168 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



the elytral declivity dissimilar in the two sexes (P. carinulatus, 

 pullus, plagiatus, etc.) should, in all probability, be removed 

 from this genus and placed near Tomicus. P. minutissimus and 

 allied species form another well-defined group which could 

 easily be elevated to the rank of a subgenus. The remaining 

 species, still very numerous, are very homogeneous in structure 

 and can be distinguished with certainty only by the secondary 

 male characters, as exhibited in the sculpture or pubescence of 

 the head. Very often even the determination of the males is 

 rendered very difficult without dissection, because in many 

 cabinet specimens the head is retracted within the thorax and 

 entirely concealed from view. To obviate this difficulty it will 

 be advantageous, I think, to use chloroform or acetic ether in 

 killing the specimens instead of cyanide of potassium. 



MARCH 5, 1891. 



President Marx in the chair. Nine members and two visitors 

 present. 



Mr. Schwarz was elected to the position of Corresponding 

 Secretary made vacant by the departure of Mr. Townsend, who 

 had been called from the city to take the position of Kntomolo- 

 gist in the New Mexico Agricultural College. 



Mr. Fernow was elected a member of the Executive Commit 

 tee vice Mr. Schwarz, resigned. 



Mr. Banks called attention to specimens of Scolopendrella, 

 Machilis and Lepisma, in different stages, taken this winter in 

 Rock Creek Valley, D. C. 



Two papers by Prof. Riley were read in his absence, the first 

 being as follows : 



NOTE ON THE LIFE HABITS OF MEGILLA MACULATA. 

 BY C. V. 



In accordance with my promise at a previous meeting (Sep 

 tember 4, 1890,) I present herewith a comparative description, 

 with specimens, of the larva of Megilla maculata, simply because 

 it furnishes another illustration of a very common insect that 

 has never been described or figured in its adolescent states. I 

 have had the larvae, obtained at St. L,ouis, ever since 1870, 

 where they were found abundantly in connection with the adult 



