914 General Notes. [November, 



2d. — We have an allied species, boring in the leaf-stalk of 

 buckeye, in Ohio, as observed by Mr. Claypole. It bears some 

 resemblance to Proteoteras cesculana, but differs from it in the fol- 

 lowing particulars, so far as can be ascertained from the poor ma- 

 terial examined: The primaries are shorter and more acuminate 

 at apex. Their general color is paler, with the dark markings 

 less distinctly separated. No distinct tufts of scales or knobs 

 appear, and the ocellated region is traversed by four or five dark,. 

 longitudinal lines. It would be difficult to distinguish it from a 

 rubbed and faded specimen of cesculana, were it not for the form 

 of the wing, on which, however, one dare not count too confi- 

 dently. It probably belongs to the same genus, and we would 

 propose for it the name of claypoleana. The larva is distinguished 

 from that of cesculana by having the minute granulations of the 

 skin smooth, whereas in the latter each granule has a minute 

 sharp point. 



^.—Scricoris instrutana is a totally different insect. Hence 

 our previous remarks as to the diversity of food-habit in this 

 species have no force.— C. V. R. 



Defoliation of Oak trees by Dryocampa senatoria in Per- 

 ry county, Pa.— During the present autumn the woods and road- 

 sides in this neighborhood (New Bloomfield) present a singular 

 appearance in consequence of the ravages of the black and yel- 

 low larva of the above species. It is more abundant, so I 

 am informed, than it has ever been before. In some places 

 hardly any trees of the two species to which its attack is here- 

 limited, have escaped. These are the black or yellow oak (g. 

 Hnctoria) with its variety icoccined), the scarlet oak and the scrub 

 oak (Q. ilicifolid). These trees appear brown on the hill-sides from 

 a distance, in consequence of being altogether stripped of their 

 leaves. The sound of the falling frass from the thousands of 

 caterpillars resembles a shower of rain. They crawl in thousands 

 over the ground, ten or twelve being sometimes seen on a square 

 yard. The springs and pools are crowded with drowned speci- 

 mens. They are equally abundant in all parts ol the county, 

 which I have visited during the past week or two — the central 

 and southeastern. — E. IV. Claypole, N. Bloomfield, Pa. 



Efficacy of Chalcid egg-parasites. — Egg-parasites are 

 among the most efficient destroyers of insects injurious to vege- 

 tation, since they kill their victim before it has begun to do any 

 damage ; but few persons are aware of the vast numbers in which 

 these tiny parasites occasionally appear. Owing to the abun- 

 dance of one of them {Trichogramma pretiosa Riley) we have 

 known the last brood of the cotton-worm to be annihilated, and 

 Mr. H. G. Hubbard reported the same experience at Centerville, 

 Fla. Miss Mary E. Murtfeldt has recently communicated to us 

 a similar experience with a species of the Proctotrupid genus 



