270 



THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



ducted in the Botanical Laboratory of Cor- 

 nell University with the assistance of Mr. 

 W. A. Henry, is recorded by Prof. Pren- 

 tiss. All the experiments made in an or- 

 dinarily free atmosphere resulted in no 

 harm to the insects ; the others showed no 

 ill results except where the insects were 

 confined in an unnaturally moist atmos- 

 phere, as that of a Wardian case or bell 

 glass — conditions which will kill and ren- 

 der moldy almost any insects without the 

 application of yeast, but must be trebly 

 fatal to delicate-skinned insects when these 

 are, in addition, covered with any sticky 

 substance. Two of the experiments show- 

 ed that where mold appeared it was inde- 

 pendent of the yeast application. 



Prof. Prentiss further remarks : " The re- 

 sult of these experiments, as a whole, as also 

 many others not here recorded which have 

 a more or less direct bearing upon the sub- 

 ject under consideration, indicate plainly 

 that yeast cannot be regarded as a reliable 

 remedy against such insects as commonly 

 affect plants cultivated in greenhouses, 

 rooms and parlors. Moreover, it is more 

 than probable that the yeast would injure 

 many kinds of plants, especially those with 

 delicate foliage, by spotting and soiling the 

 leaves, and inducing fungoid growths upon 

 the jars or soil in which the plants are 

 grown. Indeed, in most greenhouses at 

 the present time, it is not so much a ques- 

 tion of keeping down injurious insects, as 

 it is the suppression of molds and mildews 

 of various kinds. The verbena rust only 

 need be named as an illustration of this 

 point." 



POOD HABITS OF THE LONGICORN BEETLES OR 

 WOOD BORERS. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



( Continued from ^ 

 LAMIID.'K. 



239-^ 



Monilema. The species of this genus are reported 

 to feed on various species of Prickly Pear, 

 and it might be inferred, therefore, that the 

 larvae live on the roots of these plants. 



Psenocerus supernotatus {^2cf), is the "American 

 Currant Borer" (Fitch, 3rd Rep., pp. 98- 

 105) ; bores also in branches of Apple trees 

 (Packard Guide, p. 500). 



Moiiohammtis titillator (Oliv.), boring in the bark 



of Pinus sylvestris at St. Louis, the perfect 

 insect appearing May 21st (C. V. Riley). 



Monohammus scutlellatus (Say), boring in pine 

 wood in a similar manner to AI. confusor 

 (Fitch, 4th Rep., pp. 24-25). 



JMonohavDHus conftcsor Kirby, boring cylindrical 

 holes in the interior of the wood of pine 

 trees, chiefly of decaying and dead trees 

 (Fitch, 48th Rep., pp. 21-24). 



Doixaschema ivildii Uhler. 



Dorcascheina alternatum (Say). These two species 

 occur on Mulberry and Osage Orange, and 

 the larvae live, no doubt, in the roots of 

 these plants (C. V. Riley). 



Dorcaschema nigrum (Say), breeds in Hickory 

 (Dr. F. Hadge, Buffalo, N. Y., teste A. S. 

 Fuller). 



Hetixmis cineria (Oliv.). On Mortis rubra (Halde- 

 mann, Tr. Am. Phil. Soc, X, 54). 



Goes tigrinus (De .G.), greatly injuring Hickory 

 trees by boring in the green wood (Fitch, ist 

 Rep., pp. 146-151 ; 3d Rep. pp, 120-121). 



Goes puIcJier (Hald.). "Scarce, but a few are 

 found every season in the Shag-bark and 

 Pignut hickory, June and July" (Dr. T. 

 Hadge, Buffalo, N. Y., teste A. S. Fuller). 



Goes pulveridentus (Hald.). "This insect is very 

 destructive to living Beech trees. It bores 

 into those branches which are about three 

 inches in diameter. The length of the chan- 

 nel is about eight inches" (Dr. G. H. Horn, 

 Proc. Ent. Soc, Phil. I., pp. 43-44. 



Goes debilis Lee. "Very bad in trunks of 

 Swamp Oak " (C. V. Riley) ; bores the Oak, 

 especially unhealthy trees (Dr. F. Hadge, 

 Buffalo, N. Y., teste A. S. Fuller) ; is no 

 doubt a borer in the trunk of White Oak 

 (Fitch, 5 Rep., p. 12). 



Plcctrodera scalator (Fabr.). Breeds in the Wil- 

 low, especialljr the smaller species growing 

 along the banks of streams in the Western 

 States (C. V. Riley) ; bores in the roots and 

 lower part of the trunk of Cottonwood trees 

 in Texas (E. A. Schwarz). 



Acanthoderes ^-gilibus (Sa)'),* bores in dead twigs 

 of Oak, Beech, Hackberry (Schwarz). 



Leptostyltts o c itlifer (?>2iy). The larva bores into 

 oaks and occasionally apple trees (A. E., L, 

 p. 225) ; working under the bark of apple 

 trees, making broad, irregular burrows, 

 causing the bark to raise, discolor and die. 

 Also reported from Tallahassee, Indian Ter- 

 ritory, as boring in Osage Orange (C. V. 

 Riley). 



Leptostylus biustus (Lee), bred from a dried up 

 pomegranate (Tallahassee, Florida ; C. V. 

 Riley). 



Leptostyhis co>iif>iixtus {HaXd.), the larva probably 

 having the same habits as Z. ac ii lifer {¥\{.ch, 

 4th Rep., p. 26). 



Leptostylus macula (Say), larva under the bark of 

 old decaying Butternut trees (Fitch, 3d 

 Rep., p. 144). 



Steriiidius alpha (Say), boring in dead apple twigs, 

 the perfect insect issuing in May (C. V. 

 Riley). 



* The larv.T of the South American species, Stirostoma de- 

 fressu?n, which we lately received from Param, Brazil, is re- 

 ported to be very injurious to the Cocoanut tree by boring in 

 the stem. 



