334 



nary lines, -^vhicli are as follows: From au oclierous spot at base, representing tli 

 half line, a baud extends along the costa to the broad, even, upright t. a. line : Th< 

 t. p. line is geminate, making it appear twice as broad as the t. a. line, the interven- 

 ing space between the double line being yellowish ; it is broad at costa and bent pos- 

 teriorly, forming au acute Tnit rounded angle beyond thb cell, and a trifle incurved 

 along its inner bend ; a line extends from the elbow to the s. t. line, which runs very 

 close to the outer margin, starting from the costa a little before the apex and gradu- 

 ally Hearing the margin until upon the submedian vein it sometimes becomes coinci- 

 dent with it: there is also a narrow terminal line, and the space between it and the 

 snbterminal is also yellowish: fringes at the apex, with an ocherous interline: reni- 

 form spot indicated by a small blackish dot. Secondaries yellowish-white, glisten- 

 ing. Benea.th, primaries smoky, with narrow white margins: secondaries white. 

 Abdomen white, with a yellowish tinge. 

 Habitat. — Argus Mountains. Taken April, 18111, by Mr. Koebele. 



Described from three specimens. The species is most nearly related 

 to (limidiata in body structure and wing form, Init quite different in 

 ornamentation. 



THE RED-LEGGED FLEA-BEETLE. 



{Crepidodera rufipes L.) 

 ITS INJURY TO ORCHARD TREES IN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. 



On April 11 of the present year the Secretary of Agriculture referred 

 to the Division the following letter: 



Coleman's Falls, Va., April 9, 1S9S. 

 Sir : I have had over 1,000 peach, pear, and plnm trees entirely denuded of all 

 blossoms and buds, both active and dormant, in less than forty-eight hours by a flea- 

 beetle whose attack I have not been able to arrest up to the present writing. If 

 you can send an agent to study habits and remedies in the interest of horticulture 

 I will extend hospitality, force-pumps, labor, etc., necessary to his purpose. 

 Respectfully, 



Geo. E. Murrell. 



No specimens accompanied this communication, but the insect attack 

 therein described appeared to be of sufficient importance to call for 

 further investigation. We therefore instructed Mr. E. A. Schwarz to 

 proceed as soon as practicable to Mr. Murrell's place to learn all he 

 could about the injury. This he has done and we append his report. 



REPORT OF E. A. SCHWARZ. 



Mr. Murrell's farm at Coleman's Falls is situated at the base of a high spur of the 

 Bine Ridge Mountains. The numerous narrow valleys in this section of the country 

 are separated from each other by rather flat-topped ridges, which are usually covered 

 with amagnificeift growth of chestnut trees. Black locust trees (Jiobinia pseiidacacia) 

 are very rarely met with in the chestnut forest on these ridges, though they are 

 common to the valleys along the roads and fields as well as on the edge]of the forest. 

 If, however, the chestnut trees on the ridge be cut down, they are speedily succeeded 

 by a dense growth of shrubbery mostly composed of Rolnnias. 



The insect invasion presently to bedescribed took place on the top of one of these 

 ridges which years ago had been cleared, and where for a number of years oats 

 and other tiekl crops had been cultivated. Six years ago this cultivation had been 

 abandoned, and the clearing was overrun with locust bushes. In the month of 

 March, of the present year, Mr. Murrell had this shrubbery grubbed up, plowed the 



