ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY. 63 



obtained at other stations. The report of work i^rior to 1913 has been previously 

 noted (E. S. E., 28, p. 555). 



Worlv with stomac'li and contact poisons in combating the maggot after it 

 has started worliing on. the plant gave negative results. As a result of worli 

 with repellants the only remedy recommended for transplanteil plants is the 

 use of 3-inch tarred felt disks. 



The huisache girdler (Oncideres putator), M. M. High {U. 8. Dept. Agr. 

 Bui. 184 {1915), pp. 9, pis. 4)- — The huisaclie tree (Acacia farncsiana) , used as 

 a shade and hedge tree in the Southwest, has a number of insect enemies, of 

 which the girdler (O. putator) is the most injurious. This insect often damages 

 the 5'oung trees through completely severing them a few inches above ground. 

 The sptH^ies first came under the author's observation in the lower Rio Grande 

 Valley during the summer of 1910. It is said to saw with ease branches 1-| 

 in. in diameter, as many as 63 girdled branches of one tree having been observed 

 by the author. 



The species has been recorded from Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and 

 from Mexico. In addition to huisache, it has been found feeding and oviposit- 

 ing upon mesquite (Prosopis glandulnsa) , hunjilla {Acacia herlaiulieri), ratama 

 {Parkmsonia aculeata), and AlUnom lindhcimeri. The adults begin to appear 

 early in September and continue to emerge until the latter part of November. 

 No statement is made as to the incubation period of the egg. The duration of 

 the larval period is said to be approximately 42 weeks under ordinary condi- 

 tions. No pupis were observed until August, the first adult beetle observed 

 emerging September 15. The duration of the pupal stage is approximately four 

 weeks with an average mean temperature of 72.5° F. There is only one gener- 

 ation of this beetle each year, approximately 12 months being required for the 

 life cycle from egg to adult. 



Several parasitic enemies of the egg and larva were reared, including Chry- 

 sekla inopinola, Eurytoma sp., CwnopJianes sp., a pteromalid, and Meteor us sp. 

 Since this insect spends at least 10 months in the severed branches, it may be 

 controlled by collecting and burning the pruned branches. 



The spotted click beetle (Monocrepidius vespertinus), H. C. Eagerton 

 {South Carolina Sta. Bui. 119 {1914), pp. 3-8, pis. 2).— During the course of 

 studies of the corn and cotton wireworm {Horistonotus tiMerii), a brief refer- 

 ence to which has been previously noted (E. S. R., 30, p. 545), it was found 

 associated with the spotted click beetle, here dealt with, which the author 

 estimates is responsible for 45 per cent of the damage formerly attributed to 

 //. nhlerli. 



The larvae of the spotted click beetle apparently prefer cotton seed and young 

 cotton roots to seed or young roots of corn, but in the absence of cotton they 

 attack corn, often doing serious damage. Unlike the larvre of H. uhlerii, those 

 of M. vespertinus seem to be abundant on almost any type of soil, occurring 

 on light sands and heavy silt soils, although the greater injury occurs generally 

 on sandy upland. 



In a study of its life history the author found from 9 to 10 days to be 

 required for the eggs to hatch during July and about 20 days for eggs depos- 

 ited September S. As with H. uhlerii, oviposition appears to take place in the 

 evening or night. The eggs are not deposited more than 1 in. beneath the 

 surface of the soil. During the winter of 1913-14 the larvre were found about 

 3 to 3.5 in. below the surface and were never found deeper except during dry 

 weather in the spring of 1914. when they occurred 5 to 6 in. below the surface. 

 Their food appears to consist mainly of decaying vegetable matter and ground 

 larvse, but when these are not abundant they do not hesitate to attack the 



