360 



Osage orauge; Parlatorla sp., on date palm imported from Africa; Lccaniiim olew, on 

 oleander and ou peach and apricot Avhen growing near oleander ; Aspidiotus sp., on 

 lilac; Tavhardia larrea', on Larrea mexicaua ; Diaspisrosu', on roses; Lecanium phora- 

 dendri, on Phoradendron flavescens; Diaspis cacti, on Opiintia arbor enctns, and also 

 quite a number of scales unknown to Professor Tourney on native plants. 



Larvae in Mincemeat. — We have recently received from a firm of consiilting 

 chemists in New York specimens of larvie found in commercial mincemeat sent 

 them for examination by clients of theirs who are large manufacturers of this arti- 

 cle. The larviv were those of a species of Drosophila, the eggs of which may have 

 been laid in the fruit used iu the mincemeat before manufactui'e, or in the finished 

 product itself if the adult flies had access to it at any time. Later we received 

 direct from the same manufacturers other specimens of larvfe found in currants, 

 but these, upon examination, proved to be the larv;e of the Indian-meal moth, 

 Flodia interpiincteUa Hiibn. 



A Lachnosterna damaging Wheat in Texas. — During the past season we 

 received from two sources specimens of Lachnosterna cribrosa Lee, with the report 

 that the insect was doing great damage to Avheat in Baylor County, Tex. They were 

 reported by Judge J. G. Kenan to have first made their appearance in small num- 

 bers four years ago. They increased gradually, until the present j'ear they devoured 

 several crops of wheat. They make their appearance early in spring, hide under 

 ground during the middle of the day, and late in the afternoon come out and feed. 

 The insect is one of the wingless May beetles, and the outbreak is similar to that 

 mentioned by Comstock in the Annual Report of this Department for 1879 (p. 2i7), 

 Lachnosterna furcta having been the species concerned iu the earlier instance. 



Spread of Cryptorhynchus lapathi. — This imported European beetle which 

 feeds upon willows and alders and which has heretofore been found in this country 

 only in the vicinity of New York City has been found by Mr. E. E. Fernald, of Bos- 

 ton, Mass., as he reports to us in a recent letter, in large numbers on a willow in his 

 garden at Melrose, Mass. A single specimen, according to Mr. Fernald, was taken 

 at Stonehara, Mass., a mile away, resting xipon a young hickory tree in the woods. 



Ne-w Food-plant for the San Jose Scale. — Prof. A. J. Cook, of Pomona Col- 

 lege, Claremout, Cal., and Mr. W. E. Collins, of Pomona, Cal., have sent us speci- 

 mens of Aspidiotus pernicious upon loquat ( Photinia japonica). 



A new Locality for the Juniper Scale. — In 1880 Prof. J. H. Comstock announced 

 the occurrence of JJiasjyis carneJi Targ. Tozz., on several species of juniper and arbor 

 vit.T, growing iu the Botanical Gardens at Washington, D. C. We have recently 

 received specimens of the same species from Mr. John G. Jack, of Jamaica Plain, 

 Mass., who found them upon a branch of Juniperus sphwrica brought over from Ger- 

 many four or five years ago, "Lately," he writes, "it has become well covered with 

 a species of scale which has also been seen on other junipers, I think, in the same 

 nursery." 



The new Plum Aspidiotus in Illinois. — Mr. W. G. Johnson, of Chamjiaign, 111., 

 has sent us specimens of Mr. Cockerell's recently described Aspidiotus hoicardi, with 

 the information that the species occurs abundantly ujion cherry trees at Champaign. 

 The type specimens were taken upon plum in Colorado by Prof. C. P. Gillette. 



The Florida Red Scale in a Northern Greenhouse. — Mr. George W. Pool, of 

 Gloversville, N. Y., sends us speciiaens of Aspidiotus Jicus which occurred so abun- 

 dantly upon a palm in his greenhouse as to threaten the life of the plant. 



