1910] ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 357 



and covered with Inflammable material consisting of street sweepings, paper 



waste, and some rubbish. The Surface is burned over and all t li« • ejrgs and 



young larva- thus destroyed. This method is extremely simple, no initial ex- 

 pense is incurred in installing concrete bins or pits or maggot traps, and the 

 sale of the manure as fertilizer pays for the expense of the treatment, which 

 without being offensive may be carried on close to the city where lot space is 

 available The present grounds for treatment in Panama are only 500 yds. 

 distant from the hotel districts, where very few flies are noticeable. 



A new muscoid genus from the Chiricah.ua Mountains, Ariz., C. II. T. 

 Town-send (F.nt. Xtics. 29 {1018), No. 5, pp. 177, 178). — A new genus and species 

 are described as OMficahuia cavicola. 



The anthomyid genus Pogonomyia, J. M. Aldrich (Ent. News, 29 (1918), 

 No. 5, pp. 179-185, fig. 1). 



The biology of Maine species of Altica, W. G. Woods (Maine Sta. Bui. 27S 

 (1918). pp. 149-204, pis. 2, figs. 2).— Studies of four species of flea-beetles from 

 Maine are reported upon in this bulletin of which three, which have been com- 

 monly classed as Altica ignita of Illiger. namely, A. corni, a black species oc- 

 curing on dogwood; A. rosw, a cupreous species occurring on the wild rose; and 

 A. ul»ii, a greenish or bluish form found on the elm, are described as new. 



Studies have shown the life histories of these three to be very similar. They 

 hibernate as adults which, coming out from their winter quarters in late spring, 

 pair and deposit eggs on the leaves of their respective host plants in June and 

 July. The larva? which hatch from these eggs feed on the leaves, skeletonizing 

 them. In all cases there are three larval instars averaging about 4 days each. 

 When full grown the larva? enter the ground, where they transform, spending 

 about 5 days as prepupse, and 9 days more as pupae before emerging as adults. 

 There is but one generation each year. 



The blueberry flea-beetle (A. torquata), the fourth species, passes the winter 

 in the egg stage. The larva? hatch out in late May, feed on the opening buds 

 of the blueberry and later on the flowers and foliage, and cause great damage 

 when they are abundant. There are three larval instars, the larval life last- 

 ing about 12 days. The larvse, when full fed, enter the soil to pupate, spending 

 about 6 days as prepupa? and 10 or 11 days as pupa? before the adult beetles 

 emerge. The adults feed freely all summer on the leaves of the blueberry but 

 do not survive the winter. The eggs are deposited in July, probably on the 

 ground at the base of the bushes, and these eggs pass the winter, hatching the 

 following spring, there being but one generation each year. 



Their control can be accomplished by spraying with arsenate of lead. A 

 tachinid (Celatoria spinosa) was reared from the adults of two species, and a 

 predacious bug (Podisus vwdestus) was found attacking the larva of one 

 species. All are susceptible to fungus {Sporotrichum glohulifcrum) and bac- 

 terial diseases which doubtless play a large part in holding them in check. 



Two other species of flea-beetles occur in Maine, namely, the alder flea- 

 beetle (A. bimarginata), a detailed report of which by the author has been 

 noted (E. S. R., 39, p. 64), and the lesser grape flea beetle which is closely 

 related to A. ignita. 



Notes on Chalepus rubra in New Jersey. A. S. Nkolay and H. B. Weiss 

 (Canad. Ent., SO 1 WIS). No. 12. pp. 898-400, pi. 1).— This beetle has been found 

 not uncommonly to mine the leaves of various species of oak in New Jersey. 



The sweet potato weevil and its control. F. II. Chittenden (U. S. Drpt 

 Agr., Farmers' Bui. 1020 (1919). pp. 2). figs. 18).— This Is a preliminary ac 

 count of studies of the sweet potato weevil {Ciilas formicariitx), which pest 

 seriously threatens the production of sweet potatoes in this country. This 



