68 



* 



been able to visit tlie district or obtain any specimens of the destructive species. 1 

 expect, however, that they arc the Camnnla pelJucida (C. atrox), as this species ap- 

 pears to be abundant this year iu Colorado. 1 fouud it particularly abundant at the 

 head of the Arkansas River, iu Freuiout Pass, and also in the streets of Leadville, 

 both these localities beiog on the eastern slope. — [Theo. D. A. Cockerell, West Cliff, 

 Custer Couuty,Colc., December 1. 1887. 



[See Second Report U. S. Entomological Commission.] 



Dicerca a Poplar-feeder. 



A fevv^ weeks ago I discovered a Coleopterous larva, 15| millimeters long, boring into 

 a Populus tremuloides tree. I put it into spirits for future investigation, and thought 

 no more about it until I came across the figure of larva of Dicerca divaricata (Third 

 Report U. S. Eut. Com., PI. VI, Fig. 2), and noticing the resemblance to my larva, 

 took out the latter for comparison. There can be no doubt. I think, that my larva is a 

 Dicerca — probably D. lyroJongata Lee. ( vide former letter ), thus fully confirming this as 

 a poplar (and not pine) feeder, and establishing it as a decidedly injurious insect. 



To me personally, however, it is a beneficial insect, since it kills just enough trees 

 in this neighborhood to keep me supplied with dry fire-wood. — [T. D. A. Cockerell, 

 West Cliff. Colo., December 27, 1887. 



An Enemy to Young Carp. 



I inclose two insects — No. 1, the larger, sent to me by a gentleman who states that 

 it fastens on the carp fish and finally kills it. * * * — [W. L. Jones, Atlanta, 

 Ga., October 3, 1834. 



Reply. — * * * r^Y^Q specimen, No. 1, which is reported to have attacked and 

 killed a carp, is the larva of one of our common Dragon Flies or Mosquito Hawks (Fam- 

 ily LibellulidiE, Order Neuroptera), the si)ecies having been described as Anax Junius 

 These larva? are aquatic, and feed upon all sorts of soft-bodied water insects they can 

 get hold of. They are also known to attack young fish, but this is a rare occurrence, 

 since the larvae are slow-moving animals and by no means able to pursue a fish.- " 

 [October 7, 1884.] 



NOTES. 



THE TWELVE SPOTTED DIABROTICA INJURING FRUIT TREES. 



A new habit of this destructive species was brought to our attention 

 the present spring. Mr. J. Lather Bowers, who resides at Heindon, 

 Va., lias a young orchard consisting of trees planted for the most part 

 in the spring of 1887. The neighboring fields are partly cultivated and 

 partly grass lands, with no forests near. Most of the field in which the 

 orchard stands was in corn last year and is entirely so planted this 

 year. Last year, however, there was a half acre of melons on the south 

 side. The trees made a fine growth last year and are now vigorous and 

 promising except where the leaves have been eaten. The orchard con- 

 sists of rather more than 2,500 trees, of which 7G0 are plums, and the 

 rest are ])each, pear, cherry, apple, and apricot. The varieties are min- 

 gled together, the apples, however, being set out to form a permanent 

 orchard. In the latter part of Ajnil and the first of May, when the 

 leaves were putting forth, I\Ir. liowers observed the beetles of the Twelve- 



