83 



cultivated ornamental plant of the genus Sambucus, called flowering 

 elderberry, and it is obvious that the presence of the insect upon the 

 vine was due in part to the proximity of the latter plant. 



I know of no record of this species having- previously been found 

 upon grape. In our most recent lists two synonyms are given, namely, 

 Botis plectilis G. & R. and Botys syringicola Pack. Guenee (Spec. 

 General Belt. Pyral., Yol. VIII, p. 364) gives Vaccinium as a food 

 plant, and Packard (New or Little-known Injurious Insects, p. 250) 

 states that the larva was found in the stem of lilac ; hence the name 

 syringicola bestowed upon it at that time. It would appear probable 

 from what we now know that this was a very unusual, if not accidental, 

 occurrence, as it does not seem likely that this larva is naturally both 

 a leaf-tyer and a stem-borer of woody plants. 



The larva is of a delicate light- green color, with two broad white 

 longitudinal bands extending along the dorsum. When full grown it 

 measures about three fourths of an inch in length. Just before attain- 

 ing maturity the ground color is light greenish, but within a few days 

 of pupation this turns to pinkish or flesh-colored, particularly along 

 the dorsum — a phenomenon of common occurrence in this genus. 



Such larva? as were collected began to mature July 12. One which 

 pupated on the 15th issued as a moth on the 26th, having remained in 

 the pupa state 11 days. A second was noticed to form its pupal case 

 July 26 and to transform three days later, the imago appearing 

 August 9. Other divisional records show that the moth issued March 

 9, 1881, and July 22, 1876, localities unknown. 



Comparison of the series recently reared, together with all the 

 material preserved in the National Museum, with a small series of P. 

 sambucalis Schiff. from France, in the same collection, show these two 

 species to be so closely related that one might be very readily per- 

 suaded to believe in their specific identity. The American specimens 

 are identical with others determined by Professor Fernald as Botis 

 plectilis. The European specimens were received from the late M. 

 Eagonot. 



The species is recorded or is represented in the national collection 

 and in our Divisional notes from the following localties in this country : 



Maine; New Hampshire; Massachusetts; Kendall, New York City, 

 and elsewhere in New York; Pennsylvania (Grote); New Jersey (J. B. 

 Smith); Onaga, Kans. (Crevecoeur) ; Colonial Beach, Va.; northern 

 Illinois (probably in the vicinity of Chicago), and Ohio. 



A FLEA-BEETLE LIVING ON PURSLANE. 



By F. H. Chittenden. 



July 30, 1898, while examining the fruit of melons at Marshall Hall, 

 Md., for evidences of insect attack, an egg mass was observed which 

 from the general appearance of the eggs was believed to be that of a 

 species of Disonycha. The following day the eggs had all hatched. 



