l894-] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 25I 



tioned and interesting observations noted. Corthylus coluntbianus 

 working in Poplar, so far from being injurious, may be considered rather 

 an advantage, since it gives rise to discolorations which add materially to 

 the appearance of the wood. Some extremely striking and handsome 

 examples were exhibited. Woodpeckers working in the bark of certain 

 trees, reaching the Cambium layer but not injuring the wood, causes a 

 deformation in the grain which is known as "curly," or "bird's-eye," and 

 is sought for and valued. It has been found, that in West Virginia, scab 

 in potatoes is often due to a small Sciarid, the male of which is wingless, 

 and which sometimes destroys the entire tuber. No pretence is made that 

 this is the source of all scab. Agrilus bilineatus attacks chestnut, and 

 occasionally causes serious injury. Phymatodes variabilis attacks and 

 seriously injures tan bank. A species oi Aphidius was mentioned which, 

 in the green-house, effectually rid the lettuce plants of plant-lice, and it " 

 was recommended to protect the creatures wherever they occurred. An 

 attack of melon lice was noted where the Coccinellidse were in great force 

 attackmg them. 



Mr. Smith did not believe in the usefulness of parasites, as a general 

 rule, and contended that they usually appear in force only after the damage 

 is done. In the green-house, however, the circumstances may be suffi- 

 ciently changed to make them more effective. He has seen hordes of 

 Coccinellidae and their larvae devouring melon lice in an infested field ; 

 but they were at work on the rear guard, and the plants were killed before 

 the beetles mastered the lice. Phytnatodes variabilis in New Jersey was 

 one of the "bark-slippers" as the woodmen term them. They work 

 under bark of cord-wood cut and piled, and in such numbers that after a 

 year or two the entire bark is loosened and slips off readily. 



A paper from Mr. F. H. Snow was read, on "Work in Economic Ento- 

 mology at the University of Kansas for the season of 1894." It was largely 

 a record of a very interesting experiment in clearing a corn-field of Chinch- 

 bugs, in which the details of the applications are fully given and the daily 

 difference in appearance was noted. The experiment proved completely 

 successful, and is the most fully recorded of any hitherto made on this 

 subject. 



Mr. L. O. Howard spoke on "Eastern occurrence of the San Jose Scale," 

 giving a record of the facts as they were brought to the attention of the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture and the measures taken to exterminate 

 the pest. It has appeared in Florida over a large extent of territory and 

 probably introduced direct; in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Penn- 

 sylvania, Indiana and New Jersey in most instances introduced from New 

 Jersey nurseries. In all cases active measures are under way and resin 

 washes, kerosene emulsion and even whale oil soap have been found suc- 

 cessful when thoroughly applied. 



Mr. John B. Smith followed on "the San Jose Scale in New Jersey," 

 giving a history of its introduction into the State and the spread and dis- 

 tribution within it. A considerable number of infested orchards have been 



