ENTOMOLOGICAL PAPERS OF DR. FITCH. 



319 



given, with mention of the habits of the Asilidce, to which this fly be- 

 longs. The observation, upon a single occasion, ten years previous, in 

 the month of October by Dr. Fitch, of Erax rujibarbis is narrated — 

 never since met with by him. The piping noise of these flies, like that of 

 the bumble-bee when inclosed in a net, is mentioned, and also, their 

 fetid, carrion-like odor. After the four Nebraska specimens had " been 

 dead'a fortnight, and freely exposed to the air the latter half of the 

 time, the disgusting scent still remained, and so powerful was it that 

 on two occasions, nausea was produced " by their presence on a table. 

 This odor may perhaps only attach to them at their period of sexual 

 intercourse. [This notice is also published in the Eighth Report on 

 the Insects of N. Y. {6th-9th Reports, 1865, pp. 251-255), together 

 with additional observations upon the habits of the insect in destroy- 

 ing bees and other insects.] 



1864. A Curious Insect. (The Country Gentleman, for August 5, 



1864, xxiv, p. 79 — 20 cm.) 



The two-spotted tree-hopper, Enchenopa Mnotata, received from 

 Council Bluffs, Iowa, as infesting bittersweet. When confined in a 

 glass vessel, it was said to spring against the sides with such violence 

 as to break off- its head [the tip of its thomx]. Dr. Fitch states that it 

 is often found in New York on butternut and on dogwood. 



1865. The Entomologist. Ko. XXXVL— The Aphis on Hops. 



(The Country Gentleman, for April 27, 1865, xxv, p. 274 — 



56 cm.) 



This aphis was first observed in this country two years ago, and 

 since its first detection, has been very destructive — at times destroy- 

 ing entire yards. Newspapers are mentioning three hop maladies, 

 viz.. the plant-louse, the honey-dew, and the black -blight, but these 

 are but forms of the same thing. The connection of the last two with 

 the aphis is shown. The insect proves to be the same as the long- 

 known and destructive Ap?iis Jmmuli, of Europe. The excessive 

 number of plant-lice in some years is subdued by numerous preda- 

 ceous and parasitic destroyers, which at the present time are very 

 abundant. Soap applications will kill the young of the hop-louse. All 

 can be killed by tobacco-smoke, which is unfailing. Perhaps it could 

 be employed by confining it in a large cloth thrown over the vines. 



1865. Plant Lice — The Hop- Aphis. (The Country Gentleman, for 

 August 3, 1865, xxvi, p. 82 — 27 cm.) 



In reply to inquiries of the winter retreat of this insect, it is stated : 

 Most of the plant-lice, at the end of the season, become oviparous, and 

 deposit their eggs under the loose bark or other shelters of the vegeta- 

 tion upon which they feed. If the hop-aphis oviposited upon the 

 vines, the eggs would be killed when the vines are destroyed in the 

 autumn. This point in its history has not been fully given by the Eng- 

 lish writers who have treated of it, during the many years that it has 

 engaged their attention. In Morton's Encyclopedia of Agriculture, ii, 

 55, Dr. Plomley makes the statement, " as the result of his personal 

 observation, that the hop- fly in May proceeds originally iromsloe buahea. 



