346 



of these insects. It is advisable at the same time, for greater thor- 

 ouglmess, to fill the floor cracks with plaster paris iu fluid form. After 

 this has "set" it will greatly reduce the number of possible lurking 

 places. The free use of benzine has accomplished immunity from the 

 pest in cases fully as bad as those recounted. 



QUASSIA vs. PETROLEUM FOR THE HOP LOUSE. 



We have received information of late from several correspondents in 

 Oregon and Washington State to the effect that the quassia wash, used 

 by English hop-growers, has proved moreeftective than kerosene emul- 

 sion against the Hop Louse. A company has recently issued a circular 

 extolling the excellence of quassia as a specific against the Hop Louse, 

 and its superiority over the kerosene emulsion. 



We must again reiterate the statement made on page 84 of the cur- 

 rent volume that quassia was carefully tried in our experiments made 

 in 1887 against the Hop Louse, and the result recorded in our Annual 

 Eeport for 1888. When applied pure it kills the lice with which it is 

 brought into direct contact, but owing to the fact that it will not 

 spread, like the kerosene emulsion, it can not be considered as efficient 

 if used alone. 



The reported dissatisfaction with the kerosene treatment is undoubt- 

 edly due to failure to produce a proper emulsion, according to formulae 

 and directions given in Circulars Nos. 1 and 2 of this Division, and 

 moreover, to the fact, probably, that the apiflication was made too late 

 to be of service. 



A WESTERN ENEMY OF THE WHITE-MARKED TUSSOCK MOTH. 



Through the help of Mr. C. W. Woodworth, of the University of Cali- 

 fornia, we hope to make some attempt to bring Ferimegatoma variega- 

 turn to the east this season. This Dermestid beetle is a very efi'ective 

 destroyer of the eggs of the White-marked Tussock moth, and if it can 

 be successfully acclimatized will prove a very valuable insect in many 

 of our Eastern States. 



A NEW COTTON-STAINER IN JAMAICA. 



We have received from Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell specimens of Dysder- 

 €us andrece, with the information that it attacks the bolls of cotton and 

 in the same manner as does D. sutureUns in this country, Cuba, and 

 the Bahamas. It is curious that D. andrece should replace D. suturellus 

 in Jamaica. According to Mr. Cockerell, it is very abundant and prob- 

 ably occurs throughout the island. Eemarks were made upon the 

 damage done by this species to the cotton crop by Dr. Phillipo, at the 

 meeting of the Institute of Jamaica, held December 14, 1891. 



ADDITIONS TO THE INSECT COLLECTION OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM. 



We learn from recent N^ew York i)apers that thd American Museum 

 of Natural History, Central Park, New York, has recently been 



