86 



the same mail we received a second letter, from Mr. J. H. Hemenway, 

 Cienfuegos, Cuba, containing report of depredations by this same 

 insect on the coffee plants, it being described as very common and 

 completely destroying plantations. 



This species is mentioned in literature generally as Apate francisca 

 Fab., which is a synonym of carmelita, the latter being the male and 

 the former the female of the same insect. It may be remembered that 

 a note was published on this species (Ins. Life, Vol. VI, p. 274) as 

 boring in Lagerstrcemia in Jamaica. 



say's plant bug. 



(Lioderma sayi Stal.) 



One of the remarkabie outbreaks of the year 1903 was that of a 

 large green pentatomid bug (Lioderma [Pentatoma] sayi Stal.). It 

 was most injurious to grain, and especially to wheat, but in some cases 

 attacked a variety of other plants. Among interesting reports of 

 injuries received was one from Prof. C. P. Gillette, who wrote, August 

 19, that many wheat fields in Montezuma County, Colo., had been 

 reduced from 25 to 75 per cent. Fields of oats were also badly- 

 injured, and in some cases beans and peas were attacked. May 9, 

 Prof. T. D. A. Cockerell reported an outbreak in Arizona. At that 

 time the insect was so abundant that it threatened the ruin of the 

 grain crop in the vicinity of Pima, Thatcher, and Fort Thomas. It 

 was noticed that the insect was common also on wild plants in that 

 territory. At Phoenix, Ariz., and \ r icinit} T , Mr. Matthew M. Murphy 

 reported considerable damage, especially to late wheat. Mr. C. C. 

 Pitrat, Farmington, N. Mex. , reported September 9 that this bug had 

 caused much loss to the wheat crop of that vicinit}^, the bugs having 

 first been noticed July 20, when the wheat was in the milk. Three or 

 four bugs were found clinging to each head of wheat, seeming to suck 

 the juice from the forming seeds. It was estimated that the bugs had 

 badl} T damaged or completely ruined about half the wheat in San Juan 

 Count}^. It was observed that the bugs had a very offensive smell, 

 like that of the common squash bug (Anasa tristis). Mr. J. J. Star- 

 ley reported injury to potato vines at Fillmore City, Millard County, 

 Utah. From specimens received from this latter source, eggs were 

 deposited in Jury, and } T oung were observed Juh T 25. Reports of 

 injury chiefly to grain were also received from Safford and Tucson, 

 Ariz., and Cortez, Colo. 



AQUATIC BUGS OF COMMERCIAL VALUE AS FOOD. 



October 7, 1903, Dr. A. Hrdlicka, of the U. S. National Museum, 

 submitted for examination a large package of insects which he stated 

 were used as fish food in Mexico, whence they came. These insects 



