October, 'OS] journal of economic entomology 293 



become obnoxious at that date. I think the fact would have been noted 

 in one or other of our entomological journals, and that Cresson would 

 have been fully in touch with it, for his work shows that he had ac- 

 cess practically to all the literature to date. 



Mayr erected the genus Iridomyrmex in 1862.^ and HypocUnea in 

 1866.- The species humilis figures in his key^ to the genus Hypo- 

 cUnea, published in 1870. Six years later the two genera were com- 

 bined by him. he having found many connecting forms. The litera- 

 ture of /. liumilis may be small, but noAv that the insect has become 

 such a serious economic pest, the mere systematic work of the ento- 

 mologist will give place to that dealing with the biological side. The 

 able article contributed by Mr. Newell to the initial number of this 

 journal shows that a start has been made along the latter lines and 

 much data gathered on the life-cycle and habits of the insect. With a 

 full knowledge of such life-history, remedial measures may be pos- 

 sible, but the problem will be an extremely difficult one to solve and 

 it goes without saying that every citizen of New Orleans, every sugar, 

 cotton and rice planter, every florist and horticulturist will follow 

 anxiously each step made towards that solution. 



23d June, 1908. 



NOTES ON SOME CECROPIA COCOONS AND PARASITES 



By Joiix B. SjtiTH, Sc. D. 



From a number of collectors reports came during the fall and winter 

 of 1907- '08 of an unusual mortality in cccropia cocoons; or. more cor- 

 rectly stated, that an unusual number of the cocoons were "light," 

 with remnants of untransformed larva^ only. In a discussion before 

 the Newark Entomological Society at its February meeting, it ap- 

 peared that this trouble was widespread and yet somewhat local. 

 Some collectors reported a very high percentage of sound cocoons in 

 limited areas and a yet higher percentage of "light" examples in 

 others. So there was a great difference in the species, the cocoons 

 of promethea and cynthia running normal and mostly good. ^Ir. 

 Brehme reported an unusual dearth of poly ph emus cocoons and ex- 

 plained that by the statement that an epidemic disease attacked the 

 nearly full-grown caterpillars so that they never spun up at all. 



It occurred to me that it might be interesting to learn a little more 



iMyrmecologiscbe Studien. p. 702. 

 ^Ameiseu des baltiscben Benisteins. 

 3Nene Formiciden. p. 959. 



