9384 Entomological Society. 
Hemiptera, and to place it amongst the Homoptera in a genus of the family of Gall- 
insects. I would propose to call it Gasteralphe, a name which perfectly designates 
the most prominent peculiarity of its external form.” 
Professor Westwood remarked that it was perfectly clear, from the description and 
from the plates, that the insect which Dr. Icéry supposed to be the male of the Coccus 
was not a Coccus at all; it was a species of Coccophagus, a Hymenopterous (Chalci- 
ditic) parasite upon Coccus. The female described was doubtless a true Coccus, the 
male of which was, he presumed, still unknown. The action which the author bad 
mistaken for the impregnation of the female Coccus was, in fact, the deposition of the 
eggs of the female Coccophagus in the body of the Coceus. Dr. Ivéry’s observations 
on the effect of different fluids on the larvae were} very interesting, particularly as to 
the powerlessness of water and the rapid action of spirits of wine, which might be 
explained by the fact that the downy matter surrounding the larve, being of the nature 
of lac, was insoluble in water and soluble in spirit. 
Mr. W. W. Saunders mentioned that for some years he had used spirits of wine in 
his greenhouses for cleansing plants and clearing them from insects; he mixed the 
rectified spirits and pure water in equal proportions, and this mixture, which was found 
to answer better than undiluted spirit, was applied with a brush. It was very effica- 
cious in the destruction of the common mealy bug (especially when young) aud other 
common pests, and he recommended it as worthy of application in the greenhouse 
generally. 
Professor Westwood called attention to the Report of a Commission which had 
been appointed by the Committee of Council for Education to enquire into the causes 
of decay in wood carvings, and the means of preventing and remedying the same. 
The insects which in this country were found to be the most injurious, from their 
habit of burrowing into the wood of furniture, were three beetles of the family Ptinidx, 
viz., Ptilinus pectinicornis, Anobium striatum and A. tessellatum. Numerous experi- 
ments had been made with carbolic acid, chloroform and benzine, specimens of furniture 
attacked by the worm being submitted to the action of the vapour of these different 
substances; other specimens were saturated with corrosive sublimate dissolved in 
methylated spirits of wine. The conclusions at which the Commission arrived were 
(1), that the action of the worm may be arrested and the worm itself destroyed by 
vaporization, more especially by the vapour of benzine; (2), that carved work may be 
completely restored by an injection of vegetable gum and gelatine, in order to fill up 
the worm holes and strengthen the fabric of the carvings ; and (33), that after the worm 
has been destroyed, further attacks from it can be prevented by treating the carved 
work with a solution of corrosive sublimate, either in methylated spirits of wine or 
parchment size, according to the character of the surface of the wood-work; the 
strength of the solution being sixty grains of chloride of mercury to a pint of fluid, 
whether methylated spirit or parchment size. 
Paper read. 
Mr. J. S. Baly read a paper entitled “ Descriptions of new Genera and Species of 
Phytophaga,” in which sixteen new species were described, and four new genera 
established under the mames of Euphene, Sophrena, Nisotra and Glycernia.— 
J. W. D. ; 
PRINTED BY EDWARD NEWMAN, 9, DEVONSHIRE STREET, BISHOPSGATE, N.E. 
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