August, '17] SCIENTIFIC NOTES 445 



Scientific Notes 



The Pink comwonn {Balrachedra rileyi \^'als.) has been discovered in injurious num- 

 bers in corn in several localities in Mississippi, and in less numbers in Louisiana and 

 adjacent states. 



Wanted: Coccinellid Parasites. A study is being made of E pomphaloides minutus 

 How., a chalcidid parasite of Coccinellids, which so far has been reared by the WTiter 

 only from species of the genus Coccinella. If field men will send definite records of 

 the occurence of this parasite, or any other chalcidid parasites of Coccinellids, to- 

 gether with the name of the host, such information will be greatly appreciated. Par- 

 asitized material (the chalcidid parasitizes the larvae and pupae of the CoccinelUds), 

 or reared specimens of the parasites, in case these have not been determined, are also 

 desired. Address: E. J. Newcomer, General Delivery, Portland, Oregon. 



Studying the Eggs of Hemiptera. The older entomologists will recall the work 

 undertaken by the late Mr. Otto Heidemann, relating to the study of the eggs of 

 Hemiptera, which resulted in the admirable paper published by him in 1911. Since 

 then practically nothing has been added to the knowledge of this subject. It is now 

 proposed to take up and continue with this important phase of insect life where Mr. 

 Heidemann left off. The attention of field men associated with the Bureau as well 

 as other entomologists is called to this project in hopes that whenever the opportunity 

 occurs they will send in the eggs of Hemiptera for study and description, Any ma- 

 terial will be greatly appreciated, and should be addressed to Edmund H. Gibson, 

 Division of Insects, U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. C. 



Further Notes on Preservation of Insect Collections. In the December number of 

 the Monthly Letter of the Bureau of Entomology appeared an interesting note from 

 Mr. T. S. Wilson concerning the protection of the insect collections. At this station we 

 have adopted Mr. T. S. Wilson's suggestion of melting naphthalene and poinding it into 

 the hds of Schmidt boxes, finding it much more practicable than the use of naphtha- 

 lene cones which fi'equently "go adrift" and do much damage to pinned specimens. 

 At this Station we use for storage purposes great numbers of cigar boxes, and we find 

 that the best method of preventing the ingress of any "museum pests" is to brush 

 melted paraffin about corners and edges of boxes used for such purposes. We have 

 successfully stored large quantities of entomological material and find that after fasten- 

 ing down the lid with a tack that the melted paraffin brushed about the corners of tlie 

 boxes successfully protects the material. 



Wm. B. Turner, Hagerstown (Md.) Field Station. Feb. 10, 1917. 



Clover Leaf Weevil. The Journal of Economic Entomology for August, 1916' 

 contained "Notes on the Distribution of the Clover-leaf Weevil {Hypera punctata 

 Fab.) in Kansas" by Mr. James W. McColloch of the Kansas Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station. The writer can add that this species also occurs at WelUngton, Kan- 

 sas. 



While carrying on an investigation of a certain insect in Wellington, Kansas, on 

 July 30, 1915, the writer killed several toads to see if the insect under investigation 

 constituted part of the toad's food. One of the toads' stomachs contained an adult 

 {Hypera punctata Fab.). The beetle was sent to Washington and determined as this 

 species and the toad was determined by the Biological Survey as Bufo americanus. 

 These toads were caught in alfalfa field near WeUington, Kansas. 



T. S. Wilson, 

 Scientific Assistant. 



