THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 133 



seasons further or hinder the advent of insects, is undoubtedly true, but 

 as a general rule their time-table is quite as exact as the migratory birds. 

 I think it may be problematical as to whether the pupa remains 

 beneath or upon the surface of the ground during the winter. My experi- 

 ments, after having made the most natural provision at hand, have 

 resulted in the pupa appearing upon or near the surface, and I would add 

 that I find by my records that a larva obtained the previous season to that 

 mentioned in the article already referred to, transformed in the same man- 

 ner, the moth appearing on the 28th of May. My theory, in the absence 

 of more essential data, is that the pupa of this moth, in its natural state, 

 seeks the surface and finds security under the winter leaves. I have read 

 with much pleasure what Mr. Hamilton writes with regard to this question, 

 but it seems to mc that the only satisfactory test, other than natural, would 

 be in the use of soil common to the growth of the hickory, as that which 

 is the most likely habitat of this species at this period of its history, giving 

 to the pupa when thus conditioned the full service of all climatic changes. 

 The provision as recommended by Mr. Hamilton is somewhat in agree- 

 ment with what I have stated. He writes : " Take two parts of sandy 

 loam, such as is used by plasterers, and one part of black friable soil from 

 the woods, mix together * * and when the larva disappears cover 

 over with a layer of moss, and then the pupa will not come to the surface." 

 This effectually imprisons the pupa, and it becomes a matter of curious 

 enquiry if the larva, in order to transform, could have selected a spot 

 similarly conditioned. 



ON TROGODERMA ORNATA, PHYSONOTA UNIPUNCTATA 

 AND TANYSPHYRUS LEMN^. 



BY JOHN HAMILTON, ALLEGHENY, PA. 



Trogoderma ornata. Since the publication of the remarks in vol. 15, 

 p. 91, more has been learned concerning this pest. That it disclosed 

 without entering the earth was eventually made evident by several of the 

 beetles being found in a large, close box, just emerging. Why they should 

 disclose in a large box and not in a small one was not very obvious. At 

 last the thought occurred that hygrometric differences in food and atmos- 

 phere might account for it. Having some of the larvae reared in a small 

 wooden pill box, at the usual time for pupation some of these were placed 



