324 Recent Literature. I April 



of birds, in the stomachs of which adults have been found by the Biological 

 Survey. This list can now be increased to five species: the Kingbird, 

 Crow, and the Red-eyed, Warbling, and Yellow-throated Vireos. Beetles 

 of other species of the same genus have been found in stomachs of 11 kinds 

 of birds, namely, the Downy, Hairy and Red-headed Woodpeckers, King- 

 bird, Phoebe, Wood Pewee, Crow, and the Red-eyed, Solitary, Yellow- 

 throated and White-eyed Vireos. 



Striped Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica vittata). — While this is one of 

 the pests that ravage truck crops every year, evidently not being appreci- 

 ably checked by its enemies, still it is of interest to know what these are. 

 One of the recent bulletins prepared in the Bureau of Entomology cites 

 from Biological Survey records 1 the names of 15 bird enemies of the striped 

 cucumber beetle. Two names can now be added to the list, viz.: Red- 

 eyed and Philadelphia Vireos. 



Grain bug (Chlorochroa sayi). — In recent years this species has become 

 a pest of considerable importance in the Great Basin and Southwestern 

 States, blasting the newly formed heads of cereals, to such an extent in 

 some instances as to cause the crop to be cut for forage. Authors of a 

 bulletin on this pest say: 2 "The offensive odor secreted by the scent 

 glands of Chlorochroa sayi has been commonly supposed to protect them 

 from the attacks of predatory enemies." However, the insect has "quite 

 a variety of both vertebrate and invertebrate enemies." The Biological 

 Survey is quoted as authority for reporting the grain bug from stomachs 

 of the nighthawk and western meadowlark, and related species from the 

 stomachs of five other species of birds. The latter list may now be in- 

 creased to eight, including: Franklin's Gull, Bobwhite, Nighthawk, King- 

 bird, Magpie, Eastern Meadowlark, Brewer's Blackbird and English 

 Sparrow. 



White-grubs (Phijttophaga). — These are the larvae of the so-called 

 May-beetles or June-bugs, the more familiar generic name for which is 

 Lachnosterna. Their destructiveness, in grain fields, pastures, lawns and 

 elsewhere need not be detailed here: suffice to it say they are among the 

 most important insect pests and constantly receive the close attention of 

 economic entomologists. Mr. John J. Davis, in a recent treatise 3 of the 

 natural enemies of Phyllophaga, says: "On account of the difficulty of 

 controlling the common white grubs, which pass ninety-five per cent, of 

 their life under ground, their natural enemies are of unusual importance 

 to the farmer." It is of much interest, therefore, that the author in this 

 formal treatise on the enemies of these pests, should state that: "Birds are 



i Chittenden, F. H. Farmers' Bui. 1038, U. S. Dept. Agriculture, May 1919, 

 p. 10. 



2 Caffrey, D. J., and Barber, Geo. W. Bui. 779, U. S. Dept. Agriculture, 

 June 1919, p. 31. 



3 Bull. 111. Nat. Hist. Survey, Vol. 13, Art. 5, Feb. 1919, pp. 53-138. Pis. 3-15. 

 45 figs. 



