262 



contained either small flesh-colored larva? or small bugs. While cleaning the 

 seed this morning I found eight of these insects, some still alive. I send them in a 

 quill^ and Tvould like to know what they are and something of their hahits. — [S. C. 

 Stuntz. Wisconsin, December 12, 1892. 



Reply. — ^ # # The species is G^^/mMe/roH /efru/n Fab., one of the true weevils 

 of the family Curculionidcie. It has been previously recorded as having this habit 

 of feeding in the seeds of the mullein plant. — [December 17. 1892.] 



A ne-w Enemy to Cypress Hedges in Californid. 



A friend of mine from Contra Costa County has just sent me the "accompanying 

 insects, and a specimen of the work they are doing to the Cypress hedges in their 

 neighborhood. They were first noticed a few months ago near Martinez, and they are 

 gradually eating their way through the Alhambra Valley, leaving nothing but dead 

 trees behind them. Around here all our hedges and windbreaks are Cypress, and 

 I should be glad to know how to deal with the destroyer should he make his appear- 

 ance in this section. — [John Dickie, California, February 8, 1893. 



Reply. — This is one of the bark-beetles of the family Scolytidae, and is known 

 scientifically as Phloeosinus a'istatus. These insects are all very difllcult to handle 

 when they have gained economic importance. They normally breed in dead, dying, 

 or diseased woody vegetation and only attack living healthy trees when they have 

 increased so greatly as to overflow, as it were, from their normal food supply. Hav- 

 ing once acquired the habit of feeding upon healthy trees and shrubs, however, 

 they will continue it for some time. The question of remedies is a very difficult 

 one. Such portions of the hedges as have been attacked should be immediately 

 burned, as it will be impossible to save them. This burning, of itself, will reduce the 

 numbersof the insects to such an extent that the damage for a short time at least 

 will not compare with that which would result without the employment of this 

 means. At the same time if dead or dying trees or woody plants exist in the neigh- 

 borhood, these should also be destroyed by .fire, particularly if upon examination 

 they are found to be infested by this same insect. Thorough work of this character 

 will result in the great lessening if not the entire cessation of the injury, and there 

 is no easier or less expensive way in which this can be brought about. From the 

 standpoint of the economic entomologist the case which you describe is one of consid- 

 erable interest, and I should be glad to receive further details from you in case your 

 friend can furnish them. I should like facts concerning the amount of damage which 

 has already been done, how long the insects have been at work, and whether there 

 are plenty of dead or dying trees or stumps in which they can breed. If, as you 

 seem to anticipate, the insect should make its appearance in your section, heroic 

 measures should be taken from the start. If your friend has correspondents in the 

 Alhambra Valley it will pay him to urge them to destroy the dead trees which you 

 state are so abundant. Left standing, such trees ofler breeding places for the beetles 

 and are constant menaces to the healthy hedges. — [February 17, 1893.] 



Another vegetarian Mosquito. 



I was very much interested in Mr. Longuemare's account of a vegetarian mosquito 

 in volume iv of Ixsect Life (p. 214), I have never seen a mosquito eating potato, 

 but was somewhat diverted last summer at seeing one try his tooth ( ?) at biscuit. 

 I was camping by Cole Slough, the artery connecting Kings and San Joaquin rivers, 

 and the biscuit was broken and lying by my plate, or at least half of it was, while I 

 was disposing of the rest. Mosquitoes were scarce. I think this must have been a pio- 

 neer prosijecting before bringing her family. I thought at the time she was either a 

 scientist or a fool ; for she let me rest, which never one was guilty of before, and 

 settled on the biscuit. I was preparing to make the best of my advantage and sweep 

 her to mosquito limbo Avhen I saw her settle her bill into the bread. This turn of 



