107 . 

 NOTES FROM CORRESPONDENCE. 



Habits of Atta insularis Guerin in Cuba. — A correspondent, Mr. A. M. Yznaga, 

 sending specimens of a leaf-cutter antj Atta insularis, writes that these insects were 

 introduced some years ago into the hills of another rather destructive ant, and 

 proved to he even more injurious than the original species, since they did considera- 

 ble damage to young poultry, and, in fact, to all young domestic animals. He writes 

 further: "I remember that my father some years ago was advised to propagate this 

 ant in his cane fields, where mice and worms were doing great depredations to the 

 sugar cane. That evil was most effectually stopped, but, on the other hand, the 

 estate was ruined for several years for breeding purposes. Even newly born chil- 

 dren had to be watched, otherwise they would be bitten to death or have their eyes 

 severely injured. In 1869 I visited the place with the idea of turning it into a cattle 

 ranch, and had to give it up. The ants were so numerous that they actually would 

 put out burning charcoal. A hole was dug in the ground and embers put into it; 

 so many would crawl over them that they would extinguish the fire. In 1876 they 

 disappeared from the estate." 



A New Name for an Old Insect.— Under date of June 28, 1899, we received from 

 a correspondent at Princeton, Iowa, a letter of inquiry in regard to what he calls 

 "the new potato beetle or fly," on potatoes, which from the description was 

 undoubtedly a blister beetle. The insect was said to be very destructive, taking 

 the place of the "old-style potato bug," by which our correspondent undoubtedly 

 referred to the Colorado potato beetle. Soon after the advent of the latter species 

 in the East the blister beetles became known as the "old-fashioned potato beetles/ 7 ' 

 and it is one of the strauge reversals that sometimes happen that has led to the 

 Colorado potato beetle being now called "the old-style potato bug," while the 

 original potato destroyers are known as "the new potato beetles." 



Injury by Wingless May Beetles in Texas. — May 22, 1899, Mr. G. G. Hood wrote 

 from China Springs, Tex., that the distended May beetle, Laclinosterna far eta Lee, 

 specimens of which were sent, was doing injury to collards in that vicinity. The 

 beetles were observed to be working at night from dark until about 10 o'clock, when 

 they deserted the plants and entered the ground to a depth of about 4 inches. They 

 were first observed by the 1st day of March and had visibly decreased in numbers 

 after the 1st of May. Young plants they devoured completely; older plants they 

 defoliated, leaving the main stalk. Another May beetle, Laclinosterna lanceolata Say,. 

 was also found to attack collards and was noticed more or less every year since 1890. 

 Their principal food was stated to be "careless weed" (Ainaran thus), two or three 

 species of which grow commonly in or near cornfields. 



The New York "Weevil in Virginia. — Writing of the so-called Xew York weevik 

 Ithycerus novaboracensis Forst., in 1871, the late Dr. Eiley said that this beautiful 

 beetle often did considerable damage to fruit trees and that he was receiving it every 

 spring from persons who desired information concerning it. Evidently since that 

 time the species has for some reason been on the decrease, as no cases of injury have 

 been reported to this division since June of 1879, when damage was observed to 

 fruit trees in southern Illinois. 



May 22, 1899, Mr. George W. Sandefur, Sidna, Carroll County, Va., sent specimens 

 of the beetle with the information that the species was destroying his apple trees, 

 cutting off the leaves and twigs of various lengths from 2 to 6 inches. Work was 

 noticed to be done chiefly at night. 



The present year injury was noticed at Rome, Ga., to apple and peach trees, as 

 reported by Mr. A. L. Quaintance in a preceding bulletin (Bui. Xo. 20, p. 58). 



Appearance of the Twelve-spotted Asparagus Beetle near New York City. — 

 Writing under date of June 6, 1899, Mr. Richard F. Pearsall states that on the pre- 

 vious day he discovered a colony of the introduced asparagus pest, Crioceris 12-punc- 

 tata, in the outskirts of Brooklyn, the beetles being sufficiently abundant to permit 



