ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 



239 



may press tliem amoii"- their fiiificrs. I linvo 

 kiuiwii tbiicc-buiklors to be bilk-ii liy llicni. 



Tlie centiijedc never emerges iiilo open day of 

 its own accord. Iiul lies under old log-s and stones 

 ill damp jilacc-. whence it eomes forth at night 

 in (jnesl ot'ii> prey. It is aravenous eater, feed- 

 ing on ever^ characler of soft insect that crosses 

 its path, cxceiiling earth worms— it appears to 

 have no tooth for them. To give the general 

 reader an idea of its aiipearancc. I will -ax that it 

 is a snufl-colored animal, from tlirce tn six inches 

 long, and from one-Coiirth to one-half incli wide 

 —something on the plan of a creature that every- 

 body knowns as a •■ thoiisand-Iegged worm." 

 It is divided into twenty-one Joints, or iiarts. 

 exclusive of the head, eacli joint bearing a leg 

 on either side, gixing it forty-two legs. The legs 

 are divided inio tivi' joints, and taix'r rajjidly to 

 tlie exiremilics. linishing up in a kind of chn\-. 

 The leg> on the posterior part or joint do not run 

 square out from the body like the olliers, bnt 

 range back and turn in slightl\- at the ends, 

 forming hooks. Upon its head it lias a pair of 

 long slender feelers, each divided into twenty- 

 live joints, and also a pair of keeti little forceps, 

 or pinchers, which come out near the back part 

 of the head, and form about two-tliirds of a circle 

 around it, meeting immediately in front, of 

 course. The underside of tlie animal is flat, 

 with a slight groove along the middle, while its 

 back is inclined to rouudish with two .shallow 

 depressions ruuniug its full length, or, rather, it 



is what would be called siilic ave. Color of 



underside is a shade lighlei- than that of back. 



We have, in the Sonthem Slates, several other 

 members of the same family that might be mis- 

 taken lor true centipedes ; but there is a rule 

 wliich will always enable one to identify them : 

 the true centipede has forty-two legs running- 

 out from its body, while all its near though 

 harmless relations have but fort v. 



Remedy i'OR the Canker- wokji. — At a 

 winter discussion of the Iowa State Agricul- 

 tural Society several gave their experience with 

 the Canker-worm. Sorghum is cheaper than 

 tar; besides, there is no danger of damage to 

 the tree by using it, as there is with tar, if it 

 is applied upon the bark. Thicken the sorghum 

 with flour, and when the worms have covered 

 it, kill them and daub on another coat. 



My remedy was burning with a light coat of 

 dry straw spread under the tree. Shake and 

 pole the worms all oft', and immediately set lire 

 to the straw. Take a calm, clear day, and be 

 careful not to burn the tree. S. Foster. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL JOTTINGS. 



ol our coriesnniidents na contain ent( 

 n account either of llicir scientific or 

 le our rejiUers will contribute eaeli tlu 

 d; and incase they are nut p.rl.etl 

 ■ peculiarities ol whicli are t,. Ii. irii i,t 

 r that each species may be duly i<lent 



The Striped Cucimher Beetle in a New 

 Hor.E — Spring Bay, Woodford Co., Ills., May 

 S<I, 187(1. — Enclo.sed I send .some insects which 

 1 (lisciivered, only a few days ago, on my pear 

 and cherry trees, especially the former. These 

 insects attack the blossoms of the pear, and also 

 to some extent the cherry blossoms. Only six 

 days ago, I discovered the first of these pests on 

 my pear trees; at that time they were few in 

 number, but today if a tree is shaken a cloud 

 of them flies away, only to return again in a few 

 minutes. I also send a few pear blossoms, in 

 various stages of destruction. The insect seems 

 to have a preference for the petals of the flowers, 

 especially the yet unopened flowers, which they 

 perforate first, and then eat all around until all 

 or most of the petals are consumed. There are 

 frequently two at work on one flower. Of cherry 

 blossoms they seem to prefer the stamens of the 

 fully developed flower, and I think that cherries 

 are not as badly injured as pears. At least three- 

 fourths of my pears are already destroyed by 

 this destructive bug. I have dusted the trees 

 with caustic lime, with sulphur, and sprinkled 

 with water and coal oil, bnt without the least 

 ettect; they seem to be as regardless of all such 

 things as the Colorado Potato Bug. I would be 

 pleased to learn from you whether this is a new 

 insect, or whether it is an old and well-known 

 kind that has lately acquired bad habits. 



J. G. Zeller, M. I). 

 [ I'he insects are the notorious Striped Cucum- 

 ber-beetle (Diabrotica vittata, Fabr., Fig. 151). 

 [Fig. 151 ] jt ]jas long been known to devour the 

 '' leaves of a variety of dilFerent plants, 

 early in the spring before cucnrbi- 

 taceons vines have formed much leaf, 

 but we nev-er before heard of its 

 '^°'°y"eno»l'°"''iiij"i'i"g fi'iiit trees to the extent you 

 set forth. You will find it difficult to head them 

 oir, and we can recommend nothing with confi- 

 dence, never having had an opportunity to 

 experiment with them on trees. Wide mouthed 

 bottles filled with sweetened water hung up in 

 the trees, and fires built at night, might materi- 

 ally reduce their numbers, and should be tried 

 another season. The beetles will leave the trees 

 as soon as the cucumber and melon vines are 

 out of the ground.— Eo.] 



