240 
was unknown to Signoret. The description of the European Pseu- 
dococcus cesculi of Signoret in some respects more accurately fits our 
species. We mention these facts to indicate that there is still a doubt; 
comparison with authentic European specimens can alone settle the 
question. 
Remedies, — Should this insect become so abundant as to threaten the 
health of valuable shade trees at any time, the most effective remedial 
work can be done during the winter. It will consist in scraping the 
bark of the trunk and larger branches and applying some oily insecti- 
cide. Miss Smith found by practical experience that a wash composed 
of 3 gallons water, J pound white hellebore, and 1 teaspoonful carbolic 
acid, put on with a white-wash brush during the warm days of winter 
and early spring, was effectual. 
Occurrence of the insect in England. — In The Entomologist's Monthly 
Magazine (vol. xxvi, p. 153) Mr. J. W. Douglas describes Pseudo- 
coccus aceris and refers to its first discovery in England May 24, 1889, 
in crevices of the bolls of lime trees. Douglas refers to Com stock's and 
Miss Smith's articles, and notes the discrepancy that the tarsus of the 
female imago is stated to be only half as long as the tibia, whereas Sig- 
noret says the tibia is three times longer than the tarsus. The position 
of the ovisac on the leaves, instead of on the trunks of the trees, also 
deviates from the habit of European examples, u but," says Douglas, 
''this may not have been the general habit;" a supposition which is 
not verified by this summer's observations. He also refers to the 
occurrence of a dipterous larva in the female ovisac. The adult was 
not reared. 
NOTES ON COTTON INSECTS FOUND IN MISSISSIPPI. 
By Wm. H. Ashmead. 
rContinued from Insect Life, vol. vn, p. 29]. 
ORDER HYMENOPTERA. 
Various kinds of bees and wasps are found quite plentifully in the 
blossoms of cotton and materially aid in poilenization, A long list of 
names could be furnished, but as no special effort was made in this 
direction, I shall confine myself here to recording my observations on 
such predaceous and parasitic forms as were brought directly under 
my notice. 
Several distinct species of digger-wasps of the family Larridae were 
observed in the cotton fields, searching eagerly for grasshoppers, 
crickets, locusts, etc., with which to provision their cells. Among these 
the most common were Tachytes obscurus Or., T.validus Cr:, and Tachy- 
sphex terminatus Smith. The last was observed twice dragging off a 
small immature cricket [Nemobius sp.). 
