WEST COAST INSECT NOTES 



(Every active entomologist is constantly encountering in the course of 

 his work, isolated facts of the greatest interest concerning life histories, lo- 

 cality occurences, new points in anatomy, nomenclatorial corrections, and so 

 on, that are of the greatest interest and value and should not be lost to 

 entomological literature. We shall regularly devote some space to such notes 

 and invite them from every quarter. 



Plecoina near Pasadena. — A fresh but partially eaten specimen of Plcconia 

 was found in a mountain caiion near Pasadena just after the rain of October. 

 This is especially interesting, as only one other fragment of this rare beetle 

 was found years ago in this region, and a species described from one speci- 

 men from the Cuyamaca mountains, by Prof. Rivers. The males of this genus 

 have the habit of flying during or directly after the first heavy rain of the 

 season ; the females, on the other hand, being wingless, remain hidden a 

 foot or more in the ground, where the males locate them. It is to be hoped 

 that more specimens of this interesting beetle will be discovered. The present 

 fragment was taken by a High School boy, and is in the collection of 

 Prof. Fall. 



Later note : Nineteen more specimens of this Plecoma were taken during 

 a rain, about a week ago. They represent a new species, and Prof. Fall will 

 describe it soon. — Fordvce Grinnell, ]r. 



Harpyia cinerea Wlk. near Spadra, Cal. — Mr. C. H. Vary, Horticultural 

 Inspector of Pomona, called our attention to the fact that large cottonwoods 

 at Spadra were being entirely defoliated by a very peculiar notodontid larva. 

 After some delay Profs. Cook and P.aker visited the locality and found the 

 larvae pupating in immense numbers in the crevices of the bark on the main 

 trunks, and also on fence posts and boards near by. Although occurring 

 in great numbers the cocoons are difficult to find, being exactly the color of 

 the bark, and set into cavities hollowed out by the larvse. A large number 

 of the cocoons placed in breeding boxes gave principally Tachinid parasites, 

 so that it is not probable that the occurrence of the moth in so great numbers 

 will be soon repeated. — C. F. Baker. 



.'\ Borer in the Castilloa Rubber Tree in Mexico. — Specimens of a Ceram- 

 bycid borer (Taciiiotcs siifiinilis Thomson — determined by Wickham) were 

 recently reared from a portion of the tnmk of a rublier tree in the State 

 of Chiapas in Mexico. The deeper incisions made in the tree for the purpose 

 of tapping are often invaded by a fungus which causes a constantly enlarging 

 decayed spot in the wood. These spots of dead wood invite, among other 

 insects, this large conspicuous Cerambycid, which, extending its borings into 

 the living wood, accomplishes immense damage to the rubber forests. The 

 gallery made by this borer is fully one-third of an inch in diameter. — D. L. 

 Crawford. 



