83 



locations. Ordinarily they can be kept in check ])y poisoned baits, 

 the same as those used against cutworms, or still better by distril)ut- 

 ino- a])out the places which they infest slices of potatoes or other vege- 

 tables that have been dipped in a solution of Paris green prepared at 

 the rate of about 1 pound to 100 gallons or a little less of water. 



Aphodlus f/ranarlus Linn. — March 15, 1901, Mr. A. F. Woods 

 showed the writer specimens of this common dung beetle with report that 

 it occurred in great abundance in a violet house at Takoma Park, D. C. 

 lie stated that in a small corner of the house hundreds of thousands 

 of the beetles could be seen crawling and tumbling over each other. 

 So far as we know, this dung beetle agrees with others of its kind in 

 being innoxious. There is, however, a recorded instance of reported 

 injur}", that by Prof. C. H. Fernald (Bui. 1, Hatch Experiment Sta- 

 tion, Mass. Agric. College, p. 3). Specimens of the beetles were 

 received from Lancaster, Mass., with the statement that they had been 

 found destroying seed corn in the ground before it had sprouted. 

 This is one of our commonest dung beetles, and its occurrence in the 

 violet house was, of course, due to the presence of manure in which 

 the species breeds. It has been surmised that from the known hal)it 

 of this species feeding in part on fragments of undigested grain that 

 it might, under favoring conditions, transfer its attentions to seed 

 coi'n in the hill, but this seems somewhat doubtful. 



ROSE BTJD-WORMS AND LEAF-TYERS. 



Among the many insect pests which the florist has to combat in the 

 cultivation of roses grown under glass are several small species of l)ud- 

 worms and leaf-tyers, the larvie of moths of the family Tortricidie. 

 Of these some of the most important will be considered. 



THE ROSE BUD-WORM. 



{Penthind niinbatatia Clem.) 



RECENT INJURY. 



During the past summer the attention of the writer was called to the 

 svork of the larva of Penthhui }ilinl>ataiia Clem, on hothouse roses 

 through Messrs. Erwin F. Smith and P. H. Dorsett, of this Depart- 

 ment. July 8 word was first received of injuries to roses in the green- 

 houses ])elonging to ]NJr. Alexander Garden at Anacostia, D. C. The 

 insect was in the larval condition when received, Julj^ 11, and remained 

 so, feeding until July 13, when one or two showed signs of approaching 

 transformation. The roses were being injured by the work of the 

 larva on the foliage, buds, and flowers, the buds especially sufl'ering. 



Rose appears to be the only known food plant of this larva, and here- 

 tofore, it appears, it has never been recorded as attacking an}' portion 



