226 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '15 



which a wide-mouthed cyanide bottle was placed over it. The sticks 

 were moved gently along the trunks so as not to hit the moths. 

 In frequented forests, where cattle ran for instance, these moths ap- 

 peared to be absent or else scarce, due no doubt to their being con- 

 tinually disturbed. Occasionally some specimen, when flushed, would 

 alight far up, so that it would have to be climbed for. Mid-day is the 

 best time to collect, since the higher the sun climbs the lower the moths 

 descend on the tree trunks. Oaks and hickories were what might be 

 called the favorite trees. This was in July. 



Protoparce celeus and Carolina (Lep.). 



While in a tobacco field near Annapolis, Maryland, August 30, 1901, 

 I noticed that both of these species were present in large numbers, and 

 in all stages of development. Of a large number of eggs found the 

 majority were on the under surface of the leaves, but from one por- 

 tion of the field as many as twenty-six eggs were noticed upon the 

 upper surface. On September 19, in the same field, larvae in all stages 

 were still present in seed fields, but no eggs could be found. 



Desmia maculalis Westwood (Lep.). 



This species was found abundant at West Annapolis, Maryland, 

 September 3, 1901, on cultivated grape. Sometimes two or three of 

 the caterpillars were found on one leaf. By September 12 all the 

 caterpillars kept in confinement had pupated, but no adults emerged 

 subsequently. 



Empretia stimulea Clem. (Lep.). 



The local papers at Annapolis, Maryland, in August, 1901, printed 

 one or two sensational articles concerning this insect, which was re- 

 ported to be annoyingly abundant and causing many cases of blood 

 poisoning. At the time I happened to find a larva on rose in a garden, 

 but could find no others and have never seen them at all abundant. 

 Their armature, however, can sting very severely. At Mossman, 

 North Queensland, some months ago, I accidentally pressed my finger 

 on a very similar larva (evidently of the same family) and received 

 a severe shock. No ill effects, however, followed. The pain caused 

 is severe and sudden. I have seen the larvae of stimulea on plum at 

 Washington, D. C. Its sting is quite as severe as that of the tropical 

 insect. 



Larva of Heliothis obsoleta Fabricius Eats a Larva of Empretia 



(Lep.). 



On September 10, 1901, I obtained at Annapolis, Maryland, a full- 

 grown caterpillar of Heliothis obsoleta from the ear of a corn plant. 

 It was kept temporarily in one of those light wooden boxes used for 

 safety-matches of Swedish manufacture. On the morning of the 

 twentieth I saw that the larva had escaped through a hole cut through 

 the top of the box and after some searching I gave it up for lost. 

 However, upon opening a nearby box of white pine, covered on two 



