190 PROCEEDINGS ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



Pine-infesting scolitids and other insects are probably attracted 

 by the odor of paint, while other insects not instinctively as- 

 sociated with turpentine odor are undoubtedly repelled. A 

 common Pityophthorus was flying in great numbers along a 

 woodland creek but did not appear to alight on his clothing. 

 When, however, he stripped for a swim, he was greatly annoyed 

 by their alighting and crawling, apparently due to the at- 

 traction of the light color. 



Mr. Schwarz said that in his experience insects are not only 

 attracted by light surfaces, but also by dark-colored ones if 

 they are of sufficient size. He cited the north side of the old 

 Department of Agriculture building, where in former years 

 large numbers of specimens of various orders could always be 

 found on each morning at the proper season. 



Mr. Knab stated as his opinion that the reason for the com- 

 mon habit of many insects flying against white objects may 

 perhaps be explained in that with their defective sight such 

 objects are mistaken for open spaces for example the open- 

 ings among trees or other objects. 



Mr. Schwarz related that in the month of March of the pres- 

 ent year, while on the island of Key West, Florida, he had the 

 experience of being stung by the big black scorpion Centrums 

 gracilis Latr., which is so common in tropical Florida. He 

 was stung at the base of his right thumb and for some minutes 

 the pain was most intense. No swelling followed, but the 

 thumb as well as the whole hand was paralyzed for the rest 

 of the day, the accident having happened about 11 o'clock 

 in the morning. A dull pain extended from the hand nearly 

 to the elbow, but did not prevent him from having good sleep. 

 On the morning of the next day the pain had greatly lessened, 

 but still he was hardly able to hold a pen for letter-writing, 

 but there was no swelling of any extent and by evening the 

 pain and paralyzed feeling had greatly subsided. On the 

 third day hardly any effect of the sting was felt. No remedial 

 measures whatever were applied. This scorpion feeds largely 

 upon longicorn beetles, crickets, and roaches, which are so 

 commonly found under bark of dead trees. In former years 



