iia i Ba. eee 
If those of the force will be kind enough to, whenever convenient 
F them to do so, collect dead stems of outstanding grasses contain— 
: hymenopterous larvae and send to Mr. Phillips, U. S. Ent. Lab., 
me@riottesville, Va., it will be a great help to him in his studies of 
in and for “which he will gladly reciprocate. 





























ee Has any one reared Lvmenapt erous parasites from Sipha (Chaitoph— 
orus) flava? None of the notes from any of the men of the division 
O.have studied this species contain records of such, and Mr. Thos. R. 
6S, Entomologist of the Porto Rico Sugar Experiment Station, states 
that it is not parasitized there. If any of the force reared parasites 
plisase let us have them for determination. 
oa Occasional requests for Bureau publications are received from 
Members of this division, through Congressmen, sent in this manner 
Gvidently under the mistaken impression that members of Congress have 
pores of such for distribution. Such requests are invariably referred 
“o the Bureau, as no Congressman has copies for his own use, and noth- 
Ping can be obtained in that way that cannot be secured by applying to 
the office direct. 


e , A rearing cage for Diptera that has proven very useful to us, at 
the Wellington laboratory, consists of a tin can cigar box with a round 
hole, one inch in diameter, cut near the top into which a glass vial 
ais inserted. The vial can “de made to fit very tight by making a cone 
‘of heavy paper, rolling it so as to leave an opening nearly as large as 
the Vial. Fill the can about two-thirds full of loose sandy loam or 
teat mold, being very careful to avoid too much moisture as evaporation 
is very slow. Place Dipterous larvae or pupae or, in fact, any kind of 
‘insects that enter the ground for pupation, into the soil within this 
Gage and wait their development. Adults upon issuing will enter the 
vial from which they can be removed. The cans can be bought from cigar 
'stores at from one-half to one cent each, and a die for cutting the hole 
a them can be bought at any hardware store, EH. O. G. KELLY. 

Small quantities of Lachnosterna beetles may be shipped through 
the mails as follows,--Beetles should be saturated with 70% alcohol 
(never formaldehyde) and if the separate collections are wrapped in 
‘cloth packages, as they should be, tnese should be placed in tin cans 
With tight fitting lids, such as prese: ving cans, cans used for syrups, 
ich as "Karo" syrur, or even paraffin coated or other waterproofed 
mjars or bottles which are used for cream, milk, cottage cheese, etc. 
‘These are then placed in larger boxes for shipment. No additional 
@lcohol shouid be added to the moist'saturated beetles and the con- 
tents of the ‘ean should be packed so that undue jarring will not re— 
“sult. The alcohol on the saturated specimens will keep them moist and 
ain good condition for examination for some time, If larger quantities 
are to be shipped a can, such as a milk can, with a tight fitting lid 
should be used, the lid being wired on and the can shipped by express. 
Pinned beetles may be packed and Bare by mail or express according 
o quantity, J. J. DAVIS. 
