igoo] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 6oi 



Usually from ten to twenty individuals gather in some se- 

 cluded nook, most of them resting on or near the ground ; 

 some of the members (presumably 9 9) remain motionless, 

 while others make flights of a few feet in view of the assembly 

 or display their skill at hovering. Pairs in copula are generally 

 to be found near by. The assemblage lasts several hours and 

 is reformed if broken up. Have noted a tendency to this habit 

 in Ithomia leila Hew., but never in any other Ithomiina. 

 Leptalis (^Dismorphia) fortunata L,uc. is frequently a hanger- 

 on [sacerdotal functionary ?] at these Hymenitis gatherings. 



I understand the early stages of Mecistogaster and Megahpre- 

 piis are still unknown. Have taken fresh specimens of species 

 belonging to these genera several miles away from any stream 

 and in the heart of the forest. Their flight is necessarily very 

 slow and sustained for only a few yards at most. They spend 

 their time clinging to some vine or branch near the ground, the 

 long abdomen hanging vertically. Now, is it possible that the 

 early stages are passed in the large water-retaining leaf-bases 

 of Bromeliads ? Surely the young aristocrat would find plenty 

 of food (mosquitoes) in such a home, but the Bromeliads roost 

 high. And I would hesitate to impute that merely damp mold 

 might be the habitat of such a magnificent member of the 

 Odonata as Megahprepus coerulescens. 



Erratum.— Ent. News, October, p. 556— line 10 from boUom, for 

 Bigelovia gracilens read Bigelovia graveolens. 



DoRYTOMUS BREViSETOSUS. — Last spring Prof. E O. Wooton brought 

 me some beetle larvae which he found at Mesilla Park, N. M., on the 

 flowers of Populus wislizenii (Wats.) Sarg. The larvae were quite vari- 

 able ; dorsaily red, or with two red bands, or wholly pale yellowish. For 

 the identification of the species I am indebted to Mr. Schwarz. The breed- 

 ing iiabits of these species of Dorytofnus [inucidus, lacticollis and brevi- 

 collis) have already been recorded (Jn. N. Y. Ent. Soc, Vol. I, p. 41), 

 and all feed on Populus or Salix. — T. D. A. Cockerell. 



PsociDS AT Light. — There appears to be no reference to Psocidae 

 taken at light. Most Psocidae do not fly readily in the daytime, even 

 when disturbed. However, their wings must be of some use, and doubt- 

 less it will be found that nearly all of our forms fly at night or early even- 

 ing. The past summer I have taken four species at light, as follows : 



Psocus virginianus, several. 



Psocus purus, two. 



Psocus sparsus, several. 



Pterodela pedicularia. several. — Nathan Banks. 



