417 



Insects Identified. 



I send by this mail, with a request that you identify them, three insects : No. 1 was 

 found on a stone walk near my house ; No. 2, on a lettuce plant ; and No. 3 was cap- 

 tured to-day on a tomato plant. I also send in a small vial some flies, of which I 

 would like to know the name. I first observed them about three weeks ago, clustered 

 about the trunk of a Lombardy plum tree, but afterwards found them on apples and 

 pears, and even on currant bushes. They did not seem to injure them in any way, 

 but in every instance were found on the bark where it presented a rough appearance. 

 Possibly they were sucking the sap from the trees. 



H(B7natobia serrata (R-D.) has been quite numerous here this fall. I first observed 

 them about the middle of August, but in no instance have I seen the cow's horn 

 covered as thickly as shown in your illustration on page 101 of Insect Life, Vol. ii. 

 I do not remember ever having seen these insects before this season, but that was 

 probably owing to the fact that I took no interest in entomology before the publica- 

 tion of Insect Life was begun. * * * — [John D. Lyons, lock box 5, Monticello, 

 New York, September 17, 1890. 



Reply. — No. I is Monohammus confusor Kirby ; No. 2, Cyllene robinioe ; No. 3, Eu- 

 phoria inda ; and the "flies" are Psoctis venosus. 



The Red Scale of the Orange in Syria. 



By this mail I send you an orange fruit and two leaves of the orange tree. For the 

 past three years an insect bas been destroying the fruit, and it is gradually becoming 

 more and more abundant, until the orange growers are getting alarmed for the future. 

 The Governor of Tripoli (district) has requested me to see if I can get auy informa- 

 tion with regard to its possible destruction. I have an impression that a similar dis- 

 ease attacked our oranges in Florida. Am I right ? If you can, through your depart- 

 ment, give us auy advice as to the best way to kill the pest, you will confer a great 

 obligation, as well as a blessing on the orange growers of this place. lu Sidan and 

 Beyrout this disease appeared about four years ago, but it did not appear here until 

 1888.— [Ira Harris, Tripoli, Syria, August 25, 1890. 



Reply. — A careful examination shows no other cause of damage than a few speci- 

 mens of the red scaleof the orange {Aonidia auranfii Mask.), a species which is found in 

 Australia, New Zealand, California, and the countries bordering on the Mediterranean. 

 I inclose on separate sheets copies of two formulas for mixtures, which are used in 

 this country with success, for spraying trees infested with this scale. — [September 

 20,1890.] 



Second Letter. — I thank you very much for the prompt answer to my request 

 for a diagnosis of the disease on the orange trees here. When I sent a translation 

 of your letter to the Governor, he was very much astonished, as he did not think it 

 possible to get an answer from you so soon ; for he knew that with Syrians such a request 

 as I made would take months to get at the question. The custom of this country 

 is "Never do to-day what can be put oft' until tomorrow, and not then if you can 

 get some one else to do it for you." The Governor in a letter sends his thanks to 

 you, "for your excellency's kindness in our troubles." 



I send you a literal translation of his letter to us, of thanks. I have hopes that 

 the treatment will have the effect of destroying the pest, and if it does, it will be 

 of infinite benefit to many poor men who depend upon the orange crop for a living. 



Translation of inclosure. — My beloved honorable Dr. Harris, the American, who 

 is found in Tripoli : I received with loving hands the letter of your excellency, dated 

 October 23, 1899, which contains a sending of the translation of the answered letter 

 that came to your Excellency from the Secretary-General of the Department of Agri- 

 culture in the United States, with the prescription which is sent coucerning the use 

 of the necessary medicine to prevent the injury which has the influence on some of the 



