THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 273 



weaker of their own kind. If two are confined in a small vessel over 

 night one generally kills the other. Several of my specimens have been 

 destroyed in this way. 



Mr. Smith asked if it was known that some of the Acrididse occasion- 

 ally fed upon animal diet, and stated a case where a species of Melaiiopliis 

 had been fed upon house flies. 



Mr. Riley stated that several of the Acrididos were known to be 

 omnivorous, especially Melanoplus sp?-etus. He also stated the experience 

 he had had when in France in regard to a secret remedy a Frenchman 

 had for destroying Gryllotalpa. Upon investigation, the secret remedy 

 was found to be nothing but pouring soapsuds into the holes made by the 

 insect, 



Mr. Fletcher gave his experience with a specimen of Gryllotalpa in 

 confinement in a glass jar. Potatoes were planted in the jar and the roots 

 spread throughout the bottom of it. Meat was placed on top of the 

 earth in the jar, but so far as he could notice the specimen ate nothing. 

 It is a very animal-like insect, and is rare in Canada. 



Mr. Hubbard thought that the Gryllotalpa was common in Canada, 

 but was hard to find except in particular places. 



Mr. Weed stated that he had the species sent for identification quite 

 often, but it was rare except in particular places. 



Mr. Riley then read a paper on " The Osage Orange Pyralid," by 

 Mary E. Murtfeldt, Kirkwood, Mo. (Published in "Insect Life.") 



Mr. Weed stated that the species was quite common in Mississippi, 

 the moths having been taken abundantly. 



Mr. Smith stated that the osage orange in some parts of New Jersey 

 was seriously attacked by the Bag-worm, Thyridopteryx ephemerceformis, 

 which was the only thing that seemed to trouble it. 



Mr. Riley then read the following : — 



NOTE ON A BORER IN THE STEM OF THE RED CURRANT. 



BY E. W. CLAYPOLE, AKRON, OHIO. 



For several years I have observed traces of a borer in the tips of the 

 twigs of my red currant bushes, whose habits did not correspond with 

 those of any insect with which I am acquainted. My knowledge of the 

 (Subject is very limited, and I consulted the department at Washington. 

 In reply it was suggested that possibly it was the same insect which 

 infested the tips of the raspberry, Oberca tripu?ictata. But the facts not 



