164 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Vol. xxi. 



Mr. Harris said that the Cicindelidae being predaceous in all stages would 

 exhibit no direct relation with plants. He also referred to the color differ- 

 ences of C. consentanea and patruela and later of C. modesta and rugifrons. 



Mr. Dow spoke of the color differences in C. santa-clarce and C. anita and 

 said the darker form preponderated in August. 



The subject was discussed by Messrs. Schaeffer, Davis, J. W. Angell, 

 Leng and Dr. Lutz, the latter pointing out that the great influence on pigmen- 

 tation of differences in temperature and humidity was well established, espe- 

 cially when applied to pupa or imago just after emergence. 



Dr. Lutz, referring to the bearing of food on environment, said that while 

 it was manifest that no insect could exist without food, the question was why 

 their distribution was not coextensive with that of the food. Parasites had 

 been suggested as a possible explanation, but the bearing of a multiplicity of 

 other restraining factors remained to be investigated. He pointed out that 

 the societies of aquatic insects already shown to exist clearly proved that food 

 could not be regarded in all cases as the prime factor. 



Mr. G. W. J. Angell referred to the paucity of Chrysomelidse in the 

 Hawaiian Islands. 



Mr. Dow and the vice-president discussing this subject brought out that 

 in some families the flora was largely imported. 



Messrs. Harris, Schaeffer and Davis discussing the Cicindela color ques- 

 tion further brought out that green forms (rugifrons) occurred at the eastern 

 end of Long Island, while the black form represented usually by spotted exam- 

 ples (modesta) was found at the western end, with an occasional immaculate 

 specimen resembling the nigrior of Alabama, etc. It was suggested after the 

 meeting closed that the two colors might have originated through the influence 

 of temperature and humidity operating in different regions on branches of the 

 original stock, and the present occurrence in the same region of the descend- 

 ants of the two forms be the result of subsequent dispersal and overlapping 

 territory. 



Mr. Barber said that many Hemiptera being plant feeders are necessarily 

 restricted to the distribution acquired by the food plant, but as in the Cole- 

 optera they frequently fail to follow the food plant throughout its range. 



Mr. Davis said that of the 154 Orthoptera found in New Jersey 125 might 

 be classed as mesophytic ; they were as a rule general feeders, some attacking 

 conifers only but for the most part incapable of classification by food. Some, 

 on the other hand, are confined to a certain physical environment as that of 

 the beach, and such would be found on similar white sand back from the shore. 



Dr. Lutz pointed out that the preponderance of species of insects in 

 mesophytic environment was in keeping with the preponderance of mesophytic 

 plants, which in number of species far exceeded that of other environments. 



Mr. Grossbeck said that Lepidoptera were so absolutely tied to their food 

 plants that no useful facts could be drawn from them. 



Mr. Engelhardt said that moisture might in certain cases be as injurious 

 to insects as it was beneficial to plants. Commenting on the great value of 

 food plant labels he instanced the rare Sesiide, Albuma pyramidalis var. 



