132 Forty-ninth Report on the State Museum 



tending its range through the United States. It would seem that several 

 of the Western States in former years, offered favorable conditions for its 

 rapid increase. Since then, comparatively little has been recorded of the 

 insect in that region. Lately, 1894, North and South Carolina have suf- 

 fered from its great abundance. Its multiplication is probably largely 

 controlled by the varying climatic conditions in different years. Ap- 

 parently the insect is rapidly becoming a greater pest of the muskmelon 

 than it was originally of the cucumber in the Western States, and has 

 largely transferred its depredations to the Southern States, to dispute with 

 its congener, Eiidioptis hyalmata, its appellation of " melon caterpillar." 



Food-Plants. 

 From the frequent occurrence in Missouri of the larva in cucumbers 

 after pickling, it was given the name of the " pickle-worm," as before 

 stated, although in the same State it was nearly as abundant in melons. 

 Mr. Ashmead has written of it in his " Report on Insects Injurious to 

 Garden Crops in Florida" [loc. cit.), as the "squash borer." Of the 

 melons, it appears to have a preference for cantaloupes — a variety of 

 the muskmelon, but also burrows into watermelons according to Walsh. 

 Guenee states — "la chenille vit sur les patates." Patate is defined by 

 Spiers and Surenne, as "batatas; Spanish potato; skirret of Peru." 



Distribution. 



So far as known E. nitidalis is an American species, having an ex- 

 tended distribution in both North and South America. It is reported 

 from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, about 70 miles northwest of Buffalo,. 

 N. Y. It has not been recorded from New York or from the Eastern 

 States. The following are the recorded United States localities: Michi- 

 gan, at Potoskey and St. Joseph; Illinois, Alton, Rock Island and Spring- 

 field; Delaware, Felton and Newark; District of Columbia, Washington; 

 Virginia, Crozet; Kentucky, Bowling Green; Missouri, Kirkwood and 

 "in various parts of St. Louis and Jefferson counties;" Kansas; Ten- 

 nessee, Carp; North Carolina, Asheville; South Carolina, Pendleton; 

 Florida, Lake City and Cresent City. 



Guenee hsts it from Brazil, Cayenne in French Guiana, and Columbia. 

 It occurs in the West Indies, according to Ashmead. It should also be 

 found in Central America and Mexico. 



Its Natural Enemies. 

 But a single parasite has been recorded (by Mr. Ashmead) as preying 

 upon E. nitidalis, viz., Chalcis fidvipes (Fabr.) — an important parasite,. 



