126 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS. 



Paper No 2. 

 BY W. SAUNDERS, LONDON, ONT. 



Fhytocorn linearis (Caj^sus oblineatus, Say.) 



I regret that I had not observed before writing paper No. 1, a valuable 

 article by my esteemed friend Riley on this insect, in his last Annual Report 

 on the insects of Missouri. He there speaks of effects produced by it on 

 young pear trees in that section, precisely similar to those I described, and 

 expresses the opinion, which I also entertain, that the puncture of this insect 

 is peculiarly poisonous to the young growth on the tree. He says, " it 

 attacks many kinds of herbaceous plants, such as dahlias, asters, marigolds, 

 balsams, cabbages, potatoes, turnips," &c, and several other trees, besides 

 pear, viz., quince, apple, plum, and cherry. They deposit their eggs and 

 breed on the plants, and the young and old bugs together may be noticed 

 through most of the summer months. The young bugs are perfectly green, 

 but in other respects do not differ from their parents except in lacking wings. 

 There are probably two broods during the season, I have observed the full 

 grown bugs throughout the summer, but more abundant early in August, I 

 noticed them very numerous about some swollen diseased ears of corn, 

 resulting from that peculiar black fungoid growth to which it is at times 

 subject. Mr. Riley suggests as remedies strong tobacco water, quassia water, 

 vinegar, and cresylic soap. 



Affecting the apple, Phycita nebulo, Walsh. 



While looking over some apples trees, on the 23rd of May, I observed the 

 work of a small case-mc king larva, which I had never noticed before- Its 

 case resembled a long miniature horn, wide at one end, tapering almost to a 

 point at the other, and frequently twisted in a very odd manner. There 

 were generally portions of dead leaves fastened around the case, so as to 

 partially conceal it, and a firm base of attachment was made for it by gnawing 

 off the young bark from the twig on which it rested, and then firmly glueing 

 it with some glutinous secretion to the spot thus laid bare. The case was 

 curiously constructed of silk interwoven very cleverly with the excrement 

 of the artificer, and had a smooth whitish surface internally, with an exterior 

 also smooth, but of a yellowish brown color. 



The larva lives insi de this curious structure, coming out only when it 

 waits food, and quickly retreating when danger threateus. Its length when 

 full grown is about six tenths of an inch, with a body taperiug slightly 

 towards the hinder extremity. Its head is medium sized, rather flat, dark 

 reddish brawn with a dull roughened surface, mandibles or jaws dark shining 

 brown, 



