M. Bourlier states that Tréhala, which is abundant in the shops of the Jew drug-dealers of Constantinople, is frequently used by the Arab and Turkish physicians in the form of a decoction, which is regarded by them as of peculiar efficacy in diseases of the respiratory organs.
The second insect-product to which I would draw attention, is a saccharine substance resembling dark honey. Mr. Loftus, who obtained it near Kirrind, 13th July, 1851, and whose specimen is in the British Museum, states that it is exuded from a species of thistle when pierced by a Rhynchophorous insect; but he fails to inform us for what purposes it is used by the inhabitants.
Mr. Loftus having also presented the Museum with excellent specimens both of the plant and insect, I am able to state that the former is Echinops persicus, Fisch., and the latter a new species of Larinus, to which M. Jekel has applied the name Larinus mellificus, and of which he has drawn up the following description:—
"Larinus mellificus, Jekel (fig. 3). Breviter ovatus, convexus, niger, nitidus; infra subtiliter, lateribus thoracis margineque elytrorum intus medio versus angulariter ampliata, apicem occupante griseo-cinerascenti tomentosis; rostro leviter punctato, basi utrinque bicanaliculato cum elevatione media lata subcariniformi; thorace subconico antice tubulato, supra confertim sat rude punctato, lateribus subrugoso; elytris striato-punctatis, interstitiis latis, planis, transversim subtilissime rugulosis, cum abdomine tenuissime alutaceis, punctis majoribus remotioribus impressis; pectore, lateribus, pedibusque rugoso-punctatis, femoribus infra fortiter oblique costato-rugosis; tibiis intus, anticis fortius crenulatis. Long. (rostr. excl.) 16-18, lat. elytr. 8-9 mill.
"Patria—Persia, prope Kirrind, ubi Echinopsidis speciem frequentat, cujus plantæ caules ab hoc insecto puncti materiam quamdam saccharinam sudant." W. K. Loftus, Mus. Brit.
Fig. 1. Larinus maculatus, Falderm.
Fig. 2. The cocoons of Larinus maculatus, called in Turkish Tréhala.
