227 



attack a ripe peach simaltaneoasly and devour all of its mellow portion 

 in a few hours. The habits of this beetle seem then to be quite similar 

 to those of the allied species in the east. In the sontli A. mtidais called 

 the " Fig'-eater " and it is said to seriously injure grapes. The same 

 species was very abundant in the District of Cohimbia during- last sea- 

 son and at the Benning's Station of this Department the beetle swarmed 

 in great numbers upon the peach trees and ruined a great portion of the 

 fruit. We have al ways supposed that this beetle only attacked decay- 

 ing, over-ripe, or injured fruit, but the evidence is now growing so strong 

 that it will attack perfect fruit that careful observations are needed. 



THE IMBRICATED SNOUT-BEETLE. 



This insect has added another food-plant to its already long list. In 

 the Third Report on the Insects of Missouri we recorded damage to Ap- 

 ple, Cherry trees and Gooseberry bushes by gnawing the twigs and 

 fruit. In 1879 Professor Comstock added to the list Onions, Radishes, 

 Cabbage, Beans, Watermelons, Muskmelons, Cucumbers, Squashes, and 

 Beets. A recent correspondent of the Prairie Farmer (Mr. J. P. Coulter, 

 Cramer, 111., issue of June 23, 1888) records damage to Potato. He 

 states that the insect is fully as destructive as the Colorado Potato 

 Beetle, and that its manner of operating is about the same as the other, 

 except that it probably cuts the stalk off more frequently, and •' very 

 generally cuts off" the other parts, with the soft undeveloped leaves." 

 The editorial comment ignores the previous discovery upon vegetables, 

 and suggests no remedy. Paris green or London purple, however, will 

 pr®bably prove effectual. 



NOTES ON ACRIDID.E IN LOS ANGELES, GAL. 



Acridium v a gum. ~ Adults taken February 5, May 12, May 17, July 1, 

 August 4, August 29, September 4 (in coitu), and November 13. Fre- 

 quents tall weeds and trees; they feed on the leaves of orange trees. 

 The females in life are green, variously dotted and marked with yellow; 

 antennae, a stripe below and another back of each eye, besides a stripe 

 on top of the head and thorax, yellow; wing-covers towards their tips 

 tinged with brown; hind femora marked with black before their tips; 

 hind tibiae reddish, provided behind with two rows of spines which are 

 yellow, tipped with black ; hind tarsi reddish above, grayish-brown 

 below ; length, 2^ inches. The half-grown larva is green, irregularly 

 dotted with darker and marked with whitish dashes ; a white stripe on 

 each side of the abdomen and another below each eye ; each eye is 

 marked with four vertical dashes, of which the hindmost is widest and 

 east distinct ; spines of hind tibiae white tipped with black. Fonnd 

 July 26 and December 15. 



Melanoplm devastator, affinis and cyanipes. — Adults taken November 

 13, and cyanipes February 4; in coitu October 1. 



