March, 1919.] Weiss and Dickersox: Insects of Rose-Mallow. 53 



as well as in the nurseries. Mr. H. S. Barber writes that he has 

 found this species on hibiscus in the marshes of Chesapeake Bay and 

 near Washington, D. C. 



The beetles infest both leaf surfaces, preferably the upper, their 

 feeding being quite characteristic and often resulting in a complete 

 killing of the foliage. As a rule they feed in colonies of from five or 

 less to fifteen or more individuals and are present during June, July, 

 August and September, being most numerous during June and July. 



Adults were observed in copulation on July 13 and August 28. 

 The egg from a dissected female is elliptical, white and rounded at 

 both ends. Xo measures of control have been worked out, but if 

 necessary the use of Bordeaux mixture and arsenate of lead is sug- 

 gested as a repellent. 



Gelechia hibiscella Busck. 



This species, which was kindly identified by Mr. Carl Heinrich 

 through the courtesy of Dr. L. O. Howard, was under our observa- 

 tion for the past two years. It was described by Busck in 1903 

 (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 25, p. 869) from specimens collected and 

 reared from larvae on hibiscus in the District of Columbia. In 

 Smith's List (N. J. State Mus. Rept., 1909) it is recorded as rare 

 from Anglesea. As a matter of fact, we have found it fairly plenti- 

 ful in several widely separated places in Xew Jersey. 



According to Busck, whose observations were made in the Dis- 

 trict of Columbia, the larva feeds on the leaves or in the seed cap- 

 sules, generally in large numbers together. When ready to pupate 

 they partially bite off one or more leaves which thus dry up and 

 crumple and afford convenient shelter; or others find room in the 

 dried fruit or between it and the large surrounding calyx. The spe- 

 cies overwinters as larvae and two generations are found, the adults 

 issuing from hibernating larvae in May and from the summer brood 

 in August. 



In New Jersey from observations conducted on plants in a nur- 

 sery at Rutherford and on a marsh at Arlington, it is evident that 

 there are two broods. Adults appear from overwintering larvae 

 during the first two weeks of June and deposit eggs on either the 

 under or upper leaf surface, usually near the tip or margin. These 

 hatch in about one week and the larvae feed on the leaves and some- 



