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Thirty years ago Lytta rittata was the " potato-bug." They would attack a potato 

 patch, say of one or two acres, in immense numbers and devour it in a day. Then 

 for a generation it was the " Colorado potato-bug." Now the inheritance seems to 

 have been suddenly handed down to Lytta marginata, a beetle that was not common, 

 at least in this locality, ten years ago. However, the damage from marginata is not 

 likely to be serious, for early varieties are now in favor and the potato crop is largely 

 matured before the ''black potato bugs " make their appearance. A few examples 

 of rittata were seen along with marginata on the beets, potatoes, and tomatoes. 



By September 15 marginata and vittata had entirely disappeared, and Lytta murina 

 had become abundant, especially on the Golden Rod. The first example of murina 

 was taken on Silphiiim perfoliatum August 7. On September 25 the golden rods 

 were in their glory and the Black Blister-beetles were the commonest of the many 

 insects that feed upon these flowers. Outliving the golden rods, they took to the 

 asters, and by the middle of October they had entirely disappeared. 



The cross-mating of L. cinerea and L. marginata is an evidence that they are one 

 and the same species. The difference in length of life and in range of food-plants 

 is an evidence that they are distinct species. Experiments are needed to determine 

 the results of the cross-mating. — [W. P. Shannon, Indiana, November 25, 1892. 



NoTS. — As Ave have not received specimens of any of the species treated by our 

 correspondent, we are unable to identify the species to conform to modern nomen- 

 clature with absolute certainty. But from our knowledge of the habits of these 

 insects we may be reasonably certain that by Lytta cinerea and marginata are meant 

 our two common color variations of Epicauta cinerea; Lytta vittatais Epicauta vittata, 

 and Lytta murina is Epicauta pennsylvanica. We have had a precisely similar expe- 

 rience on the different species of Clematis (including all those mentioned) and found 

 that no remedy other than shaking down and killing availed on account of the con- 

 tinued in-coming of specimens from other regions. — [Eds. 



fk The Sweet-potato Root--weevil. 



For the last three or four years we can not raise any more sweet potatoes fit for 

 market on account of worms. I send a specimen of sweet potato with some bugs. 

 In my opinion the bugs produce the worms, as the vines are always full of those bugs 

 and when there are no bugs there are no worms in the sweet potatoes. I would like 

 to know the name of the bugs and have your opinion whether they could be kept off 

 by some means. — [H. Meyer, Plaquemines County, La., December 22, 1892. 



Reply. — * * * The sections of sweet potato have been carefully examined, 

 and have been found to contain the larvte of the Sweet-potato Root- weevil, Cylas 

 formicarius. The green bugs have no connection with the larvae in the potatoes. 

 They are known commonly throughout the South as the Green Soldier Bug, Nezara 

 viridiUa. The Green Soldier Bug frequently damages vegetation by inserting its 

 beak and sucking the sap, the cotton crop and the fruit of the Orange being the 

 most marked examples of this injurious work. The insect which does the damage 

 in your case, however, is the Sweet-potato Root-weevil, and up to the present time 

 no remedy has been found except to burn all potatoes which are found to be infested. 

 If this should be carefully and thoroughly done throughout a neighborhood, the pest 

 could be greatly reduced. It is a sub-tropical insect, and was first recorded as occur- 

 ring in this country in 1875, when it was found in Louisiana. Three years later it 

 made its appearance in injurious numbers in Florida. Where it has been abundant 

 in Florida it has been practically stamped out by following the measures just rec- 

 ommended. — [December 31, 1892.] 



A Weevil in Mullein Seeds. 



While collecting seeds, September 29, I got some mullein seed which I put into 

 an envelope without cleaning it. I noticed then that about half of the ovaries 



I 



