220 Till': JIOXTJII.Y lU'Ll.KTlN. 



INSECT NOTES. 



Irhcsia brachycerus Uliler and I. sericcms Stahl were noticed on April 19th feeding 

 in lai-ge nnmljers in t!ie grain fields about Stanford University. Tliepe small black 

 capsids often do considerable damage to the grain crops in this particviUir locality, 

 taking tlie color completely out of the leaves. Other plants upon whicli the insects 

 were found feeding include Amsinckia intermedia, dock, malva and wild mustard. — 

 Lerot Childs. 



A small weavll, Tricholepis inornuta Horn,' has recently been received from San 

 Luis Obispo, where it was reported by C. L. Flint as damaging the foliage of almond 

 trees. Leroy Childs also collected the same species on fruit trees at Stanford Uni- 

 versity. — E. O. EssiG. 



Magdalis {jracilis Lee, a small black snout beetle, has been recently taken near 

 Palo Alto feeding upon the foliage of almond. The injury to the leaves on the trees 

 noted was ciuite extensive, many being largely consumed. County Horticultural Com- 

 missioner Morris of Santa Clara County reports that the work of this beetle has been 

 very conspicuous on numerous deciduous fruit trees this spring. — Lerot Childs. 



A small reddish brown carabid beetle, A)iiarn stupida Lee' was recently collected 

 in Sutter County where it was said to be injuring sti'awberry vines. Specimens 

 were sent to this office by County Horticultin-al Commissioner H. P. Stabler. — E. O. 



ESSIG. 



The larvae of the California oak moth, Phrijgdnidia calif ornica, are not nearly as 

 numerous in the peninsular regions this spi-ing as noted during the past two or three 

 years. Numerous parasites were oljserved to be extremely abundant in the fall broods 

 of last year, which undoubtedly accounts for the temporary relief from tliis destructive 

 pest. — Leroy Childs. 



Xylotrechus nauticus Mann.' has been recei\'ed in April fi'om County Horticultural 

 Commissioner Roy K. Bishop, Orange County, and County Horticultural Commissionei- 

 R. S. Vaile, Ventura County. In botli instances larvje and adults were taken from 

 walnut trees. — E. O. Essig. 



The wild ash pemphigus, Pemphigus fraxini-dipetalcc Essig, was noted causing 

 considcralile damage to ash trees that are grown in many places in Santa Clara 

 County as ornamentals. The injury is very characteristic ; tlie leaves are curled and 

 malformed to such an extent that the trees become decidedly unsightly. This same 

 species has also been found in Sacramento on the native buckeye, JEsculus calif ornicus. 

 The injury to tlie leaves is the same as that found upon ash. — Leroy Childs. 



The small green dock beetle, Gastroidea cnsia Rog.,' has recently been collected 

 in Yolo County on grape vines. It was reported from Sacramento County last year 

 on the same host plant. — E. O. Essig. 



Baker's mealy bug, Pscudococcus bakcri Essig, has been taken by the writer 

 din'ing the past month about the bay regions on Englisli walnuts and the California 

 liuckeye. Distribution notes of this species seem to point to the fact that it occms 

 much more widely than has been supposed. — Leroy Childs. 



The lesser shot-hole borer, X/zlehorus (sa.Trsrni Ratz.) xylof/ruphus Say was sent 

 in to this office by Comity Horticultural Commissioner C. F. Collins of Tulare County, 

 wliere it was bred from a dying prune tree. — E. O. Essig. 



A small bronze chrysomelid beetle, (llyptoscelis pubescens Fab., and a weevil, 

 Ainncsia n. sp.' liave just been receiveil fioni County Horticultural Commissioner D. F. 

 Norton of Nevada County, who states that they are damaging the foliage of pear trees. 

 — E. O. Essig. 



'This species was identified by Dr. Edwin C. Van Dyke, of the Entomological Depart- 

 ment of the University of California, Berkeley, California, to whom the writer is 

 indebted for much valuable help. 



