Proceedings of the HAWAIIAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY for 1968
VOL. XX, No. 2 August, 19 69 Suggestions for Manuscripts
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of the
Hawaiian Entomological Society
Vol. XX, No. 2 For the Year 1968 August, 1969
January
The 745th meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological Society was called to order by President Bianchi at 2:00 pm., 9 January 1968, in Agee Hall, HSPA Experiment Station. Members Present: Ashdown, Au, Barrett, Bianchi, Chong, Clagg, Davis, Fluker, Gressitt, Hale, Haramoto, Jackson, Kajiwara, Keenan, Krauss, LaPlante, Look, Nakata, Pemberton, Sakimura, Shiroma, Tama- shiro, Tenorio, Thistle, Van Zwaluwenburg, and Woolford. Visitors Present: Eugene Drake, M. Kurahoshi, and Satoshi Shino-
naga. Before opening the meeting for business, President Bianchi announced the death of Dr. F. X. Williams on 16 December 1967, and a minute of silence was observed in his honor by the membership present. At the request of R. H. Van Zwaluwenburg, President Bianchi will write a letter of sympathy on behalf of the Society to his surviving sister. Reports of Officers and Committees: Treasurer's Report: Dr. Haramoto gave the following Treasurer's Report: Balance brought forward $2,070.29 Credit 132.56 Debit 5.10 Balance, January 9, 1968 $2,197.75 Dr. Haramoto also distributed to membership present the annual "Finance Report of the Treasurer", January 1, 1967 to December 31, 1967. Committee Appointments: President Bianchi announced the following committee appointments: Editorial committee: A. A. LaPlante (Editor), C. J. Davis, W. C. Mitchell, and W. Steffan. Finance Committee: F. Haramoto (Treasurer), A. A. LaPante, and R. Namba. Science Fair Committee: J. Fujii, R. Park, and J. Sharp. ISSEC Representative: C. F. Clagg Pest Survey Committee: C. J. Davis Program Committee: H. A. Bess Nomination of New Members: Eugene Drake, George D. Peterson, and Salman Wasti were nominated for membership. 260 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society
New Business: President Bianchi brought out the matter of the prepara tion of the Index for Volume 19 of the Proceedings. Dr. Tamashiro made a motion that a sum not to exceed $100.0 be approved for this project to be done by University of Hawaii graduate students. Motion was seconded by A. Thistle and unanimously approved.
Notes and Exhibitions
Dr. Gressitt exhibited 4 current issues of Pacific Insect Monographs, 3 of which were of interest to Hawaii. Hister nomas Erichson and Pachylister caffer Erichson: Miss Mabel Chong reported that these two histerid beetles which are predaceous on horn fly larvae were found in goodly numbers at Makena, Maui, in November 1967 by Nobuo Miyahira. These constitute new island records for these two beneficial insects. Previously, P. caffer was found established only on the island of Hawaii and H. nomas only on Oahu and Hawaii. The specimens were determined by Dr. W. Wenzel of the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. Parasites of Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Walker): Parasites from larval and pupal material of Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Walker) col lected from Kualoa Ranch, Oahu, which were reported at the Society meeting of 9 October 1967, have been identified by the Insect Identification and Parasite Introduction Research Branch, Beltsville, Maryland, as Trichogramma semifumatum (Perkins), Eucelatoria armigera (Coq.), Casinaria infesta (Cress.), Cremastus (Trathala) flavo-orbitalis (Cam.) and Meteorus sp. possibly laphygmae Vier. Last month these same parasites were found in great numbers at the Koa Ridge Ranch, Kipapa, Oahu. Dendrosoter protuberans Nees: A shipment of D. protuberans, a braconid parasite of the elm bark beetle was received from Bruce H. Kennedy of the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Delaware, Ohio. Part of the shipment was retained for propagation on our black twig borer (Xylosandrus compactus) while portions of it were released at Honouliuli Forest Reserve and at lower Tantalus where the borers are plentiful. Program: President Bianchi presented a very interesting talk, illustrated with slides, on his last trip to Brazil and Guatemala.
February
The 746th meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological Society was called to order by President Bianchi at 2:00 pm, 13 February 1968, in Agee Hall, HSPA Experiment Station. Members Present: Au, Barrett, Bess, Bianchi, Carter, Chong, Davis, Drake, Fluker, Gressitt, Haramoto, Hart, Joyce, Keenan, LaPlante, Look, Maa, Mau, Nakao, Nakata, Namba, Olson, Park, Pemberton, Shiroma, Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 261
Spencer, Sugerman, Tamashiro, Van Zwaluwenburg, Woolford, and Yoshioka. Visitors Present: Richard Bovard, James Hiramoto, John McDonald, Banpot Napompeth, and Henry van der Schalie. Election of New Members: Eugene, Drake, George D. Peterson, and Salman Wasti were unanimously elected to membership. Announcements: President Bianchi announced the death of Miss Amy Suehiro, who passed away on the 20th of January, 1968. Miss Suehiro was a long time member and contributed much to the Society, both as an officer and as the editor of the Proceedings. Dr. Gressitt announced that the Bishop Museum will set up a Memorial Fund in Miss Suehiro's honor. This Fund will be used as grants for the study of Hawaiian Entomology. All interested to help initiate this Me morial Fund were asked to contact Dr. Gressit.
Notes and Exhibitions
Trissolcus sp.: Early in January 1968, Wendell Au, student as sistant of the Insectary Section, State Department of Agriculture, observed some "off color" black stink bug eggs in the old quarry area of the Univer sity of Hawaii campus. These were collected and held for emergence and, in due course produced scelionid parasites. These parasites were identifi ed as Trissolcus sp. by P. M. Marsh, U.S.D.A. taxonomist in Washington. This is the first record of a plataspid egg parasite in Hawaii. Sub sequently, Trissolcus was reared from C. xanthogramma eggs collected in Hilo by S.D.A. staff members in February 1968, a new Island record. Preliminary studies by Insectary Supervisor, Sung Hin Au, indicate that Trissolcus begins ovipositing on the day of emergence. Initially eggs are reddish and after 5 days, parasitized eggs in successive changes be come brown, gray and finally, black. Eleven days after darkening, adults emerge. The total parasite life cycle, from egg to adult is 16 days and adult longevity ranges from 4 to 10 days. The host, Coptosoma requires 48-52 days to develop from egg to adult and so it is possible for 3 generations of Trissolcus to develop during one generation of C. xanthogramma. In addition to the old quarry at the University of Hawaii and Hilo, Hawaii, Trissolcus has been reared from eggs collected at Aiea, Waimanalo, and at the Coconut Island boat landing, windward Oahu. Mitchell, Davis, and Funasaki, on 7 October 1966, at the Coconut Island boat landing observed a Coptosoma population of 1,000 adults and nymphs per 4 feet of branch on Sesbania. On 8 February 1968, Au and Wong found more than 25 adults and nymphs per 4 feet of branch. Of 221 egg clusters collected, 210 or 95% were parasitized. At Aiea, of 122 clusters of eggs collected on 6 February on pigeon 262 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society pea, 93 or 76% were parasitized and at the old quarry, University of Hawaii, in two collections on mauna-loa vine totaling 170 egg clusters made on 19 and 31 January 1968, 40 or 36% were parasitized. According to P. M. Marsh, 'This parasite probably came in with its host from the Philippine Islands. The following species of Trissolcus have been reared from Coptosoma cribaria: T. latisulcus (in the Philippines and India), and T. tetartus (in India and Sumatra); from Coptosoma punctis- simum: T. minor (in Japan). Your specimens are not any of the above species." Araeocorynus cumingi Jekel: On 18 January 1968, mauna-loa seeds near the Kauai Surf Hotel, Nawiliwili, were found heavily infested by the anthribid, A. cumingi Jekel by Davis and Bianchi. This is a new insect record for Kauai. A. cumingi was first reported from Oahu in September, 1963, and on Hawaii in January 1966. It is a native of the Philippines. Xylosandrus compactus Eichh.: Dendrobiums and strap leaf vandas were found infested by the black twig borer, X. compactus in Lihue and Poipu. In the strap leaf vandas, aerial roots were being attacked. Although reported from orchids on Oahu and Hawaii, this is the first re cord of orchids being attacked on Kauai. X. compactus was also found in many live and dying branches of kolomona, Cassia glauca and attacking the following weeds: Stachytarpheta sp., indigo, Indigofera suffruticosa and false mallow, Malvastrum coromandelianum. Coptosoma xanthogramma White: The black stink bug, C. xanthogramma has heretofore been unrecorded from Kauai although Dr. W. Mitchell observed it at Lihue several months ago. Since this observa tion, specimens were found in Koloa and on 19 January 1968, one specimen was found in a pail of water at Lawai by Fred Bianchi. Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Walker): The grass webworm, H. licarsisalis (Walk.) was found at Wailua House lots, Kauai on 5 February 1968. An adult and several larvae were submitted to Survey Entomologist, George Funasaki for identification. This is the first record of Herpetogramma on Kauai and the first report from a neighbor island. It is interesting to note that the first neighbor island reports of fairly recent immigrant pests such as the hunting billbug, Sphenophorus venatus vestitus Chittenden, southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula L., black twig borer, Xylosandrus compactus Eichhoff, Cuban laural thrips, Gynaikothrips ficorum Marchal, vagrant grass-hopper, Schistocerca vaga Scudder, Ber- mudagrass mite, Aceria neocynodonis Keifer and the grass webworm, Her petogramma licarsisalis (Wlk.) have come from Kauai. Uresiphita polygonalis (Dennis and Schiffermueller): On 30 January 1968, 85% of the foliage of mamane, Sophora chrysophylla was de foliated by a native caterpilla, U. polygonalis (formerly Mecyna viriscens Butler) at the Acacia koaia sanctuary, Kawaihae-uka, Kohala, Mountains, Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 263
Hawaii. The caterpillars are often overcome by a disease and are seasonal in nature. Notes presented by C. J. Davis. Apanteles rubecula Marshall: The first release of this braconid parasite of the imported cabbage worm, Pieris rapae L., was made at Pulehu, Maui, on 8 January 1968. Breeding stock was received through the cooperation of Dr. Frank Parker, Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory, U.S.D.A., Columbia, Missouri, where recent studies indicat ed that A. rubecula was a very effective parasite of the cabbage worm. Note presented for Nobuo Miyahira by Harry Nakao. Spalangia nigra Latreille, Sphegestes sp., and Tachinaephagus zealandicus Ashmead: Three species of housefly parasites were also realeased for the first time; the pteromalids, Spalangia nigra Latr. (Northern California strain) and Sphegestes sp. (Uganda, Africa) and an encyrtid Tachinaephagus zealandicus Ashmead. Stock was received courtesy of Dr. E. F. Legner, University of California, Riverside, California. Initial re- aleases were made at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel grounds on 16 January 1968. Note presented for Ernest Yoshioka by Harry Nakao. Coccus viridis (Green): Mr. Drake reported that this scale insect was found in considerable numbers on natal plum (Carissa grandiflora A. DC.) on 11 February 1968, near the Manoa campus of the University of Hawaii by Banpot Napompeth, a graduate student at the university. This appears to be a new host record for the scale. Many of the scales were parasitized by as yet undetermined parasites. Program: Mr. Richard Bovard presented an interesting talk on the culture and behavior of Honey bees in Hawaii.
March
The 747th meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological Society was called to order by President-elect LaPlante at 2:00 pm, 12 March 1968, in Agee Hall, HSPA Experiment Station. Members Present: Ashdown, Au, Barrett, Bess, Carter, Chong, Davis, Fluker, W. Fujii, Gressitt, Hall, Haramoto, Hart, Jackson, Joyce, Look, Mitchell, Morrill, Namba, Nishida, Olson, Ozaki, Pemberton, Shiroma, Steffan, Tamashiro, Tenorio, and Woolford. Visitors Present: Wendell Au, Dr. E. J. Gerberg, M. Nadchatram, and JoAnn Tenorio. New Business: President LaPlante read a letter from the Conserva tion Council of Hawaii regarding the Society's dues for 1968 which amount ed to $5. Dr. Carter moved that we keep our membership by paying the $5 dues. The motion was seconded by Dr. Haramoto and unanimously passed.
Notes and Exhibitions
Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latr.): Dr. C. E. Pemberton reported 264 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society
for Mr. F. A. Bianchi that on 16 February 1968, Dr. Harry Arnold, Jr. of the Straub Clinic collected tick larvae from unusual lesions on the skin of a young child in Honolulu. The species appears to be Rhipicephalus saunguineus, the brown dog tick. No precise record of its being injurious to man is to be found in Hawaiian entomological literature, although Dr. C. E. Pemberton (Hawaii Medical Journal, March-April 1943, vol. 2, p. 193) has pointed out that "it can and does bite man although we don't often hear of it". Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Walker): The grass webworm was found at Kipahulu Ranch, Maui, on 6 March, 1968, by Nobuo Miyahira, State Department of Agriculture Entomologist stationed on Maui. Larval and pupal specimens were submitted for identification. This is the first record of this pasture pest on Maui and follows by 30 days its first report on Kauai. On 11 March 1968, specimens of//, licarsisalis were found in a light trap on the State Department of Agriculture grounds, the first report of this pyraustid from the Island of Hawaii. Only a light popula tion of adults was observed on grass lawns in the surrounding area. Phorocantha semipunctata Fabr.: On 21 February 1968, ex tensive cerambycid larval galleries were found under the bark of a felled Eucalyptus tree near Puuka-pele, lower Kokee Road. Although adults were not found, the larvae compare favorably with those of Phorocantha semipunctata, a recently discovered immigrant cerambycid on Oahu. Sub ject to confirmation, this may be the first record of P. semipunctata on Kauai and another instance of a newly established insect on Oahu reaching Kauai before the other islands. The Eucalyptus tree was identified as E. pilularis by Research Forester Robert Nelson. Notes presented by C. J. Davis. Melormenis antillarium (Kirkaldy): This determination was recently received from J. P. Kramer of the UJS.N.M. for an adult Flatidae submitted on 18 October 1967 by Benjamin Hu of Hilo for identification. Mr. Hu picked up this specimen alive in his office at Hilo. According to Kramer, this is a common species in the West Indies. Presented by E. Shiroma. Lepidosaphes tokionis (Kuwana): A croton leaf, heavily infested with this scale insect was recently submitted for identification by E. T. Uyeda of our Hilo, Hawaii Office. Although this scale has been inter cepted many times in Quarantine at Hilo, it has not been previously recorded as occurring on the Big Island. This constitutes a new insect record for the Island of Hawaii. Zimmerman (Insects of Hawaii, Vol. 5, 1948, p. 426) lists this scale as occuring only on the island of Oahu. Presented by E. Shiroma. Program: Dr. H. A. Bess, Program Chairman, introduced Dr. Donald Ashdown who spoke on "Teaching Methods and Materials." Dr. Ashdown showed interesting slides on insects and their damage as one method of teaching entomology. Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 265
April The 748th meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological Society was called to order by President-elect LaPlante at 2:00 pm, 11 April 1968, in Agee Hall, HSPA Experiment Station. Members present: Au, Bess, Chong, Davis, Fluker, Haramoto, Higa, Joyce, Kajiwara, LaPlante, Look, Mau, Mitchell, Morrill, Namba, Olson, Pemberton, Sharp, Sherman, Shiroma, Smith, Takei, Tamashiro, Wool- ford, and Yoshioka. Visitors present: J. M. Bann, Karen Bare, J. R. Beksy, Barry Brennan, Jane B. Culp, F. M. Carciano, Gerhard Frohlich, R. Grace, James T. Hiramoto, Ester Matsuda, Roy Ninomiya, Paul Schaefer, Donald Sugawa, Dr. A. L. Tester, Harold Yamayoshi, and Dr. K. Yanagisawa. Science Fair Committee: The following report submitted by the Science Fair Committee. "This year there were ten entomological ex hibits out of a total of one hundred and fifty at the 11 th Hawaiian Science Fair. The Recipient for the Hawaiian Entomological Society award for the best entomological exhibit was Mr. John Nakagawa of Kalaheo Hill side Intermediate School, Kailua, Oahu. His exhibit was entitled "What is the ratio of white fruit flies to yellow fruit flies?". A book, "Living Insects of the World", By Alexander B. Klots and Elsie B. Klots was pre sented to him at the awards banquet by Dr. Albert LaPlante." Respectfully submitted, Robert, Park, Jack Fujii, & John Sharp. Editorial Committee: Editor, Dr. A. LaPlante reported that the Proceedings for 1967 has been edited and is ready to go to the publisher. He also reported that the Index for Volume 19 has been completed and is ready for printing and will probably be printed at the same time as the above. At this time Dr. Pemberton made a motion that the Society go on record in appreciation of the monetary gift provided by H S P A towards the publication of our Proceedings. The motion was seconded by Dr. W. Mitchell and carried unanimously. Nomination and Election of Honorary Members: Dr. Mitchell reported that the following four entomologists have retired: Edwin H. Bryan, Jr., Bishop Museum, L. D. Christensen, U.S.D.A., Kanji Sakimura, P.R.I., and Charles Clagg, U.S.N. Civil Service. These gentlemen have been members of our Society for many years and have served on various committees or have been officers. Therefore, in honor of their faithful service to the Society and to entomology, he recommended that Mr. Edwin H. Bryan, Mr. L. D. Christensen, Mr. Kanji Sakimura, and Mr. Charles Clagg be elected honorary members of our Society. This motion was carried unanimously and the above members were notified through cor respondence by the Secretary. New Business: Dr. Sherman reported that the Pacific Branch Meet- 266 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society
ing of the American Entomological Society will be held in Honolulu in 1970. He also mentioned the possibility of affiliating with the national society. He will look into this matter and report at the next meeting.
Notes and Exhibitions
Euconocephalus nasutus (Thunb.): This long-horned grasshopper, Tettigoniidae, was reported as taken at Waipahu triangle, Oahu during the month of January, 1968. Exhibited are specimens which were taken by the author in a survey of Wake Island on 13-21 November 1962. At that time this grasshopper was extremely abundant on the island of Wake. It is thus not surprising that it has made its appearance here. Specimens from Wake have been confirmed by Dr. A. B. Gurney. At the same time two species of Mantidae, Statilia maculata (Thunb.) and Orthodera ministralis (F.) were also found to be common on Wake. (Confirmed by Gurney). Note presented by Dr. C. R. Joyce. Plautia stall Scott: This pentatomid insect was first picked up on 14 November 1967 by Miss Katharine Pigue. A second specimen was collected by Mr. Jack Uhrle on 19 February 1968, at Waioli, Manoa Valley. The insect was attracted to a light. A third specimen was collect ed by Mr. Ronald Mau on 8 March 1968, when it was attracted to lights at Gateway House. Since then 5 additional specimens have been collect ed at lights at the following locations: Gateway House; Animal Quarantine Station, Kewalo; and at a home on Terrace Drive, Manoa Valley. The § collected on 8 March produced an egg mass (12 eggs) which hatched 7 days later. The eggs are nearly spherical and are light yellow to tan in color. A second egg mass also hatched in 7 days when exposed to tem peratures from 24-27 °C. The stink bug was identified by Dr. R. C. Froeschner of the U. S. National Museum. It is a species commonly found in Japan and is considered of minor economic importance there. Information is needed on the host plants for the species. Rhabdoscelus obscurus (Boisd.): On 13 March 1968, 2 larvae of the New Guinea sugar cane weevil, R. obscurus, were tunneling in the basal corms of the bird of paradise plant, Strelitzia reginae. The infested plants were located on the premises of Mrs. Eleanor Paia at Lihue, Kauai. I believe it is the first record of the Weevil from this host on Kauai. The infested plants were collected by H. Lee Hansen, County Agent on Kauai. Dr. Pemberton reported this occurring in Honolulu on 18 August 1950. > Sciara (Lycoriella) spatitergum Hardy: This fungus gnat, a member of the family Sciaridae, was found energing from a pupa of the New Guinea sugar cane weevil, R. obscurus. According to Dr. Hardy (In sects of Hawaii, Vol. 10, page 229, 1960) this species is endemic to Hawaii and probably is found on all the islands. It is commonly collected at light; Some specimens have been reared from rotting sugar cane, sweet Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 267
potato, and coffee grounds. This specimen was reared from a pupa of the Guinea sugar cane weevil which was enclosed in the fiber pupal case. I believe this is a first record of the sciarid developing on an insect. This species was identified by Dr. W. Steffan, Bishop Museum. Limonia (Libnotes) perkinsi (Grimshaw): This species was identified by Mr. Joaquin Tenorio, Department of Entomology, Univer sity of Hawaii. Large numbers of this tipulid fly were reported clogging the screens of an air conditioner on the premises of Miss Carey D. Miller in Manoa Valley. The bodies of these insects were so tightly packed that they completely blocked the louvers for 1/4 inch deep. She has to clean the filters of the air conditioner every few months because of the insects. It appears that the insects may be attracted to a sound eminating from the air contitioner or to the water that is being blown from the dehumidifier. The surrounding area does have dense vegetation and is cool and moist. These are ideal conditions for breeding of the insects. Some heat is also given off by the air conditioner when it is operating and the temperature may be a factor in attracting the flies to the screen. The species com monly breeds in tree holes, leaf axils and decaying vegetation. For biologic al details see F. X. Williams, Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society, Volume 11, No. 3, pp. 313-350. This is the first report to my knowledge of the difficulty of insects blocking screens to air conditioners. It would be interesting to try to determine what causes the attraction. Notes presented by Dr. W. C. Mitchell. Plautia stall Scott: Two female bugs were collected on 8 April on walls near lights at Gateway House Dormitory on the University of Hawaii campus. One of the bugs bore what appeared to be eggs (4) of the Trinidad stink bug tachinid, Trichopoda pennipes. Unfortunately, the bug died so no parasite could be reared out for positive identification. Note presented by Ronald Mau. Parthenothrips dracaenae (Heeger): Recently, several specimens of this thrips were submitted for identification by E. T. Uyeda of Hilo. The specimens were picked up in quarantine on leaves of panax {Polyscias sp.) cuttings destined for California on 12 March 1968. This constitutes a new insect record for the Big Island and also a new host record for the State. This thrips has been previously reported only from Oahu and Maui. Note presented by E. S. Shiroma. Prosthetochaeta sp. nr. lucilioides Grimshaw: Mrs. JoAnn Tenorio recently collected some Calliphoridae adults from Cue-lure traps in Hono- malino, Hawaii, which were sent to Dr. R. J. Gagne for identification. The specimens were referred to Dr. M. R. James of Washington State University who gave the following reply. "The best identification I can give you at the present time is Prosthetochaeta sp. nr. lucilioides Grimshaw. It is probably new, since it does not fit either lucilioides or obscura Grimshaw very well, and it can not be any other described species. Note presented 268 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society
by Dr. A. A. LaPlante. Program: Dr. A. Tester presented a very interesting talk on the ''Behavior of Sharks". He showed three interesting movies on how sharks were subjected to the various tests to record their behavior.
May
The 749th meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological Society was called to order by President-elect LaPlante at 2:00 pm, 13 May 1968, in Agee Hall, HSPA Experiment Station. Members Present: Ashdown, Au, Barrett, Bess, Carter, Davis, Drake, Fluker, J. Fujii, W. Fujii, Funasaki, Haramoto, Hardy, Kajiwara, La Plante, Look, Mitchell, Namba, Olson, Park, Pemberton, Sherman, Shiroma, Sugerman, Tamashiro, Tenorio, and Woolford. Visitors Present: Dr. John A. Maciolek, Mr. Banpot Napompeth, and Mr. Byrne Thrailkill. Committee on Common Names of Hawaiian Insects: Chairman C. J. Davis reported that the list of common names of Hawaiian Insects is ready for final printing and recommended that the list when finalized be sent to the Entomological Society of America to be included in their list of accepted common names. Dr. Sherman made a motion to submit this list to the Entomological Society of America for addition to their present list of accepted common names. Motion was seconded by Dr. Hardy and carried unanimously. Dr. LaPlante stated that the list could be mimeographed for distribu tion as a University of Hawaii Agricultural Extension Service project. Dr. Mitchell made a motion that this list be printed by the Extension Service and be distributed as part of the Cooperative Economic Insect report. Motion was seconded by Dr. Bess and carried unanimously. Old Business: Dr. Sherman reported on the possibility of the Hawaii an Entomological Society affiliating with the Entomological Society of America. He read a letter from R. H. Nelson, Executive Secretary, which indicated that there would be no difficulty and that there would be no charges involved. Dr. Mitchell made a motion that the Hawaiian Entomological Society affiliate with the Entomological Society of America. Motion was seconded by Dr. Ashdown and carried unanimously. Announcements: Dr. Mitchell announced that Mr. L. D. Christenson who retired from the USDA on December 1, 1967, passed away on April 19, 1968, and that a scholarship in his honor is being established at Utah State University. Dr. Mitchell made a motion that a sum of $50.00, in the name of the Society, be donated towards the L. D. Christensen Scholarship Fund at Utah State University. The motion was seconded by Dr. Carter and carried unanimously. Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 269
Dr. Sherman announced that Mr. Van Zwaluwenberg is presently ill and is at the Queens Hospital. He made a motion that a bouquet of flowers be sent. Motion was seconded by Dr. Ashdown and carried unanimously.
Notes and Exhibitions
Bombotelia jocosatrix Guenee: Between 2 and 5 April 1968, two specimens of a new noctuid, B. jocosatrix were collected at night on a porch at lower Dole Street, Punahou District, Honolulu by Wendel and Sung Hin Au. One specimen was sent to Washington. The remaining specimen was found by Miss Mable Chong to be identical with Bishop Museum specimens which had been collected in North Queensland, Australia by Dr. Illingworth in the 20's. B. jocosatrix is known as the large mango tip borer in Australia and according to Jarvis (1966), the first symptoms of infestation by this insect are a wilting of some of the growing tips on the outside of the trees, ac companied by the blackening of the leaves of such twigs; dieback ensues, and dormant buds on the more mature wood develop and produce a bunched-type growth. The larvae bore into the shoot from the tip of the thicker part where they pupate in the silken cocoons. In addition to Australia, B. jocosatrix occurs in India, Thailand, Ceylon, Java, Philippines, Fiji and Guam. In Thailand, it is recorded as a leaf feeder and thus far on Oahu it appears to be confined to new foliar growth. Locally, B. jocosatrix is widespread on Oahu, caterpillars having been found in the Punahou, Halawa, Waimanalo, Waianae and Ewa Districts. However, foliar damage has been observed only on the new growth. It has not been reported from light traps to date. The life cycle of this new mango pest is currently under study and not complete at this time. However, the caterpillars develop to maturity within a week, turning reddish prior to prepupation. The prepupal duration is 3 days, that of the pupa, 12 days. Thus far, damage to mango trees is light. The naked, chubby caterpillars may be very vulnerable to Polistes wasps, birds and perhaps some locally established parasites. Pre sented by C. J. Davis. Chrysolina quadrigemina: After an undetermined period of inactivity on Mt. Hualalei, Chrysolina quadrigemina has reappeared on a small number of Klamath weeds, Hypericum perforatum at the release point. On or about May 8th, a Chrysolina grub in the prepupal stage and a pupa was observed. This is the first observation of the latter at the 2000 m release point. In both instances, they were observed in the soil at the base of the weeds. Also in the soil were four newly emerged adults (ventral side of the abdomen still orange in color). Several mature beetles were feeding on Klamath weed terminals. Presented by C. J. Davis for Ernest Yoshioka of Hilo. 270 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society
Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Wlk.): Dr. Mitchell reported that he recently visited the Puuhoku Ranch on Molokai to survey the situation for the grass webworm. He found at least 8 larvae per square foot and adults were seen in large numbers. The Ranch had treated 40 acres with granular Diazinon and many dead and inactive larvae were picked up in this area. Parasitization was very light. Ensina sonchi (L.): Three specimens of this Tephritidae, new to Hawaii, was collected resting on sow thistle, Sonchus oleraceus, at Ewa on 12 March 1968. This fly is known from Europe and Japan. It infests seeds of various composites such as Sonchus (sow thistle), Cirsium (common thistle), Crepis (Hawksbeard), Tragopogon (oyster plant), and Lactuca (Lettuce). Determination was made by G. Steyskal of the USNM. Note presented by Sun Hing Au. Program: Dr. John A. Maciolek presented a very interesting talk on the "Limnological Perspective of Aquatic Insects". Interesting slides of Lakes, streams, and swamps of Hawaii, and what is believed to be three different species of bagworm were also shown.
June
The 750th meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological Society was called to order by President-elect LaPlante at 2:00 pm, on Monday, 10 June 1968, in Agee Hall, HSPA Experiment Station. Members Present: Anderson, Ashdown, Barrett, Bess, Carter, Chong, Delfinado, Drake, Fluker, Gressitt, Hale, Haramoto, Hardy, Higa, Jackson, LaPlante, Mitchell, Morrill, Nakata, Namba, Nishida, Olson, Pemberton, Sakimura, Shiroma, Steffan, Steiner, Takei, and Woolford. Visitors Present: Dr. D. M. Allred, H. Kurahashi, Lt. H. J. Meyer, S. L. Montgomery, M. Nadchatram, and Dr. G. Worsky. Nomination of New Members: Lt. H. J. Meyer was nominated for membership. Announcements: Dr. LaPlante announced that Dr. D. Elmo Hardy was awarded the "Distinguished Research Award" by the University of Hawaii at the Commencement exercise held on 9 June 1968. Dr. Bess announced that Dr. W. O. Waltenburger will arrive on 17 June and will be in Hawaii for a few days. Dr. Steiner announced that he will leave Hawaii for Miami, Florida on 30 June 1968. He will be replaced by Dr. P. Chambers who is now with the USDA Fruit Fly Investigations Laboratory in Mexico. Dr. Namba announced that Dr. George Steyskal, USNM Dipterist will be in Hawaii for a visit on June 24, 1968. Dr. Mitchell reported that Mrs Van Zwaluwenburg was very ap preciative of the flowers received from the Society and thanks the Society for sending them to her husband who is ill at Queen's Hospital. Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 271
Notes and Exhibitions Hister nomas Erichson: Two adults of this histerid beetle were col lected in cow dung on Molokai Ranch, northwest Molokai, on 4 April 1968. This is the first record from the island. Specimens were also collected in cow dung at Opana, east Maui on 22 March. The specimens were identified by Dr. R. L. Wenzel. Presented by S. Nakata for N.L.H. Krauss. Program: Dr. D. Elmo Hardy presented a very interesting talk on his travels to the various museums in Europe and of his collecting trips to S. E. Asia while on sabbatical.
July
The 751st meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological Society was called to order by President-elect LaPlante at 2:00 pm, on Monday, 8 July 1968, in Agee Hall, HSPA Experiment Station. Members Present: Ashdown, Au, Barrett, Bess, Davis, Delfinado, Fluker, Funasaki, Hale, Haramoto, Hardy, Holway, Kajiwara, LaPlante, Meyer, Mitchell, Morrill, Nakata, Namba, Olson, Park, Pemberton, Sherman, Shiroma, Sugerman, Takei, Tamashiro, Woolford, Yates, and Yoshimoto. Visitors Present: Joseph Guilmette, S. Uyehara, H, Yanamura, and 9 East-West Center plant quarantine students. Election of New Members: Lt jg. H. J. Meyer was unanimously elected to membership. Announcements: Dr. LaPlante announced that Dr. Sherman was elected Chairman-elect of the Pacific Branch of the Entomological Society of America at the June meeting held in Lake Tahoe, California. Dr. Pemberton announced that Mr. Van Zwaluwenburg is progressing very well and is now out of Queens Hospital and in a rest home.
Notes and Exhibitions
Hypocala deflorata (Fabricius): Caterpillars of this immigrant noctuid were found in great numbers on new foliar growth of the native lama, Diospyros ferrea at Halepiula, North Kona on 1 April 1968. Of 22 caterpillars collected, half were parasitized by the tachinid, Eucelatoria armigera. H. deflorata has been recorded on Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii but seldom collected because of the remoteness of its principal host D. ferrea. It is recorded from India, Africa, Australia, and many Pacific Islands. It was first collected by Blackburn who took specimens in Honolulu. Illustrations of this moth can be found on pages 386-387 of Zimmerman's Inspects of Hawaii, Vol. 7, Macrolepidoptera. The caterpillars closely resemble those of the noctuid, Achaea Janata in color and size. 272 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society
Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Wlk.): Adults of the grass web- worm were observed on kikuyu grass at Waiakamoi, Maui, 1290 m eleva tion on 25 June 1968, and were collected by light at 29 miles, Volcano District, 1180m elevation on the same date. By 27 June, kikuyu grass was completely denuded by webworm in a linear strip of 5000 square meters at 590 m elevation, Honomalino Ranch, Some damage to pangola grass was noted. These are the highest elevations recorded to date for moth and larval activity. Notes presented by C. J. Davis. Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Wlk.): Adults of this grass web worm were observed in large numbers in giant Bermuda grass at Maapulehu, Molokai, on 15 March 1968. No larvae were observed. No larvae were also found along the highway back to Kaunakakai, Molokai. Note pre sented by W. C. Mitchell. Amy Suehiro Memorial Fund: Miss S. Nakata reported that the Bishop has received a sum of $2,648.23 for the Amy Suehiro Memorial Fund. The use of this fund has not as yet been decided, but most of the donors felt that duplication of the Hawaiian insect card catalog which was one of her significant contributions would be appropriate. Rhipiphorothrips pulchellus Morgan: We just recently received this determination for a specimen of thrips intercepted by inspector John Graffam on 31 December 1967, with Leucaena glauca (koa haole) pods which were picked up somewhere in the State and destined to California. This constitutes a new State record according to K. O'Neill of the U. S. National Museum who made the determination. Mr. Sakimura provided the following account for this thrips which occurs in the Philippines, Formosa, Java, and Ceylon. The host list includes banyan in the Philip pines; Antidesma bunius in Java; Bischafolia javanica in Formosa; and grapevine in Ceylon. In Java it has been found breeding in leaf galls on Antidesma bunius, an ornamental tree which also grows in Hawaii. In Formosa, this species is common on lower side of the leaves of Bischafolia javanica, another ornamental tree which is found in Hawaii. It causes discoloration on both surfaces of the leaves and sometimes occurs in large numbers. The female outnumbers the males (Philip. Jour. Science 60(4) :428, 1939). In Ceylon, it is injurious to grapevine. Mr. Sakimura concludes that it is a minor pest in the Philippines, Java, and Formosa, but probably a major pest of grapevine in Ceylon. Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say: This mosquito was record ed biting man at Puulaalaau, Kohala Mountains, Hawaii, 1200 m. eleva tion. The scientific report of the Kipahulu Valley expedition sponsored by the Nature Conservancy edited by Dr. R. E. Warner (August 1967) stated that mosquitoes are completely absent in the islands above 800 m. Dr. Warner stated "these findings—mosquitoes and no drepaniids from the lower forest edge to 800 meeters, and drepaniids but no mosquitoes from 860 meters up in a continuously intact and near-virgin Hawaiian rain forest Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 273
—provide a satisfying corroboration of the theory that introduced diseases and their insect vectors have played a profoundly important role in the extinction and reduction in range of the Hawaiian Honeycreepers." It is obvious that we still have much to learn about the vertical distribution of Culex mosquitoes in Hawaii and the part they play in affecting the native bird populations. Note presented by Dr. D. E. Hardy. Program: Mr. Robert Park, Mr. George Funasaki, Dr. Minoru Tamashiro, Dr. W. C. Mitchell and Dr. Martin Sherman presented their reactions of the Pacific Branch meeting of the Entomological Society of America held in June at Lake Tahoe.
August
The 752nd meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological Society was called to order by President-elect LaPlante at 2:00 pm, on Monday, 12 August 1968, in Agee Hall, HSPA Experiment Station. Members Present: Andersen, Ashlock, Bess, Chong, Davis, Delfinado, Drake, Fluker, Funasaki, Hale, Haramoto, Hardy, Harris, Holway, Joyce, Kajiwara, Kennan, Kohn, LaPlante, Look, Meyer, Morrill, Nakata, Namba, Ohinata, Olson, Pemberton, Sherman, Sugerman, Tenorio, Woolford, and Yoshimoto. Visitors Present: G. Batungbacal, D. Chambers, N. Dobrotworsky, D. Firman, W. Gagne, E. Kondo, C. R. Middleton, JoAnn Tenorio, H. L. Ullman, H. K. Yanamura, Chee Yeow Yeo. Nomination of New Members: Dr. Derrell Chambers, Mr. Wayne Gagne, Dr. Charles Middleton, Mr. Lawrence Dobbs, Mr. Donald Sugawa and Mr. Herbert Yanamura were nominated for membership in the society. Announcements: Dr. Pemberton was applauded on the occasion of his 82nd birthday and on behalf of the Society, Dr. LaPlante expressed appreciation for the years of service and contributions that Dr. Pemberton has made to the Society. Dr. Peter Ashlock, who is leaving Hawaii to undertake a new appointment with the University of Kansas, extended his aloha to members of the Society.
Notes and Exhibitions
Oedaleus abruptus (Thunberg): On 12 July 1968, insect detection personnel from the Federal Plant Quarantine Division, Entomology Branch of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Air Force Pest Control, and Plant Pest Control Division picked up a new immigrant grasshopper while surveying Hickam Air Force Base. This grasshopper was identified as Oedaleus abruptus (Thunberg) by A.B. Gurney, Orthoptera specialist of the Insect Identification and Parasite Introduction Research Branch of USDA, Beltsville, Maryland. Delimiting surveys indicated the new grasshopper was confined to the base. The Air Force was notified and asked to invoke AFR-161-4 and proceed with eradication steps. The Air Force began eradication efforts on 30 July 1968. 274 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society
On the same day, a survey of the Army's Fort Kam indicated the grasshopper had spread seaward with the wind from the focal point to adjoining Fort Kam. The Army was notified and requested to invoke AR-40-12 to attempt eradication of the new grasshopper. An Army Pest Control team sprayed the Fort Kam area on 2 August 1968. Ex cellent kill was noted in the areas treated. According to Dr. Gurney, 0. abruptus (Thunberg) is common in S. E. Asia, India, and southern China. It also occurs in Ceylon. Dr. Gurney said, "Apparently it is prevalent in dry areas on short grass." Note presented by F. J. Olson. Melanagromyza phaseoli (Tryon): The bean fly, Melahagromyza phaseoli (Tryon), a serious pest in many tropical and subtropical countries, was discovered in the State of Hawaii in mid-June at Waiahole, Oahu, where it was severely damaging snap beans. Subsequently, soybeans, snap beans, long beans, and lima beans were found damaged, some severely, in various parts of Oahu and Kauai. Lablab beans and several other wild bean hosts have also been found infested. To date, the bean fly is known to be present only on the islands of Oahu and Kauai. This widely- distributed bean pest is known to occur in Egypt, several countries south of the equator in Africa, eastern India, Burma, Malaysia, Ceylon, Singapore, Indonesia, New Guinea, China, the Philippines, Mauritius, Malagasy Republic, Australia, New Zealand, Guam, and Samoa. Determination was made by G. Steyskal, U.S.N.M. Note presented by C. J. Davis. Jadera haematoloma (Herrich-Schaeffer): On 5 August 1968, Wendell Au, State Department of Agriculture student aide, observed numerous nymphs and adults of this rhopalid new to Hawaii on balloon vine, Cardiospermum halicacabum in a vacant used car lot near the airport. The bugs were on dried fruits of the vines and as many as 10 adults and nymphs were noted on a single fruit. Subsequent surveys in and around the airport revealed adults on weeds across from the domestic arrival area and on weeds at Pearl City Heights. A heavy infestation of all stages was noted recently on balloon vines in Waipahu. The insect is known to occur in Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Mexico. In Texas, abundant populations have been reported on ornamentals and shade trees and sometimes adults be came nuisances by entering homes. In Puerto Rico, an abundance of nymphs and adults have been reported under dead leaves and dry culms of Guinea grass. It has also been mentioned as a cotton insect on the mainland U.S. No information is available and the life history and econo mic significance of this species at the present time. Determination was made by Dr. P. D. Ashlock, Bishop Museum. Note presented by C. J. Davis. Pollenia rudis (Fabricius): This Calliphorid, "cluster fly", has apparently become established on the island of Hawaii. Six specimens were taken on windows at a store and at a drive-in at Kamuela, Hawaii, on 29 and 30 April 1968. This species was first reported in the Hawaiian Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 275
Islands from Oahu by the author (Proc. Hawaiian Entomol. Soc. XVI (1):14) from a single specimen taken at window on Ft. Armstrong, Hono lulu, Hawaii in 1955. At that time it was considered as doubtfully esta blished. The cooler Kamuela area is undoubtedly more suitable for this holarctic species. The eggs are normally deposited in the soil and the larvae are internal parasites of earthworms. Hydroptila sp.: A third Trichoptera species has become established in Hawaii. Specimens determined as family Hydroptilidae, Hydroptila sp., probably an undescribed species, by O.S. Flint, Jr. of the U.S. National Museum were taken in the Honolulu area during May, June, July, and August, 1968. The first specimen was taken in a mosquito light trap operat ed at the Honolulu International Airport on 20 May 1968. Other specimens were taken in light traps in the airport area on May 27, June 24, and July 1. One specimen was taken in another trap at the Public Health Service Quarantine Station in downtown Honolulu on 5 August 1968. It is not known where the species might be breeding. Two species of Trichoptera have previously been reported from Hawaii: Oxyethira maya Denning, Hydroptilidae (Zimmerman, Insects of Hawaii, Vol. 6, p. 173) and Cheumatopsyche analis Banks, Hydropsychidae (Proc. Hawaiian Entomol Soc. XIX(2): 145. Notes presented by Dr. C. R. Joyce. Anthrax distigma Wiedemann: These flies were abundant on the powerline trail above the U.H. branch Expt. Sta. up to near 610 m, and were common in Hanakapiai Valley and on the Kalalau Valley trail, Napali Coast, Kauai, 7 August 1968. Program: Mr. Ernest Harris made some comments on the Pacific Branch meetings of the Entomological Society of America which he at tended in June at Lake Tahoe, California. Dr. Derrell Chambers, In- Charge of the U.S.D.A. Fruit Fly Laboratory in Honolulu succeeding Mr. L. Steiner, who is now in Miami, Florida, presented notes on the U.S.D.A. Fruit Fly Investigation Laboratory in Mexico.
September
The 753rd meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological Society was called to order by President-elect LaPlante at 2:05 pm, on Monday, 9 September 1968, in Agee Hall, HSPA Experiment Station. Members Present: Beardsley, Carter, Chong, Davis, Delfinado, Drake, Fluker, Gagne, Hale, Haramoto, Hardy, Higa, Joyce, LaPlante, Middleton, Nakata, Olson, Ota, Pemberton, Shiroma, Sugerman, Wool- ford, and Yoshimoto. Visitors Present: Francis Howarth, University of Hawaii Graduate Student. Election of New Members: Dr. Darrel Chambers, Mr. Wayne Gagne, Mr. Charles Middleton, Mr. Donald Sugawa, and Mr. Herbert 276 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society
Yanamura were unanimously elected to membership. Announcements: Dr. Walter Carter announced that this will be his last meeting as he will make a permanent move to California. However, he will be back in 1970 to attend the Pacific Branch meeting of the Ento mological Society of America. Presentation of Papers: The following two papers were presented for publication by Mr. Eugene F. Drake of the Bishop Museum. 1. "A New Species of Platygasteridae from Hawaii." (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea). 2. "A New Species of Cryptoserphus from Japan." (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea).
Notes and Exhibitions
Halticoptera patellana (Dalm): A pteromalid, determined as Halticoptera patellana (Dalm.) was reared in goodly numbers from the newly established bean fly, Melanagromyza phaseoli (Tryon) in young snap bean plants collected at Waiahole, Oahu, in July 1968. This is the first record of a parasite on this bean pest; however, the parasite is not new to Hawaii, as it has been reared locally from undetermined leaf miners in cabbage, onions and peanut leaves (Proc. Hawaiian Entomol. Soc. Vol. XVI, p. 8). The present specimens were determined by Dr. C. Yoshimoto. Bracon sp. nr. sphenophori Mues.: A small lot of a braconid parasite, Bracon sp. nr. sphenophori Mues. was released at Kahua Ranch, Hawaii on 29 August 1968 for the control of the hunting billbug. This braconid parasite was reared from Timothy grass stems infested with several species of bill bugs and was collected in Missouri in August. Priophorus morio (Lepel.): The first release of the sawfly, Prio- phorus morio on the island of Hawaii was made on 23 July 1968 on Wright Road, Volcano area. This blackberry insect was reintroduced from Albany, California in June, 1968. Priophorus morio, first introduced in 1966 from Oregon, was released only on Oahu and Maui. Notes presented by Mabel Chong. Amblyomma americanum (L.): A single female specimen of this lone star tick was taken from a frozen dressed chickem which was purchased in a local market on 14 August 1968, at Barbers Point, Oahu. The chicken was enclosed in plastic. The mouthparts of the tick were attached to the chicken. The tick is a common species occurring in the Southeastern parts of the United States. It has a wide range of wild and domestic animal hosts. The adult tick is seldom found on chickens although larvae and nymph have been reported many times. Note presented by Dr. C. R. Joyce. Dr. Walter Carter reported that he recently attended the International Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 277
Entomological Congress held in London, England where he presented a paper on "Extension in Plant Protection". Nezara viridula (L.): Mr. C. J. Davis reported for Jonathan Kajji- wara that one female Nezara was found on a mullein (Verbascum sp.) plapt at 3030 m elevation, on Mauna Kea on 5 September 1968. This is the highest elevation recorded for Nezara in Hawaii. Xylosandrus compactus Eichh.: On 4 September 1968, a Clidemia infestation in the Palolo Valley watershed was found to be under heavy attack by the black twig borer, X. compactus. Plants which had advanced black twig borer broods were readily recognized by necrotic and yellow ing leaves. This is a new weed host record for the black twig borer. Clidemia hirta, known as Koster curse, is now widespread through out the Koolau range, according to Lorin Gill of the Conservation Council. Plant specimens brought in for identification were confirmed by Bernard Shibara, Weed Branch, State Department of Agriculture. For many years the only known infestation occurred at Kaukonahua, Wahiawa, Oahu. In 1953, a thrips, Liothrips urichii, was introduced from Fiji to control Clidemia; however, it has not been effective under shaded con ditions. Notes presented by C. J. Davis. Program: Dr. Carl Yoshimoto of the Bishop Museum gave a very interesting presentation on the characteristics, methods of classification, and phylogeny of the "Native Hawaiian Chalcids" with emphasis on the families Pteromalidae, Encyrtidae (Eupelmidae), Eulophidae, and My- myridae.
October
The 754th meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological Society was called to order by President-elect LaPlante at 2:05 pm, on Monday, 14 October 1968, in Agee Hall, HSPA Experiment Station. Members Present: Beardsley, Chambers, Chong, Davis, Drake, Fluker, Funasaki, Gressitt, Hall, Haramoto, Hardy, Harris, Holway, Jackson, Joyce, Kajiwara, Keenan, LaPlante, Look, Meyer, Nakata, Olson, Ota, Shiroma, Steffan, Tenorio, and Yanamura. Visitors Present: H. Kurahashi and Nicholas A. Kormilev of the Bishop Museum and Janos I. Balogh and Ime A. Lousa of Budapest, Hungary visiting the Bishop Museum. Nomination of New Members: Mr. Nicholas A. Kormilev of the Bishop Museum was nominated for membership. New Business: President-elect LaPlante appointed the following committees: Nominating Committee: George Funasaki, Frank Haramoto, and Jonathan Kajiwara (Chairman). Ad Hoc Committee: Wallace A. Steffan (Bishop Museum), Asher 278 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society
K. Ota (HSPA), T. Nishida (University), and Frank H. Haramoto, Chairman, (University). The purpose of this committee is to study the present status of the Hawaiian Entomological Society and recommend areas in whict improvements can be made. A preliminary discussion report will be due at the November meeting. Final report and action will be taken at the December meeting. Announcements: A letter announcing the death of Dr. Robert L. Usinger on 1 October 1968, from the University of California, was read to the membership present by Dr. LaPlante. A scholarship fund in his honor has also been established. Dr. Hardy made a motion that the Society donate a sum of $50.00 to the "Robert L. Usinger Memorial Fund for Entomology", which was seconded by Dr. Gressitt and unanimously approved. A minute of silence in Dr. Usinger's honor was observed by the mem bership present. Presentation of Papers: The following papers were presented: 1. "Notes on the Grass Webworm, Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyraustidae), A New Pest of Turfgrass in Hawaii and its Enemies". By C. J. Davis, State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture. 2. "Biological Note on Megachile (Eumegachile) umbripennis Smith (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)". By Dr. Carl M. Yoshimoto, Bishop Museum.
Notes and Exhibitions
Phlegetonia delatrix Guenee: On Oahu, larvae of the noctuid, P. delatrix caused considerable foliar damage to Java plum (Eugenia cuminii) in Palolo Valley in August. Java plum is the first known host of this insect in the State. It was first reported in 1964 from a specimen collect ed in a light trap. Since then, adults have been collected at light on Hawaii and Kauai as well as on Oahu. Lixophaga sphenophori (Villeneuve): This is the new combina tion for the tachinid fly which is a parasite of the New Guinea sugarcane borer according to Dr. Roger Crosskey of the British Museum and Dr. C. Sabrosky of the U. S. National Museum. It was formerly known as Microceromasia sphenophori (Vill.) in the literarure. In the cooperative project for the control of the sugarcane borer being carried out by the H.S.P.A. Experiment Station and Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Mr. Fred Bianchi has been collecting Lixophaga from three different localities in the Territory of New Guinea. At the present time the De partment of Agriculture is culturing colonies of this tachinid from Wau, Popondetta, and Garaina, New Guinea for field release. Note presented by Mabel Cong. Melanagromyza phaseoli Tryon: This bean fly, previously re ported only on Oahu and Kauai is now established on Maui. It was Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 279
first discovered on Maui on 10 September severely damaging snap beans in Lahaina. Since then, this pest has been detected in Wailuku in back yard plantings. Sepedon sauteri Hendel: This marsh fly introduced from Japan in September 1966 was discovered established for the first time on Maui at Keanae on 2 October 1968. The last release of this marsh fly at this locality was made on 10 January 1968. Previously this liverfluke snail predator was reported established only on Oahu and Kauai. Note presented by Mable Chong for Nobuo Miyahira of Maui. Bombotelia jocosatrix Guenee: This mango tip borer was found recently established on Kauai. Several larvae collected from young mango foliage in Lihue emerged on 10 October 1968. Note presented by Mabel Chong for Donald Sugawa of Kauai. Aspidiotus destructor Signoret: Mr. J. A. Tenorio reported that on 22 Deptember 1968, he collected this scale on young coconut fronds in the Aikahi Park Subdivision in West Kailua, Oahu. Dr. J. W. Beardsley of the University of Hawaii made the determination. According to Dr. Beardsley, this species is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, but has not been recorded from Hawaii. In Micronesia, this scale is con sidered a major pest of coconut and breadfruit, the two most important crops in the islands. A coccinellid beetle, Pseudoscymnus sp., is believed to exert some control over this scale in Micronesia. Here in Hawaii, two species of lady beetles, Telsimia nitida and Lindorus lophanthae, have been observed feeding on this scale. This scale is apparently widespread on coconut leaves on Oahu. Since first picked up in Aikahi Park, Kailua, it has been reported from Kaneohe, Sand Island, Honolulu Airport and vicinity, Moanalua, Aiea Heights, Pearl City, Ewa, and Waianae. Homalotylus sp.: Dr. J. W. Beardsley reported that while investi gating the occurrence of the scale Aspidiotus destructor Signoret at Kailua, Oahu, adults and larvae of two species of coccidellids, Telsimia nitida Chapin and Lindorus laphanthae (Blaisdell) were observed preying upon A. destructor populations. Some scale infested coconut leaves, with the associated predatory lady beetles were held in the laboratory. In addition to the coccinellids, the infestation yielded several specimens of an encyritid wasp, Homalotylus sp., which developed as solitary internal parasites of the coc cinellid larvae. This coccinellid parasite is apparently new to the Hawaiian Islands. All known species of Homalotylus are coccinellid parasites. Our species appears close to but not identical with H. flaminius (Dalman). (see Timberlake, P. H. 1919. Proc. U.S.N.M., 56 : 133-194). Xylosandrus compactus Eichhoff: Mr. C. J. Davis reported new hosts of the black twig borer recorded on Oahu. On a field trip to Mt. Kaala on October 8, 1968, the following hosts of X. compactus were re corded at 670m elevation: Rubus rosaefolia (thimbleberry), Buddleja asiatica (Butterfly bush), Lantana camara var. aculeata (lantana), Perrotetia 280 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society sandwicensis (olomea), Gouldia St. Johnii (mamono), Coprossus sp. (pilo), Antidesma platyphyllum (mehame), Pelea sp. (alani). Of these 8 hosts, 3 are exotic and 5 are native trees. All contained various stages of the black twig borer and the most broods were found in Pelea sp. locally known as alani. Perrotetia or olomea bore numerous entrance holes but few broods. Symptons of infestations are the dying of terminal and lateral branches, followed by numerous entrances in the main branches of the young trees. Gulex (Lutzia) fuscanus Wiedemann: Captain Richard T. Holway reported that a new mosquito for Guam was found in light trap collections in the Apra Harbor area during August 1968. This was identified as C. fuscanus by Dr. Steffan of the Bishop Museum. Two males and two females have been deposited with the museum. C. fuscanus is predaceous on other mosquitoes but all reports agree that it does not contribute significantly to control of pest populations. This species is not considered to be a vector or an important pest although it will bite man. This is the sixth known mosquito introduction to Guam since World War II. Mr. Steve Nakahara, Coccoidea specialist for the Plant Quarantine Division, U.S.D.A., A.R.S., reports the following new host and locality records for the island of Hawaii. The specimens were collected by Mr. Nakahara in January 1968 while vactioning on the Big Island. Pseudococcidae: Dysminoccus boninsis (Kuwana): On Panicum sp. root crowns from Hilo; new host record. Antonina graminis (Maskell): On unidentified species of grass from Waimea; new island record. Chaetococcus bambusae (Maskell): On Bamboo sp. from Hilo; new island record. Palmicultor palmarum (Ehrhorn): On Cocos nucifera from Hilo and Chrysalidocarpus sp. from Keaau; new island record. Rhizoecus hawaiiensis (Hambleton): On Plantago sp. roots from Waimea; new host and island record. Diaspididae: Chrysomphalus Jici Ashmead: On Pinus sp. needle from Keaau; new host and island record. Chrysomphalus dictyospermi (Morgan): On Metrosideros sp. from Puna; new hostand Island record. Fiorinia Jioriniae (Targ.-Tozz): On Pinus sp. needle from Waimea; new host and island record. Lopholeucaspis cockerelli (de Charmoy): On Pinus sp. needle from Keaau; new host record. Lepidosaphes maskelli (Cockerell): On Juniperus sp. from Hilo and Waimea; new island record. Octaspidiotus araucariae (Adachi & Fullaway): On Araucaria excelsa from Waimea, new island record. Pseudoparlatoria gijfardi (Adachi & Fullaway): On Araucaria excelsa Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 281 from Waimea; new island record. Geroplastes cerripediformis (Cornstock): While on a survey of the International Airport area, an infestation of this barnacle scale was observed on gold tree (Tabebuia donnell-smithii) plantings surrounding the parking lot by George Funasaki and myself on 11 October 1968. This constitutes a new host record for this scale from the State. Note presented by E. S. Shiroma. Program: Mr. Elbert W. Jackson of the Plant Quarantine Division, USDA, ARS, presented a very interesting talk on "Quarantine Coverage of Military Foreign Arrivals, Honolulu, Hawaii". Slides and photographs of military cargo and infestations were shown.
November
The 755th meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological Society was called to order by President-elect LaPlante at 2:00 pm, on Tuesday, 12 November 1968, in Agee Hall, HSPA. Experiment Station. Members Present: Beardsley, Chong, Davis, Delfinado, Fluker, Funasaki, Gagne, Gressitt, Hale, Haramoto, Hardy, Joyce, Kajiwara, Kormilev, LaPlante, Madinger, Mitchell, Morrill, Nakata, Olson, Ota, Shiroma, Yanamura, and Yoshimoto. Visitors Present: Dr. Vincent Chang of HSPA and Mr. Henry Ullmann. Nominating Committee: Chairman Jonathan Kajiwara reported the following nominations for next year's (1969) officers. All nominations were made by the Nominations Committee except for Dr. R. Namba who was nominated for President-elect from the floor by Dr. W. Mitchell and seconded by Dr. D. Elmo Hardy. Nominations closed and approved by all members present. President-elect: Dr. Henry Bess, University of Hawaii; Mr. Austin W. Morrill, Jr., Navy; Dr. Ryoji Namba, University of Hawaii. Secretary: Mr. Ernest Harris, USDA Fruit Fly Lab.; Mr. Herbert Yanamura, Navy. Treasurer: Dr. Frank Haramoto, University of Hawaii; Mr. Frank Olson, Plant Pest Control. Advisor: Dr. Wallace Mitchell, University of Hawaii Dr. Wallace Steffan, Bishop Museum. Election of New Members: Mr. Nicholas A. Kormilev of the Bishop Museum was unanimously elected to memberhip. Old Business: Dr. A. A. LaPlante read a letter from Dr. R. H. Nelson, Executive Secretary of the Entomological Society of America, acknowledging receipt of our Society's formal application for affiliation. Final action will be taken at the Dallas meeting and he is sure our af filiation will be approved. 282 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society
Notes and Exhibitions
Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff): A heavy infestation of the black twig borer, X. compactus was found on healthy and dead twigs of wild coffee plants at Iao Vally, Maui, on 29 October 1968, by Entomology Assistant James Ah Sam. This constitutes a new island record. Phlegetonia delatrix Guenee: Several larvae of the noctuid moth, P. delatrix were found feeding on young leaves of mountain apple {Eugenia malaccensis) at Kaneohe and Manoa during the first week of November 1968. This is the second known host of this insect in Hawaii; the other recorded host is Java plum (E. cuminii). Melanagromyza phaseoli (Tryon): The bean fly, M. phaseoli was reported for the first time in mid-October on the island of Molokai. Larvae were found attacking snap beans in a small garden at Kamalo by County Agent Fred Fujimoto and subsequently heavy infestations were found in small plantings of lima beans and long beans at Hoolehua and Maunaloa. Coptosoma xanthogramma (White); Herpetogramma licars- isalis (Walker); and Melanagromyza phaseoli (Tryon): The black stink bug, the grass webworm, and the bean fly were found on the island of Lanai during a trip on October 30, 1968 and constitute new island records. Adults of the black stink bug were light on lima bean plantings. Adults of the grass webworm were heavy on grasses along road shoulders and in open areas in and around Lanai City. Larvae were light on turf grasses on golf course and residential premises. Damage to lima, long and lablab beans by the bean fly larvae was severe in backyard gardens in Lanai City. Notes presented by G. Funasaki. Chilo suppressalis (Walker): On 31 October 1968, a call was received from Dr. E. Trujillo, Plant Pathologist, Kauai Branch Station, on the apparent infestation of borers in rice at the Rice Research Center, Wailua, Kauai. Investigations made on the following day indicated that the borers were the Asiatic rice borer, C. suppressalis (Walker). The level of infestation was not high; approximately 1 percent of the hills of rice variety IR-8 in the booting stage. Estimates of damage in mature rice was not made because of the difficulty due to extensive bird damage to the heads. Infestation was found only in paddies with rice ready to be harvest ed and in those with rice in the booting stage. The seedlings in the seed beds were examined for egg masses, but none were found. Judging from the presence of larvae of different sizes, it seems that the borer had undergone several generations. The occurrence of this stem borer at Wailua raises some speculative questions. One of these is whether the current infestation resulted from the progeny of borers that were discovered on Kauai in 1929 or whether it resulted from a new introduction. No definite answer is available, but a few comments on previous work might be of interest. Rice was grown Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 283 in large quantities in the Wailua area during 1853-1930 and lesser quantities during 1930-1940. Since 1940 very little rice was grown. From 1940 up to the present there is no record of this borer in the literature, probably because it had become very scarce or had disappeared with the death of the rice industry. Since 1962 and perhaps earlier small acreages of rice were found in the Wailua Valley. From 1962 and up to the present we have been ex amining the rice plants thoroughly for infestations. In addition we ran light traps and made extensive sweepings to see whether the moths and the parasites were present. These surveys did not reveal the presence of either borers or parasites that were introduced earlier for the control of this borer. From these observations it seems that the present infestation resulted from a new introduction. We must admit, however, our survey techniques were not perfect. Yet, if the borers had escaped our detection, why did it not appear earlier? Presented by Dr. W. Mitchell for Dr. T. Nishida. Aspidiotus destructor (Signoret): A recent communication from Mr. K. L. Maehler, Pacific Regional Supervisor, Plant Quarantine Division, USDA, ARS, indicates that this scale was intercepted at San Pedro, Cali fornia, on 13 June 1947, on Musa paradisiaca apparently imported from Hawaii. It was again intercepted on coconut from Hawaii on 4 July, 1964, also at San Pedro. Our Hawaii interception records show that this scale was intercepted on coconut on 6 November, 1964, and on Musa paradisiaca on 16 December, 1965. Determinations were made by Curry, Gillogly, and Nakahara, respectively. The Hawaii interceptions came to light only recently, mainly due to the lack of a scale specialist in the USNM and the subsequent shuffling of the interceptions from the USNM to Sacramento, then back to the USNM, and then to Seattle. Presented by E. S. Shiroma. Program: Dr. J. W. Beardsley of the University of Hawaii who studied the past two years at the University of California, Berkeley, on the "Evolution and Phylogeny of Scale Insects", presented a very interesting talk on "Recent advances in Scale Insect Studies".
December
The 756th meeting of the Hawaiian Entomological Society was called to order by President Bianchi at 2:00 pm, on Monday, 9 December 1968, in Agee Hall, HSPA Experiment Station. Members Present: Anwar, Beardsley, Bess, Bianchi, Chambers, Chong, Delfinado, Drake, Fluker, Funasaki, Gagne, Gressitt, Hale, Hara- moto, Hardy, Harris, Jackson, Joyce, Kajiwara, Kormilev, LaPlante, Look, W. Mitchell, Nakata, Nishida, Olson, Ota, Pemberton, Sakimura, Shiroma, Sugerman, Takei, Tenorio, Van Zwaluwenburg, Woolford, 284 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society
Yanamura, and Yoshimoto. Visitors Present: Mr. Richard Turner, Office of the Inspector General, U.S.D.A. Nomination of New Members: Dr. Vincent Chang of the HSPA and Mr. Joel Rodriguez-Velez of Mexico were nominated for membership. Announcements: Dr. Chambers announced that Mr. Chester Keck, formerly with the Navy in Honolulu, paid him a visit last month. Mr. Keck wanted to personally thank the Society for making him an Honorary Member, but came a day too late to attend the last meeting. Dr. Chambers reports that Mr. Keck is in good health. Dr. Gressitt announced that Noel Krauss is enjoying his trip to New Guinea and neighboring islands. He is on a collecting trip and at his own expense. Old Business: President Bianchi read a letter from the University of California, Berkeley, thanking the Society for contributing the sum of $50,000 towards the Robert L. Usinger Memorial Fund for Entomology. New Business: Election of Officers for 1969: The following are next year's officers: President-elect: Mr. Austin W. Morrill (President 1970), Secretary: Mr. Ernest J. Harris, Treasurer: Dr. Frank Haramoto Advisor: Dr. Wallace C. Mitchell. Presentation of Papers: The following papers were presented: 1. "Myiasis of New-Born Calves in Hawaii" by Wayne H. Shishido and D. Elmo Hardy. 2. "Taxonomy of the Oriental Fruit Fly and Related Species" by D. Elmo Hardy. 3. "Two New Non-Endemic Anagyrine Encyrtidae from the Hawaii an Islands" by J. W. Beardsley. 4. "Recent Introduction for Biological Control in Hawaii XIV" by C. J. Davis and Mabel Chong. 5. "New Species of Cerambycidae from the Island of Hawaii" by C. J. Davis and J. L. Gressitt. 6. "New Endemic Cerambycids from the Hawaiian Islands" by J. L. Gressitt.
Notes and Exhibitions
Geroplastes cirripediformis Comstock: Light infestations of the barnacle scale, C. cirripediformis, were noted on dwarf pomegranate (Punica granatum var. nand) at the Honolulu International Airport grounds on 11 October, 1968 and light infestations were noted on Asystasia gangetica and sourbush (Pluchea odorata) on Sand Island, Oahu on 26 November, 1968. These are new host records for this scale. Reported by F. J. Olson. Ghilo suppressalis (Walker): Dr. Nishida reported that it is not known as yet whether or not the recent find of this Asiatic rice borer is a Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 285 re-introduction. No conclusions can be drawn until further surveys for this pest are made. Melanagromyza phaseoli (Tryon): Infestations of the bean fly, M. phaseoli, were reported for the first time in mid-November on the island of Hawaii. A heavy infestation was reported in dying snap bean seedlings at Kohala by County Agent Richard Nakano and subsequently heavy infestations were found on snap bean plantings at Pepeekeo. Adult flies were readily detected in both areas. Jadera haematoloma (Herrich-Schaeffer): Light adult popula tions of a rhopalid bug, J. haematoloma, were found on scattered growths of balloon vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum) along roadsides at Koloa and Poipu, Kauai in Mid-November for a new island record. Phlegetonia delatrix Guenee: The noctuid moth, Phlegetonia delatrix was found damaging foliage of Java plum and mountain apple in Hamoa, Keanae, and Pukalani, Maui in late November. This is a new island record. Previously reported from Kauai, Oahu, and Hawaii. Notes presented by G. Funasaki. Patasson calendrae (Gahan): The mymarid egg parasite of the hunting billbug introduced from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, last June (1968) was released in October 1968 in Hilo, Hawaii. This is the first release of the Florida strain of Patasson calendrae. Euconocephalus nasutus (Thunberg): The second specimen of the longhorned grasshopper, E. nasutus was captured in Kaimuki on 25 November 1968, and constitutes a new locality record for this new im migrant insect; the first adult was captured in Waipahu on 1 January 1968, but was not reported at that time. Determination was made by Dr. A. B. Gurney of the U. S. National Museum. Notes presented by Mabel Chong. Program: President Bianchi, who just returned from his sugarcane borer parasite hunting trip in New Guinea and neighboring islands will present his "Presidential Address" at a later date. Instead, a "Round Table Dissussion" by members who attended the Annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America in Dallas, Texas, was held. The following, in order, presented very interesting summaries of the proceedings of the annual meeting: Sam Fluker, Lester Hale, Dr. M. Delfinado, Dr. D. Elmo Hardy, and Dr. W. C. Mitchell. Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 467
LeRoy Dean Christenson 1906-1968
On April 19, 1968, Mr. LeRoy D. Christenson, more affectionately known as "Chris" passed away in Washington, D. C, thus ending a long, productive, and dedicated career in the field of entomology. Chris was born on April 23, 1906, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He receiv ed his Bachelor of Science degree from the Utah State Agricultural College in 1926. Following graduation he joined the U. S. Department of Agri culture as a Junior Entomologist in the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine. Prior to World War II he worked on cotton insects, alfalfa weevil at various federal research stations on the mainland and on sugar cane pests in Cuba. Chris spent four years (1942-46) as commanding officer of a U. S. Army Malaria Survey Unit in the Western Pacific. Upon completion of military service he returned to the USDA as Assistant to the Chief of Division of Fruit Insects from 1946 to 1951. In 1951 he came to Hawaii as Entomologist-in-Charge of Fruit Fly Investigations at the U. S. Department of Agriculture Fruit Fly Laboratory. Chris became a member of the Hawaiian Entomological Society on August 13, 1951, and was elected to honorary lifetime membership in the Society on April 11, 1968. He serv ed as President of the Hawaiian Entomological Society in 1957, President elect in 1956, and as a member of the Finance and Editorial Committees. He returned to Washington, D. C. in 1957 to become Section Head and Assistant Chief, Fruit and Vegetable Insects Research Branch, Entomology Research Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Chris became Chief of this branch in 1962 and remained in this position until his retire ment in December, 1967. Mr. Christenson received the U. S. Department of Agriculture Distin- 468 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society guished Service Award in 1966 "for conceiving, planning and supervising research on areawide methods for eradicating or suppressing injurious insects, employing new methods which have received world wide interest and recognition". Laboratories under his direction have received three U. S. Department of Agriculture Unit Awards for Superior Service. Chris acted as a consultant to large scale fruit fly control and eradication programs in Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Israel, Greece and other Medi terranean areas and to the Rhinoceros beetle programs in Samoa and other South Pacific areas. Just prior to his death he had looked forward to visit ing Hawaii again enroute to New Guinea as a consultant on insects of great economic importance. Chris will always be remembered by his colleagues and friends not only for his ability as an entomologist, but also for his interest in golf, fishing and photography. His friendliness and concern for the welfare of his associates will always be remembered. He is survived by two brothers who reside on the mainland.
WALLACE C. MITCHELL Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 469
AMY SUEHIRO 1906-1968
Miss Amy Suehiro was a talented and hard-working entomologist, active from 1928 until her untimely death on January 28, 1968. She was always a patient, friendly and effective help to others. She used her talents both to build up and care for outstanding insect collections at Bishop Museum and to help edit numerous scientific publications at the Museum. For five years she was the Editor of the Proceedings of the Hawaiian Ento mological Society, an organization with which she had been affiliated since 1933. The chief monument to her years of work is a detailed card catalog, with references to bibliography and distribution, of the insects reported from the Hawaiian islands. "Amy's service was of the quiet sort," said Dr. Roland W. Force, Direc tor of Bishop Museum, in a funeral eulogy. "She was never one to talk of herself...Service which is quiet often goes unheralded...Amy's self-effac ing manner was complemented by a dedication as serious as it was quiet. We shall miss her." Much of Amy's ability and fine character can be traced to her mother, Hanna Gulick Suehiro. She was of Chinese ancestry, born in Japan. She was adopted by the Gulick missionary family and educated in American mission schools. Not long after Amy's birth, which was on May 29, 1906, mother and daughter came to Hawaii to live. An accomplished musician she had taught piano in Japan; she now taught in the public schools of the island of Hawaii. In 1923, Mrs. Suehiro moved to Honolulu, founded the Nuuanu Day School, and served as its principal until she retired in 1953. She died in April 1967, at the age of 90. Amy spent a great deal of time caring for her mother during these later years. From 1925 to 1929 I taught all the entomology courses at the University of Hawaii in addition to duties at Bishop Museum. Amy was one of my 470 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society
best students. She was graduated from the University of Hawaii, with a B. S. degree in 1927. That year my duties at the Museum were changed from Entomologist to Curator of Collections. It took a little time to con vince the Director that another staff member was needed to care for the growing insect collection. Plans were being made for a "Pacific Entomo logical Survey" and all available funds for entomology had been poured into it. I persuaded the "Survey committee" that an annotated catalog of Pacific insects was needed and that I knew just the person to undertake the job. Amy was hired with the title, "Assistant in Cataloging." When all the members of the Entomological Survey staff went into the field, she had all the care of the insect collection as well as compiling the catalog. In 1929 she was listed as Assistant Entomologist. For several years she had charge of all the Museum's entire insect collections; she continued to catalog every species of insect reported from the Hawaiian Islands, and for a number of years did the same for the oceanic Pacific area, until that was discontinued as an economy move about 1935. Amy continued to expand her knowledge of entomology. In 1935 she spent six months in the United States and Europe, studying, and con ferring with entomologists, especially at the British Museum, concerning Hawaiian insects. During this time she was a delegate to the International Congress of Entomology at Madrid. In 1936 she earned the degree of Master of Science in Entomology at the University of Hawaii. Then, in 1938, for personal reasons, she resigned and became Assistant in Entomo logy at the University of Hawaii. In 1941 she returned to Bishop Museum to work on the editorial staff, being made Assistant Editor in 1943. In 1950 she spent three months visiting various entomological centers in California, and upon her return was made Bishop Museum Entomologist and placed in charge of the department. In 1953, a NSF grant for "Insects of Micro nesia" produced an extensive expansion of the Museum's Insect department, she was given charge of the Hawaiian Insects and the card catalog, and Dr. J. Linsley Cressitt assumed overall control of the Department of Entomology. Among her many island field trips was one on which she was entomologist on a Museum research team that surveyed the City of Refuge area for the National Park Service. She did much to assist with Bishop Museum ex- much to assist with Bishop Museum exhibits. She helped Dr. Peter Bush illustrate his "Arts and Crafts of Hawaii," and edited numerous Museum publications on Natural History, including Marie C. Neal's "In Gardens of Hawaii." In a quiet and unassuming manner, Amy Suehiro performed many useful services for Bishop Museum and the entomologists of Hawaii.
E. H. BRYAN, JR. Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 471
Robert Leslie Usinger 1912-1968
Robert Leslie Usinger, one of the greatest entomologists of recent times, died of cancer on 1 October 1968, at the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco. Usinger was born at Fort Bragg, California, 24 October 1912, and lived not quite 56 years. Usinger attended schools in Oakland, California, and took his degrees from the University of California, Berkeley (B.S., 1935; PhD, 1939). He got an early start in entomology while in junior high school, from naturalist B. C. Cain of the Oakland Boy Scouts (as did, during the same period, E. Gorton Linsley, Elwood C. Zimmerman, W. Harry Lange and J. Linsley Gressitt; Usinger came between Linsley and Zimmerman in age sequence, senior to junior, with a 4-year age span for the 5 of us). Usinger started his role in Hawaiian and Pacific entomology when he was appointed assistant entomologist at Bishop Museum, 1934-36, just after graduation, when Zimmerman went back to Berkeley to complete his B.S. after joining Bishop Museum to participate in the Mangarevan Expe dition in 1934. Usinger was first nominated for the Bishop Museum posi tion and the expedition by Prof. E. C. Van Dyke at Berkeley, but could not go because of severe hepatitis contracted on a collecting trip to Mexico with Howard Hinton the previous summer. During his first six months at Bishop Museum, Usinger did routine work (at salary of $110/month), mainly mounting material collected by Zimmerman on the Mangarevan Expedition, assisted by Amy Suehiro. The Director, Herbert Gregory, then raised his pay to $125/month and told
irThis notice mainly concerns the portions of Usinger's life relating to Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, as a fuller notice by E. Gorton Linsley will appear in the Pan-Pacific Ento mologist. I am indebted to Martha Usinger and Gorton Linsley for the loan of Usinger's 500-page manuscript autobiography, dictated during his terminal illness from cancer. 472 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society him to work full time on his Hemiptera research. He had by then picked the Nysius bugs (Orsillini), which showed remarkable insular evolution, for his PhD thesis subject. Through an arrangement between the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Asso ciation Experiment Station and Bishop Museum, Mr and Mrs Swezey went to Guam for a survey of the insect fauna, with Usinger as assistant for the first three months. This was at the time of establishment of trans- Pacific seaplane flights and was related to concern about insect introduction to Hawaii. The survey on Guam resulted in "Insects of Guam" (1942, 1946), largely arranged by Swezey and published by Bishop Museum. Usinger had been promised a job as assistant to E. P. Van Duzee at the California Academy of Sciences, while doing his graduate work in Berkeley. However, the funds did not become available till some months later, and he had to find other jobs in the meantime. Entomology students at Ber keley then also included Gorton Linsley, Edward Ross, Charles Michener, Richard and George Bohart, Paul DeBach, Kenneth Maehler, myself and many others who have been concerned with Pacific entomology. Usinger married Martha Boone Putnam 24 June 1938, and completed his PhD in June 1939. He then became editor of the Pan-Pacific Entomologist, and became instructor in entomology at Davis. During this period he had considerable contact with Prof. Tracy Storer, and this later developed into collaboration in authoring zoology texts. In early 1943 Usinger followed Prof. Freeborn to the U. S. Public Health Service, based at Atlanta. While organizing mosquito control in the Savannah area, he was suddently sent in August 1943 to organize control in Honolulu in connection with the dengue epidemic. In the Spring of 1946 he returned to California, as assistant professor at Berkeley. Shortly after this he started organizing "Aquatic insects of California" (published in 1956). Also during the year he attended the organization meeting in Washington, D.C. of the Pacific Science Board, on which he served, later for a period (1961-63) as chairman. He was also chairman for a number of years of the West Coast Advisory Committee, and worked closely with Harry Smith and Cyril Pemberton. During succeeding years he supervised PhD research of Wirth, Quate, La Rivers, Kellen, Lattin, Herring, Steffan, Ashlock and others who became associated with Pacific entomology in one way or another. In developing his bed-bug research he had N. Ue- shima, from Japan, with him for two long periods, until April 1968. In the summer of 1950 the Pacific Science Board organized a general survey of Arno Atoll in the Marshall Islands, as one of its series of atoll surveys. Usinger was in charge for the first half of the expedition, and Ira LaRivers stayed through the operation. This provided perhaps the most complete survey of the insect fauna of an atoll. In 1953 a great landmark for all zoologists was the publication of "Methods and principles of systematic zoology" by Ernst Mayr, Gorton Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 473
Linsley and Usinger. Among other books, besides the zoology texts with Storer, were Classification of Aradidae (with Matsuda), 1959; Sierra Nevada Natural History (with Storer), 1964; Monograph of Cimicidae, 1966; and Life in Rivers and Streams, 1967. In 1965 Usinger searched success fully for amber insects in Alaska with Ray Smith. In 1961 Usinger was Organizer for Biology for the Pacific Science Congress in Honolulu. In 1964 he was Director of the large Galapagos International Scientific Project, which took a large number of scientists to those islands for studies and for the dedication of the Charles Darwin Laboratory there. Usinger was chairman of the Division of Entomology and Acarology at Berkeley, early 1963 to late 1967, when he resigned because of illness. He was for many years until his death Research Associate at Bishop Mu seum, and at some other institutions, and a member of the editorial commit tee of Pacific Insects. He wrote several articles in the Insects of Micronesia series. His PhD thesis on the Nysius was also published by Bishop Museum (1942). Usinger attended the March 1967 meeting at Bishop Museum to help organize the Hawaii Terrestrial Biology Program for the International Biological Program, and was elected assistant director for zoology. In 1966 Usinger was president of the Entomological Society of America, and in 1967 was president of the Society of Systematic Zoology. He presided at the annual meeting in Washington, D.C. in December 1967. The results which Robert Usinger achieved in his relatively short life have beneficially influenced many entomologists, organizations and insti tutions, and will continue to do so for long to come.
J. L. GRESSITT 474 Proceedings, Hawaiian Entomological Society
New Immigrant Records for the Year 1968
Species marked with an asterisk were reported from the Hawaiian Islands for the first time during 1968 on the dates recorded in the text. Those marked with a dagger are considered doubtfully established as the records are based on single collections.
CHANCE IMMIGRANTS
Page *Trissolcus sp 261 PMelormenis antillarium 264 *Euconocephalus nasutus (Thunberg) 266 *Plautia stall Scott 266 *Bombotella jocosatrlx Guenee 269 *Ensina sonchl (L.) 270 *Rhipiphorothrips pulchellus Morgan 270 POedaleus abruptus (Thunberg) 273 *Melanagromyza phaseoli (Tryon) 274 *Jadera haematoloma (Herrich-Schaeffer) 274 *Hydroptila sp 275 *Aspidiotus destructor Signoret 279 *Homalotylus sp 279
BENEFICIAL INSECTS PURPOSELY INTRODUCED
Dendroster protuberans Nees 260 Apanteles rubecula Marshall 263 Spalangia nigra Latreille 263 Sphegestes sp 263 Tachinaephagus zealandicus Achmead 263 Bracon sp. nr. sphenophorl Muesebeck 276
OFFICERS FOR 1968
President F. A. Bianchi President-elect A. A. LaPlante Secretary E. S. Shiroma Treasurer F. H. Haramoto Advisor T. Nishida Editorial Committee M. Tamashiro, Editor, J. W. Beardsley, D. Chambers A. K. Ota Finance Committee F. H. Haramoto, Treasurer, A. A. LaPlante, R. Namba Program Committee H. A. Bess Science Fair Committee J. K. Fujii, R. Park,J. Sharp ISSEC Committee C. F. Clagg Vol. XX, No. 2, August, 1969 475
HONORARY MEMBERS
S. Au C. F. Clagg K. Sakimura E. H. Bryan, Jr. C. P. Clausen P. H. Timberlake W. Carter C. B. Keck R. H. Van Zwaluwenburg Q. C. Chock N. L. H. Krauss H. A. Woolford L. D. Christenson C. E. Pemberton
MEMBERSHIP 1968
Andersen, D. M. Hirashima, Y. Nowell, W. R. Anwar, M. Holbrook, F. Ohinata, K. Ashdown, D. Holway, R. T. Olson, F. Ashlock, P. D. Holzapfel, E. Ota, A. Au, S. H. Hoyt, C. P. Ozaki, E. T. Balock,J. W. Huddleston, E. Park, R. Barrett, W. W. Ikeda, J. K. Perkins, B. D., Jr. Bartlett, B. R. Jackson, E. W. Peterson, G. D., Jr. Beardsley, J. W. Joyce, C. R. Prasad, V. Bellinger, P. F. Kajiwara, J. T. Rainwater, H. I. Bess, H. A. Kamasaki, H. Ross, M. M. Bianchi, F. A. Kanagasabai, S. Rutschky, C. W. Callan, E. McC. Kaneshiro, K. Sharp, J. Chambers, D. L. Kaya, H. Sherman, M. Chilson, L. M. Keenan, S. Shiroma, E. Chong, M. Keiser, I. Smith, G. Clagg, H. Kohn, M. A. Spadoni, R. D. Cunningham. R. T. Kormilev, N. A. Steffan, W. A. Davis, C. J. Lamprecht, H. Steiner, L. F. Delfinado, M. D. LaPlante, A. A., Jr. Strandtmann, R. W. Drake, E. F. Lauret, T. H. Sugawa, D. T. Einmo, J. R. Leech, R. Sugerman, B. B. Esguerra, N. Look, W. C. Takei, G. H. Fluker, S. Maa, T. C. Tamashiro, M. Fujii, J. Maehler, K. L. Tanabe, A. Fujii, W. K. Matsumoto, B. Tanada, Y. Fujimoto, M. S. Mau, R. Tenorio, J. A. Funasaki, G. McMahan, E. Thistle, A. Furumizo, R. T. Messenger, P. S. Usinger, R. L. Gagne, W. C. Middleton, C. R. Wasti, S. S. Garcia y Martell, C. Mitchell, S. Wirth, W. W. Girard, D. H. Mitchell, W. C. Wolfenbarger, D. C. Gressitt, J. L. Miyahira, N. Yanamura, H. K. Haas, G. Morrill, A. W., Jr. Yano, K. Hagen, K. S. Nakagawa, P. Y. Yasumatsu, K. Hale, D. Nakagawa, S. Yates, J. R. Ill Haramoto, F. H. Nakahara, S. Yoshimoto, C. M. Hardy, D. E. Nakao, H. Yoshioka, E. Harris, E. J. Nakata, S. Zimmerman, E. C. Hart, R. Namba, R. Hart, W. G. Navvab-Gojrati, A. Higa, S. Y. Newell, I. M. Hinckley, A. D. Nishida, T.