232 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '16 



nephrasyntheta Dyar. In root of Eryngium yuccifolium. Pu- 

 pates in burrow or soil about August 15th. Evidence, yellow 

 leaf blades and much brown frass. 



nitela Gn. and var. nebris Gn. The commonest of all. Feeds in 

 stems of Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) and over-runs into Burdock, 

 corn and other plants. Pupates in stem about August loth. Evi- 

 dence, frass and holes in stem. 



ochroptena Dyar. Life history unknown. Habitat, Denver, Colo- 

 rado. 



pterisii Bird. In stem and root of common Brake Fern (Pteris 

 aquilina). Pupates in ground July 2Oth to July 30th. Evidence, yel- 

 low leaf and orange colored frass. 



purpurifascia G. & R. In root of Columbine (Aquilegia canaden- 

 sis). Pupates in ground July I5th to. August isth. Evidence, frass. 



rigida Grote. In root of Heliopsis helianthoides, also in Helian- 

 thus decapitalis and Zizia sp. Pupates in ground about August 5th. 

 Evidence, frass. 



rubiginosa Bird. In stem and root of Heracleum lanatum and 

 Angelica atropurpurea. Pupates in ground July 2Oth to August 5th. 

 Evidence, frass. 



rutila Gn. Life history unknown. Habitat, Illinois. 



sciata Bird. In root of Speedwell (Veronica virginica). Pupates 

 in ground about August 15th. Evidence, frass and sometimes 

 dry or broken stalk. 



stiphii Bird. In root of Silphium terebinthinaceum, S. laciniatum 

 and S. perfoliatum. Pupates in ground about August loth. 



speciosissima G. & R. In root of Regal and Cinnamon ferns 

 (Osmunda regalis and cinnamomea.') Pupates in ground about Au- 

 gust ist. Evidence, slight, sometimes a dry leaf, usually only frass 

 and this a rusty-brown mud-like deposit. 



stenocelis Dyar. In root of fern (Woodwardia virginica). Pu- 

 pates in ground about August 10th. Evidence, frass. 



unimoda Smith. Life history unknown. Habitat, Colorado. 



verona Smith. Life history unknown. Habitat, Winnipeg, Mani- 

 toba. 



Some instruction as to the necessary equipment and the 

 proper method of handling the larvae is essential. A strong 

 jack knife, a garden trowel (the writer uses a steel intrench- 

 ing tool, such as were carried by our soldiers in Cuba) and a 

 botanical collecting case or, in place of this, an ordinary grip, 

 are indispensable. A number of small vials or test tube? of *4 

 inch diameter and about 2 inches long are very useful. These 

 tubes should be corked and numbered for identification. They 



