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RECENT BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



1889. 

 Webster, F. M.— Life History of one of the ]5ill-t)iif^s, Sf>hcnopkorus ochreus 

 Lee. (Insect Life, Nov. 1889, Vol. 2, p, 132.) 

 Quotes statement of Forbes in 1888 (see '90) concerning injuries to young corn 

 on newly drained swamp lands. Believes serious injury in several situations has 

 been done for several years in Indiana, hundreds of acres being thus destroyed. 

 Beetles hibernate as adults, coming forth in spring, feeding on inner parts of 

 stems of reeds, rushes, and young corn. Eggs laid in or about roots of Scirpus 

 late in May and early in June. Larvs live within the bulbous roots, and beetles 

 appear in August and .September. Has reared adults from the ^gg in Scirpus 

 bulbs kept in dry earth from the middle of June until the 25th of August. Infers 

 that larvae cannot be starved by midsummer plowing. 



1890. 

 Forbes, S. A. — The Corn Bill-bugs {Sphenophorus sp.). ( i6th Rep. State Ent. 

 111., for the Years 1887 and 1888, pp. 58-74. ) 



Contains an analysis of literature concerning each of the species of the genus, 

 with description of the genus Sphenophorus and an analytical key to Illinois 

 species ; the original description of S. jninimus \-a description of the larvae of 

 ochreus and parvuhis ;a.nd. zn accounX oi ihe Wie. histories of species so far as 

 known, of their injuries to corn and other vegetation, of their natural enemies, 

 and of preventive and remedial measures. It is followed by an economic bibliog- 

 raphy of sixty-one titles, ranging from 1808 to 1888. The paper is illustrated by 

 twenty heliotype figures of imagos on three plates. 



Webster, F. M. — Notes upon some Insects Affecting Corn . (Insect Life, 

 Nov. 1890, Vol. 3, p. 159.) 



Reports finding of eggs of Sphenoplioriis ochreus in stems of Scirpus, which 

 eggs resemble those obtained from ovaries of females. Concludes that eggs may 

 be deposited in stems of the plant and not always in the root. 



189 1. 

 Smith, J. B.— Notes of the Year in New Jersey. (Insect Life, Oct. 1891, Vol. 

 4, p. 44- ) 

 Reports appearance of corn bill-bug, Sphenophorus sculptiiis, in large num- 

 bers in three New Jersey counties. Destroyed many acres of corn by drilling 

 holes in young plants at or near the surface of the ground. The second crop, 

 replanted after short delay, was undisturbed. The beetles were most numerous 

 on old sod, but not confined to such land. 



McCarthy, Gerald. — Some Injurious Insects. ( Bull. 78, N. C. Agr. Exper. 

 Station, p. 18. ) 



Paragraph on troublesome bill-bug or corn curculio, Sphenophorus zece. 

 Says mature bug bites into young plants near the ground and deposits its eggs in 

 the place bitten, the eggs soon hatching into grubs which burrow into the pith, 

 dwarfing the plant or killing it outright. Characterizes this species as a semi- 

 aquatic insect, and seldom troublesome except upon very wet land. Advises 

 hand-picking, drainage, and thorough cleaning of the fields in fall. 



