6 IXSECTS AFFECTING VEGETABLE AND TRUCK CROPS. 



There were also beds of the A<-hyi'aiit]u's acKin'matd of florists, 

 known botanic-ally as Iresine Jindeni^ Avhich were sligrhth' injured by 

 this pest. It was noticed that the larvae, as in the case of attack to 

 other l()w-growin<>" i^lants, rest chiefly during the daytime on the lower 

 leaves and near the roots. 



October 7 the writer observed nnich injury to several plats of Altei- 

 nanthera on the grounds of tlie Department of Agriculture, but larvjp 

 were difficult to obtain until the much injured lower leaves were 

 noticed; then no trouble was experienced, Mr. Duckett easily taking 

 about a dozen. In this case, as in others, with the exception of that 

 at Iowa Circle, colonies of the spinach flea-beetle {D'tsonycha .lutntho- 

 melivna Dalni.) were present and had been resi)onsible for the early 

 injury. "When first collected the two species were in the proportion of 

 five of the flea -beetle to two of the web worm, but later the lepidop- 

 terous larvpe were found to be doing the greatest damage. A few 

 young larvae were observed at this time. 



Cut leaves of beets and refuse stems were placed near the affected 

 Swiss chard as decoys, w4th the result that many larvae were found, 

 some within the stems and some of them on rhe side nearest the 

 ground. Many were also found on and under leaves ^ which had 

 withered. 



Larvae Avhich transformed to pupae October \ emerged as moths 

 October 25, or in 21 days. Larva^ which transformed to pupa^ Octo- 

 ber 12 emerged on October 30, or in 18 days. One which pupated 

 October 16 emerged October 31, or in 15 da3's, showing the length of 

 the last generation of the season to vary between 15 and 21 days, ac- 

 cording to temperature. None of the moths which were kept for the 

 purpose deposited eggs, nor did any remain over as larvae^, as in the 

 case of many related species in hibernation. Hence it is doubtful if 

 this species really hibernates in the District of Columbia, and it may 

 be that the region is reached by moths which fl}^ from more southern 

 places in warm days in spring or early summer. At any rate injury 

 has never been noticed until the autumn. One moth was captured by 

 the writer as late as December 10 in the insectar3\ It might have 

 emerged from the plants there or obtained access to the building from 

 the outside. 



OTHER RECORDS AND NOTES. 



The foregoing records have been made from the writer's personal 

 okservations. In looking over the notes of the Bureau of Ento- 

 mology a much earlier record was found, dated April 1, 189G, when 

 Mr. Theodore Pergande noticed large numbers of the moth flitting 

 about in the propagating house of the Department of Agriculture 



1- This hal)it of concealmont on the dried leaves is a very common one amonj; lioth beetles 

 and caterpillars. DiHiitiycha .finlliomehviia was observed in similar locations, even on 

 dried leaves j^rowinj^ high on the plants. 



