May, '07] entomological news. 173 



cockle-burr. The light red aphids of the goldenrod are eaten, 

 however. Although some of the woolly aphids are eaten by 

 Coccinellids, they are apparently discriminated against, es- 

 pecially a woolly aphid on Crataegus. Ale-modes is not eaten 

 by them. 



Discrimination is shown by the fact that I have found only 

 the following Coccinellids on the plants indicated : chestnut — 

 Cycloneda son guinea; Carolina poplar — Adalia bipunctata; 

 Solidago canadetisis, Coccinella 9-notata; willow — Adalia 

 bipunctata and Harmonia picta. 



The fact that Adalia bipunctata only was found on Rhamnus 

 cathartica and Euonymus europaeus may, however, be due to 

 the season, the aphids on these plants being the earliest species 

 to be abundant. The much shorter generations of Adalia, as 

 compared with Hippodamia and Coccinella, must assist it in 

 its attack on these early aphids. 



I have noticed the great effectiveness of small yellow syrphid 

 larvae both outdoors and in our vivarium. At some seasons, 

 only a great deal of hand picking makes possible the raising 

 of aphids. The syrphid seems to be more effective than any 

 other enemy of the aphids here, and it attacks nearly, if not all, 

 species, but I have not seen it attack Aleurodes — the white fly. 

 Small spiders also are important indoor enemies of aphids. At 

 times a fungus seems to produce a heavy mortality in the aphid 

 of the parsnip. 



The larvae and adults of Megilla maculata are common on 

 maize, and I have also found pupae on the corn silk and leaves 

 of a corn patch, in which I could see no aphids, either on the 

 corn or weeds. They are apparently able to live upon pollen 

 and spores without aphids. This may have some connection with 

 the agility of the larvae, which exceeds that of the other local 

 Coccinellids, except Cycloneda sanguinea. 



The period during which a female may lay fertile eggs after 

 isolation has, in the case at least of H. com'ergus, exceeded 

 that given by Burgess, attaining three and one-half months in 

 one instance. I have noticed that in some cases eggs laid by 

 females, which died within a few days, failed to hatch, although 

 the eggs previously laid had been hatched. The last few 



