57 



seek winter quarters in our houses. Of course specimens may also be found occa- 

 sionally hibernating under bark or other suitable places out-doors. * * * — [April 

 3, 1885.] 



Prior Issuing of the Male Sex of Cimbex. 



* * * Let me add that I was greatly interested in your account of Cimbex 

 americaiia. Some seven or eight years ago I had about a pint of the cocoons, ob* 

 tained from between the roots of the weeping willow above ground and among 

 the leaves on the ground. There were more there; I raised them. Think I got 

 nearly 200 imagos, and was surprised that, with the exception of two or three indi- 

 viduals, the first 80 that came out were males. I used a large empty aquarium for 

 the hatchery, and the show made was fine. — [Sam'l Lock wood, Freehold, N. J., March 

 31, 1885. 



Work of the Bronzy Cut-worm in Missouri. 



I mail you, simultaneously with this, box containing the larva of some insect f prob- 

 ably ) that has at this date denuded the Timothy grass of its seed, holds it like a coon 

 in its fore feet while it eats and then drops the empty shell. It has now stripped 

 nearly every head in our extensive meadows. I find this morning a small, quick- 

 flying miller in the grass which I can not catch and do not know as it is related to 

 these worms. Please determine its species and give us its life-history if you can. — 

 {A. D. Thomas, Terre Haute, Palmyra County, Mo., June 24, 1887. 



Reply. — » * * ^he worms which you sent belong to the species known com- 

 monly as the Bronzy Cut-worm (Nephelodes violans). This is a species which has 

 seldom been recorded as doing much damage. It was noticed by Professor Riley in 

 1871 in Missouri, and in 1881 it did considerable damage in northern New York. It 

 is a very widespread species, and is found in all of the United States east of the Rocky 

 Mountains. The worm does most of its damage in May and June, and enters the 

 ground to trausform to pupa towards the middle or the latter part of June. It re- 

 mains in this condition until autumn, when the moth makes its appearance. Where 

 a field has been badly damaged it will be a good plan to plow it over in July or 

 August and expose the pupa to the heat of the sun and to flocks of chickens and 

 turkeys. This is the only remedy which is like to prove efficacious.— [July 19, 1887. ] 



The Bamboo Sinoxylon. 



Inclosed in glass bottle you will find some curious beetles which were found bor- 

 ing into and apparently living upon an ornamental bamboo box placed' on a table in 

 one of the rooms ; no indication of their presence was noticed until on lifting the lid 

 the fine powder from their borings was seen, and on a slight shake numbers of the 

 creatures were dislodged and moving about quickly. Under a magnifying glass their 

 curious figures are quite interesting to watch. Any information you may see fit to 

 forward will be awaited with interest.— [A. L. Townsend, box 246, New York, N. Y., 

 January H, 1888. 



Reply.— Y'our letter of the 8th instant, inclosing specimens of insects found boring 

 into an ornamental bamboo box, has been duly received. The insect in question is 

 one of the wood-boriug beetles of the genus Sinoxylon and belongs to a species which, 

 although uudetermined is frequently found in bamboo canes and boxes from China 

 and East India. It is closely allied to a species found in Florida and it has similar 

 habits. These insects are slow of development and indeed may remain in a state of 

 retarded development for a number of years. If you wish to completely disinfect 

 your box you can do so by pouring upon it a little bisulphide of carbon.— [January 

 16, 1888.] 



The Western Cricket in 1887. 



I hear that "grasshopper locusts" have been very destructive this year in the 

 Greenhorn district, on the border of Pueblo and Huergano Counties, but I have not 



