76 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



A Pine Saw-fly from Arkansas. 



I send you specimens of the pine worm of which you have received 

 mention. They are fast disappearing, but a great many of the largest 

 trees are completely stripped of their foliage, and the sign of their rav- 

 ages is visible on every tree and bush. I have never noticed but one 

 instance where they had eaten any other tree than the pine, aud that 

 was a small ash on which a few had lodged in falling from a tree after 

 defoliating it. The leaves of the ash had been eaten to a slight extent. 

 They never touch the new growth, but confine themselves entirely to the 

 growth of last year. * * * — [W. A. Moseley, Camden, Ark., May 

 4, 1883. 



[The pine worm proved to be the undescribed larva of a saw fly of the 

 genus Lophyrus. These insects undergo their transformation to pupre in 

 silken cocoons on the surface of the ground, among the leaves and other 

 rubbish ; hence burning over the surface of the ground iu winter, where 

 it is possible, will be a good remedy. Ornamental trees can be preserved 

 from their attacks by syringing them with hellebore water or Paris green 

 water. 1 



Saw-fly Larvae on Wheat Heads. 



I have as line a field of wheat as I have seen this season. This morn- 

 ing, in looking over it, I find upon the heads quite a number of such 

 worms as are here inclosed. They take a portion of the grains out of 

 the heads they attack. They are not very numerous, perhaps three or 

 four in a rod square. I am at a loss to know what they are, or whether 

 they will materially injure our wheat. My neighbors also have them. 

 Will you please inspect them? — [J. C. Hostetter, Minerva, Ohio, 

 June 16, 1883. 



Your favor of 21st instant is at hand ; also mailing box and stamps. 



I have just returned from a walk around a twenty-acre field of wheat. 

 My object was to pick off a dozen or more of those worms to send you. 

 To my utter surprise (though making diligent search) I found but three, 

 one of which I lost on my way to the house. Only a week ago I could 

 have found any number of them in the same field. They are now gone, 

 having either dropped off, or been taken by the birds, or both. Please 

 pardon me, therefore, for sending only those two discoveries for inspec- 

 tion. If I find more I will send again. I think these are full size, or 

 nearly. I found them on small heads of wheat, the same inclosed. You 

 are evidently clearly right in saying we need not apprehend much dam- 

 age from them. Their time is of short duration and seems to be con- 

 fined to the period soon after the wheat is in head. I don't think they 

 affect the kernels when fully formed. — [J. C. Hosietter, Minerva, Ohio, 

 June 25, 1883. 



