198 Forty-ninth Report on the State Museum 



the number reported at this time is larger than would be expected to 

 survive the ordeal of hibernation. From July larvae, September beetles 

 would be produced. 



The occurrence of this insect on the garden cherry while previously 

 known only on the wild, is but another instance of the many similar 

 changes known of our native insects from wild to cultivated food-plants. 



Under date of July loth, Mrs. Graves wrote that the beetles sent from 

 the cherry trees were also feeding on a young chestnut tree. Presuming 

 on the correctness of her observation, no examples were asked for 

 verification. 



Another species of Galerucella which at a casual inspection can hardly 

 be separated from the cherry species, is G. decora Say, numbers of which 

 have been collected by me in Keene Valley, N. Y., from June 21st to 

 August 8th. Its food-plant is willow. Prof. Riley states that it was 

 abundant and very injurious in a willow plantation near Washington, in 

 the larval stage in June, and that its natural history appeared not to 

 differ materially from that of the elm-leaf beetle {Rept. Commis. Agricul. 

 for 1884, p. 336). 



Blissus leucopterus (Say). 

 The Chinch-Bug. 



(Ord. Hemiptera : Subord. Heteroptera : Fam. Lyg.eid^.) 



This insect, the injuries of which are so widespread and so serious in 

 many of the Western States, but which we seldom have occasion to 

 report in our State — has caused some injury to grass and grain in 

 Western New York the present year. In the Second Report of the State 

 Entomologist an account is given of its operations in the years 1882 and 

 1883 in several of the towns of St. Lawrence county. Since then its 

 presence has occasionally been reported in different localities in com- 

 paratively small number, but not sufficient to attract attention until in 

 1894, when statements were received from Alleghany county of its 

 having ruined meadows and many acres of timothy. This present year 

 it has attacked grain in the same county, in a ^qw instances, but no 

 account of severe injury from it has come to my knowledge. Judging 

 from the past history of its New York operations, there is not much to 

 be apprehended from its continuation in 1896, unless unusually favorable 

 conditions for its increase should prevail. 



