220 



idea without the indorsement of practical experience. It looks rather well on paper, 

 but is inferior in many resp ects to the use of a good kerosene emulsion as recom- 

 mended in the same report. — [November 13, 1888. J 



Introduction of Icerya Parasites in California. 



I am very glad you consider the identity of the parasite (Lestophonus) found on 

 Monophlcebus and Icerya proved beyond a doubt. The last experiment of sending 

 Mouophlrebus on ice proved a success, iuasmuchasthe majority of flies hatched under 

 the cage in San Mateo, but so far I can see no trace of their progeny. I examined the 

 bush carefully the other day ; it appears to me that there are many Icerya that look 

 unhealthy compared with those on surrounding trees. — [W. G. Klee, San Francisco, 

 Cal., November 11, 1888. 



Two Species of Anomala injurious to the Vine in the South. 



To-day I mail you specimens of two species of beetles from Louisiana, sent me 

 to tell what they are. They are new to me, though the smaller somewhat resembles 

 the Grapevine Flea-beetle. Both are very ravenous feeders upon the leaves of the 

 grape, completely skeletonizing them when the beetles are numerous. They also eat 

 out young buds and tips of shoots. They come in June and July in Louisiana. 

 When disturbed they drop to the ground and the larger feign death for some time, 

 while the smaller at once seek cover, which also do the larger after " possumiug " 

 awhile. * * * They promise to be very destructive to vineyards if they should 

 become uumerous. — [T. V. Munson, Denisou, Tex., January 24, 1887, to Mr. H. E. 

 Van Demau. 



Reply. — Yours of the 24th instant has been referred to me by Mr. Van Deman. 

 The insects which accompany your letter and which you state are eating up your 

 grape leaves and buds belong to two species of a genus of leaf-eating beetles, Anomala. 

 The larger one is A. marqinata. and the smaller one, A. minuta. So far as I know these 

 insects have never been specifically complained of as grape-vine pests, although when 

 very abundant I have no reason to doubt their power for considerable damage. I 

 would advise as a remedy spraying the vines with the ordinary Paris green or Lon- 

 don purple solutions at any time before your grapes begin to ripen. — [January 31, 

 1887.] 



Beetles boring in an Opium Pipe from China. 



I send you per to-day's mail a vial containing three minute beetles, with their 

 frass or debris. An opium pipe, a curiosity from China, made of bamboo, suddenly 

 proved to be infested with these insects, and it is, in fact, honeycombed vvith them, 

 for shaking the pipe would give a tablespoonful of the frass, with a number of the 

 insects. I send you three, which are all the live ones I could get. — [S. Lockwood, 

 Freehold, N. J., March 8, 1887. 



Reply. — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 8tli instant and of the ac- 

 companying package containing beetles reared from the bamboo opium pipe. These 

 beetles belong to the genus Dinoderus and are allied to D. floridainim Horn, but of 

 course it is a difficult thing to determine specifically the small Chinese insects. I 

 would call your attention to the article by Dr. Hagen in the Canadian Entomologist 

 for August, 1886, in which he mentions two Ptinid beetles bred from a bamboo box from 

 Hong Kong.— [March 10, 1887.] 



A Grape-vine Flea-beetle in the Southwest. 



Inclosed please find specimen of a bug which made its appearance in this valley 

 (Salt River Valley) within the last eight days. It preys chiefly upon the tender leaves 

 of the grape, as you see per sample. This being our first experience here with grape 



