February, '15] 



DAVIS: STUDYING UNDERGROUND INSECTS 



135 



two years old. It is supposed that the egg masses were brought in on 

 New England stock although no definite proof of this is obtainable. 



Unfortunately the funds at our disposal for inspection service are 

 expended almost entirely in the inspection of nurseries and foreign 

 stock, leaving practically nothing for the inspection of domestic stock. 

 It is needless to state that prompt measures were taken with the infested 

 area and the careful scouting of the surrounding area by the Government 

 men led us to believe that New Jersey is still free from this pest. 



In addition to injurious species, one will at times find beneficial forms 

 being imported. However as a rule, these are few and far between. 

 Egg masses of the praying mantis are not infrequently brought in on 

 stock from Japan. During the past season, a large black carabid 

 beetle was taken from a case of Japanese azaleas and Mr. Schwarz 

 identified it as Damaster hlaptoides Kollar. This is a rather rare species, 

 the genus being peculiar to Japan. Its introduction into the United 

 States would of course be highly desirable. Pterostichus (Feronia) 

 vulgaris Linn.^ another beneficial carabid beetle, very common in 

 central Europe was taken on Holland stock and Amara ovata Fabr.^ 

 from packing around English stock. PMlonthus politus Fabr.^ of the 

 family Staphylinidse was also taken from English stock. The species 

 of this genus live under dung or decaying vegetable matter, the larvae 

 being predaceous on soft insect larvae, mostly Dipterous. This of 

 course places it among the beneficial forms. 



Various other species mostly injurious but as a rule of lesser impor- 

 tance are taken from imported stock every year. This includes white 

 flies on azaleas from Belgium, ants from Holland and France, Pseu- 

 dococcus sp. on palms and bay trees from Belgium, Tingitid eggs on 

 rhododendrons from Holland and Notolophus antiqua egg masses also 

 on Holland stock. 



One fact stands out plain. In spite of elaborate inspection systems 

 and careful, conscientious work, some injurious foreign species continue 

 to creep in and become estabhshed. 



CAGES AND METHODS OF STUDYING UNDERGROUND 



INSECTS 2 



By John J. Davis, Lafayette, Indiana 



Our studies the past few years with Lachnosterna and related insects, 

 whose immature stages are passed underground and which have a one- 

 to four-year life-cycle, have given us an opportunity to determine the 

 relative value of various cages. 



1 Determined by Mr. Schwarz. 



2 Published by permission of the Chief of the Bureau of Entomology, United States 

 Department of Agriculture. 



