87 



Experiments with bisulphide of carbon show that it will destroy all 

 stages of the insect, eggs, larvsB of all sizes, pupsB, and adults. In- 

 fested beans were also i)laced in hot water, 145° F., for one minute, but 

 neither larvae, pupa?, nor beetles were all killed. 



In reply to a question, Mr. Sliugerland stated that he had not observed 

 the adult weevils feeding in the held while waiting for the develo^iment 

 of the beans. Mr. Smith had kept adults in ajar for six months, and 

 at the end of that time had found adults, larvae, and eggs, the latter 

 glued to the beans. Mr. Lintner called attention to the fact that the 

 larva, before pupating, left the cell in which it had developed and con- 

 structed a second, in which it pupated and from which the adult 

 emerged. 



The following paper was then read : 



DRASTERIA ERECHTEA. 



By M. v. Slingerlaxd. Ifhaca, A". 1'. 



Drasteria erechtea is one of the most common and widely distributed 

 Noctuid moths met with in grass lands. The larvae are loopers, and 

 feed mostly at night, upon the leaves of grass and clover. During 

 1881) over two thousand specimens of Drasteria were taken in six trap 

 lanterns at Ithaca, N. Y. Although not yet recorded as a serious pest, 

 an insect occurring in such large numbers must be a constant drain on 

 the grass crop. During 1891 I therefore bred what I supposed was 

 erechtea, describing all the stages. While critically studying this ma- 

 terial in connection with the trap-lantern specimens, I accidentally dis- 

 covered that my bred specimens were structurally distinct from many 

 of the others, thus indicating that two species had been confused under 

 erechtea. Since, through the kindness of entomologists, I have exam, 

 ined nearly three hundred specimens from all sections of the country- 

 and I am convinced that the heterogeneous material existing in all large 

 collections under the name erechtea is composed of two, about equally 

 common, distinct species. From an exliaustive study of syuonymical 

 nomenclature, I believe these species should be called erechtea Cramer 

 and crassiuscula Haworth, with ochrea and distincta as varieties of the 

 latter. 



I now have a large series of bred specimens of aU. stages of both 

 species. In the egg and early larval stages there are no noticeable 

 specific differences, but the mature larvae of erechtea are less variable, 

 of a more uniform yellowish green instead of reddish brown color, and 

 they have a broad, very distinct, bright yellow substigmatal stripe. 

 By the following tabular statement the moths may best be distin- 

 guished: 



Crassiuscula has the front wings above of either a distinct viola- 

 ceous, brown, or red shade, with the two large dark bands very variable, 



I 



