173 
Algeria (Mellitia) cucurbits, Harris.—The Squash Borer. 
This borer is from an inch to an inch and a quarter long, rather 
thick, white head, and a horny shield-like scale back of it, brown. The 
front part of the head is a little lighter than the rest and contains the 
usual inverted Y mark. The moth lays the.eggs on the stalks of the 
vines close to the ground from the middle of July to the middle of 
August. When hatched the larva bores into the stalk, and occupies 
the center, coming to maturity the last of September or the first of 
October. At this time the cavity it excavates in the vine is so large 
that the vines wilt, and are often quite suddenly killed. To pupate, 
the larva either deserts the vine and spins a rude earthen cocoon in 
which it transforms, or it sometimes remains in the stalk and con¬ 
structs a cocoon similar to the other iEgerians, remaining in this 
state during the winter. The moth that comes out the following 
summer may be readily distinguished from any of the other Algerians by 
its hind legs being heavily fringed with orange and black hairs. The 
fore wings are opaque, the thorax is olive, but the abdomen is deep 
orange banded with black. 
Remedy .—Where numerous, it has been recommended to gather 
the squash and cucumber vines in the fall and burn them. This will 
destroy such as pupate in the stalks, but will not interfere with those 
that leave the stalks to pupate elsewhere. A better way will be to 
examine stalks that show signs of the work of this insect and kill 
the larva. 
Algeria acerni, Clem—The Maple iEgerian, or Legged Maple-borer 
The Maple-borer wrnrks very much after the manner of the Peach- 
borer, on the inside bark and sapwood, but unlike that it works above 
ground. It is a caterpillar, a little more than half an inch in length, 
and of nearly uniform size throughout; head brown, but the body 
pinkish white. It is usually found in such trees as have been injured, 
either by bruising the bark or where the Flatheaded-borer has been at 
work, very seldom molesting the smooth limbs or even the trunks 
that are smooth or uninjured, as the moth seems to prefer a cracked 
or roughened place for depositing her eggs. The cocoon is formed in a 
manner similar to that of the Peach-borer, and the chrysalis, when 
about to produce the moth, pushes itself out of the hole prepared be¬ 
fore, as is the case with the other species. 
The moth resembles somewhat the Currant ^Egerian, but may be 
known from that species by the terminal bands of the fore wings being 
ochreous yellow, and the anal tufts of the abdomen deep reddish 
orange instead of black. 
This insect is referred to frequently in agricultural journals as 
causing serious injury to maples, and seems to be generally distribu¬ 
ted over the country. Dr. Allen Whitman, of St. Paul, Minn., sent 
some to Prof. Thomas from Iowa, the fore part of last September, with the 
