DYNASTES TITYUS. 551 
says of quercitella, "antennae, head, labial palpi, dark orange-yellow." In quercivo- 
rella the thorax and forewings are lemon-yellow, with the costal margin more red- 
dish, and becoming more so toward the apex, which is reddish-orange and somewhat 
dusted with darker scales. Clemens says of quercitella, "forewings orange-yellow, 
apical portion reddish-brown, dusted with dark brown,' 7 and does not mention the 
reddish-orange hue of the costal margin. In quercivorella (both sexes) the dorso- 
apical cilia are paler than those of the apex, which, like those of the hind wings 
and the entire hind wings themselves, except a fuscous patch at the base, are pale 
silvery yellow ; this fuscous patch and a similar one on the under side of the fore- 
wings are peculiar to the male. In quercitella, Clemens says the hind wings are 
"pale yellowish, becoming reddish-brown toward the apex, and the apical cilia dark 
brownish." This does not apply to quercivorella at all. I have quoted the whole of 
Dr. Clemens' brief description. 
In quercivorella the under side of the wings is paler than the upper, and does not 
become darker toward the apex, but has the costal margin stained with fuscous on 
the forewings. The thorax, abdomen, and legs are pale yellow, as also is the anal 
tuft ; the front surface of the legs and the under side of the abdomen dusted with 
fuscous. Alar expansion scant three-eighths of an inch. Kentucky and Texas. (Bull. 
U.S. Geol.Surv.,iv, i, p. 97.) 
22. Dynastes tityu \s (Linn.). 
The following correspondence shows that this gigantic beetle is at 
times destructive to ash leaves. 
Its detestable odor and its habits are also described by Mr. Lugger in 
Entomologica Americana, ii, 163. 
Editors Country Gentleman: 
I send by mail to-day a box containing several specimens of a hideous and most 
offensive beetle which has recently begun its ravages on the ash trees on my lawn, 
which I ask the favor of you to submit to Professor Lintner, that through him their 
name and character may be learned, and how to free our trees of their presence. 
Their odor is so offensive at night that it is disagreeable to sit in the open air. 
I learn from my son since writing the above that they are on the forest trees also. 
J. W. M. 
Perrowville, Va., August 2. 
[Answer by Prof. J. A. Lintner, State Entomologist.] 
The above communication is of special interest to me, from its presenting more 
strongly than has ever before been brought to my notice the offensive odor given 
off by the beetle above noticed — the Dynastes tityus. It belongs to the family of Sca- 
rabseidse, which contains many species having quite a disagreeable odor, but very 
few, if any, have the penetration and pungency of this. Where a large number are 
congregated, I can well imagine that the atmosphere in their vicinity may become 
quite unpleasant to the nostrils, for even the dead bodies of half a dozen sent me, 
although occupying a place, as I am writing upon an open piazza, at a distance of 
several yards from me, and after having been exposed to the air throughout the 
night, have rendered their vicinage quite intolerable to some of the unscientific 
members of my family who had been sitting with me. 
The beetle, although horrid in the eyes of the gentleman communicating it, is to 
the entomologist, from its size, form, and ornamentation, a beautiful and attractive 
specimen of the Coleoptera. The largest male before me (I have seen larger exam- 
ples) is 2.5 inches long (3.5 with legs extended), 1.1 inches across the wing-covers, 
and 0.8 of an inch in thickness of body. The shape of the female is nearly that of 
the common grapevine beetle, the Pelidnota punctata, but the male is armed anteri- 
orly with two black horns, a half-inch or more in length, the upper one being a liori- 
