THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 277 



It was recently my privilege to visit this region, going by boat from 

 Vicksburg to Greenville, and stopping off for about two weeks midway 

 between these places at Mayersville, in Issaquena County. These notes 

 are not intended to be in any way complete, and I will only mention a 

 few of the inore common species, which may be taken as a fair example 

 of the midsummer fauna of this region. 



Very few Hymenoptera are here found, and they are, indeed, con- 

 spicuous by their absence. Humble bees are exceedingly scarce, and 

 this no doubt accounts for the fact that red clover does not re-seed in this 

 region, as it dies out at least by the end of the third year from planting. 

 But very few honey bees are kept here. The fossores are among the 

 most common hymenoptera, Pelopceus cetnentarius, var. architectus, being 

 especially common. Various species of Vespa, Polistes and Halictus are 

 also common. 



The Diptera are well represented in many families. The swamps of 

 Mississippi are said to be the land of mosquitoes and gnats, which 

 statement is quite true, the many low places and stagnant pools forming 

 an excellent breeding place for the former, while the rapid running 

 streams and bayous tributary to the Mississippi form a good breeding 

 place for the latter at certain seasons of the year. The Muscidse are very 

 numerous, the common house-fly being an especial great pest. Very few 

 screen doors and windows are here used, and in many cases the meals 

 during the summer months are served in the open air upon a side porch. 

 In this region during the summer of 1890 the Screw- worm {Compso?nyia 

 viacellaria) was very destructive to live stock. During the past two sea- 

 sons, while no cases of injury have been reported, yet the species is quite 

 commonly seen, not only about refuse matter, but, like the house-fly, it is 

 often to be found flying about the table at meal time. 



Neuroptera are not common, Libellula pulchella being the only 

 species of the larger dragon flies noticed. 



Lepidoptera are not very well represented in this region. Among the 

 butterflies several species of Colias are abundant, while Catopsila etibitle 

 and Papilio asterias are occasionally seen. The Noctuidae are the most 

 common of the Heterocera. 



Nearly all the families of the Coleoptera are well represented in this 

 region. As might be expected, the sandy shore along the Mississippi 

 river is a most excellent place in which to collect Cicindelid^e. Boats 

 plying the river are furnished with one or two electric lights, which are 



