200 



tent aud opened. Up to the time of writing sixty specimens of Les- 

 topbonns had issued under the tent. In the case of living plants were 

 found living Chrysopa adults and two species of Coccinellid larvte, also 

 many eggs aud cocoons of Chrysopa. The adults of Lestophouus will 

 doubtless continue to issue, and we have every reason to hope that they 

 will oviposit in the Iceryas upon the tree under the tent. Two Cocci- 

 nellid larvne were found crawling outside of the case from which they 

 had emerged through cracks in the putty. When transferred to the 

 orange tree they attacked the first Icerya they met. 



THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 



December 6, 1886. — Au ameudmeut of the constitution, relating to the dues of the 

 various classes of members was discussed aud adopted. Mr. S. Lowell Elliott was 

 elected a correspondiug member of the Society. 



Dr. Marx made a communication on the structure of Hypochilns, a form showing 

 intermediate characters between the Tetrapneiimoiies and Dipnenmones. He showed 

 iu what features it related to each of these groups, and also that in its nest making 

 liabits it combined the characters of both Territdlariw and Tubitellaria'. He also 

 made some remarks on the characters of the Di/sderida', FiUslatid(e, aud Cinijionida', 

 the latter a family which he deems unnecessary, although recognized by Emertou. 



Prof. Riley, commenting on this jiaper, thinksthe present basesof division, although 

 apparently disturbed by such forms as that discovered by Dr. Marx, may yet be sys- 

 tematically useful. He also urged upon Dr. Marx the importance of a study of our 

 Theraphosid(B. Dr. Marx replied that in this family nothing could be done at pres- 

 ent, since the classificatiou now iu use was not based upon a study of our fauna, and 

 the characters used weie totally inapplicable. 



Mr. Howard remarked that he had recently read iu the Tr. New Zealand Inst, for 

 1869, au account of the katipo, or poisonous spider of New Zealand, which appears 

 to be a species of Latrodectes. This is found on the sea-beach in the sedges, and was 

 not feared by the natives at a distance of half a stone's throw from the water. 



Mr. Ashmead said that he had seen a peach orchard defoliated by a spider. He 

 states positively that he has seen the spiders bite pieces out of the leaves, but does 

 not say that he saw them afterward chew the bitten pieces. 



Prof. Riley made a communication upon the larv;r of Leptinus and Leptimllus, show- 

 ing their relationship to that of PlatjipsyUns. Larvae and imagosof the former had 

 been found around Washington, iu nests of Graphops, and larvte and imagos of the 

 latter bad been found upon the beaver iu California. No pupie of either had been 

 found. 



Prof. Riley also made a communication on the habits of Thahssa, which is proved 

 an external parasite on Tremex. He also gave an account of the egg aud of the 

 structure of the ovipositor. He thinks the statement of Messrs. Lintuer and Wood- 

 ward that Thalessa also oviposits in the larva of Batanatninistra was based upon an 

 error of observation, Heteropelma daiancv, n. sp., having probably been mistaken for 

 ThaJesna. 



Mr. Schwarz exhibited a Telamona having a globular sac projecting equally above 

 and below the surfaces of the carapace. He supposes this sac to be formed by a 

 parasite iu a manner similar to that in which Gonatopus forms a sac ou certain 

 Rhynchota. The Society then adjourned. 



J. B. Smith, 

 Recording Secretary. 



o 



