1893-] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 227 



Took the same things in March, with the addition of 



1. Melittza gabbii. Diurnal Heterocera. 



2. Argynnis semiramis. 4 . Melicleptria pidchripennis. 



callippe. 5 . Heliaca fasciata. 



3. Pieris beckerii and sisymbri. 



INSECTS ATTACKING VANILLA BEANS. A little microscopic mite, be- 

 longing to Tyroglyphidae, is not unfrequently found upon vanilla beans. 

 A few of these were examined as appearing on a lot of old beans not long 

 since, and they did not very greatly differ from what Hassall classifies as 

 Acarus sacchari, the sugar-mite. In the " Druggists' Bulletin" of a few 

 month^ ago a similar mite was spoken of in vanilla bean. The outside 

 of these beans looked perfect, but "on opening the bundles they pre- 

 sented a different appearance from the outside ones, and the odor was 

 different." They also appeared full of white specks and seemed crumbly. 

 These minute insects resembled the itch insect. It is said that persons 

 handling old beans are frequently attacked with a disease very much re- 

 sembling the itch, and this parasite is the cause of it. They burrow under 

 the skin and produce all the symptoms of itch. 



Carpenter says of the Tyroglyphidce, the cheese-mite family, that they 

 are by far the most destructive of all Acarina, swarming in countless 

 numbers and devouring hay, cheese, drugs, growing plants and roots, etc. 



SOME MORE BLACKBERRY AND RASPBERRY INSECTS. In reply to Prof. 

 Smith's criticism in the June number of ENT. NEWS, p. 197, 1 would say 

 that a number of larvae and one additional chrysalis of Grapta comma 

 were found on the blackberry. Another species to be added to the list is 

 Hemileuca maia Dru., the larvse being found in considerable numbers 

 feeding on the foliage near Wooster, Ohio. Dr. D. S. Kellicott also has 

 them from southern Ohio, feeding on the same plant. Dr. John Hamilton 

 has also sent me the following notes on the Coleoptera included in my 

 bulletin: " Bassareus mamm ifer, Mr. Beutenmu'ller says, maybe found 

 on blackberry. This is quite true, provided the bushes be found under 

 or near a walnut or hickory, which are its natural food-plants. Crv/>/<>- 

 cephalus nofatus Fab., ^-maculatus Say, is the blackberry depredator. 

 Chelymorpha argus: The natural food of this plant is the Convolvnlaccu", 

 and as both the plant and beetle are abundant in alluvial grounds the 

 imago wanders off to every plant in the vicinity, but while they may oc- 

 casionally eat at some of these plants it is not likely to be more than acci- 

 dental. They do not certainly eat corn plants, but seem very fond of the 

 water which is often contained in the axil of the leaves." White- grubs 

 (Lachnosterna) are also injurious to the blackberry and raspberry. 



F. M. WEBSTER. 



