101 



cially to the variety known as the Bride. The beetles burrow into the 

 center of the roses, destroy the flowers completely, and also eat the 

 foliage. 



Some interesting observations have been made concerning the habit 

 of this ubiquitous flower beetle by Mr. James G. Needham (Amer. 

 Nat., Vol. XXXIV, p. 365). He observed it in the flowers of Iris 

 versicolor in New York State. The channeled sepals seeming to offer 

 a favorite place for an afternoon nap, several beetles were found 

 undoubtedly asleep. After repeatedly tickling two of a beetle's 

 feet, it stretched itself like a lazy boy awakening. Although the 

 beetle is not ill adapted by its size for visiting these flowers, it does 

 not seem to pass from flower to flower, and therefore is not an impor- 

 tant agent in pollen distribution. Upon reaching an Iris flower it is 

 seemingly habitually deceived as to the 

 point of entrance and endeavors for some 

 time to effect ingress at its center between 

 the branches of the cleft style. After 

 clambering in and out of the central cleft 

 repeatedly the proper entrance is at length 

 stumbled upon. The stupidity of the 

 species is summed up in the statement that 

 if the beetle were seeking pollen it might, 

 had it wit enough*, obtain plenty of it by 

 entering the other side up. 



The oak primer (JElaphidion villosum 

 Fab.). — November 8, 1900, we received 

 from Mr. F. A. Marlatt, from Manhattan, 

 Kans. , a package of stems of roses, evi- 

 dently sweet-brier rose (Rosa riibiginosa), 

 that had been amputated by this species, 

 some of the larvae being present in the 

 infested twigs. The oak pruner has been treated somewhat at length 

 in Bulletin No. 18 of the present series (pp. 35-40). 



The tobacco bud-ivorm (IMiothis [Ohloridia] rhexice S. & A.). — Au- 

 gust 4, 1900, the writer observed larvae of this species feeding upon 

 cultivated roses at Marshall Hall, Md. Larvae entered the earth on 

 the 13th and 11th, and the first moth appeared August 25, twelve days 

 later. This species was described by Smith and Abbot in 1797 (Nat. 

 Hist. Lep. Ins. Georgia, Vol. II, p. 199) under the name of Phalama 

 rhexice, the specific name having been given it on account of one of its 

 food plants, Bhexia virginica, Even at that early date the larva was 

 known to attack tobacco, and was, in fact, called the "tobacco-bud- 

 worm" by the authors mentioned. It was said to attack the bud and 

 blossom, and to be " very pernicious in Virginia and other places, as it 

 destroys the main shoot." Colored figures are given of the moth, 

 larva, and pupa. 



FiG.27.—Trichiuspiger: male beetle, 

 with female foreleg at right en- 

 larged (original). 



