326 



County, Cal., inclosing us specimens of a scale insect which were 

 taken from trees imported this season from Florida, and which i^rove 

 to be the well-known Wax-scale of Florida [Ceroplastes florklensis). It 

 has not previously been reported from the State of California, and Mr. 

 Collins writes that the specimens are the first of the kind that have 

 been seen iu San Bernardino County. Up to the present time the spe- 

 cies has been supposed to be confined to the State of Florida, where 

 its principal food plant is the Gall-berry {IJejc glabra), a plant which 

 grows wild in the flat woods and in low grounds about ponds. It also 

 lives and thrives upon Quince, Apple, and Pear, and occurs everywhere 

 upon the Orange, but usually in insignificant numbers. It is not noted 

 as a pest in Florida, but occasionally it ^ill increase upon an individ- 

 ual tree so as to arouse apprehension. It is readily killed b}' the kero- 

 sene emulsion spray, which should be applied while the majority of the 

 insects are young. 



THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 



March 7, 1889. — Judge Lawrence Johnson presented a paper on the "Jigger-flea of 

 Florida," giving an account of its life-habits, and the damage which it causes to 

 young poultry. The best preventives are cleanliness and keeping the young chickens 

 away from dry, dusty places that are protected from rain. 



Professor Riley spoke of some Microgasters affecting Rhopalocera, dwelling upon (he 

 great variability of the species and the difficulty of finding specific characters. He 

 considers the sculpture, especially of the scutellum, as aftordiug the best character. 

 He identifies Microgaster pieridis Pack, as Apanteles glomeratus, although the American 

 form differs in the leg coloration. 



Mr. Marlatt read a paper on Lyccena comyntas, referring to an immense swarm of 

 these butterflies noticed flying about an elm tree at Manhattan, Kansas. Other in- 

 stances of the swarming of butterflies were mentioned iu the discussion. 



April 4, 1889. — Mr. M. L. Linell was elected an active member, and notice was given 

 that the third number of the Proceedings had been issued. A letter was read from 

 Baron C. R. Osten-Sacken, inclosing a note for publication entitled "Correction to 

 the Monographs of the Diptera of North America, No. 1, Washington, 1862." 



Dr. Marx read a paper called "Some spiders from the Galapagos Islands." This 

 paper was based on the collection made by the scientific force of the steamer Albatross. 

 and nearly all of the spiders were new. This paper gave rise to a discussion on the 

 value of insular faunse in the light of the theory of evolution. 



Mr. Schwarz read a paper on "Vitality of Insects in Cold Water." His observa- 

 tions were made on the shores of Lake Superior, where, under certain conditions, 

 immense numbers of insects are sometimes washed ashore. He explained this phe- 

 nomenon, and presented a tabular statement of the condition of insects of difterent 

 families. 



Mr. Howard presented a note on the "Mouth parts of the Cockroach," describing 

 in detail these parts and calling attention to a formerly unnoticed sclerite. 



William H. Fox, M. D., 



Ixecordinq Secretary. 



o 



