405 



in from the surrounding forests as fast as they are destroyed. I have taken as high 

 as 17 borers from the base of one tree at one time. The alkaline wash is a good x>ro- 

 tection, but it can not be applied to all of the small limbs of the large trees. It seems 

 as though the only relief must be through some parasite attacking it in its native 

 haunts. — [James B. Smith, Highlands, Xorth Carolina, November 17, 1890. 



Reply. — Professor Riley has bred one or more parasites from the Round-headed 

 Apple-borer, and only recently we received a parasite of this species from California. 

 I trust, however, that you will be able to secure specimens of the species which is en- 

 gaged in the good work in your vicinity and forward them to us for determination. 

 I should think it worth your while to apply the soap-soda wash in order to keep the 

 borers from the trunk and larger branches of your trees. — [November 21. 1890.] 



Museum Pests. 



In accordance with your request I send you by this mail a few specimens of Anthre- 

 mis scrophularicB and A. musceorum as labeled in my collection. If I am " twisted" 

 in regard to nomenclature please inform me. Should be X)leased to hear from you in 

 any case. The specimens of A. jnusceorum were all found in a neglected stock of dupli- 

 cate specimens. I have never observed any on plants. Of ^. scrojjhulai'icB, some were 

 found on flowers, some on carpets, and a few in above mentioned duplicates. I neg- 

 lected to keep them separate, so can not state which particular specimens came from 

 my collections. Those in my collection were all found just as they had become imagos. 

 I think that I have succeeded in entirely destroying the pests, but if I find any 

 more I will let you know immediately. — [E. E. Fernald, Melrose, Massachusetts, 

 November 18, 1890. 



Reply. — The insect which you have been considering as Anthrenus musceorum is 

 A. variua, a common pest in such locations. The other species was A. scrophulariw as 

 you supposed. If the latter was found in your insect boxes as you state the note is 

 interesting. — [November 21, 1890.] 



Passalus for Ear-ache : Gall Insects. 



By to-day's mail I send you some "Best" or "Bess Bugs" found under a log, also 

 one of the larva, a "grub-worm." Our rustic population treat this bug very ten- 

 derly because of the good ofl&ce it performs. It is said to afford an oil or drop of 

 " blood " that is a present cure for ear-ache. Pulled in two one drop of liquid is found 

 which dropped into the ear gives immediate relief. I also send two insect knots or 

 nests, one from a weed and the other from a blackberry brier. They will produce 

 some sort of insects next spring and may interest you, though it may only be a gnat. 

 Chestnuts have been unusually wormy ; can you devise any plan by which they may 

 escape the ravages of the beetle ?— [Calvin J. Cowles, Wilkesborough, North Caro- 

 lina, November 27, 1890. 



Reply. — The insect which you call the " Best " or " Bess" bug is the horned Pas- 

 salus (Passalus cornutus). The use of this insect for ear-ache interests me very much. 

 I think it must be comparatively a local idea. Is it not ? The enlargements on the 

 Solidago and Blackberry are the galls of two very different insects. That on the Sol- 

 idago is made by a two-winged fly known as Trypeta aoUdaf/inis, while that on the 

 Blackberry is made by one of the true gall-flies allied to the species which produces 

 the commercial galls. It is known as Diastrophus nehulosus. So far as I know no good 

 remedy has been proposed for worms in chestnuts. — [November 29, 1890.] 



Phorodon Notes from Oregon. 



I have been examining plum thickets in this (Lane) county, in the vicinity of hop 



yards and I find thousands of eggs of the hop louse (Phorodon). Further, I have 



found earlier in the autumn specimens of Phorodon on plums near by and also on 



others a number of miles from any hop field. The variety of plum upon which so 



27707-^0. 9 4 



