12 B. C. ENTOMOLOGICAL PROCEEDINGS, 1912. 



Otiorhynchus ovatus is becoming more numerous every season and 

 the damage to strawberry plantations is considerable. 



Black Flies (Simulidae) were very troublesome to stock during late 

 summer and early autumn. I have not yet determined the species. 



The Horse Bot Fly {Gastrophiltis equi) is another stock pest which 

 was unusually abundant in 1912. 



It would be interesting to hear from some member of the Society 

 who has taken adult specimens of the Flat Headed Apple Tree Borer 

 {Chrysobothris femorata) in B. C. So far I have not done so, although 

 the damage ascribed to this species is common enough. In Henshaw's list 

 of North American Coleoptera, seven varieties are given. Which of 

 these, then, is our enemy? 



A subject about which there is much to be learnt, is the manner In 

 which various species of insects pass the winter. Many new 

 facts are no doubt observed by collectors at various times, but probably 

 they are not recorded because it is thought that the observation would 

 not be new. In a back number of the Entomological News, I noticed 

 an account of the finding of adult specimens of a species of Lachnosterna 

 hibernating at the depth of four feet in sandy soil. The specimens were 

 in fresh condition and must have emerged in the autumn from the pupa 

 and were awaiting till spring to appear above ground. This was the 

 first week in March and the ground was frozen for the depth of some 

 inches. I have taken the larvae of this genus in early spring in grass 

 land. The beetles mentioned above must, from their appearance, have 

 emerged late in the autumn from the pupae. 



Another species that I have always found somewhat rare in its usual 

 surroundings during the summer is the beetle Agabus davatus. This 

 insect is taken by dredging ponds and streams during spring and summer, 

 but I always considered it uncommon until last November when dredging 

 for Hydrophylidae and other aquatic forms. But in this instance finding 

 but few specimens after a short time I went ashore to try for other 

 things under stones, logs, etc. I had broken open a rotten log on the 

 edge of the swamp and there was davatus in large numbers among the 

 ruins. 



A careful search brought many more to light in similar situations. 

 They had evidently left the water and retired to pass the winter beneath 

 the dead bark and In the crevices of the dead wood lying near the water. 

 Besides Agabus davatus I found Agabus semipunctatus In some numbers. 

 Other members of this family are to be taken by dredging at all seasons, 

 even In winter. Another insect that I have detected in partial hiberna- 

 tion is the butterfly Vanessa Milberti. This butterfly is the earliest to 



