83 
istead of “dull” and “coarsely punctate,” and the antenna; of both 
ymi and tritici being not nine-jointed, but eleven- or twelve-jointed, 
ccording to sex. 
T 
In this same month Prof. Riley also repeats in the “American 
aturalist” the substance of his “Rural New Yorker” article, and 
ives figures of the larva of Isosoma tritici. 
Then comes the full and valuable paper of Prof. French in the 
ileventh Report of the State Entomologist of Illinois (Dr. Thomas), 
ublished in May, 1882,. but evidently written before some of the 
apers already cited, as in the body of this article the wheat-straw 
'orm is still treated as Isosoma allynii. In a foot-note added to the 
aper, however, the misconceptions of the article are in part cor¬ 
seted, and that view of the subject is taken which was presented 
1 Prof. French’s letters published in the “Prairie Farmer” in March 
nd May. 
As the Eleventh Report is doubtless accessible to nearly every 
ne who will see this, it is unnecessary to analyze that article fur- 
ler than to perform the indispensable office of calling attention to 
few conclusions based on imperfect information, which have prac- 
cal consequences of economic importance: 
1. It is now evident that the hymenopterous insect referred to on 
age 74 of the Eleventh Report was parasitic, and the remarks on 
he time of pupation, on page 79, and the description of the adult, 
n page 80, are to be construed with reference to that fact. 
2. This same confusion of species renders inconclusive the reason- 
:ig, on page 81, respecting the effects of drouth upon the develop¬ 
ment of the straw worm, and the consequent inferences as to the 
revalence of the pest in future; and, 
3. The discrimination of this species has the important result to 
isprove the following statement in the last three lines on page 
0. Speaking of the burning of the stubble, Prof. French says: 
As in other remedies of this kind, to be effectual it must be par- 
icipated in by all the farmers of a community, as the insects can 
eadily fly from field to field.” It is the parasites that are winged, 
/hereas it will soon be shown that less than one in twenty of the 
dult straw worms which have hitherto been reared have the power 
f flight. Evidently, therefore, each farmer may almost wholly pro- 
ect himself, without depending on his neighbors, by destroying the 
traw worms in his own fields; and even simple rotation of crops 
/ill be a valuable protective measure. 
i We also arrive at the equally interesting and important conclusion 
hat (presuming Eupelmus to be parasitic on Isosoma) if the burn- 
eg of the stubble is postponed until fall, the parasites will all have 
scaped, and will he prepared to lend their services another year, 
; /hile the unparasitized straw worms will themselves all be destroyed. 
• The next printed mention of this species is in the “Canadian 
| Entomologist” for May, 1882, (Yol. XIY, p. 97), in which Prof, 
bench reports that he finds his Isosoma elymi (from grass) and Riley’s 
sosoma tritici (the wheat-straw worm) entirely distinct, and gives the 
•rincipal differential characters between these species, and also 
| >etween Isosoma elymi and Isosoma horclei. 
i 
