26 



We are going to try growing our fuchsia under a wire gauze guard this summer 

 and wanted information on the above point before we located the bed in the same 

 spot again. — [Ernest Walker, New Albany, Ind., May 17, 1890. 



Eeply. — The insect which you know as the fuchsia beetle (Graptodera exapta) feeds 

 in the larval state iipon the leaves of fire- weed (Erechthites Ideracifolia) and the 

 Evening Primrose ((Enothera hiennis), and it is probable that the swarms which attack 

 your fuchsias have developed on these plants. I shall be interested to know whether 

 in your vicinity (New Albany) either of these plants is abundant. Your plan for 

 growing fuchsias under wire is a good one. — [May 24, 1890.] 



Second Letter.— Many thanks for your communication of 24th; the information 

 it contains will be of great value. 



The Evening Primrose ((Enothera biennis) was very abundant last year in this local- 

 ity'. One field that had been under cultivation for a long time and then neglected for 

 a season, came up the following year (which was the summer of 1889) a solid mass 

 (almost) of the Primrose. There were also scattering patches of the Primrose in 

 fields adjoining our nursery grounds. The Fuchsia Beetle was more troublesome last 

 year than any other year in our experience. They, in spite of all our eff'orts, staid 

 with us almost through the summer. They were also troublesome in private gardens 

 in the city— most all lost their plants long before summer was over. We saved a few 

 this year. The fuchsia sold very poorly on account of the trouble last year. The 

 Fire- weed (Erechthites hieracifoUa) I have not yet met with in this vicinity. — [Ernest 

 Walker, New Albany, Ind. , May — , 1890. 



Parasites on Datana ministra. 



Mr. Webster, I think, only saw one-half the show, as told in his notes on the para- 

 sitism of the larva of this moth, as given on page 256, of Nos. 7 and 8, Vol. II of In- 

 sect Life, by aTachina Fly. 



In all cases where I have observed the Fly ovipositing in the larva on the ground, 

 Ichneumon Wasps were ovipositing in them on the trees. 



The Ichneumon would deposit one egg in a larva on the tree, when it would flip up 

 and drop to the ground, where the Tachina Fly would meet it and further make its 

 life a burden to it. I have often observed the same actions of these parasites on the 

 larva of the Datana moth when feeding on the foliage of the apple. I never 

 observed the Tachina Fly attack the larva on the tree. 



Once on nearing an apple tree partially defoliated by this larva, I saw a Box Land 

 Turtle, such as we clod-hoppers in Illinois called "Terrapins," directly under the clus- 

 ter of caterpillars, which an Ichneumon was industriously laying her eggs in. As I 

 ueared the tree I saw her pierce a larva, which bounced into the air and fell to the 

 ground near the Turtle's head, she struck two or three more, which also fell. I ex- 

 pected to see the Turtle gather them in, and waited quite a time to see him feed on 

 them, as he seemed to be there with that intention. 



Thinking that my proximity was intertering with his lunch, I walked directly 

 away and came up carefully behind another apple-tree twenty feet away, and peeped 

 through the foliage; directly the Turtle snapped up the five or six larvae on the 

 ground, and then gathered in others the instant they touched the ground. 



This Land Turtle seems to be quite omnivorous; they feed on strawberries vora- 

 ciously. The above is the only case observed by myself of its feeding on insects. 



I have seen a large black wasp sting a full-grown Datana larva, which paralyzed it 

 instantly, and then carry it off a long distance over the ground, and bury it in a hole 

 in the ground which she had already dug ; two days after, on digging it up, found 

 she had laid an egg under it which was not yet hatched. The caterpillar seemed 

 yet to have life and some motion, as if in a comatose condition. 



Luckily but very few Datana larvae escape the parasites ; if they did the Black 

 Walnut and Apple could hardly be grown, for they defoliate these trees at the most 

 critical period of the year. 



