OF WASHINGTON. 225 
immigrant, Conorhinus sanguisuga, is also slowly, but surely, spreading 
through Florida, although its spread from Mexico through the south- 
western portion of the United States has been a much more rapid one. 
In conclusion, I would remark that in the vicinity of the settlements 
along Miami River and the shores of Biscayne Bay occasionally some wild 
growing and perennial cotton plants may be found. I carefully exam- 
ined every one I came across, and although I found many other insects 
feeding thereon I never saw a single specimen of the Cotton Worm (Aletia 
xylina). 
Mr. Howard said that ]\Iurgantia histrionica (the Cabbage 
bug) had reached Maryland. 
Mr. Ash mead said that he had first taken Phthia picta on Meta- 
cumbe Key, and that they were. extremely abundant there, but not 
found on the other Keys. The fauna3 of the different Keys were 
very dissimilar. Around Jacksonville he had found the larvae of 
a Noctuid feeding on a wild Solatium, probably S. nigrum. 
Mr. Schwarz also read some notes on the Tobacco beetle, of 
which he furnished the following a-bstract : 
NOTES ON THE TOBACCO BEETLE (LASIODERMA SERRICORNE). Since 
for many years I have used various brands of smoking tobacco, and found 
the satne often infested with Lasiodcrma serricorne, I collected in the 
course of time some notes on the food-habits of this beetle, which I shortly 
present herewith : 
First, it is my experience that the beetle and its larva are not found in 
tobaccos coming from northern factories and sold in northern cities. 
Thus, in the New York and Detroit tobaccos, which I bought at those 
places, I do not remember having ever seen living larvae or beetles, though 
occasionally dead beetles are met with, which I presume have been brought 
North with the leaves. If, however, a northern tobacco is brought South 
and kept in the stores for a longer period it becomes liable to be infested. 
Most southern factories are more or less infested with this pest, and more 
especially the Richmond tobaccos sometimes swarm with the insect in all 
stages. It is evidently a more southern species. 
It is further my experience that the' insect has a decided preference for 
the long-cut tobaccos, and for such brands thereof as are not flavored. I 
do not know what material is used for flavoring, but presume it to be some 
etheric oil, which is distasteful or injurious to the beetle. Block-tobacco 
(the so-called natural-leaf tobacco) and allied brands compressed into the 
form of cakes or plates are occasionally, though not often, infested, and I 
presume only when such brands are very old. Short-cut tobaccos are not 
liked by Jhe beetle, and even the Durham tobacco, which is by far the most 
widely-used brand in the South it is sold in little sacks is rarely found 
infested. 
