OF WASHINGTON. 



by the destruction of the foliage of the oak forests by this 

 insect. This seems to be about the only report as to any 

 extensive injury. 



In passing through the forest near Paris, Tex., in 1904 the 

 droppings, as they fell upon the dry leaves, reminded one of 

 a heavy downpour. Large numbers of Calosoma scrutator 

 were present, as many as a half dozen often being found 

 beneath a single oak, and several individuals were observed 

 coming down the tree trunks with caterpillars in their mandi- 

 bles. An occasional Calosoma calidum was also noticed. 



Packard, in his Monograph of the Bombycine Moths, Vol. I, 

 page 224, gives the synonymy of this species and Doctor Dyar 

 shows the differences between the larvae of Cecrita bilineata 

 Packard and Heterocampa manteo in Entomological News 

 for 1893, pages 262-263. 



AN OBSERVATION ON AGAPOSTEMON MELLIVENTRIS 



CRESSON. 



[Hymenoptera, Apoidea.] 

 By W. A. HOOKER. 



While at Eagle Pass, Tex., with Mr. J. D. Mitchell in Oc- 

 tober of last year (1907), I observed a peculiar condition in 

 a species of bee which Mr. Crawford has determined as Aga- 

 postemon melliventris Cress. Males and females were found 

 in large numbers on the blossoms of a species of rosinweed 

 (Silphium). When collected they would fall or roll into the 

 cyanide jar without attempting to fly, and if shaken off they 

 would fly sluggishly to the ground. 



Mr. Crawford informs me that the species of the genera 

 Agapostemon and Augochlora are among the most easily dis- 

 turbed of the bees and that they usually take flight upon 

 approach. He has collected this species in Texas and found 

 it to take flight as readily as others of the genus. It is 

 a southwestern species, found as far north as Colorado, and 

 originally described from the Territory of Nevada. 



This condition could hardly have been due to cold, as the 

 day was mild, though quite windy, and the sun shone through- 

 out the afternoon while the collections were being made. It 

 may possibly have been due to some effect which the nectar of 

 this particular plant has upon the bees. 



