H ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '04 



wing ; supernumerary cross vein adjacent to or but very 

 shortly removed from mid cross-vein and equal to it in length 

 when removed nearer to apex of wing ; posterior cross- vein a 

 little longer than mid cross- vein and varying in distance from 

 it from one-half to almost twice its own length ; third long 

 vein prolonged slightly into the basal cell, darkest scales on 

 costal, sub-costal and first long veins. 



Palpi of the female equalling proboscis in length, light area 

 at base of three distal segments, giving a banded appearance, 

 clothed with scales, short hairs and setse as in male, distal 

 joints not spatulate ; legs with the ungues equal ; otherwise 

 agreeing with the male. 



This paper was prepared in the Entomological Laboratory 

 of Stanford University, under the direction of Prof. V. L,. 



Kellogg. 



i > . 



Pitcher-Plant Insects. 

 BY FRANK MORTON JONES, Wilmington, Del. 



(Plates III, IV.) 



In the rolling sandy country characteristic of the south- 

 central portion of North Carolina, Sarraceniaflava, the pitcher 

 plant known locally as "fly-catcher" or "trumpets," grows 

 to perfection. Great clumps of its greenish-yellow foliage 

 fringe the ponds or occupy springy places on the slopes and in 

 the hollows. Sometimes single leaves reach a height of more 

 than three feet, but even in favorable situations the average 

 height of the mature and well-developed leaves is not more 

 than twenty-six inches. In August, most of the leaves are 

 tough and mature, their secretion of nectar as a bait for insects 

 seems to have ceased, and evidently the most active period for 

 the capture of insects is over for the year ; so that by gather- 

 ing an armload of the larger leaves and carrying them to some 

 drier, shadier spot for examination at leisure, we may get a 

 very fair idea of the season's catch. The wide upper portion 

 of the tube is usually empty, but on cutting down to where it 

 narrows we soon come to the more recent victims, and some 



interesting moths in fairly good condition were secured in this 

 way. Agrotis ypsilon was the largest living moth observed. 



Not infrequently two or three large beetles would be found, 



