REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



39 



small potatoes, 2 or 3 inches in diameter, just beneath the ground. 

 Walsh does not think this insect identical witli that which is doing so 

 much damage in Europe, either from description or habits. Pouriug 

 boiling water over the roots has been recommended as a remedy, but some 

 of our correspondents have complained of their trees being iujured by its 

 application. However, it is said that water heated from l^'Oc* to 150° will 

 kill the lice without injuring the tree. This remedy may serve among 

 young trees, but large old apple-trees would probably not be benefited 

 by this application. These root-lice are destroyed by several parasites, 

 among which are reported ii/rcop/iites Qnali, a Chalcis, (see Eymenoptera;) 

 Fiinria radtGum, a two-winged fly, (see Diptera,) &c. 



An insect closely allied to Eriosoma imhricata is found very abun- 

 dantly on birch in Maryland in October. No. 42. 

 These insects cluster together on the twigs, 

 and have the appearance of down or masses 

 of cotton; when disturbed, they present the 

 very singular appearance of many small spots 

 of snow-like wool or down moving up and 

 down by jerks, the hinder parts of the insects 

 being covered with this downy secretion. They 

 are gregarious, and cluster together as close 

 as they can crowd on the ends of the twigs. 

 In the autumn the winged insects appear; the 

 wingless individuals are of a pale or yellow- 

 green color, veined with brown, and are 0.05 

 to 0.06 in length. This insect, as before 

 stated, resembles the Eriosoma imhricata, or 

 beech-tree blight, which is described as 

 "woolly lice infesting the tei^minal twigs of 

 the beech, and which in the wingless state have the habit of continually 

 wagging their tails up and down." The figures are magnified. 



Eriosoma tesselata was found on birch in Maryland, in clusters near 

 the ends of twigs, in the autumn. It is of a black color. No. 43. 



with white spots on the fore part of its body, and is 

 covered with a snow white down or wool on its hinder 

 part, like those before described. With its woolly cov- 

 ering, the wingless females measure about 0.15 to 0.20 

 in length. 



A species of EhozoMus, or underground plant-louse, 

 was one season very destructive to the cultivated ver- 

 No. 44. benas in the gardens of the Department of 

 Agriculture, Washington, D. C, clustering 

 in masses on the roots underground, and suck- 

 ing the sap from the plants, and thereby so 

 weakening them that many died. Most prob- 

 ably, however, had a strong mixture of tobacco and water, 

 or soap-suds, been applied in time to the roots, many of the 

 plants might have been saved ; but the cause of the injury- 

 being hidden underground, nothing could be seen to indi- 

 cate that the plant was not in perfect health, until suddenly the 

 leaves turned yellow and the plant died. These insects were 

 about 0.10 to 0.13 in length, of a swollen round form, and ap- 

 parently bloated almost to bursting. They were of a brown 

 color, and covered with a whitish powder or bloom ; no winged indi- 

 viduals were observed among them at any time. 

 Femphigua viU/olice of Fitcli, 1856, {Dactylo^hterat Solumer, 1867J 



