220 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 
suppose that they are. It seems to be almost a general feeder, as it is not 
confined to any particular order of plants for its food, though in this 
locality it seems to confine its ravages mostly to CRucirER#. They will 
congregate on the plant as long as there is room for one of them, and 
continue sucking the life-supporting juices, which soon causes the plant to 
wiltand die. They are very active, and, when disturbed, swarm like so 
many gnats, which they more resemble, when flying, than anything else. 
In the morning, while the due is on the plants, they are found concealed 
in the shriveled up leaves, and are rather sluggish ; and by plucking these 
and putting them into an old tin pail, with live coals of fire at the bottom, 
many of them may be destroyed. Lime has been tried to a slight extent, 
but seemingly without effect. We have not discovered either the eggs or 
the young, yet like their cousin, the chinch bug, wet weather is unfavor- 
able to their production, and after a heavy rain it will be difficult to find 
many of them for several days. We give herewith the first description of 
this insect, to our knowledge, that has been written. The specific name, 
raphanus, was given it from its food plant, the radish, upon which we first 
noticed it. It belongs to the sub-order Heteroptera; and, like most 
insects of that order, is not by any means destitute of that unpleasant 
“bed buggy” smell. We hope by the end of the season to be able to 
procure the eggs and young, and to be able to write a more complete 
history. 
NOTE ON HESPERIA COMMUNIS, Grofe.—This species, which is 
described as Syricthus communis on page 69 of this volume, is identical 
with Mr. Scudder’s Hesperia tessellata, described in the Fourth Annual 
Report of the Trustees of the Peabody Academy of Science, Salem, 1872. 
As I learn from Mr. Edwards and Mr. Scudder, my description was 
written in 1871 and published in April, 1872. Mr. Scudder’s paper, in 
which his description of this species occurs, was, according to page 1 of 
the Report, “read, accepted and ordered to be printed,” Jan. 13th, 1872. 
I do not know the exact date of the issue of the Report from the press. 
A similarity of name with that proposed by Mr. Scudder, in an European 
species (ZZ. ¢essellum) might assist in according a preference to the name I 
have proposed as above for our American species.—A. R. GROTE. 
THE AMERICAN ENTOMOoLOGIST.—I have a few bound copies of the 
two volumes of this periodical, which I will send post-paid by mail upon 
receipt of $3.50 per volume, or $6.50 for both. Address C. V. RILEy, 
Room 29, Insurance Building, St. Louis, Mo. 
