87 



active during the crop growing season, and there is nothing to indicate 

 that we will not again be visited by this plant-louse here, especially 

 since this or an allied species of plant-louse, as previously observed, 

 was active in the field during the winter months. 



It is worthy of remark that Professor Johnson kept the insect feed- 

 ing upon clover. Though we have been unable to find specimens on 

 clover in this vicinity, only one variety of common white clover grow- 

 ing in the garden patch where the insect was noticed, possibly they 

 may show greater preference for another variety of clover or other 

 perennial plant. Should no such plant be available in other districts, 

 it might be the cause of the insect's dying out to a very considerable 

 extent. 



REMEDIES. 



Nothing new in the line of remedies has developed during the sea- 

 son. Our correspondents have been advised to use kerosene emulsion, 

 the standard remedy for plant-lice, and it has been suggested that some 

 benefit might follow the rotation of crops. It is a matter of consider- 

 able importance that the preferred alternative host plant or plants, if 

 such exist, be discovered, so that the insect may also be killed upon 

 them after their departure from the old pea vines, and that their culti- 

 vation may be avoided in the vicinity of peas and other crop plants 

 subject to injury by this insect. 



A NOTE ON THE MEXICAN BEAN WEEVIL. 



(Spermophagus pectoralis Sharp.) 



November 15, 1899, we received from Mr. Jared G. Smith, of the 

 Division of Botany of this Department, specimens of a large bean, 

 evidently native to the place from which it was received — Lima, Peru — 

 and infested by the exotic Bruchid, to which the writer has applied the 

 name of Mexican bean weevil, and which has previously received men- 

 tion in recent publications of this Division as Spermophagus pectoralis 

 Shp. 



This adds a new locality to the list given by the writer in volume 

 VII of Insect Life (p. 328). 



Careful comparison of the large series of this species now in the 

 National Museum collection with the description furnished by Schoen- 

 herr of Spermophagits semifasciatus points strongly to their identity. 



In the year 1858 M. H. Lucas presented before the Entomological 

 Society of France a few remarks on the habits of S. semi fascial a** 

 describing the male, which was not noticed by Schoenherr, and evidently 

 also not known to Sharp in liis treatment of pectoralis. As this com- 

 munication is brief and of considerable interest, a translation is given 

 herewith : 



