ENTOMOLOGICAL TAPERS OF DR. FITCH. 305 



of Linna3us. The same insect has been very destructive to seeds in 

 the collections of the State Agricultural Society. Dr. Fitch remarks; 

 " Schcenherr has given the generic name Silophilus to this species and 

 its kindred, but as the larva of this insect has long been known in 

 Europe bv the popular name Calandre from which Clairville derived 

 the name of his genus Calandra, of which genus this insect must be 

 considered the true type, we regard the name proposed by Schcenherr 

 to be illegitimate and untenable." 



1857. The May Beetle. (The Genesee Farmer, for August, 1857, 

 xviii, 2d Ser., pp. 239-241.) 



After remarks upon the importance of ascertaining the correct scien- 

 tific name of an insect, a severe criticism is made upon "the disin- 

 genuous statement of Dr. Harris," that he had proposed the genus 

 PhyllopJiaga for this insect in 1826. Before its publication in 1827, 

 * Lachnosterna had been designated for it by Rev. Mr. Hope. It had long 

 been known under the specific name of quercina, but this must give 

 way to fufica of Frohlich, under which it was described in 1792. The 

 exceeding destructiveness of the beetle, at times, is stated, it having 

 entirely stripped cherry and plum trees of their leaves. The larvae, 

 usually solitary, sometimes become gregarious, when their injuries are 

 intensified. The insect's life-history is not known, but is believed to be 

 analogous to that of the cockchaffer of Europe. For the destruction 

 of the grubs, when they abound in grass-lands, the fields should be 

 fenced, and swine turned in to root them out. For destroying the 

 beetles, trees where they collect should be shaken for them. Some 

 trees which gave the first night two pailfuls, gave the fifth night but 

 two beetles. 



1857. Entomology. No. XVI. — The Hunter Weevil in Young 

 Corn. — Beetles upon, and Worms in, Potato Vines. — Goose- 

 berry Insects. (The Country Gentleman, August 6, 1857, x, 

 p. 91 — 35 cm. The Cultivator, September, 1857, Third 

 Series, v, p. 273 — 34 cm.) 



In reply to inquiries made from Bainbridge, N. T., of "a new corn 

 insect," and telling of its injuries to the young blades of corn, tlie in- 

 sect is identified as Sphenophorus veiKitus Say, and the recoxnmendation 

 made that children should be employed to collect and kill the beetles. 

 The potato beetle is recognized as the black blistering-beetle, Cantharis 

 atrata, and the borer in the vine as an unknown species of Oortyna 

 [now known to be Gortyna nitela Guen.l. The larva infesting goose- 

 berries in Ashfield, Mass., is not identified. 



1857. Wheat-Midge. (Journal N. Y. State Agricultural Society, for 

 November, 1857, viii, pp. 67, 68 —27 cm.) 



Dr. Fitch's determination of the wheat-midge as identical with the 

 Cecidomyia tritici, of Europe, had been dissented from by M. Amyot, of 

 Paris, but was subsequently accepted by the French Entomologists. Not 

 being accompanied in this country with any parasite, the measures are 

 stated which have been taken for the importation of its European 

 parasite. 



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