402 



ing been either aggravated by the presence of the worms or alleviated by their re- 

 moval. 



The case is reported merely to show that probably many larvae, especially those of 

 flies and weevils, and other grubs living in seeds and fruits, may be swallowed and 

 passed through the alimentary canal, without harm and with little or no annoyance 

 to the person swallowing them ; such cases rarely being brought to the notice of the 

 physician. — [Dr. A. S. Packard, Providence, Rhode Island, October, 1890. 



Fertilization of Red Clover by Bumble Bees. 



I saw this question asked through the Inter Ocean of Chicago : "Why does not the 

 first crop of the small or medium clover produce seed ?" The answer : "Because the 

 Bumble Bee (Humble Bee) is not out in time to fertilize the blossoms." Does the 

 Bumble Bee have any influence on the production of seed in the clover? — [H. R, 

 Clark, Columbus, Columbia County, Wisconsin, November 8, 1890, 



Reply. — It has been conclusively established that red claver {Trifolium pratense 

 L.) will not mature its seeds without the cross fertilization brought about by the 

 visits of insects, and particularly bumble bees, Bombus spp. Many other bees and 

 also Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths, etc.), Diptera (two-winged flies), and beetles 

 visit the clover blossoms, but these eifect cross-fertilization to but a limited extent — 

 the mouth parts of the bumble bee being especially fitted to this rOle. The smaller 

 percentage of seeds in the first crop of clover is therefore due to the fact that the bees 

 necessary to the production of perfect seeds are in the eai'ly spring anil summer com- 

 paratively few in number. A number of experiments have beea tried in England to 

 establish the relation of the bee to clover, and similar experiments have also been 

 made in this country, all going to show the dependence of the clover on the bee for 

 full productiveness. A notable instance of the usefulness of the bumble bee in this 

 regard is seen in the fact that when clover was first introduced iuto New Zealand it 

 failed to produce seed, but later, when the bumble bees were introduced and became 

 numerous, the clover matured perfect seeds. — [November 17, 1890.] 



Sow Bugs Feeding on Living Plants. 



In No. 3 of Insect Life I see a notice on page 69 about the Sow Bug, and a doubt 

 is editorially expressed as to whether it feeds on living plants. I send you herewith 

 a Cactus (Mammillaria pheUosperma) which I have had potted for 2 years on account 

 of its unusual form. This preceding spring and summer I was away from home for 

 some months, and to keep the plant alive during my absence I planted the pot deep 

 into the ground in a damp place, and while so planted the grass somewhat overran 

 the pot and plant, forming a shady retreat for the sow bugs, which ate into the 

 cactus so badly that when I saw it was ruined I threw it away. The Cactus did not 

 decay either before or after being attacked by the sow bugs, but the flesh was raw, 

 yet quite fresh and healthy, and began to grow again after 1 had routed the bugs. 

 The Cactus has now been out of soil for 2 or 3 weeks, yet will probably live if it be 

 planted again. 



Further: Three weeks ago I received some plants by mail from New York — some 

 roses, Geraniums, and a Wistaria. Upon the arrival of the plants I could not at once 

 attend to them, and so I heeled them in damp soil and covered them pretty closely 

 over with some old carpet. They remained there some days, and when I took them 

 up to plant them they were swarming with sow bugs, and I soon found that the 

 Wistaria had apparently been making a start at many of the buds, but all had been 

 eaten off so deeply and persistently that the vine is apparently killed, having made 

 no growth since. The buds, or places where the buds should have been, were freshly 

 eaten, as I carefully noted. I think that some of the other plants were injured also, 

 but gave the matter no very careful investigation, as none were of so much value or 



