THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



619 



would go to show that the specially early fumigation necessary for the 

 "longulus" may be looked for to also give a useful result on the black. 

 The experimental fumigation was done by Mr. C. H. Vary and myself 

 in 1911, and by Mr. J. W. Mashmeyer, Mr. H. PI. Schaper and myself 

 in 1912' Mr. Schaper also supplying the outfit free of charge. 



A BILLBUG INJURIOUS TO SMALL GRAIN. 



{t^pltcnophonis discolor INIaiin.) 



Order — Coleoptera, Family — Caiandridse. 



By Harry S. Smith, Superintendent, State Insectary, Sacramento, Cal. 



Species of the genus Sphenophorus are frequently found to be serious 

 pests in some parts of the United States, but in California they rarely 

 attract attention. These insects, more commonly known as "billbugs," 

 at times cause a very considerable injury to corn and sugar cane, but 

 their attack on small grains is of much less common occurrence.^ For 

 these reasons the following observations on SphenopJioriis discolor 

 Mann.* are deemed worthy of recording. 



Attention was called to the injury of small grain by this Sphe- 

 nopJwrous on May 22d by Mr. Eiehoff, Assistant Agriculturist of the 

 West Sacramento Company. Specimens of the beetle were brought to 

 the Insectary. Mr. Eiehoff was accompanied to the experimental plats 

 where some grains were being grown, and the beetle was found to be 

 doing a considerable amount of damage to all varieties of barley, wheat 

 and oats. The injury was particularly conspicuous, as the heads of 

 all plants affected had turned white and the kernels had failed to 

 develop. On examination it was found that the beetles inserted their 



♦Determined by Dr. E. A. Schwarz, Bureau of Entomology, through the kindness of 

 Mr. W. D. Pierce. 



