IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 203 



MELAMPSALTA PARVULA SAY. 



This interesting little species has been taken once at Ames 

 and this is, so far as I know, the only record of its occurrence 

 in the state. It is a more southern form, being credited to the 

 southern states as far north as southern Illinois and central 

 Kansas. Very likely it may be found occasionally in the south- 

 ern part of the state when collectors become more plentiful. 



Any addition to these records will be gratefully received and 

 duly credited in future records. 



BIOLOGIC NOTES ON CERTAIN IOWA INSECTS. 



HERBERT OSBORN AND C. W. MALLY. 



The folIowiDg notes are extracted from Bulletin 32 of the 

 Iowa Experiment Station, and embrace such portions of work 

 upon certain injurious insects as have a biologic interest. We 

 are indebted to the Experiment Station for the use of the 

 figures. 



THE GROUND CHERRY SEED MOTH. 

 {Gelechia sp.) 



Our attention was called to this insect by Dr. J. C. Milnes, 

 of Cedar Rapids, who reported it as very destructive on wild 

 ground cherries under cultivation; writing further, that this 

 cherry being very prolific and of excellent quality would be a 

 desirable garden plant were it not for the great injury from 

 this pest. The specimens sent contained the insect in the pupa- 

 stage. 



Cultivated ground cherry at Ames suffered from similar 

 attack, and the pest seems likely to occasion much loss. 



Examination of wild ground cherries in the vicinity of Ames 

 revealed a considerable injury from the pest, and steps were 

 taken to secure the early stages and determine as fully as pos^ 

 sible the habits of the insect. 



. Out of 1,000 berries examined 130, or 13 per cent were 

 infested. All of these infested berries contained the pup^ 

 enclosed in a white silken cocoon which filled most of the 

 cavity of the berry, the seeds being entirely devoured. Near 

 the stem end of the berry and opposite the head of the pupa 

 was an opening presumably prepared for the emergence of the 

 moth. 



