JOXJKNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY 49 



In July, 1900, I published a synopsis of the North American 

 species of Kermes (see Psyche pp. 78-84) and cited the above 

 described species as Kermes galliformis Riley, which was an 

 error. I based my opinion on the figure published by Prof. 

 Comstock in the U. S. A^rcl. Report for the year 1881, plate 

 IX, fig. 1, which represents the species herein described. I did 

 not read understandingly what he said of it. He distinctly 

 says it is a figure of a Kermes found in California. In August, 

 1900, I sent some examples of this species to Dr. Howard. The 

 material was turned over to Mr. Pergande, who, on August 

 23d, wrote me that the species which I had referred to Kermes 

 galliformis was not that species, but a new one, which had been 

 received by them from Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, 

 Rhode Island, and Toronto, Canada. In 1906, Mr. Edward K. 

 Carnes published a list of Coccidce of California and on page 

 18 reproduces Comstock 's figure of the California species and 

 cites it to represent Kermes nigropunetatus, which is another 

 error. The above described species has been known for at least 

 thirty-three years without a name and I am pleased to name 

 it after Mr. E. R. Sasscer of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 

 now assistant curator of the collection of Coccidce at Washing- 

 ton, D. C. 



THE ARGENTINE ANT 



The Argentine ant, Iridomyrex humilis, is now found not 

 far from Claremont, Cal., as well as in other places in Loa 

 Angeles county. Although it does not seem to be much of a 

 pest in its own country it certainly appears to be here. It has 

 attracted attention chiefly because it invades houses in wet 

 weather and requires much trouble to keep it out. It devours 

 all sorts of food substances, especially sweet things. In some 

 places it has become a very serious menace to shade trees and 

 ornamental plants as it protects plant lice. It also seriously 

 attacks flowers in orange groves. In market gardens it removes 

 the seeds before they sprout. In Louisiana the mealy bug thrives 

 under its protection. Fig crops are greatly injured by the 

 pest. Bee-keeping becomes almost impossible where the ants 



