Dec, 1912.] Proceedings of the Society. 299 



those found around New York and half the species taken in Florida were differ- 

 ent from those around New York and they would be equally so to a Georgia 

 collector, unless from southern Georgia. One should not look under ordinary 

 conditions if they were seeking peculiar species but under peculiar sub-tropical 

 conditions. 



Mr. Rolfs, of the Florida Experiment Station, had pointed out that the 

 scattered distribution of tropical plants occurred in restricted areas. One 

 would have to collect in many places to obtain the different desirable species. 



Mr. Davis spoke of light collecting at Punta Gorda. Two species of 

 Conocephalids were taken on Palmetto. They were very much alike but there 

 was a distinct difference in their song and one was more difficult to capture 

 than the other. 



Meeting of December 5, 191 1. 



A regular meeting of the New York Entomological Society was held in 

 the American Museum of Natural History, December 5, at 8.30 P. M., with 

 president Leng in the chair and 18 members present. 



Minutes of previous meeting read and approved. 



Dr. Osburn, chairman of the photograph committee, reported receipt of Mr. 

 Pollard's photograph. 



Under scientific discussion Mr. Davis gave some interesting notes on 

 Georgia insects and exhibited a box of the species discussed. 



Mr. Schaeffer spoke on the " Genera of the Coleopterous Family Temno- 

 chilidae." He said there had been much changing of names in the Coleoptera, 

 especially in Europe, and the name Temnochilidas was generally used now for 

 the old family Trogositidae. Several classifications for the family had been sug- 

 gested. LeConte and Horn had recognized two tribes only while Reitter had 

 divided the family into four tribes. 



Mr. Schaeffer discussed the characteristics of the various genera and 

 told something of their habits. A box of the North American species represent- 

 ing the genera of this family was exhibited. 



Mr. Grossbeck spoke of a beetle hunting wasp which he had observed at 

 Yaphank, L. I. The species belonged to the genus Cerceris and had made bur- 

 rows J4 inch in diameter and 4^/^-6 inches deep, extending at an angle to the 

 surface. In many cases a Buprestid beetle, which had been collected by one of 

 the bees, was found near the entrance of the burrow. Specimens of the insects 

 and collected beetles as well as a photograph of the burrows taken by Mr. 

 Davis were shown. 



Dr. Osburn spoke on the " North American Species of Brachypalpus." 

 About 15 species were recognized of this Syrphid genus which was described in 

 1834. Of these the following had been found in North America: 



Brachypalpus frontosus Loew., occurring as far south as Georgia and the 

 best known although not common. 



B. rileyi Will., recorded from North Carolina, Ohio and New Jersey. 



B. parvus Will., recorded from California, and specimens shown taken in 

 British Columbia. The above species lack the brilliant colored band on the 

 abdomen which are found in the following two : 



