OF WASHINGTON. 181 



This note was discussed by Messrs. Marlatt, Riley, and 

 Waite. Mr. Marlatt stated that the division of Entomology had 

 recently received a Lecanium scale from California on prune 

 which had apparently been destroyed by a fungus. The cor 

 respondent suggested the practical use of the fungus to destroy 

 other scales. Examination by Mr. Galloway, however, showed 

 that the scales were filled by the mycelium of a smut fungus, 

 genus Fumago, which itself is an enemy to plants, and it was by 

 no means certain that the fungus had killed the scales. Mr. 

 Waite had examined the specimens referred to by Mr. Marlatt, 

 and substantiated his statement. Dr. Riley said that in the East 

 Indies, and the West Indies as well, a fungus is known which is 

 destructive to Lecaniids, and in Ceylonese and Indian reports a 

 suggestion as to the practical use of it has been made. He had 

 noticed it abundantly in the West Indies during a recent journey. 

 The fungus presented a very similar appearance to that exhibited 

 by Mr. Howard. 



Professor Riley exhibited specimens of the supposed larva of 

 Lymexylon sericeum and a Hylecoetus which had been men 

 tioned by Mr. Hopkins in a communication before the Society 

 last spring. He referred to his figure of an undetermined larva 

 in the Sixth Missouri Report, which was identical with the 

 chestnut timber worm discussed by Mr. Hopkins, from which 

 Mr. Hopkins later reared Lymexylon sericeum. Owing to the 

 fact that this larva differs radically from the well-known European 

 larva of Lymexylon navale, he suspected that there had been 

 some mistake. Possibly Mr. Hopkins has made an error in his 

 rearing, but if this is not the case he is of opinion that L. 

 sericeum will prove, upon careful examination, to be distinguish 

 able generically from the European L. navale. While visiting 

 Dr. Meinert in Copenhagen, the latter showed him a larva of 

 very similar appearance which had been received from Venezuela, 

 from which the beetle was reared, which had been erroneously 

 named as Hylecoetus braziliensis, but it proved not to be a true 

 Hyleccetus. 



In discussing this note, Mr. Schwarz agreed with the speaker 

 that L. sericeum will prove not to be congeneric with L. navale. 

 The larvae, he stated, of the Lymexylonidae have never been 



