232 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '16 



nephrasyntheta Dyar. — In root of Eryngiuni yuccifolium. Pu- 

 pates in burrow or soil about August 15th. Evidence, yellow 

 leaf blades and much brown frass. 



nitela Gn. and var. nebris Gn. — The commonest of all. Feeds in 

 stems of Ragweed (Ambrosia triUda) and over-runs into Burdock, 

 corn and other plants. Pupates in stem about August loth. Evi- 

 dence, frass and holes in stem. 



ochroptena Dyar. — Life history unknown. Habitat, Denver, Colo- 

 rado. 



pterisii Bird. — In stem and root of common Brake Fern {Pteris 

 aquilina). Pupates in ground July 20th to July 30th. Evidence, yel- 

 low leaf and orange colored frass. 



purpurifascia G. & R. — In root of Columbine (Aquilegia canaden- 

 sis). Pupates in ground July 15th to August 15th. Evidence, frass. 



rigida Grote. — In root of Heliopsis helianthoides, also in Helian- 

 thus decapitalis and Ztzia sp. Pupates in ground about August 5th. 

 Evidence, frass. 



nibiginosa Bird. — In stem and root of Heradeum lanatum and 

 Angelica afropurpurea. Pupates in ground July 20th to August 5th. 

 Evidence, frass. 



rutila Gn. — Life history unknown. Habitat, Illinois. 



sciata Bird. — In root of Speedwell (Veronica virginica). Pupates 

 in ground about August 15th. Evidence, frass and sometimes 

 dry or broken stalk. 



silphii Bird. — In root of Silphium terebinthinaceum, S. laciniatiim 

 and S. perfoliatum. Pupates in ground about August loth. 



speciosissima G. & R. — In root of Regal and Cinnamon ferns 

 (Osmtmda regalis and cinnamomea.) Pupates in ground about Au- 

 gust 1st. Evidence, slight, sometimes a dry leaf, usually only frass 

 and this a rusty-brown mud-like deposit. 



stenocelis Dyar. — In root of fern (Woodwardia virginica). Pu- 

 pates in ground about August 10th. Evidence, frass. 



unimoda Smith.— Life history unknown. Habitat, Colorado. 



verona Smith. — Life history unknown. Habitat, Winnipeg, Mani- 

 toba. 



Some instruction as to the necessary equipment and the 

 proper method of handling the larvae is essential. A strong 

 jack knife, a garden trowel (the writer uses a steel intrench- 

 ing tool, such as were carried by our soldiers in Cuba) and a 

 botanical collecting case or, in place of this, an ordinary grip, 

 are indispensable. A number of small vials or test tubes of %. 

 inch diameter and about 2 inches long are very useful. These 

 tubes should be corked and numbered for identification. They 



