270 



THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



ducted in the Botanical Laboratory of Cor- 

 nell University with the assistance of Mr. 

 W. A. Henry, is recorded by Prof. Pren- 

 tiss. All the experiments made in an or- 

 dinarily free atmosphere resulted in no 

 harm to the insects ; the others showed no 

 ill results except where the insects were 

 confined in an unnaturally moist atmos- 

 phere, as that of a Wardian case or bell 

 glass — conditions which will kill and ren- 

 der moldy almost any insects without the 

 application of yeast, but must be trebly 

 fatal to delicate-skinned insects when these 

 are, in addition, covered with any sticky 

 substance. Two of the experiments show- 

 ed that where mold appeared it was inde- 

 pendent of the yeast application. 



Prof. Prentiss further remarks : " The re- 

 sult of these experiments, as a whole, as also 

 many others not here recorded which have 

 a more or less direct bearing upon the sub- 

 ject under consideration, indicate plainly 

 that yeast cannot be regarded as a reliable 

 remedy against such insects as commonly 

 affect plants cultivated in greenhouses, 

 rooms and parlors. Moreover, it is more 

 than probable that the yeast would injure 

 many kinds of plants, especially those with 

 delicate foliage, by spotting and soiling the 

 leaves, and inducing fungoid growths upon 

 the jars or soil in which the plants are 

 grown. Indeed, in most greenhouses at 

 the present time, it is not so much a ques- 

 tion of keeping down injurious insects, as 

 it is the suppression of molds and mildews 

 of various kinds. The verbena rust only 

 need be named as an illustration of this 



point." 



♦ — ♦ 



FOOD HABITS OF THE LONGICORN BEETLES OR 

 WOOD BORERS. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



(Continued from p. 239..^ 



LAMIID..E. 



Monilema. The species of this genus are reported 

 to feed on various species of Prickly Pear, 

 and it might be inferred, therefore, that the 

 larvfE live on the roots of these plants. 



Psenocerus super)iotatus (Say), is the "American 

 Currant Borer" (Fitch, 3rd Rep., pp. 98- 

 105) ; bores also in branches of Apple trees 

 (Packard Guide, p. 500). 



Monohanimus titillalur {OWv.), boring in the bark 



of Pinus sylvestris at St. Louis, the perfect 

 insect appearing May 21st (C. V. Riley). 



Moitohammns scuilcllatus (Say), boring in pine 



wood in a similar manner to M. coitfusor 



(Fitch, 4th Rep., pp. 24-25). 

 Monohanimus confusor Kirby, boring cylindrical 



holes in the interior of the wood of pine 



trees, chieHy of decaying and dead trees 



(Fitch, 48th Rep., pp. 21-24). 

 Dorcaschema ivildii Uhler. 

 Dorcaschema alternatum (Say). These two species 



occur on Mulberry and Osage Orange, and 



the larvae live, no doubt, in the roots of 



these plants (C. V. Riley). 

 Dorcaschema nigrum (Say), breeds in Hickory 



(Dr. F. Hadge. Buffalo, N. Y., teste A. S. 



Fuller). 

 Hetamis cinen'a (0\iv.). On A/orus rubia (Halde- 



mann, Tr. Am. Phil. Soc, X, 54). 

 Goes tigrinus (De G.), greatly injuring Hickory 



trees by boring in the green wood (Fitch, 1st 



Rep., pp. 146-151 ; 3d Rep. pp, 120-121). 



Goes pulcher (Hald.). " Scarce, but a few are 

 found every season in the Shag-bark and 

 Pignut hickory, June and July" (Dr. T. 

 Hadge, Buffalo, N. Y., teste A. S. Fuller). 



Goes pulverulentus (Hald.). "This insect is very 

 destructive to living Beech trees. It bores 

 into those branches which are about three 

 inches in diameter. The length of the chan- 

 nel is about eight inches" (Dr. G. H. Horn, 

 Proc. Ent. Soc, Phil. I., pp. 43-44. 



Goes debilis Lee. " Very bad in trunks of 

 Swamp Oak " (C. V. Riley) ; bores the Oak, 

 especially unhealthy trees (Dr. F. Hadge, 

 Buffalo, N. Y., teste A. S. Fuller) ; is no 

 doubt a borer in the trunk of White Oak 

 (Fitch, 5 Rep., p. 12). 



Plcctrodcra scalator (Fabr.). Breeds in the Wil- 

 low, especially the smaller species growing 

 along the banks of streams in the Western 

 States (C. V. Riley) ; bores in the roots and 

 lower part of the trunk of Cottonwood trees 

 in Te.\as (E. A. Schwarz). 



Acantlioderes \-gibhus (Say),* bores in dead twigs 

 of Oak, Beech, Hackberry (Schwarz). 



Leptostylus aculifer (Say). The larva bores into 

 oaks and occasionally apple trees (A. E., L, 

 p. 225) ; working under the bark of apple 

 trees, making broad, irregular burrows, 

 causing the bark to raise, discolor and die. 

 Also reported from Tallahassee, Indian Ter- 

 ritory, as boring in Osage Orange (C. V. 

 Riley). 



Leptostylus ii'ustus (Lee), bred from a dried up 

 pomegranate (Tallahassee, Florida ; C. V. 

 Riley). 



Leptostylus commixtus (tiaXA.), the larva probably 

 having the same habits as L, aculifer (Fitch, 

 4th Rep., p. 26). 



Leptostylus macula (Say), larva under the bark of 

 old decaying Butternut trees (Fitch, 3d 

 Rep., p. 144). 



Steritidius alpha (Say), boring in dead apple twigs, 

 the perfect insect issuing in May (C. V. 

 Riley). 



* The larva of the South Americtn species, Stirostoma de- 

 presstitn, which we lately received from Param. Brazil, Is re- 

 pnrted to be very injurious to the Cocoanut tree by boring in 

 the stem. 



