— iss — 



Mr. John J. Jack reports serious injury to a crop of beans, through 

 an attack of an Anthomyian fly, Anthomyia angusiifrons, the larva of 

 which attacked and destroyed the plants before they reached the surface 

 of the ground (Canad. Entom., xvii, 1886, p. 22).* 



This form of Anthomyian attack, akin to that of the seed-corn 

 maggot, Anthomyia zece, may afford a solution of the frequent eating out 

 of the interior of melon and some other of the larger seeds beneath the 

 ground, by hitherto unknown enemies, which has been brought to my 

 notice. 



Prof. Riley has made an interesting communication to Science (vol. 

 vii. p. 394), to the effect that Feniseca tarquinius, one of our rarer butter- 

 flies, has been found to be carnivorous in its larval stage — the only 

 known instance of a carnivorous butterfly, and that its food consists of 

 plant-lice, especially of the gall-making and leaf-curling species of Pem- 

 phigince. 



This publication solved what had been a mystery to me. A piece 

 of a branch of some tree, apparently an alder, was sent to me in October 

 last, thickly covered with the flocculent bodies of some woolly aphis, 

 probably a Schizcneura. It was left in the box in which received, await- 

 ing further notice. Upon casually opening the box early in April, to 

 my great surprise, a newly emerged and perfect Feniseca tarquinius was 

 found therein, and the short, stout chrysalis case from which it had 

 escaped, and an undeveloped chrysalis, each suspended by its cremaster 

 from the sides of the box. How and where the larva conceals itself 

 during its growth, is an interesting inquiry. 



Our leading Agricultural Journals are the media of no inconsider- 

 able amount of information of the means for controlling insect depre- 

 dations. They furnish convenient channels through which inquiry may 

 be made from any portion of the Union of any unrecognized form of 

 attack, and an intelligent reply elicited. 



Professors Riley and Cook are frequent contributors to the columns 

 of the Rural New Yorker . 



The Prairie Farmer maintains an Entomological Department, 

 averaging two columns weekly in extent, under the editorship of Clarence 

 M Weed. 



The same department in the Fruit Growers Journal, of Cobden, 

 Illinois, containing weekly contributions, is edited by Prof. G. H . French. 



To the American Agriculturist, contributions are made and inquir- 

 - answered by Prof. Riley. 



* this occurence is subseque illy noticed at greater length in Bull. No. 12, of 

 the Division of Entomoic gy, p. 38 39. 



