310 FIEST ANNUAL KEPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



may not be accepted, so long as the wlieat-midge continues to be called 

 the " weevil." The protracted larval stage of the cicada is most re- 

 markable. Linnaeus, vpith his usual felicity in application of names, 

 should have designated it as Cicada Methuselah. The regularity of its 

 almost simultaneous appearance is also remarkable. It is desirable 

 that the geographical extension of the coming brood should be ascer- 

 tained, so that its future visitations may be definitely predicted. The 

 time of appearance of other broods is mentioned, and reference is made 

 for further information of the species to the Transactions of the N. T. 

 State Agricultural Society for 1854, p. 72. 



1860. The Hunter Weevil. (The Country Gentleman, June 14, 

 1860, XV, p. 384 — S cm.) 



Identification of the species {SphenopJiorus venatus Say), from Onon 

 daga county, N. Y. , and pronounced identical with the " bill-bug or 

 the corn-bug," of the Patent Office Report for 1854. 



1860. Kavages of Insects on Forest and Fruit Trees — Kemedy. 

 (Journal N. Y. State Agricultural Society, for July, 1860, 

 xi. No. 3, pp. 21, 22 — 22 cm.) 



In a letter to Hon. B. P. Johnson, Dr. Fitch remarks upon a species 

 of scale-insect depredating upon the trees in the parks and gardens in 

 Albany, giving its natural history, and suggesting oil or grease as the 

 best remedy to be used against it. He compares it with the Lecanium 

 aceris of Europe, and as it seems to differ from that species, he had 

 given it in his manuscripts the name of Lecanium aeericorticis, or the 

 maple-bark scale-insect. [Is Pulvinaria innumerabilis (Rathvon).] 



1860. The Entomologist. No. XXIII.— The Striped Flea-beetle. 

 (The Country Gentleman, July 12, 1860, xvi, p. 36 —40 cm.) 

 Insects sent from Solsville, Madison county, N. Y., as attacking 

 beans under ground, when well-sprouted and within a half-inch of the 

 surface, boring minute holes on the inner side of each half of the bean 

 stunting it and causing it to turn black — are recognized as the striped 

 flea-beetle, Haltica {Phyllotreta) atriolata of Illiger. Its favorite food is 

 mustard, but it is very fond of young cabbage plants, the cultivation 

 of which it sometimes arrests in the vicinity of New York. Its under- 

 ground habit of feeding seems to be unusual to it. The insect is 

 described audits somewhat confused synonymy given. Dusting with 

 lime, ashes, soot, etc., is recommended for arresting its ravages, as 

 also, frequently driving them from the plants, as they are timid insects. 



1860. The Entomologist. No. XXIV.— The Pear-blight Beetle. 

 (The Country Gentleman, November 8, 1860, xvi, p. 302 — 

 44 cm.) 



The insect is sent from Southampton county. Pa. , as having destroyed 

 a number of apple-trees. It attacks also the plum and apricot. It is 

 the Scolytus pyri of Professor Peck [now known as Xyleborus py7'i], 

 and a description is given of it, with a statement of its habits. In the 

 middle of summer, twigs are seen to wither. On examination, a small 

 perforation like a pin-hole may be seen at several of the buds, upon 



