169 



The neighboring patches of the Messrs. Phillips also showed consid- 

 erable damage. A patch composed of " Crescents," a pistillate or im- 

 perfect-bearing variety, with occasional rows of "Sharpless" plants 

 interspersed for fertilization, was damaged about 15 per cent. A second 

 bed composed of staminate plants was about half destroyed, and a 

 third bed of "Wilsons," a full-flowered or perfect variety like the 

 " Sharpless," was damaged to nearly the same extent. 



The insects were also found at work at Carlin Springs, two miles east 

 of Falls Church, 



Mr. G. W, Donaldson, of " Dixie Landing," Va., a few miles from 

 Washington, reported injury to his berries, but when his place was 

 visited, June 6, the beetles of both broods had practically disappeared 

 from the strawberry beds as none were to b e seen on the few plants 

 still flowering at this time. His crop of " Sharpless " berries was nearly 

 all destroyed, "Wilsons" damaged about one- third, while no injury 

 was perceptible on " Mt. Vernon" and "Crescent" varieties. The 

 strawberries on the adjoining farm of W. C. Donaldson, had been simi- 

 larly attacked, ^o damage had been noticed the previous year. 



Since this paper was prepared for the press Mr. M. H. Beckwith has 

 published a short article on this species in Bulletin xviii of the Dela- 

 ware Experiment Station, in which he reports injuries to strawberries 

 in the vicinity of the towns of Dover, Hartley, Camden, Wyoming, 

 Smyrna, and Clayton, Delaware. Specimens were kept under observa- 

 tion by him and the adults bred, but no new points in the insect's life- 

 history were developed. Mr. Beckwith's statement that the beetles 

 were found on young peach trees in September is significant, and I 

 would not be surprised to learn that the insect breed s in the buds of 

 peaches and other Eosaceje, whose blossoms furnish the requisite con- 

 ditions for its development. Mr. Beckwith states that the reared beetles 

 mated but no eggs were found, duplicating our own observations, with 

 the exception that although the insects apparently paired, actual cop- 

 ulation did not take place in our breeding cages. As to his surmise 

 that there are probably two and possibly three broods during the sea- 

 son the investigations this year indicate that the insect is normally 

 single brooded. The occurrence of this species later than July has also 

 been noted by Dr. John Hamilton {Ganadian Entomologist, vol. xxiv, 

 p. 41), who states that specimens may be found throughout the season. 

 These late occurrences are probably quite rare and do not necessarily 

 point to a second annual generation. 



Other Gases of local Damage. — From information kindly communicated 

 by Mr. Sprankle concerning local injuries it would seem that the rav- 

 ages of this strawberry pest have been widespread through Alexandria 

 and Fairfax counties. A few facts with regard to some of the many 

 cases reported by him are here repeated. 



Mr. E. C. Walker had noticed the insect and its work in his straw- 

 berry beds for four or five years past, but had not observed any injury 



