OF WASHINGTON. 43 



and has the wings marked with brownish black, as shown 

 in the figure. The ovipositor of the female is brownish and 

 as long as the last three abdominal segments taken together. 



An extended and general discussion followed relating to 

 the unusual abundance of insects during the past winter. 

 Sitones hispidulus had been observed by Mr. Schwarz all 

 winter in enormous numbers in the grounds of the Agricul 

 tural Department, on the pavements, etc., indicating that it 

 did not go into winter quarters at all. The abundance of plant 

 lice had been particularly noted by several members. 



Mr. Marlatt also presented a note on the food habits of a 

 large, handsome Buprestid (Psiloptera drummondi, L. and 

 G.). He stated that in central Kansas this insect occurred 

 abundantly in late summer and early fall on the common hill 

 side plant Pctalostemon multiflorus, usually resting on the 

 spikes of whitish flowers, but was also frequently observed 

 to gnaw the bark just below the spikes, sometimes denuding" 

 the stem for a considerable distance. The beetle was never 

 found on other plants, and it was therefore surmised that its 

 larval stage might be passed in the large perennial root of the 

 Petalostemon. Large numbers of the roots of this plant 

 were dug up and examined carefully, but no evidence of such 

 habit could be found. 



In the discussion Mr. Schwarz said that nothing was known 

 of the breeding habits of this or allied genera. He thought 

 that the larvae would be more cylindrical than with other 

 Buprestid larvae. 



Mr. Townsend read ' ' Some Notes on Acrididse in the 

 vicinity of Constantine, Michigan," of which he furnished 

 the following abstract : 



A color variety of Melanoplus femur-rubum, Deg., taken 

 September 6,* has the head, face, thorax and upper parts of 

 hind femora of a soft crimson purple, i 9 



First specimen of M. bivittatus, Scudd., was taken August 7. 

 Not common. Encoptolophus sordidus, Scudd., first seen Sep 

 tember 6, the two sexes appearing in nearly equal numbers. 



*The September 6 above referred to was the first pleasant day after a 

 week of rainy weather. 



