175 



Several varieties of blueberries and liuckleberries ( Vaccinium spp. 

 and Gaijhissucla resinosa) were found to have been attacked by some 

 insect, but the nature of the work in the buds or ripening berries 

 plainly showed that it was not this Anthonoions. I believe it im- 

 possible for this species to breed in these plants. The adult beetles 

 also frequent a number of tlowers besides those already mentioned, 

 among them the Flowering Dogwood {Cornns JioHda) in early May, and 

 Wild Bergamot or Horse-mint (il/owrtr<?«j^s^MZosa) late in June. The 

 beetles were swarming on the last-mentioned plant at this date, but 

 after the first week of July they are seldom met Avith, and it is pre- 

 sumed that they begin to hibernate at this time, as they have not been 

 traced further. 



In past years Dr. Riley found this species in Missouri in July on 

 Grape blossoms and Yucca flowers, and Dr. Hamilton has taken it 

 abundantly on Tilia and Rhus in Pennsylvania {Can. Ent., vol. xxiv, 

 p. 41). 



Diffefences due to Food-plants. — A marked diflereuce is manifest be- 

 tween the immature stages found on Strawberry and Blackberry, and 

 still further variations might be found to exist in individuals living 

 uj)on other i^lants. No differences have been observed among the very 

 young larva' that could be attributed to difference in food-habit, but 

 in more mature larvie and in thepupje a marked dissimilarity in color 

 is apparent. Specimens taken from strawberry buds are of a decided 

 yellow, while those from blackberry are nearly white. 



In the adult beetles bred this year those which first matured average 

 larger, and lighter and brighter colored, and are more distinctly 

 marked on the elytra than such as were bred later.* The differences 

 in adult individuals due to different food-plants have already been 

 mentioned. 



The Speeies doing the Damage. — It will be noticed by comparing the 

 heading of the present article with that used by Dr. Riley in the 1885 

 Report that the species is now referred to as Anthonomus signatus, 

 while in the earlier article it was called niKsculus. This apparent dis- 

 crepancy cannot better be accounted for than by quoting from the 

 original article (p. 280) : " * * * This strawberry pest was referred 

 by Mr. Glover to Anthonomus signatus Say, and a number of our own 

 specimens agree so closely with Say's original description of ^4. signatus 

 as well as with Dr. LeConte's description, that there can hardly be any 

 doubt about the correctness of the determination. A number of other 

 specimens, however, which were sent to Dr. LeConte were returned to 

 us with the determination ^A. musculus Say,' and trusting to Dr. 

 LeConte's authority we have, in our correspondence, referred to this 

 strawberry x^est as A. musculus Say." 



* Note. — Specimens collected at Ithaca, N. Y., years ago are nearly a third larger 

 and much brighter colored than any observed this year about Washington. 

 <)G73— No. 3 3 



