40 



tapering gently towards both ends. Of a light transparent green, the 

 head and cervical shield inclining to amber yellow, bnt with a greenish 

 tinge. Four small, whitish piliferous spots upon dorsum of segments — 

 the anterior pair somewhat nearest together. Very fine hairs arising 

 from these piliferous spots, as well as from sides. Larva very active — 

 jumping aside and squirming vigorously when touched, as in the larvae 

 of Garden and Beet Web-worms. Also spins a slight web when feeding, 

 to which it retreats when at rest. 



Mamestra sp. — While walking through the beet fields at Norfolk 

 a number of specimens of a Noctuid larva, apparently a Mamestra, 

 were taken, in company with the web-worms mentioned above. This 

 larva is about the size and has something of the same general appear- 

 ance of the dark form of M. chenopodii, but differs from that insect in 

 habits and markings. It was apparently quite plentiful, as specimens 

 were taken at several different points in the fields, and three of them 

 were found on a single row within 6 feet of one another. None of them 

 were reared, as my breeding jar was overturned and the caterpillars 

 destroyed by some one who meddled with affairs not belonging to his 

 duties. 



Anthomyia sp. — In connection with beet insects it might be well here 

 to refer to a Dipterous larva that was taken herein Lincoln mining the 

 leaves of Chenopodium album. Whether or not this is one of the spe- 

 cies of Anthomyia which Lintner found mining the leaves of beet in 

 New York, I can not say; but, from what I have observed heretofore 

 in connection with these weed-feeding insects, there is danger of all of 

 the enemies of the Ghenopodaceous plants attacking the beet. Hence, 

 whether this is a recorded enemy of the beet or not, it is very liable to 

 become such sometime in the future. In its mode of attack this larva 

 is somewhat peculiar, entering the leaf and feeding upon the pulp it soon 

 separates the cuticles, making the leaves appear blistered. The mag- 

 got, in case of the Chenopodium, requires the substance of several leaves 

 before coming to maturity, hence is obliged to pass from one leaf to 

 another. These maggots are from 7 to 8 mm in length and nearly 2 mm 

 in their greatest diameter. When ready to transform they enter the 

 ground and there undergo their change to the pupa. One of the im- 

 agos issued within ten days of the time of entering the ground. The 

 others, of which there were five, are still in the ground. 



Silpha opaca. — During my visit at Norfolk and while talking with 

 Mr. Huxman relative to Beet Insects in general, he mentioned the fact 

 of the injury done by Silpha opaca in Germany. He said that the larva 

 of this beetle was by all odds the most troublesome insect pest with 

 which beet growers in that country had to deal. Hand picking was 

 the remedy usually resorted to. He also stated that he had seen sev- 

 eral specimens of the insect during the past summer at West Point, 

 this State, upon sugar beets, and that he had killed them. He said 

 that he could not be mistaken about the insect, as he had seen too 



