54 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
Tabanus mexicanus and T. psammophilus, as observed by him 
in Florida. The former species flies only shortly after sunrise 
and shortly before sunset, but attacks warm-blooded animals ; the 
latter is a strictly maritime species, occurring only on the open 
beach of southeastern Florida, and probably never attacks warm- 
blooded animals. 
SEPTEMBER 2, 1886. 
Five persons present. Vice-President Marx in the chair. 
Mr. Schwarz, referring to remarks made by him at the last 
meeting, stated that during the months of July and August he 
had handled many living specimens of Harpalus caliginosus 
but without being able to perceive any stridulation ; and further, 
that the flattening in the palpi in male of Hydrophilus ovatus 
is not an abnormal character, but occurs in all males of this 
species. 
Mr. Lugger, referring to the account of the swarm of Cicadas 
observed at Fortress Monroe, Va., on June i7th, said that he 
had visited that locality on July 5th, and captured a specimen of 
Cicada pruinosa. Mr. Schwarz said that on July 5th he heard 
the first Cicada pruinosa at Washington. 
Mr. Smith read a paper on the peculiar odor emitted by 
Dynastes tityus. This is well known to entomologists, but 
during the present season the spiecies has developed into a pest. 
In two States Virginia and Tennessee they have been locally 
so abundant as to saturate the air with the penetrating stench. 
The local boards of health, especially that of Memphis, Tenn., 
disinfected all sorts of foul and suspected localities without suc- 
cess, and only by accident was the true source of the smell dis- 
covered. It must have required many thousands of specimens 
to have produced such an effect, and it is an interesting instance 
of a new way in which insects can render life burdensome to man.* 
In discussing this communication Mr. Lugger said that the 
favorite food -plant of the Dynastes is the Water Ash (Fraxinus 
sambucifolia) , which is quite common in the vicinity of Mem- 
*See the Article, "Beetles as a nuisance," by J. B. Smith, in Popular 
Science Monthly, xxx, pp. 409-410. 
