Vol. XXIV] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 53 



Fragments on North American Insects III. 



By A. A. GIRAULT, Nelson (Cairns), North Queensland. 



1. On Herbaceous Swell-galls. 



Some time in 1902 I noted the fact that the swellings or 

 galls occurring on the stems of various plants always contain 

 stationary larvae; that is, the larvae remain in one particular 

 spot, which would indicate constant irritation as a possible 

 cause. It is a noteworthy fact that stem-boring larvae seldom 

 cause these formations. 



2. The Dung Beetle, Canthon laevis (Col.) 



Two round, compact balls of cow dung, resembling a medium 

 sized marble, were found June 28, 1902, at Blacksburg, Vir- 

 ginia, under a fence rail lying over moist soil ; they were buried 

 to the level of the earth. Each measured five-eighths of an 

 inch diameter. One contained an egg, but the other was simply 

 nothing but dung. The egg- was not central and is remarkably 

 large, yellowish in color and with a varnished appearance like 

 the integument of elaterid larvae, yet soft and easily crushed. 

 It is almost gourd-shaped. Two other balls obtained on June 

 30 were opened on July 3 ; one was empty, the other contained 

 a large grub in a perfectly smooth cell. The ball was patched 

 and buried into moist soil ; the larva subsequently pupated on 

 July 21 ; ten days later the pupa commenced to turn brownish 

 and the adult appeared on August 3. The beetles were still 

 laying eggs on July 10. 



This short, compact, black-brown scarabaeid is the common 

 dung-rolling species of southwest Virginia, but I am not sure 

 that I have identified it correctly. 



:;. Sanninoidea exitiosa (Say) (Lepid.). 



A female of this species was observed depositing eggs on the trunk 

 of a peach tree on September 15, 1002, about 11.30 a. m., at Annapolis, 

 Maryland. About six eggs were deposited within four mnutes. 



4. Notes on the Occurrence of Euchaetias egle Drury (Lepid.). 



A larva of this species was taken from milkweed at Blacks- 

 burg, Virginia, July 14, 1902. It was fed and four days later, 

 presumably, entered the soil of the rearing-cage. The cocoon 



