THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 1S5 



of beetles known as Carabidse, all of whom devour other insects. This 

 species, Lebia gra?idis, is there said to be rare in Ontario. The first 

 examples of this insect which I remember capturing were taken last year 

 at sugar when trapping moths, and I believe it is the only species belong- 

 ing to that family which I have ever taken in this manner ; several of them 

 were found feeding on the sweet liquid on dark nights about 10 o'clock. 

 Early this fall I received a letter from Mr. W. E. Coldwell, of Constance, 

 Ont, announcing the appearance in large numbers of a friendly insect, 

 which was devouring the larvae of the Potato Beetle, and proving a very 

 effectual check on their increase. This letter was accompanied by speci- 

 mens of the insect, which, to my gratification, I found on examination 

 were examples of Lebia grandis. A few weeks later a farmer in this neigh- 

 borhood called on me with the information that he had observed large 

 numbers of an insect which he had not seen before, devouring the larvae 

 of the Potato Beetle. He brought no specimens with him, but from his 

 description of the insect I have every reason to believe that it was the 

 same Lebia. Since then I have occasionally met with examples of this 

 friendly visitor hidden amongst the leaves of plants, a common place of 

 resort for it during periods of inactivity. 



The Hessian Fly, Cecidomyia destructor, which appeared in force in 

 many counties of our Province last year, and which it was feared might 

 again become a serious trouble, has happily almost disappeared. I have 

 not heard of any serious loss from this pest during the past season. Should 

 any of you desire, at any time, information in reference to the life history 

 and habits of this insect, I would refer you to a very practical paper in our 

 last annual report, by the Rev. C. J. S. Bethune ; also to a more elaborate 

 paper by the same distinguished Entomologist in our report for 187 1. 



The Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris rapce, still continues its ravages, but 

 does not seem to be quite so abundant this year as it was last. Water 

 heated to near the boiling point has been used with success in destroying 

 the larva, without injuring the cabbage. Strong decoctions of Cayenne 



pepper and Smartweed (Polygonum ?) have also been spoken highly 



of ; but I look forward with far more confidence to a remedy provided by 

 nature which is gradually making itself felt. I allude to that tiny little 

 friendly parasitic fly, Pteromalus puparum, which is rapidly increasing in 

 our inidst. A few days since, while watching some of the full-grown larvae 

 of the Cabbage Butterfly which were feeding on Nasturtium leaves, I was 

 much gratified in witnessing the method of attack which this parasite 



