OF WASHINGTON. 379 



the conclusion of this discussion, Mr. Schwarz referred briefly to 

 the reasons why he and Mr. Hubbard during the early summer 

 of 1898 had not succeeded in securing specimens of Thalassa 

 montezumce, a Coccinellid which, in southern Arizona, preys 

 upon a Lecanium scale on mesquit, for transmission to southern 

 California for possible use against the black scale (Lecanium 

 olece). Only a few weak colonies of Tourney ella mirabilis were 

 seen in 1898, and only a single specimen of Thalassa was acci 

 dentally found in the Santa Rita Mts. 



Dr. Howard briefly explained the desirability of this practical 

 attempt at handling a predatory species, showing that the black 

 scale is well kept in check by Rhizobius ventralis in the olive 

 groves of southern California, which lie near the sea-coast in a 

 more or less humid climate, but that a similar enemy of the scale 

 is needed in more arid regions further inland. 



APRIL 18, 1899. 



The i43d regular meeting was held at the residence of Mr. L. 

 O. Howard, 1336 3oth street N. W. Vice-President Dyar in 

 the chair, and Messrs. Benton, Busck, Gill, Pollard, Ashmead, 

 Schwarz, Judd, Sanderson, Chapin, Caudell, Morris, Motter, 

 Matthis, Wilcox, Cockerell, and Howard also present. 



Under the head of Exhibition of Specimens and Short Notes, 

 Mr. Howard exhibited a vial full of specimens of a species of 

 Peripatus just received from some unknown correspondent in 

 Trinidad. 



Mr. Schwarz exhibited fragments of a large Scarabaeid beetle 

 belonging to the genus Chrysina. These fragments were found 

 quite plentifully among decayed leaves by Mr. Hubbard and him 

 self in Madera Canyon, Sta. Rita Mts., southern Arizona, at an 

 altitude of about 6,000 feet. At the proper season, probably in 

 August, the perfect beetle cannot be rare in this locality. The 

 species has been determined by him as Chrysina beckcri Bates, 

 the determination being somewhat doubtful but probably correct. 

 At any rate the genus Chrysina, which is allied to Pelidnota and 

 Plusiotis, should be included in the fauna of Arizona. The insect 

 is probably a grape feeder in the imago state. 



