Vol. LII. LONDON. P^EBRUARY, 1920. No. 2 
POPULAR AND PRACTICAL ENTOMOLOGY. 
A Day's Beating. 
BY C. A. KROST. 
Framingham, Mass. 
The rosy dawn of this early June morning has been followed by dull gray, 
clouds which, slowly massing across the sky, presage rain for the afternoon. 
A good day for the beating umbrella both for catching beetles and for shelter 
on the way home. 
My preparations for a day in the woods are generally made the evening 
before, or I am sure to forget something in the hurried morning start. A large, 
wide-mouthed bottle for the bulk of the catch and several small vials for the 
minute things or paired specimens that should be kept separate, filled with 
alcohol (denatured is just as good for the purpose), are deposited in pockets 
convenient for instant use. A small cyanide bottle for specimens whose colour 
will not stand alcohol, and a large cyanide jar for Lepidoptera or other insects 
interesting to brother collectors, are placed in side pockets or in the corduroy 
bag that is slung over my shoulder. This bag contains: a large knife, a troM^el, 
a drinking cup, a fine wire strainer of five inches diameter for dipping up water 
beetles, an old pair of gloves to protect the fingers when much collecting is done 
under stones, tw'O or three tin boxes to which I transfer Lepidoptera and Hymen- 
optera as soon as they are dead (to prevent rubbing), a white cloth with loops 
at each corner to hold two diagonally crossed sticks which will keep the cloth 
spread so that it can be used in place of the umbrella if that instrument collapses 
(as often happens) at the most interesting point of the capture. I also have a 
net that fits into the bag, made of brass wire leaded into a brass union, which in 
turn is screwed into a brass increaser; into the larger end of this a stick can 
be screwed and fastened by a tack through a hole drilled in the rim of the in- 
creaser. Nets of several sizes or kinds can be carried along, and at once inter- 
changed by merely screwing them into the increaser. Last but not least I 
make sure that my forceps are in the sheath that is pinned on the inside of 
my coat at the most convenient height for hurried seizing. 
Thus equipped I hasten down the side streets to the railroad tracks that 
lead to Sherborn town. Half a mile brings me to an interesting swamp beside 
the track and, although within a stone's throw of a busy foundry, I am seldom 
able to get past it without investigating its possibilities. In this swamp all the 
wood has now been cut ofif but a few old willows, and the dead and dying bushes 
and young trees often yield some very good things. It is here that I take 
Pogonocheriis saUcicola Casey, and the species was determined for me by its 
describer from specimens that emerged from dead twigs collected from these 
willoyvs. 
Splashing through the ankle-deep brown water I cannot resist an attempt 
25 
26 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 
to get something from the bunches of live willow sprouts that ha\'e escaped 
the grass fires. The attempt always brings a multitude of Crepidodera helxines 
L., or a shower of brown-tail moth caterpillars into the umbrella, and to-day 
is not the exception. I have occasionally found a few Rhyjichiies cyanellus Lee. 
among the usual vermin. 
My beating stick is any handy dead limb of suitable length, and it can 
easily be replaced. The blows on the scraggly old dead willows shower down 
bits of bark and moss Avith an occasional Allandrus bifasciaius Lee, Acoptus 
suturalis Lee, or Chramesus icorice Lee. From the smaller trees I get a score of 
Laemophlaeiis adiistus Lee. and convexulns Lee, an occasional biguttakis Say or 
fasciatus Mel., Psenocerus snpernolatiis Say, Orchesia castanea Melsh., and still 
more rarely Pogonocheriis salicicola, Lepturges qnerci Fitch and facetus Say. 
Across the track the alders and fire-killed bushes yield numbers of Laemophlaens 
and Molamba which are barely discernible as minute dots crawling on the dark 
umbrella. Some of the Cerambycids remain perfectly still on the cloth, and 
are occasionally picked from the very edge where the least motion would tumble 
them to safety. 
New fields lure me on down the track half a mile more to the woods and 
meadows, but I must always stop to take a whack at the clump of poison sumac 
growing by the fence on the edge of the swamp that stretches away to the brook 
beyond the higher ground. It yields as usual only Psenocerus superno^aUis, 
and the chokecherry and red maple are even less productive, although I have 
taken some good things from the sprouts of the latter, notably Purpuricenns 
humeralis Fab., Limonius aurifer Lee. (in Maine), and Corymbiks nigricornis 
Panz. (typical nitididus Lee.) once in numbers. 
Near the track fire has killed all the large trees of the high ground, and 
it has grown up with bunches of blueberry, amelanchier and sweet fern. The 
former yields nothing at all generally, but the amelanchier I have now visited 
at the most favourable time, and when I have finished with them I have several 
specimens of the rare Agrilus viitati colli s Rand, and a set of Saperda Candida 
Fab. The latter I have never taken otherwise, except once only, when I suddenly 
saw one balanced on the tip of a dead sprout almost between my legs. 
Travelling east again down a wood-road, I visit a few white pines that 
have escaped the fires. The lower branches of these I am able to reach with 
a long limb, and almost the first blow brings down a beautiful green beetle, 
Chrysobothris harrisi Hentz, a very welcome find. I attack the trees with 
renewed vigour when a sharp sting in the vicinity of my collar bone causes me 
to suspend operations with visions of a ferocious, white-faced hornet probing 
about my jugular vein. Hastily throwing off my coat and bag I frantically 
try to dislodge the intruder by tearing open my shirt and getting head down 
over the umbrella, for entomological curiosity compels me to search out the 
identity of the insect that has violated the sanctity of my person. At intervals 
during these manoeuvres, when the clothing binds the insect, it deliberately, 
but with unexpected moderation, punctures my skin, selecting five different 
places before it is released and falls to the umbrella; it is a yellow hymenopter 
whose identity is unknown to me. After arraigning the intruder in appropri- 
ate, if not ethical, language the search for C. harrisi is continued with one more 
specimen as a reward. In Maine Corymbiies medianiis Germ., and propola 
THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 27 
Lec, and Harmonia picta Rand, are common fruit of the white pine, but not 
here. I have taken Rhinomacer clongatus Lec. in numbers and Dinoderus 
subsi-riatus Payk. sparingly by beating cut pine tops when the needles were 
dead enough to fall. 
From these trees I wander through the red maple saplings, speckled alder 
and blueberry bushes to the edge of the meadow with its gently-waving grasses 
and tangled cranberry vines. I recline at ease on the soft grass on the bank 
of a slowly flowing brook, and watch the crows silently flying to and from their 
nests that I know are hidden in the woods beyond. Dineutes and Gyrinus are 
whirling and spinning on the water at my feet. The tiger beetles, C. repanda 
Dej., are hunting on the patches of white sand of the further bank. To the 
right is a grove of waving pines, the green of their needles contrasting pleasingly 
with the darkness of their trunks; in front of me are tall chestnuts and oaks; 
to the left of the green meadow is traversed by the brook that disappears in a 
sudden bend behind the oaks and chestnuts. Many happy hours have I spent 
beside this brook, and again I recall the day I swept Leptura deleta Lec. from 
the Spira?a blossoms almost within the shade of the murmuring pines; the time 
I almost got Leptura siihhamata Rand, on the same flower, and the plant which 
bore it is now within my sight. How I pawed around in the dead grass on 
hands and knees on the soggy meadow bottom for a full hour after the elusive 
specimen, and with what regrets I finally gave up the quest. And so each 
spot recalls some entomological event that is again enacted as I dream beside 
the winding stream. A spotted turtle goes pawing his course down along the 
bottom of the brook and reminds me that I must be on the move, for it is nearing 
noon, and although the rain still holds off it will not spare me much longer. 
I must try the grove of young pines half a mile further on for I have found 
that pines and other evergreens along the edges of a wood are the hiding places 
of many beetles in cloudy weather, and even in sunny weather after 4 p.m. or 
before 10 a.m. I have also had wonderful luck sweeping Alniis incana bushes 
in Maine at sunset, taking many rare things in numbers, such as Elater sanguiiii- 
pennis Say, and semicinctus Rand., Cardiophortis convexulus Lec, Melanotus 
leonardi Lec, Corymhites hamatus Say, Lycttis striafus Melsh., and opaculus 
Lec, Saperda ohliqua Say, and lateralis Fab., Oberea pallida Casey, Agrilus 
pensus Horn and many other lesser lights. By beating Alnus sprouts when the 
sun was shining in the afternoon I once took many Dicerca caudata Lec, Eupri- 
stocerus cogitans Web., and Oberea pallida in Maine. In Massachusetts I have 
had no such good luck with Alnus, and can only record Anomala lucicola Fab. 
Harmonia similis Rand, and Adalia frigida Schn., all of which are rather un- 
common in this locality. 
Down the brook, ignoring the fine sweeping grounds on either side, I hasten 
on towards the rocky hill fringed with scattered pitch pines and topped with 
small oaks, hickories and well-browsed hazel bushes. On the south slope is an 
open grove of young white pines that should well repay a visit. The first tree 
gives me a regular shower of Dichelonycha albicollis Burm. and Glyptoscelis 
pubescens Fab., both of which are well-known products. A thorough canvass of 
the trees yields nothing else, but a barberry bush in flower drops an Elater 
coUaris Say into my umbrella to lighten the disappointment. 
28 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 
I try the hickories, which on sunny days may have some Anihaxia quercata 
Fab. (and later, in July, Dicerca lurida Fab.), Saperda lateralis Fab. or Tymnes 
tricolor Fab., but nothing appears except Sinoxylon bidentatum Horn from the 
dead twigs. The hazel bushes are also non-productive to-day except for Chlamys 
plicata Fab., which can be swept by dozens from sweet fern at times, and a few 
Attelahus rhois Boh. If the sun were shining I should expect Agrilus otiosus Say 
in numbers, arciialiis Say (variety coryli) and politus Say, which so resemble 
each other in colour as to be indistinguishable without a lens, Calligrapha rhoda 
Knab, and possibly a few Agrilus dejectus Lee. and cephalicus Lee. 
The pitch pine {Pinus rigida) gives up a few Melanoius, one Corymbiles 
trimidulatus Rand, and one Harmonia picta Rand., which are both rare here. 
At sunset I have had fine success with a few of these trees at the top of a small 
hill, taking Chrysohcthris floricola Gory, Enoclerus nigrifrons Say, Ernohiiis 
luteipcnnis Lee, Pogonochenis viixtus Hald., Eiipogonius toment-osiis Hald., 
Corymbites splendens Ziegl., and propola Lee. At another time I found the 
twigs swarming with Anomala oblivia Horn. 
The scattered cedars (savins) of the pasture here have never yet paid me 
for the time spent on them, and I might say the same of live elm (unless one is 
looking for the elm leaf-beetle), ash, apple, chestnut and, in Maine, the spruce 
and fir, although I see no reason why the two latter should not make as good 
hiding places as the pines and hemlocks. It is very probable that the time 
and place entirely govern success in beating, and while I always give them a 
stroke or two, elm, apple and cedar are absolutely hopeless to me. The oaks 
are the most prolific as a whole, but must be visited on sunny days, preferably 
along towards 5 p.m., as the insects are then less active and can be secured 
without the losses that are sure to occur by quick flight during the heat of the 
early afternoon. Among the more interesting things from oaks are: Chrysobot-h- 
ris azurea Lee. (dead white oak), Agrilus masculinus Horn, acutipennis Mann., 
auricomiis Frost (red oak), crinicornis Horn (raspberry leaves in Maine), Elytro- 
leptus floridanus Lee, Bassareus mammifer Newm., Rhynchiks aeneus Boh., 
Aiiletcs uier Lee, Pierocolus ovatus Fab., and several species of Balaninus. 
The rain is now gently falling in fine scattered drops as I stop by the brook 
to try the young poplars and alders growing thick over a small area near the 
railroad. The former gives me one Cotalpa lanigera Linn., and plenty of Phyl- 
lodecta vitellincc Linn. At other times I have taken an occasional Agrilus auxins 
Gory, and Saperda concolor Lee. with Zeugophora puberida Cr. turning up in 
large numbers twice from poplar. From the alders I now get a single Dicerca 
pugionata Germ., which rounds out a perfect day as I have now taken my second 
specimen of this fine species. D. caiidata Lee. is rarely seen resting on the 
side of the stems of the young alders, from whence it may, sometimes, be knocked 
into the net or umbrella. 
Back along the brook I hasten while the rain increases in intensity with 
every intermittent shower. I tarry a few moments in the heavy growth of 
oaks and chestnuts through which the rain has not yet penetrated. Here I 
bring down MelanoHis caslanipes Payk., two species of Platydema, Phloetrya 
iiiurata Lee, and Agriotes oblongicollis Melsh. in numbers by vigorous kicks 
against the dead saplings. I once brought down a shower of Bostrychiis armiger 
Lee from a dead white oak sapling by this method; it was in a thick wood 
THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 29 
and none of (he other oaks near by gave me a single specimen, and I have never 
happened on them again. In Maine I have beaten the rare Enchodes sericea 
Hald., Aficrobregma emarginatum Duft., Oligomerus obtusiis Lcc. and Elater 
apicatus Say from the dead lower limbs of large sugar maples. 
A final kick at a dead stub brings down the whole top smashing into the 
umbrella with disastrous results and, casting away the now utterly u.seless 
implement, I plod along in the pauring rain over the railroad ties towards home. 
When I arri^•e there I am soaking wet but happy in the memories of the day's 
experiences, and each time I open my boxes these memories will be reflected 
from the shining armor of Dicena pugionata and Chrysobothris harnsi. 
NOTES ON COCCID.E. Y. (HEMIPTERA). 
BY G. F. FERRIS, 
Stanford University, California. 
(Continued from Can. Ent., Vol. 51, p 253.) 
Genus Protodiaspis Ckll. 
The original description of this genus was not sul^ciently detailed, and 
much doubt has existed as to its exact nature. Through the kindness of Pro- 
tessor C ockerell I have been enabled to examine a slide mount of P. pantila 
C kll., the type of the genus, and find it possible to extend somewhat our knowl- 
edge of this and related species. 
The original description of the genus was as follows: "A genus of Diaspins 
secretmg no scale- but the females enveloped in cottony secretion, the male 
pupa resembling those of Diaspis, but extremely short. " No groi p^d circum- 
genital glands." To this genus there have previously been referred, (with 
some doubt) Protodiaspis anomala Green, P. tridenlata Ferris, P. edentita Wvvl'^ 
P. agrifolice Essig and Fiorinia syncaripcB Maskell." Of these only P. agrifoH^ 
Essig can be considered as congeneric with the type, and I am here namJno a 
new genus for the others. "^ 
I am unable at present to offer any very precise definition of the -em s 
Protodiaspis, partly because of certain possible errors in the original de-cripticn 
that I am not able to clear up, partially because of the need of more information 
concernmg the immature stages and partially because of the hazy limits of 
certain other genera. I present, however, the following characterization, this 
being based upon P. parvula, P. agrifolice and two other species that I am here 
describing as new. 
Coccidae referable to the subfamily Diaspina>, secreting a distinct scale or 
possibly m some cases merely loose secretion; the scale of the female circular 
with the exuviffi central, that of the male elongate with the exuvia at one end 
in both sexes white; second exuvia of female large but not at all, or at the mosl^ 
only partially, enclosing the adult; tubular ducts (Fig. IB) of the type seen in 
Dmspn and related genera, all small, tho.se of the pygidium scattered; pygidium 
usually weakly or not at all chitinized; circumgenital pores present or absent; 
lobes of the pygidium present or absent. Small species (about .5 mm. long) 
as far as known infesting only oaks. 
February, 1920