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Study of sexual characters in Scolytidw. — During the latter part of 
July and the first of this month I have been engaged in a systematic 
study of the sexual characters of species in the family Scolytidae, which 
has resulted in the discovery of some new and interesting facts that 
I will refer to in a paper before Section F. 
Conclusion. — In conclusion, I may say that at the close of this year 
I realize more than ever the importance of confining my energies as 
far as possible to one or two restricted lines of research. Owing to the 
fact that the products of the forests of West Virginia are among her 
principal natural resources, and that forestry, under some organized 
sj'stem of management, will become necessary in the future, I have 
felt that the study of forest and shade tree insects is the line demand- 
ing especial attention in our State. 
I realize that I have a difficult and endless task before me in the 
study of this class of insects, and that considerable preliminary work 
on the obscure habits of many of the species must be done before the 
best results can be obtained, but at the same time it is a line rich in 
opportunities for original work, and in possibilities for doing present 
and future good in promoting the interests of forestry. 
Mr. Smith referred to the melon aphis which had been abundant and 
destructive in Xew Jersey during the season. He has found Coccinel- 
lidre in great numbers, but helpless as against the rapid increase of 
the lice. He has seen them, however, where there were half a dozen 
or more species at work cleaning them out completely. This was later 
in the season and the damage was done. Behind the ladybirds the 
vines were clear of aphides, but curled, withered, dry, and blackened, 
the fruit sparse, undersized, and dirty — unsalable, in short. Way in 
advance were the aphides attacking new vines. He had noticed that 
the Coccinellids and their larvaB exercised a nice discrimination, feed- 
ing on healthy lice only and leaving those that were parasitized or 
killed by fungus disease. 
Concerning Phymatodes variabilis, he had made a number of obser- 
vations in Ocean County early in the season, examining piles of cord 
wood. It is extremely abundant in wood that has been cut one entire 
year, and the larvae work between bark and sap wood in such num- 
bers as to loosen it, from which the woodmen call them "bark slippers." 
Sometimes the larvae bore into the solid wood quite deeply and the 
pupa forms wherever the larva has been feeding. He has never found 
them in the bark, but this may be because there was not enough of it. 
Mr. Hopkins said that in bark of two or three inches thickness pupa' 
were occasionally found entirely within the bark and not between the 
bark and the wood. 
Mr. Smith further discussed the Sciara mentioned by Mr. Hopkins 
as breeding in mushroom beds and manure, stating that he had found 
