by the larva, which was also present and included in this sending. Our 

 correspondent wrote that while examining the plants last autumn he 

 found that in disturbing the vines a clear- winged moth (the parent of 

 this borer) often flew out. 



As this insect does not appear to have received notice, even casually, 

 in any of our official governmental publications, the present paper has 

 been prepared. 



INJURY AT SANTA CLARA, CAL. 



Among the insects collected several years ago by Mr. A. Koebele 

 while acting as special field agent of this Division in California this 

 species was prominent. 



April 22, 1887, Mr. Koebele found numerous specimens of this spe- 

 cies, at that time in larva and chrysalis form, in the roots of strawberry 

 at Santa Clara, Cal. In the field examined about one-half of all the 

 plants were infested. Injury became manifest only after the old main 

 root was destroyed. All the chrysalides observed were in cocoons 

 formed of bits of roots within the roots and near an opening. The 

 mature moths began issuing April 30, and continued until July 2, 

 being most numerous toward the end of May. 



May 26 of the following year Mr. Koebele made a careful exami- 

 nation of the same field in which the insects had been observed 

 previously and noticed a general improvement. In places where plants 

 had been killed, many new ones had come up and larvae and pupae 

 were exceedingly rare. This was believed to be due to the free use of 

 water during the preceding spring, which resulted in the destruction 

 of the larvae, many dead and moldy specimens of which were found, 

 as well as some which were parasitized. From material gathered at 

 this time adults were again reared, the last individuals issuing July 

 2tt. Among this lot was an unusual variation, which Mr. Koebele 

 described as being entirely black. July 14 of the same year this species 

 was reared from raspberry. The larva was found boring in the roots 

 up into the dead stump, pupating about one inch above ground. 



BIOLOGIC LITERATURE. 



The first record that 1 find of the habits of this species is that pub- 

 lished by Mr. J. J. Rivers, in Volume III of Papilio (p. 26), in January, 

 1883. This is a short note from correspondence, and is headed JEgeria 

 hemizonice Hy. Edw. It is quoted in full: 



I have reared this species from the larva, a pallid grub with a darker head, feeding 

 in the roots, rhizome, or base of the canes of the cultivated raspberry, and devour- 

 ing the pith therein. This is looked upon by fruit growers as a direful insect, killing 

 the plant, root and branch, but the injury is not so great as supposed. The larva 

 feeds only on the pith, the loss of which is not immediately fatal, even to the part 

 affected, much less to the whole. I have observed these iEgerian larva3 always in 



