350 



Texas, according to Mr. Mitchell, from Kansas and Indian Territory, and are known 

 by the appellation of the "Third Party Fly." An interesting point in connection 

 with this geographical distribution is that the slight wound made by the flies or by 

 the cattle in their efforts to allay the irritation of the bite affords a spot of entrance 

 to the Screw Worm. 



A North American Chalcidid in England and the "West Indies. — We have 

 received from Mr. A. J. Tillson, of the Department of Agricnlture of the Leeward 

 Islands, St. Johns, Antigua, specimens of Sjniochalcis mariw (Riley) which had issued 

 from cocoons of Aitacus cynthia received from England. The parasites must have 

 attacked the larva in England and the species has undoubtedly been introduced into 

 England by English entomologists (perhaps by M. Alfred Wailly), in their importa- 

 tions of American silk worms. 



The Jamaica Ephestia. — In a previous number of Insect Life we referi-ed to the 

 fact that the Mediterranean Flour Moth {Epliestia kiihmdUi) had been found at 

 Kingston, Jamaica, by Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell. Recently Mr. Cockerell has written 

 us that he has sent specimens of the moth to M. Ragonot, of Paris, who determines 

 the species as E. desueiella Walker, and that it is, therefore, not kUhniella as Mr. Cock- 

 erell had previously supposed. 



A New Enemy to Prune Trees in California. — Mr. D. W. Coquillett has sent us 

 specimens of Eiirymctopon cuUudriciim Casey, which he received from Mr. Geo. E. 

 Stewart, of Nordhoff", Gal., through Mr. J. F. Mclutire, one of the County Horticul- 

 tural Commissioners, of Ventura County, and which Mr. Stewart states were found 

 upon prune trees, the leaves of which they had eaten to some extent. This beetle 

 belongs to the family Tenebrionidai and this habit has not, we believe, been pre- 

 viously recorded. 



A California Scarabaeid on Plum.— Mr. Alva A. Eaton sends us Irom Riverdale, 

 Cal., a specimen of Serica nntliraclna Lee, a small brown Scarabaeid beetle, with the 

 statement that it feeds on the foliage of Plum. 



Larvae supposed to have fallen during a Shower. — We have received from Mr. 

 James Fletcher, Entomologist to the Dominion of Canada, Ottawa, specimens of 

 a Carabid larva probably belonging to the genus Patrobus which he had received 

 from Cleveland, Ohio, and which was said to have fallen in large numbers in a 

 shower during the latter part of March or early part of April. This supposition 

 was in all pi'obability erroneous, as these laiva*, from their known habits, had 

 probably issued from the ground during the rain storm. 



Damage by May Beetles. — Mr. W. C. Brass, oif Carlisle, Ark., writes us that 

 April 7 and April 16 lai'ge swarms, comprising millions of May beetles, appeared in 

 the vicinity of Carlisle. The nursery of Mr. Thomas Marson was com^iletely stripped 

 of leaves, while in a patch of woods south of the nursery the trees were entirely 

 defoliated and presented a wintry appearance. The wood patch was a mile in 

 length and one-fourth or one-half mile in width. The Oaks and Sweet Gums were 

 most affected, although Elm, Maple, and Hickory were also attacked. Specimens 

 received later from Mr. Brass show that the species were Lachnosterna micans and 

 L. nova. 



Birds Eating the Catalpa Sphinx. — Mr. Ben M. Hagey, of Paragould, Ark., 

 writes us that the Sphinx caialpw is very numerous the present season in his vicinity, 

 and that the only birds which he has found feeding upon the larvte are the common 

 Catbird and Baltimore Oriole. 



