1896.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. I3 



LiXQs concavas Say, as an Injorions Insect.— In Allegheny County, Pa., 

 the natural food-plant of this beetle is the common Burdock, the insect 

 breeding in the stem of the plant. It is indeed unfortunate that this spe- 

 cies is rapidly acquiring a decided taste for Rhubarb, upon which it already 

 depredates to a considerable extent. These beetles being of some size 

 and quite sluggish in movement may be readily picked by hand; they 

 occur from early Spring until late in Fall, bemg more abundant about the 

 first of June. Edward A. Klages. 



Mr. Klages' communication on the Lixus is interesting. This particular 

 species is a common eastern form, and is numerous on the Rhubarb in 

 New Jersey ; yet it rarely does any severe injury, because the growers 

 find it profitable to keep the plants trimmed up in good shape, and to 

 use up the leaves about as fast as they mature. Most of them have 

 learned, by practical experience, that it does not pay to allow them to 

 rot on the plants and therefore except in an abandoned patch here and 

 there, the leaves are generally found to be in good condition. This is not 

 an insect that need be much feared, provided reasonable care is exercised 

 in keeping down those leaves in which the larvse can develop. Although 

 the beetles are not active, yet they frequently evade rapture by dropping 

 to the ground when disturbed, and when this is among grass they are not 

 easily found unless the place where they dropped is carefully noted. 



Notes a.]3.d. Nevsrs. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS FROM ALL QUARTERS 



OF THE GLOBE. 

 [The Conductors of Entomological News solicit, and will thankfully receive items 

 of news, likely to interest its readers, from any source. The author's name will be given 

 in each case for the information of cataloguers and bibliographers.] 



To Contributors.— Ail contributions will be considered and passed upon at our 

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The Staff of the Deparment of Insects of the U. S. National Museum 

 has been reorganized as a result of the sad death of the former Honorary 

 Curator, Professor C. V. Riley. 



The reorganization has been effected by the appointment of Mr. L. O. 

 Howard, Entomologist of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, to the 

 position of Honorary Curator of the Department of Insects; of Mr. Wm. 

 H. Ash mead to the position of Custodian of Hymenoptera; and Mr. D. 

 VV. Coquillett to the position of Custodian of Diptera. All museum cus- 

 todians are honorary officers. Mr. M. L. Linell will remam as general 

 assistant to the Honorary Curator. 



