120 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Vol. xvi. 



the manner in which the grasshopper, Spharagemon saxatile, rests on rocks where it is 

 well protected by its color, and mentioned the many Sesiidfe resembling Hymenoptera 

 and especially the species Algeria apiformis, which is so named on account of its 

 mimetic resemblance. Mr. Davis also exhibited several species of Conocephahts show- 

 ing that both the brown and green forms of the various species could be found. 



Dr. Zabriskie spoke " On the Swarming of the Weevil Sp/ie>/op/iorits." He said 

 that recently his son, who was employed in the Diehl Co., which is part of the Singer 

 Mfg. Co., situated at Elizabethport, N. J., called his attention to the fact that a wee- 

 vil was swarming at that place in immense numbers. On securing some of the insects 

 he found that they were Sphenophorus pertinax. They came from a northerly direction 

 and in such immense numbers that they became a nuisance. Many of them struck 

 against the walls of the buildings and fell to the ground. Evidently they were aided 

 in their flight by the gentle wind which was blowing at the time. The swarm lasted 

 three days before it began to disappear. A box containing several species of this 

 genus was exhibited by Dr. Zabriskie, who inquired whether any of the members had 

 noted a similar swarming. It was mentioned that the beetles probably came from the 

 marshes directly north of Elizabethport where they breed in the cattails, and Dr. 

 Wheeler stated that he had seen numbers of them washed up on the shores of Lake 

 Michigan. Mr. Leng stated that at one time he had observed a swarm of Melanactes 

 piceus on Staten Island. Dr. Zabriskie said that he had noticed a variation in the 

 color of the insects and that upon examination he found the coloring to be due to 

 numerous fine hairs. Dr. Wheeler stated that in Lixtis the coloration had been found 

 by Leidig to be due to secretions which were replaced when rubbed off. 



Dr. Wheeler said that on November 3 while at Garrison-on-Hudson he had 

 found a number of nests of Polistes metric us attached to a boat-house and that 

 hanging on some of these were a few females, larvpe in cells, and honey in some of 

 the empty cells. Thus a tendency was indicated by these insects to store food and 

 hibernate. He stated further that Marshal and other European writers had noted 

 this tendency in some species, among others Polistes gallica. A Polistes in Cali- 

 fornia had been observed storing honey in quantity in its combs and this was also 

 done by many species of South American wasps. A nest in the museum of a species 

 of Polybia from Mexico Dr. Wheeler had found interesting in this respect. There 

 was a zone of brood in the center of the combs of the nest, then a circle of empty 

 cells and finally an outer zone of honey-filled cells. Accounts tell of early travelers 

 in South America finding these nests, eating the honey and becoming sick as a result. 

 In temperate regions this instinct is rarely noted and is probably a vestige of a 

 Polistes habit well-developed in a former age when the insect lived in warmer regions. 

 Mr. Southwick stated that he had examined many nests of Polistes but had never 

 been able to find any honey in them. 



In the early part of the year, on Staten Island, Mr. Davis observed on the same 

 day in tin cans a number of Polistes nests and had found from one female and three 

 cells to three females and several cells present. In Texas, it was noted, that many 

 Polistes hibernate together. 



Society adjourned. 



Meeting of December 3, 1907. 



Held at the American Museum of Natural History. President C. W. Leng in 

 the chair, with fifteen members and four visitors present. 



