82 proceedings: entomological society 



The regular program was as follows: 



E. R. Sasscer: Hydrocyanic-acid gas and its use in the contort of 

 insects. (Presidential address.) This paper dealt with the history 

 of the use of hydrocyanic-acid gas in the control of insects. Reference 

 was made to its discovery in 1872 by Scheele and its early use as an 

 insecticide in CaHfomia in ^1886 by D. W. Coquillett. Brief reference 

 was made to the occurrence of hydrocyanic acid in nature, indicating 

 that in addition to its occurrence in the secretion of certain myriapods, 

 it is also found in the seed, foliage, or bark of certain plants, thirty- 

 odd plants being listed which contain the acid in nature. 



After discussion of the preparation of hydrocyanic-acid gas as used 

 against insects, a brief history of its use against the following was 

 given: Citrous Insects, Greenhouse Insects, Mill and Stored Product 

 Insects, Nursery and Deciduous Fruit Insects, Household Insects and 

 Sanitation, and Soil Insects. 



Brief mention was made of the effect of this gas on the germination 

 of seed. Also the effect of the gas on insects and man was given con- 

 sideration. 



The reading of the address was followed by lantern sUdes showing 

 the development of the apparatus used in the fumigation of citrous 

 trees and the vacuum process of fumigating nursery stock and bale 

 cotton. 



The address called forth a lively discussion. Mr. Schwarz stated 

 that he had first used cyanide of potassium in his killing bottles about 

 1868, and that he had seen it used as an insecticide for the protection 

 of crops as early as 1879. This was in a small vineyard in Texas, the 

 owner surrounding his vineyard with a belt of cyanide of potassium 

 solution to protect it from the ravages of leaf-cutting ants. Immense 

 numbers of the ants were killed in attempting to cross the poisoned 

 ground. 



Dr. Quaintance recalled the remarkable activity in the development 

 of insecticide work at about the time hydrocyanic-acid gas was first 

 used. Mr. Hutchison spoke of the experimentation with war gases as 

 insecticides and of the great success attending the use of some of them. 



As a possible explanation of the difficulty of killing certain insect 

 larvae. Dr. Boving explained the mechanism of the closing apparatus 

 in the tracheae. 



Notes and exhibition of specimens: Mr. Schwarz commented on the 

 fact that an Australian lady-bird beetle which has stood in the litera- 

 ture as Vedalia koebelei Blackburn has never been described by Black- 

 burn, but the preparatory stages were described by Coquillett in such 

 manner as to fix the species, which must, therefore, be known as Vedalia 

 koebelei Coquillett. Dr. Quaintance mentioned the case of the recently 

 described Califomian apple Coleophora, which through delay in the 

 publication of its description by Heinrich, its real author, and the de- 

 scription of it in an economic paper by W. D. Volcke, must be known 

 as Coleophora volckei Volcke, placing Mr. Volcke in the position of 

 naming a species for himself. Other examples of this were cited by 

 Dr. Howard, Mr. Schwarz, and Mr. Caudell. 



Mr. Hutchison exhibited photographs showing method of rearing 

 body lice for experimental purposes. 



R. A. CusHMAN, Recording Secretary. 



