THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 245 



INSECT NOTES. 



The twig borer, Poh/caon confcrtus I^ec.. \vas noticed during the past month in 

 large numbers, boring in the smaller twigs and branches of the California buckeye, 

 Msculus californicus. So many were found feeding on the buckeye that it seems 

 quite probable that this is one of the adult insect's favorite native host plants and 

 doubtless from tliis has spread to the cultivated fields. The work of this insect was 

 noticeable, also, in prunes and pears, many of the small branches bending over and 

 dying at the point of entrance. — Lerot Childs. 



The larvae of the brown day moth, Psendohazis eglanterina, were collected on two 

 species of willow, wild blackberry, wild grape, wild rose and prunes in Sacramento 

 and Yolo counties during May. — E. J. Branigan. 



The frosted scale, Eulecanium pruinosum (Coq. ), was found in great numbers 

 in Contra Costa County infesting walnuts. The scales in many instances were so 

 numerous that they completely shingled the branches. Comys fusca, the common 

 parasite of the apricot scale, was noted parasitizing these to some extent. — Leroy 

 Childs. 



The oak moth, Phrypanidia californica was abundant on live oak and water 

 oak at Palo Alto. California. It was also collected in Yolo County, but was not 

 so plentiful. — E. J. Branigan. 



The fruit-tree leaf-roller, Archips argyrospila "Walker, was noted May 19th In 

 both the pupal and adult stages on the foliage of cherries near Walnut Creek, Cali- 

 fornia. No larvae could be found on this d'ate. — Lerot Childs. 



During May Hemerocampa vetnsta was collected' in Santa Clara, Napa, Alameda, 

 Yolo, Sacramento, Yuba and Butte counties on the following host plants: two species 

 of oak, the plum, cherry, hawthorn, apricot, apple, pear, prune and blackberry. — 

 E. J. Branigan. 



The cherry slug, Caliroa cerasi Linn., was just beginning feeding operations upon 

 cherry foliage in various localities about the bay region during the week of May 17th. 

 The slugs at this time were very minute, shining black creatures. — Lerot Childs. 



At "Walnut Creek an interesting infestation of Icerya purchasi Mask., Eulecanium 

 cerasorum Ckll. and Eulecanium pruinosrim (Coq.) was observed. Many of these 

 large scales were found side by side upon the branches of the native California -black 

 walnut. — Lerot Childs. 



Catahomha pyrastri and Syrphus americanus "Wied., two very conspicuous syrphid 

 flies, were found at "Walnut Creek feeding in countless numbers on both the walnut 

 aphis, Chromaphis juglandicola (Kalt. ), and' the prune aphis, Hyalopterus arundinis 

 Fab. Syrphids are extremely common this year in all localities and have been of 

 much benefit in destroying many of the injurious plant lice. — Lerot Childs. 



Irbisia brachycerus Uhler was observed feeding in large numbers in the prune and 

 olive orchards, also in the bottom lands feeding on the undergrowth of weeds, etc., 

 in Alameda, Sacramento, Santa Clara and Butte counties. — E. J. Branigan. 



