Mesograpta polita, Say. 



Egg. — The egg, accordiug to Mr. Ashmead, is pure white, elongate-oval, with lon- 

 gitudinal and intersecting cross-line? or grooves, not apparent to the naked eye. It 

 measures nearly 1""" in length. 



jAirva. — Average length about 7'"'". Slender, subcylindrical, tapering anteriorly, 

 its posterior end slightly flattened. The whole body is divided by apparently 36 an- 

 nula?, and its surface is closely granulated. Mandibles black. The last segment 

 bears the two short, stout, polished, dark-yellow spiracular tubes, each with 3 spiracles 

 at the tip. Color pale yellowish, or more or less of the color of the pollen, with 2 

 medio-dorsal, slender, somewhat wavy purple lines, which start conjointly on the first 

 segment, diverging but slightly posteriorly, and terminating on the anterior portion 

 of the penultimate segment, which latter is marked iu addition with 4 somewhat red- 

 dish and squarish spots, arranged in transverse square. 



Pupariiim. — Length 5'""* to 7™"". Clavate subcylindrical, slightly curved, its an- 

 terior end thickest and rounded. The posterior end has a median carina and rather 

 sharp lateral edges and more or less flattened ventral side. The last segment bears 

 the two spiracular tubes with black spiracles, the upper one of which is smallest and 

 round, whilst the two other larger ones, which are placed close above each other, are 

 transversely oval. 



Color greenish or brownish yellow, marked often with a more or less distinct 

 dusky median, an interrupted subdorsal, and a lateral line. The median line is gen- 

 erally present only along the posterior carina. 



Imago. — Average expanse 14™'", average length 8™'". Eyes brown. Face of male 

 entirely yellow ; of female, with a broad, somewhat dusky stripe above antennte. 

 Face of both sexes in a certain light beautifully pearlaceous. The upper posterior 

 margin of the head yellow, with yellow hairs. Cheeks whitish, with silvery hairs. 

 Antennte more or less dark orange, with their upper edge in the female somewhat 

 dusky ; bristle black. Thorax dusky, often with a brownish tinge and grayish me- 

 dian line. Scutellum and halt eres, bright yellow. Metathorax, black. Sternum, 

 blackish, with pearlaceous reflections. Legs and a large lateral spot below wings 

 yellow. Abdomen banded with yellow and black, and with a pair of large, some- 

 what oval yellow spots on segments 3 and 4. Wings clear, iridescent, without spots 

 or other markings. 



THE WILLOW-SHOOT SAW-FLY. 



{Phylloecus integer I'J'orton.) 



By C. v. Riley. 



[Order Hymenoptera: Family Urocerid.e. ] 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



For several years past this species has been known to damage the 

 young shoots of the diiferent species of Willow and occasionally also 

 those of Populus nigra, or Italian Poplar, on the Agricultural Grounds 

 at Washington, but as the damage done was of no serious consequence 

 it attracted only casual attention. Lately, however, its ravages have 

 become of a serious nature with those engaged in the cultivation of wil- 

 lows for market purposes, and particularly on the plantation of Admi- 

 ral Ammen,at Ammendale Md. ; but the author of the mishief escaped 

 notice and its work was attributed to Cimhex americana till in June, 

 1886, steps were taken to investigate the habits of Gimbex americana 



