396 



another food-plaut. It is not, however, as destructive as its congener. We have no 

 specimens of the larva of C. 12-punctatus, but. these will doubtless be found upon as- 

 paragus at this time or a little later. Can you not ask your neighbor, Mr. Veach, to 

 look out for them and send specimens to lis? — [June 7, 1892.] 



A Wood-borer mistaken for a Household Pest. 



A number of our good people have brought me specimens of the Clytus, and in awe 

 have complained of their houses being overrun with the beetle. In every case I 

 have found on inquiry that the family was in the habit of having open wood fires, 

 usually Hickory, and that the beetle was usually more a)>undant in the room in which 

 the fireplace was located. This I think explains the occurrence of the " borers." — 

 [Chas. C. Beach, M. D., Connecticut, April 22, 1892. 



Reply. — Your note relative to the issuing of "Clytus" {Cyllene picta) from the 

 Hickory pile is interesting, but the same thing is frequently called to my attention 

 by correspondents. The appearance of these insects in the house is frequently con- 

 sidered a great mystery. — [April 25, 1892.] 



A nevr Fruit Pest — Sytuta alhida Lee. 



We inclose under separate cover some specimens of an insect that is very numerous 

 here this season, though they have been here for several years. They attack the 

 foliage and blossoms of nearly all the fruit trees, though they are not so bad on peach 

 trees as on cherries and apples. They are on hand as soon as the buds open and 

 continue to work, cutting the stems of the fruit about half through, as the inclosed 

 specimens show. We think of spraying for them with Paris green if they do not 

 soon disappear. Will you kindly examine the inclosed specimens and advise us of 

 the best course to pursue and the treatment which will probably be most eft'ective. 

 A sudden jar of an infested tree causes a shower of them to fiill to the ground with 

 Avings spread, where they immediately begin to fold their wings under the cases and 

 crawl to shelter, in a short time finding their way on the trees ngaiu, though they do 

 not readily take flight. — [Seth Lewelling & Co., Oregon, April 29, 1892. 



Reply. — The insect which you send is one of the leaf-beetles (Chrysonielida^) known 

 as Syneta alhida, concerning the habits of which wo have previously known almost 

 nothing. It has never been brought to the attention of economic entomologists 

 before as a specially injurious species, and your letter, therefore, is of great interest. 

 The early stages of the insect are not known. As the beetles fall so readily a great 

 many could be destroyed by jarring them from tlie trees upon sheets saturated with 

 kerosene, or if you spray your trees with Paris green or London purple in the propor- 

 tion of 1 pound of the poison to 250 gallons of water (300 for peach) you will be able 

 to destroy them with less trouble. I shall be glad to hear from you as to whether 

 this damage is at all common in your State or vicinity, or is it confined locally to your 

 orchards? -[May 7, 1892.] 



On the Date of Introduction of the Potato Tuber-moth. 



I found the larva of the Potato Tuber-moth, which is described in the current 

 volume of Insect Life (pp. 239-242), in potatoes jnirchased in the market at Los 

 Gatos, Cal., the last week in June in 1888. I was a stranger to the country and as 

 the larva was strange to me I did not know how common it might be in California. 

 Not a large number were found, but a few were discovered while preparing the 

 potatoes for food. They were doubtless the same as those described, for I observed 

 them closelj' at the time and my recollection agrees exactly with both the illustra- 

 tion and description given. — [William L. Drew, Iowa, April 21, 1892. 



