278 



noticed tliat the burrows of tlie larger borers were all t<~t wards tlie sum- 

 mit of the cane, invariably destroying the terminal joints. Tlie burrows 

 of the Xyleborus on the contrary were in the lowest part of the stem 

 and were recent compared with the tracks of the larger borers in the 

 tops. The canes sent to the Kew Gardens, however, Mr. Blandford 

 surmises, were selected for the purpose of exhibiting this state of affaires 

 and he had no means of telling except from Mr. Coull's statement 

 whether it was common. Mr. Coull, however, did not distinguish be- 

 tween the work of the Diatra-a and the Sphenophorus. nor is it hkely 

 to be necessary except as regards periods. 



]Mi\ Coull's observations coincide with what we have stispected to be 

 the trtie state of affairs, although exceptionally healthy canes may be 

 injui^ed by the Xyleboi'us. The fact remains, however, that if the more 

 normal nidtts is destroyed in the cane fields the insects will either be 

 reduced in numbers or will resort to other normal conditions away from 

 the cane fields rather than take on a x)erfectly exceptional habit. It 

 is interesting to note that the Xyleborus on arrival were found to have 

 bored entensively into the soft deal boxes in which the sections of cane 

 were sent. 



THE XrSTARD BEETLE IX E^TxL■A^*D. 



Our esteemed correspondent, Mr. Fred. Enoch, has sent us a little 

 paper published in the Entomologist for October. 1892. referring to the 

 extraordinary abundance of Fliced on cocMearice, commonly known as the 

 Mustard Beetle, in England the present summer. This insect is known 

 as one of the greatest crop pests in England and for fifty years has been 

 increasing and it would be a most undesirable species to introdtice into 

 the Tnited States. Both" brown and white mustard have been ruined. 

 Li one field of white mustard in which the phmts were from nine inches to 

 afoot high, every plant wasfound to be absolutely swarming withbeetles. 

 Mr. Enoch, with his customary attention to minutia?. took the trouble 

 to count the eggs on one plant.^ The top leaf held So eggs, the middle 

 ones about 150 to over 500, while on the lower leaves were no less than 

 700. On reaching the thii^ty-fifth and last leaf he added up and found 

 that one plant carried 9,231: eggs. It is needless to say that it was not 

 long before the plants were completely skeletonized. The fields as a 

 general thing were small and Mr. Enoch suggests as a remedy the use of 

 the sweeping or beating net. He himself collected the beetles by hun- 

 dreds in this way and records the fact that a Gennan saved his crop 

 in this manner. It shoukl be done, however, at the right time, when 

 it will tmquestionably pay. 



XEW SPECLES A^'D GEXEEA OE EHY^-CHOPHOEA.* 



Capt. Casey has recently published another paper of new species and 

 genera of Coleoptera. It is entitled •• Coleoi3terological Xotices, IV,'^ 



~ ColeopTerological Xotices. IV. By Hiomas L. Casey. Estract from Vol VI^ 

 Annals Xew York Academy of Sciences. August, 1892. 



