338 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



FOOD PLANTS. 



I have observed the Pulvinaria innumerabilis in great abundance on 

 the soft or silver maple [Acer dasycarpum, Ehrhart) the box-elder [Xe- 

 gundo oceroides, Mcench.), the liuden (Itlia eurojxen), and the sugar 

 maple [Acer saccliari7\um, Wang.), on each of whicli it thrives well, 

 I have also found it, or had it brought to ine, on locust [Robinia pseud- 

 acacia, L), Concord grape vine, ( Vilis labrusca, L), sumac ( Wiusglahra, L), 

 etc., but in each of these cases there were infested maples in the near 

 vicinity. In one instance I have found a single under-sized Pulvinaria 

 and nest on a wild grape vine ( Vitis riparia, Michx.) more than half a 

 mile distant from the nearest infested maple. 



Although found most commonly on the soft maple, it appears to thrive 

 equally will on the box-elder and the linden. In fact those on the box- 

 elder appear to develop the best and most rapidly. They do not thrive 

 so well on the sugar maple. 



Dr. S. S. Rathvon has observed it on soft maple, linden, rose and 

 beech— the latter two on but one occasion each. 



iMiss Emily A. Smith reports it as occurring on soft maple, sugar maple 

 and box-elder. More recently she writes me that she lias studied a Pul- 

 naria on willow, and on osage orange which she regards as identical with 

 innuvierahilis. 



Mr. C. V. Riley writes me that he has "every reason to suppose that 

 this same species occurs not only on the hard maple, but on grape vine, 

 osage orange, oak, linden, elm and sycamore, and without doubt another 

 which occurs on rose, currant, and on the spindle tree [Euronymus] is 

 identical.'" Mr. Riley also writes me, that in 1870 he "experimented in 

 transferring it [P. innumerubilis] on to various trees and shrubs. The 

 specimens were received in June from Prof. D. S. Sheldon, Davenport, 

 Iowa, and successfully stationed themselves on Vitis:'' ^ 



I do not feel fully prepared to agree with Mr. Riley and Miss Smith iu 

 regarding all the Pulrinarice found on these plants as identical, but there 

 is enough evidence to show that this insect is capable of thriving on 

 quite a variety of food plants, and in the cases where it has been directly 

 introduced from the maple there is no question of its identity. 



OTHER SPECIES OF PULVINARIA. 



Dr. V. Signoret in his valuable " Essai sur les Cochenilles" t has 

 brought together descriptions of all the known species of Pulvinaria. 

 These are eighteen in number as follows : 1, P. artemisice Lieht, on Ar- 

 teviisia, Europe ; 2, betulce Linn6, on Betulla alba, Europe ; 3, camellicola 

 Signoret, on C'cmellia japonica, in hot-houses; 4, carpiin Linn<'^ on Car- 

 pinus stcEchus, Europe ; fS, cestri Bouch(?, on Cestrum and other Malva- 

 ceae, Europe ; 1 6, evonymi Goureau, France ; t7, fagi Hardy, on Beech^ 



* Mr. Riley has necently sent me specimens of Pulvinaria on sycamore, elm and hack- 

 berry. In their dried condition it is impossible to say whether they are or are not of the same 

 species. In size and aspect they are very similar to innumerabilis. 



+ Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France, 1872, pages 29-48. 



