5he

Florida Entomologist
Official Organ of the Florida Entomological Society

VOL. XXIII JUNE, 1940 No. 2

FIVE NEW WOLF-SPIDERS FROM FLORIDA
W. J. GERTSCH
The author is indebted to Dr. H. K. Wallace of the University
of Florida for the privilege of studying the fine lot of material
in the genus Pirata in his collection along with that con-
tained in the collections of The American Museum of Natural
History. The types of the new species diagnosed below and
numerous paratypes are deposited in the American Museum.
Many paratypes are retained in the collection of Dr. Wallace.
Pirata apalacheus, new species
Figs. 3 and 4
FEMALE.-Total length, 3.50 mm. Carapace, 1.70 mm. long, 1.25 mm.
wide. Carapace dull yellowish brown, marked with a longitudinal black
stripe on each side from the sides of the head to the caudal margin, the
interval between these stripes pale and enclosing the usual Y-shaped black
maculation. Sides of the carapace with a broad marginal pale stripe and
a narrow marginal black seam. Dorsal eyes broadly ringed with black.
Clothing of the carapace sparse, made up of short procumbent black hairs.
Sternum pale yellow, with or without a narrow to broad marginal dusky
band, sometimes uniformly dusky. Mouth parts and coxae pale yellowish,
evenly clothed with erect black hairs. Legs dull yellowish brown, some-
times dusky, indistinctly annulate in black. Abdomen mostly black above,
with a pale hastate maculation at the base and broken chevrons in the
caudal half. Venter of the abdomen mostly pale, with a more or less
distinct dusky median band which goes back from the epigynum nearly to
the spinnerets.
Structure essentially typical. First row of eyes gently procurved, sub-
equidistantly spaced and subequal in size. Eyes of second row narrower
than the third in the ratio 50:64, separated by two-thirds their diameter.
Dorsal ocular quadrangle broader than long (64/48). Lower margin of
the furrow of the chelicera with three teeth.
First tibia with three pairs of ventral spines, lacking distal spines.
First metatarsus with three pairs of ventral spines, the last pair apical.
Tibia and patella I, 1.60 mm.; IV, 1.94 mm. long.
Epigynum as illustrated in Fig. 3.
MALE.-Total length, 3.25 mm. Carapace, 1.70 mm. long, 1.25 mm.
wide. Coloration and structure in close agreement with the female. Spina-
tion of legs as in the female. Tibia and patella I, 1.50 mm.; IV, 2.00 mm.
Palpus as illustrated in Fig. 4.

THE FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST

4
2 -.:f:f ]2 6

7 G

PALPI AND EPIGYNA OF SPECIES OF PIRATA

Figs. 1 and 2.
Figs. 3 and 4.
Figs. 5 and 6.
Figs. 7 and 8.
Fig. 9.

Pirata
Pirata
Pirata
Pirata
Pirate

suwaneus, new species
apalacheus, new species
mayaca, new species
nanatus, new species
allapahae, new species

VOL. XXIII-No. 2

Type Locality.-Male holotype, female allotype, and male and
female paratypes from a rotten log in a hammock (Station 9C)
in Alachua County, Florida, June 19, 1937 (H. K. Wallace).
Three male and four female paratypes from same station, taken
June 5, 1937 (H. K. Wallace). Several male and female para-
types from Torreya Ravine, Liberty County, Florida, April 16,
1938 (W. J. Gertsch). Two female paratypes from Albany,
Daugherty County, Georgia, July 19, 1938 (H. K. Wallace, 1036).
This fine species is easily separated from all others from the
United States by reference to the genitalia. The relatively large
epigynum of the female is strongly sclerotized, dark brown in
color, and presents two subcontiguous lobes which are broadly
rounded at the caudal end and which are separated by a narrow
groove. The male palpus is armed with a median apophysis
which is angled on the prolateral surface and grooved on the
retrolateral side. The details of this apophysis and the smaller
supporting spurs at the base are distinctive.

Pirata nanatus, new species
Figs. 7 and 8
FEMALE.-Total length, 2.55 mm. Carapace, 1.4r mm. long, 0.95 mm.
wide. Carapace dull yellowish brown, strongly marked in black. Dorsum
with a black longitudinal band on each side from the side of the head to
the caudal margin, the interval between relatively narrow, especially be-
hind, obliterated for the most part in the ocular region and enclosing the
characteristic Y-shaped black maculation. Sides of the carapace with
a broad submarginal pale stripe and with a narrow marginal black seam.
Mouth parts, coxae, and sternum pale yellowish brown, unmarked, clothed
evenly with erect black hairs. Legs light yellowish brown, more or less
dusky but showing no signs of darker annulae. Abdomen nearly all black,
with a pale hastate maculation at the base and a small series of pale spots
behind, the remnants of pale chevrons. Sides of abdomen black or nearly
so, the venter pale yellow, without markings.
Structure typical. First row of eyes gently procurved, subequidis-
tantly spaced, the median eyes somewhat larger. Eyes of second row
narrower than the third in the ratio 40:53, separated by two-thirds their
diameter. Dorsal ocular quadrangle broader than long (53/37), narrower
in front. Lower margin of the furrow of the chelicera with three teeth.
Spines as in apalacheus. Tibia and patella I, 1.35 mm.; IV, 1.65 mm.
Epigynum as illustrated in Fig. 8.
MALE.-Total length, 2.35 mm. Carapace, 1.35 mm. long, 0.97 mm.
wide. Coloration in complete agreement with the female. Structure
essentially as in the female. Legs spined as in the female but the
spines, especially the most distal pair, less robust. Tibia and patella I,
1.17 mm.; IV, 1.40 mm.
Palpus as illustrated in Fig. 7.

THE FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST

Type Locality.-Male holotype, female allotype, and nine
female paratypes from Turner County, Georgia, May 6, 1937
(H. K. Wallace, 606). Two female paratypes from Columbia
County, Florida, April 27, 1935 (H. K. Wallace, 402). Three
female paratypes from Alachua County, Florida, April 19, 1937
(H. K. Wallace, Station 1, vic.); one female paratype from
same station taken January 30, 1937 (H. K. Wallace). One
female paratype from Alachua County, Florida, March 18, 1938
(W. J. Gertsch).
This species has been confused with Pirata seminola Gertsch
and Wallace. It is very much smaller, averaging about 3.00 mm.
as compared with 4.50 mm., has the marginal black seam on the
carapace very much narrower, and lacks any trace of black
annulae on the legs. The median apophysis of the male palpus
is a heavy curved spur which has a conspicuous prong on the
retrolateral side at the base, whereas in seminola the basal region
is rounded.
Pirata suwaneus, new species
Figs. 1 and 2
FEMALE.-Total length, 3.50 mm. Carapace, 1.80 mm. long, 1.50 mm.
wide. Clothing of the carapace rather sparse, made up of procumbent black
hairs and a few erect black setae. Carapace light yellowish brown, marked
with a longitudinal dark stripe on each side from the sides of the head
to the caudal margin, the interval between pale and as wide as the black
stripes behind, somewhat wider in front where the pale stripe encloses the
characteristic Y-shaped black maculation. Sides of the carapace with a
submarginal pale band scarcely as wide as the dark band and with a rather
narrow, often irregular, marginal dark stripe. Dorsal eyes on black
patches. Mouth parts and coxae light yellow, unmarked. Sternum con-
colorous but usually marked along the margins with a row of black spots
opposite the coxae or a distinct narrow black band. Clothing of the under-
side short black hairs. Legs light yellowish brown, strongly annulate in
black. Abdomen black above, marked with a series of pale spots over most
of the dorsum, the sides mostly black. Venter pale, sometimes unmarked
but usually with a median irregular black band from the epigynum to
near the spinnerets.
Structure typical. First row of eyes gently procurved, the larger
median eyes separated by their radius, somewhat nearer the lateral eyes.
Clypeus equal in height to a diameter of an anterior lateral eye. Eyes of
second row narrower than the third in the ratio 36:54, separated by two-
thirds their diameter. Dorsal ocular quadrangle broader than long (54/37),
narrower in front. Lower margin of the furrow of the chelicera with three
teeth.
First tibia with two ventral pairs and a single subventral spine on the
retrolateral side, without spines at the apex. First metatarsus with three
pairs of ventral spines, the last pair apical. Tibia and patella I, 1.50 mm.;
IV, 1.87 mm.

VOL. XXIII-No. 2

Epigynum as illustrated in Fig. 2.
MALE.-Total length, 2.80 nnm. Carapace, 1.55 mm. long, 1.05 mm. wide.
Coloration in complete agreement with the female. Structure closely
approximating that of the female. First tibia with three pairs of ventral
spines and occasional one spine or a distal pair of weak spines. Tibia and
patella I, 1.46 mm.; IV, 1.70 mm.
Palpus as illustrated in Fig. 1.
Type Locality.-Male holotype, female allotype and paratypes
from Port Mayaca, Lake Okeechobee, Florida, March 29, 1938
(W. J. Gertsch). The following examples are all designated as
paratypes: Males and females from Dade County, July 12, 1937
(F. N. Young). Male and females from Levy County, August
9, 1937 (H. K. Wallace, 591) ; males and females, May 9, 1937
(H. K. Wallace, 494) ; two males, April 9, 1937 (H. K. Wallace,
593). Females from Columbia County, April 27, 1935 (H. K.
Wallace, 402). Male and female from Cocoa, Florida, February
23, 1925 (W. M. Barrows). Males and females from Fort
Myers, Florida, November 12, 1937 (W. M. Barrows). Males
and females from Blountstown, Florida, April 18, 1938 (W. J.
Gertsch). Male and female from St. Johns River, near Geneva,
Florida, April 11, 1938 (W. J. Gertsch). Females from Engle-
wood, Florida, April 1-5, 1938 (W. J. Gertsch). Males and
females from Winter Park, Florida, March 21, 1938 (W. J.
Gertsch). Females from Okeechobee, Florida, March 26, 1938
(W. J. Gertsch). Males and females from Peace River, west
of Arcadia, Florida, March 30, 1938 (W. J. Gertsch). Males
and females from DeLand, Florida, March 26, 1939 (F. E. Lutz).
Numerous male and female paratypes from various stations in
Alachua County, Florida.
This common species is most easily identified by reference
to the genitalia. The epigynum of the female presents two
widely separated, narrowly rounded lobes which are much longer
than in mayaca and nanatus. The median apophysis of the male
palpus is geniculate, is terminated in a stout, pointed spur, and
armed on the retrolateral side near the base with a stout prong
nearly as large as the principal spur. The legs are always
marked with black annulae.

Pirata mayaca, new species
Figs. 5 and 6
FEMALE.-Total length, 3.50 mm. Carapace, 1.80 mm. long, 1.30 mm.
wide. Carapace yellowish brown, marked with a longitudinal dark stripe
on each side from the sides of the head to the caudal margin, the interval
between forming a pale longitudinal stripe which is narrowest at the

THE FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST

posterior declivity, is somewhat broadened in front and encloses a Y-shaped
black maculation. Sides of the carapace with a submarginal pale band
half as wide as the dorsal band and a marginal dark band which is fully
as wide as the pale band. Eye tubercles black. Clothing of carapace
sparse, inconspicuous, made up of procumbent black hairs and a few erect
black bristles, these latter confined to the pars cephalica. Mouth parts
and coxae clear yellow, clothed evenly with erect black hairs. Sternum
concolorous with the coxae but with a black seam or series of black spots
opposite the coxae. Legs dull yellowish brown, clear to dusky, without
indication of darker spots or annulae. Abdomen light brown above and
on the sides, the dorsum with a pale hastate maculation at the base and an
irregular median pale area, comprised of spots, behind. Venter pale
yellow, rarely with contrasting markings.
Structure typical. First row of eyes gently procurved, the much
larger median eyes separated by one-third their diameter, about half as
far from the lateral eyes. Clypeus equal in height to the diameter of an
anterior lateral eye. Eyes of the second row narrower than the third in the
ratio 24:30, separated by one-half their diameter. Dorsal ocular quad-
rangle broader than long (30/20), narrowed in front. Lower margin of
the furrow of the chelicera with three teeth.
First tibia with two ventral pairs and a single subventral spine on the
prolateral side, lacking apical spines. First metatarsus with three pairs
of ventral spines, the last pair apical. Tibia and patella I, 1.61 mm.; IV,
2.00 mm.
Epigynum as illustrated in Fig. 6.
MALE.-Total length, 3.00 mm. Carapace, 1.76 mm. long, 1.20 mm.
wide. Coloration and structure in close agreement with the female.
Spination of legs as in the female but the tibia with a single apical spine
beneath. Tibia and patella I, 1.60 mm.; IV, 2.00 mm.
Palpus as illustrated in Fig. 5.
Type Locality.-Male holotype, female allotype and male
and female paratypes from Port Mayaca, Lake Okeechobee,
Florida, March 29, 1938 (W. J. Gertsch). Two male paratypes
from Peace River, west of Arcadia, Florida, March 30, 1938 (W.
J. Gertsch). Male paratype from Alachua County, June 14,
1937 (H. K. Wallace, Station 15); male paratype, February 2,
1937 (H. K. Wallace, Station 6-C) ; female paratype, April 19,
1937 (H. K. Wallace, Station 1). Male and female paratypes
from Levy County, Florida, April 9, 1937 (H. K. Wallace, 593).
This species resembles Pirata sedentarius Montgomery in
coloration and general structure. It is easily differentiated by
the genitalia as shown in the figures. The median apophysis of
the male is broadly rounded on the prolateral side and the main
element is a spur which is much longer and more slender than in
sedentarius. The base of the apophysis is armed on the pro-
lateral side with a rounded lamella.

VOL. XXIII-No. 2

Pirata allapahae, new species
Fig. 9
MALE.-Total length, 3.40 mm. Carapace, 1.80 mm. long, 1.30 mm. wide.
Carapace yellowish brown, with a dark brown longitudinal stripe on each
side from the side of the head to the caudal margin, the interval between
forming a pale median longitudinal band which is very narrow on the
posterior declivity, is widened somewhat in front of the median groove,
and which encloses a Y-shaped dark maculation. Sides of the carapace
with a broad marginal pale band a black marginal seam or narrow band.
Eye tubercles black. Carapace clothed with the usual covering of incon-
spicuous procumbent black hairs and with erect black setae on the pars
cephalica. Mouth parts, coxae and sternum clear yellow, covered evenly
with short black hairs, the sternum usually with a series of black spots
opposite the coxae. Legs clear yellow to brown, dusky, without contrasting
markings or annulae. Abdomen dark brown above and on the sides, the
dorsum with a pale hastate maculation at base and a pale area or irregular
spots behind. Venter pale yellow, unmarked or with a faint indication
of an inconspicuous median stripe.
Structure typical. First row of eyes gently procurved, the larger
medians separated by scarcely their radius, nearer the lateral eyes. Clypeus
equal in height to a diameter of an anterior lateral eye. Eyes of the
second row narrower than the third in the ratio 47:64, separated by one-
half their diameter. Dorsal ocular quadrangle broader than long (64/44),
narrowed in front. Lower margin of the furrow of the chelicera with
three teeth.
First tibia with two ventral pairs and a single subventral spine on
the prolateral side, without apical spines. First metatarsus with three pairs
of ventral spines. Tibia and patella I, 1.70 mm.; IV, 2.05 mm.
Palpus as illustrated in Fig. 9.
Type Locality.-Male holotype from Alachua County, Florida,
February 7, 1937 (H. K. Wallace, Station 7B). Male paratype
from Alachua County, Florida, February 13, 1938 (H. K. Wal-
lace, 1016). Male paratype from Spring Creek, Lake County,
Florida, April 22, 1933 (II. K. Wallace, 201).
This species is nearest Pirata sedentarius Montgomery but is
only half as large. The median apophysis is broadly rounded,
more erect, and provided with a rounded lobe at the base on
the retrolateral side.

A THIRD OF A CENTURY OF EXPERIENCE

W. W. OTHERS
Consulting Entomologist
457 Boone Street, Orlando, Fla.
Advisory Work Confined to Citrus
Citrus Literature Bought and Sold Without Profit
REPORTS AND APPRAISALS OF CITRUS PROPERTY

the

FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST
Official Organ of the Florida Entomological Society
Gainesville, Florida

VOL. XXIII JUNE, 1940 No. 2

J. R. WATSON, Gainesville..-----..- ... ------..............................Editor
E. W. BERGER, Gainesville.. ------.........-.........-......-Associate Editor
J. W. WILSON, Belle Glade ....-....-...-..--.--...-..-Business Manager
Issued once every three months. Free to all members of the
Society.
Subscription price to non-members is $1.00 per year in ad-
vance; 35 cents per copy.

DOCTOR W. S. BLATCHLEY
Doctor W. S. Blatchley, Geologist, Entomologist, and Natural-
ist, died at his summer home in Indiana in May, 1940, in his 81st
year. He was a member of the Florida Entomological Society
since its organization and a frequent attendant at its meetings,
also contributing a number of articles to the FLORIDA ENTOMOL-
OGIST.
Dr. Blatchley is well known through his many publications.
His book "Coleoptera or Beetles Known to Occur in Indiana" is
the book to which we first turn when we wish to learn something
of the beetles. His "Orthoptera of Northeastern America",
"Rhynchophora or Weevils of North Eastern America" in co-
operation with C. W. Leng, and "Heteroptera of Eastern North
America" are classics. Of his popular works, three deal with
Nature in Florida. "A Nature Wooing at Ormond by the Sea" is
a treasure of "facts and fancies concerning the animals and
plants" of the region where he spent his first winters in Florida.
"My Nature Nook" tells of his observations and experiences in
the neighborhood of Dunedin, his winter home, where he spent
parts of every winter since 1913. "In Days Agone" he deals
with life in extreme southern Florida as he saw it on six trips
into that part of the state.
No man had a wider knowledge of the insects of Indiana, than
Dr. Blatchley, and he knew the insects of Florida equally well.
This gave him the unique opportunity of comparing the faunas
of the two widely separated regions. His interests were wide

VOL. XXIII-No. 2 25

and varied. For sixteen years.he was State Geologist of Indiana.
He has long been a winter resident of Florida, having spent a
portion of every year save one since 1911 in the state. While
here he spent practically all his time collecting, studying, and
writing about our insects, plants, and other wild life. He made
an extensive survey of the insect fauna of the Everglades
National Park for the Florida Women's Federation of Clubs.
The results of this survey are still unpublished.
The writer is indebted to Dr. Blatchley for many enjoyable
days in the fields and woods. Dr. Blatchley was never so happy
as when sweeping or beating for insects. He, with his wide
interest in both taxonomy and field work, was one of the rapidly
diminishing number of naturalists who took a broad and philo-
sophical view of the whole of nature.
The members of the Florida Entomological Society will sorely
miss him as a fellow entomologist and a friend.
-EDITOR.

DR. J. H. MONTGOMERY
Dr. J. H. Montgomery, Assistant Plant Commissioner of the
State Plant Board of Florida and head of the Quarantine De-
partment of that organization, died on the morning of February
16, 1940. His death followed a cerebral hemorrhage that had
occurred on the preceding evening. Interment was at Chambers-
burg, Pennsylvania, the place of his birth.
Born on March 23, 1875, he graduated in medicine from the
Medico-Chirurgical College, Philadelphia, in time to serve in the
army as assistant surgeon during the Spanish-American War,
1898-99. He later practiced medicine at the place of his birth
with his father and brother.
The writer first met Dr. Montgomery at his home in Lemon
City, Florida, at which place and near Miami he had property
interests, sometime during 1912. He met him again early in the
volunteer Citrus Canker Eradication Campaign in May, 1914,
in the Redlands area of south Dade County where he owned
grove property. He had come to Florida about 1903.
As the Citrus Canker Campaign progressed, Dr. Mont-
gomery's thoughtful procedure in discussing and solving the
many knotty problems involved, soon became apparent and his
counsel was highly regarded. It became apparent, also, that he
would be a valuable addition to the administrative force of the

THE FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST

State Plant Board, which had been established by the Plant Act
of 1915.
Dr. Montgomery became an employee of the Plant Board on
March 1, 1916. On May 10, 1918, he became Quarantine In-
spector and later, also Assistant Plant Commissioner, moving to
Gainesville, where he joined the colony of Plant Board employees
having their headquarters at the University of Florida. He held
the latter two positions until the time of his death.
Mrs. Montgomery (nee Margaret Singleton of Macon,
Georgia) preceded her husband in death on the 25th of October,
1939, by slightly less than four months.
W. E. Montgomery of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and J. C.
Montgomery of Washington, D. C., nephews, are the only sur-
viving close relatives of Dr. Montgomery.
Quoting from a statement made by Dr. Wilmon Newell,
Plant Commissioner of the State Plant Board: "For some years
past Doctor Montgomery has been recognized as one of the
country's outstanding authorities on matters relating to plant
quarantine and his advice and counsel was frequently sought
by both state and federal officials in this field. He was Secretary-
Treasurer of the Southern Plant Board from 1931 to 1937, and
for some years prior to his death was a member of the National
Plant Board. He was President of the Florida Entomological
Society during 1939, and was a member of the Florida State
Horticultural Society. For many years he had been a member
of George Washington Lodge No. 143, F. & A. M., of Chambers-
burg, Pennsylvania."
E. W. B.

Printing for All Purposes

Carefully Executed
Delivered on Time

Pepper Printing Company
Gainesville, Florida

VOL. XXIII-No. 2 27

PECAN FOLIAGE AS FOOD FOR THE PECAN NUT
CASEBEARER
Acrobasis caryae Grote
BY S. O. HILL'
Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine
U. S. Department of Agriculture
In connection with experiments to control the pecan nut case-
bearer (Acrobasis caryae Grote), biological investigations were
undertaken to determine more of the insect's life history and
habits as a basis on which artificial control experiments could be
planned. Among other points, it was desired to obtain informa-
tion as to the insect's ability to carry over from year to year
when there were no nuts on the trees on which it could feed. It
was known that the immature overwintering larvae complete
their growth the following spring on the young tender buds and
shoots, and laboratory experiments were conducted during the
summers of 1938 and 1939 to determine whether this insect
could complete a generation on pecan foliage alone.
Newly hatched larvae for these tests were obtained by col-
lecting pecan nut casebearer pupae in the field and permitting
the adults to emerge in an oviposition cage, from which the eggs
were obtained. The size of this cage was 18 by 18 by 18 inches,
and the frame was covered with white domestic cloth. A glass
window pane which opened horizontally in grooves at the top
and bottom was used for a door. This glass front permitted the
making of observations without disturbing the moths. In the
later series of tests pupae were obtained from the feeding ex-
periments. During 1938 the cage was kept inside the labora-
tory building, and during 1939 it was placed in an outdoor in-
sectary, where the best results were obtained.
Three days after adult emergence began, a pecan twig bear-
ing both nuts and foliage was placed in the center of the cage,
and this was done each evening. The base of the twig was placed
in a beaker containing water to delay desiccation of the nuts
and foliage. The twigs were removed each morning and if eggs
had been laid were tagged with the date of oviposition. The cage
was sprayed with water from a hand spray gun three or four
times daily to lower the inside temperature and provide hu-
midity. A sponge saturated with a sugar-water solution was
SIn charge of Cooperative Laboratory, Pecan Insect Investigations, of
the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, U. S. Department of
Agriculture, and the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, located at
Monticello, Fla.

THE FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST

kept inside the cage to provide food for the moths, which fed
freely on this solution and lived longer when it was provided.
The moths oviposited freely on the nuts, foliage, and twigs, most
of the eggs being deposited on the nuts. In the later series twigs
containing foliage alone were used for this purpose.
Records were obtained on over 200 eggs, and the average
period required for incubation was 5 days. When the eggs were
4 days old they were placed in an air-tight glass container until
they hatched, in order to confine the young larvae. Fresh leaves
were placed in the container and the larvae were usually located
on the leaves.
This experiment was conducted without the use of rearing
cabinets regulating temperature and humidity, and a sub-
stitute method was devised. Three pathological culture dishes
were utilized for each rearing cage, which consisted of two of
the large covers and one small or bottom dish. A large cover
dish was inverted and the small dish was placed inside it, which
left a space of approximately one-eighth inch between the rims.
This space was filled with water and the small dish floated. The
food and larvae were placed in this floating dish. The remaining
large cover dish was placed over these and the edges of the two
large dishes fitted flush. When the top was put in position the
water rose by capillary attraction and had a tendency to seal
the union. This method provided humidity which retarded des-
iccation of the food. Without the use of this method the food
had to be changed daily, which caused high mortality of the
larvae as the result of mechanical injury from handling.
The newly hatched larvae were removed from the glass con-
tainer by means of a camel's-hair brush and placed on the under-
side of a leaflet. This leaflet was then folded over the young
larvae and held in position by means of a clothes pin. It was
found from experience that the larvae will not leave so readily
when placed in this position as otherwise. The folded leaflet
excludes light to some extent. The food was changed every third
day. The larvae did not attempt to escape very often when
fresh food was supplied at that interval. It was observed when
changing food that if the entire feeding case was removed with
the larva a new feeding case would not be constructed on the
fresh food. This method eliminated actual contact with the lar-
vae, and reduced the mortality.

VOL. XXIII-No. 2 29

The larvae construct feeding cases adjacent to the midrib
near the crease made by folding the leaflet. When feeding on
leaves or stems the larva constructs a feeding case similar to
those made when feeding on the nut. In doing this the larva
first covers its body with silken threads, and these threads are
reinforced by bits of leaf tissue. This habit of first construct-
ing a feeding case from bits of leaf before feeding is probably
responsible for the ineffectiveness of arsenicals when applied to
the nuts at low concentrations, as most of the poison would be
removed in constructing the case. The young larvae consume
the under surface of the leaf, and the case is extended when that
portion within reach of the case is consumed. When the larvae
are one-half grown or more, they consume the entire portion of
the leaf, and the case is extended along the midrib.
In 1938 three larvae from a series of 20 were reared to the
adult stage on pecan twigs. Similar results were obtained with
the first series reared on pecan leaves. The low percentage that
reached the adult stage in the earlier tests was attributed to
faulty laboratory technique, as 25 percent of the larvae were
reared to the adult stage in the later tests on leaves that year.
In the tests during 1939, the laboratory technique was improved
and 55 percent of the larvae were reared to the adult stage.
It is believed that a higher percentage would have reached the
adult stage if insect-rearing cabinets providing controlled tem-
perature and humidity had been available. The larvae reared
on leaves and twigs completed their growth in the same period
of time as those reared on pecan nuts. This experiment explains
to some extent why the pecan nut casebearer larvae can survive
in orchards when there are no nuts on the trees.
Among the interesting observations made during the course
of these tests was that the state or condition of the food is the
predominant factor that governs the migration of the larvae to
over-wintering locations. In this test, when the food became dry
and hard the larvae migrated to the sides of the container and
constructed hibernacula similar to those in which the winter is
normally passed. During August and September it was almost
impossible to confine the larvae to their food, as the leaves at
that period were not so succulent as they were earlier in the
season. This condition was also observed in the field.

THE FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW DYTISCID FROM FLORIDA
(Coleoptera; Dytiscidae)*
By FRANK N. YOUNG

The determination of the species of Bidessus described below
puzzled me for some time until finally I sent it along with other
specimens to the late Dr. H. C. Fall. He returned the specimen
with the note that it was entirely unknown to him and probably
represented a distinctive new species. In appreciation of his aid
in identifying Coleoptera for me I take pleasure in naming it

Bidessus fall, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Similar to B. floridanus Fall, but differing in the more
broadly ovate form, finer punctation of the elytra, pronotum and head
and in having the basal elytral plicae slightly longer than the thoracic
plicae. The species is more broadly ovate than any of the other sparsely
pubescent species known to me, except B. granarius (AubB) in which the
elytral plicae are considerably longer than the thoracic and the coloration
and general shape is also different. The dark immaculate elytra and
broad, flattened form should make the determination of this species rather
easy.
Holotype: Broadly ovate, widest about the middle. Dorsum flattened
between the pronotal and elytral plicae. Elytra uniformly dark fuscous;
pronotum light testaceous with anterior margin fuscous; head fuscous;
epipleurae testaceous; antennae, mouthparts, and legs light testaceous;
thorax and abdomen mostly fuscous on the ventral surface. Pronotum
finely and sparsely punctate; elytra somewhat more coarsely and closely
punctate than the pronotum; head sparsely and finely punctate; hind coxal
plates finely and sparsely punctate without scattered larger punctures.
Dorsum highly polished, shining, almost without pubescence. Basal elytral
plicae slightly longer than the thoracic plicae. Length 1.7mm.; width .8mm.
The holotype and only known specimen was collected by
Mr. Lewis Berner and the writer from leaf debris in the West
Branch of Hogtown Creek, at Gainesville, Alachua County,
Florida, on April 21, 1937. It remains in my collection.

*Contribution from the Department of Biology, University of Florida,
Gainesville.

THE JAPANESE BEETLE TAKEN IN FLORIDA
According to reports from the U. S. Bureau of Entomology
and Plant Quarantine and the State Plant Board five specimens
of the Japanese Beetle have been taken in Florida; two each in
Jacksonville and Miami and one in Tampa.
-EDITOR.