278 



noticed that the burrows of the larger borers were all towards the sum- 

 mit of the cane, invariably destroying the terminal joints. The burrows 

 of the Xyleborus on the contrary were in the lowest part of the stem 

 and were recent compared with the tracks of the larger borers in the 

 tops. The canes sent to the Kew Gardens, however, Mr. Blandford 

 surmises, were selected for the purpose of exhibiting this state of affairs 

 and he had no means of telling except from Mr. CouU's statement 

 whether it was common. Mr. Coull, however, did not distinguish be- 

 tween the work of the Diatrjva and the Sphenophorus, nor is it likely 

 to be necessary exce]:)t as regards periods. 



Mr. Coull's observations coincide with what we have suspected to be 

 the true state of affairs, although exceptionally healthy canes may be 

 injured by the Xyleborus. The fact remains, however, that if the more 

 normal nidus is destroyed in the cane fields the insects will either be 

 reduced in numbers or will resort to other normal conditions away from 

 the cane fields rather than take on a perfectly exceptional habit. It 

 is interesting to note that the Xyleborus on arrival were found to have 

 bored entensively into the soft deal boxes in which the sections of cane 

 were sent. 



THE MUSTARD BEETLE IN ENGLAND. 



Our esteemed correspondent, Mr. Fred. Enock, has sent us a little 

 paper published in the U)itomolo[/ist for October, 1892, referring to the 

 extraordinary abundance of Pha'don cochJearkv, commonly known as the 

 Mustard Beetle, in England the present summer. This insect is known 

 as one of the greatest crop pests in England and for fifty years has been 

 increasing and it would be a most undesirable species to introduce into 

 the United States. Both brown and white mustard have been ruined. 

 In one field of white mustard in which the plants were from nine inches to 

 afoothigh, every plant wasfoundto be absolutely swarming with beetles. 

 Mr. Enock, with his customary attention to niinutia?, took the trouble 

 to count the eggs on one plant. The top leaf held 85 eggs, the middle 

 ones about 150 to over 500, while on the lower leaves were no less than 

 700. On reaching the thirty-fifth and last leaf he added up and found 

 that one plant carried 9,234 eggs. It is needless to say that it was not 

 long before the plants were completely skeletonized. The fields as a 

 general thing were small and Mr. Enock suggests as a remedy the use of 

 the sweeping or beating net. He himself collected the beetles by hun- 

 dreds in this way and records the fact that a German saved his crop 

 in this manner. It should be done, however, at the right time, when 

 it will unquestionably pay. 



NEW SPECIES AND GENEEA OF RHYNCHOPHORA.* 



Capt. Casey has recently published another paper of new species and 

 genera of Coleoptera. It is entitled " Coleopterological Notices, IV,'^ 



* Coleopterological Notices, IV. By Thomas L. Casey. Extract from Vol. VI, 

 Annals New York Academy of Sciences, Autjust, 1892. 



