76 



Tomocera ceroplastis sp. nov. 



Female; color and sculpture as in T. calif ornica, but with the hind 

 coxae never dark and metallic on the basal part, these being uniformly 

 testaceous or brownish yellow. The large post-petiolar segment is 

 uniformly smooth, or nearly so, while in T. californica, there are two large 

 subcircular (apparently slightly raised) areas, of very dull appearance, 

 owing to a covering of extremely minute microscopic tomentum. The 

 size is that of well developed T. californica, the latter varying very much 

 in size. 



Hab. China, whence it was introduced by Koebele into the 

 Hawaiian Islands, Queensland, Cairns and Bundaberg. My 

 specimens I bred at Cairns. Koebele (2327) bred it at Bunda- 

 berg in October, 1904, two of these examples being in the collec- 

 tion of the Territorial Bureau of Agriculture. A short while 

 since, I took specimens running on a tree of Elaeocarpus hifidus 

 on Tantalus, this tree bearing a few scattered scales of Ceroplastes 

 rubens. 



The following paper was then read by the author, who 

 exhibited specimens illustrating the life cycle of the moth: 



On the Sweet-potato Vine Borer (Omphisa anastomosalisGuenee). 



By O. H. SwEZEY. 



Omphisa anastomosalis Guen.; Hampson, Fauna of British 

 India, Moths, IV, p. 382, fig. 207, 1896. 



Evergestis anastomosalis, Guen; Meyrick, Fauna Hawaiiensis, 

 III, Part IV, p. 361, 1904. 



This Indo-Malayan moth was first recorded for Honolulu in 

 1904. Since then it has no doubt been on the increase, and may 

 possibly before long become a garden pest, if not so already. 

 During January, February and March, 1906, I found the larvae 

 boring in vines of sweet potato in my garden. Of about half a 

 dozen hills, all were found to be infested. The larvae were 

 found boring in the vines near the base, and hence just at the 

 place to be the most injurious. Often two or more near together 

 in the same vine, living upon the green, juicy pith of the stem. 

 They probably do considerable boring in the potatoes also, as 

 one was found in a potato from the market. 



Description of larva. — Length about 30 mm., width about 

 3K mm., head 2 mm.; color pale yellowish white, with conspic- 

 uous brown, very broad and fiat tubercles; head yellowish 



