14 



scale tufts on the wings, and Prof. P. C. Zeller, who has kindly compared examples for me, 

 declares it to be quite distinct from any European species. The pupa seems to dirt'er from 

 that of ahietdla by the clypeal prominence, which appears entirely absent in the European 

 species, judging from Ratzburg's excellent figures. The larvse is found to attack also various 

 imported conifers ; for this reason I suppo.sed it might be an imported parasite. It has been 

 noticed on the Scotch, Austrian and Ruissian Pine, and it will be found, I fear, a grave enemy 

 to the cultivation of this genus of trees. 



Since the insect is not noticed yet in any scientific publication, I propose to name it 

 Nephopteryx ( Dioryctria ) Zimmermani, after Charles D. Zimmerman, of Buffalo, who has 

 made many exceUent observations on our noxious insects, and to whom I- am greatly in- 

 debted for help in getting the present facts with relation to the species. He has kindly 

 spent much time in climbing large trees and cutting out pupae and lai'vaj and rearing the 

 perfect insect. 



The larvae abieteUa is described by Ratzburg as living in the cones chiefly of various 

 species of Pinus. Nevertheless he speaks of one instance in which it is found under similar 

 circumstances to those which are usual with Zinimermani, which latter I have not yet 

 noticed attacking the fruit. The European species is said to winter in pupa state. In the 

 vicinity of Buffalo our species seems to be single brooded. I have not yet ascertained the 

 winter state. Ratzburg recommends cutting off infested branches, but especially on small 

 trees. I find the larvfB of Zimmermani usually infesting the-'main stem at the insertion of 

 the branches. From the fact that the pitch of the trees offers a protection, I do not think 

 that any washes would reach the insect. The knife, then, seems the only remedy. 



Ovir species has a natural enemy in a small hymenopterous parasite with which I 

 have found certain of the chrysalids to be filled. 



THE UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



The enormous losses occurring yearly to agriculture in America from destructive in- 

 sects are gradually awakening public attention in this direction, and also to the jiiecessity of 

 careful observations on the habits of these pests, with a view to their destruction or limita- 

 tion. W'e were much gratified to learn that the late Congress of the United States, 

 recognizing the im|iortauce of this subject, made a liberal appropriation to provide for the 

 appointment of a commission of practical Entomologists to investigate and study the habits 

 and lid- history of these insect pests, and thoroughly test such measures as have been or 

 may be suggested with a view of lessening their ravages, the investigations to be carried 

 on for several consecutive years. The Government lias been particularly fortunate in 

 securing the services of three eminently practical Entomologists to undertake this work, 

 Prof. Riley, State EntoTuologist of Missouri, Dr. A. S. Packard, of Salem, Mass., and Prof. 

 Thomas, State f' ntomoligist of Illinois. Prof. Riley has been designated Chief; Dr. 

 Packard, Secretary, and Prof Thomas, disbursing agent. While the destructive Rocky 

 Mountain Locust, CiilopteHUs spretus, will specially engasjo the attention of the Commission 

 during this year, cai-eful observations will at the same time be made on other destructive 

 pests. We desire to call particular attention to Dr. Packard's request in this present 

 issue, for specimens in all stages of the Hessian Fly, Joint Worm and Wheat Midge, and 

 trust that all our members will endeavour to aid the Conniiission in their labours in every 

 possible way. 



The headquarters of the Commission will be at St. Louis, Mo. ; there will also be an 

 ofiicc, with a clerk to attend to certain routine business, at the rooms of the Geological and 

 Geographical Survey of the Territories, at Washington, D. C, Dr. F. V. Hayden in charge. 



The locust area a.ssigned to each Commissioner the present year is as follows : — 



1. Prof Riley takes for his field the region east of the mountains and south of the 40th 

 parallel, the west half of Iowa, and, conjointly with Dr. Packard, British America west of 

 the 94th meridian, where the principal source of the devastating swarms will probably be 

 found. 



2. Dr. Packard will take for his field West Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Idaho, and the 

 Pacific Coast. 



