382 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec, 'o6 



to the smaller species approaching high C we have some species 

 which come close to one another in their note when heard 

 flying close to the ear. C. canadensis and C. sollicitans in 

 some instances come closely, but the latter may be easily 

 distinguished by its peculiar beautiful quality of tone. 



Culex pipiens (Linn.) (No. 4) sings in F, as a rule, but 

 some specimens may vary a note higher or lower and may 

 then be distinguished by the same method mentioned. While 

 these observations may not be of any practical value they are 

 nevertheless of interest in a certain direction. The trained 

 ear at least may distinguish the more dangerous species of 

 mosquitoes from the harmless by their notes. 



The Method of Feeding in Leptoglossus. 



By A. Arsene Girault. 



The following observations on the feeding-habit of Lepto- 

 glossus phyllopns Linnaeus appear to be worthy of publication : 



On the morning of July 19th, 1906, at Myrtle, Ga., while 

 examining some clusters of Niagara grapes, attention was at- 

 tracted to an adult male of this species, clinging to some of the 

 nearly ripe fruit. It had apparently just finished feeding, but 

 closer notice showed that it was just on the point of making 

 a puncture. The insect was clinging head toward the ground, 

 and for ten or fifteen seconds examined the surface of the 

 fruit with the tip of the rostrum, with rapid, nervous move- 

 ments. Locating a suitable spot, the movements of the ros- 

 trum stopped, and it was then applied and straightened, neces- 

 sarily causing an upward inclination of the bodv. Pressure was 

 then brought to bear, and the rostrum was pushed into the fruit 

 for a distance of about one-half the length of the distal joint 

 of the labium. When about this far in, the labium commenced 

 to bend caudad at the first articulation, exposing basal por- 

 tions of the inclosed setae, the mandibles and maxillae. Pres- 

 sure was continued, and the body was gradually brought back- 

 ward and downward, causing the bending of the labium to in- 

 crease, until its basal joint became applied to the ventum of 



