State Museum of Natukal History. 71 



the base of the trees, so constructed as to prevent the egress of the larvae that de- 

 scend the trunks for pupation and their entrance into the ground, by a layer of 

 cement. The northward progress of the insect in New York is stated. 



The Carpet Beetle — Antlirenus scrophularice Linn. 



[Country Gentleman for August 14, 1884, xlix, p. 676-7, c. 3-1 — 48 cm. ] 



Gives in reply to inquiries from Manchester, Vt., its habits, habitat, injuries, 

 materials eaten, and transformations. Among the best preventives and remedies 

 are mentioned carbolic acid, creosote, gas-tar paper, benzine and kerosene, cyanide 

 of potassium, fumigation of closets with sulphur, and frequent searches for the 

 larvae. 



Insects Mining Beet Leaves. 



[Country Gentleman for August 14, 1884, p. 677, c. 2 — 13 cm. ] 



Leaves sent from Erie, Pa. are infested with larvae of a species of the Antho- 

 myiidce, probably one of the three species mentioned in my First Report on the In- 

 sects of New York, pp. 203-211. Some of the characteristics of these flies are given, 

 with notice of their mining operations in this country. 



Peach Root Aphis. 



[Gardener's Monthly and Horticulturist, Phiia., September, 1884, xxvi, pp. 271-2 — 29 cm. J 

 A root aphis which is destroying all the seedling peach trees of Mr. Lorin 

 Blodget, at Philadelphia, is believed to be Myzus persicm Salzer. For destroy- 

 ing it the following are suggested : Hot water, leached ashes and sulphur, bisul- 

 phide of carbon and soluble phenyle. As superior to the above, the sulpho-car- 

 bonates are recommended, and M. Dumas, of the French Academy, quoted upon 

 their use. 



A New Rose Pest — Homoptera lunata (Drury). 



[Country Gentleman for September 4, 1884, xlix, p. 737, c. 1-2 — 25 cm. ] 

 Caterpillars feeding at night upon rose buds in a rose-house in Madison, N. J., 

 prove to be Homoptera lunata. This food-plant had not been previously recorded. 

 The life-history of the species, as detailed by Prof. French, is given, together 

 with Guenee's description of the caterpillar ; also mention of the sexual differ- 

 ence in the moths, and the distribution of the species. Injury from the larvae in 

 rose-houses best prevented by hand-picking them. 



Jumping Seeds. 



[Country Gentleman for September 11, 1884, xlix, p. 757, c. 1-2 — 40 cm. ] 



The seed-vessels described — said to be a species of Euphorbia. The contained 

 insect (a lepidopter) causing the motion, was described and named as Garpocapsa 

 saltitans, by Prof. Westwood, in 1858, later by M. Lucas as G Deshaiziana. The 

 interesting generic relation of the insect is referred to, its leaps described, their 

 cause explained, and period of emergence of the moth stated. Three other kinds 

 of jumping seeds are known. Reference to further information. 



The White Grub — Lachnostema fusca (Frohl.). 



[Country Gentleman for September 11, 1884. xlix, p. 757 c. 2-3 — 22 cm. ] 



In reply to inquiries from West Stockbridge, Mass., of remedies, etc , reference 

 is made to a paper upon the insect giving about all that is known of it, published 

 in the Forty-third Annual Report of the New York State Agricultural Society, 

 for 1883. The starvation remedy, as there given and believed to be effectual, is 

 quoted. 



An Insect Attack New to the State — Isosoma tmtici, on wheat, 

 in Geneva. 



[Bulletin 100, New York Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, N. Y. , Oct. 4, 1884 — 86 cm.l 



First noticed in Illinois in 1880 ; its difference from Isosoma hordei ; location in 

 the upper internodes of the straw ; the larvae more abundant in the straw exam- 



