199 



Cactophagus validushsks been found exclusively under decaying Opun- 

 tia leaves, tlie larva no doubt living within the leaves or roots of the 

 same plant. 



The genera Yuceaborus and Scypliophorus infest plants of the genus 

 Yucca. 



The genus Bhynchophorus inlests palmetto trees. 



The genus Sphenophorus infests the roots or lower part of the stems of 

 various wild or cultivated Graminaceous plants. One or perhaps sev- 

 eral species are strictly maritime. 



A small number of genera remain of which the food-habits are still 

 unknown. 



THE NATURAL FOOD PLANT OF GRAPTODERA FOLIACEA Lec. 



Miss Murtfeldt's interesting observations on this species (p. 74) show 

 that it feeds greedily on the foliage of the apple tree, and on the au- 

 thority of Professor Kiley it is stated also to feed on hawthorn. Possi- 

 bly it is not confined to any group of plants, but it may be worth men- 

 tioning tliat I found specimens of a beetle, referred by Professor Riley 

 to this species, in considerable abundance on Cucurbita perennis Gray, 

 at Cottonwood Springs, Pueblo County, Colo., last August. They ap- 

 pear to be entirely confined to the Cucurbita, and one might have sup- 

 posed that it was their proper food plant under ordinary circumstances. 

 I have not yet heard of their doing damage to the cultivated melons, 

 squashes, etc.— T. D. A. Cockerell, West Cliff, Colo., October 14, 1888. 



A REMARKABLE INSECT ENEMY TO LIVE STOCK, 



The numerous published accounts of the loss of life not only of stock, 

 but of human beings, from the sting of the Whip-tailed Scorpion {The- 

 lyphonus glganfeus), and the consequent popular names of "Nigger- 

 killer" and "Mule-killer" are sufficiently absurd to those who know its 

 harmless nature ; but there is some little excuse for such tales on ac- 

 count of the close resemblance of the animal to the true scorpions, which 

 are, in reality, more or less poisonous. No excuse, however, can be 

 offered for the statement which was recently sent us from Texas by a 

 correspondent who forwarded a specimen of Mantis Carolina with the 

 information that a gentleman told him he had lost a valuable horse by 

 one of these insects. We would, therefore, suggest as a new popular 

 name for this Mantis, " The Texas Horse-killer!" 



FURTHER ON THE IMPORTATION OF LESTOPHONUS. 



Just as we are going to press we learn from Mr. D. W. Coquillett, our 

 agent at Los Angeles, Cal., that he has received Mr. Koebele's shipment 

 concerning which we quote Mr. Koebele in the Special Notes of this 

 number. A tent had been placed around an orange tree in anticipa- 

 tion of the arrival of the parasites. The boxes were taken inside the 



