REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



413 



trees early in the morning". Eggs were found abundantly on the trees 

 on June 29. By cutting off the infested twigs while the brood was 

 young, Mr. Bliss and other persons saved their fruit and trees, while 

 persons who paid no attention to the matter had their orchards looking 

 as if they were stripped by tire. The eggs can also be mashed or pulled 

 off before they hatch. 



Corn Bill-bugs ( Sphenophorus robustus Horn, and S. scidptilis 

 Uhler).— On May 27, 1884, Prof. Jos. A. Holmes, of Chapel Hill, X. C, 

 sent specimens of ISphenophorus robustux, known as ' ; Kaloo bug" near 

 Bayborough, IT. C, stating that it is believed in the region from which 

 these specimens came that the u insect winters in the rice stubble."' 

 44 They were common in that region last year" and are said to be " often 

 found about fallen green pine timber." A full discussion of the known 

 facts concerning this species will be found in the report of this Depart- 

 ment lor 1881-1882, pp. 138-142, Plate 8, Fig. 2. 



On May 22, 1884, Mr. M. T. [or M. G.] Stone, of Kellogg, Jasper 

 County, Iowa, sent a specimen of Sphenophonis sculptilis, with a state- 

 ment that this species of beetle had totally destroyed GO acres of corn, 

 planted on timothy sod, not leaving one hill in a hundred. Mr. Stone 

 states that he has been farming COO acres for sixteen years in Jasper 

 County, and never saw anything like this insect before. 



A Swarming Mite (Bryobia sp.). — In May, specimens of one of the 

 almost omnivorous species of the mite-genus Bryobia were sent by Mrs. 

 I. H. Easterbrook, of Diamond Hdl, Providence County, Rhode Island, 

 with the statement that these insects were all over Mrs. Easterbrook's 

 house, inside and out, where they were first discovered about the 8th 

 of May. Mrs. Easterbrook found under the window-sills on the outside, 

 webs where they seemed to be hatching. These mites are known to feed 

 upon other insects and also upon many kinds of vegetation. Their ap- 

 pearance in immense numbers in houses has as yet not been satisfac- 

 torily explained, and such instances are rare. They can be readily killed 

 with pyrethrum powder or with kerosene or benzine. 



Specimens of the same were also sent in May by Mr. George X. Kim- 

 ball, of Waltham, Mass., with a similar account of their habits. They 

 should be carefully studied to see whence they originate and upon what 

 they feed in such instances as these. 



New enemy to White Eoses (Euphoria Iternu Hald.).— On May 

 19, 1884, Dr. R. P. Talley, of Belton, Tex., sent specimens of Euphoria 

 kernii, with the statement that these beetles are very destructive only 

 to white or nearly white roses, but seem to originate, or at least to live, 

 in the blossoms of a wild thistle which grows abundantly everywhere, 

 especially on poor, rocky prairie soil. It is impossible to h*ave a white 

 rose mature alter this wild flower makes its appearance. 



A Beetle eating Peach Leaves (Pristoscelis ater Bland).— On 

 May 17, 1884, Mr. Matthew Cooke, of Sacramento, CaL, sent specimens 

 of Pristoscelis ater, with a statement that these beetles were found eat- 

 ing leaves of the peach in Fresno County, California. Xone of the nu- 

 merous species of this genus occur east of the Rocky Mountains, and 

 nothing is recorded of their habits and earlier stages beyond the fact 

 that some of the species are frequently met with on various plants. We 

 have some doubt as to the correctness of the observation. 



Effect of cold on eggs of bark-lice.— Mr. Joseph vVoyle, of 

 Gainesville, Fla., wrote as follows on March 4, 1884: 



The young growth of the orange trees now shows the full extent of 



