27 



destroys tho whole first crop of leaxes on nearly every tree in the val- 

 ley. April 30, ISDl, MCiuiy every Cottonwood presented a thoroujjhly 

 hlisteri'd appeiirance, caused by the in»idc of almost every leaf on the 

 tree having been entirely eaten out, leaving the blistered-like skins 

 of the leaves alone on the trees. This appearance continued for a couple 

 of weeks until tlie trees gradually put forth a whole new cro}) of leaves. 

 The second cro[) of leaves was but little infested this year, though lam 

 told that in some years tliey also are nearly destroyed. I was unable 

 to breed this miner. 



The vine leaf hopper has been studied. Eggs deposited singly, last 

 of April, beneath skin of leaf, marl^ed by a minute globule of exuded 

 sap. Hatched last of May or first of June. Kerosene emulsion on the 

 y^oung hoppers, diluted fifteen times, proved effective ; I. X. L. com- 

 pound only partially so. 



Owing to a misunderstanding of one of the names in this paper a 

 slight discussion on the habits of Aleochara followed. 



Mr. Schwarz considered the larva of these beetles not to be true para- 

 sites, but simply predatory. 



Mr. Fletcher had bred larvae of this genus from puparia of the cab- 

 bage maggot, in which no holes of egress or ingress could be discovered, 

 and considered them to be true parasites. 



Mr. Schwarz said that Mr. Coquillett had noticed the larva of Aleo- 

 Ghara enter the puparia of AntJiomyia, and stated, moreover, thac the 

 beetle larva has no approach to the parasitic habitus. 



Mr. Southwick mentioned the occurrence of mites upon Scarites suh- 

 terraneus. 



]\[r. Webster mentioned the abundance of Uropoda americana at Co- 

 lumbus, on Diabrotica and a large number of other insects. 



Mr. Alwood and Mr. Atkinson spoke of the abundance of beetle 

 mites in their localities. 



Mr. Smith read the following paper : 



NOTES ON BLACKBERRY BORERS AND GALL MAKERS. 



By JouN 15. Smith, New Brunstvick, N. J. 



Blackberries are raised in Xew Jersey on a very large scale, and 

 near Hammonton, in Atlantic Cointy, several hundreds of acres are 

 devoted to this fruit. After many trials, the "Early Wilson" was 

 selected by growers as the most satisfactory' variety for size, flavor, 

 date, and shipping qualities, and it forms the bulk of the crop. A few 

 other varieties are raised to extend the season ; but the " Wilson" is 

 the staple. Unfortunately it adds to its many excellent qualities that 

 of extreme susceptibility to insect attack, and of all the varieties grown 

 in New Jersey this only is killed down in a few years unless carefully 

 looked after. 



