6 INSECTS AFFECTING VEGETABLE AND TRUCK CROPS. 
There were also beds of the Aehyranthes acuminata of florists, 
known botanically as Iresine Undent, which were slightly injured by 
this pest. It was noticed that the larvae, as in the case of attack to 
other low-growing plants, rest chiefly during the daytime on the lower 
leaves and near the roots. 
October 7 the writer observed much injury to several plats of Alter- 
nanthera on the grounds of the Department of Agriculture, but larva 3 
were difficult to obtain until the much injured lower leaves were 
noticed; then no trouble was experienced, Mr. Duckett easily taking 
about a dozen. In this case, as in others, with the exception of that 
at Iowa Circle, colonies of the spinach flea-beetle (Disonycha xantho- 
melmna Dalm.) were present* and had been responsible for the early 
injury. When first collected the two species were in the proportion of 
five of the flea-beetle to two of the webworm, but later the lepidop- 
terous larvae were found to be doing the greatest damage. A few 
young larvae were observed at this time. 
Cut leaves of beets and refuse stems Avere placed near the affected 
Swiss chard as decoys, with the result that many larvae were found, 
some within the stems and some of them on the side nearest the 
ground. Many were also found on and under leaves x which had 
withered. 
Larvae which transformed to pupae October 1 emerged as moths 
October 25, or in 21 days. Larvae which transformed to pupae Octo- 
ber 12 emerged on October 30, or in 18 days. One which pupated 
October 16 emerged October 31, or in 15 days, showing the length of 
the last generation of the season to vary between 15 and 21 days, ac- 
cording to temperature. None of the moths which were kept for the 
purpose deposited eggs, nor did any remain over as larvae, as in the 
case of many related species in hibernation. Hence it is doubtful if 
this species really hibernates in the District of Columbia, and it may 
be that the region is reached by moths which fly from more southern 
places in warm days in spring or early summer. At any rate injury 
has never been noticed until the autumn. One moth was captured by 
the writer as late as December 10 in the insectary. It might have 
emerged from the plants there or obtained access to the building from 
the outside. 
OTHER RECORDS AND NOTES. 
The foregoing records have been made from the writer's personal 
observations. In looking over the notes of the Bureau of Ento- 
mology a much earlier record was found, dated April 1, 1896, when 
Mr. Theodore Pergancle noticed large numbers of the moth flitting 
about in the propagating house of the Department of Agriculture 
1 This habit of concealment on the dried leaves is a very common one among both beetles 
and caterpil lars. Disonycha xanthomelwna was observed in similar locations, even on 
dried leaves growing high on the plants. 
