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you at the time. You will remember that in that report I coucluded that the only 

 remedy likely to give satisfaction was spraying with either London purple or Paris 

 green. I would advise you to give either of these poisons a thorough trial, and 

 anticipate success. — [June 13, 1888.] 



AN ENEMY TO THE DATE PALM IN FLORIDA. 



I inclose two bulbs of date palms that show the work of some small animal or in- 

 sect that eats the bulbs and destroys the plants. "We have a large nursery of date 

 palms and they are being destroyed by the hundreds. The animal makes a hole about 

 the size of your little finger, but persistent dio;giug did not find him. Do you know 

 what it is? — [C. A. Bowdman, San Carlos Hotel, Saint James, Florida, February 3, 

 1888. 



Eeply. — * * * ^i^]^Q holes of wliichyou complain have probably been made by 

 the Palmetto Weevil {Rliijnchojyliorus cruentatns). This is the largest of our native 

 species of snout-beetles, and is very common in all of the Southern States in which 

 the palmetto grows wild. The beetle is sometimes nearly an inch in length, and its 

 usual color is a dull black, bntfrequentlj* specimens are found which are bright red or 

 red with black spots. Altho'ugh usually confined to the palmetto the beetles attack 

 all kinds of small palms. There is no remedy known except catching the beetles and 

 killing them. They can be caught in large numbers "by cutting off a palmetto plant 

 say 1 foot from the ground, when they will congregate in large numbers upon the 

 stump and can be picked off from time to time. The grub or larva of this species is 

 eaten as a delicacy in South America. — [February 7, 1883.] 



A VIRGINIA SIMULIUM CALLED "CHOLERA GNAT.'^ 



Inclosed herewith please find specimens of the ''Cholera Gnat," which I truvst will 

 reach you in good time and condition. 



The Cholera Gnat is the local name for these insects, because they are supposed to 

 produce or cause the chicken cholera. There is no doubt about their causing the 

 death of thousands of chickens and turkeys in this section yearly. I moved to this 

 place in January last and was told that it would be impossible to raise chickens or 

 turkeys as the cholera would kill them all ; notwithstanding which I bought both 

 chickens and turkeys, determined to fight the cholera should it ai^pear. Saw nothing 

 of it until about the 1st of April, when my attention was attracted first by the turkeys 

 shaking and rubbing their heads, and upon examination found the gnats upon the 

 wattles sucking vigorously. The gobblers and roosters are the first to succumb, as 

 their wattles and comb are larger, exposing a larger surface for the gnats to work 

 upon. The fowl grows weak and feverish ; the discharge from the bowels becomes 

 frequent and watery, resembling sulphur and water, and in a few days the fowl dies 

 of "chicken cliolera." 



I send you this specimen of these gnats hoping you can give me some information 

 regarding them, and can suggest a remedy. If I can free my chickens from these 

 gnats I am satisfied there would be no cholera. — [James T. Gilliam, Mossingford, 

 Charlotte County, Va., April 12, 1888. 



Reply. * * * The insect in question, and which you call the ** Cholera Gnat,'' 

 seems to be identical with the insect which is known in the Mississippi Valley as the 

 Turkey Gnat, and which I described scientifically for the first time in my report for 

 188(5 as Sitxnlium mcridionalc. It is closely allied to the celebrated Bulialo Gnat of 

 the Southwest and the equally' well-known Black Fly of the North Woods. I will 

 send you with this a copy of the report in which this species is described, which con- 

 tains a summary of what is known about these insects, and you will find, I fear, that 

 on th<5 whole it is rather unsatisfactory, especially as regards remedies. I should like 

 to hear from you as to whether the gnats appear during the greater part of the sum- 

 mer or if they are confined to a particular season. If the latter is the case, what is 

 the duration of this period ' You will notice from the report that the early stages of 

 these gnats are all passed in running waiter, and the illustrations will probably enable 



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