401 



The Bite of the Eatipo. — Another instance of the bito of the New Zealand Katipo 

 comes to us from Mr. K. Allen Wight under date of February 3. An intelligent man 

 from the seacoast, and to whose statement Mr. AVight gives great weight, induced a 

 yello\v-si>otted Katijxt to bite one of his dogs upon the nose. The dog died in four 

 hours. 



Hop Aphis Remedies. — With regard To the comparative value of the quassia solution 

 aud the kerosene emulsion for the Hop Plant-louse mentioned elsewhere in this num- 

 ber, Mr. Springer Goes, of Richlield Springs, N. Y., has Just written us that although 

 he has not had occasion to use either of these mixtures siuce 1887, on account of the 

 fact that the lice have done little damage in central New York, he is convinced from 

 his own experience in that year that the kerosene emulsion is superior to the quassia 

 wash when properly prepared and sufficiently diluted. As Mr. Goes is a practical 

 bop-grower, and with his father works the largest hop yards in central New York, 

 his evidence must carry great weight. 



Early Appearance of Haltica carinata. — Mr. C. H. Kowe writes us from Maiden, Mass., 

 that on March 25, while the weather was quite cold andsnoAV to the depth of six inches 

 was on the ground, Mr. C. J. Tyler, of Geoi-getowu, Mass., found Haltica carinata 

 swarming upon his elm trees. It was evidently a case of mistaken instinct that 

 tempted these little flea-beetles from their hibernating quarters at so early a date. 



Oniscus damaging Plants. — The sow-bugs of the Isopod Crustacean genus Oniscusare 

 occasionally reported as damaging livingvegetation andwehave previously recorded 

 such damage to violets in the Southern States. Mr. A. K. Sluittuck has recently sent 

 us specimens which he found seriously damaging the roots of young rose bushes. 

 The trapping system by means of slices of potato wet with Paris green or a thorough 

 drenching of the soil with a dilute kero.sene emulsion will l)e the best remedies 

 against these creatures. 



The Clover Leaf Weevil in Connecticut. — Mrs. R. H. Russell, of Stratford, Gonn., informs 

 us, under date of May 18, that the Clover Leaf Weevil ( Plii/tonomasjjunctatus) is abun- 

 dant in her vicinity. All of the species which she found, however, were affected by 

 a fungous disease which has been very prevalent in regions infested by this insect. 

 The locality, we believe, is new. 



A deserved Honor. — We are greatly pleased to learn that the University of Heidel- 

 berg has conferred the degree of Doctor Philosophise Naturalis Honoris Causa- upon 

 our fiiend and correspondent, Baron Osten Sacken, who is well known for his studies 

 of Diptera and particularly of the American fauna. 



Cut-worms and Wire-worms. — From Mr. C. F. Barlow, of Canastota, X. Y., we 

 received, in the early part of June, a number of specimens of cut-worms damaging 

 onion fields, which proved to be Aijrotia mesnoria. Similar damage by this same 

 species we have treated in our Annual Report for 1885. Mr. Barlow also sent a 

 numl)er of wire-worms damaging his celery crop. These proved to be Melanotns 

 communis and Agriotes utancus. 



The Asparagus Beetle in New Hampshire. — Mr. C. E. .Jaciuith, of Nashua, N. H., has 

 sent us specimens of the Asi)aragus Beetle (Crioceris asparagi). This is the first 

 record of the occurrence so far north as far as we know. 



Destructive Locusts Reported. — We learn from GardenCity, Kans., the locality of the 

 principal Kansas damage of last season, that the young hoppers are appearing in 

 considerable numbers. We also hear from our correspondent, Mr. F. A. Swinden, 

 Browuwood, Tex., and from one or two other correspondents in Texas, that local 

 species are hatching out in considerable numbers in parts of that State. The siiecies 

 which seems to be most abundant is CaloptenitH diffociitialis. 



A new Peach Pest. — A correspondent in Goodison, Mich., reports that the Otiorhyn- 

 chid species, Anametis grisea, is doing considerable damage to young peach trees in 

 his orchard. The beetles, according to his statement, hide near the surface of the 

 ground during the daytime and eat the bark and also the buds in places duriiig the 

 night. The same species was received in 1882 from Pewaukee, Wis., and was reported 

 as doing similar damage to apple trees. 



