COSMOPEPLA CARNIFEX: REMEDIES AND DISTRIBUTION I47 



Remedies. 



As all the bugs belonging to the order of Hemiptera draw their food 

 from the interior of the plant, sucking the sap by means of a pro- 

 boscis thrust into the plant, it is useless to attempt to poison them by 

 applications to the surface of the leaves. Many of them are so con- 

 spicuous in appearance, of so large size, and occurring often in not re- 

 markable numbers, that their injuries to many of our low crops can be 

 prevented by picking them off by hand, or by beating tliem from their 

 food-plants by the aid of a short stick into a broad basin of water and 

 kerosene. 



When too abundant for this method, or in situations where they can- 

 not be conveniently reached by hand, they will not be able to withstand 

 thorough sprinkling with kerosene emulsions, so applied as to reach their 

 breathing pores — a difficult matter perhaps in some of the species, 

 wdiich are so well protected by their close-fitting and broad wing-covers. 



Its Distribution. 



This species has quite a broad distribution over the United States. 

 Mr. Uhler records it from Maine to Georgia, Texas, Indian Territory, 

 Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Washington Territory; also from Port 

 Neuf, Canada, and from Nova Scotia. 



I have found it in large numbers, in former years, at Schoharie, N. 

 Y., in the early part of July, upon some low plants (weeds ?) — the 

 species not recorded. 



Is Probably not Carnivorous. 



In the hope that the insect might, as a redeeming trait in its char- 

 acter, be induced to imitate the habits of some of its relatives, I made 

 recpiest of the gentleman from whom the specimens had been received, 

 to confine them, after depriving them for a time of their vegetable food, 

 with the \arvx. of the Colorado potato beetle. The experiment was 

 made, but as they showed no disposition to change their diet, during their 

 trial of two days, it may be inferred that they are strictly vegetarian 

 in their feeding. 



Another Attack upon the Potato. 



A singular attack upon the potato tuber may properly be recorded 

 here, in connection with the above notice of a new attack upon the 

 stems and leaves. It was brought to my notice several years ago (in 

 1877), by Mr. Miller, of the Austrian Commission at the Centennial 

 Exposition at Philadelphia. 



