330 



Does the domestic fly pass through the winter in the adult state only ? * * * — 

 [W. L. Jones, Georgia, March 1, 1892. 



Reply. — * * * Tj^p main facts in the life history of the Mosquito are as follows : 

 The eggs are laid in boat-shaped masses upon the surface of usually more or less 

 stagnant water, and the larvse, commonly known as " wigglers," are aquatic. Their 

 development is rapid, and with one species at least it has been ascertained that the 

 entire life-r(mnd from egg to adult is undergone in less than two weeks. There are, 

 therefore, several annual generations. The insects hibernate as adults, and possibly 

 in some one of the other stages. It must be remembered that in speaking of the 

 Mosquito we are using a comprehensive term which includes many distinct species, 

 the natural history of which undoubtedly varies to some extent. The most impor- 

 tant work to be done in the way of prevention consists in the draining of the swamps 

 and stagnant ponds where possible, the treatment by kerosene of restricted bodies of 

 stagnant water which can not be drained, and the introduction of fish into Ashless 

 ponds where these insects are breeding. These are methods which will tend to the 

 reduction of the uundjer of mosquitoes in many restricted localities, but there are 

 many other localities in which these means are not practicable. In such cases we 

 must attack the adult insects. The best thing to do in the house, after screening 

 the windows thoroughlj^ is to burn pyrethrum powder and sweep uji the stupefied 

 insects as they fall to the floor. 



In ;inswer to your question as to the hibernation of the domestic fly, I may state 

 that it hibernates exceptionally in both the larva and pupa, but chiefly in the adult 

 state.— [March 3, 1892.] 



Is the Ground-beetle, Scarites suMerranens, herbivorous? 



Will you kindly inform me if the ground-beetle, Scarites suMerraneus Fab., has 

 ever been considered a vegetable-eater? 1 have always supposed it to be carnivorous 

 in habit, and was greatly surprised to find a specimen deej)ly imbedded in a potato 

 one day last fall. About 300 hills of potatoes were i)lauted as an experiment on low, 

 Avet land, and while the crop was as large as expected, but few potatoes were ob- 

 tained, owing to the ravages of wire worm. It may be that the Scarites was after 

 one of the wire- worms. — [Lewis E. Hood, Massachusetts, February 17, 1892. 



Reply. — # * * Your experience with Scarites suhterraneus is very interesting. 

 So far as I know, this species has never been recorded as having the vegetable-feed- 

 ing liabit. Several Carabids feed exceptionally upon vegetable material, and it 

 would not be surprising if this species should occasionally be found to have this 

 habit. I think, however, that your supposition that the specimen which you found 

 was searching for wire-worms is more plausible than to suppose that it was making 

 a meal of the potato. — [February 19, 1892.] 



The so-called California "Wine Bee. " 



Will you kindly furnish me with anything you may have in the way of information 

 in regard to a bee called the " California wine bee?" — [H. W. Bausch, Ohio, March 

 10, 1892. 



Reply. — You probably refer to a ferment which, when introduced into the proper 

 liquid, produces a weak alcoholic liquor variously styled as "wine, " "beer," etc. 

 This same subject was brought to my attention a short time since, and the liquor was 

 said to be due to the action of certain animals ( ?) called " California bees," and prob- 

 ablj' your wine bee is the same thing. In the case just mentioned the liquor was 

 made by taking cold water, sweetened with either brown sugar or molasses, and add- 

 ing to it some of the ferment or "mother." This latter assumes various globular 

 shapes, and these bodies, during the action of the ferment, move about in the liquid 

 and are the so-called bees. After about forty-eight hours the liquor becomes what is 

 styled beer or wine, and can be drawn off" and a new supply of sweetened water 

 added.— [March 14, 1892.] 



