108 



to the liead, and is yellowish-wliite in color, with the head, thoracic 

 legs, and anal plate brownish. Beneath the last segment is a promi- 

 nent false leg or pro-leg, which is not shown in the drawing. A few 

 scattering hairs occur on the body and a number of longer ones on the 

 border of the anal plate. (See Fig. 5 h.) 



Before transforming the larva contracts very considerably and the 

 posterior portion becomes greatly enlarged. This contraction was 

 already begun in the specimen figured. 



The pupa aftbrds few, if any, characters except that of size to sepa- 

 rate it from the pupa of longicornis. The illustration (Fig. 5 (?) indicates 

 the characters sufBciently well. The wing-pads are, however, too much 

 abbreviated. 



The beetle is too well known to need further description. It is well 

 represented in the accompanying illustration (Fig. 5 e). The colors are 

 black and yellow, or yellowish-green — the latter being the prevailing 

 shade of the wings. 



We have reared two Dii^terous parasites fi'om this insect — one from 

 the larva and pupa, and a Tachinid from the beetle. The larva of the 

 latter escapes from the beetle through the suture between the pro-and 

 meso-sternum. The.puparium is covered with spines. 



A NEW HERBARIUM PEST. 



By C. V. Riley. 



{Carphoxera uov. gen., ptcharia n. sp.) 



In September, 1890, a number of small Geometrid larvae, recalling 

 somewhat in appearance those of the genus Aplodes, were found by the 

 botanists of the Uepartment of Agriculture infesting certain dried 

 plants in the Department herbarium, and especially those which had 

 been received from Mexico and Lower California from Dr. Edward 

 Palmer. Dr. J. N. Rose first observed it in January, 1890, on plants 

 from La Paz, but it was still more abundant in a collection from the 

 State of Ooluma, Mexico, made in the beginning of the present year. 

 The first moth emerged October 22, 1890, and others were subsequently 

 reared from material received from time to time from the Department 

 herbarium. Wliile the larva was first discovered, as stated, on Mexi- 

 can plants, it has not confined its work to such plants, but has spread 

 to others, and is by far the most destructive herbarium pest which the 

 botanists in charge have to deal with. Plants of the genus Coulterella, 

 for example, which were sent by Dr. Rose to Dr. O. Hoffman in Berlin, 

 have been reported as so injured that but one perfect fiower remained; 

 yet, according to the observations of Mr. L. H. Dewey, in overhauling 

 the herbarium, the insect's work is still mostly confined to southwestern 

 plants; after those from Mexico, chiefly those from California. In some 



