89 



The cotton worm {Alabama argillacea Hbn.) and a common wasp 

 ( Vespa germanica Fab. ) were also quite abundant, feeding on apples. 

 The wasp especially w^as observed to eat apples so that nothing was 

 left but the skins. 



October 2 a curculio, Conotrachelus j^osticatus Boh., Avas observed 

 feeding on apple. 



May 15 one of the willow^ weevils, Dorytovius rnucidus Say, was ob- 

 served in the pupal stage under stones by the w^ater's edge along a 

 creek. The adult issued two days later. 



June 15 he observed a dipteron, Ecthodopa puhera Loew., feeding 

 on a wild bee of the genus Halticus. 



A moth, Glaphyria {Flomophysa) sesquistrialis Hbn., was reared 

 from larval cases in the nests of the ant, Cremastog aster lineolata Say. 



July 23 a large robber fly of the family Asilidee, Promachus verte- 

 hratus Say, was observed attacking a tachinid fly, Jurinia aterrima 

 Desv. The Asilid mentioned is often seen attacking Melanoplus 

 atlanis Riley and other grasshoppers. 



One of the long-horned grasshoppers, a species of Orchelimum, 

 doubtfully referred to imlgare^ was seen September 19 eating an adult 

 soldier beetle, C hauliognatJms pennsylv aniens DeG. 



SOME LOCAL NAMES FOK COMMON INSECTS. 



During August, 190J:, we received a number of insects from Hon. 

 J. D. Mitchell for identification and as a donation to the National 

 Museum, with notes on their habits and the local names applied to 

 them. The most interesting species are as follows : 



Pyrophorus physoclerus Germ., from Jackson County, Tex., known 

 as the "hominy beater," a name which it shares with Alans ocidatus 

 Linn, and other " snap bugs " as far north as Washington, D. C. 

 This species is luminous, having luminous spots on the thorax. 



Monedula Carolina Drury, the " cicada wasp ;" digs holes in the 

 sand and has been seen killing cicadas frequently, but no other insects. 



Dasymittilla orca, Blake, the " cow-killer ant;" a solitary species. 



Araehnophroctonus ferritgineus Say, the "red spider hawd^;" kills 

 spiders and buries them. An individual was observed dragging along 

 a large gray spider. 



