igoo] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 437 



Colaspis brunnea, the larvae of which are known to attack the roots of 

 strawberry and the beetles feed upon the leaves of grape, was reared from 

 a species of dock (Rumex). Adults and larvae were both observed thus 

 feeding quite extensively, Allorhina nitida, the fig eater of the South, 

 has been reported from southern Ohio feeding on ripe blackberries. 



In Bulletin 96 of the Ohio Experiment Station was published a brief 

 note on the development of Oberea bimaculata, and certain peculiarities 

 of food habit noticed. On January 27, 1899, at Gypsum, Ohio, acting 

 under my direction, Mr. Maliy examined a large number of wild black- 

 berry canes in search for any Oberea larvae, and while several were found 

 showing the characteristic girdlings only one contained a larva. The tip 

 of the infested cane had been broken off and the rough surface calloused 

 over. The larva had bored down only about an inch below the girdle, 

 where it was found head upward, the girdled part of the cane being dead. 

 This larva was transferred to a tall blackberry cane in the insectary, January 

 2ist, and began feeding within two hours after, in a temperature of approxi- 

 mately 75 to 85 degrees F., indicating that they commence feeding as 

 soon as warm weather begins. By January 31st the larva had made the 

 first opening through the cane about one inch from the top, and was work- 

 ing industriously. By means of a hand glass Mr. Mally watched the larva 

 protrude the castings and, to his surprise, discovered that the pellets were 

 pushed out with the mandibles. The cane was immediately pared away 

 'until the opening was enlarged sufficiently to permit of distinct observa- 

 tion. In a few moments the larva ascended backwards until the jaws 

 were opposite the opening, when it reached out, dropped the pellet, and 

 then descended the burrow, but after feeding for a short time — head down- 

 ward — it reascended several times in succession, each time pushing out 

 small bits of material. One or two small pellets were noticed on the tip 

 of the last extremity. These drop off and fall down to the bottom of the 

 burrow while the larva is feeding, when it grasps them with its mandibles 

 and carries them to the opening and pushes them out. By February 2nd, 

 the larva had made three excretal apertures, about i^^f inches apart, thus 

 having burrowed farther in twelve days than Mr. Slingerland records for 

 the larvae of Oberea bimaculata observed by him during the middle of 

 July. The castings could be separated into two distinct forms, the ob- 

 long rounded pellets, frequently occuring in chains and irregular granular 

 crumbs or chips. At first it was thought that the chips were fragments of 

 pellets that had been broken as they dropped down between the larva and 

 the wall of the burrow. In order to get definite information on this point 

 it was necessary to pare away the woody tissue, so as to show the full 

 length of the burrow, and then securely fasten a narrow strip of mica 

 over the opening, thus exposing the larva to full view while working. At 

 first the larva was very restless, but soon became accustomed to the new 

 conditions and began working energetically, pulling off bits of the pith 

 and i)ushing them in behind the mica until the irregularities had been 

 adjusted and then pushing them out at the excretal opening. It would 

 stop and feed occasionally, often protruding three to five pellets at a time. 



