DYNASTES TITYUS. 551 



says of quercitella, "antennae, head, labial palpi, dark orange-yellow." In quercivo- 

 rella the thorax and forewiugs are lemon-yellow, with the costal margin more red- 

 dish, and becoming more so toward the apex, which is reddish-orange and somewhat 

 dusted with darker scales. Clemens says o{ quercitella, "forewings orange-yellow, 

 apical portion reddish-brown, dusted with dark brown," and does not mention the 

 reddish -orange hue of the costal margin. In qiiercivoreUa (both sexes) the dorso- 

 apical cilia are paler than those of the apex, which, like those of the hind wings 

 and the entire hind wings themselves, except a fuscous patch at the base, are pale 

 silvery yellow; this fuscous patch and a similar one on the under side of the fore- 

 wiugs are peculiar to the male. In quercUella, Clemens says the hind wings are 

 "pale yellowish, becoming reddish-brown toward the apex, and the apical cilia dark 

 brownish." This does not apply to quercivorella at all. I have quoted the whole of 

 Dr. Clemens' brief description. 



In quercivorella the under side of the wings is paler than the upper, and does not 

 become darker toward the apex, but has the costal margin stained with fuscous on 

 the forewings. The thorax, abdomen, and legs are pale yellow, as also is the anal 

 tuft; the front surface of the legs and the under side of the abdomen dusted with 

 fuscous. Alar expansion scant three-eighths of an inch. Kentucky and Texas. (Bull. 

 U. S. Geol. Surv., iv, i, p. 97.) 



22. Dynastes tityus{\jmn.). 



The following correspondence shows that this gigantic beetle is at 

 times destructive to ash leaves. 



Its detestable odor and its habits are also described by Mr. Lugger in 

 Entomologica Americana, ii, 163. 



Editors Country Gentleman : 



I send by mail to-day a box containing several specimens of a hideous and most 

 offensive beetle which has recently begun its ravages on the ash trees on m.y lawn, 

 which I ask the favor of you to submit to Professor Lintner, that through him their 

 name and character may be learned, and how to free our trees of their presence. 

 Their odor is so offensive at night that it is disagreeable to sit in the open air. 



I learn from my son since writing the above that they are on the forest trees also. 



J. W. M. 



Perrowville, Va., August 2. 



[Auswer by Prof. J. A. Lintner, State Entomologist.] 



The above communication is of special interest to me, from its presenting more 

 strongly than has ever before been brought to my notice the offensive odor given 

 off by the beetle above noticed — the Dynastes tityus. It belongs to the family of Sca- 

 rabseidae, which contains many species having quite a disagreeable odor, but very 

 few, if any, have the penetration and pungency of this. Where a large number are 

 congregated, I can well imagine that the atmosphere in their vicinity may become 

 quite unpleasant to the nostrils, for even the dead bodies of half a dozen sent me, 

 although occupying a place, as I am writing upon an open piazza, at a distance of 

 several yards from me, and after having been exposed to the air throughout the 

 night, have rendered their vicinage quite intolerable to some of the unscientific 

 members of my family who had been sitting with me. 



The beetle, although horrid in the eyes of the gentleman communicating it, is to 

 the entomologist, from its size, form, and ornamentation, a beautiful and attractive 

 specimen of the Coleoptera. The largest male before me (I have seen larger exam- 

 ples) is 2. .5 inches long (3.5 with legs extended), 1.1 inches across the wing-covers, 

 and 0.8 of an inch in thickness of body. The shape of the female is nearly that of 

 the common grapevine beetle, the Pelidnota punctata, but the male is armed anteri- 

 orly with two black horns, a half-inch or more in length, the upper one being a hori- 



