OP WASHINGTON. 263 



our common locust tree, Robinia pseudacacia, but never in 

 numbers, although observed at intervals during several years' 

 collecting. These beetles may also be taken sparingly on 

 several other plants, but in most cases their presence is directly 

 traceable to locust trees in the vicinity. I have never been 

 able to detect the larvae though frequent search has been made. 

 Our knowledge of the food habits of the adults indicates the 

 Leguminosae as the favorite food plants of the species. It was 

 most abundant at Ithaca during the latter half of July, although 

 not uncommon both earlier and later. 



The following references have been made to this insect : In 

 the Annual Report of the Entomologist of the U. S. Depart 

 ment of Agriculture for 1887^. laticlavia is mentioned by Mr. 

 Herbert Osborn as having been observed in injurious numbers 

 stripping the leaves of the honey-locust. It is included in a 

 list of insects affecting cotton, published in the Catalogue of 

 the New Orleans Bxhibit of the U. S. Department of Agri 

 culture ; a simple notice of capture on willow is given by Mr. W. 

 H. Harrington in the Canadian Entomologist ^Q\. XVI, p. 101, 

 and Mr. K. A. Schwarz has recorded it as occurring on oaks in 

 Florida. I am satisfied that it does not attack oak in the 

 North, at least not while there is an abundance of leguminous 

 leaves available for food. 



Bassareus detritus Oliv., was found on the leaves of the oak 

 and of the New Jersey tea plant (Ceanothus americanus) from 

 May to July. 



Cryptocephalus venustus Fab. Of this species a specimen of 

 the variety simplex Hald. was observed on the great rag-weed, 

 Ambrosia trifida, dodging around the stem after the manner 

 of a squirrel or lizard on a tree-trunk. This habit is common 

 in Proconia and other genera of the Homoptera and in Lixus 

 and Languria of the Coleoptera, but I have never noticed 

 it in other Chrysomelids. The insect is a polyphagous leaf- 

 eater. 



Triachus atomus Suff. , was rather common one year on the 

 coast of Rockaway Beach, L,. I., in July, on the wax myrtle or 

 bayberry (Myrica ceriferd) . An indeterminate species of Pachy- 

 brachys, near ccelatus Lee., was found the same season upon 

 this plant at Highland Beach, near Navesink, N. J. The latter 

 was extremely abundant, occurring by the thousand in the 

 latter part of June. 



Cerotoma caminea Fab., has similar habits, as regards food 

 plants, to Anom<za laticlavia, both species having been found 

 on the same individual plants of bush-clover, Lespedeza spp., 

 the former in less abundance, however, in most instances being 

 found to attack the unexpanded leaf-buds or freshly expanded 

 leaves. I have also observed this insect near Washington, in 



