11 



conical basal piece, and a minute cylindrical, nipple-like apex. Cremaster Ijrown, 

 somewhat flattened, its base conical, yellow, and beset with brown teeth ; its tip 

 obliquely truncate, with a central puncture. The surface of the abdomen is covered 

 "with very minute sharp points, and its lateral margin is prominent, broad, and flat, 

 and resembles on each segment a flat scale. The position of the larva in its burrow 

 is in the shape of an S. 



Cocoon. — Length 10-13™'".' Colorless and transx3arent. Cylindrical, rounded at 

 both ends, filling completely the diameter of the channel, and situated near its base. 



Imago. — Male, female. — General color black and highly polished. Head large, with 

 sparseand very fine punctures on vertex. Clypeussparsely pilose. Eyes brown. Man- 

 dibles white, with the three teeth, of which the median one is much the smallest, 

 brown. Palpi pale yellowish, the two last joints somewhat brownish. Prothorax 

 highly polished, rarely withauypunctures,lts posterior margin, teguhie, base of wings, 

 a spot each side on mesothorux, posterior to base of wings, tip of scutellum, and a small 

 median spot on the metathorax yellowish white. Mesothorax closely punctured ; 

 punctures on scutellum somewhat coarser and not so dense; its disk and lower por- 

 tion of the sides often without punctures. Sternum profusely punctured and covered 

 with short grayish hair. Legs rufous, base of anterior and median coxaj and last 

 joint of their tarsi, apical two- thirds of posterior tibite and their tarsi black. Base 

 of posterior tibiic yellowish. Claws bifid, reddish, with black tips. 



Abdomen black, with either one, two, or three of the basal segments rufous in the 

 female; the abdomen of the male is entirely black dorsally ; ventrally, however, seg- 

 ments 1 to 4 are more or less reddish. Wings x^erfectly clear, iridescent, and without 

 any spots. Stigma and veins black. Costa yellowish-brown, darkest near stigma. 

 The basal transverse nerve of the first marginal cell is always abbreviated near the 

 stigma. 



THE SUGAR-CANE BEETLE INJURING CORN. 



[Lif/yrus ruglcejjs Lee.) 

 By L. O. Howard. 



This insect lias been known as a sugar-cane pest in Louisiana for 

 many years, gnawing into the stubble in early spring an J feeding from 

 the middle of Marcli until May and June. The writer's observations 

 upon this habit of the beetle, made in Louisiana during the spring of 

 1881, were published in the Annual Eeport of the Department for 1880, 

 pages 236-210 and in Special Report No. 35. In 1880 much loss was oc- 

 casioned by its work on the rich sugar plantations along the Bayou Teche. 

 During this j'ear Professor Riley received specimens from Daniel Thomp- 

 son, of Pat^ersonville, Saint Mary's Parish, and published a short ac- 

 count in the American Entomologist for May of that year (Vol. Ill, p. 

 130.) He had previously received specimens from a correspondent at 

 Baton Rouge, who reported the beetle as injurious to young corn and 

 grasses. 



In June, 1885, Professor Riley received specimens of this insect from 

 Mr. H. M. Houston, of Monroe, Union County, N. 0., who stated that 

 it was new to himself and neighbors, and that it worked just under the 

 surface of the ground, cutting into young corn with five or six leaves, 

 working iu as far as the heart, and killing the center blades without 



