REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I9OO 99I 



Bedkwith states that it has been for several years at Elmira, Chemung co., 

 in considerable numbers. Central New York is a region where the pest 

 may be expected to flourish as well as it does in the Hudson river valley. 

 It certainly should be carefully watched, and steps taken, if necessary, to 

 prevent the serious damage inflicted on the elms in the eastern part of 

 the state. 



Gold gilt beetle (Chrysochus auratus Fabr.) . This species 

 lives by preference on the spreading dogbane, and, though there are 

 accounts of the beetle attacking other plants, 

 they are probably erroneous or the insects may 

 have been driven by hunger to feed on a plant 

 otherwise unmolested. The adult is a beauti- 

 ful greenish gilt insect which is quite common 

 in July in the vicinity of spreading dogbane. 

 The egg capsules are very interesting. They 

 have been previously described in the Jour- 

 nal of the New York eiitonioloHcal society. „ . . ^ 



•^ . ^'<^- ^- Eff^ capsule of Chry- 



3: 192, by Rev. J. L. Zabriskie, but, as the sochus auratus broken open 



account has been overlooked by many and ^° ^ °^ ^^^^ (ongma 

 is not accessible to others, a few notes are given at this time. The 

 egg capsules are black, conical masses occurring usually on the under 

 side of the leaves. They are pyramidal in shape, about 2 mm in 

 diameter at the base, nearly as high, and one may contain three or four 

 eggs, fig. I. Each egg is i^ mm long, .5 mm in transverse diameter and of a 

 yellowish white color. The egg shell is soft and its surface moist. The 

 covering capsule is quite firm and is composed of the excrement, or frass, 

 of the beetles stuck together with a glutinous secretion. The purpose of 

 this singular covering is undoubtedly as much to protect the eggs from 

 the drying influences of the atmosphere as to shield them from insect and 

 other enemies. The larvae drop to the ground and live at the roots of 

 this weed, it is stated. 



12 spotted asparagus beetle (Crioceris 12-punctata 

 Linn.). The distribution of this species has been noted as occasion has 

 offered. The following are additional to the localities recorded in my 

 previous report. Miss Harriet M. Smith sent specimens from North 

 Hector, Schuyler co., and R. H. Darrison took the insect at Lockport, 

 Niagara co. It was also received from Fred Warren, Pike, Wyoming co. 

 It was reported as present at Fredonia, Chautauqua co., and at Almond, 

 Allegany co., by J. Jay Barden ; and Dr Howard has informed me of its 



