THE WHITE ANT. 283 



87. Argyresthia austerella Zeller. This moth, " I am convinced, feeds in 



some way on it; and in latter May and in June the imago 

 may be found about the trees." (Chambers.) 



88. Coleophora sp. " A Coleophora larva in its case feeds on the leaves 



in autumn and early spring. I have not bred it." (Chambers in 

 letter.) 



Hymenoptera. 



89. The horn-tail horer,tTremex columba ^Linn.). 



Platyptera. 



90. Termes Jiavipes Kollar. We have observed white ants injuring a 



wounded elm tree near the common at Salem, Mass. 



Hemiptera-Homoptera. 



91. Tetranewa ulmi (Linn.) (Oestlund.) 



92. Pemphigus ulmifusus (Walsh.) (Oestlund.) 



Besides the determined species of insects found on the elm, Professor 

 Riley has kindly furnished me with notes upon forty-two species addi- 

 tional, but not yet determined. This carries the number of elm insects 

 np to the neighborhood of one hundred and twenty-five species. The 

 nndeterrained species belong to the following groups : Lepidoptera, 11 ; 

 Tenthredinidce, 1 ; Cecidomyiidw, 16 ; Goccidw, 5 ; Aphis, 2 ; Pemphi- 

 ginw, 4; Acarina {Phytoptus), 3 ; total, 42 species. 



FEEDING ON THE DEAD WOOD. 



Osmoderma eremicola Knocb. 



LarvsB and beetles of this insect were found July 18, 1874, at St. 

 Louis, Mo., at the base of the hollow trunk of a large elm, and several 

 more of the larvae were found at the same place. All were about full 

 grown and were feeding on the decaying wood, reducing it to a tan- 

 bark red, excrementitious powder, of which there were bushels filling 

 the base of the cavity. Their pellets of excrement which were noticed 

 are liattened-oval and compact. Eggs were also found in abundance 

 They are perfectly spherical, about S"*'" in diameter, opaque-white, 

 and with tolerably tough skin. The young larvae differ in no respect 

 from the mature, except in being more hirsute, or the hairs being 

 longer. The mature larva, before changing, forms a large egg-shaped 

 ball of excrement and loose earth, (See Schaupp, description of larva 

 of Osmoderma scahra, Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc, vol. ii, p. 98.) (Riley's 

 unpublished notes. 



Mr. W. L. Devereaux writes me that Osmoderma scahra and eremicola 

 in the larva state channel up the heart of large trees and often enter into 

 close proximity with the live wood. " None of our large trees, as a rule, 



