165 



field, except the moth, which is quite commonly met this spring. No. 3 and the larva 

 5 were observed to feed upon the Grain Aphis ; the others were found in considerable 

 numbers on the heads of wheat, except No. 4. — [C. C. Fenwick, St. Joseph, 111., 

 June 2:5, 1890. 



Keply. — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of yours of June 23 with accompanying 

 specimens. No. 1 is Melanectes puncticolUs, family filaleridce ; its larval habits are 

 unknown and it is a tolerably rare beetle. No. 2 is Aiiomala iindalata and belongs to 

 the family Scarabmdoe. This beetle is not infrequently injurious to wheat and other 

 grains. No. 3 is Coccinella 0-nolata, family CoccinelUdai, one of the common Lady- 

 birds. No. 4 is Tetraopes tetraoptkaliniis, family Cerambycidw. This borer lives on 

 milkweed. No. 5 is the larva of No. 3. The moth sent is Platijsamia vecropia. — [June 

 27, 1«90.] 



Cheese Mite. 



I have inclosed a fungus found on cheese for the first time, as it is something new. 

 Is there any preventive ? — [Frank H. Follensbie, Enfield, N. H., June 13, 1H90. 



Rkply. — Your favor of the 13th instant, with the accompanying specimt^ns, has 

 been received. The supposed fungus found on cheese is the common Cheese Mite 

 {Tyj'ugli/pbns siro). Tiio brown, powdery mass is composed of the particles of cheese 

 and the shed skins of the mites. If you examine this material with a hand lens you 

 will find the minute whitish mites scattered through it. This mite lives on all kinds 

 of cheese, especially if it is a little decayed, and particularly on the rind or harder 

 parts. It also infests flour, grain, and other substances. In your case the only pre- 

 ventive would seem to be to keep the shelves thoroughly cleaned of all particles of 

 cheese and to destroy or remove the stale cheese. — [June 19, 1890.] 



Fighting the Rose Chafer. 



Reading in April number of Ixskct Life on Macrodactylus subspinosus, I would say 

 that at present I have an attack of them in my vineyard, that I have tried pyreth- 

 rum, 4 ounces to five gallons of water, applied with a Eureka sprayer, and found it 

 of no use. The solution, or mixture, seems to atfect them so that they fall off on the 

 ground and after a time fly away. Later I used 2 ounces of hellebore and 4 of py- 

 rethrum, and sprayed it, but find that also of no avail, so I have trieil shaking on 

 stretchers saturated in petroleum, and I destroy hundreds that way. Therefore, I 

 am able to say that pyrethrum in ray case was useless. Do you think a spraying of 

 carbolic acid would be of any use in driving them off? I would also state that I have 

 picked hundreds and crushed them in my hand, and consequently I do not believe the 

 poisonous theory, unless there be an abrasion ol the skin or a sore.— [E. H. Wynkoop, 

 Catskill, N. Y., June 19, 1890. 



Reply. — Your letter of June 19 duly received. Your experience with the Macro- 

 dactylus subspinosus is certainly in harmony with the article to which you refer in In- 

 sect Life, and you will see that I have stated that hellebore and pyrethrum are of 

 doubtful efBcacy, the former being the most effective against the beetles. I am glad 

 to learn of your success with the use of stretchers saturated with kerosene, and I be- 

 lieve that thin is the most practical of the remedies yet proposed. General Pearson, 

 who is quoted in the article referred to as recommending eau celeste as a means 

 against the Rose Beetle, now reports that the present year he finds this remedy una- 

 vailable. -[June ; 3, 1890. ] 



Second Letter. — Yours of the 23d instant at hand. Would say that I find a 

 stretcher saturated with crude petroleum quite efiective, and after saturating a few 

 times the bugs stick to it so that it does not require any shaking in*o a receptacle. 

 I received to-day a trial package of Nicotina from the Farmers' Fertilizing Company, 

 Bj'racuse, N. Y., but as the bugs have left my vineyard, I can not indorse it. I think 

 it must prove effective, for it so strongly smells of gas-tar, and is in a very fine 

 powder, and I find anything that has a strong odor distasteful to them. In fact one 



