165 



field, except the moth, which is quite commonly met this spring. No. 3 and the larva 

 5 were observed to feed upon the Grain Aphis ; the others were found in considerable 

 numbers on the heads of wheat, except No. 4. — [C. C. Fenwick, St. Joseph, 111., 

 June 23, 1890. 



Reply. — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of yours of June 23 with accompanying 

 specimens. No. 1 is Melanectes puncticollis, family Elateridce ; its larval habits are 

 unknown and it is a tolerably rare beetle. No. 2 is Anomala undulata and belongs to 

 the family Scarahceidoe. This beetle is not infrequently Injurious to wheat and other 

 grains. No. 3 is Coccinella 9-notata, family CoccinelUdat, one of the common Lady- 

 birds. No. 4 is Tetraopes tetraopthalmus, family Ceramhijcidce. This borer lives on 

 milkweed. No. 5 is the larva of No. 3. The moth sent is Platysamia vecropia.— [June 



27, 1890.] 



Cheese Mite. 



I have inclosed a fungus found oa cheese for the first time, as it is something new. 

 Is there any preventive ?— [Frank H. Follensbie, Enfield, N. H., June 13, 1890. 



Reply. — Your favor of the 13th instant, with the accompanying specimens, has 

 been received. The supposed fungus found on cheese is the common Cheese Mite 

 (Tyroglyphus siro). The brown, powdery mass is composed of the particles of cheese 

 and the shed skins of the mites. If you examine this material with a hand lens you 

 will find the minute whitish mites scattered through it. This mite lives on all kinds 

 of cheese, especially if it is a little decayed, and particularly on the rind or harder 

 parts. It also infests flour, grain, and other substances. In your case the only pre- 

 ventive would seem to be to keep the shelves thoroughly cleaned of all particles of 

 cheese and to destroy or remove the stale cheese. — [June 19, 1890.] 



Fighting the Rose Chafer. 



Reading in April number of Insect Life on Macrodaciylus suhspinosus, I would say 

 that at present I have an attack of them in my vineyard, that I have tried pyreth- 

 rum, 4 ounces to five gallons of water, applied with a Eureka sprayer, and found it 

 of no use. The solution, or mixture, aeems to afiect them so that they fall off on the 

 ground and after a time fly away. Later I used 2 ounces of hellebore and 4 of py- 

 rethrum, and sprayed it, but find that also of no avail, so I have tried shaking on 

 stretchers saturated in petroleum, and I destroy hundreds that way. Therefore, I 

 am able to say that pyrethrum in my case was useless. Do you think a spraying of 

 carbolic acid would be of any use in driving them off? I would also state that I have 

 picked hundreds and crushed them in my hand, and consequently I do not believe the 

 poisonous theory, unless there be an abrasion of the skin or a sore. — [E. H. Wynkoop, 

 Catskill, N. Y., June 19, 1890. 



Reply.— Your letter of June 19 duly received. Your experience with the Macro- 

 daciylus suhsjnnosiis is certainly in harmony with the article to which you refer in In- 

 sect Life, and you will see that I have stated that hellebore and pyrethrum are of 

 doubtful efficacy, the former being the most effective against the beetles. I am glad 

 to learn of your success with tlie use of stretchers saturated with kerosene, and I be- 

 lieve that this is the most practical of the remedies yet proposed. General Pearson, 

 who is quoted in the article referred to as recommending eau celeste as a means 

 against the Rose Beetle, now reports that the present year he finds this remedy una- 

 vailable. -[June ; 3, 1890.] 



Second Letter.— Yours of the 23d instant at hand. Would say that I find a 

 stretcher saturated with crude petroleum quite effective, and after saturating a few 

 times the bugs stick to it so that it does not require any shaking into a receptacle. 

 I received to-day a trial package of Nicotina from the Farmers' Fertilizing Company, 

 Syracuse, N. Y., but as the bugs have left my vineyard, I can not indorse it. I think 

 it must prove effective, for it so strongly smells of gas-tar, and is in a very fine 

 powder, and I find anything that has a strong odor distasteful to them. In fact one 



