424 
ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW-YORK 
CURRANT. STALKS. 
why the name Trochilium is now given to this genus, instead of 
JEgeria , has already been stated in connection with the Peach tree 
borer, No. 59. The name Trochilium means a little humming¬ 
bird, being a diminutive of Trochilus , the technical name of that 
genus of birds, aud its appropriateness will at once be perceived 
by every one who has noticed one of these insects or their kindred 
of the Sphinx family hovering over flowers, the larger species 
having often been mistaken for humming birds. 
136 . Wild currant borer, TVochilium caudatum, Harris. 
A worm similar to the preceding, boring in the stalks of the 
wild black currant (Ribes floridum ) and producing a brown moth 
with tawny yellow neck, feet, antennae and tail, which last in the 
males is nearly as long as the body. Width 1.00 to 1.25. See 
Silliman’s Journal, vol. xxxvi, p. 311. 
lST. Currant mite, Tyroglyphus Ribis, new species. (Aptera. Acaridae.) 
On diseased currant stalks, in the cavities which have been 
excavated by borers and under the loose bark, a minute mite 
scarcely the hundredth of an inch long and less than half as 
broad, white, shining, its head about half as broad as the body, 
the head and thorax forming a third of its total length. 
Being met with sometimes in excessive numbers in those cur¬ 
rant stalks which have been killed by borers, this minute crea¬ 
ture merits a notice in connection with them, though we know 
not whether it should be ranked as an injurious species. Several 
of the insects of this family are known to be pernicious to the 
vegetation and the living animals which they infest. But our 
knowledge of their habits and economy is still so limited and 
imperfect that it is uncertain whether a large part of them are to 
be regarded as noxious or innocent. Many of them like the present 
species appear to be present in the situations where we find them 
in consequence of disease and decay already existing, and not as 
the cause of maladies in connection with which they occur. It 
is also probable that very many if not most of the species of 
mites which we have upon this side of the Atlantic are identical 
with those of Europe. One of the evidences of this is now fresh 
in my mind, and possesses sufficient interest to be stated in this 
