28 PROCEEDINGS ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



infestation of the cotton belt by weevils from the extreme west 

 to the east. In this way the production in western Texas which 

 has been generally considered to be sufficient to offset any great 

 reduction of the crop in the eastern part of the belt on account of 

 the ravages of the weevil could not be depended upon. This con- 

 sideration is of special importance on account of the fact that pro- 

 duction in the western part of the belt has been considered suffi- 

 cient to enable the United States to continue its supremacy in 

 cotton production regardless of an extensive falling off in produc- 

 tion elsewhere. 



-Dr. Hopkins stated that the fact that the two forms inter- 

 breed in confinement is not sufficient evidence that they are the 

 same species. If they are the same, they should be included under 

 the name grandis; otherwise the Arizona form should be designated 

 as a species under a new name. 



He entered a protest against trinomials for so called varieties 

 and sub-species, arguing that if a form can be readily recognized 

 it should be considered a species as long as it can be so distinguish- 

 ed. If it should enter the range of an allied species from which it 

 cannot be readily separated, the prior name should be applied to 

 both. 



It seemed to him that if the Arizona form becomes established 

 in the grandis area and inter-breeds in nature, they should both, 

 including varieties, come under the name grandis, but as long as 

 the Arizona form is restricted to its present known area, it should 

 be recognized as a good species under the name thurberice. 



Dr. Howard referred to the observations mentioned by Mr. 

 Pierce, of the oviposition of Chalcura in the flowers of Thurberia. 

 The only Eucharid whose life history is known is a parasite of ants ; 

 hence, the oviposition of Chalcura in the flowers of wild cotton is 

 a puzzle. Inasmuch, however, as Orasema has been shown by 

 Wheeler to have a hypermetamorphosis, and as Perilampus of an 

 allied family has been shown by Harry Smith also to undergo a 

 hypermetamorphosis, the speaker suggested that in all probability 

 Chalcura may eventually be shown to have an active larva of the 

 first stage which will be capable of attaching itself to bees frequent- 

 ing the wild cotton flowers and thus be carried to their nests where 

 it will attack their larva?. 



