246 



THE AMEEICAN 



Knots on Apple-tree roots, caused, b}^ Root- 

 lice — B. N. McKinMry, East Sumner, Ills, — The knots 

 on tlie roots of your one-year old apple root grafts are 

 undoubtedly the efleet of root-lice punctures. The 

 fact that they occur only on those grafts which you 

 bought, and not on those which you yourself grafted, 

 would indicate that the grafts were infested in the nur- 

 sery from which they came. These knots, as well as 

 the roots upon which they occur, will eventually rot, 

 and most of the grafts — not all — will die. There were 

 no lice on those you sent, but if lice still exist in your 

 nursery rows, their presence will be made manifest by 

 the bluish-white down which they secrete. Either root 

 up such infested grafts and destroy them, or try and 

 save them by removing the earth and applying hot- 

 water. In a x-ecent article, the Horticultural Editor of 

 the Praiiie Farmer (P. F. May 7, 'TO), states that hot- 

 water cannot possibly be of any practical use, but this 

 statement, like one or two others in the same article, 

 is made without sufficient deliberation. It will hold 

 good in reference to large, deep-rooted trees, but wc 

 know, from experiment, that hot-water is the best 

 ^ remedy that can be used against these lice in the nur- 

 sery, where the greatest damage is really done. Be 

 cautious next time, and inspect your grafts before 

 planting. 



Beetles IVamed — W. W. Danielh, Madison, Wis. — 

 The smaller beetle which you send is the common Twig- 

 borer (BostricMs Meauilafus). The large gray snout- 

 beetle found eating the apple leaves off just at their base, 

 is the New York Weevil {Jthycenis novaiboracensis, A. E., 

 Vol. I, Fig. 157). The Missouri Reports arc sent po.stagc 

 free for the price advertised on page 170 of the present 

 volume . 



Bag'-tvarni — M. M. Hooteii, Centralia, Ills. — The 

 worms which you found on your peach trees, and which 

 '•carry their houses on their backs and stand on their 

 heads," are the young larvaj of the common Bag-worm 

 (Thyridopteryx epliemermformis , sec p. 3.5). As they grow 

 older they will let their houses hang down. 



Xlie Larder Beetle — Dr. S. II. KritdeXbaugh, Wis. 

 — The brown hairy larvrc which taper from head to 

 tail, and which are furnished with two short, curved, 

 horny spines on top ot the last joint, arc the larva: of the 

 common Larder Beetle, also olten called the Bacon 

 J Beetle {Dermestes lardarius). We never knew them to 

 / occur before in bee hives; but, as they feed on feathers, 

 ^ horn, hoofs, and other such (to us) indigestible sub- 

 stances, it is not surprising that they also relish wax. 

 Those you sent fed ravenously upon it; and, after 

 changing their coats several times, became beetles. The 

 beetle measures about 0.30 inch in length, and is dark 

 brown, with a characteristic pale yellowish-brown band 

 containing six black dots across the upper half of the 

 wing-covers. 



Water Bug^ — Wm. 3. Harrington, Clinton, Iowa. — 

 The long-bodied, brown water insect, with two long 

 but stiff tail appendages, and with the front pair of legs 

 somewhat resembling the front arms of the Ilear-horse 

 [Mantis), is the Dusky Rauatra (lianatra fusca, Beauv.) 

 It is tolerably common, and dashes with rapid and 

 sudden jerks over the surface of the water. 



Katydid Ii:g^g:s — Jason Owen, MMiart City, Uls. — 

 The eggs you send are those of the Oblong-winged 

 Katydid. (See A. E., I, Fig. 120.) 



Greg:arions AVoriiis ou Horse Cbestuut — Wni. 

 S. Howard, Forsyth, J/o.— The worms on Horse Chest- I 

 nut are, as you suggest, the larvie of Tmirix Kileyana, \' 

 figured and described in your First Entomological .Re- 

 port. The eggs are deposited on the leaves. Yes, it 

 has a parasite, for we have bred an undescribod species 

 / of Mia-odus from it. 



[rig. 133.: Pupa of the Disippus Butterily — 

 Tyra Montgomery, Mattoon, Ills. — The curi- 

 ous brown and cream-colored pupa (Fig. 

 l.'>o), with a strange knife-edged projection 

 that is often likened to a Roman nose, is 

 the pupa of the Disippus Buttei-ily (Limeni- 

 tis disippus, Godt.) The butterfly is rep- 

 reseated at Figure 133 of om- first volume, 

 and is a tolerably common species. The 

 larva feeds on willow and cottonwood, and 

 passes the winter in a snug little retreat 

 formed by part of a leaf. 



Pricfely Rose Gall — J. Cochrane, Ilaeana, Ills. — 

 The round prickly protuberances found on a wild rose, 

 are galls made by a four-winged fly belonging to the 

 genus Bliodites, and first described by Harris under the 

 specific name of hifolor. 



J. P. S., TereH.— The green prickly galls with a beau- 

 tiful rosy tint, found so common on one of your wild 

 dwarf roses, are tlie same as that mentioned above, 



Insects Iceding on Sap ot BlacK Walnut — 

 Dr. M. Barrett, Waulcesho, TFas.— Yes, the flies you send 

 belong to the genus Psocus, and are the common venoms 

 of Burmcister. y 



liocust Borer — ".'Irbor,'' ColumVia, Mo. — TheboreW 

 you refer to is undoubtedly the common Locust Borer ^ 

 /{Arhopalus 7-ohinia'.). To prevent its attacks apply soft 

 soap to the trunks of your young trees every summer 

 about the first of August. 



To Xlxterniinate Cocliroaches — B. F. Weitbree, 

 Birmingham, Olio.— Una pulverised borax, and sprinkle 

 freely in flicii- liaunts. It is harmless to the higher 

 animals, usskv, 'V>^ 



TAKE NOTICE. 



All letters, desiring inforniatiou respecting noxious or other insects, should 

 be accompanied by Bpecimens, the more in number the better. Such apeci- 

 mena ahould tilwaya be packed along with a little cotton, wool, or some such 

 Bubstauce, in any little paste-board box that ia of convenient aize, and never 

 enclosed loose in the letter. Botanists like their specimens pressed aa flat aa a 

 pancake, but entomologists do not. "WTienever possible, larvae {i. e. grubs 

 caterpillars, maggots, etc.) should be packed alive, in some tight tin 

 box— the tighter the better— along with a supply of their appropriate food 

 sufficient to last them on their journey ; otherwise they generilly die on the 

 road and shrivel up to nothing. Along with the specimens send as fUll an 

 account as possible of the habits of the insect, respecting which you desire 

 information ; for example, what plant or plants it infests; whether it destroys 

 theleavea, the buda, the twiga, or the stem ^ how long it has been known to 

 you; what amount of damage it has done, etc. Such particulars are often 

 not only of high scientific intereat, but of great practical, importance. 



Q®~ Our readers will confer an especial favor by addressing all letters of a 

 business character to the publishers, as the editor has no time to attend to 

 such letters. 



DBAUaHTSMAlT "SST ANTED. 



"We Ciiu give employment to a good Dniughtsnian. and especi- 

 ally to one who Ims a taste foi' tlie study of Entomology, and is 

 desirous of improving liis knowledge in tliis department of 

 Natural Seieuce. None but those who liave had practice in 

 drawing minute objects need apply. For particulars and terms 

 address the editor of this department. 



"Wanted. —We are desirous of obtaining living larviB of 

 Attacus luna ami promethea. Can any of our entomological 

 friends furnieli them? 



^A^vl -^ ^ ' 



