
- MONTHLY LETTER OF THE BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
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Number 147 6 

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TAXONOMIC INVESTIGATIONS 
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He G. Barber, Roselle, Ne Je, began on July 1 a temporary appointment 
as associate entomologist, and has been assigned to work in bugs of the family 
Reduviidae. In previous temporary appointments Mr, Barber has arranged the 
North American collection of reduviids, and this summer is working on the 
reduviids that occur in the neotropical region, | 
, Dr. 0. L. Withycombe, Trinidad, visited the Taxonomic Section on July 
i2 tO examine certain types in the collection of the National Museum and con- 
fer with Mr. McAtee. ‘hile here he met Dr. Knight and H. G. Berber, 
‘ 
Dre fo Ce Kinsey, of the University of Indiana, spent July 26 to 31 
studying types of Cynipidae. Dr. Kinsey has recently been working on two or 
three taxonomic papers on galleneicing cynipids, and before he could complete 
them neecea to examine types of the svecies described by Ashmead. 
Dr. We Ve Balduf, of the University of Illinois, left for his home July 
0, aiter spending about six wee'zs in the study of material of the family Eury- 
tomicae, and beginning a revision of the North American members of the tribe 
Decatomini, ; 
Dr. Ae G Boving has recently completed a description of the immature 
Stages of one of the fresh-water beetles. The material used was collected in 
the waters of a river in the East Indies, and was supplied by H. G Champion. 
accompenying the description are two elaborate vlates illustrating the larva 
end various ceteils of it. 
The coleopterists of this section have recently submitted specimens 
of a beetle which seems to be an entirely new American pest. Records of this 
species come from two or three localities in New York and two in New Jersey. 
The species has been identified by R. W. Dawson as Autoserica japonica Motsch,, 
after comparison with authentic material from European museums, ‘This makes 
the third scarab which has been introduced from Jepan. While it is not knowm 
how destructive this nev insect may be, it may possibly develop into a pest. 
It is suggested that entomologists in the eastern part of the United States 
be on the lookout for it. Unlike the two other species which have been intro- 
duced, it is not of striking appearance. It is a small, brown scarab which 
superficially resembles a number of the species of the genus Serica. 
i bs) — > ig 
Dr. A. Le Melander, of the College of the City of New York, recently 
spent two weeks in the section of insects studying Diptera with Dr. Aldrich. 
