INSECTS AFFECTING PARK AND WOODLAND TREES 567 



Anaspis ilavipennis Halcl. occurs abundantly on willow catkins and 

 also on shadbush when in bloom. 



Orchestes ephippiatus Say and O. niger Horn, occur on swamp wil- 

 lows in Herkimer county in May and June. 



Rhynchites cyanellus Lee. was taken on willow at North Chatham, 

 June 6, igo2. 



Elleschus ephippiatus Say 



A small, brownish, long-snouted beetle thickly clothed with golden and brownish 

 pubescence, occurs in considerable numbers on willow in early spring. 



This species was met with by us May i6, 1903, at Nassau, where it was 

 abundant pairing and feeding at the base of the ovaries of willow blossoms. 

 This insect appears to be limited to this food plant, since it has been taken 

 on or bred from this plant by a number of entomologists. Dr Walsh 

 reared this insect from a cecidomyid gall, R. brassicoides, on Salix 

 longifolia, and Dr Hamilton records it as common on willow sprouts 

 in southwestern Pennsylvania. 



Description. The beetle may be recognized from the following descrip- 

 tion by Dr LeConte. 



A small yellowish brown insect, densely clothed with yellow pubes- 

 cence, with a large dark spot near the base and another transverse one 

 behind the m.iddle, connected by a sutural stripe ; sometimes there is an 

 appearance of a third spot near the tip of the elytra. 



Dr LeConte states that this species might easily, be confused with 

 some of the varieties of Phyllotrox nubifer Lee, and adds that the 

 elytra are less broadly rounded at the tip and the claws are not simple but 

 broadly appendiculate. He states that it varies greatly in size, ranging from 

 .07 to .11 inch in length. 



Distribution. This species has an extended distribution. It has been 

 recorded by Dr Dietz from the Atlantic States, Michigan, Georgia, Kansas, 

 New Mexico and California. 



