360 
Osage orange; Parlatoria sp., on date palm imported from Africa; Lecanium olece, on 
oleander and on peach and apricot when growing near oleander; Aspidiotus sp., on 
lilac; Tachardia larrece, on Larrea mexicana ; Diaspis rouce, on roses; Lecanium phora- 
dendri, on Phoradendron Jiavescens ; Diaspis cacti, on Opuntia arborescens, and also 
quite a number of scales unknown to Professor Tourney on native plants. 
Larvae in Mincemeat. — We have recently received from a firm of consulting 
chemists in New York specimens of larvae found in commercial mincemeat sent 
them for examination by clients of theirs who are large manufacturers of this arti- 
cle. The larvae were those of a species of Drosophila, the eggs of which may have 
been laid in the fruit used in the mincemeat before manufacture, or in the finished 
product itself if the adult flies had access to it at any time. Later we received 
direct from the same manufacturers other specimens of larvae found in currants, 
but these, upon examination, proved to be the larvae of the Indian-meal moth, 
Plodia inter punctella Hiibn. 
A Lachnosterna damaging Wheat in Texas. — During the past season we 
received from two sources specimens of Lachnosterna cribrosa Lee, with the report 
that the insect was doing great damage to wheat in Baylor County, Tex. They were 
reported by Judge J. G. Kenan to have first made their appearance in small num- 
bers four years ago. They increased gradually, until the present year they devoured 
several crops of wheat. They make their appearance early in spring, hide under 
ground during the middle of the day, and late in the afternoon come out and feed. 
The insect is one of the wingless May beetles, and the outbreak is similar to that 
mentioned by Comstock in the Annual Report of this Department for 1879 (p. 247), 
Lachnosterna farcta having been the species concerned in the earlier instance. 
Spread of Cryptorhynchus lapathi. — This imported European beetle which 
feeds upon willows and alders and which has heretofore been found in this country 
only in the vicinity of New York City has been found by Mr. E. E. Fernald, of Bos- 
ton, Mass., as he reports to us in a recent letter, in large numbers on a willow in his 
garden at Melrose, Mass. A single specimen, according to Mr. Fernald, was taken 
at Stoneham, Mass., a mile away, resting upon a young hickory tree in the woods. 
New Food-plant for the San Jose Scale. — Prof. A. J. Cook, of Pomona Col- 
lege, Claremout, Cal., and Mr. W. E. Collins, of Pomona, Cal., have sent us speci- 
mens of Aspidiotus pernicious upon loquat (Photinia japonica) . 
A new Locality for the Juniper Scale. — In 1880 Prof. J. H. Comstock announced 
the occurrence of Diaspis carueli Targ. Tozz., on several species of juniper and arbor 
vitae, growing in the Botanical Gardens at Washington, D. C. We have recently 
received specimens of the same species from*Mr. John G. Jack, of Jamaica Plain, 
Mass., who found them upon a branch of Juniperus sphcerica brought over from Ger- 
many four or five years ago. "Lately," he writes, "it has become well covered with 
a species of scale which has also been seen on other junipers, I think, in the same 
nursery." 
The new Plum Aspidiotus in Illinois. — Mr. W. G. Johnson, of Champaign, 111., 
has sent us specimens of Mr. Cockerell's recently described Aspidiotus howardi, with 
the information that the species occurs abundantly upon cherry trees at Champaign. 
The type specimens were taken upon plum in Colorado by Prof. C. P. Gillette. 
The Florida Red Scale in a Northern Greenhouse.— Mr. George W. Pool, of 
Gloversville, N. Y., sends us specimens of Aspidiotus ficus which occurred so abun- 
dantly upon a palm in his greenhouse as to threaten the life of the plant. 
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