85 



EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. 



The Strawberry Weevil in Peuusylvania. 



In the inclosed block I seud you a few specimeus of au iusect which is causing a 

 great deal of damage to the strawberry crop in this vicinity. I send a few buds 

 showing how the mischief is done, and up to the present writing about oue-half of 

 the crop has already been destroyed, on some of the stalks not a berry being left. 

 The inclosed specimens were caught yesterday in the act of cutting the stem ; 

 hence I send them to you and would like to know what species of insect it is, and 

 could you suggest a remedy to stop further depredations, as I am auxious to save at 

 least a portion of the crop. The injury amounts to hundreds of dollars on single 

 plantations, at least -so estimated by the number of blossoms cut off, some stalks 

 having only two or three berries left and twenty or thirty blossoms. * * * In 

 1885 this insect made its iirst appearance, but in 1886 it was not uoticed. — [Lawrence 

 J. Krieg, Etna, Allegheny County, Pa., May 2'S, 1887. 



Reply. — Yours of recent date accompanying specimeus of au insect which is damag- 

 ing your strawberry crop has come to hand. This iusect is the destructive Straw- 

 berry Weevil {Anthononms musculus), which I treated at some length on pages 276 to 

 279 in my last report as Entomologist to this Department. I have to-day requested 

 that a copy of this report be sent to your address, so you will be able to study the 

 insect; at your leisure. I have been unable to do much more than suggest remedies 

 ao far, as the life-history of the insect has not yet been made out. After reading the 

 article carefully you may be able to find out where the beetles go and where they 

 lay their eggs; and if so, au important step will be gained. If you try the kerosene 

 emulsion, or the pyrethrum, or gas-lime aud sawdust, I should be glad to learn the 

 result [May 25, 1887]. 



Graptodera punctipennis injuring Nursery Stock. 



1 inclose you some small bugs i hat are eating all the leaves of my young apple and 

 are beginning on all my young nursery stock. I think they will, if they continue, 

 destroy my nursery. Please examine and tell me how to destroy them. They ap- 

 peared about two weeks ago. I never was troubled with auythiug of this kind 

 before. — [J. R. Johnson, Dallas, Tex , to H. E. Van Deman, May 10, 1887. 



Reply. — Your letter of the 10th instant addressed to Mr. Van Deman, the pomolo- 

 gist of this Department, has beeu referred by him, with the specimens, to this Division. 

 The little green beetle iujuriug your young apple trees is known by the scieutific 

 name of Graptodera puaclipennis. This insect is a near relative to the Grape vine Flea- 

 beetle, aud its habits are very similar. The best remedy for this insect will consist 

 in spraying your young trees with a dilute solution of Paris green or Loudon pur- 

 ple. The appearance of this insect in injurious numbers is rare, and we shall be glad 

 to hear from you further as to the amouut of injury and as to the success of this 

 remedy if you decide to apply it [May 14, 18H7]. 



Lachnosterna hirticula injuring Poplars and Oaks. 



I have several North Carolina Poplars in which have swarmed and roared, for sev- 

 eral evenings after nightfall, myriads of beetles, samples of which I inclose. 



Please inform me whether they mean evil to the Poplar and whether they or their 

 progeny are injurious to vegetation of any sort. — [Rev. William C. Butler, Leeland, 

 Prince George's Couuty, Md., May 17, 1887. 



Reply. — * * * The insects which you inclose beloL g to one of the common May 

 beetles (Lac/niosterna hirticula), aud are the parents of the so-called white grubs. The 

 beetles themselves are leaf-eaters, and you will probably find that the leaves of your 



