7réy. fulvoguttata Harr. Chrysobothris trinervia A7rby.
* bs scabripennis Z.@G.
“
Lampyride. Cznia dimidiata Fad. Eros aurora Abst. Lucidota atra Fad. Ellychnia corrusca Linn. Pyropyga decipiens Harr. Podabrus diadema Fad. Telephorus carolinus Fad.
es rotundicollis Say.
Cleride. — Thanasimus undulatus Say.
Ptinide.
‘Ptilinus ruficornis Say.
Scarabeide. * Aphodius fimetarius Zivzz. ae granarius Linn. prodromus Brahm. Allorhina nitida Ziv. * Euphoria fulgida Fad.
iad
Cerambycide. Asemum meestum add. Tetropium cinnamopterum Azrby. Rhagium lineatum OH. * Rhopalopus sanguinicollis Horn, Pachyta monticola Rand. Anthophilax attenuatus add. Acmeops bivittata Say. 43 proteus Azrby.
Leptura 6 maculata Zinn.
f canadensis Fad. ‘proxima Say. pubera Say. ruficollis Say. mutabilis Vewm. * Monohammus scutellatus Say.
4 ENTOMOLOGICAL
Pogonocherus penicellatus Lec.
Chrysomelide.
* Donacia emarginata A7réy. Orsodachna childreni Airby.
= tibialis Airdy. Adoxus vitis Linn. Doryphora to-lineata Say. Chrysomela elegans Oliv. Gonioctena pallida Zzuz. * Luperus varipes Lec. eg = cyanellus Lec.
‘s meraca Say. * Trirhabda canadensis Kirby.
Galerucella cavicollis Lec. ‘s decora Say.
Tenebrionide.
*Tphthimus opacus Lec. * Upis ceramboides Linn.
Cistellide. Isomira 4-striata Coup. Melandryidz. Scotodes americanus orn. Pyihide. Crymodes discicollis Lec. Cephaloide. Cephaloon lepturides Newm. Anthicide. * Corphyra lugubris Say. Pyrochroide. Schizotus cervicalis Vewm. Curculionide.
Lepyrus colon Liz. Balaninus uniformis Lec.
Scolytide. Polygraphus rufipennis A7rdy.
HYMENOPTERA.
Tenthredinide. Pristiphorus identidem JVor7. Strongylogaster annulosus? Vor‘.
(a var. ?)
NEWS. [ January,
Dolerus arvensis Say. * Macrophya epinota Say. : fuliginea Nort. © Tenthredo rufipes Say. 63 eximia ort. signata JVort.
Uroceride. Xiphydria provancheri C7.
Ichneumonide.
Ichneumon sublatus Cr. ie leviculus C. e w-album Cy. sp.? i. approximanis (?) Prov. Platylabus scutellatus Prov. ¢ signatus Prov. Phygadeuon sp. ? Cryptus annulatus Prov. Mesostenus albomaculatus Ophion bifoveolatum Brule. Anomalon rufulum Prov. Xenoschesis alpinensis Davis ms. * Opheltes glaucopterus Linn. Mesoleius canadensis Prov. sf bicolor Davis ms. * Arotes amoenus C7. “« ~~ decorus Say. Pimpla inquisitor Say. * “ -pedalis-Ce: Schizopyga frigida C. Meniscus elegans C7. %, => var. Xylonomus stigmapterus;Say.
Braconidae. Bracon simplex C7. Rhogas sp. ? Helcon dentipes Brulle. Chrysidide. Elampus sp. ? * Chrysis nortoni Aaron.
Formicidae. * Camponotus herculaneus Zinn. Formica sp. ?
a ae
“ce
“ce “
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS.
Lasius sp. ? Myrmica sp. ? Apide.
Bombus pennsylvanicus DeG.
* Apis mellifica Zinn.
LEPIDOPTERA. Rhopalocera.
* Danais archippus /aé. Argynnis atlantis Zwd.
“3 myrina Cram.
«. —montinus Scud.
3" bellona Fad. * Melitza harrisii Scud. Grapta faunus Edw.
“gracilis G. G& R.
Vanessa antiopa Zinn.
te milbertii Gd. * Limenitis arthemis Dru.
“ disippus Gd7. Chionobas semidea Say. Pieris napi Zs. “rape Linn.
Colias philodice Gad. * Papilio turnus Zinn. * Pamphila hobomok Harr.
3 peckius Azrby. ah ata cernes Edw. Nisoniades icelus Lint.
Heterocera. Albuna torva Hy. Edw. Aegeria fulvipes Harr. * Alypia langtonii Coup. CEdemasia concinna Pack. Platypteryx arcuata Walk. Agrotis prasina.
ste: SD:.?
* Pachnobia wockei Moesch.
* Carneades opipara Werr.
Plusia vaccinii Hy. Edw. ** simplex Guen.
Anarta melanopa 7hunbd. ** scheenherri Ze?z.
Lobophora sp. ?
* Carsia paludata 7hund.
Eupithecia cretaceata Pack. Laodamia fusca Haw. Caccecia georgiana G77. Ptycholoma melaleucana Wak. Sciaphila meeschleriana Wocke. Penthina intermistana Clem.
HEMIPTERA.
Heteroptera.
Corimelzena atra Am. G 5S. * Canthophorus cinctus Pad. Beauv. Podisus spinosus Dad/as.
‘* — modestus Dadas. Brochymena arborea Say. Acanthosoma lateralis Say. Ligyrocoris sylvestris Linn. Eremocoris ferus Say. Trigonotylus ruficornis Fad/. Leptopterna dolobrata Zinn. Resthenia insignis Say.
%: insitiva Say. Lopidea confluens Say.
* Calocoris rapidus Say. Capsus ater Linn. Monaloccris filicis Zinn. * Capsid gen. ? sp. ?
“ce cc “ce Aradus 4-lineatus? Say. Coriscus punctipes Rez. Limnoporus rufoscutellatus Zaz. * Salda deplanata UAd.
Be SDo?
Homoptera.
*Ceresa bubulus Fad. Cyrtolopus sp. ? Ophiderma salamandra Faim. Delphacid gen. ? sp. ? Philznus lineatus Zinn. * Bythoscopus sobrius Wadk.
=H pruni Prov. Oncometopia costalis Fad. Helochara communis Fitch. Deltocephalus configuratus UAd. Cicadula 6-notata Fad/.
ys slossoni VanD.
"6 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS.
DIPTERA.
Bibio sp. ?
* Chironomus sp. ?
Dicronomyia pudica O. 5S.
Tipula sp. ?
Xylophagus rufipes Loew. Je sp.?
Therioplectes lasiophthalmus A/acg.
Dioctria albius Wadk. - Cyrtopogon bimacula Say. Holcocephala abdominalis Say. Dasyllis flavicollis Say. Symphromyia pullata Cog. * Laphria pubescens Wid/ist.
“s sericea Say. * Melanostoma obscura O. |S. * Syrphus contumax O. 5S.
ms torvus, O. |S. pall os lesueurii Macq. Eristalis compactus Wa/k. -
‘* dimidiatus Wied.
“* tenax Linn.
Also many species of Tachinidz and Muscidz not identified. * Xylota curvipes Loew. Temnostoma bombylans Fad. a alternans Loew.
Homalomyia sp. ?
[ January,
Cordylura sp. ? Scatophaga stercoraria Linn. *Tetanocera plumosa Loew.
* saratogensis Fitch.
ORTHOPTERA.
* Pezotettix glacialis Scud. Melanoplus femur-rubrum DeG. Chortophagus viridifasciata DeG. Hippiscus tuberculatus P. deB. Tettix granulatus Azrby. -
“* ornatus Say. Tettigidea polymorpha Burm. Periplaneta americana Fad.
NEUROPTERA. Nehalennia irene Hag. Chrysopa oculata Say. Several Phryganide, etc., un- identified. ARANEZ., Clubiona canadensis 2m. Pardosa brunnea £m. PHALANGIDE. Oligolophus montanus és. ms. ACARINZA. Rhyncolophus montanus #és, n. sp.
oO
A NOTE ON CRYPTOHYPNUS. By Gro. H. Horn, M.D.
In a recent number of ‘‘ Entomologische Nachrichten’’ (1893, pp. 305-311) Mr. E. Bergroth publishes some remarks on the Cat. Col. Eur. by E. Reitter, which have but little interest for our fauna until Cryptohypnus is reached, concerning which he says: ‘‘The genus Crytohypnus Latr. is still confounded with Hypnoidus Steph. They are, however, two distinct genera stand- ing well apart, as Schioedte has shown, defining them in the fol- lowing manner:
Cryptohypnus.—Epimera of mesothorax reaching the coxa,
1894. ] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 7
the outer closure of the coxal cavity formed of mesosternum, mes-epimeron and metasternum.
Hlypnoidus.—Epimera of mesothorax not reaching the coxa, the cavity closed externally by the meso- and metathorax.
Schioedte’s work was entirely overlooked by me, and the char- acters above noted were equally unobserved. ‘As the genera formed, at the expense of Cryftohypnus, seemed untenable, I ventured the remark that, ‘‘if any division of Cryptohypnus be thought necessary, that based on the form of the prosternal sutures appears to be the only one desirable.’’ The genus Hypnozdus, as defined, is really due to Schioedte, as without his definition it is as untenable as several others which are not now recognized as valid.
As thus defined, our species arrange themselves in the follow- ing manner:
Hypnoidus Steph. (Schioedte). Cryptohypnus Zacr. striatulus Lec. littoralis Asch. delumbis Horn. grandicollis Lec. charis Say. hyperboreus Gy//. ornatus Lec. , barbatus Sah/d. cucullatus Horn. abbreviatus Say. melsheimeri Horn. impressicollis J/ann. caurinus Horn. nocturnus Esch. dispersus Horn. squalidus Lec. gradarius Horn. funebris Cand. tumescens Lec. planatus Lec. musculus £sch.
dubius Horn.
gentilis Lec. zstivus Horn. perplexus Horn. restrictulus J/ann. obliquatulus M/s. pectoralis Say.
On comparing the above list with my essay on Cryptohypnus, it will be observed that our species divide into the two genera on precisely the lines indicated by me, based on the form of the prosternal sutures.
8 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ January,
NOTES ON LARINIA AND CERCIDIA. By NATHAN BANKS.
The genus Lavinia was established by Simon in 1874, for two spiders from France. The genus is readily distinguished from its ally, Simga, by having the p. m. e. nearly touching, and the larger a. s. e. quite widely separated. The body is elongate, and the abdomen projects over the cephalothorax in a blunt point. Epeira directa Hentz agrees with the characters of Lavinia, and so must belong to it. In the Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1892, p. 127, Dr. McCook forms, for £. directa, the new genus Drex- elia; but as the type species belongs to Lavinia, Drexelia be- comes a synonym. I have seen another species of this genus which may be separated from ZL. directa by the following char- acters:
Metatarsus I longer than tibia I and twice as long as the width of body,
- sternum yellow . . . err Metatarsus I not longer than “aitia I and hot nae than width of body, sternum black.) 2 wou. SO.
Larinia borealis nov. sp.
Length 6 mm.; tibia plus pateJla I 2.5 mm. Cephalothorax pale yel- lowish, with a black line on the margin and a black line, bifid near an- terior end, reaching from the dorsal groove to the p. m. e. Mandibles, palpi and legs pale yellowish; sternum black, with a narrow median yel- low line. Abdomen gray, with black spots on the sides, above with a pale median stripe, and a row of four black spots on each side near tip; venter with three narrow black stripes, uniting at base of spinnerets. Ce- phalothorax much narrowed in front, but not as slender as in LZ. directa; sternum barely narrowed in front; legs moderate; much shorter than in L. directa, especially the anterior pairs; abdomen about twice as long as wide, pointed in front, broadly rounded behind.
I have six specimens of this species, four from Olympia, Wash. (Mr. Trevor Kincaid), and two from Franconia, N. H. (Mrs. A. T. Slosson).
Larinia directa Hentz. Epeira directa Hentz and Fpeira rubella Hentz. Drexelia directa McCook.
Length 1o mm.; tibia plus patella I 55 mm. This is a much more slender species than Z. borealis, the abdomen three times as long as broad, and the legs much longer. The abdomen varies much in mark- ings, usually having a yellowish stripe above, and some black spots or lines each side; the venter has two brown lines uniting just before the
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 9
spinnerets; the sternum is yellow; the legs are sometimes finely pointed with black. The abdomen projects beyond the spinnerets farther than in L. borealis.
I have collected it in eastern Texas, where it makes an oblique web in grass. Hentz had it from South Carolina and Alabama.
Cercidia Thorell, 1870.
This genus is also close to Simga, but differs in having the fourth pair of legs longer than the first. The abdomen is pointed in front like that of Zarinia. One species is known in Europe, and I have received it in a collection of spiders from Franconia, N. H., made by Mrs. A. T. Slosson.
Cercidia prominens Westring. Singa scutigera Westr. Epeira bella Mead.
Atea spinosa Ohl.
Length5 mm. Cephalothorax red; st ancibibe red with a black spot; sternum black; legs yellowish with brown rings; abdomen brownish above, with a large reddish shield nearly covering the dorsum, an indis- tinct light stripe and behind some transverse black lines; venter with a median black stripe as wide as sternum, yellowish each side; there are five short black spines in front on the dorsal shield, and four prominent muscular spots above. The cephalothorax has above on the median line two prominent spines. The epigynum consists of a short and broad finger arising from the anterior edge of a cavity which is much broader than long.
One female, Franconia, N. H.
0
ON THE SPECIFIC IDENTITY OF ASSCHNA CLEPSYDRA Say and ZZ, CRENATA Hagen (evemita Scudder).
By PuiLip P. CALVERT, Philadelphia, Pa.
In my recent ‘‘ Catalogue of the Odonata (Dragonflies) of the vicinity of Philadelphia, with an Introduction to the Study of this group of Insects’ (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xx, pp. 152a—-272, 1893), I have placed schna crenata Hagen 1856, and . ere- mita Scudder 1866, as synonyms of clepsydra Say 1839, prom- ising in a foot-note (p. 248) to present the evidence for this ac- tion later. This paper is a fulfilment of that promise.
The specific identity of crenata and eremita has been known since 1875, and needs no discussion here.
Having suspected that clepsydra and evemita were but two ex-
fe) ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ January,
treme forms of one and the same species, I sent a specimen of what I presumed to be clepsydra to Mr. Samuel Henshaw, with the request that he compare it with specimens at Boston and Cambridge. His reply, dated Cambridge, July 7, 1893, is as follows: ‘‘ Your ‘presumed clepsydra’ agrees in every point you. mention with the cleAsydra in the M. C. Z. [Museum of Com- parative Zodlogy] collection, and also with the Say type in B. S. N. H. [Boston Society of Natural History] Harris collection, as far as it can be compared with it. In the Say specimen, one of the sup. app. is wholly destroyed, and also the apical portion of the other; the inf. app., clypeus, and comparative robustness of the Say specimen agree with your ‘ presumed clepsydra’ rather than with evemita.”’
I possess one of the original $ types of evemita Scud., given to me by Dr. Hagen. The following table shows the differences which I find between this type and a male ‘‘ presumed c/epsydra’”’ almost exactly like the one sent to Mr. Henshaw. With the ex- ception of number 2, these are the ‘‘ points you mention’’ re- ferred to in Mr. Henshaw’s letter:
LE. eremita Scud. oJ type. Presumed . clepsydra Say 3. 1. More robust in form, e. g., great- 1. Less robust, é. g., greatest width est width of thorax 8 mm. of thorax 6.5 mm.
2. A black line on the suture be- 5 No such black line. ‘tween nasus and frons.
3. Clypeus broad (5 mm.) in pro- 3- Clypeus narrower (3 mm.) in
portion to its height (3 mm.) ae to its height (2.6 mm). 4. Auricles on second abdominal 4, The same with four teeth, the segment with five teeth, the outer one very small. outer two smaller. ; 5. Median basal tooth of 10 not 5- Compressed, sharp at tip when compressed, blunt at tip when viewed from behind. — viewed from behind. 6. Sup. app. abruptly narrowed in 6. Sup. app. not abruptly narrowed the basal third; extreme apex in the basal third; extreme apex prolonged into a distinct, acute barely with an acute point. process.
7. Inf. app. more than half as long as sup. app. and more acute at
tip.
None of these differences are constant, and they vary indepen- dently of each other. \can find no characters that are invariable, and consequently regard the two specimens here tabulated as two extremes of one and the same species.
These conclusions are based on a study of forty males from the following localities: An original type of evemzta Scud. from
7. Inf. app. one-half as long as.sup. app.
1894.] ~ ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. II
Hermit Lake, Mt. Washington, N. H.; twenty-two from the same locality collected Aug. 2, 1890, and two from near Fabyan’s, White Mountains, N. H., Aug. 22, 1889, by myself; eight from Lake St. Regis, Franklin County, N. Y., by Mr. J. Percy Moore; two from Pictou, Nova Scotia, by Mr. W. Sheraton; two from Sherborn, Mass., by Mr. A. L. Babcock; two from the Catskill Mountains, N. Y., August 28, by Mr. E. M. Aaron (A. E. S.); one from St. Johns, Newfoundland, by the Peary Relief Expedi- tion (Phila. A. N. S.). I have not been able to separate the females of this species from those of 4. constricta, verticalts, etc.
In view of the existence of Dr. Scudder’s careful and detailed description of evemzta, it will be necessary here to note merely those variations from his description and from Dr. Hagen’s de- scription of clepsydra (Syn. Neur. N. A., p. 122, 1861) which are revealed by a study of the above material.
The black line on the fronto-nasal suture is present in all the males (23) from Hermit Lake, in the one from Newfoundland, in one from the Cats- kills, and in one from Lake St. Regis, but absent in the remaining four- teen.*
The single male from Lake St. Regis which possesses this black line approaches the males from Hermit Lake in the shape of the sup. app. more closely than do any of the other seven from Lake St. Regis which have not this black line. Nevertheless, the transitions in shape of the sup. app. between all eight from Lake St. Regis are very gradual.
The number of teeth on the auricles varies as follows: 3-6 (Hermit Lake), 3-4 (Lake St. Regis), 3-4 (Catskills), 2-4 (Sherborn), 3 (Newfound- land, Fabyan’s); their number is frequently different on the right and left auricles of the same individual.
The blue spots on the tenth abdominal segment are confluent in three males from Lake St. Regis, not confluent in the remaining thirty-seven.
The shape of the superior appendages is the most important structural character involved in this discussion. The variation is shown in the ac- companying series of seven figures.
MY
Dorsal view of apex of right superior appendage of a series of males of schna clep- sydra Say, from various localities. (Enlarged.)
1. Lake St. Regis; 2. Fabyan’s, N. H.; 3. Lake St. Regis; 4. Pictou, N. S.; 5. Lake St. Regis; 6,7, Hermit Lake; 6 is from the original type of eremta Scud., quoted in the text. Some of the denticulations on the carina are shown by minute circles.
* Dr. Hagen writes of . evemiz[ic\a, ‘‘ The black anterior line on the front is some- times wanting.” Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H. xviii, p. 34.
12 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ January,
The shape of the superior appendages in the males from Hermit Lake varies but slightly (Figs. 6 and 7), while the maximum variation is shown by those from Lake St. Regis (Figs. 1, 3, 5). Those from Fabyan’s, Pictou, Sherborn and the Catskills incline towards the typical clepsydra in this detail, the one frem Newfoundland to the typical eremita.
The number of denticulations on the carina of the superior appendages varies from 4-9 (Hermit Lake), 4-8 (Fabyan’s), 4-7 (Lake St. Regis), 5-7 (Catskills), 8 (Newfoundland), and is not always the same on the right and left appendages of the same individuals. In the two males from Sherborn the denticulations are so slight as to suggest that transitional forms may hereafter be found connecting this species with 4. verticalis Hag., which itself is but a variety of the circumpolar jumcea L. (See Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xx, p. 248.)
The following measurements show the variations in size in millimeters: Abdomen (including appendages), 54-57.5 (Hermit Lake), 51-57.5 (Lake St. Regis), 52-53.5 (Fabyan’s), 52 (Pictou), 52-56 (Snerborn), 54 (Cats- kills), 57.5 (Newfoundland). Hind wing: 43-47 (Hermit Lake), 44-45 (Lake St. Regis), 43-44.5 (Fabyan’s), 42° (Pictou), 45-50 (Sherborn), 47 (Catskills), 49.5 (Newfoundland). Number of antecubitals on front wings: 16-21 (Hermit Lake), 19-23 (Lake St. Regis), 18-20 (Fabyan’s), 16 (Pictou), 16-22 (Sherborn), 17-19 (Catskills), 17-18 (Newfoundland); of postcubitals on the front wings: 12-18 (Hermit Lake), 13-14 (Lake St. Regis), 11-13 (Fabyan’s), 10-11 (Pictou), ro-14 (Sherborn), 12-13 (Cats- kills), 14 (Newfoundland);
On the front wings, the antecubitals which are thicker than their fellows are:
Ist and 5th — 3 Lake St. Regis, 1 Sherborn, 2 Catskills.
1st ‘* 6th— 2 Hermit Lake, 1 Lake St. Regis, 1 Fabyan’s.
Ist ‘* 5th on one side, 1st and 6th on other — 2 Pictou, 1 Fabyan’s.
«< th—{ 13 Hermit Lake, 1 Sherborn, 3 Lake St. Regis. 7 1 Newfoundland.
Ist ‘‘ 5th on one side, 1st and 7th on other —-1 Hermit Lake.
Ist
‘ ‘6 “ “c “c 2 Hermit Lake. ist“ 6th —{ t Lake St. Regis. ist." 7 “ 1stand 8th ‘“ — 4 Hermit Lake.
On the hind wings, the antecubitals, which are thicker than their fellows; are: Ist and 6th — 2 Hermit Lake, 1 Sherborn.
1st ‘‘ 6th on one side, rst and 5th on other — 1 Lake St. Regis.
1st ‘‘ 7th—11 Hermit Lake, 4 Lake St. Regis, 1 Fabyan’s, 1 Sher- born, 1 Catskills, 1 Pictou, 1 Newfoundland.
1st ‘‘ 7th on one side, rst and 6th on other— 5 Hermit Lake, 1 Cats- kills, 1 Pictou.
Ist ‘* 7th on one side, 1st and 8th on other — { 1 Hermit Lake.
2 Lake St. Regis. 1st ‘‘ 7th on one side, rst and gth on other — 1 Lake St. Regis. 1st ‘“ 8th—2 Hermit Lake. i
Ist ‘‘ 8th on one side, rst and 6th on other —1 Fabyan’s.
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 13
The number of cells in the discoidal triangle of the front wings varies even in individuals from the same locality, but no tabulation has been made.
The preceding data on variation have been included in order that they may serve as cautions against regarding the conditions to which those data refer as specific.
Bibliography and Synonymy. Eschna clepsydra Say, Jour. Ac. N.S. Phila. viii, p. 12, 1839. Hagen, Syn. Neur. N. A., p. 122, 1861; Proc. Soc. N. H., xviii, p. 35, 1875. Cal- vert, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xx, p. 248, 1893. 2. crenata Hagen, Stet. Ent. Zeit. xvii, p. 369, 1856. Selys, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg. xv, p. 35, 1872; xxxi, p. 60, 1887. Bergroth, Ent. Nach. vii, p. 86, 1881. ; 2. eremita Scudder, Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H. x, p. 213, 1866. Hagen, Z. ¢. Xv, p. 376, 1873. “si AE. evemitlic\ja Hagen, Proc. B. S. N. H. xviii, p. 34, 1875. A. maxima Heikel, Not. Faun. Flor. Fenn. vi, p. 117, 1861. The known distribution of this species is—Labrador to Massa- chusetts, New York, Maryland, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Da- kota, Saskatchewan, Irkutsk and Wilui River (Siberia), Finland.
Regarding the Identity of Oxyporus rufipennis and stygicus. By L. B. WALTON.
LeConte, in his paper on certain genera of Staphylinidze Oxy- telini, etc. (Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. vi, October, 1877), says in reference to Oxyporus rufipennis Lec.: ‘‘ This is perhaps only a color variation of the entirely black O. stygicus Say, but as yet I have seen no intermediate specimens. There is no difference in form or structure.’’
A year ago last Summer, while doing some collecting at Bear Lake, Pa., I took a large number of both stygicus and rufipennis, and also what appeared to be an intermediate form having the elytra black with two yellow vitte plainly evident on each ely- tron. The occurrence of this form, together with the fact that all were taken on the same piece of fungus, would seem to bear out LeConte’s supposition as to rufipennis being merely a variety of stygicus. Having sent some specimens to Dr. Horn, he says: ‘“While I believe the two are one species, something more than an opinion is required to corroborate it,’’ referring to the fact that it would be necessary to take them 7x cozfu to bring in the conclusive proof.
14 : _[ January,
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS.
Published monthly (except July and August), in charge of the joint publication committees of the Entomological Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences, of Philadelphia, and the American Entomological Society. It will contain not less than 300 pages per annum. It will main- tain no free list whatever, but will leave no measure untried to make it a necessity to every student of insect life, so that its very moderate annual subscription may be considered well spent.
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PHILADELPHIA, PA., JANUARY, 1894.
THERE are a number of entomologists among us who are expert col- lectors, and who have in the course of their collecting trips gleaned many interesting and important facts relating to insect life and habits. They are usually well and favorably known among their brethren, who may be able, from time to time, to get some benefit from association with them, but usually this is as far as it goes. The general entomological public reaps no advantage from their lives, and the literature is not enriched thereby. There are many such men, and they live and die, and their knowledge and information unfortunately passes away with them. This should not be. While the man may enjoy his hobby, and get much benefit from it for himself, there is no reason why he should not make an effort to benefit others also, and the study in general by publishing his notes from time to time. Perhaps he is diffident and does not care to run the risk of publication, fearing it may not be new on account of his insuffi- cient knowledge of the literature. His publisher will probably know about this, and he can let him shoulder it. We know of one instance where a long life was devoted to entomology without any benefit to others, but in this instance the individual was postponing publication from day to day and year in and year out until he died. We can only say that we think it incumbent on all to publish their observations.
Saprinus sulcatulus Schmidt. Ent. ‘‘ Nachrichten,”’ 1890, p. 51. Fora specimen of this I am indebted to Mr. Geo. Lewis, and find it not in any way differing from scissus Lec.—G. H. Horn.
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 15
“DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY.
Edited by Prof. JOHN B. SMITH, Sc. D., New Brunswick, N. J.
The Grain Moth at the Fair.—Early in the season, while yet matters were in an extremely unfinished condition at Chicago, [ wandered through the “Palace of Agriculture,” admiring the enormous quantities of corn dis- played in every possible fashion; used as ornaments, and for decorations of every descriptions. Wheat, in any quantity, was also represented, and ingenious use was made of it to enhance the beauty and characteristic features of this building. At that time I noticed only a very slight amount of grain and corn that appeared infested by the grain moth; here and there, in an ear of corn, there was a kernel with the little hole character- istic of the injury done by this insect. In August, first early in the month,
-and again some time about the middle, I] again wandered through the building, observing matters here and there, and I was now struck by the fact that there was not an exhibit in which even the majority of ears of corn did not show signs of the work of this insect. Even in the exhibit made by the Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, almost every ear showed some infection, and not only corn grown in one part of the country, but wherever Indian corn was exhibited were signs of this insect apparent.
In October, Prof. Voorhees, of the New Jersey Station, made another visit to the Fair, and also made rather a close examination of the grains and corns that were exhibited. He informs me that everything was ruined by the insect; that in the New Jersey exhibit, which, of course, he examined more particularly; every jar of grain was simply a nest of moths and larve, and that everywhere the same appearance prevailed; that in fact, the whole building had become one vast breeding ground for these insects. Orders were therefore given, that all the grain that had been gathered with so much trouble, the finest specimens of each variety, the great ears of Indian corn, everything in fact should be destroyed to pre- vent the introduction of the insect into localities in which perhaps it had not yet appeared naturally. Some interesting questions come up now— what will be the effect of the liberation of the vast number of insects which matured in this immense building? What will become of them? Will they be able to live through the Winter, or will they meet destruc- tion by the elements? Have they not already spread from that building into the surrounding territory, or will they not seek shelter when they are disturbed by the clearing out of the building, find their way into the ‘country around about, into barns and into graineries, and will they not cause considerable damage? The questions may not be of very much importance; but it is rather an interesting matter, because other insects, not so noticeable perhaps as this grain moth, may have been quietly breeding in some of the exhibits gathered at Chicago during the present season, and we may hear of them again at no distant date, in a manner
16 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. { January,
which may raise the question in the minds of some whether this Fair was anything but an unmitigated nuisance. On the enormous number of plants that were brought together from all parts of the country, and indeed from other climes and from other countries with similar climate to our own, can we be sure that no insects were introduced on them? We can question this at present; but time alone can answer the questions asked.
Handbook of the Destructive Insects of Victoria. Part II.—This little work by Mr. C. French, the government entomologist, is at hand. It contains rather more than 200 pages of text prepared with great care, and colored plates numbered from 15 to 36, illustrating all of the species treated in the book, and most of them in all stages; structural details — being also given in some instances. The plates are generally good, so far as appearance is concerned, and undoubtedly add very largely to the value of the book for the agriculturist. The figures very frequently lack in detail, and are of inferior value to the the scientific student; but they are fully sufficient from the standpoint of the farmer, for whom, after all, they were prepared. It is to be regretted, perhaps, that we cannot in our own country illustrate our publications somewhat more in this same style; but, really, good colored plates are with us so frightfully expensive as to be quite beyond the reach of our Experiment Stations, and to be possible only to the National Government; even here it is necessary to limit the . number because of the cost. There is an appendix to the book treating of spraying devices, and there are a considerable number of plates in black and white, illustrating this -appendix, and showing machinery, pumps and nozzles of all kinds—good, bad and indifferent. It is a matter of some interest that twelve of the colored plates illustrate insects that are also injurious in our own country, including among them such pests as the plum cucurlio, the cabbage louse and others of like ilk; only a very few of the species being really characteristic of the country in which they are troublesome. This illustrates one of the points which is worth while considering in our speculations concerning remedies, and that is that a certain number of species seem, in the provision of nature, to occur in a certain abundance each year, and the natural checks, such as they are, are intended to leave a very wide margin for the increase of the species. In cases of this kind we must entirely ignore the so-called natural-checks, and must act as if none such were in existence.
INSECT’S DEADLY STING (appearance of a winged spider in Kentucky). —-Newport, Ky., August 3.—A deadly insect-has appeared about the electric lights. People stung by the insect suffer intensely. A sudden swelling and a peculiar somnolent condition follow the bite. Michael Ryan was stung Saturday and died last night. Judge Helm, of the Cir- cuit Court, is laid up with his neck swollen to twice its normal size. Harry Clark, another victim, is in a precarious condition. Local entomologists describe the bug as a sort of winged spider.— Newspaper.
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 17
Notes and News.
ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE.
[The Conductors of ENTomoLocicat News solicit, and will thankfully receive items of news, likely to interest its readers, from any source. The author’s name will be given ‘in each case for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.]
To Contributors.—All contributions will be considered and passed upon at our earliest convenience, and as far as may be, will be published according to date of recep- tion. ENToMOLocICcAL News has reached a circulation, both in uumbers and circumfer- ence, as to make it necessary to put “‘copy’’ into the hands of the printer, for each number, ~ three weeks before date of issue. This should be remembered in sending special or im- portant matter for certain issue. Twenty-five ‘‘ extras” without change in form will be given free when they are wanted, and this should be so stated on the MS. along with the number desired. The receipt of ali papers will be acknowledged.—Ep.
Last winter, while collecting at Lake Worth, Florida, in the beginning of March, I captured a 2 specimen of Lunica tatila H.S. Ido not see this species mentioned in any North American lists. It is a much larger insect than £. monima Cram., and very beautiful. Zunica tatila is a common insect in Cuba and also in Mexico.—W. SCHAUS.
In a foot-note at the bottom of page 229 of my recent Bulletin on Pecilocapsus lineatus, 1 question the date on which Mr. Webster ob- tained adults for use in his experiment at Lafayette, Ind. Mr. Webster has called my attention to the fact that, in the case of Meromyza ameri- cana, the second brood of adults emerged earlier at Lafayette, Ind., than Dr. Fitch had found them in New York. This indicates that difference of about two degrees in latitude between Lafayette, Ind., and Ithaca, N. Y., makes a difference of two or three weeks in the emergence of in- sect life; and the seemingly very early appearance of the adults of the Four-lined Leaf-bug, at the former place, may thus be accounted for. I am glad of the opportunity to make the correction.—M. V. SLINGERLAND, Cornell Experiment Station.
NoTES ON THE CUCUJID&, OBSERVED IN SAN DIEGO County, CAL.— Silvanus surinamensis (Linn.) abundant in cereals; S7/vanus bidentatus (Fabr.) not very common, occurs with the preceding species ; Sz/vanus imbellis (Lec.) one specimen; Si/vanus advena (Waltl.) common in gran- aries and in refuse about stables; Nausibius dentatus (Marsh.) occasion- ally taken in commercial storehouses; Lemophioeus biguttatus (Say.)
sometimes met with in immense numbers under decaying and fungus-
covered bark of dead sycamores (Platanus racemosus); Laemophloeus cephalotes (Lec.) rare, occurs under the bark of the sycamore, blue gum (Eucalypius globulus), pepper tree (Schinus molle), tive oak (Quercus agripolia); Brontes d. var. truncatus (Mots.) common, under the bark of the live oak.—F. E. BLatspELt, M.D.
{*
18 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ January,
NOTE ON CYCHRUS ELEVA1US.—The following instance of gregarious- ness in Carabide may be of interest: A few years ago, while collecting on the south shore of Long Island, I found, on the bank of a fresh-water pond, twenty-two specimens of Cychrus elevatus, all within an area not larger than the palm of my hand. They were crowded together in a small hollow under a board, and were very sluggish, so that I had no difficulty in taking them all. The males were about twice as numerous as the females. I have never before or since found more than two speci- mens together. All the Long Island specimens of e/evatus which 1 have seen are slightly different from the ordinary type, being smaller and more slightly built, with shorter legs. The color is a brighter purple and not so metallic, or cupreous, as the average.—W. C. Woop, New York.
. SURGEON-GENERAL SIR WILLIAM Moore (Medical Mag., July, 1893) regards the dissemination of disease by flies as a matter looked upon with too much indifference, and instances an epidemic of anthrax which was. spread by flies which had covered a carcass of a dog thrown into a ditch in Cortal. He quotes the experiments of Lawtschenks with flies and cholera germs, and observes that it is worth noticing, in that in India it is during the time and season of the greatest prevalence of cholera that flies most abound. The possibility of flies carrying the organisms of typhoid fever and phthisis is suggested, and the belief is expressed that leprosy is often conveyed by flies which appear to be particularly fond of leprous sores, and of investigating in the way*of a sore ona healthy person. There is no doubt that ophthalmia is so spread, and an instance is given of complete destruction of an eye from diphtherial inflammation following the sting (bite) in the eye bya fly which had apparently arisen from a dung-hill.
THE Say Memoria CuaApTER of the Agassiz Association is an organ- ization composed of those interested in Entomology, living in various parts of the United States, and conducting their proceedings by corres- pondence. Its object is ‘‘to promote the study of entomology in all its bearings, and to cultivate social and friendly relations between those. in any way interested in the science. Each member of the Chapter shall be required to write a bi-monthly letter or report of any special course of study he is pursuing, or in narrative form, recount observations of- habits of insects, collecting notes, etc. These letters must contain not less than two hundred words, and will be written on paper furnished by the Sec- retary-Treasurer, to whom they must be forwarded. This officer will keep a record of these letters, and start them on their course around the Chapter, each recipient of a letter forwarding it according to a geographi- cally arranged register.’’ Members are proposed by the Secretary-Treas- urer, two-thirds vote being necessary for election. The officer just named is the only one recognized by the chapter; his duties are indicated by the preceding statement and by his title; he makes a semi-annual report to the President of the Agassiz Association. The entrance fee to the Chap- ter is one dollar, annual dues one dollar. The originator of the Chapter
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 19
is Mr. William D. Richardson, of Fredericksburg, Va., and the present courteous and efficient Secretary-Treasurer is Mr. Roy Hopping, of Bloom- field, N. J., who will gladly furnish further information. By extending the membership all over the United States, it is hoped to make the chapter an important factor in entomological study, and this attempt has the hearty sympathy of the News. It is perhaps not too much to hope that this jour- nal may occasionally be favored with a ‘‘circulating’’ paper from the Chapter.
EXPERIMENTAL AGRICULTURE. (Chairman Hatch does not agree with the President).—Washington, December 11.—There are at least two rec- ommendations in the President’s Message which will not receive the uni- versal sanction of the Democrats in the House. These relate to the ex- tinction of the agricultural experiment stations in the various States and the abolition of the present system of distribution of seeds by the Depart- ment of Agriculture. Representative Hatch, the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, is outspoken in his opposition, and says that since the message appeared not a single member has expressed to him a concurrence in the President’s position, while scores have come to him and urged him to continue to incorporate in the Agricultural Appropria- tion bill the comparatively sma!l sums necessary for the maintenance of these two features. ‘‘The experiment stations were established by an act of Congress approved March 2, 1887,”’ says Mr. Hatch, ‘‘and have been exceedingly popular with the representatives of the agricultural interests of the country. Many of these stations have produced remark- able results. They were established by the almost unanimous vote of Congress, there being, as |] remember, not even a division on the ques- tion. I remember that after the measure had passed both houses, I went to the White House in company wit! a number of intelligent and highly reputable gentlemen from some of the agricultural colleges, and Mr. Cleveland, in my presence, spoke in the warmest terms of the measure. It was by his signature that it became a law. Since that time there has been no criticism of the work of these stations, and no controversies ex- cept as to the division of the funds in two or three States. No agricultu- ral association, organization or club,’”’ continued Mr. Hatch, ‘‘has ever spoken of these experimental stations except in commendation and ap- proval. They have been established about six years, and are nowina condition to render double the service and impart more valuable informa- tion to the States than at any time since they have been in existence. They have erected buildings, provided chemical apparatus, and the ap- propriations from this on will result even more largely than ever in the prosecution of experiments that will be of immense value in the diffusion of practical information.”
' THE Rev. Dr. John G. Morris, of Baltimore, is probably the oldest en- tomologist in the United States. On November 14th, last, he celebrated his ninetieth birthday. Mr. Morris published the first catalogue of Ameri- can Lepidoptera.
20 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ January,
MISTAKEN FOR A CRANK (a Yale professor’s kindly treatment by the Indians who killed Custer),—‘‘ One very peculiar characteristic of the In- dian,”’ said Major Barbour, a former plainsman now metamorphosed into
a clubman and raconteur, ‘‘is his reverence, amounting to absolue fear in °
many instances, of an insane person. They never harm one whom they believe to be mentally afflicted. I remember one striking instance which will illustrate. I was a member of the expedition headed by Gen. Cus- ter that made a tour through the Yellowstone Valley and that section of the country the year before the Custer.massacre. It was put on foot in the interest of science, and we had a lot of fellows from the Smithsonian Institute and about a dozen Yale professors. It was a big party, com- prising two or three companies of cavalry, one of infantry and some artil- jery, so the Sioux, who at that time simply swarmed over that country, were afraid to tackle us; but they hung around us all the time, and Gen. Custer gave orders, after two men who were hunting had been killed, that no one should leave camp without permission. Those Yale profes- sors just worried the life out of the soldiers. Every professor had a detail of five men who had to watch him. They would go around picking up bugs and chasing butterflies all over the prairie, and would break up rocks and pow-wow over them with magnifying glasses until the soldiers swore that every man of them was a howling idiot. One day the worst old fel- low in the crowd, who wore two pairs of glasses, one red and one green, managed in some way or other to get out of the sight of his detail and wandered two or three miles away. He ran plump into a gang of Sioux. He walked up to them and offered to shake hands. They grabbed him, and the first thing they did was to dive down into a big green baize bag he carried. They pulled out lizards and pieces of clay and bits of rock and bugs and the worst assortment of truck imaginable. Just about this time the old professor caught sight of a peculiar-looking bug. He caught it, pulled out his glass, and began to study it. That settled it. An Indian took him by the hand, led him to a hill close by, and, pointing to the army below, said ‘Go.’ He came back and said that the soldiers totally mis- understood the Indians. ‘Why, I found them the most polite and court- eous of people,’ said he to Gen. Custer. But an old chief afterwards told me that they wouldn’t have him stay in that country for anything on earth.’’— Washington Post. nite
Identification of Insects (Imagos) for Subscribers.
Specimens will be named under the following conditions: 1st, The number of species to be limited to twenty-five for each sending; 2d, The sender to pay all expenses of trans- portation and the insects to become the property of the American Entomological Society ; 3d, Each specimen must have a number attached so that the identification may be an- nounced accordingly. Exotic species named only by special arrangement with the Editor, who should be consulted before specimens are sent. Send a 2 cent stamp with all insects for return of names. Before sending insects for identification, read page 41, Vol. III. Address all packages to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEws, Academy Natural Sciences, Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pa.
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 21
Entomological Literature.
* THE ENTOMOLOGIST’s MONTHLY MAGAZINE. London, November, 1893.—On Trachyscelis with descriptions of three new species, G. C. Champion. Notes on the earlier stages of the Nepticulz, with a view to their better recognition (cont.), J. H. Wood.—December, 1893. On two halophilous Hemiptera, E. Bergroth, M.D. Observations ‘on pee (No. 7), R. Newstead, fig.
Sénince. New York, Nov. 3, 1893.—The systematic position of the Diptera, J. B. Smith.—Nov. tro. The systematic positign of Diptera, C. V. Riley.—Nov. 17. The sense- organs on the legs of our white ants, Termes flavipes Koll., Dr. A. C. Stokes, figs.—Nov. 24. On the syste- matic position of the Pipters, S. W. Williston.
CORNELL UNIVERSITY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. - Bul- letin 58. Ithaca, N. Y., October, 1893.—The four-lined leaf-bug (Pecilo- capsus lineatus), M. V. Slingerland. Pp. 207-239. 13 figs.
THE ANNALS AND MAGAZINE OF NATURAL History. London, No- vember, 1893.—Two new Coccide from New Mexico, T. D. A. Cocker- ell, figs.
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN Museu, II, 5. Sydney, September 1893.—Description of a new flea (Stephanocircus dasyuri), from New South Wales; with notes of some other insect parasites known in Austra- lia, F. A. A. Skuse, 1 pl.
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL Museum No. 46.—The Myriapoda of North America, by Charles Harvey Bollman. Edited by L. M. Underwood. Containing the collected writings on North American Myriapoda, both published and unpublished, of the late C. H. Bollman. Washington, 1893. 210 pp.
THE BUTTERFLIES OF Nortaé# AmeErIcA, with colored drawings and descriptions, by W. H. Edwards. Third series, part xiv. Boston and New York. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1893. Contains Neominots riding sii, Chionobas eno, assimilis, crambis, macouniti.
COMPTE RENDU. SOCIETE PHILOMATHIQUE DE Paris. Oct. 28, 1893.— New note on an entomophagous insect [Doria meditabunda], parasitic in the European silk-worm, E. L. Bouvier and G. Delacroix.
Zor. San Francisco, October 1893.—The species of Amblychila, J. J. Rivers, 2 pls. A mesquite Tineid which constructs a bag-like case from the leaves, C. H. T. Townsend. Leucarctia rickseckeri, Dr. H. H. Behr.
Nature. London, Nov. 16, 1893.—Further notes and observations upon the instincts of some common English spiders, R. I. Pocock. The stigmata of the Arachnida as a clue to their ancestry, H. M. Bernard, 1 fig.—November 30. Protective habit in a spider [ Zpezra], C. L. Morgan.
22 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ January,
Le Naturaviste. Paris, Nov. 15, 1893.—New remarks on the habits of Coleoptera destructive to forests, M. Decaux.
THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. Philadelphia, November, 1893.—Ani- mal intelligence, J. Weir. The androchonia of Lepidoptera, M. B. Thomas, 1 pl. Fleshy cecidomyid twig-gall on Atriplex canescens, C. H. T. Townsend. Tvichodactylus xylocope in California, H. Osborn.
ComPTE RENDU. SOCIETE DE BIOLOGIE. Paris, Nov. 18, 1893.—On the reproduction of the Sarcoptidz, Dr. E. Trouessari.
PsycHE. Cambridge, December, 1893.—The primitive number of Malpighian vessels in insects (concluded), vii, W. M. Wheeler, figs. De- scriptions of new species and genera of West African Lepidoptera, W. J. Holland, figs. The Dolichopodid genus Ziancalus Loew, J. M. Aldrich. Two new forms of Diaspine, T. D. A. Cockerell. A note on the larva of Datana floridana Graef., H. G. Dyar.
INsEcT LIFE, vi, 1, Washington, D. C., November, 1893.—An impor- tant predatory insect (Zrastria scitula Ramb.), Eds., figs. Notes on Tasmanian Coccinellide, E. H. Thompson. Experiments with the hop- louse in Oregon and Washington, A. Koebele. Report on outbreaks of the Western cricket and of certain locusts in Idaho, R. Milliken. The present status of the recent Australian importations, D. W. Coquillett and A, Koebele. On the injurious and other locusts of New Mexico and Arizona, C. H. T. Townsend. The usual extracts from correspondence and general notes.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. London, Nov. 15, 1893.—On the larva of Arctia caia, with special reference to its correlated variations in plumage, tnoulting and hybernation, Dr. T. A. Chapman.
ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER, Leipsic, Nov. 27, 1893.—On the bite of Pseudoscorpions, C. Berg.
THE Entomococist. London, Dec., 1893.—The coloring of Chryso- phanus phieas as affected by temperature, F. Merrifield. Observations on Vanessa c-album, W. H. Bath. A catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Ireland (cont.), W. F. deVismes Kane. Three new Coccide from the arid region of N. America, T. D. A. Cockerell. Notes on the synonomy of Noctuid moths, A. G. Butler, Ph.D. Vanessa atalanta in Florida, J. Arkle.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, 1893, part II, Aug. 1, 1893.—Descriptions of new species of Lepidoptera Hetero- cera from Central and South America, H. Druce, 3 pls.—Pt. iii, Oct. 2, 1893. A monograph of the butterflies of the genus 7hysonotis, H. H. Druce and G. T. Bethune-Baker, 3 pls.
BULLETIN 44 OF THE U. S. NATIONAL MusEuM.—Catalogue’ of the Lepidopterous Superfamily Noctuidz, found in Boreal America. By John B. Smith, Sc. D.—This great work of 424 pages marks an era in the
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 23
study of American moths. From this time on it will be possible for anyone who has access to a fair entomological library, with the aid of this work to intelligently study our Noctuidz. The references to all the species are — given, and also tke original generic references, as well as the synonymy, etc., of all the species. The habitat, time of appearance, and location of the types are all given, as well as anv other notes considered of impor- tance. A most valuable index is given, which adds very materially to the value of the work, inasmuch as every name used in the body of the work is referred to. This will be invaluable to many collectors and students who have their species under old or improper generic names, and who do not know where to place them in our later lists. The advent of such a work is of vast importance, as it makes it possible for the general student to work in what was heretofore a special field only open to a few most painstaking workers who worked out the literature for themselves. Prof. - Smith is to be congratulated on this work, and also to a greater extent the entomologists of America, who will be benefitted by it.
WE have received Bulletin of the United States National Museum, No. 45, devoted exclusively to Mr. William H. Ashmead’s monograph of the North American Proctrotrypidz, the receipt of which we take pleasure in acknowledging. The work is quite voluminous, there being 454 pages of text and 18 excellent plates executed by the author. Mr. Ashmead considers that the Proctotrypidz ‘‘have but little affinity to the Chalci- didz,’’ and should be placed at the head of the Terebrantia, as he be- lieves them to be closely related to the Aculeata, and further asserts that after the removal of the group Myrmarine, which he regards as a distinct family, they have no relation to the Chalcididz. The external structural characters are described at length, and plate I is entirely devoted to the illustration of them. The habits, dimorphism and parthenogenisis, life- history and distribution are dwelt on. He asserts that there is scarcely any doubt, but that many of the wingless species to be found in the various genera are only dimorphic forms of winged species, but as little positive is known on the subject, they must be described as distinct species, as any other course would be but guesswork, and, consequently, unscientific. Such forms must be bred from generation to generation before anything positive can be learned regarding them. The arrangement proposed by Halliday, in 1839, he discards as unnatural, as the scheme widely sepa- rates some closely-allied groups. The classification of Forster being re- garded by him as the most satisfactory, he has made it the basis of his own work. After reviewing the works of numerous authors his own clas- sification is announced, in which he recognizes ten subfamilies, all of which were regarded as families by Férster. After tabulating the sub- families, and the genera likewise, the species are so treated. Many new species are brought to light, as is well illustrated in the genus Megaspilus, in which the species are trebled, and still better in Polygnotus, in which genus the number ‘of species is increased from three to thirty-three. The work is completed by a ‘‘ tabular view” of the bred North American
24 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ January,
Proctotrypidz, which gives a list of their hosts, and a catalogue of the literature on the subject, and explanations of the abbreviations used. We cannot consider this work otherwise than a most valuable contribution to the literature of the micro-Hymenoptera, and while we are not versed sufficiently with the parasitic Hymenoptera to offer any criticisms on the work, we feel sure that very few, if any, unfavorable comments can be made thereon, and beg to congratulate the author for the masterly way he has handled the subject.—W. J. F.
NEW SPECIES OF NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS DESCRIBED IN THE PRECEDING LITERATURE.
HEMIPTERA.
' Orthezia Anne Cockerell, Ann. Mag. N.H. (6) xii, p. 403, N. Mex. Bergrothia townsendi, p. 404, N. Mex.
Aspidiotus uve Comst. var. coloratus Cockerell, Psyche vi, p. 571, N. Mex. Mytilaspis albus Ckll. var. concolor, p. 572, N. Mex.
Fairmatiria (Ceroplastodes) nivea Cockerell, Ent. xxvi, p. 350, Mex. Ceroplastes irregularis, p. 351; id. Pseudococcus helianthi, p. 352, N. Mex.
MYRIAPODA.
N. spp. Bollman, Bull. U. S. N. M. No. 46.
LEPIDOPTERA.
’ Leucarctia rickseckeri Behr., Zoe iv, p. 247, Calif. ‘ Tagora corax Druce, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1893, p. 299, Mex.
DIPTERA. Cecidomyia atriplicis Townsend, Am. Nat. xxvii, p. 1021, N. Mex. Liancalus hydrophilus Aldrich, Psyche vi, p. 569, S. Dak. JZ. similis, p. 571, Wash.
The Entornological Section ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA, PROCEEDINGS OF MEETINGS.
DECEMBER ITI, 1893.
A regular stated meeting of the Entomological Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences was held in the Hall, S. W. cor. Nineteenth and Race Streets, this evening, Dr. G. H. Horn, Director, presiding. Members present: E. T. Cresson, G. B. Cresson, Calvert, Liebeck, Johnson, Skinner, Ridings,. Laurent and Welles. Associates: Fox, Nell, Haimbach, Drs.
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 25
Griffith and Castle. This being the business meeting of the year, the re- ports of the different officers were read and the following named gentle- men were elected to serve for the coming year: ‘
Director, G. H. HORN, M.D.
Vice-Director, C. S. WELLES.
Recorder, H. SKINNER, M.D.
Treasurer, E. T. CRESSON.
Conservator, H. SKINNER, M.D.
x Publication Committee: 1 WW. JOHNSON,
The following papers were read and accepted by the Committee for publication in ENTOMOLOGICAL NEws:
A NEW HEPIALUS FROM CALIFORNIA.
By Harrison G. Dyar.
Hepialus lembertii n. sp.—Light fawn color, of the tint usual in this genus; secondaries blackish, with a small, pale spot at apex. Below both wings blackish, the fringe pale. On the fore wings area series of dusky whitish, subquadrate, intervenular spots, each neatly surrounded by a smoky black border. The spots are arranged in six irregular, caten- ulate, transverse bands, as follows:—(1) Two rather large spots at base of cell and vein 1 (ix) respectively; (2) two or three small ones below me- dian vein (cubitus); (3) a transverse, complete row before middle of wing of about five spots, nearly straight; (4) a row of small ones from end of cell to costa, becoming furcate before reaching costa; (5) a complete row of about eight spots in the transverse-posterior position, dislocated at vein 4 (v3); (6) a terminal row, leaving the margin for a short space near” the terminations of veins 7 to 9 (iii5 to iii3). Veins indicated in smok¥ black. Expanse 31-33 mm.
Described from two examples captured in the high Sierras of California by Mr. John B. Lembert.
Mr. Lembert writes that the moths were taken on September 1st flying about dusk within a short distance of the ground. He took them in the highland meadow near the banks of the Lyell fork of the Tuolumne River.
The species is different from any known to me either autopti- cally or by description. I am unacquainted with the Hepzalus californicus of Boisduval; but his short description cannot be made to apply to this form. Boisduval says of californicus : “* Elle a le port et la taille de la carnus des Alps. Ses ailes su- périeures d’un grisatre obscure offrent a un certain jour, vers Yextrémité, des raies blanchatres parallales renfermant des petites taches arrondies d’une couleur plus obscure. Les ailes inféri- eures sout d’un gris noiratre.’’
*
4
26 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. . (January,
AFRICAN HESPERIIDA. : By W.. J. HoLLanp, Ph.D., Pittsburg, Pa.
Subfamily HESPERUNZ. SARANGESA Moore.
1. S. exprompta sp. nov. <'.—Allied to S. perpaupera Holl., and also to S. melania Mab., according to the tenor of the description of the latter spe- cies. The antennz and the entire upperside of the body are blackish brown; the lowerside of the body is paler brown. The primaries dark gray, clouded below the apex by a broad irregular transverse black shade, which is continued parallel to the outer margin to the outer angle. There is also a black shade at the apex, and a small black circular spot below the cell near the origin of the first median nervule. There are eight vitre- ous spots upon the wing, disposed as follows: Three minute spots form- ing a short subapical band just below the costa, one-third of the distance from the apex; a small circular spot on the costa above the end of the cell; amelongated spot closing the cell, with its inner margin straight and its outer margin excavated; three spots on the median intervals forming a short series parallel to the outer margin. Of these three last-mentioned spots, the one in the middleis the largest, and is subtriangular; the lower one is quite minute, andthe upper one subquadrate. The oblong spot at the end of the cell is shaded posteriorly by a blackish shade. The fringes are concolorous, slightly checkered with paler fuscous on the intervals, and distinctly marked with whitish at the apex and just above the outer angle. The secondaries are of the same color as the primaries, clouded along the outer margin with blackish, and traversed about the middle and just beyond it by two interrupted parallel series of blackish circular spots. The fringes are concolorous, slightly checkered with paler fuscous on their edges at the interspaces. Upon the underside the ground color is a trifle paler than upon the upperside. All the spots and markings of the upper surface are reproduced upon this side. Expanse 26 mm.
Hab.—Accra, West Africa.
This insect belongs to the subgeneric group, for which. Mons. P. Mabille has proposed the name Zvef/s. The structural differ- ences are scarcely sufficient to warrant a separation from the genus Sarangesa Moore, to which a large number of African spe- cies must be assigned.
2. §. subalbida sp. nov. ¢’.—The antennz are black. The upperside of the body is black; the lowerside of the palpi and the pectus are ochra- ceous; the legs whitish, as also the lowerside of the thorax and abdo- men. The upperside of both wings are gray, the primaries clouded with blackish at the outer angle, and the secondaries heavily clouded in like manner at the outer angle. There are seven very minute, whitish vitre- ous spots upon the primaries. Four of these spots form a subquadrate
Ent. News, Vol. V.
18
See page 26.
AFRICAN HESPERIIDA Holland (Reduced one-fifth).
1894. | ENTCMOLOGICAL NEWS. 27
group before the apex near the costal margin, the other three are dis- posed as a limbal series on the median interspaces beyond the middle of the wing. They are all surrounded narrowly by darker cloudings, deep brown or blackish. Upon the underside the primaries are as on the upper- side, but paler, with the inner margin laved with whitish ; the secondaries are bluish white, with the base covered with bluish gray scales. The outer angle is heavily marked with black, and there is a small circular black spot near the costa beyond the middle of the wing. Expanse 32 mm.
Hab.—Kangwé, Valley of the Ogové.
CELZENORHINUS Hib.
3. €. macrostictus sp. nov. Jj .—Closely allied toC. e/mina Ploetz (=C. proxima Mab.), from which it differs in no respect, except that the en- tire middle area of the wing is occupied by a large white spot, which replaces the four or five spots which compose a median band of markings in the species described by Ploetz, and that the fringes of the secondaries. are not white, checkered with black, as in C. e/mina, but are uniformly brown, like the body of the wing. Expanse 41 mm.
ffab.—Valley of the Ogové.
ZGRIS Guen.
4. E. fuscosa sp. nov. 2.—Antennz black; head and upperside of the palpi brown, lower side of palpi white; upperside of thorax and abdomen fuscous-brown, lowerside of thorax grayish; lowerside of abdomen pure white; legs grayish. The primaries on the upperside are fulvescent brown, with the outer borders marked with-blackish.. There is a double black spot beyond the base near the inner margin. The wing is traversed by a median band of seven elongated translucent spots: one near the costa: two below it, at the end of the cell (the lower one of which is the largest): a small one between the second and third median nervules; a larger one, subtriangular in form, between the first and second median nervules; two smaller ones between the first median nervule and the submedian nerve. All of these spots are margined externally with blackish. There is a sub- apical series of six small spots arranged in a curved line, the second from the the top being advanced sharply beyond the others. The secondaries. have the same ground-color as the primaries, and have a large black spot at the end of the cell, followed by a regularly curved series of eight black spots, two of them on the costa; the fourth and fifth, reckoning from the costa, tending to coalesce. The outer angle is broadly marked with blackish. The primaries on the upperside are pale fuscous, the translucent spots of the upperside reappearing. The secondaries are pure white, with the base laved with bluish; the costa and outer angle broadly marked with dark brown. The fringes are brown; a brownish shade runs in- wardly near the first median nervule. There are two small black spots at the end of the cell, and a subcostal curved series of five black spots, the
28 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ January,
second of which, reckoning from the base, is the largest; and the fourth and fifth tend to coalesce. Expanse 40 mm.
HTab.—Valley of the Ogové.
This species seems to be closely allied to Z. Ahyllophila Trim.., from which it differs, however, in the form of the spots upon the primaries, and in the absence of the submarginal spots upon the lowerside of the secondaries in the region of the median nervules.
ACLEROS Mab.
5. A. substrigata sp. nov. 3'.—The antenne, the upperside of the palpi, the head, the thorax and the abdomen, black; the tip of the abdomen and the lowerside of the palpi, the thorax and the abdomen, whitish; the legs are gray, margined with whitish. The upperside of both primaries and secondaries is black ; the fringes of the primaries on the upperside are black; the fringes of the secondaries are white, more broadly so at the anal angle. On the underside the primaries are fuscous, broadly marked with white upon the inner margin. There are two very small and obscure whitish spots at the end of the cell, one above each other, and faint traces of a curved limbal series of similar spots, in which the two uppermost members of the series are the most conspicuous, and in some specimens are well defined. The secondaries are gray, slightly darker on the costa and traversed by subbasal, median, and submarginal series of spots, lighter than the ground-color of the wings, aud margined externally by fine dark lines.
Q.—The female is like the male, save that the primaries are marked by two diffuse white spots, one above the submedian nerve about its mid dle, and another just above it, between the first and second median ner- vules at their origin. Expanse ¢' and 2 25—28 mm.
f1ab.—Valley of the Ogové.
On the upperside this insect looks like A. mackenii Trim., but is smaller. A glance at the underside, which is totally unlike that of any other species in the genus, reveals at once its specific distinctness. }
GASTROCHATA Mab.
6. G. mabillei sp. nov. <¢'.--Antenne black; upperside of the head, thorax and abdomen, dark brown; lowerside of the palpi whitish; lower side of thorax brown; lower side of abdomen yellowish, the yellow color produced upwardly on the sides along the outer margin of the segment. Primaries on the upperside black. There are two small white translucent spots, one above the other, at the end of the cell; there are three minute spots, forming a curved subapical series; there are three subquadrate spots, forming a transverse median series, the middle spot being the largest, and located just below the two small spots at the end of the cell. the lower spot is semi-opaque. The secondaries have a large circular
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 29
translucent spot at the end of the cell, and beyond it two narrow elon- gated white spots separated by the second median nervule. On the un- derside the primaries are marked as on the upperside, but the ground color is obscure fuscous, shading into blackish on the cell. The secon. daries are yellowish, with the outer margin broadly brown. There is a ‘translucent spot at the end of the cell, very narrowly edged with brown; there are two blackish rays running from this spot tothe base. The costa is narrowly marked with brown, and there is a curved series of four small brown spots, two below the costa, the third opposite the end of the cell, geminate; and the fourth, just below the two translucent linear spots, which reappear upon the lowerside, and are especially noticeable when the wing is held up to the light.
© .—The female does not materially differ from the male, except in having a stouter body. Expanse (¢/ and 2 35 mm.
Hab.—Valley of the Ogové.
I name this well-marked and distinct species in honor of Mons.. P. Mabille, of Paris, the veteran hesperidologist, to whom I sub- mitted the species, and who declared it to be unknown to him.
GANGARA Moore.
7. G. (?) basistriga sp. nov. 9.—Antennz dark brown, narrowly mar- gined with yellow on the underside of the culmen, and broadly marked with yellow on the underside of the club. The upperside of the palpi and the entire body are dark brown; the lowerside of the palpi is yellow- ish; legs brown. ‘The primaries on the upperside are dark brown. There is a long subquadrate spot filling the outer half of the cell; a subapical series of three yellow spots, of which the outermost one is the largest. There are three yellow spots forming a transverse limbal series, of which the one located between the first and second median nervules is very large, and is separated from the large spot in the cell by the median nervule ; the other two spots are subtriangular, one located between the second and third median nervules, and the other being located upon the submedian nerve, a little beyond its middle. The fringe is dark brown, except at the outer angle, where it is yellowish. The secondaries are dark brown, with the base and inner margin covered with olivaceous hairs. There is a yellowish ray at the end of the cell, followed by a transverse median series of three yellow opaque markings, which cross the wing at right angles to the inner margin; the two innermost spots, which:are located between the median nervules, are circular; the outer- most, which is elongated and linear, is situated between the third median and the first subcostal. The fringes are narrowly yellowish, shaded with brown at the ends of the nervules, except near the anal angle, where the fringe is uniformly bright yellow. On the underside the primaries are dark maroon, marked with pale cinereous near the apex, and laved with pale yellowish along the inner margin. The spots‘of the upper surface reappear on the lowerside, and, in addition, there is a small geminate
30 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ January,
costal spot about the middle-of the costa. There is a narrow ray of cinereous on the costa at the base; the cinereous apical tract is marked by a band of darker submarginal cloudings, and the margin at the apex is ac- centuated by a series of dark brown spots, shading about the middle into the dark ground-color of the wing. The third spot of the median series, which is very conspicuous on the upperside, scarcely appears on the low- erside, but is lost in the prevalent yellow shade of the inner margin. The secondaries are dark brown, laved with purplish-ashen arranged in trans- verse bands. At the base, running diagonally from the costa to the sub- median nerve, there is a narrow, pale cinereous streak; the outer margin is dark brown. The fringe at the anal angle is bright yellow. Expanse 68 mm.
Hab.—Valley of the Ogové.
This fine species, which is one of the largest of the African Hes- periidz, is represented in my collection by a single female. It strongly suggests, in some respects, the well-known Gangara thyrsis of India; but I suspect that an accurate examination of the neuration, which I am reluctant at present to make, will reveal that it is generically distinct.
PARNARA.
8. P. unistriga sp. nov. ¢.—The antennz@ are black, paler on the lower- side, with the lowerside of the club bright yellow; the upperside of the palpi, the head, and the body is dark brown; the lowerside of the palpi is whitish, of the thorax gray, and of the abdomen pure white. The legs are gray, like the thorax. The primaries on the upperside are blackish brown, with greenish hairs at the base. There are two narrow, elongated ‘spots at the end of the cell, one above the other. There are two minute subapical dots and a transverse median series of four spots, of which the uppermost is very minute; the next larger subquadrate; the third the largest of all, trapezodial; and the fourth, which is located on the subme- dian vein near its middle, is lunate. The fringes are slightly paler than the body of the wing. The secondaries, upon the upperside, are of the same color as the primaries, with the fringes at the anal angle, and the inner margin quite pale. They are traversed by a transverse median band of four or five white opaque spots, which gradually widen from the first subcostal to the first median nervule, where the series terminates. On the underside the primaries are fuscous, slightly darker in the region of the cell. The spots of the upperside reappear on this side, and are much larger, though less dstinctly defined. The secondaries are fuscous, slightly tinged with rufous, and externally bordered with a darker shade; there is a circular whitish spot at the end of the cell. The transverse me_ dian series of spots reappears upon the lowerside, but more distinctly defined, and a narrow whitish ray runs from the innermost of these spots to the outer margin. The female is unknown to me. Expanse 30 mm,
Hab.—Nalley of the Ogové.
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 31
In the plate figs. 13 and 14 show white spots near the costa of the primaries, beyond the base, and in fig. 13 there are white
yots near the costa at the base of the secondaries: these are pin-holes in the wings of the specimen, and must not be taken into account when studying the figure. I did not have an oppor- tunity to retouch the plate and stop them out.
9. P. melphis sp. nov. ¢'—Antennz black, paler beneath. The palpi are brown, edged below with the yellowish. The thorax and abdomen are dark brown, sparingly clothed with greenish hairs. The upperside of the primaries is black, clothed with greenish hairs at the base. There are two small subapical spots, and a transverse limbal series of five translu- cent spots, the first exceedingly minute; the second subquadrate; the third and fourth, which are also subquadrate, are the largest in the series, and are closer to each other than the other spots; the lowermost spot of the series, which rests upon the middle of the submedian vein, is small and nearly oval. The secondaries on the upperside are black, with a light vestiture of greenish hairs at the base and on the inner margin. The fringes are narrow and whitish. This wing is crossed about the middle, beyond the cell, by an irregularly curved band of translucent spots, ex- tending from the first subcostal to the internal vein. Both wings, on the underside, are brownish ferruginous. The spots of the upperside reap- pear. The small oval spot, which forms the last member of the trans- verse limbal series of the upperside, is represented upon the lowerside by a large, brilliantly-white lunate spot, which is opaque, except on its inner margin, where it coincides with the oval mark of the upper surface. The median band of spots on the secondaries is reinforced by a small brilliantly- white opaque spot at its outer extremity above the first subcostal nervule, and the inner spot contiguous to the internal vein is larger than upon the upperside, brilliantly white and opaque, except where it coincides with the small translucent spot of the upperside of the wing. Expanse 35 mm.
ffab-—Valley of the Ogové.
This species in some respects resembles P. statira Mab., ac- cording to the published description; but Mons. Mabille, who has seen the type, declares it to be a species unknown to him and quite distinct from his P. s¢atira.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE I.
. Sarangesa perpaupera Holl., Ann. and Mag. N. H. (6), x, p. 288. Celenorhinus macrostictus Holl., sp. nov. . Sarangesa exprompta Holl., sp. nov. rs motoztioides Holl., Ann. and Mag. N. H. (6), x, p. 288. af as (female). Eagris fuscosa Holl., sp. nov. Sarangesa subalbida Holl., sp. nov. (underside). . Katreus johnstonii Butl., P. Z. S., 1887, p. 573. . Eagris dekastigma Mab., C. R. Soc. Ent. Belg., 1891, p. 1xii. “10. Acleros substrigata Holl., sp. nov. es ee (underside). 12. Gangara (?) basistriga Holl., sp. nov. (underside). “13. Parnara unistriga Holl., sp. nov. Sea fs (underside). 15. Gastrocheta mabillei Holl., sp. nov. 4 = (underside). “17. Carystus (?) thersander Mab., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (6), x, p. 30. “ 18. Parnara melphis Holl., sp. nov.
Fig.
PEI AVES Po
.
32 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ January,
OBITUARY.
Mr. WILHELM JULICH died Nov. 8, 1893, in New York City, aged 54 years, of cerebro-spinal meningitis. Mr. Jiilich’s death was as unexpected by his own family as it was by his many friends, to whom the news of his sudden demise came as a great shock. He was a man of robust health, and while not feeling his best for some days, believed that his energy and will power would carry him through, as it had done before under more trying circumstances. On Tuesday, November 7th, he declared his in- tention of going out to vote, and it was only the timely arrival of his physican that prevented him from doing so. Wednesday evening he be- came unconscious, and passed away peacefully about midnight. Mr. Jiilich was born at Rhine-Pfaltz, Germany, and came to this country at the age of fifteen, residing continuously from that time in New York City. He was appreciated for his good qualities by a large number of entomol- ogists who are not limited to New York, he being an honorary member both of the Brooklyn Institute and of the Newark Ento. Society, as well as of the New. York Ento. Society. His labors in Entomology had been chiefly in Lepidoptera up to some fifteen years ago, at which time he began to devote his attention more exclusively to Coleoptera, of which he had a collection, beautifully mounted and arranged, of over 10,000 specimens. He contributed a number of valuable-and interesting articles on his favorite study to the various entomological journals, principally to ‘‘Entomologica Americana.’’ He was a member of the 1st Regiment N. Y. Volunteers, and served two years in defence of his adopted country, was severely wounded at Chantilly, and lay several months in the hospital at Washington. On one occasion his entomological pursuits came near costing him his life. He was captured while trying to return inside the Union lines without the countersign, and arrested as a spy. When he appeared before the court-martial, his story that he had been catching insects was not appreciated until he produced his bottles and displayed the ‘ Kafers,” etc., they contained. His old commander, General Sigel, made a short and impressive address over his remains, in which he voiced the general regret that would be felt by the many friends who loved and honored him, and by whom his memory would be long cherished. He was buried November roth in the Lutheran Cemetery, Brooklyn, L. L., with appropriate military honors.
C. FREIHERR VON GUMPPENBERG, lepidopterist and postmaster at Bamberg, Germany. ;
ENTOMOLOGICAL News for December, 1893, was mailed Dec. 7, 1893.
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION
ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA,
VOL. v. FEBRUARY, 1894. No. 2. CONTENTS:
Wickham—Habits of some Oceanic | Economic Entomology......cssscseceeseeeeee 44
Hemiptera aS ja NOLES ANG NEWS, ....<iss-sosernachtabedonivennes 47 Wiley—Butterflies of Miles City, Mont. 36 Entomological Literature...s:see.sseeseoes 51 Holland—Small coll. of Butterflies, etc. 39 | Entomological Sectiomn......scsss+cesseerss ose 57 Wenzel—Hispini found in New Jersey. 40 Holland—West African Dysgoniide.... 57 Horn—Synonymical notes..-...+..seeeeee 4t | Cockerell—New scale insect on Agave. 59 RII adn cis eS pniscnsence: csc ccacxaptenk doccses 42 | Dyar—Desc. of certain Geom. Larve... 60
ON THE HABITS OF SOME OCEANIC HEMIPTERA. By H. F. Wickuam, Iowa City, Iowa.
The pelagic oceanic Hemiptera have possessed great interest for naturalists since their first description by Eschscholtz in 1822. The fact of their being found usually far from land and appearing only in pleasant weather has tendéd to cause a scarcity in collec- tions and comparatively few entomologists have had an oppor- tunity to study them in life. The report of Dr. Buchanan White, one of the ‘* Challenger’ series, formed a part of the library taken to the Bahamas by the recent University Expedition (of which the writer was a member) and awakened a desire to add something to the knowledge of these curious creatures.
Though a careful watch was kept for them, not one was seen until June 22d, forty-seven days out of port; on that date, soon
after noon, three or four specimens were seen skimming over the ©
surface of the water after the fashion of our common Aygrotre- chus, but with extremely rapid movement, so that the note-book entry was made—“‘ any attempt to catch-these insects with hand- nets from the deck of the schooner would be vain.’’ On the 24th they were seen again (in both cases off Key West), but no captures could be made. The sea was almost perfectly calm, not enough breeze stirring to fill the sails.
2
34 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. ' [February,
On the second of July, while at anchor near the Sand Key Light, a few were seen near the vessel between three and four o'clock in the afternoon. By getting into a boat which was lying alongside, no difficulty was experienced in capturing two or three that came within reach of the net. The next day, while the ves- sel was under way with quite a pleasant breeze, they were seen again, before seven o’clock in the morning, skimming about the bows. Two or three were again taken by sitting in the chains under the bow-sprit and “‘ jabbing’ at them with a crab-net lined with bolting cloth, as often as one crossed our course. By eight o'clock they were less numerous. With the aid of the Report, previously mentioned, they were determined as Ha/obates wuller- storffi Frauenf., a name afterwards verified by Mr. O. Heidemann, of Washington.
The following day more of them were seen in Lat. 24° 24’ N., Long. 79° 49° W. Immediately after dinner, when the water. was still, except for a smooth swell, a specimen was caught in a crab-net and turned loose, without being touched by the fingers, into a tub of salt water on the deck. The insect at once com- menced to scud around on the surface with movements so rapid that the eye could not follow them, and any observations on the mode of locomotion were out of the question. In a few minutes partial exhaustion succeeded these violent exertions, and it was then seen that the long middle pair of feet did nearly all the work of progression, the anterior pair being carried folded up (nearly) and projecting forwards, a little to each side of the head. The antenne point forwards and outwards, forming a ¥. When the bug tires, the muscles at the insertion of the legs appear to weaken first, and the body is let down on to the water. It there rests in very much the position shown in Mr. Walker’s figure in the ‘‘Entom. Monthly Magazine’ for October, 1893, though my sketches, made on the spot, show sharper angles at all the knee joints. The same position is not always maintained, however, by different specimens.
The movements of a tired specimen wereas follows: in making a stroke the middle legs were brought forward until the tips were about on a line with the head. They were then rapidly brought back so as to nearly touch the tips of the hind pair, which were moved comparatively but little. The posterior feet seem to be used to steer with rather than as an aid in progression. The four
1894.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 35
_ legs work in unison, not alternately, z. e. the middle legs keep time with each other and with the hinder pair. The tips of the legs rest on the water, and are not immersed in it so that the little hollows near each, caused by the weight of the insect, can plainly be seen. With captive specimens sunlight acted as a stimulant, and evoked activity, which was lessened by shade.
- One Ha/obates was then placed in a tightly corked bottle, filled, when immersed, so as to make certain that no air was enclosed, except the thin film which invested the insect. This was done at 1.22 p. m., and at 1.30 was witnessed what was then supposed to be the final struggle with death; after the expiration of four _ minutes this recommenced, and was continued at irregular inter- vals until 1.43, after which no more were seen until 1.48, at which time a tiny bubble of air made its way from the cork, and at 1.58 another of these bubbles evoked a feeble struggle, the last. When finally removed to the alcohol bottle, not a movement could be detected, and the insect was undoubtedly drowned. This would appear to antagonize the theory that they stay beneath the sur- face in stormy weather. I also noticed, with several specimens, that they could (or would?) only dive after being wet so that **skimming’’ was impossible, but this does not agree with the observations of other naturalists, and I recognize its practical worthlessness as purely negative evidence.
No more /7alodates were seen_during the trip, though on the 15th of July some little water bugs, at first taken for the larve of Halobates, were noticed at the extrance of the Spanish Wells harbor, skimming about on the surface of the water. Several pairs were observed in coitu and directed suspicion to the cor- rectness of the reference—so Mr. Heidemann looked up the matter and found them to be Rhagovelia collaris Burm., hitherto supposed to be a fresh water species exclusively. Fortunately, one couple was taken in the net, and did not separate on being placed in a tub for examination, so the following details were ob- served: The male rests rather far back on the female, his head reaching to a point immediately above the insertion of her mid- dle legs. His anterior legs are then extended forward and bent at the ‘‘knee’’ nearly at right angles, so as to clasp the female thorax a little in front of the widest portion in such a way as to prevent his sliding off. All progression is then performed by the female,'the male resting quietly on her back. His hold was very
36 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS, [February,
firm, as the female soon made frantic efforts to kick him off with
her feet, and finally began to turn somersaults zz (not on) the water in the attempt, presumably, to get rid of her mate, who, however, held on even after the pair was placed in alcohol.
It was noticed, with the exception given above, that only those specimens wetted by handling would dive at all. Those that were unable to keep afloat by being thus thoroughly wet, soon die and sink quite to the bottom of the vessel in which they may be confined. Some only partially wetted were able to keep very close to the surface, but floated on their backs and wére appar- ently unable to right themselves.
The question of the disposition that these insects make of themselves during storms may be regarded as still unsettled, since it seems that wetting in many cases means death. Mr. Walker* thinks that they dive in rough weather, and only come up when it is absolutely calm, but the observations recorded above make this conclusion seem unlikely for some of the species at least—though his theory is by no means disproven, especially when attention is given to the apparent impossibility of the insect riding out a severe storm on the surface of the water without being wetted.
fe)
BUTTERFLIES AT MILES CITY, MONTANA. By C. A. WILEY.
A barren country surrounds Miles City, the centre of the great grazing territory of eastern Montana, a country of prairie and badlands with little verdure other than that on the immediate border of the rivers and in the creek bottoms.
Here a lover of groves and forests must be content with a va- riety of trees that might easily be enumerated on his ten fingers, and but few of even these.
Cottonwoods, broken and scrawny, are the only trees of large size near the city, but as one penetrates the country to the heads of the Yellowstone’s many tributaries, he meets with ash, elm, box-elder and willows, all native varieties, and differing some- what from the same trees of the eastern States.
In the badlands and in the hilly sections are pines and cedars also, but the majority of our country is a vast prairie, grass
* Entom. Mo. Mag., second series, vol. iv, p. 231.
1894. |] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 37
clothed, but bare of tree or shrub (the ever-present sage-brush excepted) and parched by the sun from July until Winter.
What limited amount of shrubbery does occur is also confined to the water-courses. We have our native choke-cherry, wild- rose, plum, willow, snowberry, buffaloberry, greasewood and - sagebrush, a meagre list indeed, when compared to the hundreds of shrubs and bushes abounding in most eastern localities. All vegetation without it may be grasses and wild flowers occurs with us in but the most limited variety. We have no woods, no swamps, no hedges. What wonder then that the entomologist’s hopes are saddened as he realizes that a corresponding dearth exists among his favored and busy tribes!
I wonder who can recount the exact number of Pafiz/zos he has seen during three years past? It is my good (?) fortune.to have seen just fourteen during that period. In the season of 1891 I saw but one, it was one of the Zurnus group, probably rutaulus or daunus, its rapid flight, however, baffled detection. In May of this year while returning from our ranch, on horseback, a dis- tance of about one hundred miles, I saw another of this same group, but was unabie to capture it. During this trip, also, I counted nine zo/icaon, only one of which was not in rapid flight across country; this one, a female, was depositing her eggs on our native wild parsnips, and I caught her easily, and obtained some twenty eggs, which I reared on cultivated parsnips in my garden. The only other Pafz/io seen this wear was one related to zolicaon, but had none of the prominent show of yellow so characteristic of that species when on the wing. What it may have been I cannot say.
Finally, two specimens of zo/icaon taken on the summit of Signal Butte, near this city, on May 30, 1892, complete the number. 1 cite my experience with the Pafzlios to give a gen- eral idea of the scarcity of species occurring here.
A few species of Colias, Pieris, Euptoieta, Phyciodes and Ly- cena occur here, however, in sufficient abundance not to be called rare. There exists an unusually localized distribution among most species here, which doubtless results from a similar localiza- tion of the food-plants, many of which are to be found only near flowing springs or other sources of moisture. The Satyrids, Pamphila, and other prairie varieties, however, may be met with in country of almost any character, as also may such ranging
38 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [February,
species as the Argynnids, Pyramets cardui or Danais archippus.
This season has proven an unusually productive one, and fully twice the number of butterflies were on the wing this year than appeared in either 1891 or 1892.
Our climate and soil are so dry that no Baricuinire | is successful without irrigation, and I attribute this season’s productiveness in the Lepidoptera of this immediate vicinity to systems of artifi- cial irrigation which have been in successful operation here only the last two seasons, and no doubt all insect life so dependent upon vegetation, will steadily increase as the amount and variety of plant-life is multiplied year by year by the introduction of agriculture under our irrigation systems along the Tongue and Yellowstone River bottoms. |
In the interest of the readers of the Ent. News I append a
list of the species of diurnals that I have taken about Miles City
during a three years’ residence here:
Papilio zolicaon, rare.
Pieris rape, common.
‘< protodice.
Anthrocharis olympia, not rare.
Colias eurytheme, common.
“* eriphyle, common. Danais archippus, rare. Argynnis idalia, one 9 , differ-
ing a little from eastern spec.
Argynnis edwardstt, not com.
nevadensis “
cypris, rare.
sp., one.
Euptoieta claudia, one of the most common (averaging small in size). .
Melitea, three species; not common and local.
Phyciodes tharos, rather com.
é carlota, quite com.
Grapta zephyrus, one.
Vanessa antiopa, not common.
‘* californica, one. milberti, rare. Pyramets carduz, not rare.
‘ ? sp. noy. sp., pos- sibly Hy. Edw. hybrid carye et atlanta.
cc
ae
“e
Limenitis wetdmeyerit, rare and local.
Limenitis disifpus, rare and local.
Canonympha ochracea, rather
common. : Satyrus alope-olympus, rare.
EOS. CRS, Tame
ne charon, rather com. Chionobas varuna, several spec-
imens taken at ranch in July
100 miles east of Miles City. Thecla niphon, rare and local.
Chrysophanus hypophleas, not
rare.
Chrysophanus rubidus, rare.
Lycena melissa, common.
Pamphila, two or three species, all rare.
Pyrgus tessellata, common.
‘* sp., not common.. Pholisora catullus, common. Eudamus tityrus, one.
es sp. one.
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 39
Notes upon a Small Collection of Butterflies from - Serra (Sjerra), Timor-Laut.
By W. J. HoLianp, Ph.D., Pittsburg, Pa.
Through the kindness of my friend, Mr. Robert M. Grey, I have been able to add to my collection a number of specimens received by him from a friend who obtained them from Serra, the small rocky island, which lies at the northern entrance of the strait, which separates northern and southern Timor-Laut. The species received are the following: Chanapa sacerdos Butl., Danais hamata Macleay, Hypolimnas forbesti Butl., Precis ex- pansa Butl., Doleschallia pratipa Cram., Rhinopalpa sabina Cram., Delias timorensts Boisd., Terias maroensis Butl., Belenots pitys Godt., Catopsilia scylla Linn., Papilio aberrans Butl., and Euthalia amanda Hew, .
The most of these species have been already recorded from the Timor-Laut group, and the species credited to Mr. Butler were described by him from the collections made by the naturalist Forbes during his visit to the islands. To Mr. Butler I am under obligations for having aided me in the determination of some of them. The presence of Zuthalia amanda Hew., in the collection is very remarkable. Mr. Doherty, who has seen the specimens, has expressed great surprise at the fact that the collection should contain a specimen of this genus, and is inclined to think that there is an error in the locality label. But all the specimens were received at one time, in one parcel, all labeled in the same hand- writing, and all had explicitly written upon them ‘“‘ Sjerra, Feb. 1893,’’ in a bold and distinct hand. If the collector was correct, as there is a strong presumption that he was, the discovery of the genus uthalia in Timor marks the southernmost extension of the genus thus far recorded in the annals of research. As the genus is not represented, so far as is at present known, in any of the islands nearer Timor-Laut than Celebes, the presence in Serra of £. amanda, originally described by Hewitson from Borneo, is a remarkable fact in distribution.
Vo. VI, No. 2, of *‘ Insect Life’’ should be of great interest to the economic entomologist, as it is almost entirely made up of the papers read at the meeting of Economic Entomologists held at Madison, Wis., Aug. 14-16, 1893 ; the number contains 147 pages.
40 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. — [February, LIST OF THE HISPINI FOUND IN NEW JERSEY. By H. W. WENZEL, Phila., Pa.
The following species of Hispini were taken at Da Costa, At- lantic County, N. J., in a radius of not more than one mile:
Microrhopala excavata (Oliv.) Odontota rubra (Web.)
Odontota notata ( Oliv.) ‘nervosa (Panz.) ‘* scapularis (Oliv.) Charistena nigrita (Oliv.) ‘bicolor (Oliv.) ic ariadne (Newm. ) ‘« horni (Smith) Stenispa metallica (Fab. )
‘« dorsalis (Thumb. )
Since the publication of Prof. J. B. Smith’s catalogue of the insects of New Jersey, through careful collecting many unre- corded species of Goleoptera have been added, especially from collections made in south Jersey, in the sandy pine-barren re- gion, where large districts are entirely unexplored, and where probably much more valuable material will be obtained.
The flora of this small district, in which all the species in the above list were taken, is very extensive, hence a large collection is always looked for by the collector.
This list of Hispini from Da Costa adds four species to the list, besides including all the species ‘mentioned in Prof. Smith’s cata- logue, except AZicrorhopala vittata, which is found very common along the coast during July. JZ xerene, which is also very com- mon in some localities along the Delaware River during June, where large numbers of the species can be taken. Both species feed on similar plants found in wet places.
M. porcata is the only species I never captured, and is recorded from Hudson County by Mr. M. L. Linell.
This list is remarkable not only for the number of species found, but is also interesting in regard to the geographical dis- tribution that some of the species possess.
In a communication from Mr. Ulke, who writes me of Odon- tota horni, ‘‘I have a single specimen which I took in Virginia. O. notata I have only from Florida, and did not think it would be found in New Jersey.’’
Odontota horni also occurs in Texas (Mr. Charles Liebeck’s collection). Of Odontota bicolor | received specimens from Mr.
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 4I
Morrison, collected in Arizona; also have specimens from Dela- ware County, Pa., collected by Mr. Charles Johnson, also from Newark, N. J.
Odontota horni and O. notata are found on the same plant, Tephrosia virginiana, commonly known as Goats Rue.
Of all the species mentioned, none were found unique.
la’ VU
SYNONYMICAL NOTES. By GeorGeE H. Horvn, M.D.
In a recent study of the Coleoptera of the Peninsula of Cali- fornia my attention was called particularly to an arrangement of the species of Conzbius and Notibius published by Capt. Casey (Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sc. v). With the exception of two species, all those heretofore placed in the latter genus have been trans- ‘ferred to Conzbzus, making the latter heterogeneous, and requir- ing the formation of a genus Conzbzosoma, which cannot in any way be maintained. There have been at the same time two spe- cies of MVottbius named which are not separable from puderulus (substriatus and Jdaticeps), both being simply feeble variations from our assumed type.
Aphanotus has also had a new name added to it, the species being separated by the apparently very good character of having the eyes divided by the sides of the head in drevicornis and not divided in parallelus. Usually such a character is believed to have generic value, but in the present instance has no value what- ever, as there are in my series three specimens in which one eye is completely divided, and in the other not. The remarkable coincidence is, that in the three specimens the right eye is the divided one, the left not.
In July, 1893, while colJecting in a garden in Cambridge, Mass., a friend of mine caught a bright, fresh specimen of Papilio philenor ( Linn). which had evidently come from larva grown in the immediate vicinity. The seeming scarcity of this butterfly in this part of New England has prompted the recording of the above instance of its occurrence here.— S. W. DENTON.
THE annual report of the Curator (Alexander Agassiz) of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College for 1892-93 states that in 1876, Dr. Hagen refused an urgent invitation to assume charge of the entomological collection of the University of Berlin.
42 [February,
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS.
Published monthly (except July and August), in charge we ae ak publication committees of the Entomological Section of the
of Natural Sciences, of Philadelphia, and the American Entomological Society. It will contain not less than 300 pages per annum. It will main- jain no free list whatever, but will leave no measure untried to make it a necessity to every student of insect life, so that its very moderate nenee subscription may be considered well spent.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION $1.00, IN ADVANCE.
g@s~ All remittances should be addressed to E. T. Cresson, Treasurer, P. O. Box 248, Philadelphia, Pa.; all other communications to the Editors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEws, ‘Academy of Natural Sciences, Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pa.
PHILADELPHIA, PA., FEBRUARY, 1894.
In the News for October, 1893, p. 266, we published an editorial on the transmission of specimens of Natural History in the mails of the Universal Postal Union. It was there stated that the Academy of Natural Sciences. of Philadelphia had resolved to address scientific bodies in certain coun- tries therein named, and ask them to request their respective governments. to favorably reconsider a proposition, made by the United States Post- office, to admit such specimens to the mails of the Union under the rates for ‘“‘samples of merchandise.’? The Academy. caused circulars to be printed, whose language in many respects was identical with that of our editorial, and sent them to various societies. Copies of the circular were also sent to scientific journals, in some of which it has already been printed. ;
The publication of this circular in ‘‘Science’’ and in ‘ Nature’’ has. called forth some adverse criticism. Specific replies thereto have been prepared, and will doubtless soon appear in those journals. Here we merely wish to state the faults found and the nature of the rejoinders.
The critic in ‘‘Science’’ is Mr. W. Hague Harrington, the well-known Canadian entomologist. He believes that the trouble lies not with the countries who have rejected the proposition of the United States Post- office, but with the latter by not arranging a ‘‘ Parcels Post’ with those countries, such as many of those countries already have between them- selves. The reply to this is furnished by an official letter from Mr. N. M. Brooks, Superintendent of Foreign Mails, U. S. P. O., in which it is stated that the lowest charge in Great Britain on a parcels-post package ‘‘ weigh- ing 3 pounds or ess addressed for delivery in Belgium is 1 shilling 3 pence
= 30 cents), and to France 1 shilling 4 pence (= 32 cents), while in
Canada the charge for a pound or dess would be to Belgium 46 cents, and —
1894. ] ' ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. er
to France 48 cents.’”’ ‘‘Under present conditions a package weighing 4% ounces may be Sent from Canada to Belgium or France as a letter upon the payment of 45 cents; as a Parcels-Post package the charge would be 46 and 48 cents respectively; as a ‘sample’ the charge would be 3 cents,’’ that is, at the rate of one cent for every two ounces.
Mr. Robert McLachlan, the noted British authority on the Neuroptera, is the critic in ‘‘ Nature.’’ While commending the movement, he also regrets that the United States has not a Parcels Post, as he says that the sample-post can only be used for small packets. As shown in the above quotation from Mr. Brook’s letter, all parcels-post packages sent from Great Britain, weighing less than three pounds, must pay the three-pounds. rate. By far the most of the packages sent by naturalists to each other weigh less than three pounds, and a large number weigh less than one pound, this estimate excluding alcoholic specimens which are unmailable. Whatever view may be held as to the desirability of the adoption of a Parcels Post by the United States, it must be evident that a Universal Sample Post for specimens of Natural History is of equal, if not, as‘is. our opinion, of far greater importance.
D1asPis LANATUS.—This injurious scale-insect has hitherto been re- corded from Jamaica (where itis common) and Antigua. Two West Indian localities may now be added :—Trinidad ( Port of Spain, on Carica papaya, found by Mr. Urich), and Grand Cayman (on oleander, coll. H. Mac- Dermot, com. Prof. Townsend). It has also been discovered in more than one locality in the United States, as will be described in the annual report of the Dept. Agriculture for 1893.~ But the more particular purpose of this note is to state that the Antigua record must be canceled, being founded onan error. Long ago Mr. Barber sent me some scales from Antigua on /Y/eliotrope, the 2 scales crowded on the stems, white with brownish exuvice, which were near the edge, but not on it. The shape of the scales was oval, about 4 mm. long and 3 wide. With these were small, white, tricarinate § scales. This insect I regarded as a new Chio- naspis, which I named in MS. C. major. Later, on comparing the 92 insect with that of Diaspis danatus, | found great similarity, although the produced segments on each side of the C. major were fringed with nu- merous spine-like plates—a feature not nearly so strongly developed in typical D. /anatus. On the whole, I concluded that the insect must be a variety of D. /anatus, and that the tricarinate ¢ scales found with it did not belong to it. Lately, having sent some of the C. mayor to Washing- ton, Mr. Howard protests that it cannot be J. danatus ; and on reconsid- ering the matter I believe he is right, and that it is a new Chionaspfis after all. JD. danatus, therefore, is at present unknown in the Lesser Antilles, and C. major is to be added to the West Indian list of Coccide. It is intended to publish fuller details concerning it at some future time.— T. D. A. COCKERELL.
44 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [February,
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY.
Edited by Prof. JOHN B. SMITH, Sc. D., New Brunswick, N. J.
Legislation Against Insects.—This subject is not a new one by any man- ner of means, and has attracted attention in several States of the Union, notably California and Massachusetts. In the latter State legislation extends only in the direction of an attempt to exterminate the Gypsy moth. In California the interest of the growers of the Citrus fruits have been the prime consideration. I am not aware that in any State there exist laws which can be made applicable to compel the destruction of insects of all kinds, and certainly nowhere is there any legislation that has proved abso- lutely successful. I have already touched upon this subject in this depart- ment, and have indicated that there has been a growing demand among the more intelligent farmers and especially fruit-growers, for some method of compelling a general attention to insect injury and the adoption of measures for the destruction of injurious species. It happens altogether too often that the careful farmer who does all that it is possible for him to do to prevent injury upon his own domain, finds that his efforts are toa large extent made useless by the fact that some of his neighbors do not adopt similar measures and annually raise on their land a sufficient num- ber of insects to supply the entire vicinity. Therefore, instead of finding his task lightened year by year, through a gradual reduction of the injuri- ous species, he finds that the supply is fairly well kept up through no fault of his own. A man finding himself in ‘that position, naturally seeks for some method of compelling his neighbor so to use his property as not to damage him, and the question has been brought up in the agricultural societies in New Jersey for some time past, resulting finally in the appoint- ment of a committee by the State Horticultural Society to inquire into the possibility of preparing a law which was enforcable, and which enforced would accomplish the result aimed at. Of this committee the writer was a member, and the investigations made resulted in the conviction that it would be an extremely difficult matter to procure the enforcement of any law on the subject ; but as laws were demanded an act was drafted which it was believed would avoid some of the objection made to other similar legislation, and which would not be a dead-letter where there was suffi- cient public sentiment to secure its enforcement.
In the first place, it‘was believed that the sentiment against informers on the part of juries, and indeed justices as well, was so strong, as a char- acter who sought to derive a profit from even the illegal acts of his neigh- bors, that it would be difficult to secure a conviction on any testimony given or secured by him.
In the second place, it was decided that the act should be called into effect only through the action—first of the County Boards of Agriculture, and afterward through the action of the State Board of Agriculture, or its
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 45.
Executive Committee, in this way throwing the burden of enforcing the act upon the official organization of the farmers in the State, and making whatever penalties were collected subject to the general purposes of the organized agriculturists of the State. No compensation except such as. the State Board may make, is provided for the commissioners to be ap- pointed under the act, and those accepting the appointment under it will be men who are themselves personally interested in securing its enforce- ment. Under the general laws of the State a fine imposed as a penalty can be enforced by imprisonment, and the act can therefore be made effective as against practically all those who come under its ban. The report of the committee was made to the Horticultural Society at its re- cent meeting in January, 1894, and the draft of the act proposed was. unanimously adopted, to be submitted by the legislative committee of the State Board of Agriculture, giving instruction to secure its passage, if possible, at the present session of the legislature. Following is the act which may be of interest to farmers and fruit growers in sections other than in New Jersey.
AN ACT To PREVENT DEPREDATIONS BY INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL INTERESTS OF THIS STATE.
PREAMBLE.
WHEREAS, serious injury is annually caused by the depredations of insects to the Agricultural and Horticultural interest of this State, which injury may be lessened or entirely avoided by the use of methods published from time to time in the reports and bulletins of the Agricultural Experi- ment Stations in New Jersey; and such methods are quite commonly adopted in this State by progressive agriculturists, farmers and fruit- growers and have prove effective and most useful; and the refusal or neglect of certain other agriculturists, farmers and fruit-growers to adopt and practice such methods results in the continued reproduction and. spread of such insect pests, to the great damage of their neighbors and the public. Therefore,
1. BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That it shall be the duty of every agriculturist, gardner, farmer, nurseryman or other cultivator of the soil in the State to adopt and apply from time to time, in the proper seasons therefor, such methods for the destruction of insects injurious to growing crops and fruits. of all kinds as are and may be advised and prescribed in the reports and bulletins of the Agricultural Experiment Stations in this State.
2. AND BE IT ENACTED, That whenever requested by a resolu- tion of any County Board of Agriculture of this State, at a meeting of such board, regularly held, the Executive Committee of the State Board of Agriculture of this State shall appoint three persons, residents of the county from which such request shall be made, to act as commissioners. or agents for the purpose of this act in such county, without other com- pensation than an as hereinafter provided.
46 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ February,
3. AND BEIT ENACTED, That whenever complaint shall be made to such commissioners, or to any one of them, that any person or persons within their county has or have failed, neglected or refused and continue to fail, neglect or refuse to use such methods so prescribed or to be pre- scribed by the said Agricultural Experiment Stations in this State, or other equally efficient and satisfactory methods, for the destruction of insects injurious to growing crops and fruits, on land in his, her or their posses- sion, that then said commissioners or any two of them shall notify such person or persons so complained of, in writing, by service of such notice signed by them, upon such person or persons personally, or by leaving the same at their place of residence, that they are required under the penalties provided in this act forthwith to apply such methods so prescribed -or to be prescribed as aforesaid, for and towards the destruction of such injurious insects. And said notice shall specify the particular species of insect or insects complained of, and the methods to be adopted for their -destruction, with a reference to the reports or bulletins of said Agricul- tural Experiment Stations, or some one or more thereof, where such insects and the methods for their destruction are or may be described—or in lieu thereof, there may be served with such notice a printed copy of such bul- letins or reports and prescribed methods of destroying insects as are relied upon, or a printed extract or-extracts therefrom setting forth the methods . to be used for their destruction.
4 AND BEIT ENACTED, That it shall be the duty of such person -or persons so notified within twenty-four hours after receiving such notice and directions, to proceed to destroy such insects on his lands and prem- ises so complained of, in the manner and by such methods as said notice and directions shall specify ; and every person or persons who shall neglect -or refuse so to do, for the space of six days after receiving such notice and directions served as aforsaid, shall forfeit and pay a fine not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars in the discretion of the Court, besides the costs of the suit, to be sued for, received and collected by any one of the commissioners in his own name, adding thereto the name of commissioner, without other words of designation, in any Court -of competent jurisdiction in the county in which such offence shall have been committed.
. 5. AND BE IT ENACTED, That all fines and costs that may be received and collected under the provisions of this act, shall belong to and be paid into the treasury of the State Board of Agriculture of this State, to defray the costs and expenses incident to the enforcement of this act and for the general purposes of the said board. Said expenses to include such reasonable allowance to said commissioners for their services in the premises as may be made by the said Executive Committee of the said State Board of Agriculture. ;
6. AND BE IT ENACTED, That this act shall take effect immedi- ately.
1894. ] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 47
Notes and News.
ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE. (The Conductors of ENToMoLocicaAL News solicit, and will thankfully receive items
of news, likely to interest its readers, from any source. The author’s name will be given in each case for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.]
To Contributors.—Ail contributions will be considered and passed upon at our earliest convenience, aud as far as may be, will be published according to date of recep- tion. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEws has reached a circulation, both in numbers and circumfer- ence, as to makeit necessary to put “‘copy’’ into the hands of the printer, for each number, three weeks before date of issue. This should be remembered in sending special or im- portant matter for certain issue. Twenty-five ‘“‘extras’ without change in form will be given free when they are wanted, and this should be so stated on the MS. along with the number desired. The receipt of ali papers will be acknowledged.—-Ep.
DECEASED.—Prof. P. M. FERRARI in Genova.
Dr. GEORGE H. Horn was elected an Honorary Member of the Ento- mological Society of Belgium on Dec. 26, 1893.
Pictures for the album of the American Entomological Society have been received from A. D. Hopkins, Rev. G. D. Hulst, H. G. Dyar, Levi _ W. Mengel, F. H. Hillman, E. P. Van Duzee.
I HAVE taken, at Chicago, in July two Myrmeleonide new to the State of Illinois ;—U/u/a quadripunctata Burm. and Colobopterus eacisus Hag. . The former was taken at a lamp and the latter at an electric light. Both are rare, and of Co/obopferus not many specimens are known.—J. E. Mc- DabgE, Kensington, Jl.
TRANSACTIONS of American Entomological Society for October, Novem- ber and December, 1893, have just been issued, closing volume xx, with 374 pages and 7 plates. The following were contributors: W.H, Ash- mead, Nathan Banks, E. Brendel, P. P. Calvert, T. D. A. Cockerell, W. J. Fox, G. H. Horn, C. Robertson, J. B. Smith, C. H. T. Townsend and C. M. Weed.
THE life-history of but one or two species of the family Nemistrinidz has hitherto been published. Recently, in looking through Prof. Bruner’s collection of Diptera, in the University of Nebraska, I discovered a female specimen of the rare Rhynchocephalus sackeni Will., which was of yet more interest from the following note given me by Prof. Bruner: ‘‘ Taken while apparently depositing eggs in the stemof Eriogonum alaium. Its actions were very similar to those of a bot-fly ; it was so absorbed in its work that it might have been captured with the fingers.’’ The fly is evidently a ~
_ rapid flyer, like its allies, the Bombyliidz. It has an elongated ovipostor, but doubtfully of sufficient strength to pierce woody tissue. The eggs of Flirmoneura obscura are deposited in the holes of wood-boring insects,
48 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [February,
and it is possible that the present species may have similar habits. I shall be glad if further investigation of this plant will throw more light upon the habits of the fly. The specimen was from near Colorado Springs.— S. W. WIL.LIstTon, Lawrence, Kansas.
ON THE BUGONIA SUPERSTITION OF THE ANCIENTS.—Baron C. R. Osten Sacken writes in ‘‘ Nature’’ for Dec. 28, 1893: Last August I pub- lished in the ‘‘ Bulletin Soc. Entomol. Italiana’ 1893, pp. 186-217, an ar- ticle entitled, ‘‘ On the Bugonia of the Ancients, and its relation to Z7is- talis tenax, a two-winged insect.” I desire to collect some more materials on that subject, in view of a second edition, and I would be very grateful to readers of *‘ Nature’? who may be able to give me assistance in that matter.
The information I require may be expressed in two questions:
(1) Whether travelers in out-of-the-way places in Europe or Asia have not come across vestiges of the superstition about oxen bem bees, still lingering among primitive people ?
(2) Whether readers of Oriental literature have not come across pas- sages evidently referring to this superstition, like the passage I reproduce here as an example. I found it in the ‘Golden Meadows” of the Arab traveler Massoudi (died in Cairo, 955), translated by Barbier de Meynard and Pavet de Courteille, Paris, 1861, vol. iii, p. 233. It relates a conver- sation which took place in Arabia, and of which this is a fragment: “‘ Had the bees, which produced this honey, deposited it in the body of a large animal?’ asked Yiad. The surveyor answered: ‘ Hearing that there was a hive near the sea-coast I sent people to gather the honey. They told | me that they had found at that place a heap of bones, more or less rotten, _ in the cavity of which bees had deposited the honey that they brought with them.’ ”’
Baron Osten Sacken, whose address is Heidelberg, Germany, would be happy to send a copy of his original paper to any one interested in the subject.
TRAILED BY A TIGER. (Perils of a scientist now visiting in Pittsburgh). —Mr. William Doherty has been recently spending a few days with Dr. Holland at his residence on Fifth Avenue. He is one of the most daring and successful travelers and explorers, who has risen from the ranks of — the American people, though he is known to comparatively a limited circle of friends, who have been his reliance in his adventurous under- takings. He is a Cincinnatian by birth, and is descended from the Scotch- Irish settlers of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, whose bold stand in favor of independence in pre-revolutionary-days is historic. He was graduated at the University of Cincinnati, and went in 1878 to Paris in charge ofa portion of the exhibit sent to the Paris exposition by the United States Department of Agriculture. After remaining in Paris six months in the discharge of his duties there, he resolved to spend some time in travel, and visited the countries of Europe lying along the Medi- terranean. He spent a year in Greece, then a year in Egypt. After tra-
1894. } ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 49
versing Palestine twice, he purchased a fine Arab horse at Bethlehem in Judea, and mounting the animal headed for the East.
His horseback ride took him across Syria and Persia. He spent a year
at Teheran, the capital of Persia; rode into Turkestan, returned to the region of Muscat, and thence made his way into India. Making Calcutta his headquarters, he commenced an extended series of collecting tours, devoting his attention mainly to the insect fauna of the regions he visited. He thoroughly explored the foot hills and higher slopes of the Himalayas, collecting in Kumaon, Sikkim, Bhotan and in Burmah and the Malay pen- insula. His explorations in these regions were diversified by expeditions to Java, Celebes and Borneo. _ Returning to Calcutta, he finally set out for a more thorough explora- tion of the islands of the great archipelago. He visited Bali, Sumbawa, Sumba, Ademara, Solor, Timor, Letti, Timor-Laut, Buru, Ambonia, Bat- chian, Ternate and adjacent islands; thence made his way to Humboldt Bay, on the north shore of New Guinea, exploring along the whole north shore in New Guinea, in the German and Dutch possessions, visiting Jo- bie and Schouten Islands, being the first naturalist to systematically ex- plore these localities.
Humboldt Bay was visited by the Challenger expedition, but the atti- tude of the natives was so threatening that no landing was made. Mr. Doherty induced the captain of a vessel to put him into the inner bay, which is a beautiful land-locked sheét of water flanked by mountains, one of them rising to the elevation of gooo feet above the tide. The bay is studded with little islands, upon one of which Mr. Doherty disembarked, accompanied by his four trusted Lepchas, or native butterfly hunters, whom he had brought with him from the mountains of India, and who had been the companions of his journeyings for many years. The natives of Humboldt Bay are exceedingly hostile and the lives of the party were in hourly danger. Mr. Doherty succeeded by a clever manceuvre in in- spiring them with a wholesome awe of his person.
It happened that among the swarms of natives that came crowding about the adventurers armed with bows and spears there was a man who had been carried to sea in his boat and had been picked up by the crew of a Malay prau 500 miles away from land. During his stay among the Ma- lays this man had acquired a little knowledge of their tongue, and through him Mr. Doherty was enabled to communicate with the savages about him.
He took occasion to warn them that any act of hostility would lead to terrible consequences, as he was a mighty wizard, and verified the asser- tion by exploding a dymanite cartridge which he had adroitly slipped into a crevice of a great boulder seven feet in height, which lay by the shore and which was torn to pieces by the explosion. The effect of this dis- play of terrific and apparently supernatural power was wholesome. Mr. Doherty made it a point, after he had assured himself that he had created a monstrous impression, not to take with him firearms, lest the natives
2*
50 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [February,
should think he was in fear of them, but boldly sallied forth with his but- terfly nets and explored the shores of the bay and penetrated some dis- tance into the interior, discovering a large fresh-water lake, the existence of which was not known before to geographers, and making wonderful collections of new species, which have since been transmitted to Hon. Walter DeRothschild and Mons. Oberthur, of France.
The natives followed him everywhere and went fully armed, but keep- ing a respectful distance, not knowing at what minute his terrible rock- rending power might be invoked for their destruction. Finally, however, they became bolder and more threatening in their demeanor, and realiz- ing that his life was in danger he made his way in his boats westward, exploring from point to point as he touched. His life was in his hands, so to speak, during this whole perilous journey, but with amazing tact and coolness he succeeded in carrying out his purposes and in coming off unscathed, save by fever and the effects of the constant nervous strain to which he was subjected.
The following incident is a good illustration of his nerve: One of the best ways of collecting moths is by placing baits for them in proper places, and then visiting the spots after dark with a lantern and capturing them where they have congreated. While in Java Mr. Doherty was following this method, but discovered, to his surprise, during his rounds in the for- est, he had been followed for several nights by a Bengal tiger, which had tracked him from tree to tree as he went his walks. The tiger evidently had been deterred from making an onslaught by the lantern which Mr. Doherty carried. Mr. Doherty made up his mind that if the lantern pro- tected him, he would not be deterred by the tiger, and went on with his work night after night, and just as regularly as he went his rounds the tiger followed him. Finally the brute became bolder and showed him- s-lf, and Mr. Doherty determined that it was time to put an end to this form of coquetry and laid a bait—a dead animal—in his path, and con-
cealed himself with a rifle in a hollow tree. All night long he sat there —
waiting for ‘‘Old Stripes’’ to show himself, but singularly enough the tiger had reached the same conclusion as Mr. Doherty, and that night he failed to appear, and thereafter was conspicuous by his absence. He had. apparently gotten tired of the business, as Mr. Doherty had. Not all of Mr. Doherty’s tiger stories have such an ending, and he has been “‘in at the death’? of not a few of these lords of the jungle. Strange to relate, Mr. Doherty declares that he is less afraid of tigers than of tame elephants. Tame elephants in India, he says, kill on an average one man a year, and as some of them live to be over one hundred years of age they are veritable man destroyers. This is true principally of bull elephants. Cow elephants are more tractable and gentle.
Mr. Doherty possesses a wonderful faculty of acquiring languages, and this power has served him in his journeys. He possesses a colloquial knowledge of twenty-seven of the languages and dialects of Asia and the East, and is wonderfully accomplished in the languages of modern Eu-
a a ee
1894. ] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 51
rope. His visit to this country is simply for the purpose of rest and re- cuperation. He proposes in the later Winter or early Spring to return again to explore the islands lying north and east of New Guinea, to again visit New Guinea, and then to explore Hainan, Formosa and the interior of China. After that, if spared, he may attack East Africa and Madagas- car, or possibly will devote himself to a thorough exploration of the east- ern foot hills and slopes of the Andes in South America. These are the projects which he is discussing with his friends. He has spent the Sum- mer with his relatives at a watering place in Maine, and four weeks with his brother-in-law, Prof. J. S. Hart, of Cornell University. Hecame from Ithaca to spend a few days with Dr. Holland, who possesses, in his great collection, large portions of the insects collected by Mr. Doherty in the East. Mr. Doherty’s collections are found mainly in those great assem- blages of insect marvels, which have been made by Baron Rothschild and Messrs. Elwes and Druce in England, by Oberthur, in France, and by Dr. Holland, of Pittsburgh.—Pittsburgh Gazette.
Identification of Insects (Imagos) for Subscribers,
Specimens will be named under the following conditions: 1st, The number of species to be limited to twenty-five for each sending; 2d, The sender to pay all expenses of trans- portation and the insects to become the property of the American Entomological Society ; 3d, Each specimen must have a number attached so that the identification may be an- nounced accordingly. Exotic species named only by special arrangement with the Editor, who should be consulted before specimens are sent. Send ae cent stamp with all insects for return of names. Before sending insects for identification, read page 41, Vol. III. Address all packages to ENToMOLOGICAL NrEws, Academy Natural Sciences, Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pa.
Entomological Literature.
THE ANNALS AND MAGAZINE OF NATURAL History. London, De- cember, 1893.—A contribution to the morphology of the limbs and mouth- parts of crustaceans and insects, Dr. H. J. Hansen [trans. from Zoolog- ischer Anzeiger]. On the cerebral nuclei of Myriapods, J. Chatin [transl. from Comptes Rendus].
TRANSACTIONS OF THE KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE (1891-92), xiii. Topeka, 1893.—Notes on the elementary comparative external anatomy of insects, V. L. Kellogg. Insects Notes, id, figs. On the the horse flies of New Mexico and Arizona, C. H. T. Townsend. On a peculiar Acal- yptrate Muscid found near Turkey Tanks, Ariz., id.
Nova ACTA DER Kats. LEOPOLDINO-CAROLINAZ DEUTSCHEN AKAD- EMIE DER NATURFORSCHER, lviii, 4. Halle, 1892.—Systema Geometra- rum zonz temperatioris septentridnalis: Systematic revision of the span- worms of the north temperate zone, C. F. von Gumppenberg. Part V.
/ 52 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS.. [February,
CompTEs RENDus. L’ACADEMIE DES SCIENCES. Paris, Nov. 27, 1893. —On the male genital apparatus of Hymenoptera, M. Bordas. Researches on the anatomy and development of the fema!e genital armor of Orthop- tera, M. Peytoureau.
THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. Philadelphia, December, 1893.—Ly- cenid larva on A¢riplex, C. H. T. Townsend.
NATURWISSENSCHAFTLICHE RUNDSCHAU, BRAUNSCHWEIG, Dec. 9, 1893.—Summary of W. M. Wheeler’s ‘‘A contribution to insect embry- ology,’’ R. von Hanstein.
KNOWLEDGE. London, Dec. 1, 1893.—Curious cocoons, ii, E. A. Buder, figs.—Jan. 1, 1894. Bark-boring beetles, E. A. Butler, figs.
THE GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE. London, December, 1893.—Notes on the eocene tertiary insects of the Isle of Wight, Rev. P. B. Brodie.
MITTHEILUNGEN AUS DEM NATURHISTORISCHEN MUSEUM IN HAMBURG, x, 2, 1893.—[On the insects collected by Dr. F. Stuhlmann in East Africa:] Hymenoptera, F. F. Kohl; Formicidae, Dr. G. Mayr; Diptera, V. von Roeder; Lepidoptera, Dr. A. Pagenstecher.
Nature. London, Dec. 7, 1893.—On the classification of the Tracheate Arthropoda, a correction, R. I. Pocock.
BULLETIN OF THE MUSEUM OF CoMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY AT HARVARD COLLEGE, xxv, 2. Cambridge, Mass., December, 1893.—Compte-Rendu sur les Pantopodes, W: M. Schimkewitsch, 2 pls.
PAPERS ON Iowa INSECTS, consisting of Fruit and Forest tree insects (reprinted from Trans. State Hort. Soc. 1892, pp. 96-127) and Some Iowa Farm insects (reprinted from Rep. State Agric. Soc. 1892, pp. 665-699). By Herbert Osborn, Professor of Zoology and Entomology, Iowa Agric. College. Des Moines, 1893. The many figures in the text add greatly to the value of this pamphlet which is intended for fruit-growers, farmers and stock-raisers.
INsEcT LIFE, vi, 2. Washington, December, 1893.—Fifth annual meet- ing of the Association of Economic Entomologists [at Madison, Wis., Aug. 14, 15, 16, 1893]. Presidential address, S. A. Forbes. Methods of treating insects affecting grasses and plants, H. Osborn. Notes on methods of studying life-histories of injurious insects, L. O. Howard. Another mosquito experiment, id. Phytomyza affinis Fall. as a cause of decay in Clematis, J. Ritsema Bos. Farm practice and fertilizers as insecticides, J. B. Smith. The preservation of larvae for study, H. Garman. The dis- tribution of Coccide, T. D. A. Cockerell: Note and record-keeping for the economic entomologist, A. D. Hopkins. Illustrations for the eco- nomic entomologist, H. Garman. The arsenites and arsenical mixtures as insecticides, C. P. Gillette. Destructive Scolytids and their imported enemy, A. D. Hopkins. Parasitic and predaceous insects in applied en- tomology, C. V. Riley. The economic value of parasites and predaceous
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 53
insects, J. B. Smith. Insect foes of American cereal grains, with meas- ures for their prevention or destruction, F. M. Webster, figs. Fumiga- tion with bisulphide of carbon for the complete and rapid destruction of insects which attack herbaria, furs and woolens, H. du Buysson. Methods of attacking parasites of domestic animals, H. Osborn. Remedies for insects injurious to cotton, H. E. Weed. The cheese or meat skipper, M. E. Murtfeldt. Hydrocyanic acid as an insecticide, D. W. Coquillett. On arsenical spraying of fruit trees while in blossom, J. A. Lintner. Some insects of the year, F. M. Webster. Insects of the year in New Jersey, J. B. Smith. Some of the more important insects of the season, H. Os- born. Jcerya purchasi and Vedalia cardinalis in New Zealand, R. A. Wright. Notes on some insect pests of Trinidad, F. W. Urich. Notes on slip-records, T. D. A. Cockerell. Dipterous parasites in their relation to economic entomology, C. H. T. Townsend.
THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. London, Ont., December; 1893.— Notes on the occurrence of Hepialus thule Strecker at Montreal, H. H. Lyman. On some undetermined Bombyces, H. G. Dyar. The Mesilla Valley cottonwood leaf-miner determined, C. H. T. Townsend. Descrip- tions of some species of Coleoptera occurring near Allegheny, heretofore undescribed, J. Hamilton, M.D. Notes and queries, W. J. Holland. Exochilium mundum Say attacking the fall web-worm, A. H. Kirkland. North American Thysanura-iv, A. D. Macgillivray. On the Eudriine, A. R. Grote. List of Coleoptera taken at Sparrow Lake, Ont., J. Ham-
-ilton, M.D. Notes on Hepialus,-H. G. Dyar.
THE ZOOLOGICAL RECORD, volume the twenty-ninth. Being records of zoological literature relating chiefly to the year 1892. Edited by D. Sharp, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S., etc. London: Gurney & Jackson, 1893. Arachnida (39 pp.), Myriapoda and Prototracheata (7 pp.), R. I. Pocock. Insecta (332 pp.), D. Sharp.
ZOOLOGISCHER JAHRESBERICHT FUR 1892.—Herausgegeben von der Zoologischen Station zu Neapel. Redigirt von Prof. Paul Mayer. Berlin, R. Friedlander & Sohn, 1893. Arthropoda (Tracheata 4o pp.), Dr. W. Giesbrecht and Prof. P. Mayer.
LEPIDOPTERA INDICA by F. Moore. London, LL. Reeve & Co. Part xvi, 1893, contains pp. 89-112, vol. ii, pls. 115-122. Satyrinz.
Dit SPINNEN AMERIKAS—Epeiride—von Graf E. Keyserling nach dessen Tode herausgegeben von Dr. George Marx, iv Bd, 2 half. Niirn- berg, 1893. Verlag von Bauer & Raspe (Emil Kiister). Pp. 209-377. Tab. x—xix.
BIBLIOTHECA Zoocoaica, Heft viii. Stuttgart, 1893.—Researches on mimicry as a basis for a natural system of the Papilionide, 2nd part: Re- searches on mimicry, Dr. E. Haase, 8 pls.
54 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [February,
REVUE BIOLOGIQUE DU NORD DE LA FRANCE, vi, 2. Lille, November, 1892.—Apropos of some recent publications on the false parasitism of the Chernetide on different Arthropods, R. Moniez.
ComptTEe RENDU. SOCIETE DE BIOLoGIE. Paris, Dec. 9, 1893.—-On the reproduction of the Sarcoptidz, Dr. E. Trouessart.
CompTE RENDU. SOCIETE PHILOMATHIQUE DE Paris, Dec. 9, 1893.— Male genital apparatus of the Hymenoptera of the tribe of the Bombinee, M. Bordas.
BIOLOGIA CENTRALI-AMERICANA. Part cxi. London, September, 1893.—Arachnida-Araneidea, pp. 105-120, O. P. Cambridge. Lepidop- tera-Rhopalocera, vol. ii, pl. Ixxvi, F. D. Godman & O. Salvin, Lepid- optera-Heterocera, H. Druce, pls. lvi, lvii. Orthoptera, pp. o-40, pls. ii, iii, A. de Bormans, H. de Saussure and L. Zehnter. Hymenoptera, vol. ii, pp. 193-216, pl. xi, P. Cameron—Part cxii, October, 1893. Hymenop- tera, vol. ii, pp. 217-256, P. Cameron. Lepidoptera-Heterocera, pl. lviii, H. Druce. Lepidoptera-Rhopalocera, vel. ii, pp. 297-312, F. D. Godman and O. Salvin. Orthoptera, pp. 41-64, pl. iv, H. de Saussure and L. Zehnter.—Part cxiii, November, 1893. Coleoptera, vol. vi, pt. 2, pp. 125-164, G. C. Champion. Lepidoptera-Rhopalocera, vol. ii, pp. 313-328, F. D. Godman and O. Salvin. Orthoptera, pp. 65-104, pl. v, H. de Saus- sure and L. Zehnter.
PsycHe. Cambridge, Mass., January, 1894.—Biological notes on American Gryllidze, S. H. Scudder. Bibliographical notes—-v, S. Hen- shaw. New and undescribed genera of West African Noctuide, W. J. Holland. The Nemastomatide and Trogulidz of the United States 1, N. Banks. Wing-length in some New England Acrididz i, A. P. Morse.
THE ENToMOLOGIST’s RECoRD. London, Dec. 15, 1893.—Pupal de- velopment and color of imago, J. W. Tutt. The history of butterfly clas- sification, F. J. Buckell.
ARCHIVES DE ZOOLOGIE EXPERIMENTALE ET GENERALE (3) I, 2. Paris,. 1893.—On the nidifications of Sphea splendidulus and Chalicodoma perezt, H. de Lacaze-Duthiers.
BIOLOGISCHES CENTRALBLATT. Erlangen, Dec. 15, ae —Composi- tion and origin of termite societies, C. Emery.
MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. Bulletin 102.—In- sects injurious to celery, G. C. Davis, figs. Agricultural College, Michi- gan, 1893, 32 pp.
ACTES DE LA SOCIETE SCIENTIFIQUE Du CHILI, III, 1 and 2. Ciaomk October, 1893.—Therapeutic employment of ZLatrodectus inactans in Mexico, A. L. Herrera. On the wandering cricket of Chiliy C. Berg and F. Letaste. The Coccidz of Chili, T. D. A. Cockerell. New notes on the Coleoptera of Chili, P. Germain.
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 55
~
ad
REVUE SCIENTIFIQUE DU BOURBONNAIS, vii, 73. Moulins, January, 1894.—Geographical catalogue of the Anthicidz of France, Corsica, Al- geria and Tunis, M. Pic.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’Ss MONTHLY MAGAZINE. London, January, 1894. —Notes on the earlier stages of the Nepticule (cont.), J. H. Wood. An attempt to account for moth-grease with notes on its cure by ether, H. G. Knaggs, M.D. A synopsis of British Psychodidz (cont.), Rev. A. E. Eaton.
Tue BritisH NATURALIST. London, December, 1893.—Entomological nomenclature. F. J. Buckell. The Pterophorina of Britain (cont.), J. W. Tutt. The regrettable announcement is made that this is the last number of this pleasant journal.
ENTOMOLOGISCHE NACHRICHTEN. Berlin, December, 1893.—Com- parative researches on the abdominal segments of female Hemiptera- Heteroptera and -Homoptera, C. Verhoeff, Ph.D.
DIE EXOTISCHEN KAFER IN WoRT UND BILD. Bearbeitet von Alex- ander Heyne. Verlag von Ernest Heyne in Leipzig, Hospitalstrasse 2, 1893.—1 Lieferung. Pp. vii, 6, two colored plates of 58 figures of Cicin- delidz and seven of Dynastidz respectively. To be published in twenty Lieferungen at 4 marks a piece, appearing every six weeks, each contain- ing two colored plates and descriptive text.
THE ENTOMOLOGIstT.—London, January, 1894.—On the vertical distri- bution of the British Lepidoptera, W. H. Bath. Extraction of moth grease by ether, H. G. Knaggs, M.D. A catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Ireland (cont.), W. F. deV. Kane: Hypena damnosalis Wik., J. B- Smith.
LA GRAPHITOSE ET LA SEPTICEMIE chez les Insectes. Deux maladies des larves des Lamellicornes causées par les Bactéries, par I. Krasilshtshik. Extract: Mem. Soc. Zool. France, vi, p. 235, et seq., 1893; figs., 41 pp.
MississipP1 AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE EXPERIMENT STATION. Bulletin No. 27.—Insecticides and their application, H. E. Weed. Agric. Coll. Miss., November, 1893, 24 pp., figs.
MEMOIRES SUR LES LEPIDOPTERES rediges par N. M. Romanoff. Tome vii. Monographie des Phycitinz et des Galleriine par E. L. Ragonot. Saint Petersbourg, 1893, 658 pp., 23 plates, of which 20 are colored. This important volume is the seventh of the series edited by the Grand Duke Nicholas, of Russia. It deals with the Phycitinze and Galleriinz of the entire world. The author, M. Ragonot, is a well-known authority on these groups, and is to be congratulated on the completion of his work. The plates contain in all 569 figures.
56 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ February,
NEW SPECIES OF NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS DESCRIBED IN THE PRECEDING LITERATURE,
COLEOPTERA.
Bembidium postfasciatum Hamilton, Can. Ent. xxv, p. 305, Pa. Pla- tvnus parmarginatus, p. 305, Pa. Stenolophus humidus, Soronia sub- striata, p. 306, Pa. Corymbites elongaticollis, p. 307, Pa., Ont. Hemip- tychus castaneus, p. 307, Pa. Jsomira ruficollis, Acalles curtus, p. 308, Pa. Pachybaris strigapunctus, p. 309, Pa. PBalaninus confusor, p. 309, Mass., Pa., O., W. Va., N. C.
Cassididze: n. gen. et Spe. Mex., Cent. Am. _ Chaaias Biol. Cent.-Am. Coleop. vi, pp. 125-264.
DIPTERA.
Bibio tristis i ae and Kellogg, Trans. Kans. Acad. Sci. xiii, p. 113, fig., Kansas.
Diachlorus ea Townsend, Trans. Kans. Acad. Sci. xiii, p. 134, N. Mex. Micropeza turcana, p. 136, Ariz.
HYMENOPTERA. Blennocampa populifoliella Riley MS., Townsend, Can. Ent. xxv, p. 304, N. Mex. Pompilide: n. spp. Mex., Cent. Am., Cameron, Biol. Cent.-Am. Hy- men. ii, pp. 193-222. Scoliidz, id. 1. c. pp. 222-256.
LEPIDOPTERA. Thelethia n. gen. name for 7hia (preocc.) _Dyar, Can. Ent. xxv, p. 301. Hepialus argenteomaculatus Harr., var. perdita, p. 327. Hesperidz: n. spp. Mex., Cent. Am., Godman and Salvin, Biol. Cent.- Am. Lepid.-Rhopal. ii, pp. 297-328.
ORTHOPTERA. Forficulidze: n. spp. Mex., Cent. Am., de Bormans, Biol. Cent.-Am. Orthop. pp. 9-12. Blattide: n. spp. Mex., Cent. Am., U. S., de Saussure and Zehnter, l. c. pp. 13-104. THYSANURA. Fam. Aphoruride (nom. nov.) Macgillivray, Can. Ent. xxv, p. 313. New gen. and spp. Aphoruridz and Poduride, pp. 313-318.
ARANEINA. Epeiride: n. spp., Marx, Die Spinnen Amerikas, iv, pp. 209-377. N. spp. Mex., Cambridge, Biol. Cent.-Am., Arach.-Aran. pp. 105-120.
PHALANGIDA. Trogulide: Ortholasma n. gen. Banks, Psyche vii, p. 11. O. rugosa, p. 12, S. Cal. Dendrolasma, p. 12. D. mirabilis, p. 12, Wash.
Ent. News, Vol. V. P}, I;
BPAGOON yt at
See page 57
WEST AFRICAN DYSGONIIDA Holland (Reduced one-fifth).
SB yt
ee
1894. ] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 57
The Entornological Section ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA. PROCEEDINGS OF MEETINGS.
The following papers were read and accepted by the Committee for publication in ENTOMOLOGICAL NEws:
NEW WEST AFRICAN DYSGONIIDAE. By W. J. HoLLanp, Ph. D., Pittsburg, Pa.
(The following descriptions are all of species found in the valley of the Ogove River. The types arein my collection).
DYSGONIIDZ Moore. (Ophiuside Guen). SPHINGOMORPHA Guen.
1. §. pudens, sp. nov.*<’.—Palpi, front, and a stripe on the middle of the collar pale fawn ; patagia, upperside of the thorax and the abdomen pale chestnut; the lowerside of the thorax and the abdomen are cinereous. The primaries are pale reddish fawn: beyond the base the wing is crossed by a broad band of chestnut, narrowing irregularly from the inner margin to the middle of the cell, and then widening to the costa; this band is margined externally and internally by fine paler lines, of which the outer line is most conspicuous, becoming broadly silvery white on the inner margin; there is a short waved, dark browned transverse line on the costa beyond the cell, and a narrow, straight, submarginal brown line running from the apex to the inner margin. The apex and outer angle are clouded
‘with brown, and there are a few small white subapical spots on the costa.
The secondaries are fuscous, darker toward the outer margin, with the costa stramineous, shining; the outer margin is bordered with pale ochra- ceous, and there is an incomplete transverse ochraceous band above the anal angle. Both wings on the underside are pale rosy fawn, with the inner margin still paler; both have a minute black spot at the end of the cell, and beyond the cell the wings are sparingly irrorated with minute blackish scales, and in some specimens accentuated by a few light spots arranged in a transverse series just beyond the cell. The primaries at the apex, and the secondaries at the anal angle have a few obscure blackish striz.
2.—The female does not differ from the male, except in the shorter and more robust form of the abdomen. Expanse; ¢', 55 mm.; 2, 60 mm.
LAGOPTERA Guen.
2. L. rubricata sp. nov. <'.—Palpi, front, corselet, and upperside of the thorax chestnut; upperside of the abdomen paler brown; lower side of the thorax and abdomen and anal tuft of hair minium-red. The pri-
58 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. (February,
maries are chestnut, with the characteristic lines and markings dark brown. The secondaries are minium-red with the inner margin broadly blackish, this blackish tract being evaded beyond the cell by the red of the outer half of the wing which also sweeps inwardly along the inner margin. The fringe at the anal angle is gray, as are also the tufted hairs along the inner margin. On the under side both wings are minium-red. The primaries have an obscure lunulate discal spot. Expanse 55-60 mm.
There is an unnamed specimen of this insect in the British Museum. MINUCIA Moore.
3. M. verecunda sp. nov. ¢'.—Palpi, head, and upperside of the thorax chestnut. The upperside of the abdomen is fuscous; the lowerside of the thorax and abdomen is paler, sericeous. The upperside of the primaries is cinereous chestnut, with a broad submarginal band of dark chestnut, constricted opposite the end of the cell; there is a lunulate dark spot at the end of the cell and a minute blackish spot in its middle. The secon- daries are fuscous, paler at the base and the outer angle, and with the outer third shaded near the middle of the margin with black. On the underside the primaries are fuscous, crossed by a pale grayish band be- yond the end of the cell, and with the outer third, except on the margin, broadly blackish. The secondaries below are fuscous laved with ochra- ceous at the base and darker on the outer margin. Expanse 55 mm.
OPHIODES Guen.
4. 0. catocalina sp. nov. ¢'.—Front, collar, patagia, and the upperside of the thorax rufous ochraceous; the upperside of the abdomen is fuscous; the lowerside of the body is obscure pale ochraceous. The primaries are rufous ochraceous, with the fringes brown; they are marked by five nar- row, transverse, brown lines, viz.: a basal, a subbasal, two transverse limbal, and a submarginal line. The submarginal line is broader than the rest and less sharply defined; the outermost of the transverse limbal lines is composed of a series of regularly curved lines located upon the inter- spaces. This series is sharply deflected toward the base at the first sub- costal nervule. The innermost of the transverse limbal lines and the subbasal line approach each other as they draw near the inner margin. The secondaries are fuscous on the basal third, and bright yellow on the outer two-thirds, except where crossed by a broad black submarginal band, which diminishes in size from the outer angle toward the inner margin. On the underside both wings are paler; both have a lunulate discal spot at the end of the cell; both are traversed beyond the cell by incomplete transverse bands parallel to the outer margin. Of these bands
the submarginal band is the heaviest. The primaries are marked above |
the outer angle by a large, round, blackish spot.
2.—The female does not greatly differ from the male, ieiteot is in the greater robustness of the abdomen. Expanse: d', 65 mm.; 9. 70 mm.
a — - a ee
a
1894. } ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 59
NAXIA Guen.
5. N. apiciplaga sp. nov. ¢'.—Palpi, front, patagia and upperside of the thorax, dark brown; the upper and lowersides of the abdomen and the lowerside of the thorax are dark fuscous. The legs are concolorous, the tarsi are ringed with whitish. The primaries are dark brown, marked with darker geminate crenulated basal, subbasal, median, limbal, and submarginal transverse lines. At the base the intervals between the lines are paler, and toward the costa bright ferruginous. On the costa toward the apex is a large subtriangular patch of gray margined inwardly with silvery white and accentuated on the costa by three minute white spots. The fringes are whitish, except at the outer angle, where they are black- ish. The secondaries are dark blackish fuscous, with the base clothed with grayish hairs. The fringes are broadly whitish from the outer angle to the end of the first median nervule. On the underside both wings are cloudy fuliginous, crossed with a number of parallel, crenulated, darker lines; both have the outer margins laved with light gray; both are heavily clouded with black about the middle near the outer margin. The prima- ries have the inner margin pale gray. Expanse 55 mm.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE II.
Minucia verecunda sp. nov.
. Lagoptera rubricata sp. nov.
. Naxia apicipla sp. nov.
. Achea lienardi Boisd.
. Ophiodes croceipennis Walk.
, nat catoca/ina sp. nov.
. Sphingomorpha pudens sp. nov.
. Lagoptera parallelepipeda Guen. 2.
OCI AnNBRwWN H
t) U
A NEW SCALE-INSECT ON AGAVE. By T. D. A. CoCKERELL.
Aspidiotus bowreyi, n. sp.—Female scales crowded on the plant, remind- ing one of Pseudoparlatoria ostreata. Scale elongate, slightly over 2 mm. long, gray, with the circular blackish exuviz towards one end; first skin covered. When the film of secretion is removed, the exuvize are shining black. Female (after boiling in caustic soda) broad pyriform, pale yellow. Three pairs of terminal lobes, none very prominent ; mid- dle pair close together but not touching, low, with truncate ends; second and third pairs broader, the third pair inconspicuous. Beyond the lobes the margin presents five distinct serrations, and beyond these some indis- tinct serration. The club-shaped thickenings (such as Comstock de- scribes in A. smi/acis ) are very distinct ; there is a small one at the inner
60 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [February,
margin of each median lobe, and four larger ones on each side beyond, namely at the outer margin of the middle lobe, at each side of the second lobe, and besides the third lobe. Two rows of orifices run parallel with the margin, somewhat as in Maskell’s figure of A. corokie. Four groups of ventral glands, the cephalolaterals of about seven, the caudolaterals of about eight. Anal orifice a considerable distance from the hind end.
Hab.—On Agave rigida, at Hope, Jamaica. Collected by Mr. J. J. Bowrey, sent by Prof. C. H. T. Townsend.
This interesting species is noteworthy for the form of the scale of the female, which is elongate with the exuviz to one end, after the manner of the male scale of 4. dzformis and other species. Females with young were sent, but the male has not yet been
‘observed. This is not the first Coccid found on Agave, for, in 1888, Mr. Douglas described Coccus (Gymnococcus) agavium, found on an Agave which came from North America, but still unknown to collectors in this country.
ra’ vv «
DESCRIPTIONS OF CERTAIN GEOMETRID LARVA. By HARRISON G. Dyar, New York.
Sabulodes dositheata Guen.
Egg.—Elliptical, flattened above and below, slightly hollowed above, smooth, shining pale pearly green. Under a microscope it is very slightly irregularly creased. Size.g+ .6+.5mm. Laid in a cluster of about 4o or less on the underside of a leaf.
Young larva (stage iii?).—Head round, pale, with a brownish tinge, es- pecially around mouth and sides; ocelli black; a few setze; width 0.7 mm. Body green, tinged with white, pale ventrally. A broad, subdorsal, blackish shade-band which, as well as the ground color, contains several indistinct, whitish, longitudinal lines. A row of medio-ventral dark brown spots.
Mature larva (stage vi?).—Head rounded, sordid white, brown on the mouth parts, ocelli black; width 2.6 mm. Body cylindrical, plump, ab- dominal feet on joints 1o and 13, the joints between small. A few small, pale setz from the surface of the body. Color milky-white or pale green, darker dorsally, with germinate dorsal, single subdorsal, lateral and stig- matal pale yellow lines, all rather broad with irregular edges. Spiracles pale ochre. Anal plate white. A white line on anal feet. Thoraic feet white, with black tips.
Pupa.—Smooth, obsoletely wrinkled. On the head, just back of the eyes, a small warty prominence ; cremaster flattened, tapering, granular; its hooks well fastened into the silk of the cocoon. Color uniform milky- white, except the antenna cases, which are bright brown, strongly con-
1g94. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 61
trasting, the color passing over vertex of head. Length 20 mm.; width 6 mm.
Cocoon.—Composed entirely of silk, white, resembling.a spider’s nest. Spun between leaves or in a folded leaf on the tree. ;
Food-plants.— Eucalyptus, Ricinus, Rhaimnus, Salix, etc.
Larve from Santa Barbara, Cal. All the species here de- scribed, except the two following and the last one, were kindly
determined by Dr. Geo. T. Hulst.
Endropia hypochraria H.-S.
First stage.—Head red-brown, with a lateral white spot and one above the mouth; width .4mm. Body six times banded, with whitish bands be- tween the thoracic and abdominal feet, the bands containing rather large white spots. A brown ventral line. Lenth 4 mm.
Second stage.—Head white; a large carmine-brown patch covers the vertex and extends down each side before the eyes and above the mouth; width 6mm. Body carmine-brown, marked as before.
Third stage.—Head as before, the brown patch more extensive; width .9mm. Pale bands on the body much interrupted; later the head be- comes brown mottled with white, black in front with two irregular ver- tical white lines and white clypeus. Body purple-brown finely streaked longitudinally with yellowish; venter yellowish; subdorsal yellow spots. on joints 5, 6, 7 and 8 and stigmatal black ones on joints 5-9.
Fourth stage.—Head pale brown with dark brown mottlings and a ver- tical black band each side of the front, dentate inwardly, the two con- joined at the vertex and above mouth; width about 1.3mm. _ Body yel- lowish wood-brown, mottled with darker brown, with an indistinct dorsal and ventral band and*subdorsal, lateral and two subventral rows of mi- nute segmentary elevated black spots, each of the latter bearing a small, inconspicuous black hair; spiracles black. Length 29 mm. |
Fifth stage.—Head as before; width 1.8 mm. Body also the same. Ventral pale band bordered sharply with dark brown subdorsal and sub- stigmatal interrupted bands, paler than the ground color.
Sixth stage.—Head pale brown, mottled with darker brown; white in front with black specks and mottlings, separating two broad black bands. which unite at the vertex. Width 2.7mm. Body rust-red, with fine lon- gitudinal wavy black lines in germinate dorsal, three or four irregular lateral and four ventral bands; between the two pairs, or the latter, a broad pale medio-ventral band. Feet and joint, 2 paler. The minute pilifer- ous tubercles are black. The spiracles have a black border.
Pupa.—Formed in a folded leaf and held in place by numerous threads. It is black, shining, red-brown in all the sutures and joinings of the parts. The abdominal segments taper rapidly; the cremaster is large and stout and terminates in two much-recurved spines with several shorter knobbed hairs growing from their bases. Length 15 mm.
62 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [February,
Food-planis.—Found on Sassafras (.S. officinale), but readily ate other leaves.
From Dutchess County, N. Y.
Angeronia crocataria Fabr.
I think it worthy of record that this species hibernates in the larva state when well grown. From eggs laid in August larve were produced which reached the fifth stage and hibernated. The larva in the first four stages, and also at maturity, is green; but in the fifth, or hibernating stage, there is a marked change of color. After the fourth molt it is pale, dull brown above, a little darker at the sides, paler below, evenly concolorous and ceases feeding.
Probole amicaria H.-S.
Head whitish green with a vertical, pulverulent, crimson line before the ocelli; mouth brownish, ocelli black; width 1.4 mm. Body the same whitish green: a dorsal crimson band, broadly interrupted on the middle of each segment and furcate on joint 2, the forks meeting the lines on the head. Feet slightly touched with crimson.
Last stage.—As before; the stripes on the head very pulverulent; width 2.2mm. Later the markings become deep carmine-brown, fainter than before and blended, with obscure, similarly-colored mottlings over the body. A transverse stripe across the dorsum on joint 3, another on joint 8, a little elevated and preceded by two dots, around which partly extends a shade from the band. Spiracles ringed with black.
Food-plant.—Found on dogwood (cornus).
Larva from Rhinebeck, N. Y.
Syachlora excurvaria Pack.
Head pale brown, minutely pilose. Body with the segments projecting laterally in points, the dorsum roughened. On these lateral processes the larva attaches various objects, which gives it a strange appearance. Body light brown with black shades and an interrupted dorsal line. Two reddish points anteriorly on joints 3-9 and 13; other elevated reddish spots laterally and fine hairs; the skin granular. On joints 5-9 are curi- ous structures composed of pieces of dead leaves, etc. After moulting the larva applied several pieces of green leaf to itself, which subsequently withered, and also some pieces of paper from its label. Length about 12 mm.; width of head 1 mm. ie
Cocoon.—Composed of the material which the larva carried on its back, spun together with silk.
Pupa.—Pale wood-brown; a blackish dorsal line; a point above each eye, a line on antenna cases and the eyes blackish. Indistinct brownish shades and spots throughout. Length 8 mm.
Larva from Lake Worth, Fla.
——
a.
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 63
Semiothisa granitata Guen. .
Head with rounded lobes, flat in front; white before, reddish at sides, with some brownish spots and a black patch below the apex of each lobe; ocelli black, mouth sordid whitish; width 1.2mm. Abdominal feet pres- ent on joints 1oand 13, normal. On each segment a series of low, smooth, black tubercles, each bearing a rather long, black hair; a dorsal and lat- eral row of white, intersegmental patches and an interrupted orange, subdorsal band; the rest of the body finely mottled with black and white on a sordid purplish ground color; a black dorsal patch in the centre of each segment. Thoracic feet black.
Pupa.—W ing cases prominent, rounded; abdomen cylindrical, slightly tapering; cremaster conical, with two divergent spines; cases creased, abdomen minutely punctured. Color blackish brown. Length ro mm.; width 3 mm. ;
Food-plants.—Ribes
Larva from Yosmite, Cal.
Phasiane irrorata Pack.
Head rounded, green with a yellowish line behind the eyes; antennz pale. Body cylindrical, abdominal feet on joints 10 and 13. Color green, finely streaked longitudinally with yellowish on dorsum and venter; a stigmatal yellow band on the fold, continuous with the band on the head and passing on to the last pair of abdominal feet. A few short, black sete, visible with a lens.
Pupa.—Abdomen tapering, punctured; wing cases slightly creased; cremaster long, tapering, ending in two divergent points. Color brown.
Food-plant.—Cottonwood (Populus).
Larva from Phoenix, Ariz.
Selidosema juturnaria Guen.
Head scarcely shining, greenish, testaceous, ocelli brown, mouth brown- ish; width 1.8mm. Abdominal feet on joints 10 and 13. Color green, the folds of the segmental incisures yellowish. A dorsal band of four narrow, pale yellow lines and a broader stigmatal line, all slightly wavy. Spiracles faintly reddish. The larva rests flat on the leaf like a Noctuid.
Pupa. —Cylindrical, rounded; the abdomen small, tapering; cases finely creased, body punctured; cremaster cylindrical, tapering, with two outcurving thick spines from its end. Length 15 mm.; width 5 mm.
Food-plant.— Rhamnus.
Larva from Yosemite, Cal.
Eucaterva variaria Grote.
£gg (from abdomen of 2 moth).— Elliptical, flattened on two opposite sides and truncate at one end, densely covered with hexagonal depres- sions; color very pale green. Length .8mm., thickness .5 mm. Under the microscope the hexagonal areas are seen to be formed by broad, elevated,
64 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [February,
reticulated lines, more or less granular and often broken. These eleva- tions are nearly white. The truncate end of the egg has an outer elevated ridge and an inner one, between which is a ring-like depression. The central elevation is hollowed to form the micropyle, and the reticnlations radiate around it.
Larva (from cast skin).—Head round, the clypeus triangular, smooth, with a few short hairs; white, with numerous black dots, here and there partly confluent (like the wings of the moth), less thick on the lower part of the head. Clypeus white, with two confluent black dots near its apex; ocelli six, black; labrum and jaws brown; width about 2.2 mm. Anal plate large, oblong, white, dotted with black, like the head, but the spots more confluent. The body may have been white with black marks. Spiracles black.
Pupa (from empty skin).—Skin thin, so that it is misshapen after the exit of the moth; apparently cylindrical, a littlle tapering on the abdomen with rounded ends cremaster ; short, broad, with six spines, recurved at their ends, the two posterior ones arising from slightly elevated conical bases. Color apparently very pale brown, or perhaps nearly white, with a slight bluish bloom over the surface. Length 16 mm ; width 4 mm.
- Cocoon.—Spun among the narrow leaves of its food-plant; composed entirely of silk; a dense network, the strands thick, so that the cocoon looks as if full of round holes. Inside of this is another slight netting, obscuring the pupa from view. Shape oblong, rounded; color white, ir- regularly stained with yellowish. Length 23 mm.; width 30 mm.
The food-plant is Chilepsts saligna (Townsend). From Las Cruces, N. M., sent by Mr. C. H. Tyler Townsend (see ‘‘ Psyche,”’ vol. vi, page 258).
.
WALLE traveling in Poland, Prof. Jaeger visited the highly accomplished Countess Ragowska, at her country residence, when she exhibited her fine, scientifically-arranged collection of butterflies and other insects, and told him that she had personally instructed her children in botany, history and geography by means of her entomological collection—botany, from the plants on which the various larvz feed; history, from the names, as Menelaus, Berenice, etc., given as specific names to the perfect insects; and geography, from the native countries of the several-specimens. From the scientific names of insects, and the technical terms employed in their study, quite a knowledge of Latin and Greek,“and philosophy in general, might also he gained.—Cowan’s Curious Facts.
ENTOMOLOGICAL News for January, 1894, was mailed Dec. 28, 1893.
Ne ea
_ ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS”
“PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION
ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA,
VOL. Vv. MARCH, 1894. No. 3. eON TENTS:
Hulst—Elementary Entomoiogy........... 65 | Fox—Studies among the Fossorial Hy-
Editorial......... Evaditense pitas, apf ooehsoose acadestse 72 | MOCNOPTOTAsesscorecerccc teens secssasesucvences 86
Economic Entomology......-....:.:se0+ereee+ 73 | Holland—-Some new and little-known
IEEE FNCU Bie, ocents> va0c0eese ion odeess soncee 77 African Hesperiidae............sscces sere 89
Entomological Literature..............-2:++- 81 | Mengel—Description of new species of
Entomological Section. ........-..:sssssseseee 85 - Myscelia from western Mexico...... 96
ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY. -LEPIDOPTERA-HETEROCERA (Moths). By Geo. D. Hutst, Ph.D.
The Geometrina comprise about 600 described species, and there remain probably from 200 to 300 species to be described. They are, as a rule, slender-bodied moths, with large, frail
wings, and a weak flight. The labial paipi are usually rather
short, not more than half the length of the head, projecting for-
ward, with the end member usually very short; sometimes as long
as the head, very rarely recurved. In two instances only in the
males they extend far forward, with second member very long,
the palpi being decidedly Deltoid in appearance.
The maxillary palpi are wanting. I have, by careful bleaching under a strong power, found rudiments, but these are scarcely to be noticed here.
The antennz are very variable. In the females they are more simple in character than in the males, being generally ciliate and rarely bipectinate. In the males they vary from the simplest form through serrate and dentate to very broadly plumose bi- pectinate. With us no form has been found with unipectinate antennz as in other parts of the world, and one only with an- tennz doubly bipectinate.
(>
66 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. { March,
The tongue is generally well developed, long though slender. In a few cases it is wanting.
The ocelli are generaily wanting, and are never prominent.
The eyes are very uniform in character, being generally large, globose, prominent and naked.
The clypeus is variable in appearance, generally broad and subquadrate. It is sometimes broader than long, and rarely very narrow, with the eyes almost joined. It varies generally from being flat to being well rounded, and is rarely tubercled. The vestiture is generally scaly and close, but very often the front is tufted, and rarely with hairs.
The head, as a whole, is generally large, prominent and free, though in the Bombycoid forms there is a strong tendency to retraction and smallness, as well as to a loss of the tongue, and an increase in hairness and quantity of vestiture.
The thorax is generally slender and weak. The vestiture is generally loose. There is rarely a dorsal crest, more often low posterior tufts. The patagiz are well developed, loose, fluffy.
The wings are generally very large for the size of the body, though frail. They are always present in the males, but in a few cases are aborted or entirely wanting in the females. Ordinarily, where present the wings have sharper apices and angles in the females than in the males. The wings vary in shape from very broad almost to lanceolate; apices and angles are broadly rounded, or extended and acute; margins even, angulated, in- cised or eroded. They are generally covered with short scales, closely laid, as a rule; but these are often in part, sometimes al- together, transformed into close-lying hairs. In a few cases the wings of the males are ornamented with tuftings or pencils of hairs. A
The venation is extremely variable; far more so, probably, than any other family of the Lepidoptera; both as the species are compared, and in the individuals of the species. The fore wings are generally 12-veined, though in individual specimens 13 are found, the last being along the costa nearer the base than 12. Vein 11 is very often wanting, so that many species have 11 veins only, though this cannot be depended upon to any great extent for classification, as in any specimen of the species vein I1 is likely to appear. There are one or two internal veins. Vein 5 is generally from near the middle of the outer edge of the cell.
a bi 2 ¥ Ci % * %
1894. ] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 67
Veins 7, 8 and 9 nearly always on one stem. In very many species, more generally in the 11-veined ones, there is a vitreous spot or fovea, as Mr. Meyrick calls it, at the base of 1a in the fore wings beneath. Ina few cases a pencil of hairs near the same spot. In one of our species there are 8 veins only in the fore wings, and in very many the relations of 10, 11 and 12 are ex- tremely variable, these separating or anastomosing in the indi- vidual species without regard to uniformity. In some cases there is no accessory cell, in many there is one, in many two. In some cases there is a subcostal cell, but 12 is generally free.
The hind wings have normally 8 veins. There are one or two internal veins, and the position of all veins presents great varia- tion. Veins 3 and 4 generally separate, are sometimes stemmed. Vein 5, generally near the centre of the outer margin of the cell, is very often wanting, or merely a fold. Veins 6 and 7 may be separate or stemmed; vein 8 may be stemmed with the anterior part of the cell, joined near its base only, joined by a short cross- bar, or entirely separate. The wing often has a vitreous spot or fold below at base near vein 8, and the inner edge is quite often
_modified by a fold and hair tuftings.
The abdomen is slender, rather long, sometimes with lateral
- or dorsal tufts in the male.
The legs present very considerable variation. They are gen- erally long, slender and frail, in some cases very long. The fore tibiz are rarely spined. The epiphysis is always present, and is often prolonged to beyond the end of the tibiz.
The middle legs are, with one exception, armed with a pair of spurs at the end of the tibiz, and are very uniform.
The hind legs are generally longer than the others, and are usually with a pair of spurs at the end, and another pair above near the middle of tibia. In a few cases the legs are.so much aborted as to be useless, and in a few are simply rudimentary in character. Many are furnished with a long pencil of hairs; this starts from the upper portion of the tibia and reaches to the lower end, being ordinarily concealed in a long groove on the inner side; where the hair pencil exists there is always a swelling and enlargement of the tibia, and a shortening and abortion of the spurs and tarsi. This is a characteristic of the males, though in some cases there is a loss of spurs in the female. The history of variation in the hind legs seems to be as follows: The legs are
68 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ March,
normally long and slender, with two pairs of spurs. Then for ornamentation the tufting is evolved, with the tibia correspond- ingly developed at the expense of the spurs and tarsi. Soon the ~ eg becomes an appendage for ornamentation only, not for walk- ing. But, not being used for walking, its muscular power fails, without a recovery of its normal power, the other legs being sufficient for that purpose. With the loss of muscular energy the tufting vanishes, the tibia contracts and weakens, and the whole leg becomes more and more rudimentary.
The moths have a weak uncertain flight, rarely prolonged. They are, as a rule, easily disturbed by day. They hide during the hours of light underneath leaves and rubbish, or against the bark of trees, which in coloration they much resemble. In re- pose the wings lie flat, but generally partly spread. They are most abundantly found among plants in rich dark woods, and in damp swampy valleys.
The eggs are generally oval, slightly flattened, and covered with reticulated spaces.
The larva are largely characteristic from their peculiar mode of progression. One or more pairs of the abdominal legs are wanting, and to move the hind part of the body is drawn for- ward, curving up the central portion. They are consequently called ‘‘loopers’’ or ‘‘ measuring worms.’’ In a few species the first, or first two pairs of abdominal legs are wanting; in the great majority the first three pairs are aborted. The two hind pairs | are correspondingly developed and muscular.
The larva is generally naked, slender, cylindrical, rarely with extended processes, but generally more or less roughened, mim- icing in appearance living or dead twigs, or the petioles of leaves. They are generally nocturnal in habit, during the day descending to the ground or sitting rigid upon their hind legs with the body raised and’extended in a nearly straight line. They spin a thread of silk as they move along, and when disturbed are apt to drop by this to the-ground. They are as a consequence easily col-
lected by beating bushes and plants over an umbrella. The larve are often of economic importance, a few, such as the canker worms, becoming pests in certain parts of the country. The pupa is generally slender, naked, and elongated; some- times suspended by the extremity of the abdomen, and with a girth of silk about the thorax, sometimes in a thin cocoon, and sometimes it is subterranean.
1894. | . ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 69
The Geometrina are, in the main, very easily separated from other families of the Lepidoptera, but in some cases they very nearly approach certain Bombycina and Noctuina. From the latter they can be distinguished by the position of vein 5 of the fore wings, which in the Noctuina is close to 4, at the lower angle of the cell, while in the Geometrina it is near the middle of the outer edge of the cell.
From the Bombycina they are separated by a phase of struc- ture which is at once characteristic and exclusive—namely, the structure of the larva. The tendency of the Bombycina is to- wards the modification of the fosterior abdominal legs to other uses, often resulting in their entire abortion. In the Geometrina the tendency is to give them more power by an abortion of the anterior abdominal legs. I am aware that entomologists look with little favor upon taking anything but the mature insect in classification, but embryology will change that. In botany, and elsewhere in zoology, embryological characters are regarded as being of the greatest importance, and certainly a student can locate his insect as closely by the eyesight only from the larve as he can from the imagines. The species is the insect in both sexes, and in its whole history.
_ The classification of the Geometrina has been largely artificial and empirical. The systematists have seemingly arranged their collections as nearly as it seemed_they ought to be from appear- ance, and made their genera conform to peculiarities of appear- ance or the more obvious breaks in the line. There was no ability, and rarely any effort to exclusive definition. Some have, through Hiibner, Curtis, Stephens, Treitschke, Duponchel and Guenée, a classification without structural definition, and this has culminated with the system of von Gumpenberg, who follows the law that ‘‘nothing shall be used in classification which rre- quires the use of the glass, or the denuding in any way of the insect.’ The early systematists of course are to be pardoned, as they were pioneers groping their way to the light.
A structural classification was begun by Herrich-Schaeffer, and vastly bettered by Lederer, whose system has been followed in Europe from his time till now. Both, however, had in their systems much that was not based on structure.
In 1892, Mr. Edward Meyrick, of England, published a paper on the ‘‘Classification of the Geometrina of the European
:
70 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ March,
Fauna,” in which he gave a classification rigidly based on struc- ture, while following as far as possible the line of superficial re-
semblances. He also follows the now universally-received law of priority in the use of generic names. We have thus a classi- fication which is thoroughly structural, and premises to be more or less permanent. And we have generic names which cannot be superseded, thus giving a permanent nomenclature. |
As applied to our own fauna, adding where it does not apply, as well as changing in some items of importance, Mr. Meyrick’s classification is as follows, by synopsis, so far as families go:
GEOMETRINA. 1. Hind wings.—Vein 5 present andstrong . . . ...... .2 Hind wings.—Vein wanting, orafold only . . . . . Ennomide.
2. Hind wings.—Vein 8 anastomosing with cell more thas one-half its length; or when separate, joined by a cross-bar beyond the middle
eee . . . . « Hydriomeniide. Hind wings.—Vein 8 Balirely paar or cell, or joined only shortly at bases eS ot et wae
3. Fore wings.—Veins 6 aiid 7 seme, eepatate ne 8 atid 9. Microniide. Fore wings.—Vein 7 long stemmed with 8andg . . ... . . 4. 4. Hind wings.—Vein 5 much nearer 6than4. . . . . . Geometridae.
Hind wings.—Vein 5 near middle of cell . ays 5. Hind wings.—Vein 8 separate from cell at base, then shortly ainagtt
mosing, then rapidly diverging . . . . . Sterrhide. Hind wings.—Vein 8 entirely separate Soni cell, or shores joined at base, then subparallel with cell. . . . . . . . Monoctenide.
The Ennomidz cover many divergent forms. A7ifz/a has doubly bipectinated antennz. Many species have 11 veins only in the fore wings, and many have the basal fovea beneath in the male. These correspond to what has been known as the Boar- mine. The greatest aberrancy is shown in wing form among the Ennomide, as the species have the borders very variable through angulation.
The Hydriomeniidz cover what has been known as Eupithecta and the Cidaridae. Some of the species have the inner margin of the hind wings modified by a lobe or tufting, as Calocalpe. Those where vein 8 is joined with the cell in the hind wings also have the inner edge of these wings much modified in some cases, and are known as the Lobophorine. Dysfteris falls in this
group.
=
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 71
The Microniidz include only a few genera with us. They are far more largely represented in the tropics. Leucula, Calledap- teryx and Callizzia belong here.
The Geometridz include most of the green moths. They vary much in the sexes so far as the palpi and post-tibial spurs go.
The Sterrhidz take the place of the Acidaliine. They are very closely connected with the Geometride, and here the greatest variation in the structure of the hind legs is found. Gonzaci- dala has but 8 veins in the fore wings.
The Monocteenide (another new name to us) are poorly rep- resented in our fauna, though a very large family in Ausiralia and the far East. They connect the Hydriomeniide with the Geometridz, and are represented by the genera Brephos, Bap- tria, Paleacrita, and a few others.
A full classification of the Geometrina following Mr. Meyrick’s method is now in preparation, and will shortly be published.
THE statement in the “Canadian Entomologist’’ vol. xxv, p. 310, of Rev. W. J. Holland that a specimen of Erebus odora was found in the lecture-room of a church in Allegheny, Pa., reminds me of a similar experience :
When I was Superintendent of Schools at Racine, Wis., in 1879, the janitor of the High School building, an excitable old gentleman, rushed up to me one morning with the information that after considerable effort (which no doubt he considered praiseworthy) he had captured a bat in one of the school-rooms and had confined it within one of the drawers of my desk. An entomologist will imagine my feelings when, on investiga- tion, I found a specimen of Erebus odora battered almost beyond recog- nition, especially when at that time the species was a stranger to my cabinet, It goes without saying that the janitor was instructed to allow me to capture any other bat that he might discover on the premises. Only forty-eight hours afterwards he came to me with the information that there was another bat in a certain room. By lashing my entomologist’s cane to a ten-foot pole I had little difficulty in capturing the ‘‘ bat,”’ though it had chosen a position on the ceiling, fortunately beyond the janitor’s reach. It was a magnificent specimen of Zrebus odora, perfectly fresh.
My curiosity is excited anew as to the motive which impels this moth in particular to enter houses. It seems to be something more than an acci- dent. In this case it could not have been the attraction of artificial light, for the school-room was never lighted at night. It is also true, so far as I have observed, that Erebus odora, though coming to trees smeared with treacle for the capture of moths, will invariably start if the light of a dark lantern is allowed to come near it.—O. S. Westcott, Chicago, II.
72 { March,
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS.
Published monthly (except July and August), in charge of the joint publication committees of the Entomological Section of the Academy of Natural Sciences, of Philadelphia, and the American Entomological Society. It will contain not less than 300 pages per annum. It will main- jain no free list whatever, but will leave no measure untried to make it a necessity to every student of insect life, so that its very moderate annual subscription may be considered well spent.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION $1.00, IN ADVANCE.
ke@s~ All remittances should be addressed to E. T. Cresson, Treasurer, P. O. Box 248, Philadelphia, Pa.; all other communications to the Editors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEws, Academy of Natural Sciences, Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pa.
PHILADELPHIA, PA., MARCH, 1894.
- BORROWING BOOKS.
A correspondent writes as follows: “‘Is there any possible way of bor- rowing books from the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences or the American Entomological Society? If not, might not some scheme be devised? For example, I particularly want to see Ragonot’s new mono- graph Phycitide and several parts of the ‘‘ Biologia Centrali-Americana.”’ I don’t care to buy them; and, in fact, do not want to possess them at all, but if I could borrow such works by paying all cost of transport and de- positing a sum to cover possible loss, it would bea great advantage. You see entomology is being dreadfully crippled by the great difficulty of get- © ting necessary works, the result being that those not situated near a large library are placed at a disheartening disadvantage. Cannot this matter be brought up before the American Entomological Society or the Acad- emy of Natural Sciences, and see if anything can be done? Many people would doubtless give books to form the nucleus of such a loan library, and probably enough money could be raised to pay the salary of a libra- rian. I think the mere discussion of the matter might have ultimate good results, though nothing was done at present.’? We see no reason why such a library could not be inaugurated with this idea in view. Of course, such a thing could not be done in any of our society libraries at present, as it would be a manifest injustice to those who pay for the use of the books, and if they found a work missing which they wished to consult, there would be war at once. Also, there are few libraries which have sufficient funds to duplicate expensive books, and expensive works are the ones which would be in demand. It would have to be a special li- brary for this purpose alone, with a special fund and librarian. Of course, it could be an adjunct department to some already existing library.
we
1894. } ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 73 DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY.
Edited by Prof. JOHN B. SMITH, Sc. D., New Brunswick, N. J.
Wookpecker Work.—It is nothing unusual to see a woodpecker hard at work on the trunk of a tree, evidently after a meal, and sometimes quite large trunks are hammered into in the search for larve. Itis surprising how
Fic. 1.—Section of a trunk of black oak, showing holes made by woodpecker; one-third natural size (from a photograph).
much work seems to be done for such an apparently small return, and in wocd like white and black oak. Among our rare insects are the Cossids, and_among those forms that entomologists like to get, is C. guerciperda.
74 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [ March,
I have recently received evidence that leads me to believe that the abun-
dance of woodpeckers and the rarity of the Cossids are directly related. _
Through my friend, Mr. J. T. Brakeley, of Bordentown, N. J., whospends a considerable portion of the year in the New Jersey pines, I have recently received some good specimens of the work of woodpeckers in oak, and a figure* of one of the specimens is herewith presented showing the holes
Fic. 2.—Section of trunk sawed to show the burrows of the larva sought by the woodpeckers; the termination of their holes marked by ax; one-third natural size (from a photograph). ~ made by the woodpeckers on the outside of the tree, and showing also a cut through the trunk to indieate the locality of the larve that the wood- peckers were after. I urged upon Mr. Brakeley in his chopping opera- tions to keep a lookout for the insects that the woodpeckers were after,
* These figures were first published in ‘‘ Garden and Forest,”’ No. 300, and electrotypes were obtained through the kindness of the publishers of that paper.
:
ne eer
1894. | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. re
as he informed me that quite frequently he found that the woodpeckers. had not reached the larval burrows, having been either scared off, or had become tired of the work, with all the probabilities in favor of the first suggestion. A few days ago he sent me a larva taken from one of these biack oak sticks, and in this case also, a woodpecker had attempted to get at the burrow; but had for some reason stopped short, giving this- larva a chance to mature. I had expected to find some Longicorn larva, and was quite surprised to find instead a magnificent specimen of a Cossid,, which is almost certainly guerciperda. These insects live for two or three years in the trees, and the woodpeckers, therefore, have a very long time to find them, and in that way few of them ever reach maturity and change to moths. When these insects inhabit the lower parts of trees and be- come nearly full grown, they make enormous channels, and these chan- nels are very frequently taken-possession of by ants, who make use of them for their nests. It is, indeed, quite usual to attribute this work to the ants. It would seem as if the nutritive value of these larvze must be very high if it pays for the expenditure of force used in getting at them.
A New Fact in the Life-history of the Silk-worm.—One learns from all sorts of sources; even the daily papers sometimes give us extremely in- teresting information concerning entomology. The latest that I have seen is from the New York Tribune for Jan. 31, 1894, and it gives us the new information that “‘ worms crawl out of their cocoons.’’ The entire article is as follows : ‘
“In the cargo of a steamer which recently arrived at a Pacific port from China were a number of boxes of silk-worms, in transit for London. After the steamer arrived in port the worms began to crawl out of their cocoons. Holes had been bored in the boxes to give air to the worms. They soon found the holes, crawled through them, and a number suc- ceeded in reaching the deck, where they were picked up by visitors. An enterprising man on shore saw the worms, bought all he could get, and. proposes starting a silk industry in Oregon.”’
We wish the enterprising man the enormous success he merits.
A Note on the Habits of the Cockroach.—It sometimes happens, even in the best regulated families, that certain household pests make their ap- pearance in rather annoying numbers, and these are not always insect pests alone. Recently it has happened that in the house occupied by me there was “in invasion of mice and roaches (Periplaneta orientalis) and some measures became necessary in order to get rid of them. A mixture of even parts of borax and chocolate, finely powdered and thoroughly mixed, proved tolerably effective, and it would probably have been per- fectly satisfactory could I have had it applied thoroughly and persistently for a sufficient length of time. They did not disappear soon enough or completely enough to suit me, and I substituted a phosphoric paste, which was promptly effective in so far that the roaches disappeared from the lower regions where this had been used; but made their appearance in the upper part of the house, where they were even less welcome. For
76 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March,
the mice, traps were introduced, and a great haul was made two or three days in succession. I noticed one morning on examining the traps that one of the dead mice had been eaten into and a considerable portion of it devoured. I attributed this to cannibalism, and thought it probable that the mice were hard up for food. This occurred on two or three oc- casions, and in one instance I noticed that several roaches ran away from the trap when I opened the closet door. ‘lhis induced me to look a little more carefully into the matter of the eating, and I suspected that the mice could not well have done that kind of chewing which was present. I concluded to experiment a little further, and when I captured another mouse, left it in the trap for two or three days to see what the outcome would be. Then early one morning I carefully opened the closet door scaring off several roaches that were evidently engaged in making a meal on the dead mouse. I found that they had not only eaten hide and hair, but had eaten a considerable portion of the intestines and the flesh. Around several of the vertebrze the muscular tissue had been cleaned off as completely as if ants had done it, and every bone and every process, and every spicule, as well as the ribs were perfect and entirely cleaned, making, so far as it went, a perfect skeleton. I had known, of course, that roaches were almost omnivorous, and that nothing was sacred to them; but this is the first time that I ever noted such a habit as that above described, nor do I recollect ever having read of any similar occurrence. Perhaps some of the readers of the NEws have seen or heard of some like instance, and if so I would be pleased to have a note of it.
The Pear-leaf Blister-mite.—In Bulletin No. 61, of the Cornell Station,
Mr. M. V. Slingerland has an account of the above insect, Phytoptus pyri
Scheut., in which he finds that Winter spraying with the kerosene emul- sion diluted not more than eight times is an almost perfect remedy. The life-history of the mite is stated, and it is found that the adults hibernate under the bud-scales, where they are easily reached by the kerosene, which penetrates every crevice readily. The emulsion diluted only three times produced no injurious effects upon the trees.
This result is an important one, in that it forces the grower into his orchard in Winter, and the application made as against the mite will be of use also against the Pear psyl/a, and will destroy many another insect which seeks shelter in crevices and like situations.
In New Jersey this species is abundant, seasonally and localiss but usu- ally noted only early in the year, nearly all trace of the insect’s work dis- appearing by mid-Summer. No permanently injurious effects have been noticed in this State. -
Timber Beetles—Mr. A. D. Hopkins has sent out from the West Vir- ginia Experiment Station a circular to lumber manufacturers asking in- formation concerning injury done to timber by a number of species of wood-borers, mainly Scolytids and Lymexyllids. The object is to gather statistics, so far as possible, concerning the percentage of defective timber and the actual money loss. It is impossible to repeat the questions asked,
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1894. } ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 77
because they refer to illustrations and descriptions of injury which ac- company the circular. Of course any information derived from replies to such a circular will be exceedingly imperfect; but will give some infor-
mation perhaps as to how the commercial value of lumber is affected. Just at the present time pin holes in oak are a positive advantage in the manufacture of ‘‘antique’’ furniture, since it saves putting them in artifi- cially. The circular displays Mr. Hopkins’ activity, however, and also the fact that he is devoting his entire energy to the question; the only true way of obtaining permanently valuable results. Ten years would not be more than sufficient to gain a thorough knowledge of the relation of in-
_ sect life in its relation to the forest trees of a single locality only, and there need be no period of idleness.at any season.
Notes and News. ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE.
[The Conductors of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEws solicit, and will thankfully receive items of news, likely to interest its readers, from any source. The author’s name will be given in each case for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.]
To Contributors.—All contributions will be considered and passed upon at our earliest convenience, and as far as may be, will be published according to date of recep- tion. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEws has reached a circulation, both in numbers and circumfer- ence, as to makeit necessary to put “‘ copy’’ into the hands of the printer, for each number, three weeks before date of issue. This should be remembered in sending special or im- portant matter for certain issue. Twenty-five ‘‘ extras” without change in form will be
-given free when they are wanted, and this should be so stated on the MS. along with the number desired. The receipt of ali papers will be acknowledged.—Ep.
Pictures for the album of the American Entomological Society have been received from Dr. R. E. Kunze, C. V. Piper, A. G. Weeks, Jr., Ernest André, of France, M. J. Elrod.
EDMOND DE SELYs-LONGCHAMPS was unanimously elected a corre- spondent of the American Entomological Society at its meeting held Feb. 15, 1894.
Dr. E. H. Eames, of this city, while out botanizing for specimens of the Virginia Snake-root (Aristolochia serpentaria), found a plant upon which were a number of Papilio philenor \arve. The doctor was glad to get the plant, as it is very scarce about here. I attempted to raise them, but could find nothing upon which they would feed; I tried Spice-bush, Sassafras, Smartweed and all the most pungent plants I could find, and they would take to none; one was full SroNs: and changed to a chrysalis without eating any more.
E. H. Eames is a thorough botanist, and he says that this is the northern limit of the food-plant. I have also found /u#onia cenia common about here, but not until after the first of October. TZerias lisa is also common through September and October.—I. F. Moore, Jr., Bridgeport, Conn.
78 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March,
A VARIATION IN TACHINID ATTACK.—An instance recently came under my observation which not only appeared to be something of a departure from the ordinary method of attack, as it is usually observed in these parasites, but afforded an illustration of the fact that a proteetive resem- blance or mimicry does not always protect. Ordinarily, the eggs of Tachina and closely allied species when deposited on Lepidopterous larve, are placed on the dorsal or lateral surface, more frequently the former, and especially on the thoracic segments, where they are least, liable to become detached by the victim. In this case the host was the larva of one of the Geometridze, and when first observed was alive and -attached posteriorly to a limb, with the body thrown out at an angle, as is the habit in caterpillars of this family, while the eggs had been placed on the ventral surface of the thoracic segments about the bases of the legs and in the region of the cesophagus. None of the parasites developed to adults, and hence the species cannot be determined. Just what led the parent fly to place her eggs in this locality it is of course impossible to ‘say. A slight movement in the limbs of the larva might, if not already known to the parasite, have led to the discovery of its true nature; but -even in that case it would seem that the larva should have been able to defend itself in that quarter and driven the fly to attack a less protected part, even if the latter had not found it out of its own accord.
F. M. WEBSTER.
A BUG GNAWED HIS HEART.—A young boy’s death gets a strange ex- planation. Muncie, Ind., Jan. 19, 1894. A remarkable case of a boy being killed by a bug that gnawed his heart deeply interests local physi- cians. Samuel Lennox, seven years old, died a few days ago with very peculiar symptoms. The boy had been sick for some time, but his case was different from any other. A post-mortem examination revealed that part of the heart had been eaten away by an insect, causing death. Nearly a year ago the boy drank water from a brook and swallowed a water bug. The insect ate its way through the boy’s stomach and then began devour- ing the heart, the boy bleeding to death.
Note.—tThis is undoubtedly a species of bug we have had occasion to refer to before in the News—humbug.—EbD.
A FURTHER note on Oceanic Hemiptera.—The species of Rhagovelia mentioned in my article in the February number of the NEws is, accord- ing to a recent communication from Mr. Heidemann, not cod/aris, but a new species which is about to be described by Prof. Uhler as pluméea.
H. F. WIickKHAM.
THE Texas Goddess of Liberty has more than a bee in her bonnet.
She isn’t a Populist of the Mrs. Lease order, but a 17-feet high statue -
poised on the highest pinnacle of the State Capitol at Austin. In cleaning the statue a few days ago it was discovered that a swarm of bees had made their home in the hollow head of the goddess, using the nostrils as an entrance, and had filled it half full of honey.—New York Sun.
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1894. | ; ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 79
AspIpIOTUS NERII.—The distribution of this scale, brought about by human means, is very wide; yet the insect is by no means found every- where. Curiously enough, the true 4. zerii is not yet known from the ‘West Indies. In Jamaica the oleander is much cultivated, but no 4. nerii was to be found; nor is it in Mr. Barber’s collections from the Lesser Antilles, or those of Mr. Ulrich from Trinidad. There is a scale on palms in the West Indies that was considered a variety of nerii, but I have recently satisfied myself, by the examination of a good deal of material, that it is a quite distinct species, namely A. destructor Signoret; and further, that my 4. fa//azx and Mr. Newstead’s A. cototis are but slight varieties of it. The supposed A. palmarum from Bar- bados is another variety. On the continent, 4. nzeriz is known from widely separated points. On August 8th, last year, I found it on a pink oleander in Las Cruces, N. Mex. Dr. A. Dugés sent it to me on oleander from Guanajuato, Mex., where it is known to have existed at least since 1884. Jt had been recorded from Chili, and a few days ago M. Lataste sent me specimens on oleander and jasmine, from Santiago. It would be interesting to obtain fuller particulars about the distribution of this scale, and I would suggest that those who have the opportunity might examine oleanders in various localities whence it has not been reported, to see if it is really absent, or merely unnoticed. The white scales on the leaves are very conspicuous and could‘not well be overlooked by any one searching for them.—T. D. A. COCKERELL.
Aw Earty Butrerr_y.—As evidences of the extraordinary mildness of the season hereabouts friends have been bringing or sending to the Ledger office during the past week or two dandelion flowers, pansy or heartsease blossoms, and other floral specimens gathered outdoors in sunny nooks and sheltered places. On Monday, Jan. 23, 1894, these treasures and harbingers of Spring were pleasantly added to by a live and healthy specimen of the pretty yellow butterfly of the species which is so -well known to everyone, and which forms the finishing touches to every pastoral scene. This golden specimen of butterfly down was found flut- tering happily about the regions of Seventh and Market Streets, and was brought to the Ledger office and given the freedom of the editorial rooms. —Fublic Ledger.
THE SILK SpipEk of Madagascar forms the subject of an interesting article in Die Natur, by Dr. Karl Muller. Its native name is Halabe, meaning great spider. ‘‘This Halabe, or Mephi/a madagascariensis, spins threads of a golden color, and strong enough, according to Main- droin, to hang a cork helmet by. The female spider may attain a length of 15 cm., while the male does not exceed 3cm. A