152 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 7 



Scientific Notes 



Concerning Remedies for Chiggers. While in conversation with the late E. F. 

 Ein\-in, of the Department of Agriculture, concerning remedies for "chiggers" {Trom- 

 hidium spp.) the writer mentioned the value of cattle and even of the passing of many 

 persons in destroying the pests by trampling them. This is printed in the last para- 

 graph of Circular 77, of the Bui'oau of Entomology, page 66, but where the subject is 

 considered from the standpoint of infestation to a limited tract. 



Mr. Erwin stated that when we have to deal with a badly chigger-infested tract of, 

 say 400 acres, he considered cattle inadequate and cited his own experience on such a 

 tract, that after turning sheep into the field that the chiggers were destroyed. Un- 

 doubtedly this was largely due to their being trampled to death, and to the sheep 

 keeping the grass more tightly cut than would cattle, but Mr. Erwin also believed 

 that the chiggers ascend the limbs of the sheep and that the oil in the wool is respon- 

 sible for their demise. 



Whatever may be the truth, it is obvious that sheep turned into large tracts of 

 infested land would probably accomplish the eradication of the mites more thoroughly 

 and in a shorter space of time than would perhaps any other domestic animals that 

 might be employed for the purpose with the possible e> ception of goats. 



F. H. Chittenden, Sc.D., 

 Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



The Colorado Potato Beetle Migraticg to the Pacific Coast. Early writers on 

 the distribution of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) 

 were of the opinion that this species would not be able to become disseminated west- 

 ward of Colorado. In later years we have found that many species become dis- 

 tributed from west to east as well as from east to west. In other words, we cannot 

 lay down "hard and fast rules" in regard to a great many forms of insects. This 

 m.atter was summed up by the writer in 1907. i "As was predicted years ago, the 

 Rocky Mountains have proved an impassable barrier for this species, and the insect 

 had not been able to reach the Pacific Coast or neighboring states west of such 

 barrier." It was, therefore, a considerable surprise to receive specimens of this beetle 

 in somewhat cramped condition, owing to their being tightly presided, with larvae, 

 into a small tin box. The beetles show no particular difference from the typical L. 

 decemilineata. 



It seems more than probable that this species has made its way so far westward 

 through the agency of man or by what Doctor Howard has termed a "commercial 

 jump," and it may now be expected anjT\'here west of the Rocky Mountains, since 

 we know of its occurrence in Colorado 8,000 or more feet above sea-level. The 

 specimens were obtained from Sister M. Rose, Order of St. Benedict, Colton, W'ashing- 

 ton, who kindly furnished them by request. 



F. H. Chittenden. 



On a Food-habit of Alabama argillacea. Air. Charles Alkire, an orchardist of 

 Ke3'ser, IMineral County, W. \si., reports that the moths of Alabama argillacea 

 did serious damage to late peaches in his orchard in the fall of 1911 and again in 1912. 

 He states that the moths punctured the skin of the ripe fruit and fed on the juice, the 

 puncture being very small and not noticeable until the bloom or fuzz was rubbed 

 from the skin. The injured fruit would be normal in appearance until picked, when 

 it would be found to have soft spots about an inch in diameter surrounding the punc- 

 tures. These rendered it unfit for packing and shipping and even for local use. 



1 Circular No. 87, Bureau of Entomology. 



