IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 231 



on a great variety of plants, but has never proved troublesome 

 to native plants outside the lower austral zone. 



While the San Jose scale has not as yet been received from 

 any point in Iowa we can hardly hope to remain exempt from 

 its attacks. It is of the utmost importance to recognize it at 

 once in case it appears in any locality. The scale is circular 

 and the exuviae form a nipple-like elevation at or very near 

 the center. No eggs will be found under the scales, as the 

 females produce living young, and a microscopic examination 

 of the last segment of the female shows an absence of the 

 grouped ventral glands common to related species. All scale s 

 however, that can not be referred certainly to some of the above 

 named species had best be sent at once to the experiment 

 station or referred to some one thoroughly acquainted with the 

 characters by which it is recognized. 



ON THE OCCURRENCE OP THE WHITE ANT (TERMES 

 FLAVIPES) IN IOWA. 



BY HERBERT OSBORN, 



I am not aware of any published record of the occurrence of 

 Termes Jlavipes in Iowa and aside from a note book record by 

 J. Duncan Putnam I have not until the present year been able 

 to secure any definite facts that would warrant listing it as 

 belonging to our fauna. 



Last year Mr. P. M. Rolfs stated in one of my classes that 

 he had seen this species at his home in Le Claire in Scott 

 county, and when he returned to the college from his summer 

 vacation this year he brought with him a number of examples 

 of the workers and soldiers collected at that place. 



The well known habits of this insect and the great economic 

 importance it sometimes assumes where it gets access to stored 

 books or documents, or to the timbers of bridges and buildings, 

 render this definite occurrence of sufficient interest to record. 



In all probability the species occurs throughout the timbered 

 portions of the state, adjacent to the Mississippi at least. I 

 think it hardly possible that it can occur at Ames, as I have 

 examined thousands of old stumps and logs in quest of insects 

 and have never yet met with it there. 



