294 



THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Mandible of 



LithocoUetis gut- 

 tijluitclla. 



MANDIBLE OF LITHOCOLLBTIS &UTTIPIN- 

 ITELLA. 



We give herewith the figure necessary 

 to complete Mr. Chambers's article in the 

 [Fig. 138.] November number, " On the 

 Changes that take place in 

 the Mouth-parts and Legs of 

 some Leaf-mining Lepidop- 

 terous LarvK," and which 

 was unavoidably omitted last 

 month. The figure repre- 

 sents the mandible (with its 

 socket and chitinous sup- 

 ports) of the first five stages of the larva, 

 and is used for comparison with the man- 

 dible of Pliyllocnistis (Fig. 137, p. 261.) 



Excessive Injury by a Beetle in 

 Russia. — We noticed recently the accounts 

 given in Russian newspapers of the mis- 

 chief which is being done by locusts. One 

 of the most destructive insects in South 

 Russia is the beetle called by naturalists 

 Anisoplia austriaca, and by the rural popu- 

 lation of Kherson, Gonzka. This insect 

 first appeared in 1865 in the Melitopol dis- 

 trict, but there is nothing known as to how 

 and whence it came, as it had never been 

 heard of in any other part of Russia or 

 bordering countries. The form of the 

 insect is oblong and slightly convex; it is 

 of the size of a grain of ricinous seed and 

 of a cinnamon color. The change from 

 egg to larva, and from larva to a full-grown 

 beetle, takes nearly two years. The female 

 lays her eggs about two inches deep in the 

 earth, and the grubs, after leaving the 

 eggs, grow very slowly, live the whole win- 

 ter in the earth, finding nourishment in 

 the soil, and then become more developed, 

 but remain as grubs the following summer 

 and winter; then, on the approach of spring, 

 they rise to the surface of the ground, 

 where they accumulate. As many as ten 

 bushels of the beetles have been collected 

 from one acre of wheat. They fly from 

 ear to ear, and do not quit it until it is 

 destroyed. They arc capable of making 

 long flights from one Government to 

 another. Last summer a mass of these 

 beetles was disco\ered in the sea, near 



Ochakoff. They were so thick that it was 

 difficult to pull a boat through them. They 

 were gradually washeti on shore, and the 

 people, instead of taking prompt measures, 

 allowed them to remain there. When at 

 last they recognized the danger with which 

 they were menaced, persons were sent with 

 horses, casks, etc., to destroy them, but it 

 was too late; about three-fourths had re- 

 covered strength and flown into the neigh- 

 borhood to form a new generation in that 

 district. The British Vice-Consul at Nico- 

 laieff reports that unless efficient measures 

 are adopted it is probable that all agricul- 

 tural Russia will eventually become the 

 prey of these insects, causing privations 

 hitherto little known in the country. He 

 considers that the subject demands the 

 serious attention of Europe, as Russia sup- 

 plies so many countries with wheat, and her 

 misfortune may raise the price of American 

 produce. 



Mr. Charles A. Green remarks the Colo- 

 rado beetle s evident dislike of potato tops 

 grotaii in the shade. I have observed the 

 same thing — a row only partially shaded by 

 apple trees being wholly untouched, while 

 others alongside of them are eaten badly. 

 I have supposed that the absence of sun- 

 light renders the foliage of less agreeable 

 flavor, and that after the fully exposed 

 rows are defoliated the enemy will attack 

 the less palatable supply. I notice also 

 that the beetle has preferences in respect to 

 varieties, A row of White Elephant is left 

 almost untouched, while a row of Early 

 Ohio alongside of it is covered with the 

 destroying insects. — ^V. Y. Weekly Tribune. 



Chemical Change in the Color (ik 

 BuTTERFLY-wiN(;s. — Mr. \V. H. Edwards, 

 of Coalburgh, ^V. Va., communicates to 

 Psyche for July an interesting experience 

 as to the effect of carbolic acid on the 

 color of Li?nenitis, from which it appears 

 that rich purple is changed to metallic 

 blue or even green by this acid. This 

 would seem to prove the correctness of 

 Mr. Dimmock's conclusions that the colors 

 in the wings of insects are pigments. 



