151 



Study of sexual characters in Scolytidw. — During the latter i>art of 

 July aud the first of this mouth I have been engaged in a systematic 

 study of the sexual characters of species in the family Scolytidte, which 

 has resulted in the discovery of some new and interesting facts that 

 I will refer to in a paper before Section F. 



Conclusion. — In conclusion, I may say that at the close of this year 

 I realize more than ever the importance of confining my energies as 

 far as possible to one or two restricted linos of research. Owing to the 

 fact that the products of the forests of West Virginia are among her 

 principal natural resources, and that forestry, under some organized 

 system of management, will become necessary in the future, I have 

 felt that the study of forest and shade tree insects is the line demand- 

 ing especial attention in our State. 



1 realize that I have a diflicult and endless task before me in the 

 study of this class of insects, and that considerable preliminary work 

 on the obscure habits of many of the species must be done before the 

 best results can be obtained, but at the same time it is a line rich in 

 opportunities for original work, and in possibilities for doing present 

 aud future good in promoting the interests of forestry. 



Mr. Smith referred to the melon aphis which had been abundant and 

 destructive in New Jersey during the season. He has found Coccinel- 

 lidne in great numbers, but helpless as against the rapid increase of 

 the lice. He has seen them, however, where there were half a dozen 

 or more species at work cleaning them out completely. This was later 

 in the season and the damage was done. Behind the ladybirds the 

 vines were clear of aphides, but curled, withered, dry, and blackened, 

 the fruit sparse, undersized, and dirty — unsalable, in short. Way in 

 advance were the aphides attacking new vines. He had noticed that 

 the Coccinellids and their larvae exercised a nice discrimination, feed- 

 ing on healthy lice only and leaving those that were parasitized or 

 killed by fungus disease. 



Concerning Phymatodes variabilis, he had made a number of obser- 

 vations in Ocean County early in the season, examining piles of cord 

 wood. It is extremely abundant in wood that has been cut one entire 

 year, and the larvfe work between bark and sap wood in such num- 

 bers as to loosen it, from which the woodmen call them "bark slippers." 

 Sometimes the larvoe bore into the solid wood quite deeply and the 

 pui)a forms wherever the larva has been feeding. He has never found 

 them in the bark, but this may be because there was not enough of it. 



Mr. Hopkins said that in bark of two or three inches thickness pupfc 

 were occasionally found entirely within the bark and not between the 

 bark and the wood. 



Mr. Smith further discussed the Sciara mentioned by Mr. Hopkins 

 as breeding in mushroom beds and manure, stating that he had found 



