31 



tne I commenced a search for others. Upon examining a dead branch of a small willow 

 growing close by, I found that it had been extensively bored by some small insect. The 

 part attacked was about three feet from the trunk, and at this place the branch, for about 

 twelve inches, was full of holes from which the insects had escaped. Not finding them, I 

 searched further along the branch, and near its extremity, where it was reduced to the 

 thickness of a twig, I found a number of the above-named species. They were lying on 

 the branch with their bodies pressed closely against it, and in this position could with 

 difficulty be distinguished from the withered buds. I observed several pairs in coitu, but 

 none of the females were ovipositing. They appeared to be very sluggish, lying almost 

 motionless, although the sun was shining brightly at the time. Having bottled all that 

 were to be seen, I cut off the branch where it had been perforated, and found a number 

 oi the beetles in it, but neither larva nor pupa. 



Gaurotes cijayiipennis (Say). — I find this insect in spring on thorn blossoms, and later 

 in the season pairing and ovipositing on butternut. 



CUPES CAPITATA. 



By E. Baynes-Reed, London, Ont, 



For some years past I have been, during the month of July, in the habit of collecting 

 specimens of this pretty little beetle on the fence of a churchyard adjoining my residence. 

 This year they were exceedingly numerous, and I captured in four days over 80, of which 

 some 50, were females. It is curious to note that 1 have invariably found that certain 

 pickets of the fence were selected by the beetles, and that out of a long distance of fencing 

 round the sides of the church, these few pickets on one side would be the only place to 

 find the beetle. I can give no reason for such selection — the trees and food plants round 

 the fence are similar ; they congregate for breeding purposes and then suddenly disappear, 

 And can only be rarely found afterwards. 



NOTES ON LYTTA (BLISTER BEETLES). 

 By Prof. E. W. Claypole, Yellow Springs, Ohio. 



During the present summer three species of Lytta have been very abundant and 

 •destructive here. The Striped Blister-beetle ( Lytta vittata ) in the early part of the season, 

 about the end of June, began to do mischief to the potato plants, especially where they 

 were weedy. Later on, about the middle of July, this species was joined by the White- 

 •edged Blister-beetle ( L. marginata ), and both together fell upon the later kinds of potato 

 (in my garden the Buckeye). Now (August) the Black Blister-beetle (L. atrata) may be 

 seen in company with the former two where a few belated plants afford them any green 

 iodder. The last mentioned of the three, however, did not arrive in time to do any serious 

 harm to the potato, but turned its attention to a large bed of sunflower belonging to my 

 -children, and are preying upon their yellow petals greedily. From twelve to twenty may 

 be often seen upon a single plant. 



All these three species " play 'possum " when frightened, but not all in the same way. 

 The black one drops from the plant as does the Colorado Beetle (D. 10-lineata)^ but does 

 not fold in its legs and antennae and roll about. It lies just where it falls for some sec- 

 onds, with limbs in the position in which they were when it dropped. The white-edged 

 and striped species fall as if struck dead, but always alight on their feet or gain them 

 immediately, and stand looking warily about them. If no danger seems near, or if an 

 .attack is made upon them, they run, and having the longest legs of the group, they run 

 •fast and are difficult to catch. But their bodies being soft they are easily crushed. Their 



