396 
another food-plant. It is not, however, as destructive as its congener. We hayeno ~ 
specimens of the larva of C. 12-punctatus, but these will doubtless be found upon as- 
paragus at this time or a little later. Can you not ask your neighbor, Mr. Veach, to 
look out for them and send specimens to us?—[June 7, 1892. ] 
A Wood-borer mistaken for a Household Pest. 
A number of our good people have brought me specimens of the Clytus, and in awe 
have complained of their houses being overrun with the beetle. In every case I 
haye found on inquiry that the family was in the habit of having open wood fires, 
usually Hickory, and that the beetle was usually more abundant in the room in which 
the fireplace was located. This I think explains the occurrence of the “ borers.” — 
[Chas. C. Beach, M. D., Connecticut, April 22, 1892. 
REpLY.—Your note relative to the issuing of ‘‘Clytus” (Cyllene picta) from the 
Hickory pile is interesting, but the same thing is frequently called to my attention 
by correspondents. The appearance of these insects in the house is frequently con- 
sidered a great mystery.—[April 25, 1892. ] 
A new Fruit Pest—Syneta albida Lec. ; 
We inclose under separate cover some specimens of an insect that is very numerous 
here this season, though they have been here for several years. They attack the 
foliage and blossoms of nearly all the fruit trees, though they are not so bad on peach 
trees as on cherries and apples. They are on hand as soon as the buds open and 
continue to work, cutting the stems of the fruit about half through, as the inclosed 
specimens show. We think of spraying for them with Paris green if they do not 
soon disappear. Will you kindly examine the inclosed specimens and advise us of 
the best course to pursue and the treatment which will probably be most effective. 
A sudden jar of an infested tree causes a shower of them to fall to the ground with 
wings spread, where they immediately begin to fold their wings under the cases and 
crawl to shelter, in a short time finding their way on the trees again, though they do 
not readily take flight.—[Seth Lewelling & Co., Oregon, April 29, 1892. 
REpLy.—The insect which you send is one of the leaf-beetles (Chrysomelide) known 
as Syneta albida, concerning the habits of which we have previously known almost 
nothing. It has never been brought to the attention of economic entomologists 
before as a specially injurious species, and your letter, therefore, is of great interest. 
The early stages of the insect are not known. As the beetles fall so readily a great 
many could be destroyed by jarring them from the trees upon sheets saturated with 
‘kerosene, or if you spray your trees with Paris green or London purple in the propor- 
tion of 1 pound of the poison to 250 gallons of water (300 for peach) you will be able 
‘to destroy them with less trouble. Ishall be glad to hear from you as to whether 
this damage is at all common in your State or vicinity, or is it confined locally to your 
orchards? —-[May 7, 1892. ] 
On the Date of Introduction of the Potato Tuber-moth. 
I found the larva of the Potato Tuber-moth, which is described in the current 
volume of INSECT LIFE (pp. 239-242), in potatoes purchased in the market at Los 
Gatos, Cal., the last week in June in 1888. I was a stranger to the country and as 
the larva was strange to me I did not know how common it might be in California. 
Not a large number were found, but a few were discovered while preparing the 
potatoes for food. They were doubtless the same as those described, for I observed 
them closely at the time and my recollection agrees exactly with both the illustra- 
tion and description given.—[ William L. Drew, Iowa, April 21, 1892. 
