217 



(2) The Boll or Corn Worms (Heliothis armigera^ were very numerous on late corn, 

 and I liave found from two to five worms of different sizes in most every ear of corn 

 examined. They likewise damaged the cotton crop to some extent. 



(3) The Sugar-cane Beetle {Ligyrus rugiceps) has beeu reported as doing considera- 

 ble damage to sugar-cane during the early part of the spring. 



(4) The Greasy Cut- worm (Agrotis ypsilon) was reported from all parts of this county 

 to be very destructive in cotton fields, cuttiug the plants, and thereby seriously injur- 

 ing the stand of cotton. 



(5; The Cabbage Plant-louse (Aphis hrassicce) has beeu very numerous this past 

 season, seriously injuring the cabbage crop. 



(6) The Wavy-striped Flea-beetle (Phgllotreta viitata) has been during the past year 

 a great garden pest, and destroyed turnip and mustard plants especially. 



(7) The Southern Cabbage-butterfly (Pieris protodice) has been, in the larva state, 

 exceedingly injurious to the cabbage family. I noticed some of the butterflies on the 

 6th of November in our gardens. 



(8) I also wish to mention a beetle, the Twig Girdler (Oncideres cingidatus) which 

 has been very destructive to hickory and persimmon twigs in this count5^ I have 

 found them gnawing grooves around the twigs of large rose-bushes in my yard, sev- 

 ering the limb sufiflciently to make it fall to the ground by the first slight w^ind. 



(9) The Apple-tree Tent-caterpiller, as described on page 412 of the Annual Keport of 

 your Department for 1884, did serious damage to the plum and apple trees in this 

 locality.— [George H. Kent, Roxie. Miss., December 1, 1888. 



Larva of Hyperchiria io on Saw Palmetto in Florida. 



I send you a very beautiful caterpillar by this mail. I hope it will not be a chrys- 

 alis when it reaches you. It preys only on the Saw Palmetto so far as I have observed 

 a>nd does net damage that to any extent. I should be glad to get its name from you. 

 — [Robert Ranson, Canaveral, Fla., December 3, 1888. 



Reply. — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 3rd instant and the accom- 

 panying caterpillar found feeding upon the Saw Palmetto. This caterpillar is the larva 

 of the common To Moth, Saturnia io, so called on account of the large eye-spots on the 

 hind wings. The caterpillar is a very handsome one, but has the disagreeable prop- 

 erty of i)roducing a nettling effect upon the skin when handled. It spins its cocoon at 

 or just under the surface of the ground, and passes the winter in the xjupa state and the 

 moth emerges in the spring. This insect is so far from being confined to the Saw Pal- 

 metto that this is the first time it has been reported from this plant, so far as we know. 

 It is found upon the greatest variety of plants, and is common from New" York to Flor- 

 ida. It is seldom or never reported as appearing in sufficient numbers to be called 

 injurious. * * * — [December 7, 1888.] 



Acanthacara similis injuring Pineapple in Florida. 



I am forwarding to you by this mail an insect that I have recentlj' found eating 

 the leaves of Pineapple plants. I shall feel greatly obliged if you will kindly let me 

 know what it is and something of its habits. —[A. Haden, Orlando, Fla., December 2, 

 1888. 



Reply. — Your letter of the 2d instant and the box containing an insect found upon 

 the Pineapple plant have been duly received. The insect is one of our large katy- 

 dids, but has no common name. Its scientific name is Acanthacara similis. But 

 little is known concerning the habits of this insect except that it is a leaf-feeder 

 throughout its whole existence. The manner and place of depositing the eggs is not 

 known. Your Pineapples can doubtless be protected by spraying with a dilute solu- 

 i tion of Paris green or Loudon purple. Will you kindly inform us as to the numbers in 

 which this insect appears and the damage it does. — [December 7, 1888.] 



