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Ontario Department of Agriculture

Sixty-Fifth Annual Report

OF THE

Entomological Society

of Ontario

1934

PRINTED BY ORDER OF

HON. DUNCAN MARSHALL, Minister of Agriculture

MAR ei WoO Ww)

TORONTO
Printed by T. E. BOWMAN, Printer to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty
P9385

; ‘ i ‘ Sle a Nees
Tf sl ) Spe iors aia ‘
bi 3 5 Moy eh te 1) Se ay F

CONTENTS

UTR 9020 1) te) ra eee Eee RM EEE RDS Ho. daek cas amos d ode nda ade deeds dca ohes 4
SY ISEVIPISINIUE’ NU TRS 7S 1G ater aa ae one Seo eae ne 4
Sige GE (CO URC AAS Ee Gos coon aan nan ae ae ee ae 5
(GE BEE TE TON Cae LG pf 2 ES Rel Reis Gah cele cao WA gM ONS Tae cg eee ee 5
The Grasshopper Outbreak in Saskatchewan: K. M. KING and S. H. VIGOR............ D
The Influence of Cultural Practices on Field Crop Insects: H. L. SEAMANG.............. D2

The Influence of Cultural Practices on Garden and Vegetable Insects: A. G. DUSTAN 28

The Influence of Cultural Practices on Garden, Field and Vegetable Insects:

OT GORRT eee sue yh AONE 1 Ba 36
The Influence of Cultural Practices on Orchard Insects;

ONES Se mO re mile ame: ICEL SATS SPiN. deacetntepetscseebarssnetsoceereas 40
The Influence of Cultural Practices on Tree Fruit Insects in British Columbia;

= RL TBIICIRIBIDILA: 22 0a acitagh art" 1 det a eam aul A ae a ain 5 ee a ne a A 42
Semele ractices and t-orest, Insects: R.’ B. BALGH ©, oho sveclencese ieesa cece edeoe se suneeree 43
Sieve uropean Pine|Shoot Moth in Connecticut: R. B. FRIEND ....0c:2..ccc0cceccceen eee 50
Notes on the Alfalfa Snout Beetle, Brachyrhinus ligustici L, A new Pest in New

“SHEED SIERRA CIS TAIU EIS pt BLA 8 ODEN, GRIM 8 ec a Pe Oe eee eee 54
Some Stored Product Pests in Canada with Special Reference to the Hairy Spider |

CCH OMEN SON TG el. INCit pe lalea te. GRAVY, a5) 8s ob gece suhase< obs) dn joeGhdsecsecsseaceeres. 59
Parasites of the Oriental Fruit Moth (Laspeyresia molesta Busck) in Ontario: A

pumuanver er 932-335-340) Wi Bl) VAN USTEENBURG (2.2.28) 68
Pmelesical Control of Greenhouse Insects: A. B. BAIRD. 2.0.0... 0.2.5...0kdiccceceeneesetsseedoees We
feoe tron Sulphate and Lime Sulphur Mixture; A. KELSALL .2)..0...000.f eel acces TA
im improved Form of Arsenious Oxide as an Insecticide: A. KELSALL .................. 76
Indices of Toxicity for various Poisons to Drosophila ampelophila Loew:

"Ns has TEUVIPINSIRGOINE iaie oe SUES as OST TE erate 2s cere en nc gre eee tee eae 78
Meemereaiva@ontrol m= Ontario: Is STEVENSON) 2620. j5 lecct:ccesecccussnssinedstposevevsinensvnee: 81
Pereucniy. opiid Outbreak im Ontario: IW. CAESAR «o.....0...0)occckccedee es ccs tec vecneesvees 84
Seem or Borer situation in Ontario in 1934: L. CAESAR 2.........6....ccccccceeceeeeees 85
“The Grasshopper Campaign in Manitoba in 1934: A. V. MITCHENER ............... 87

Aphids in New Brunswick Potato Fields; R. P. GORHAM and J. C. BURNHAM..... 89

Precautions Taken to Prevent the Importation of Pests and Diseases on Exhibits for

the World’s Grain Exhibition, Regina, 1933: LEONARD S. MCLAINE ............ 90
Coleopterous Collections from Japanese Beetle Traps in Southern Ontario:

wy ARIES SIBTEIEI EVAR) Se 2 5 sO sy a eee: © 2 Oa eee ey eet te ee eee ree OS)
Observations on the Flight of Adults of the Genus Crambus with Special Reference

ome ac COmMorlicnopecies: a Als! AIRNOM Doce iie ese cs sccassescvcvenecestecsseseeens 98
Some Observations on the Grape Berry Moth: W. G. GARLICK Ce Go ata Cee eee 108
A Summary of Insect Conditions in Canada in 1934: C. R. TWINN .......000cccceeee leleZ
ere G40 Repert, 1933, pp. 6-19) ecclissi 129
Rae gl a, Roo yak sv cities usw vuvesvcsiveers 13:0,

Entomological Society of Ontario

OFFICERS BOR’ 195421935

President—W. A. Ross, Entomological Laboratory, Vineland Station,
Ontario.

Vice-President—L. S. McCLAINE, Entomological Branch, Ottawa.
Secretary- I reasurer—R. H. OZBURN, O. A. College, Guelph, Ontario.
Ltbrarian—ROSE E. KING, O. A. College, Guelph, Ontario.

Directors—R. P. GORHAM, Entomological Laboratory, Fredericton, New
Brunswick; GEORGE MAHEUX, Provincial Entomologist, Quebec; G. H.
HAMMOND, Entomological Laboratory, Hemmingford, Quebec; PROFESSOR
A. V. MITCHENER, Manitoba Agricultural College, Winnipeg, Manitoba;
K. M. KING, Entomological Laboratory, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; PROFESSOR
G. J. SPENCER, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Directors (ex-presidents) —PROF. JOHN DEARNESS, London; PROF. E.
M. WALKER, University of Toronto; ALBERT F. WINN, Westmount, Que.;
PROF. LAWSON CAESAR, O. A. College, Guelph; ARTHUR GIBSON, Dominion
Entomologist, Ottawa; F. J. A. MORRIS, Peterborough; DR. J. M. SWAINE
Entomological Branch, Ottawa; REV. FATHER LEOPOLD, La Trappe, Que.;
PROF. A. W. BAKER, O. A. College, Guelph, Ont.; T. D. HARVIS, Ontario
Research Foundation, Toronto; PROF. J. D. DETWILER, Western University,
London, Ontario; DR. W. H. BRITTAIN, Macdonald College, Quebec. ©

Editor—Dr. J. H. MCDUNNOUGH, Entomological Branch, Ottawa.
Associate Editor—H. G. CRAWFORD, Entomological Branch, Ottawa.

Auditors—R. W. THOMPSON, O. A. College, Guelph, Ont.; PROF. L.
CAESAR, O. A, College, Guelph, Ont.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARES

FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31ST, 1934

Receipts Expenditures

Cash on-Hand) ASS" ee 2 $259.55 Prigtine ee is ee $1,170.00
Sabscriptionsi 013.4 fas evan ose es oe Os wd Pmpense) 66 1.0. s.s..0000 So 23.48
| Peis i gener ne CX icine) Ue 157.40 Insurance, (......)...25 see 19.50
Advertisements «5.x eee ee 239.20 Cuts aim ac. eee 10.30
Back: Numibersigie:d | tet Te ee 197.76 Salary Social eles ee 100.00
GovernmentGrant 2.20). eee 350.00 Exchanger 2.04028 oe re 22.81
Exchange 3.0 ie Pee (15 Balance on Hand’.)..2:..2.. eae 338.24
Cais 200 ee ee ee 10.30

$1,684.33 $1,684.33

Respectfully submitted,

Ree, HA. -OZBURN,

Secretary-J reasurer.
Auditors—L. CAESAR, R. W. THOMPSON.

(4)

Entomological Society of Ontario

REPORT OFT HE ‘COUNCIL

The Council of the Entomological Society of Ontario begs to present its
report for the year 1933-1934.

The Seventieth Annual Meeting of the Society was held in the Theatre
of the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, on November 23rd and 24th, 1933.

The morning and afternoon sessions were largely devoted to the reading
of papers and discussion. About 65 members and visitors were present during
the meetings.

The evening meeting, also held in the Theatre of the Museum, was well
attended. Dr. E. M. Walker, Department of Biology, University of Toronto,
gave an exceedingly interesting talk on ‘‘Insect Musicians’, imitating in a de-
lightful manner the “songs or calls’ of many of our common insects.

The Canadian Entomologist, the official organ of the Society, completed
its sixty-fifth volume in December last. [he volume contained 286 pages,
illustrated by 16 full page plates and 16 original figures. The contributors
to these pages numbered forty-seven and included writers in Ontario, Manitoba,
British Columbia, New Brunswick and also fourteen of the United States.

lt is the sad duty of the Council to record the death of a prominent member
of the Society, Mr. Eric Hearle, who died on April 17th, 1934, from heart
trouble. Mr. Hearle was a member of long standing in the Society. He was,
the outstanding Canadian authority on Western Blood Sucking Flies. With
the death of Mr. Hearle, Canadian Entomology has lost an exceedingly valu-
able student, and the public a worker who has done much to further the
health of man and animals.

REPORT OF LHe, LIBRARIAN

The usual additions have been made to the Society’s Library, and the
work of re-arranging and indexing the whole library has been continued.

THE GRASSHOPPER OUTBREAK IN SASKATCHEWAN
K. M. KING! and S. H. VIGOR?

Throughout the present discussion, it is essential to keep in mind the
close relation of the grasshopper situation in Saskatchewan to the course of
development, character and extent of the general outbreak throughout the
northern Great Plains area. As is well known, this region constitutes a natural
ecological area, in which there exists very few natural obstacles which would
serve even slightly as barriers to the movements of such active insects as grass-
hoppers. The international, state and provincial boundaries are almost entirely

1Entomologist for Saskatchewan, Dominion Department of Agriculture.
2Field Crops Commissioner, Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture.

53 1936 (5)

WAR

6 ‘FHE. REPOR@ GBS IHE

artificial. Moreover, it seems abundantly evident that the trend of the out-
break throughout the area is determined primarily by weather and_ biological
conditions, and that control measures instituted by man have never yet been
shown to have materially altered the main trends though at times oo) may
have, perhaps considerably, modified intensities.

Both in its duration and in the area and intensity experienced at its climax,
the present outbreak of grasshoppers undoubtedly has been the worst that has
occurred during the agricultural history of the central and western part of this
region. In fact, as far as definite records go it seems comparable only: with
that outbreak of the 1870's, when during four successive years enormous num-
bers of the Rocky Mountain locust invaded the then new farming areas along
the eastern part of the northern Great Plains.

For two or three seasons prior to the onset of the present outbreak
““cycles’’, entomologists both in the United States and in Canada had observed
evidences that grasshoppers were gradually increasing from the very low ebb
of abundance then existing. Apparently the first definite evidence of outbreak
came in the autumn of 1927 when heavy flights of the lesser migratory locust,
or ‘‘stubble grasshopper’, Melanoplus mexicanus mexicanus Saus. (which is
considered to be the successor of, if not indeed identical with, the Rocky
Mountain locust, Melanoplus spretus Walsh) occurred in western Kansas, fol-
lowed by small but fairly intense outbreaks the following spring there and in
Nebraska. Each subsequent year till 1934 the outbreak area has been greater,
tending chiefly northward, broadening to east and west. In Canada the first
material damage to crops occurred in 1930, chiefly in localized areas in
‘Manitoba but with rather scattered though light trouble in Saskatchewan. In
Alberta, the outbreak has developed about a year later than in the other two
provinces.

The climax in the southern part of the area was reached in 1931. ‘Tak-
ing the region as a whole, however, the apparent peak of the outbreak extend-
ed from the summer and fall of 1933 to the summer of 1934.

Considering the entire period of the present outbreak to date, somewhat
more than half has occurred in the United States. During the “‘climax’’ year, .
1933-'34, however, perhaps three-fifths of the entire outbreak was in the
Prairie Provinces of Canada. The 14 million acres of actual crop severely or
very severely infested in Saskatchewan alone, appears to equal the area of
similar infestation reported for 8 or 9 States to which such intense outbreaks
were largely confined ‘‘across the line’. “The total acreage infested by grass-
hoppers in 1934 in Saskatchewan was over five times that in Manitoba and
perhaps three times that in Alberta. “Ihe general severity of the 1934 out-
break.in Alberta is commonly believed to be considerably below that of either
of the other two provinces although perhaps this impression arises in part
from the better crop conditions there during that season.

In Saskatchewan, extensive agriculture is confined to what is, geograph-
ically, the southern half of the province. About two-thirds of the acreage at
present under cultivation lies in the open prairie and plains area, the remainder
being largely in the park belt or poplar savanna. ‘The line between these
ecological divisions is roughly bow-shaped, convex towards the northeast, ly-
ing diagonally from the southeast corner of the province northwestwardly to
a point on the Alberta boundary just south of the main line of the Canadian
National Railway. The type of agriculture is determined primarily by mois-
ture conditions modified by economic factors. Where open prairie land is
under cultivation, wheat is the main cash crop, other crops being grown chiefly

BENEOMOLOGIGCAL: SOCIETY 7

for feed to: maintain the horse-power required for the work of wheat grow-
ing. The land is fallowed frequently, primarily to store moisture in the soil.
Consequently, each year nearly half the crop (or about one-third of the
acreage under cultivation) is seeded ordinarily on land fallowed the previous
season, the rest of the crop (somewhat more than another third of the “‘plow-
land’) is seeded upon stubble, either surface-cultivated or plowed; the re-
mainder of the cultivated land is then worked down to summerfallow.

‘The combination of adverse circumstances during recent years fell with
particular force in the prairie areas. Not only were prices so low that only a
bare living —— without providing for fixed charges —- was possible even where
a good average crop could be grown, but also, each year since 1929 much of
this area has been subject to drouth, high temperatures and soil drifting, re-
sulting in very low yields. This quickly led to a very serious shortage of
feed, as well as farm help, to carry out even the regular tillage operations.

OUTBREAKS OF 1931 To 1933

Under these circumstances, the development of an intense and wide-
spread grasshopper outbreak became doubly serious, especially as the outbreak
has been associated primarily with the open prairie country although at times
extending for some distance into the adjoining margin of the park belt.

Following the rather slight trouble of 1930, the outbreak of 1931 was
somewhat more widespread but still of very moderate intensity, as indicated
by the map (Fig. 1). 1932 showed a considerable further increase in extent
and severity, the same general trend being again shown in the outbreak fore-
cast for the spring of 1933. “The maps (Figs. 1-3) bring out what is con-
sidered to be a highly significant relation to the general Great Plains out-
break. The Saskatchewan infestations of 1930 and °31 were primarily in the
northern part of southwest? Saskatchewan, the southern portion of central
Saskatchewan and most of. southcentral Saskatchewan. This is believed to
have been an infestation mainly or entirely of local origin, which reached its
climax in 1932. We are satisfied that the main outbreak in Saskatchewan
was derived originally by migration from heavily infested areas to the south
of this province, following the natural migration trends of the pest, as deter-
mined by concentration and by weather conditions. “Thus may be noted the
sudden (and somewhat unexpected) appearance of a rather concentrated out-
break in southeast Saskatchewan in the spring of 1932, which developed and
intensified during that season. A somewhat similar but less marked trend is
suggested for the southern part of south-central Saskatchewan. This effect
reached a terrific maximum in the tremendous migrations, originating in intense
infestations both within and outside the Province, which took place during the
summer and early autumn of 1933, and served to introduce or intensify the
outbreak in the west-central, central and southwestern portions of Saskatch-
ewan, as will be dealt with later. During 1934, it would appear that this
trend was reversed in southeastern Saskatchewan and that at least some migra-
tion occurred southwards from that area.

Up to and including the spring of 1933, the campaign in Saskatchewan
had been almost entirely in the hands of the local governing units, the rural
municipalities. These were responsible for undertaking the campaign, mix-
ing and distributing the poisoned bait, and were charged with the cost of the
materials, purchased centrally by the provincial Government, which also offer-

3Following common usage, these terms are used as subdivisions of that portion of the
geographical area from about Prince Albert and Lloydminster, south.

8 THE REPORT OP THe

ed general encouragement and technical advice. In municipalities having only
moderate infestations, with fair financial resources and able, energetic and
experienced officials, this procedure worked fairly well for the purpose of crop
protection.

The conditions of 1933, however, proved entirely too difficult to be met
by local management, apparently wherever tried, either in the United States
or in Canada, though some crop was of course saved by the efforts made.
In much of the area there was very little summerfallow so that most of the
crop was seeded into land already polluted with grasshopper eggs. Spring
moisture conditions were encouraging and most of the grain and energy were
devoted to seeding crop, in the cheapest possible way. ‘There was no tillage
program to meet the serious and general stubble infestation, and because of
the rather general scepticism concerning the probabilities of outbreak, the
poisoning campaign was started much too late and was entirely inadequate
to substitute for tillage precautions. “The winter and spring conditions were
such as to give an almost complete survival of eggs and young hoppers. ‘Then
came the extremely high temperatures and drouth of early June. ‘The hoppers
migrated, fed and grew with great rapidity, while crops were in no condition
to resist their ravages. With the intense concentrations, shortage of food, and
high temperatures, tremendous flights began late in July, not only local dis-
persals but unquestionably distant migrations.

All of this resulted in an extraordinary degree of damage to maturing
crops, not only in areas heavily infested in the spring but also in many other
districts seriously invaded by these migrations. Estimates for 1933 made by
the Saskatchewan Statistics Branch indicate that grasshoppers destroyed cash
crops having a value of nearly 18 million dollars at prevailing prices. “This
figure does not include the very large sum represented by the local value of
fodder and garden crops likewise destroyed by the pest.

In some districts, notably the southeast and the west-central areas, the
losses due to grasshoppers could not be accurately separated from those associ-
ated with the severe drouth prevailing there. In much of the infested area,
however, a fair amount of precipitation fell during the crop season of 1933,
in a number of localities being equal to, or in excess of, the average. Where
this was the case, the important influence of grasshoppers in depressing crop
yields, was evident. For example, in one district which received about “normal”
precipitation in 1933, grasshoppers destroyed three-fourths of the wheat crop,
nine-tenths of the coarse grains, and a large proportion of garden and fodder
production. Many instances were recorded where from one-fourth to two-
thirds of the heads of nearly mature standing-wheat were cut off by winged
grasshoppers, and were lost. Crops in a late green stage at the height of migra-
tion suffered almost complete destruction. For example, at Swift Current a
tall vigorous oat crop having a potential yield of at least 30 bushels per acre,
was reduced to short denuded stalks by the invading swarms of flying hoppers.

OUTBREAK POTENTIAL For 1934

Grasshopper increase in 1933 was in the nature of a “‘biological explo-
sion’, ‘Ihe factors responsible for this, in Saskatchewan in common with
adjacent area, were:—- the almost complete natural survival of the populations
present in the previous autumn and spring, which were already high in many
localities, including several portions of southern and central Saskatchewan,
particularly the southeast; the natural migration trends of the season, which
brought about an enormous influx into the more northerly and northwesterly

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 9

portions of the general outbreak area; a very high rate of oviposition operating
through an exceptionally long period, from early maturity —- induced by
high temperatures — until late autumn, with a sufficient food supply in most
areas, and warm dry sunny weather almost unbrokenly favourable for egg-
laying; inadequate measures for grasshopper destruction, over wide areas, which
allowed these natural factors to operate practically without check.

It was not surprising, then, that surveys made in the autumn of 1933
indicated an enormous increase in the intensity of grasshopper egg infestation
in Saskatchewan, as well as a considerable spread into new territory. The
less than one million acres of cultivated land here affected by ‘“‘very severe’
infestation in the fall of 1932, had increased to over 11 million acres of similar
intensity by autumn of 1933; the area of ‘severe’ infestation had increased
from 54% million to over 844 million acres. Altogether some 23 million
out of a total of 32 million acres of cultivated land in Saskatchewan was.
threatened with grasshopper outbreaks for 1934, as compared with some 141
million acres infested in the spring of 1933. Data from a comprehensive
survey of egg abundance, using quantitative methods, indicated an average of
more than 30 grasshopper eggs per square foot for the entire 18 to 19 million
acres of stubble and idle land in this area; in the area of “‘very severe’ out-
break, the infestation of stubble land averaged 50 eggs per square foot. These
figures do not take account of the serious infestations present in sod land and
other situations outside of fields.

Estimates based upon the known powers of destruction of such infesta-
tions of grasshoppers, indicated that —— if no control were attempted —— there
was in prospect a potential loss roughly equivalent to the complete ruination
of 10 million acres of actual crop, out of the 17 or 18 million acres of crop
ordinarily seeded in the infested area; this was on the assumption of ‘‘normal’’
precipitation and temperature during the summer, realizing that heat and
drouth would still further intensify the potentialities of the pest. Such losses
would have constituted a veritable calamity of national proportions, not only
greatly increasing the problem of direct and agricultural relief to those involv-
ed, but having repercussions all over Canada because of the effect upon the
carrying trade, manufacturers and others.

PLANNING THE 1934 CAMPAIGN

Early in August, when the heavy flights began to give a clear indication
of what was in prospect, the Government of Saskatchewan took steps to meet
the situation. As elsewhere, the Provincial Government has always accepted
the responsibility for undertaking any general grasshopper campaign, that they
decide to be necessary, the Dominion Department of Agriculture affording full
co-operation, to an extent determined by circumstances at the time. On this
occasion, the Hon. Walter C. Buckle, Minister of Agriculture for Saskatchewan,
formed a Grasshopper Control Committee, giving formal recognition to the
close co-operation already existing, and facilitating the pooling of staff re-
sourses to meet the emergency. Mr. F. H. Auld, Deputy Minister of Agricul-
ture, was chairman; Mr. J. G. Taggart, Superintendent of the Swift Current
staff, represented the Dominion Experimental Farms; the inclusion of Mr. C.
B. Daniel, General Manager of the Saskatchewan Relief Commision, facilitat-
ed the co-ordination of relief policies with the grasshopper control program;
Mr. Vigor, as Field Crops Commissioner, continued to be in direct admini-
strative charge of the entire campaign; Mr. King was technical advisor to the
Committee. An emergency control program was at once formulated, and a
strenuous campaign of publicity put under way.

10 ‘THE ‘REPORT OR rie

In the program of control, there was nothing new in the individual
methods, all being of proved value when properly used; but there was care-
ful selection and combination; and, above all, elimination of features not suit-
ed to the local conditions. “The ‘‘emergency’’ feature of the program was
its detailed fitting into the Saskatchewan problem, having regard to the
character of infestation and the whole economic and agricultural situation. ©

From the practical viewpoint, the main distinction as to types of grass-
hopper infestation is as to whether the eggs are deposited generally throughout
all or a large proportion of the fields which are to be seeded to crop, or whether
they have been placed wholly or largely outside cultivated fields. In 1933-34
in Saskatchewan, the stubble type of infestation was predominant throughout
the greater part of the area involved, although often with the addition of
heavy concentration (chiefly of Camnula pellocida Sc.) in sod-land, ditches
and drift soil outside the fields. “This meant that while well-prepared summer-
fallow was, of course, free from serious infestation, practically all stubble-land
was entirely unsafe for seeding unless either tillage operations were carried out
to greatly reduce the infestation before seeding, or preparations made for the
general baiting of stubble crops —— usually requiring several repetitions to take
care of successive hatchings of young hoppers. In Saskatchewan, however,
both the general and the local conditions were in opposition to any policy
based on the latter alternative. Feed supplies generally were only sufficient
to carry out a part of the normal farm program. Horse-power was deficient
because of decreases and deterioration during the several seasons of feed short-
age. Farm help was lacking even for normal operations, let alone the addition-
al work involved in the spreading of bait or in special tillage operations.
Machine bait-spreaders were not generally available, even had they been devel-
oped definitely to the point of proved efficiency. “There was a very serious
question whether bait supplies would be obtainable in sufficient amounts to
provide for such widespread use of poison over the enormous area infested.
With the prevailing low prices for grain, dry soil conditions, and grasshopper
infestation, there was very serious doubt whether stubble crops would return
even an operating profit unless the season proved exceptionally favourable. A
considerable proportion of the farmers were on relief, and the strain upon
the Government finances was such ‘that it was unreasonable to expect the
furnishing of supplies for all ofdinary needs. Under these circumstances, the
main emphasis, after seeing that summerfallow was seeded and protected from
hoppers, had to be laid upon the proper summerfallowing of all idle stubble-
land with a view to insuring a large acreage best prepared to resist drouth or
pests the following year, and handled in such a way that the enormous
cumulative infestations therein existing would be concentrated and destroyed
en masse instead of being allowed to invade crops in driblets. Only if, in
individual instances, resources were available beyond the above requirements
was it felt to be the part of wisdom to prepare and seed heavily infested
stubble-land. |

The program therefore was based primarily on farm-planning to enable
the individual farmer to use to best advantage his available resources of power,
time and grain-seed; then, upon tillage to reduce or concentrate stubble infesta-
tions, first of all in land to be summerfallowed and, secondarily, in stubble-
land for seeding; and finally, on potsoning to protect from invasion, crops
having no serious internal hatch.

‘The method of summerfallowing for grasshopper control, which was
considered to be of key importance to the success of the whole program,
although involving rather detailed planning, did not require more time or

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY ip

power than ordinary methods. ‘Ihe essential features were:— a marginal
portion, or guard strip, to be kept free from green vegetation, to check the
outward migration of hoppers; and the working down of the remainder of
the field in strips so as to gradually concentrate the young hoppers — in
seatch of food — into the unworked weedy portions where they could be
poisoned with small expenditure of time and of bait. Narrow black barrier
strips were advised around seeded fields to check invasion temporarily, and
thus assist poisoning. For the preparation of stubble-land for seeding (where
additional resources were available for that purpose), deep well-turned plowing
was strongly advocated as being the surest means of destroying hopper infesta-
tions. ‘Io meet certain circumstances, — such as in lightly infested areas of
the drier portion of the province, and also for heavy clay soil in which plow-
ing is not a good practice as a preparation for crop but where crop growth and
returns tend to be highest, — very shallow tillage in the autumn and the very
early spring was suggested. Emphasis was laid upon the early seeding of
crops, and particularly upon the avoidance of late seeding. ‘The relative resist-
ance to grasshopper attacks of common or available crops was pointed out,
and suggestions made as to means of securing feed and fodder in spite of the
grasshopper situation.

PUBLICITY AND ORGANIZATION

It will be seen that this farm-planning and tillage program was fairly
detailed and required intelligent application to local conditions. In addition,
an organization for mixing and distributing poisoned bait had to be built up
in many areas not previously seriously affected by grasshoppers, and farmers
carefuly instructed in the best means of using bait to secure greatest efficiency,
and to avoid danger to humans and to livestock. First of all, it was necessary
to establish in the public mind a conviction of the reality of the danger, and
of the excellent prospects of success in the campaign. “The Committee felt,
however, that all of this could be substantially accomplished by a sufficiently
vigorous and well-planned campaign of information.

_ The plan of publicity was based primarily upon direct contact with the
individual farmer. A systematic series of public meetings was held through-
out the country during the autumn and again in the spring. [he numbers
present indicated that a large majority of the farmers attended at least one
meeting. Volunteer local committees were organized which undertook a per-
sonal interview with each farmer, discussing with him, by means of forms pro-
vided, the details of his proposed operations for the coming year, and endeav-
oring to have him adjust his plans to the means available to him, consistent
with the requirements of grasshopper control. Direct supervision during the
active campaign season was to a consideable extent secured through the grass-
hopper campaign supervisors and other officials in each municipality. This
plan was worked out through the agency (and excellent work) of 24 district
representatives, each having charge of several rural municipalities (the average
size of the latter being nine townships). “[o make this possible, the full avail-
able provincial staff was supplemented by a number of men loaned from
several Branches of the Dominion Department of Agriculture.

In addition to these direct contacts, extensive use was made of posters,
leaflets and the press. An unfortunate feature was the tendency on the part
of the daily press, in particular, to give prominence to misleading statements
either based upon erroneous ideas already prevailing among some people or
dealing with facts from other areas not applicable to the local situation. ‘The
field men reported a great deal of difficulty in combatting this type of mis-
information, especially those items which periodically suggested the outbreak

ez THE (REPORD: OP ine

threat to be disappearing from the effects of gulls, red mites, crickets, mice,
gophers, freezing, premature hatching, etc. However, it may be said that
preparations went steadily ahead and scepticism as to the actuality of the out-
break threat disappeared as soon as hatching began in the spring.

The importance of thorough local organization for the poisoning cam-
paign will be obvious when it is realized that it was necessary to mix and
place in the hands of the farmers in a single municipality as much as 50 tons
of wet bait daily during the height of the campaign. “The primary objectives
were to insure that the bait would be properly mixed, that there would be
adequate distribution so that no farmer would have to travel more than a few
miles for his daily supplies, and that there would be definite field supervision
of the progress of the tillage precautions and of the spreading of bait. Each
municipality severely affected, employed a full-time paid supervisor during
the campaign period, who was given necessary assistance for mixing and
distributing the bait. “Ihe supervisor usually received material aid also from
municipal officials. Apart from this central plan, the local arrangements
varied with local ideas and circumstances, from a single central mixing station
with distributing depots in each township or municipal division, to that of
having six or eight mixing stations which also served as distributing points.
In general, each farmer was required to get his bait supplies from the nearby
distributing point but in some instances co-operative or other arrangements
were made whereby the bait was placed directly at each farm.

The purchase of bait materials and distribution to mixing stations was
financed by the Province, a part of the cost (presumably) being charged to
the municipalities. The latter were directly responsible for all local costs of
mixing, distribution and supervision, those in poorest financial conditions being
aided by a small cash grant specifically for the purpose.

A rather close correlation was worked out between agricultural relief
policies and the grasshopper control program. Some relief feed was distributed
to assist in autumn plowing and other autumn tillage, particularly empha-
sizing guard strips around the land to be fallowed the next year, thus aiding
to impress this important point upon public consciousness, as well as result-
ing in definite progress in the work. Further assistance was given in the spring
to aid with plowing of stubble-land for seeding. “The distribution of seed was
restricted to that to be used on summerfallow or properly plowed stubble.
Finally, some assistance was given in carrying out the work on the new
fallow. In general, it is believed that the correlation was about as complete
as was possible with the limited funds that were available, except that perhaps
a greater proportion of the grain could well have been employed for summer-
fallowing and less for putting in a crop on infested stubble.

SEASON OF 1934

The season of 1934 was about as unfavourable for grasshopper control
as could be imagined. The winter was mild and open with very little snow,
so that serious soil drifting occurred, involving complications to the grass-
hopper control program. In a large part of the area, the weather was almost
completely dry to the end of May. ‘Tillage was delayed because it was too
dry to plough, and when ploughing was attempted it was usually ineffective
because of the dust-like condition of the soil. Seeding was likewise delayed,
and even where the seed was placed in the ground comparatively little germ-
ination occurred, in land disturbed by tillage, until after the June rains. “The
unseasonably high temperatures resulted in the earliest hatch of grasshopper

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 13

eggs on record, being about three weeks ahead even of the early hatch of 1933.
The conditions of course greatly weakened the crop and rendered it easily
killed by attacks of the pest. “There was practically no growth of weeds or
grass, and this, together with the rapid development of the pest, brought
about very exceptionally early and rapid migration of the young hoppers
especially out of unworked stubble fields. Guard strips were quickly crossed
so that great alertness was necessary in the use of bait.

There were only two favourable features. The bait proved exception-
ally efficient, a major factor probably being the generally excellent weather
conditions for spreading it. [hen the early June rains were generally good
and in most areas sufficed to bring along the crop that had been protected from
the hoppers. July however was very hot and, for the most part, dry so that
very material damage to crops was done even by the greatly reduced numbers
of hoppers remaining. This loss was considerably lessened in a number of
areas where baiting was continued throughout the season.

RESULTS OF 1934 CAMPAIGN

Long before the “smoke’’ of actual battle cleared away, the Saskatchewan
Grasshopper Control Committee was planning methods to appraise every as-
pect of the campaign so as to conserve the findings as a guide in future grass-
hopper outbreaks. In particular, the need was felt of securing clear-cut con-
vincing data with respect to the economics of grasshopper control, particularly
for the information and guidance of administrators and of the public not
personally familiar with the technical aspects. Without detailing the methods,
it will suffice to say that the research was conducted, we believe, in a manner
to gain the full facts, not merely those favourable to the current program.
Among other things, detailed records for some 300 farms, representative of the
entire infested area, were obtained by standard methods developed by farm
economists.

The forecast was found to have been substantially correct, affording an
adequate guide for the purchase and distribution of bait materials and the de-
tailed planning of campaign activities.

There were, of course, a number of minor imperfections, most of which
seemed to be the result of the weather conditions of the season. The expend-
iture for bait materials and transport to local centers was nearly $406,000
being within 10 per cent of the original estimate made on the basis of the
forecast. The actual use of bait was considerably reduced, in southeast and
south-central areas particularly, by extreme drouth which in itself early de-
stroyed all hope of crop, thus inevidently tending towards a slackening of the
campaign activities.

A source of deep gratification was the almost complete adequacy of the
“extension” organization and efforts, to ‘“‘put the program across’’ with farm-
ers generally. In the survey referred to, not one single farmer claimed that
he did not have all the information necessary for controlling grasshoppers.
Moreover, the publicity won the definite support of more than 95 per cent of the
farmers, only a very few being opposed to the campaign. Of course, some
gave only indifferent support, but at least four out of five were definitely
in favour of the campaign and fully half of these became really enthusiastic
over the results of the control program even under the adverse conditions of
1934. Perhaps 80 per cent applied the tillage methods with considerable in-
telligence and at least fair effectiveness, although the program was both de-
tailed and largely new to them. That this was not dependent upon relief

14 ‘THE ‘REPORT OFWREE

policies is indicated by the fact that the most effective adherence to the tillage
program was in districts where farmers were entirely or largely on their own
resources, because then these were more nearly adequate to do the job as they
wished. In one area, for example, it was estimated that fully 98 per cent of the
farmers carried out the detailed and rather intricate plan of summerfallowing
for grasshopper control. In another area only one farmer, out of twenty
visited, had stubbled-in any substantial amount of crop, although normally
most of them were accustomed to do so. In still another representative area
the proportion of seeding upon unplowed stubble-land was reduced from the
‘normal’ 50 per cent of seeded acreage to 6 per cent. Perhaps the best evidence
of the effectiveness of the extension work is the fact that a very excellent cam-
paign was carried out in sections which had never before been confronted with
the problem of grasshopper control. This result would seem to upset the
opinion often expressed, that farmers must lose a crop from grasshoppers before
they will learn to fight them effectively.

‘The systematic records secured from farmers indicate clearly that meet-
ings were in every way the best means not only for giving detailed inform-
ation to farmers but also for influencing their attitude. “Ihe personal work
of the volunteer committees, however, greatly developed community enthu-
siasm and team work, and helped to give detailed application of the general
methods to the conditions on each farm. Posters, leaflets and the press all
helped but there were many statements that the campaign was also impeded
by the inaccuracy of a good many so-called news-articles in the press.

Contrary to the fears of many persons, the state of public morale did
not prove a serious deterrent factor. Att first, naturally, it was very discourag-
ing to the field officers, and strenuous efforts were necessary before the feel-
ing of indifference or disheartedness could be overcome, a conviction of prob-
able success instilled, and real determination built up among those involved to
do everything within their power to achieve that success. In the end how-
ever, the attitude of co-operation of individuals and of municipalities was,
in general, about all that could be desired. [he extensive help afforded by
the railways, many business men, and others, should not be passed without:
warm acknowledgement.

Many instances could be cited of the intelligence and determination shown
to make the best use of limited equipment and finances. In nearly every
municipality, as with individuals, there was very little cash available. Very
interesting are the various means resorted to, such as the utilization of work
given in lieu of tax payments, and of co-operative arrangements among a group
of farmers, so that the small amount of cash would provide for those expendi-
tures where it was absolutely requisite. An amusing incident is that of a muni-
cipality of almost solid agricultural land of the best type and with an assessed
value of many millions of dollars, but with very little in the way of immedi-
ate resources following a series of disastrous crop failures, figuring on the resale
value of the length of pipe, which was in use to bring water to its mixing
station, as the final means of meeting the immediate cost involved in its grass-
hopper campaign.

In general, the municipal organizations for mixing and distributing bait
were fairly efficient, although in a number of instances the municipal super-
visors, who constituted a very important link in the whole organization, did
not serve their best function. This was partly because of financial limitations,
and resulted in an especial lack of field supervision of the activities of farmers
which, had it been given, would have resulted in a more complete and effective
tillage program and less wastage of bait.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 15

The publicity measures were not fully successful in impressing the basic
principle of the farm-planning program. That is to say, many farmers
ploughed and seeded stubble, «or seeded stubble without special tillage, even
though by so doing they had not sufficient grain or time left to enable them to
summerfallow properly if at all. This was particularly unfortunate in view of
the fact that resources were nearly everywhere inadequate for the full normal
program, and particularly because under the drouth conditions of the’ year,
crops seeded on stubble largely failed in many districts in whatever manner
the land had been prepared.

Where completely carried out, the plan of control was extraordinarily
effective in spite of the adverse conditions. ‘Ihe results of the survey also
clearly show that the farm-planning and tillage plan, as a whole, was an
essential part of the entire program under the existing type of infestation and
other circumstances already described. Even though, as has been indicated,
ploughing often failed partially or completely, as a means of protecting crop,
under the extreme weather of April and May, nevertheless, it was shown to
be of value in reducing the menace to other crops even where the soil was so
dry that the infestation was not reduced sufficiently to save the crop in the
ploughed fields. Moreover, ploughing did prove to be a complete protection
against very heavy infestations, in districts where moisture was sufficient to
permit good ploughing to be done and to insure immediate germination of the
crop seeded on ploughing. Furthermore, many farmers who “‘stubbled-in’’ now
regret it even where returns were secured, because these were small and the
land is not prepared for cropping in 1935. The tillage plan won over to the
1934 campaign many farmers, and even municipalities, who had suffered dis-
astrous experience in 1933 and who definitely stated that they would not
again have engaged in a campaign based solely on poisoning, where the stubble
type of infestation was predominant. Farmers generally show increased belief
in the tillage plan in spite of the partial failures referred to and many have
stated that they would have been unable to handle the additional bait that
would have been necessary if unaided by tillage methods.

Perhaps the most striking instance which bears upon this matter is found
in the contrasting results secured by two men farming large adjoining holdings
not far from Saskatoon, in an area of fairly light soil where the infestation
was so intense that, unquestionably, no crop at all would have been harvested
had it not been for a thorough community campaign. Both men seeded 680
acres to grain, of which about 500 acres were on land fallowed during 1933
and hence free from internal infestation of grasshopper eggs. One of these
men followed the program very intelligently and completely, though to do so
required a decided change in his usual practices, as well as the sale of some
seed-grain to purchase gasoline to carry out the tillage work (both being power
farmers). As a result of his efforts, a yield reaching 15 bushels of wheat per
acre on fallow was secured and the cash value of his actual crop was over
$2,500.00 in spite of severe hail losses, while in addition a large quantity of
feed was saved. His loss was less than 2 per cent. Eight to ten dollars’ worth
of bait was all that was required on this large farm, so effective was his use
of tillage on his new summerfallow. Above all, over half of his farm-land,
having been fallowed, is now in good condition to fight grasshoppers or drouth
in 1935. ‘This man stated that the tillage program was fully half of the bat-
tle, and without it he and his single helper could not have spread enough
bait — regardless of cost — to protect the crop fully. His neighbour did no
tillage or planning, and his losses were entirely from the hoppers which
hatched on his own farm (which also proved a serious problem to his neigh-
bours). Although he used more than twice the amount of bait, before giving

16 “ARIE (REPORD-OFratri=

up, he lost fully 85 per cent. of his potential crop, saving an amount worth
less than $700. Worst of all, he has no summerfallow and all of his land
is seriously infested for 1935. Had he used the same resources to his own
best advantage, this farmer could have saved his entire crop seeded on 1933
fallow and would have had nearly two-thirds of his farm properly summer-
fallowed and free from infestation for a good chance of crop in 1935.

While individual instances of this kind are the truest measure of the
potential losses, on the one hand, and of the almost complete savings that are
economically feasible, on the other hand, average figures are needed to present
a true picture of the actual accomplishment of the campaign. ‘These averages,
of course, vary with the locality. In Rural Municipality of Enfield, No. 194,
there was a very serious infestation which competent local and other observers
are convinced would have destroyed at the very least 90 per cent. of the crop
had there been no campaign whatever; as a matter of fact, the destruction would
probably have been complete, weather conditions being as they were. The
actual loss, however, as estimated by these same observers, was not over 5 to
10 per cent. of the crop that was possible with the amount of moisture avail-
able. [he farmers of this municipality threshed 70,000 bushels of wheat
and 13,000 bushels of oats, and obtained more than sufficient fodder for their
own uses until the following crop. ‘Their net savings were at least $60,000,
or over 55 cents per acre of land now under cultivation, at a total cost of about
5 cents per acre. In another area faced with equally difficult conditions, ten
average farmers estimated that the campaign saved them cash crop worth
$8,000 at a total cost of $110 for bait. This is an average figure, and it is
interesting to note that the most efficient of these saved cash wheat alone worth
$1,400, used only $20.00 worth of bait and has much fallow fully prepared
for the next season. In a large section of west-central Saskatchewan where the
precipitation was sufficient to give quite a fair crop and the infestation though
serious was not extreme, local officials in several municipalities estimated their
actual losses to have been from one-half to one per cent., while their potential
losses without a campaign would have been from 30 to 50 per cent.

Considerable public interest has been aroused in the statement issued by
a large grain company on the basis of estimates received by them from a con-
siderable number of independent crop observers, as to the crop losses attribut-
able to grasshoppers, and the savings of wheat resulting from the campaign.
According to this estimate, nearly 44 million bushels of wheat were harvested
in the grasshopper-infested area of Saskatchewan, of which 10 million bushels
had been saved by the campaign and only 6 million of potential additional
yield of wheat had been lost to grasshoppers. While this statement is an
encouraging one because of the fact that it. is an independent estimate by an
agency not connected with the campaign, and that it indicates large savings
and very thorough co-operation in the campaign, it is only fair to state that
the estimate of savings is far too conservative. Unquestionably the principal
reason for the great inaccuracy in estimates made by those not directly en-
gaged, on the farm or otherwise, in dealing with the pest itself, is that they
do not realize the almost complete extent of the destruction throughout the
large area of heavy infestation which would inevitably have occurred in the
absence of a campaign, with the adverse crop weather of 1934. The true facts
are indicated in part by a comparison with the losses which occurred in 1933,
keeping in mind that the initial infestation of that year was very much lower
generally, and also that the amount and distribution of moisture was generally
more favourable in that season. Although at the present time an alternative
estimate of total savings for the Province cannot be offered, it seems safe to
say that at least half — and perhaps two-thirds or three-fourths — of the

ENFOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 7

crop harvested in the area of Saskatchewan infested by grasshoppers in 1934,
taken as a whole, is attributable solely to the effectiveness of the control
measures. In addition, there is the large and very important factor of the
saving of feed-grain and fodder which does not appear in commercial statements.
The lack of feed which resulted from the grasshopper ravages of 1933 was
one of its worst features. In 1934, in spite of the much more difficult situa-
tion, fodder more or less sufficient for local needs was saved in all districts
which had any significant rainfall during the crop season. In one representa-
tive municipality, this item alone constitutes a value at least ten times as great
as the entire cost of the grasshopper campaign there.

In spite of the early maturity of grasshoppers in 1934, and the subse-
quent period of several weeks with weather extremely favourable for flight,
no general migrations occurred that were at all comparable with those experi-
enced in 1933. Local dispersals did occur to a troublesome extent in many
districts, and, as stated, there is some evidence of fairly general movement out
of the more drouth-stricken areas. Nevertheless, the extent of migration was
not a tithe of that which would have been anticipated, under the weather con-
ditions of mid-summer, had the original infestations been allowed to go un-
checked by man. ‘The autumn survey of grasshopper egg infestations also
indicates a very marked general reduction particularly in respect of the stubble
grasshopper M. mexicanus. While there are doubtless many factors involved
and no adequate ‘‘checks’’ for comparison, it is believed that the general reduc-
tion is at least partially attributable to the effectiveness of the campaign. It
seems significant also, that in general the heaviest remaining stubble infestations
appear to be in those areas which had a poor campaign but where enough
moisture fell to afford food for the grasshoppers to develop eggs.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, we cannot do better than to paraphrase the reasoning and
conclusions of the Saskatchewan Grasshopper Control Committee, in planning
the campaign, which have been completely confirmed by what actually
transpired :—

(1) When grasshopper outbreaks are present, or threatening, the only tenable
course is to combat them.

(2) A feasible and economical plan of control can probably be worked out
for any permanent type of agriculture.

(3) The more vigorous the measures, if well planned, the greater the true
economy.

(4) With widespread outbreaks and difficult financial conditions, a campaign
— if it is to be fully efficient and energetic — cannot be left entirely in
the hands of local administrations. “There must be co-operation all along
the line, and a vigorous central direction.

(5) Grasshopper control pays enormous dividends, while the lack of it means
enormous losses. It is most essential when times are difficult.

(6) If a program of control is sound, a proper organization of information

will serve to bring about the general adherence of farmers. This has an
important general corollary, namely, that if any program proposed to
meet a really serious situation is not adopted by farmers, either the plan
is not entirely sound, or the extension organization is inadequate.

18 THE REPORS OFT EEE

(7) Finally, our conviction has been amply confirmed, that despite great diffi-
culties and apparent deterioration of morale, farmers will fight if they
can be shown a real need for it and any reasonable prospect of success.
In closing, therefore, we cannot speak too enthusiastically of the splendid
effort made this year by farmers and local officials generally in support
of the campaign.

SASKATCHEWAN
CRASSHOPPERS [93]

Avea acd Inlensity of culbreok 2s Calculated
a the Quamhly of Sadrum Arsenite Used.

japal Choy: : : ss

ERR EASAneare
Bes Sense jegeceeeee:
re leelagd “SEY Lal otal = oll ell

n 370 | ser - gbr sha Mr

(Gs
is eee? od ae |
frei

ie a x : a

2 $o7 \

Careod; N

: . ay, b

242 | 29 Zo a77 9
= iY gin

DAWOSO! gONAH NI
" as3 249 27 ORKTO
\ “2T Le Lis 21h errs
. PIELVILLE |

aa

3g
oR

oe
ae
He,
Ee
a ee
A
ly

y | . ue

y
QS

7 | Heo

KU
Te
onl

i
"
Pal

l=] -[ [=] [oleh

ey tata l= [Le [ht
Diener pie

aa Sooo dnor ces

Gem oo aseBOe

Be

Pel a ee

Fig. 1.—Area and intensity of grasshopper outbreak in Saskatchewan, 1931, as indicated by
the quantity of sodium arsenite used in the campaign.* Each dot (.) indicates 1 gallon
sodium arsenite used. As for example:

R. M. 231—178 gals. sodium arsenite R.M. 13— 61 gals. sodium arsenite
R. M. 169—147 gals. sodium arsenite R. M. 130— 23 gals. sodium arsenite

*These data give a fairly significant general measure of the area and intensity of the out-
break. Its limitations are that the amount of bait used in any municipality is also influenced

by the acreage of crop and by the vigour, timeliness, continuity, and effectiveness of the local
campaign.

ENTOMOLOGIGAL: SOCIETY 19

SASKATCHEWAN
GRASSHOPPERS 1932

Area and Intensity of Oulbreak 25 Calculated
an the Quastly of Sodum Arsenite Used.

Fig. 2.—Areas and intensity of grasshopper outbreak in Saskatchewan, 1932, as indicated by
the quantity of sodium arsenite used in the campaign.* Each dot (.) indicates 1 gallon
sodium arsenite used. As for example:

Leader ——793 gals. sodium arsenite Hanley —77 gals. sodium arsenite
Carnduff—583 gals. sodium arsenite Saskatoon—35 gals. sodium arsenite

20 THE (REPOR@* OF HE

SASKATCHEWAN
GRASSHOPPERS 1933

Avea and Intensity of culbreak 23 Calculeted.

en the Quantity of Sedan Arsenile Used Scale of 1

SeEee Seca

sUAnIGAR

39 5

Fig. 3.—Areas and intensity of grasshopper outbreak in Saskatchewan, 1933, as indicated by
the quantity of sodium arsenite used in the campaign.* Each dot (.) indicates ] gallon
sodium arsenite used. As for example: :

R:M. 5—1562 gals. sodium arsenite _ R. M. 343—200 gals. sodium arsenite

R.M. 73— 752 gals. sodium arsenite R. M. 317— 60 gals. sodium arsenite

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOGIBTY 74

"SASKATCHEWAN

SASKATOON

Fig. 4:—Grasshopper outbreaks expected in Saskatchewan in 1933. Areas and intensity based
upon co-operative surveys of adult and egg abundance the preceding autumn.

V.S.—Very severe. S.—Severe. L.—Light.

SASKATCHEWAN

Fig. 5.—Grasshopper outbreaks expected in Saskatchewan in 1934. Areas and intensity based
upon co-operative surveys of adult and egg abundance the preceding autumn.

V.S.—Very severe. S.—Severe.- L.—Light.

Fig. 6.—Grasshopper outbreaks expected in Saskatchewan in 1935, Areas and intensity based
upon co-operative surveys of adult and egg abundance the preceding autumn.

V.S.—Very severe. S.—Severe. L.—Light.

22 THE REPOR@ OF tHe

THE INFLUENCE .OF CULTURAL PRACHICES On
PIELD -CROP INSECTS

By H. L. SEAMANS
Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Lethbridge, Alberta.

INTRODUCTION

Throughout the world, man is a competitor in the struggle for existence
and the success or failure of his struggle depends largely on his own efforts.
The basic industry in the struggle is that of food production or agriculture.
In this industry, probably more than any other, past progress has been made
by the “‘trial and error’’ method, and the majority of the troubles to-day are
the results of this progress. As the knowledge of the science of agriculture
increases there is every hope to believe that many of these troubles will be
overcome and future progress will not be accompanied by more serious troubles.

In discussing a topic such as this, one is confronted by a great variety of
sensations. ‘Ihe subject is exceedingly expansive and leaves room for a jumble
of many theories, facts and arguments. A host of questions arise, many of —
which cannot be answered by the present limited knowledge of facts. It is
impossible for any one man to attempt to marshall even the limited facts
into a semblance of order. It is then obvious that the discussion can only
attempt to present some of the facts, some of the theories, and scratch the
surface with arguments. If the surface is scratched or penetrated, the efforts
will constitute real progress and pave the way for more constructive work in
the future.

THE MEANING OF CULTURAL PRACTICES

The term ‘‘cultural practices’ has been defined as “‘all those activities
which are combined to produce a crop’. In the production of field crops this
definition covers a multiplicity of operations which can be grouped under three
main heads. ‘These are (1) the preparation of the soil, (2) seeding, and (3)
harvesting. Each of these heads is sub-divided into several operations and
practices.

The preparation of the soil includes all actual operations with the soil
itself, such as ploughing, discing, harrowing, packing, cultivating, weeding
and stubble burning. In some districts irrigating should be included as well
as manuring or the use of fertilizers. Seeding includes not only the placing
of the seed in the soil, but the method used, the time of seeding and the crop
sown. ‘The crop sown brings in the practice of crop rotation and trap crops.
Harvesting is the ultimate pathenne of the crop whether it be for seed, hay
or pasture.

Cultural practices will vary in every See depending on the size
of farms, the type of machinery used, the climatic conditions and the crops
grown. ‘The market value of a crop and the cost of each operation have a
most profound inaivence on the cultural practices that may be used in its
production.

INSECT OUTBREAKS AS THE RESULT OF CULTURAL PRACTICES

When man first broke up the prairie sod to plant crops he upset a natural
balance of insect population that has persisted for centuries. He removed an
abundance and variety of insect food growing in a hard, closely-packed soil

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 23

and replaced it with less abundant and specific plants in a comparatively loose
soil. As more land came under cultivation the radical change in environment
over a larger area changed the entire composition of the insect population.
Those insects which could not survive under the changed conditions soon dis-
appeared. Others have been able to maintain a precarious existence, but have
been unable to increase or even hold their previous numbers. A few species
have increased and while these may have played a very minor role in the
original balance they now constitute a serious menace to the successful pro-
duction of crops.

If it were possible to know intimately the life-histories, habits and devel-
opment of all the insects in an area of native sod it would be possible to fore-
cast which species would become pests under cultivation and what cultural
practices should be used to avoid them. ‘This study would be well worth
while in a new district about to be opened for agriculture but unfortunately
there are few such districts left. We can only give a few examples of cultural
practices and the resulting insect pests which past generations of farmers and
agricultural advisors have left as a legacy to the present generation. These will
show to a slight extent what might have been accomplished by such a body.

Like all human beings, the farmer is a creature of habit who is loath to
change his way of doing things. For countless generations the farmer has
_ ploughed his land, seeded his crop and waited for harvest. It is true that the
methods of farming have been changing and a few extra cultural operations
have been added, but the basic practices remained the same. Since the begin-
ning of agriculture there have been “‘good’’ farmers and ‘‘poor’’ farmers, and
the man who could plough the deepest and straightest furrow was the best
farmer in the community. Even the poor farmer did his best to emulate the
deep, straight furrow of his neighbor. “The good farmer did his utmost to
keep his weeds under control and to prevent a tangle of brambles and under-
growth from collecting along the old rail fence. ‘The first big change in
agriculture was the introduction of summerfallow in the semi-arid regions of
the West. ‘This was advocated as a method for conserving moisture and des-
troying weeds and consisted of deep ploughing followed by cultural operations
to maintain a dust mulch on the surface of the soil throughout the summer.
The success of this change opened up the vast wheat growing areas of the West
and produced the greatest expanse of single crop in history.

Let us take a few examples of the present insect pests of field crops and
see why they have been able to persist and increase. ‘Ihe first deep ploughing
improved conditions for several species of wireworms which are now exacting
an enormous annual toll from the majority of the crops grown. The adult
beetles deposit their eggs in the soil, but are poorly equipped for digging so
that they cannot penetrate any distance into a hard, packed sod. Eggs laid
close to the soil surface are subjected to high temperature and desiccation, two
factors which are very detrimental to their survival. Deep ploughing served
to loosen the soil and the adult beetles have little difficulty in placing their eggs
at a depth where environmental conditions are more favorable and the great
majority survive.

Many of the noctuid moths, the larvae of which are cutworms that attack
field crops, normally deposit their eggs in loose, dusty soil and avoid that
which is even slightly crusted by light rainfall. Most of these larvae in their
native habitat feed and move about on or near the soil surface where they
are at the mercy of a host of parasites and predators. What a boon it was to
them when the soil was loosened by cultivation and they were able to move
and feed below ground. What a relief it must have been to the moths to

ae ‘THE REPORS OP THe

find extensive areas of “dust mulch summerfallow”’ close at hand in which
to lay their eggs. What a surprise it was to the good farmer who broke up
the crust on his summerfallow after every rain and never allowed a weed to
appear on the land when he found that his crops were destroyed by cut-worms
while his neighbor who had a somewhat weedy summerfallow did not suffer.

Large areas of single or closely related crops have done a great deal to
increase and spread many insect pests. “The wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus
Nort.) normally inhabited only those regions where long-stemmed grasses were
present. [he greater part of the open prairie was covered with short-stemmed
grasses unsuited for sawfly development. As extensive areas were opened up
to wheat growing the sawfly found a new and very suitable host plant. “The
result has been a spread of the insect to the greater part of the wheat growing
area of the great plains, and in the most favorable sections far from its natural
habitat, it has become an economic pest of considerable importance.

As new irrigation projects have been opened in southern Alberta the
acreage devoted to alfalfa has increased. ‘This has caused an increase and spread
of alfalfa insects within each project. [he increasing use of sweet clover as
a dry land crop is beginning to form connecting links between alfalfa areas,
and already some insects are apparently spreading to new areas.

The history of cotton growing in the south, tobacco in the east, corn in
the middle west and wheat in the prairie regions have all given ample demon-
stration that a single crop concentrated in one area will suffer from insects
to a greater extent than isolated crops. Agricultural advisors who advocate
the extensive production of new crops or new cultural methods would be
well advised to proceed with caution and avoid repetitions of past experience.
The entomologist who makes recommendations for cultural control should
be reasonably sure that the farmer who 1s using them is not increasing his trou-
bles with other pests which are less amenable to control measures.

THE USE. OF. CULTURAL .PRACTICES TO CONTROL INSECTS

Cultural practices offer one of the most valuable and least used methods
of controlling field crop insects. “The average farmer wants to see the dead
insects as positive proof that his control operation has been effective. It is not
sufficient proof for him that he has produced a crop free of pests because he
is not sure that he would not have produced it had he not followed the advice.

Probably more misinformation has been distributed on cultural practices
in insect control than with any other control methods. “‘Clean farming”’ and
“deep ploughing’ have been advocated for years as a panacea for insect trou-
bles. Both have a valuable place in the scheme of insect control, but both
may also invite disaster. Every insect has its own peculiar habits which must
be studied thoroughly along with the habits of other insects before a cultural
control can be safely recommended. Even then the recommendation must be
so explicit and detailed that there will be no chance of the farmer reverting to
his usual habits and carrying on his operations in the wrong sequence or using
the wrong implement.

Ploughing, either in the autumn or spring, is one of the most frequently
advocated cultural control measures. “This recommendation is one of the first
to be suggested when a pest appears and is based on the idea of burying the
insect under at least six inches of soil. It never seems to occur to man that
an insect three millemetres long buried under fifty times its own length of soil
can possibly survive, and yet most of our field crop insects spend a great part

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY us

of their life below the soil surface. In working with the pale western cut-
worm it was interesting to note that ploughing in the autumn and burying
the eggs under six inches of soil resulted not only in a greater percentage of
the fields being damaged the next spring, but that more of them were 100 per
cent. damaged than with any other type of cultivation. This cultural prac-
tice has long been recommended for controlling grasshoppers and wheat stem
sawfly but should carry the stipulation that it is not to be used if an outbreak
of pale western cutworm is expected.

Ploughing is an expensive operation, but when done with a moldboard
plough and followed by packing will more than pay for itself in controlling
some insects. [his should be specified in making the recommendation because
there are many areas where this type of plough cannot be used. In such dis-
tricts a disc plough is used which does not completely invert the soil and con-
sequently is not an effective control even when followed by packing. Farmers
in some sections of Alberta and Saskatchewan ploughed their stubble xeligiously
in a fruitless effort to control wheat stem sawfly because this was the recom-
mended control for Manitoba where the moldboard plough was in general use.
Many western farmers have discarded the plough entirely and are confining
all tillage operations to the most shallow working necessary to destroy weeds.
The result will probably be a reduction in the wireworm population, if not
an eventual control.

Burning stubble and straw is occasionally recommended for the control
of insects. “There is no doubt that this is an easy, inexpensive and efficient
control of those insects which are present in the stubble or straw above ground.
If the insects or eggs are more than one-quarter of an inch below the soil sur-
face, stubble burning will not have any effect on them. A series of tempera-
tures were taken in Alberta while burning ‘combine stubble’. “The combined
harvester-thresher leaves a stubble from ten inches to two feet high as the
operator endeavors to cut only the heads from the grain. The soil surface
temperature was 71° F. before burning. [he fire ran through the stubble a
little faster than a man could walk. “Thermometers placed in the soil showed
that the surface temperature went up to 142° F. and then dropped rapidly
after the fire had passed. At one inch below the surface the temperature reached
a maximum of 61° F. Wheat stem sawfly larvae in the stubs below ground
were not affected though the tops of the stubs were burned away.

The date of seeding crops should be studied more thoroughly in its use
as a cultural control. ‘The results of this work in controlling Hessian fly
damage are too well known to need further comment. Slightly delayed seed-
ing of wheat is an excellent method of reducing losses from wheat stem saw-
fly. The oat thrips (Anophothrips obscurus Mull.) seldom causes any dam-
age to early seeded oats. Unfortunately the farmers usually seed their oats
after all wheat seeding is completed and thrips take an annual toll of ten per
cent. of the crop. [he majority of western farmers seldom need more than
two or three days to seed their oats and if this were done first and the wheat
seeding afterwards, they would reduce both the sawfly and thrips damage with-
out materially delaying their wheat crop.

Cultural operations conducted after the crop is seeded are very few and
seem to have little effect on most insects except in the case of irrigation. A
liberal application of water to a crop that is infested with pale western cut-
worm will reduce the damage and produce a normal yield. On the other hand,
if wireworms are present it may prolong their activity by keeping the surface
soil cool and moist. It has an advantage in producing a more vigorous plant
which is able to stand more punishment from insects.

26 THE RERPOR DR IGE HE.

Some fertilizers apparently have a toxic or physiological effect on soil
infesting insects. It is doubtful if the general use of fertilizers would control
any of the field crop insects because the amount that can be used economically
is probably not sufficient to have insecticidal value. The stimulating effect
that fertilizers have on the plants is of value in decreasing the injury that may
be done by the insects, so that their use should not be overlooked.

Harvesting field crops is largely a matter of maturity, but even here there
is a leeway of time in which the harvesting can be done to avoid insect trouble.
Farmers who wish to avoid leaving the soil surface of their fields dusty dur-
ing August and early September to prevent infestation by pale western cut-
worm, are doing so by using the combined harvester-thresher and cutting their
crops about the middle of September. “Those who are growing winter wheat
and winter rye get their cutting done in July and then leave the threshing until
late September. Alfalfa seed growers in Alberta are avoiding losses from
alfalfa thrips (Frankinella tritict Fitch) and seed chalcid (Bruchophagus fune-
_bris Howard) by cutting a light crop of hay about June 1 or pasturing the
alfalfa up to that time. ‘This delays the blossoming period and brings on the
seed crop after the peak of abundance of the insects has passed.

Summerfallowing presents one of the best opportunities to use cultural
practices in the control of field crop insects. “The practice of letting land lie
through a season without producing a crop in order to control weeds and
conserve moisture has been more generally adopted the last few years. In the
semi-arid regions fields are summerfallowed in alternate years, once in three
years or once in four years and frequently this procedure is fitted into a definite
crop rotation. Periodically every field goes through a season when it produces
no crop and any cultural practice necessary to reduce insect population can be
used at the most opportune time. Unfortunately, the farmers have, until
recently, followed a fairly definite program of cultural operations which are
favorable for the increase of some pests, and crops grown on summerfallowed
land have suffered more than was necessary.

Summerfallowing will eliminate practically any field crop pest from a
field with the exception of wireworms and cutworms although the infestations
may be partially renewed from neighboring fields the next season. ‘The
““ploughless fallow’ with very shallow cultivation will probably go a long
way in reducing the wireworms present. The discovery that the moths of
the pale western cutworm oviposit in a loose, dusty soil during August and
early September has made it possible to avoid infestation by leaving the land
alone during that time. Grasshoppers do not deposit eggs in summerfallowed
land because the soil is not sufficiently firm. Any insect which deposits its
eggs on the growing plants must move out of a field that is being summer-
fallowed in order to find host plants.

Having eliminated many of the injurious insects from a field by one year
of summerfallow it is possible to reduce reinfestation by a carefully selected
crop rotation or the use of trap crops. Many of the field crop insects are fairly
specific in their feeding and this should be carefully considered in planning the
rotation. It is also wise to consider the insects feeding on native weeds and
the possibility of these species becoming a pest of the suggested crops. The
sunflower beetle (Chrysomela exclamationis Fab.) is widely distributed on
wild sunflower, and sunflowers in a crop rotation to be used as a silage crop
suffer considerably from this insect. The crops for any rotation should be
selected with an insect control program in mind just as much as for any other
reason. ‘The following questions might be asked as a guide in planning a
rotation:

ENTOMOLOGIGAL: SOCIETY 2/

What is the probable value of the crop?

What is the advantage in growing it?

Is it susceptible to attack by the insects present?

Are there potential pests feeding on related plants that might attack it?

What cultural practices are necessary in its production?

Da UW BW NO KX

Are these cultural practices harmful or beneficial to the insect pests
present?

7. Is the crop itself of value in insect control?

Some -crops are not injured by certain insects and others may be attacked
but will actually destroy the insects. Both are very valuable in rotations
where specific insects are concerned. In the areas infested by wheat stem saw-
fly a short rotation of summerfallow-wheat-oats has given excellent control of
the insect provided the oats were seeded early. ‘The sawfly attacks oats but
the larvae do not survive in the stems and the oat crop actually reduces the
numbers present the next year. If a longer rotation is desired the oats may
be followed by flax which is not attacked by the sawfly.

A very profitable field of investigation in the control of field crop insects
lies in the use of trap crops. Most of the work along this line has dealt with
the seeding of some crop to attract the insects where they may be destroyed
before they attack the crop it is desired to save. “Iwo trap crops, oats and
brome grass, have been found which are of great value in destroying the wheat
stem sawfly. The insect attacks both, but in neither are the larvae able to
survive to maturity. “Thus the production of the crop acts as a positive con-
trol of the insect. “There is every evidence to believe that crops may be found
which will react in a similar manner with some others of the field crop pests.

WHAT OF THE FUTURE?

These few facts have been presented to attempt in a small way to show
how agricultural progress has increased the insect problems of field crop pro-
duction and how these same practices may be used to reduce them. What part
should the entomologist play in the future agricultural progress? Should he
be content to wait until the damage is done and then attempt to work out
control measures? Will he continue the attempt to control insects by various
artificial means when the recommendations and practices of the agriculturist
may be a powerful ally of the insects? Would it not be better for the entom-
ologist and agriculturist to work in close co-operation so that cultural recom-
mendations will be combined with insect control?

Perhaps the entomologists feel that they have not sufficient information
with which to assist the agriculturist. Are there not scores of seemingly unim-
portant notes and observations stored away in every entomological laboratory
and in the brain of every entomologist which, if brought to light, might be
factors in solving some of these problems? Should we not push the study of
insects in their native habitat so as to better realize what might be the result
of future practices? Are the present cultural practices so fixed and ideal that
they cannot be changed to remedy the situation?

For many years agriculturists have followed the star of deep cultivation,
but a new star is rising in the West, that of very shallow cultivation. Where
will the entomologist stand? Must he wait and see which of these two types

28 ‘THE REPOR DP UOP Ee

of agriculture is more sound entomologically, or does he know already? . There
is little doubt of the effect of the shallow cultivation on wireworms, but what
of the other pests? What of the insects which are present but not pests? Is
this new type of farming going to favor them? One of the tasks of entom-
ologists in the future is to determine the influence of cultural practices on
insects and in so far as possible use them to advantage in insect control.

THE INFLUENCE:-OF GULTURAl PRAGMGES Men:
GARDEN AND VEGETABLE INSECTS

By ALAN G. DUSTAN

Entomological Branch, Ottawa.

In consulting the literature dealing with the control of garden and vege-
table insects, it at once becomes evident that the working entomologist both
of to-day and yesterday appears to have had considerable confidence in the —
influence of cultural practices on the pests which he was attempting to combat.
Nearly every paper and bulletin of an economic nature makes some reference
to this phase of control. A very striking fact in this connection, however, is
the almost complete absence of definite experimental evidence to prove whether
or not such practices actually accomplish what their authors claim for them.
This is a rather startling situation and tends to shake our long established
faith in the merit of this, so-freely-given, advice. Chapman and Gould of
the Virginia Truck Crop Experiment Station, referring to this point in their
paper, ‘‘Plowing as an Aid in Mexican Bean Beetle Control’’ (Jl. Econ. Ent.
Vol. 23, pg. 149), say, ““We suspect that the originators of many such state-
ments feel justified in the strength of the common sense principle that ‘every
little bit helps’ ”’

There is little doubt that most recommendations on cultural control which
have been made by our more careful and conservative entomologists, even
though they are not backed up by definitely planned and conducted experi-
ments, are founded on carefully gathered facts and discriminating observa-
tions collected and assembled, at least in mind, over a long series of years.
Such recommendations cannot but bear weight with even the most skeptical.
However, in this later day of rush, bringing with it the constant urge to get
our findings into print, the tendency, perhaps, is to take too much for granted
and say such and such a thing is so —— before we are really just quite sure.

There is certainly a distinct need for a more careful appraisal of facts
dealing with cultural control in our present day work, and I feel that in future
only such recommendations as are backed up by experimental-evidence should
be allowed to get into print.

Cultural control of garden insects is of much less importance than 1s
the case where field crop insects are concerned. ‘This is partly due to the fact
that vegetable and flower garden crops do not lend themselves so readily to
this type of control. Also, being a higher priced crop growers are more
willing and better able to purchase the necessary insecticides, spraying and
dusting apparatus, etc., to fight insect pests by chemical methods. The applica-
tion of insecticides is, to-day, one of the standard practices on. most up-to-date
vegetable farms.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 29

In sifting over the evidence found in literature dealing with cultural con-
trol, it has become increasingly evident that most recommendations fall in
with what is recognized as good farming practice. In other words, the better
class of growers in carrying out their every day farming operations automatic-
ally and unconsciously assist very greatly in checking outbreaks of the more
troublesome insects. “That this is so can be very easily proved by comparing
the relatively greater insect population in weedy, poorly kept gardens and the
well cared for, thoroughly cultivated commercial vegetable farms. This in
itself attests to the value and influence of most cultural practices on insect pests.

In discussing the more generally recommended cultural practices in use
against garden insects, an attempt will be made to follow the seasonal sequence
of operations which are commonly put into practice by most gardeners. ‘This
naturally starts with the removal of debris from the preceding year’s crop and
carries on through such cultural steps as the preparation of the seed bed, fertil-
izing, seed selection, planting, etc.

DISPOSAL OF CROP REMNANTS

~The cleaning up and burning of old plant remnants is important in two
Ways in that it not only kills many insect eggs, larvae, pupae and adults which
may be adhering to such debris at the time, but also removes a very common
source of hibernation from the garden. [he eggs of many aphids pass the
winter attached to weeds and cultivated plants lying in the garden and the
careful examination in the autumn of any pile of crop refuse reveals the pres-
ence of miscellaneous pupae, borers of different kinds and adult insects in the
process of hibernating.

The following insects in the literature consulted, were reported as being
affected by the cleaning up, ploughing under or burning of debris: Wire-
worms!, Agriotes mancus (Say); cabbage aphid'!, Brevicoryne brassicae (L) ;
tarnished plant bug?, Lygus pratensis (L.); turnip aphid?, Rhopalositphum
pseudobrassicae (Davis); turnip flea beetle?, Phyllotreta vittata Fab.; corn
borer?, Pyrausta nubilalis Hbn.; squash bug?, Anasa tristis DeG.; onion thrips?,
Thrips tabact L.; miscellaneous boring caterpillars?, Muiscel. spp.; asparagus
beetle®, Criocerts asparagit (L.); Mexican bean beetle?, Epilachna corrupta
Muls.; flea beetles, (misc. spp.)?; holly budmoth*, Rhopobota naevana tlict-
foliana Hbn.; rose curculio*, Rhynchites bicolor Fab.; chinch bug’, Blissus
leucopterus (Say); and cabbage maggot®, Hylemyia brassicae (Bouche).

Among the important insects which might seek shelter under piles of
rubbish if left on the ground could be mentioned the tarnished plant bug’,
Lygus pratensis (L.); many species of flea beetles’, (Miscel. spp.) ; the Mex-
ican bean beetle®, Epilachna corrupta Muls., and a host of our commonest pests.

The practice of burning over adjacent grassland and patches of weeds 1s
commonly recommended and is of value in that it destroys the eggs and more
mature stages of numerous insects. The eggs of cutworms and boring insects
are killed in this way and many adults and cocoons, hidden away in the mat-
ted grass near the soil surface, burned up.

A list of a few of the species which are influenced by the burning and
destruction of weeds in and around the garden is given for reference: potato
stem borer!, Gortyna micacea Esp.; cutworms?, (Miscel. spp.) ; tarnished plant
bug?, Lygus pratensis (L.); spinach leaf miner?, Pegomyta hyoscyami Panz.:;
miscellaneous borers?, (Miscel. spp.); turnip flea beetle?, Phyllotreta vittata
Fab.; corn borer?, Pyrausta nubilalis Hbn.; onion thrips?, Thrips tabaci L.;

30 THE REPORT COR tHE

rhubarb curculio”, Lixus concavus Say; chinch bug’, Blissus leucopterus (Say) ;
harlequin bug!®, Murgantia histrionica Hahn.; and imported cabbage worm",
Pieris rapae L.

The cleaning up of remants from the current year’s crop, either in the
autumn or spring, is generally carried out by growers but, unfortunately, the
great majority have not yet been educated to burn off the old weeds and grass
from the headlands and waste tracts adjoining their fields.

A closely related custom in small gardens and vegetable plots is the re-
moval by hand of webs and nests, such as are made by the parsnip webworm?,
Depressaria heracliana DeG.; leaf rollers*, Cacoecta rosaceana Harr.; etc. and
the cutting out of stalks infested by borers*, Papatpema cataphracta Grt. “The
destruction of canes infested with the rose stem-girdler*, Agrilus viridis fagi
Ratz.; or raspberry cane-borer!2, Oberea bimaculata (01.), is a good example
of the latter practice. Undoubtedly, many foliage insects in flower gardens
and backyard vegetable plots are destroyed in this way and much damage by
borers prevented, since practically all of these insects have the destructive habit
of migrating from plant to plant in the course of their development.

There can be little doubt that the annual clean up of plant refuse in
gardens and adjacent wasteland, if thoroughly carried out, must assist in
keeping down the numbers of injurious insects normally present. The value
of the step should be emphasized and growers advised to make the removal of
infested plant remains a standard practice.

PREPARATION OF THE SEED BED

Under the general heading of cultivation, probably more advice is grouped
than under any other phase of cultural practice. all ploughing is, of course,
a very common recommendation, presumably assisting in the control of such
diverse pests as wireworms!, Agriotes mancus (Say); pea moth!, Laspeyresia
nigricana Steph.; corn borer?, Pyrausta nubilalis Hbn.; sod webworms?’, (Mis-
cel. spp.) ; cutworms®, (Miscel. spp.) ; pickle worm®, Diaphania nitidalts Stoll. ;
white grubs!!, (Phyllophaga spp.) ; Mexican bean beetle!®, Epilachna corrupta
Muls.; cyclamen mite!4, Tarsonemus pallidus Banks; corn earworm", Heltothis
obsoleta Fab.

The underlying principle is either to bring the different insect stages to
the surface where they will be exposed to the freezing and thawing of autumn,
winter and spring conditions or to bury them so that they cannot emerge.
In my opinion the value of fall ploughing is not by any means fully established.
Most insects are well able to withstand the rigours of winter, no matter what
their position in the soil. Also, those individuals which may be buried by
the plough are quite capable, in most cases, of working their way up to the
surface again when the time is ripe for their so doing. Spring ploughing is
advocated for the control of some pests, such as the squash vine borer!®, Mel-
ittia satycriniformis Hbn., and deep and shallow ploughing is also mentioned
in literature when cultural control is under discussion. Most operations gen-
erally followed in the preparation of the soil for planting are recommended
for the control of one or more species, among which might be mentioned har-
rowing, discing, rolling, etc. Harrowing is used against wireworms!, Agriotes
mancus (Say; sod webworms!”, (Miscel. spp.) ; and squash vine borer'® , Mel-
ittia satyciniformis Hbn. Discing is a common practice in the control of corn
borer?, Pyrausta nubilalis Hbn.; white grubs!®, (Phyllophaga spp.), and pea
moth?°, Laspeyresia nigricana Steph. : and rolling is advised under certain cir-
cumstances in the fight against blister beetles?1, (Miscel. spp.) and pale-striped

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 31

flea beetle®, Systena taeniata blanda (Melsh.). The controlling principle in
most of these operations is a mechanical one, the idea being to either crush
the insects themselves or else break open and destroy their pupal cells or places
of concealment. ‘There is little doubt in the minds of most entomologists
that some good must accrue from such practices but the exact percentage of
control exercised in the case of each is left pretty much in doubt.

The careful preparation of the seed bed is undoubtedly important. By
giving the plants a good start, as can only be done if the soil is well worked,
dry and warm, the seedlings will be in much better condition to withstand
and even outgrow the attack of insects. “This is true of most pests and doubly
so in the case of the seed corn maggot?, Hylemyta cilicrura Rond.; onion thrips?,
Thrips tabact L.; and others which are mentioned below; wireworms?, (Mis-
cel. spp.) ; asparagus beetles?, Crioceris asparagi (L.) and C. duodectmpunctata
L.; striped cucumber beetle, Diabrotica vittata (Fab.); and Mexican bean
beetle®?, Epilachna corrupta Muls.

USE OF FERTILIZERS

Taking a prominent place in advice regarding cultural control is the oft-
repeated assurance to growers that strong, vigorous plants are better able to
withstand the attacks of insects than less thrifty ones. I think there is little
doubt that this is true, for most of us have frequently noticed that damage
by insects is much more prevalent among sickly looking plants than in stands
showing healthy, vigorous growth.

One of the most common methods of forcing seedlings and transplants
is through the proper use of fertilizers. Most growers recognize that this is
essential if big, productive plants are to be grown but comparatively few realize
that this step has a secondary and decidedly beneficial effect in the war against
insects. The liberal use of fertilizers assists in preventing injury to plants
by wireworms’, (Miscel. spp.) ; asparagus beetles?, Criocerts asparagt and C.
duodecimpunctata L.; striped cucumber beetles?, Diabrotica vittata (Fab.);
onion thrips?, Thrips tabaci L.; and many other species.

Different entomologists watching the effect of fertilizers on insects have
noticed that the use of commercial fertilizers is more to be recommended than
the turning under of green manures, or barnyard manure. This is due to the
fact, principally, that undue amounts of organic matter in the soil is attractive
to some of our most dreaded garden pests. [he cabbage maggot®, Hylemyia
brassicae (Bouche) ; seed corn maggot”, Hylemyta ctlicrura Rond.; millipedes?,
(Miscel. spp.) ; and wireworms?, (Miscel. spp) ; are among the most outstand-
ing in this connection.

SELECTING THE PROPER SOIL

| In our work with the onion maggot?2, Hylemyta antiqua Meig., carried

on in the Ottawa district, definite surveys have established the fact that these
insects show a very distinct preference for light soils and avoid the heavier
types. ‘Ihe same holds true, although perhaps to a slightly lesser extent, in
the case of the cabbage maggot, Hylemytia brassicae (Bouche).

The selection of the proper soil in which to plant a given crop is im-
portant when an outbreak of insects is a possibility. There is little doubt
that many insects are influenced by the type of soil in which the crop is stand-
ing. In extreme cases this factor may make all the difference between a heavy
loss and practical immunity. Soil factors which commonly influence insects
are texture, moisture, temperature and hydrogen ion concentration.

32 THE REPOR fCOP tHe

The development of insects in general is much more rapid in warm, dry
soils than in cold ones. A contradiction to this is found in the case of wire-
worms?, (Miscel. spp.), which show a preference for poorly drained, damp
land. White grubs (Phyllophaga spp.), like the onion maggot, Hylemyia
antigua Meig., avoid clay soils but thrive in a sandy loam. Such factors
should be, and sometimes are, borne in mind by growers when deciding in
what type of soil a crop will grow best, and yet be relatively free from insect
attack. Frequent reference to soil factors, as bearing on insect abundance and
development, appear in literature dealing with cultural control.

SELECTION OF SUITABLE CROPS

In a similar manner care should be given to the selection of crops to be
grown in any particular locality, or in any field. It is a generally recognized
fact that most insects show rather definite preferences for certain plants and,
inversely, shun others. For this reason it is a poor plan to make repeated
plantings of a favoured crop in the same piece of land, or in a section where
insects partial to that crop are annually present. “This brings up the important
question of crop rotation, which is one of the most successful cultural practices
in use to-day. Many of our most important insects, and frequently those that
do not readily lend themselves to artificial control, can be checked by a judi-
cious programme of crop rotation. Among the long list of such might be
mentioned white grubs”, (Phyllophaga spp.) ; wireworms', Agriotes mancus
(Say); pea moth!, Laspeyresta nigricana Steph.; potato stem borer’, Gortyna
micacea Esp.; sugar beet root aphid?, Pemphigus betae Doane; cabbage mag-
TOL hl. ylemyia brassicae (Bouche), and mint flea beetle®, Longitarsus mentha-
phagus Gentn. In fact, almost every insect of economic importance in the larger
truck areas can be very considerably reduced numerically, if subjected to this
practice. Unfortunately, this method holds little value in small areas where
the distance between crops is of necessity small and the range of crops that can
be grown limited.

The question of trap crops might very well be mentioned here since the
value of the practice hinges mainly on the varying attractiveness of different
plants to insects. “The use of trap crops is quite a common practice in connec-
tion with the control of some of our commonest insects, both in Canada and
the United States. One of the controls for the onion maggot??, Hylemia
antiqua Meig., is the use of traps, consisting of onions forced in flats and set
out in the field. South of the “‘line’’, melon growers make use of early planted
squash to protect their main crop from attacks of the pickle worm?4, mene
nitadalis Stoll. The striped cucumber beetle2*, Diabrotica vittata (Fab.), 1
frequently trapped on early squash, the harlequin bug?*, Murgantia wees
ica Hahn., on kale, the turnip aphid*®, Rhopalosiphum pseudobrassicae (Davis),
on swede turnips, and in Ontario we are in the habit of attracting asparagus
beetles*, Crioceris asparagt (L.) and C. duodecimpunctata L., from the new
shoots to short sections of row which are allowed to grow at intervals through-
out the field. ‘The general adoption and continued use of this method of
control by growers in many parts of the country is sufficient proof that the
practice does work.

SEED SELECTION

The selection of healthy seeds, transplants and bulbs has much the same
effect on insects as has the proper preparation of the seed bed and the liberal
use of fertilizers; it results in the production of rugged plants which are better
able to withstand the attack of insect enemies. Control recommendations for

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 318)

many insects impress upon growers the necessity of planting only healthy seeds
with a high percentage of germination. Similarly, they are urged, when
transplanting, to discard weakling plants and set out only those that give
promise of quick, healthy growth. In the case of the narcissus bulb fly,
Merodon equestris Fab., and bulb mite*, Rhizoglyphus echinopus F. & R., the
selection of firm, healthy bulbs is one of the most important steps in preven-
tion and is strongly recommended by entomologists investigating control
methods.

PLANTING

The manipulation of planting dates and planting methods is commonly
recommended as an aid in evading insect attack. In many cases early planting
will allow a crop to mature before an insect becomes sufficiently abundant to
cause any appreciable damage; as for instance in the case of the pea aphid?,
Iilinoia pist (Kalt.) ; imported cabbage worm!, Pieris rapae L.; beet leaf-hop-
per’, Eutettix tenellus (Baker); corn ear worm?’, Heliothis obsoleta Fab.:;:
cabbage maggot?°, Hylemyia brassicae (Bouche); potato tuber moth?®°,
Phthorimaea operculella Zell., and pickle worm*!, Diaphania nitidalis Stoll.
Or on the other hand, such an insect as the carrot rust fly!, Psila rosae Fab.,
can be evaded by delaying the seeding date of carrots until the first brood
adults have disappeared. Other insects affected by late planting are the cab-
bage maggot!, Hylemyta brassicae (Bouche); turnip flea beetle?, Phyllotreta
vittata Fab.; Mexican bean beetle®?, Eptlachna corrupta Muls., and squash vine
borer®*, Melittia satyriniformis Hbn.

Depth of planting is frequently important in the war against insects.
One of the methods used in fighting the potato tuber? moth, Phthorimaea
operculella Zell., is to place the seed so deeply in the ground that it is inacces-
sible to the ovipositing moths. Shallowly planted tubers are much more
heavily infested than where the potatoes are planted at depth. When rapid,
early growth of seedlings is necessary, in order that they may be better able
to outgrow insect enemies, shallow planting is resorted to, as in the case of
the seed corn maggot®, Hylemyia cilicrura Rond. This places the seed in dryer,
warmer soil, thus hastening germination and forcing rapid development.

Many injurious insects have the habit of migrating from one host to the
other and the grower is frequently puzzled to know why certain of his crops
when they first appear above ground are uninfested and then, of a sudden,
become covered with an abundance of insect life. This is usually caused by
migrations from a nearby field crop or weed patch. Onion thrips?, Thrips
tabaci L., frequently migrate to onions from alfalfa, the pea aphid?, /llino1a
pist (Kalt.), from clover fields, the spinach aphid?®, Myzus persicae (Sulz.),
from kale, the potato aphid®°, Illinoia solanifoltt (Ashm.), from spinach.
Entomologists recognizing this have recommended isolated planting to prevent
growers from making the mistake of planting a susceptible crop too near an-
other favoured host.

In some cases where, from past experience, an attack by insects is expected,
growers are in the habit of planting an excessive amount of seed, with the idea
in mind that after the insects do their worst there will still be sufficient plants
left to yield a fair crop. This practice is frequently followed in localities where
the striped cucumber beetle?, Diabrotica vittata (Fab.), is normally abundant.

Also, in parts of New York State, good results in this connection have been
_ secured where excessive seeding has been carried out in cabbage and cauliflower

seed beds, as a precaution with the cabbage maggot®, Hylemyta_ brassicae
(Bouche).

Bet THE REPORDIOR SEE

Crowding of plants under field conditions is discouraged in many bul-
letins and papers as being favourable to insect development. Furthermore,
the practice makes the application of chemical control methods more difficult
in that not sufficient room is available for the passage of spraying or dusting
machinery.

SUMMER CULTIVATION

After the crop comes up there are certain cultural methods that may be
employed to check the development of insects. Clean cultivation is probably
the most important of these as it not only has the effect of promoting plant
growth but keeps down weeds, many of which are sustaining injurious insects
which will later attack the crop. Many borers are to be found in the early
season in fleshy-stemmed weeds, subsequently migrating to cultivated plants.
Aphids of different species frequently pass the early part of their lives on weeds
before attacking the crop. Also, grasses and weeds allowed to grow between
the rows attract egg-laying adults of many injurious species. [he following
species are adversely affected by summer culture and the destruction of wild
host plants: wireworms!, Agriotes mancus (Say); potato stem borer!, Gor-
tyna micacea Esp.; cutworms?, (Miscel. spp.) ; sugar beet root aphid’, Pem-
phigus betae Doane; fall armyworm?*, Laphygma frugitperda S. 6 A.; beet
leaf-hopper®’, Eutettix tenellus (Baker); garden webworm?®’, Loxostege simt-
lalis Guen.; parsnip webworm!, Depressaria heracliana DeG.; pepper grass
beetle?, Galeruca externa Say; rhubarb curculio®, Lixus concavus Say; red
spider®®, YTetranychus telarius L.; bean leaf beetle*®, Cerotoma trifurcata
(Forst.) ; potato aphid*!, Illinoia solanifola (Ashm.).

Nematodes#?, (Miscel. spp.), attacking truck crops in Florida, are com-
monly destroyed by a process of starvation. This consists in planting an
immune crop and destroying all other food by rigid cultivation and the com-
plete elimination of weeds.

Summer fallow is sometimes recommended for the control of certain
vegetable insects but, although effective, is little used since the land is usually
so valuable that growers cannot afford to have it lie idle for even a single
summer.

Roguing out of heavily infested yet more or less isolated plants from a
field is recognized as a simple way of ‘“‘nipping an infestation in the bud’.
This is frequently done in the case of the cabbage aphid®, Brevicoryne brassicae
(L.). Sometimes it is combined with the application of insecticidal sprays
or dusts.

HARVESTING

Many recommendations for the cultural control of insects centre around
the harvesting of the crop. ‘This is usually for the purpose of protecting the
current year’s crop from injury but sometimes aims at reducing the general
infestation and protecting the plants of the following season. Early harvesting
of peas attacked by the pea moth!, Laspeyresta nigricana Steph., is an example
of the latter recommendation. On the other hand, growers of carrots are
cautioned to harvest early so that the roots will be protected from the second
generation of carrot rust flies?, Pstla rosae Fab. In the south, the pickle
worm??, Diaphania nitidalis, Stoll., attacks only late melons and cucumbers;
accordingly, growers aim to have their crop all harvested before it becomes
severely injured.

BNEOMOEOGICAL SOCIETY 35

The practice of allowing some crops to lie in the field before storing fre-
quently exposes them to infection by insects. Potatoes grown in localities
where the potato tuber moth**, Phthorimaea operculella Zell., is common will
soon become infested if left uncovered in the open. Immediate removal of
gladiolus corms from the field is advised to protect the corms from becoming
infested with the gladiolus thrips*®, Taeniothrips gladioli M. 6 S. Further-
more, the insect population going into hibernation is frequently considerably
increased by delay in gathering up the crop, since it gives many larvae, which
otherwise would die in storage, an opportunity of escaping from infested roots
and bulbs and seeking shelter in the soil where they normally hibernate. ‘This
has been noticed in the case of the onion maggot, Hylemyia antiqua Meig., and
cabbage maggot, Hylemyta brassicae (Bouche), the latter escaping from infested
turnips.

USE OF PHENOLOGICAL DATA

Although, perhaps, not a direct example of cultural practice, attention
should be drawn to the use which is being made to-day, even by the com-
mercial grower, of the science of phenology which recognizes the effects of
weather and climate in determining the time of appearance of phenomena, or
events, in nature. ‘Ihe time for applying certain controls, as for the cabbage
maggot, onion maggot and carrot rust fly, etc., has been linked up with the
first blooming of certain trees and shrubs. The taking of careful records has
shown that cabbage maggot flies?, Hylemyia brassicae (Bouche), emerge about
the time the European plum comes into bloom and that control measures should
be applied soon after that event takes place. Similarly, spraying for onion
maggot®, Hylemyia antiqua Meig., starts about the time the first apple blos-
soms are seen. [he blooming of the wild cherry indicates when control oper-
ations for the carrot rust fly®, Pstla-rosae Fab., should be commenced. ‘The
tying in of spraying and seeding dates with natural phenomena is a compara-
tively new venture but the proven accuracy and convenience of the method
indicates a bright future for work along these lines.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1Brittain, W. H., N.S. Dept. Nat. Res. Bull. No. 12.

B@aesar, -, Ont. Dept. Agr. O.A.C. Bull. No. 325.

3Dustan, A. G., Dom., Dept. Agr. Bull. No. 161, N.S.

4Gibson, A., Dom. Dept. Agr. Bull. No. 99, N.S. (revised) .

>Pettit, R. H., Mich. Agr. Coll. Spec. Bull. No. 183 (revised).

6Glasgow, H., N.Y. A.E.S. (Geneva) Bull. No. 512.

Weigel, C. A., and Middleton, Wm., U.S.D.A. Far. Bull. No. 1495.

8Gibson, A., Dom. Dept. Agr. Circ. No. 2.

Merend, R. B.,; and Turner, N., Conn. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. No. 332.
10Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, Dew DOB.
EtCompton, C. C., Univ. of Illinois Agr. Coll. Circ. No. 297.
12Slingerland and Crosby, Manual of Fruit Insects, pg. 329.
13Chapman, P. J., and Gould, G. E., Jl. Econ. Ent. Vol. 23, pg. 149.
14PDustan, A. G., and Matthewman, W. G., 62 Dept. Ent. Soc. Ont., pg. 34.
15Crosby and Leonard, Manual of Vegetable Garden Insects, pg. 217.
16Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 468.

Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 324.
18Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 468.
19Hammond, G. H., unpublished MS.

20Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 450.

36 THE ‘REPORT OF 8

21Sanderson and Peairs, Insect Pests of Farm Garden and Orchard, pg. 88.
22Dustan, A. G., 23 Ann. Rept. Que. Soc. Prot. Plts., pk. 20.

23Treherne, R. C., Dom. Dept. Agr. Pamp. No. 32, N.S.

24Crosby and Leonard, Manual of Vegetable Garden Insects, pg. 130.
25Sanderson and Peairs, Insect Pests of Farm Garden and Orchard, pg. 230.
26Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 503.

27Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 512.

28MicCulloch,. J: W., Jl. con. Ent. scl 47. pes 320°

29Parrot, P. J.; and Glasgow, H., N.Y. A.E.S. (Geneva) Bull 442:
30Sanderson and Peairs, Insect Pests of Farm Garden and Orchard, pg. 213.-
-81Sanderson and Peairs, Insect Pests of Farm Garden and Orchard, pg. 232.
32Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 453.

33Crosby and Leonard, Manual of Vegetable Garden Insects, pg. 126.
34Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 482.

359Gould, Geo., Virginia Truck Crop Bull. 71.

36Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 435.

37Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 512.

38Sanderson and Peairs, Insect Pests of Farm Garden and Orchard, pg. 99.
39Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 448.

40Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 454.

41Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 478.

42Watson; J.°R., Ji Econ: Ent. Volv417, pe. 225.

43Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 468.

44Metcalf and Flint, Destructive and Useful Insects, pg. 482.

45Dustan, A. G., Dom. Dept. Agr. Pamph. 151 N.S.

46Gorham, 'R. P., Dom.-Ent, Br. D.F.C-and GibeCwesNo. 181.

THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL PRACTICES ONG4R2E>
FIELD AND VEGETABLE CROP INSEGis

By R. P. GORHAM

Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Fredericton, N.B.

Under New Brunswick conditions, the growing of vegetable crops on
farms is carried on in a manner different from that followed in town and
village gardens and the problems of insect control are different. “The growers
of vegetable crops are generally farmers who grow an acre or two of mixed
crops —— tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, beans or peas, for local sale and also oper-
ate farms for hay, oats, turnips and potatoes to be fed to live stock. Except
for a very few growers within or near town limits, who farm small areas and
grow celery, beets, carrots, etc., for a bunch vegetable trade, the truck crop
growers are essentially operators of mixed crop farms with considerable areas
of land, a chance to rotate their crops, and with stock to consume their crop
residues. On such farms the various crops grown may be moved about to dif-
ferent locations each year, the land may be well plowed and cultivated and all
waste material, such as corn stalks, pea vines, beet and turnip tops fed to stock.
Under such conditions, it has been the experience of the writer, that there is
seldom a complete loss of crop from insect injury, and that with few excep-
tions the crop damage is not excessive. The growers would worry very little
over the production of crops if they could be sure of a sale for the things
produced.

ENPOMO@LOGICAD SOCIETY Sif)

In the town and village gardens a different form of agricultural practice
is found. On a limited area, generally less than one-quarter acre, and sur-
rounded by obstacles such as buildings, fences, hedges, etc., thorough ploughing
and cultivation is difficult. In common practice the garden is ploughed once in
spring with a generous headland left at either end to grow up in weeds. “Then
it is planted and cultivated by hand, which amounts to cultivation of the
upper inch of soil to keep down weeds. ‘The same crops are planted year
after year, and, due to limited space, they cannot be moved far from the site
occupied the previous year. Nearby are hedges and fences grown up with
weeds, there are driveways and walks where broad-leaf plantain occupies the
soil to the exclusion of other plants, there are neighbouring garden lots aban-
doned to burdock and couch-grass, there are flowering shrubs and plants to
furnish nectar for almost any insect taste in the flight period and there is pro-
tection from winds, drought and severe cold. In autumn, the garden owner
has no way of disposing of crop waste except in a garbage heap in the corner
of the garden. Frequently, the crop wastes remain as the plants grow until
it is time to plough or spade the garden in the spring. Under such conditions
insects thrive well and every year a bountiful crop of the most common pests
may be expected to appear. Cultural control is difficult to practice and in the
use of protective devices and insecticides the gardener has to exert most of his
energy.

On the truck farms the common foes are those which attack the seedling
plants; springtails, occasionally cutworms, leaf-eating beetles and beetle larvae,
the root maggots which attack Brassicae species of plants, and a few later leaf-
feeders. In the town gardens, a great variety of insects thrive and continue to
give trouble throughout the season of growth.

GENERAL CULTURAL PRACTICES

The Rotation of Crops with Early Summer Ploughing.—This is a cultural
practice possible on farms but not in gardens to any extent. It is general
practice to plough down sod land in autumn in preparation for crop the fol-
lowing year. If the sod can be ploughed under in July or early August and
the land harrowed at intervals to keep down weeds and grass, it affords one
of the most effective measures of control we know of for the Eastern species
of cutworms and wireworms. In selecting the field for the special crop, the
location at a distance from that occupied in the year when ploughing is done
is highly desirable, especially for crops such as carrots, which are subject to
attack by the carrot rust fly.

Protection of Plants tn the Seedling Stage-—The first two weeks of the
seedling life are the most susceptible to insect injury, particularly by spring-
tails, flea beetles and cutworms. Putting in plenty of seed of the crop wanted
and allowing the weed seedlings to grow somewhat freely for the first two
weeks is a farm method of ensuring a stand of plants, and in practice a good
one. Ihe weed seedlings distribute the destructive effect of the insect feeding
and prevent it from being concentrated on the desired plants. “[his method
can be used on both farm and garden plots; but the gardener in a town or
village is given to great activity in spring in keeping down weeds and spick
and span weedless rows open to all insect attack are the rule.

SPECIAL CULTURAL. PRACTICES ADAPTED TO CERTAIN CROPS

_ Very Early or Very Late Planting; Early Harvesting.—Planting the seed at
such dates as will ensure the development of the seedlings before or after the
flight and egg-depositing period of the troublesome insects is a well-known

38 . , YEHE REPORDIORGILAE

special practice. In New Brunswick, this method seems particularly adapt-
able in connection with the seed corn maggot and the carrot rust fly. On
light warm soils, very early and shallow planting of beans has given good
results in getting a good stand of seedlings uninjured by seed corn maggot.
The plants run a certain risk of frost injury, which is a feature which prevents
its general recommendation.

Planting carrot seed during the last days of May or first days of June
permits development of the seedlings with little injury from the first-genera-
tion larvae of the carrot rust fly. Early planting with use of plenty of seed
to ensure a stand of plants and early harvesting to avoid injury by the second-
generation larvae is another cultural practice in connection with this insect.

The pea moth is one of the common insects of the garden which has a
short season of flight. Early sown peas generally escape injury and so do
very late peas, but the mid-summer sowings suffer injury. Peas are commonly
picked while green for table use while the larvae are immature, and the crop
season is short. In gardens, however, it is common practice to leave the vines
in the garden after the harvests until autumn, a practice which permits the
larvae in the odd pods which are always left to develop to maturity. An early
disposal of the vines after the table peas have been picked would prevent to a
large extent this development of the insect to the overwintering stage.

In connection with the attempt to grow red clover for seed production,
an invesigation carried on in 1932 indicated that early harvesting for hay of
the first developed clover might make possible seed production from the second
crop. Collections of clover heads in June and early July showed that 21.43%
were infested with the larvae of the seed midge (Dasyneura legumicola-Lint.),
with many larvae present in one head. ‘These larvae reached full development
and left the clover heads before the harvest date and from these emerged in
early August the adults to deposit eggs in the blooms of the second crop. Of
this second bloom of the red clover, 44.75% of the heads were midge-infested
and only 14.5% of the florets developed any seed. While no trials of the
method were made, the results obtained in the study indicated that the old
and well-known recommendation to cut the first bloom of red clover early in
order to destroy the seed midge larvae before they reached full development,
and thus prevent the development of a second generation, should be a sound
and desirable practice.

Intercropping.—Few instances have been seen of the use of intercropping
with plants which serve to protect other plants from insect foes. “There seem
to be possibilities in the use of this method in connection with flea beetles and .
slugs. [he old Indian practice of planting cucurbits among corn may be a
form of protection by partial shading of a plant from a sun-loving insect.

The writer has tried the intercropping of tomatoes transplanted from a
greenhouse with potatoes as a protection from the flea beetle (Epitrix cucum-
eris Harr.). “The potatoes were planted early and were several inches high
before the tomato plants were set out. A few flea beetles attacked the tomato
plants but the majority remained feeding upon the potato plants. The potato
plants were pulled out when the tomato plants were well established.

Slugs are very fond of lettuce plants and in gardens the scattering of a
few seeds of lettuce through the rows of plants will afford food material for
the slugs and serve to protect more valuable plants.

There seems a possible use for this method in connection with slug injury
to potato tubers in commercial fields. Injury develops in seasons of September

ENDTOMOLOGICAL, SOCIETY 39

drought, when the potato foliage dies early and there is no green plant growth
on the surface of the soil. “The thought in mind is the sowing of a small
amount of clover or buckwheat seed between the rows of potatoes at the last
cultivation in July to provide some seedling plants upon which the slugs
might feed and not be attracted underground to feed upon the potato tubers.
The slug-infested fields would be the only ones necessary to treat so and they
are commonly well known to the growers.

The Avoiding of Fields Known to be Insect- or Slug-infested.—T he
farmer soon learns to recognize that certain fields are liable to greater infesta-
tion by wireworms, white grubs and slugs than others and that loss may be
avoided by planting on those fields non-susceptible crops. In the region where
commercial potato-growing is practised certain fields are known to be slug-
infested year after year and that planting potatoes on those fields is simply
taking a chance on a wet season to protect the crop from injury. ‘These fields
(generally soil of dark color from the high humus content) will produce good
crops of turnips, mangels, or grain with little or no injury.

The presence of wireworms in certain fields on farms is also generally
well known to the owner from experience of crop injury and from seeing the
larvae at the time of ploughing. Potatoes, turnips or grain on such fields are
liable to severe injury, but peas, beans, cabbage, squash, “beets and mangels may
be grown with little or no injury.

In New Brunswick, strawberry plants are particularly susceptible to injury
by white grubs in the year of planting. Almost all sod land contains some
white grubs and these are liable to be present for two years after the sod is
broken up. Hence, it is common practice to put out strawberry plantations
only on land which has been in a hoed crop for two summers. When this
practice is followed, little loss from white grub injury develops.

Short Rotations of Meadow Land.—In connection with the study of the
bronze cutworm (Nephelodes emmedonia Cram.) on the Tantramar dyke-
lands, where it is common practice to leave meadows in grass from six to ten
years without ploughing, it was found that the periodical outbreaks developed
on meadows four years after seeding, or older, and that fields of the first,
second and third year after seeding were free from injury. Examination of
many sod samples in winter and spring showed that the caterpillars which
hatch from the eggs in September overwinter in the dense tufts of red-top
grass and moss found on the old meadows. ‘The sod of the first three years
after seeding was almost wholly timothy and couch with little soil debris
and no moss or tufts of red-top grass to cover the soil. On such sod only
‘an occasional living caterpillar could be found per square foot sample in early
spring, while on samples from old meadows twenty or more per square foot
‘might be found in outbreak years. Grain plants are not touched by this cut-
‘worm, so old’ meadows can be ploughed, a crop of grain taken off, and the land
reseeded to grass without danger of loss and with assurance that the meadows
will be put in a productive condition, and be free from further injury for
another three or four years.

A Variation in the Practice of Thinning Turnips to Ensure an Even
Stand of Plants Where Root Maggot 1s Troublesome.—A common difficulty
in growing Swede turnips is that after thinning, many of the plants are
destroyed by root maggots, leaving a very uneven stand and sometimes neces-
‘sitating ploughing under the crop and reseeding.

On the Experiment Station at Fredericton, the practice of double thin-
‘ning is practised, the rows being gone over with a hoe and part of the plants

40 THE. REPORD OP EEE

being cut out, leaving clumps of ten or more plants. A week later these are
singled out, the strongest plant in each clump being left. A study of the
root maggot being carried on at the time showed that egg deposition was in
rapid progress before and at the time of the first thinning. A careful exam-
ination of the plants pulled from the clumps in the second thinning showed
that 86 per cent. of them contained root maggots which had not developed to
maturity and which did not survive in the pulled turnips. In this field a
perfect stand of plants developed, while in another under observation where
single thinning was practised three-fourths of the stand died from root maggot
injury, single seedlings showing as high as 10 maggots per plant.

THE INFLUENCE OP CULTURAL PRACTICES Of
ORCHARD INSECTS

By L. CAESAR, J. A. HALL and A. KELSALL

By cultural practices we mean such factors as variety, distance of plant-
ing, pruning, windbreaks, orchard surroundings, clean cultivation vs. sod
mulch, fertilizers, scraping and banding of trees, and the destruction of insects
in packing houses and orchard crates.

Influence of Variety.—It is well recognized that certain varieties of apples
are more seriously injured by insects than others. For example, Snow, R. I.
Greening and King suffer more from the green apple aphid than do McIntosh,
Baldwin and Spy. Baldwin is much more subject to San José scale than is
Spy. The Early Harvest, Wealthy, Snow, Spy, and Tolman are preferred
hosts of the apple maggot. In Hall’s work with codling moth he found
twelve varieties susceptible in the following order: King, Baldwin, R.I. Green-
ing, Cranberry, Ontario, Spy, Hubbardston, Dudley, Wagener, Wealthy,
Duchess, and Jonathan. In the case of cherries the early varieties are almost
immune to the cherry fruit fly, whereas the late varieties are very susceptible.
Some varieties of European plums are much more subject to the red mite than
others. Compared with European varieties the Japanese are almost immune.

Distance of Planting, Pruning, and Windbreaks.—When orchards are
young, distance of planting, pruning, and the presence or absence of wind-
breaks have apparently little effect, but when the trees become large they have
much effect, chiefly because if the trees are too closely planted or are poorly
pruned or protected by dense windbreaks, these all interfere with air circula-
tion and sunlight, or in other words with good sanitation. The result is that
conditions favorable for certain insects are brought about. At the same time
they make effective spraying more difficult and costly. The effect is still
greater where the orchards are large and contiguous. Hall has found that
outbreaks of leaf rollers seem to be limited largely to such orchards. Caesar
reports an orchard in a district where San José scale did not thrive as being
utterly ruined by this insect simply because of dense windbreaks with conse-
quent poor circulation of air and higher temperatures without exposure to
wind. Ross states that the pear psylla is regularly worse in large blocks of
pears and that this is apparently due to the effect of such blocks upon atmo-
spheric conditions as compared with conditions found in small orchards.

Orchard Surroundings.—Orchards are much influenced by their surround-
ings. We all know that to control the apple maggot in any orchard one must
get rid of the hawthorns and neglected apple trees for several hundred yards
on all sides. ‘The presence of dense shrubbery or of woods and rubbish in the

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 41

Vicinity, increases greatly injury from plum and apple curculios. Neglected
apple and pear orchards act as breeding places for codling moth. Elm trees
are favorites of cankerworms and when situated near an orchard may become
a factor in leading to outbreaks in it. Several, and in fact most of our plant
bugs, come to the orchard from native surrounding plants. Lygus quercalbae
Knight and Lygus caryae Knight, which attack peaches but breed solely in oak
and hickory trees respectively, are notorious examples. Many varieties of trees
and shrubs are hosts of San José and oyster shell scales. Elm, maple and
several other trees carry the eggs of Buffalo tree hopper over winter and alfalfa
serves as a favorite food plant in summer. Seedling cherries and sometimes
ordinary wild cherries are hosts of cherry fruit flies. The proximity of woods
favors attacks by the round-headed and flat-headed apple tree borers. The
rose chafer is troublesome only in districts where the soil is sandy. An inter-
esting but different type of influence is found in the case of the Oriental peach
moth parasite (Glypta rufiscutellaris Cresson), which attacks also the rag-
weed borer (Epiblema strenuana Walk.), and therefore the presence of ragweed
in or near the orchard is a factor in determining the abundance of this parasite,
especially in the early part of the season. ‘These are a few of the better known
examples of the influence of orchard surroundings. A careful survey would
probably show that the great majority of the insects are to some extent influ-
enced in somewhat similar ways.

Cultivation vs. Sod.—Although we can, in most orchards, control all our
insects satisfactorily without the aid of cultivation, yet cultivation may be
used as an important factor in making easier the control of several. For in-
stance, it is a very valuable, and in fact the best, remedy for the buffalo tree
hopper and some other closely related species; for if all the grass and weeds
are removed beneath young trees and the ground kept clean during late May
and the first half of June, the hopper nymphs have to starve to death. Cultiva-
tion lessens greatly the number of plum curculios partly by removing their
winter quarters, and partly by disturbing and killing pupae in the soil. Ori-
ental peach moth and codling moth wintering in weeds or rubbish in the soil
may be killed by ploughing them under or by discing them deeply in spring
just before bloom, at which time many of them will be in the pupal stage.
Cankerworm pupae are killed to a large extent by late June cultivation. Cul-
tivation, especially ploughing, kills insects which winter in leaves, for example,
the trumpet leaf miner, some of the other leaf miners, and the apple leaf
skeletonizer. It is also of great value against the rose chafer. Hall’s investiga-
tions from 1922-1925 prove that the cultivation of the orchard and adjacent
land is especially valuable against this insect. Ploughing and thorough working
of infested land in late May and early June killed 96% of the prepupal and
pupal stages. Similar work in July destroyed 67% of the eggs and newly
hatched larvae. Ploughing in November gave a 46% reduction in the number
of larvae which survived the winter. A second experiment, in which the
cultivation was less thoroughly done, showed a mortality of 74% for six
counts, each count having been made before and after the cultivation was done.
The winter mortality of rose chafer larvae, as a result of ploughing infested
a land in the fall, increased directly with the lateness of the ploughing as
ollows:
Land ploughed on October 15th — winter mortality, 12.3%.
Land ploughed on October 22nd — winter mortality, 34.6%.
Land ploughed on November 15th—winter mortality, 46.6%.

Consistent cultivation for a period of 4 years reduced the infestation over
an area of 7 farms to 10% of its original population. During the same period
the population of 2 neglected farms increased 318%. :

42 "PHE ;:REPORAD OPS Hie
While cultivation helps to control a number of orchard insects, it favors
aphids and possibly leaf bugs, by producing a more succulent condition of the

foliage which, at least in the case of aphids, is very essential to vigor and rapid
reproduction. |

Fertilizers.—Fertilizers of course invigorate trees and give them greater
strength to survive insect injuries. Like cultivation they are favorable for
the development of aphids. Apart from these things they seem to exert com-
paratively little influence, though one sometimes wonders whether eggs laid in
the bark and tissues, such as the eggs of the various leaf bugs, may not pass
through the winter better in well fertilized orchards because of a larger supply
of moisture which will prevent desiccation.

Scraping and Banding of Trees.—Scraping off the loose bark makes it
easier to control scale insects by spraying. It also helps to some extent in itself
against the codling moths by depriving them of favorable winter quarters, but —
to obtain the full benefit against codling moths the trees should be banded
after being scraped. .It is not uncommon in heavily infested orchards to collect
under each band, on an average, 300 or 400 larvae per season. If the bands
used are first chemically treated almost all of these will be killed without 7
further attention on the part of the grower.

The Destruction of Insects in Packing Houses and Orchard Crates.—It
has frequently been observed that codling moth injury is more severe in the
parts of the orchard adjacent to packing sheds. “This is brought about by the
large number of these insects which come out of the fruit in the packing shed
and winter over in the building. In 1927 Hall recovered 430 moths from
200 crates and 437 from the windows of a packing house. In 1934 he re-
covered thousands of moths from crates in a closed room of a packing house in
Essex county. An appreciable reduction of infestation can therefore be ob-
tained by making such buildings proof against the escape of the moths and
storing any crates or barrels used in the buildings during the period of emerg-
ence of the moths. “The Oriental peach moth in a similar way is brought into
packing sheds through crates or other containers and passes the winter there.
Ross, in a single shed which was made moth- boos in Spun collected over

10,000 moths.

In Ontario an order-in-council was passed pes three years ago making
it compulsory for all factories using peaches for any purpose to sterilize all
peach containers and to treat all peach refuse in such a way that any larvae or
pupae present in them would be destroyed.

The above account of the value of cultural practices gives but an im-
perfect view of what takes place, because it is difficult to determine the influ-
ence of these cultural operations which interfere with what we may call normal
conditions.

THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL, PRACTICES ON TREESERIGI
INSECTS IN SRITISH COLUM BTA

By EE. Jk BeCKELL
Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Vernon, B.C.
The only cultural practices that definitely influences the numbers of in-

jurious insects in tree fruit orchards in B.C. is found in the use and manage-
ment of cover crops.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 43

The exact influence of cover crops, and the possibilities of insect control
by special cover crop treatment, such as cutting at stated times, etc., has not
as yet been definitely worked out. It is believed, however, that much damage
can be averted by proper cover crop management.

Where cover crops such as sweet clover, vetch and alfalfa are grown we
often find enormous increase in the tarnished plant bug and thrips popula-
tions in these orchards.

Thrips cause what is known as “‘pansy-spot’’ of apples. In some years
in orchards where sweet clover is grown this damage is very severe. ‘There
seems to be a direct correlation between the number of the thrips and the
cover crops grown and sweet clover and alfalfa are particularly favoured by
this pest.

The tarnished plant bug breeds extensively on alfalfa and orchards with
an alfalfa cover crop are often seriously damaged. by this bug.

GULL URAL “PRAGVICES” AND FOREST INSECTS
‘By RoE. BALCH |).
Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Fredericton, N.B.

It is probably true that the ideal solution of the majority of forest insect
problems lies in the application of suitable cultural measures. Unfortunately,
it is also true that in Canada there is as yet comparatively little management
of forests which could be dignified by the name of ‘‘cultural practice’. In
spite of the fact that our forest industries are obviously suffering from the
lack of fully stocked stands of good quality on accessible sites, which can be
operated at a profit on a sustained yield basis, little is being done to create
such stands. In fact, we have barely commenced to solve the silvicultural
problems involved in placing our accessible forest lands under the permanent
management necessary to secure the maximum financial and social profit.

The forest entomologist, therefore, often finds himself in a difficult
position. Owing to the nature of his crop he is frequently denied the use of
methods of direct control which are applied very profitably in agriculture.
The farmer can generally harvest a full crop from the same land once a year.
It takes a forester from thirty to a hundred years to grow most of his crop
to merchantable size, and even then the value per acre is often relatively low.
Methods of protection must be correspondingly low in cost. When, however,
the entomologist turns to cultural methods for a more practicable solution of
his problem he is handicapped by the fact that silviculture is not yet being
practised, at least, in our forests at large.

As a result there have been few actual experiments in the forest with
cultural control methods, although Swaine, Craighead and Graham have em-
phasized the need for this work in America. Craighead (1924) makes some
interesting comparisons between the trends of forest insect research in Europe
and America in commenting on a paper by Tragardh on this subject.

SILVICULTURAL MANAGEMENT IN GENERAL

Control by cultural methods can only be satisfactorily achieved where
the optimum conditions of growth for the insect differ from those for the

44 "EHE )-REPORDUOPAHE

host. A number of our destructive forest insects breed normally in dying or
weakened trees. Some of these, like certain species of Ips or Melanophila,
attack living trees but only when they are overmature or growing under very
unfavourable conditions. Others, like many of the Dendroctonus beetles,
periodically become epidemic and attack large numbers of trees which are in
full vigour. Nearly all of these species, however, which breed during epidemic
periods in weak or dying trees, seem to be dependent on the presence of a
considerable quantity of overmature timber, or timber injured by such agencies
as drought or wind, before they can become destructive to healthy trees. In
all such cases the practice of sound silvicultural management designed to pro-
mote vigorous growth and remove the trees at maturity would reduce, if not
eliminate, the danger of injury.

It is also a fact that in many other cases the production of conditions
favourable to the growth of the forest has been found to bring about con-
ditions less favourable to insect outbreaks. Experience in Germany has shown
that the creation of pure coniferous plantations has been followed by a
deterioration of the soil as well as an increase in such destructive insects as
the nun moth (Lymantria monacha L.). The European foresters have learnt
by long experience that to produce healthy, permanent productive stands they
must not depart too drastically from the type of stand which would grow in
nature if the forest were undisturbed. In general, such stands are mixed and
to avoid undue disturbance the method of harvesting should be by selection
rather than by clear cutting. It has been found that mixed stands growing
vigorously and with a minimum of disturbance are not only less likely to
breed insect outbreaks, but if outbreaks do occur they have greater resistance
to injury.

It may, therefore, be said that the adoption of sound silvicultural methods,
designed to favour the maximum production of wood and the maintenance
of healthy soil conditions, would of itself do away with a number of our
forest insect problems. This does not mean that insect control and silvi-
culture are synonymous but that many of our forest insect troubles are due
to disturbances of the normal comparatively balanced conditions which obtain
in most climax types, and that silvicultural practice aims at restoring those
conditions as far as possible. Further, if due regard were given to the pos-
sibilities of insect attack most methods of producing the optimum conditions
for tree growth could be adapted to reduce or eliminate the danger of serious
injury, provided we had sufficient knowledge of the ecology of the forest and
its insect fauna.

There are of course many exceptions to this generalization and there
will always be many cases, as is often true in agriculture, where the most
economical methods of producing certain tree crops will be very favourable
to insect outbreaks. Obvious illustrations are nurseries, plantations or barren
or abandoned farm lands, shelter belts, etc. Direct methods of control will
always be necessary where the ideal conditions of growth are incompatible
with the most profitable methods of growing or harvesting or where the silvi-
cultural problems have not been satisfactorily solved. Also, in the case of
“imported”’ species direct measures coupled with the introduction of parasites
and predators will frequently be called for.

SPECIAL METHODS

A number of suggestions have been made in the literature, based on
observation and some ecological study, as to ways in which silvicultural

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 45

practices may be adapted to control insects. Graham has discussed this subject
in his ‘Principles of Forest Entomology’. Some of the methods which offer
promise will be outlined here to indicate the possibilities without attempting
to treat the subject fully.

Composition of Forest.—It has already been suggested that the choice of
species and whether they are to be grown pure or in mixtures are important
considerations. In general, pure stands are most susceptible to attack, especially
when they occur over large areas. “The nun moth and Lophyrus devastations in
Europe have provided good illustrations of this. In Canada it has been ob-
served that outbreaks of the spruce budworm (Cacoecia fumiferana Clem.)
and the black-headed budworm (Peronea variana Fern.) always have con-
siderable areas of more or less pure stands of balsam fir at the heart of the
infested areas. The fir tussock moth (Hemerocampa pseudotsugata McD.)
also has been found to confine its damage to areas where the fir content of the
stand was high (Belch, 1932). The southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus
frontalis Zimm.) attack only pure stands of pine. Large outbreaks of the
forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hbn.) in New Brunswick have had
their beginning in the extensive areas of poplar coming up on old burns.
Many other illustrations could be given of pure temporary forest types re-
sulting from fire or destructive logging which have provided conditions neces-
sary for severe outbreaks. [here is considerable evidence that by avoiding
the production of pure stands many insects now extremely destructive could
be reduced to minor pest. Tragardh (1923) points out the importance of
preserving not only the mixture of trees but the whole floral composition of
the forest and illustrates the value of alternate hosts, which feed on vegetation
other than trees, to parasites which control the tree feeders.

Unfortunately, we have considerable areas of these pure temporary types.
Sometimes, as with the southern pine beetle, the insect brings about a change
to a mixed type immune to further attacks (Balch, 1928), but in the case of
the fir, destruction by defoliation does not result in an increase in the percent-
age of spruce but is followed by a high reproduction of fir. How to increase
the percentage of spruce is one of the silvicultural problems urgently in need
of solution from the point of view of insect attack as well as newsprint
production.

It has quite frequently been suggested that the solution of a difficult
forest insect problem is to cease growing the particular species of tree most
susceptible to attack. Sometimes, as in the case of fir which is so much
favoured by insects, the tree in question grows in spite of us. Phoenix-like,
it succeeds itself with renewed vigour. Substitutes are sometimes put forward,
such as spruce in the place of fir, or in the case of weevil damage, red pine
in the place of white pine. But the substitute may eventually prove equally
susceptible to some other equally destructive insect. [he spruce, for instance,
to the sawfly, Diprion polytomum (Hartig), and the red pine to the pine
shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoliana Schiff.). There are also cases where the
food preferences of a species have later been found to vary from place to place
or different biological races have appeared. In Wyoming, for instance, two
destructive outbreaks of the spruce budworm occurred simultaneously within
fifty miles of each other, one killing out the Douglas fir and the other the
lodgepole pine (Balch, 1930). The same thing was noted with the fir tussock
moth. Simultaneous outbreaks in Nevada, Idaho and Washington were con-
centrated on alpine fir, grand fir, and Douglas fir, respectively. While other
Species were fed on, only the preferred species was killed (Balch, 1932).

46 THE REPOR® OFTHE

Solutions, therefore, do not seem to lie in introducing new species of
trees or attempting to eliminate established species. “They are most likely to
be found in maintaining a better balance between those species which are native
to the area.

Site.—The silviculturist often finds it necessary to consider the suitability
of different sites to different species of trees or methods of treatment. There
is still a great deal to be learnt about the significance of edaphic and other site
factors in forestry. Here, again, the possible effects of site on insect attack
need to be borne in mind. It is commonly noted that certain species seem to
be more injurious on some sites than others although the reasons are im-
perfectly known. The beech scale (Cryptococcus fagt Bsp.) appears to kill
more trees on slopes than on the tops of ridges. The white pine weevil
(Pissodes strobit Peck) is most numerous on slopes with a southerly or easterly
exposure and is least numerous on cold wet soils (MacAloney, 1930).
Dendroctonus brevicornis Lec. in the western states prefers dry sites where its
host is growing under least favourable conditions, while D. ponderosae Hopk.
is found to be most aggressive where moisture and temperature conditions are
nearest to the optimum for yellow pine (Keen, 1925) (Blackman, 1931).
Adelges piceae (Ratz.) is reported to be most injurious in Europe on sour or
thin soils, although this does not appear to be the case in Canada (Balch,
1934).

The site factors responsible may operate through their effect on the
trees or directly on the insects themselves. Sites unfavourable to tree growth
are particularly favourable to those species of borers which are on the border
line between being secondary or primary in habits of attack, because of certain
physical or chemical conditions within the tree. The effect of vigour of
growth on defoliators is less clear and warrants careful investigation. The
black-headed budworm undoubtedly becomes much more numerous in older
stands of rather slowly growing trees than in young stands of vigourous re-
production. This, however, appears to be the result of a greater attraction
for the ovipositing adults rather than more satisfactory feeding conditions for
the larvae. FPriend(1933) recommends the choice of the better sites if it is
desired to grow red pine, not because the pine shoot moth is less numerous on
them but because the more rapidly growing trees are better able to overcome
the injury. Site factors which may influence the insect independently of their
effect on the trees are temperature, sunlight, type of ground cover, drainage,
etc., although these of course also profoundly affect the trees.

Density.—Controlling the density of a stand is a method which may
be used either to reduce the numbers of the insect or to repair the damage.
Crowded conditions in a nursery at Fredericton have been observed to en-
courage a heavy infestation of Pineus strobi (Peck) apparently due to pro-
tection from rain and sun, and there is no doubt that thinning and cleaning
operations will be found beneficial in discouraging similar species.

A high density is recommended as a means of growing white pine free
from weevil injury as it makes possible the removal of the badly deformed trees
without leaving serious gaps and also aids in correcting the injury by making
for a more rapid straightening out of the crook which results from the killing
of the leader. In the final crop only straight trees will be left, but the neces-
sary density is too costly in ordinary plantations and not easily secured by
natural regeneration. Methods of securing high density of reproduction have
also been put forward to overcome the damage caused by the Pales weevil
by allowing for a sufficient survival of seedlings to produce a full stand.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY an

Shade.—Closely related to density is the use of shade. Certain sun-
loving beetles can apparently be discouraged by growing the host under shaded
conditions, by means of high density or the use of nurse crops. A number of
the longhorned borers and certain weevils would appear to be amenable to
such methods.

On the other hand, the writer has found that stationery bark-feeding
forms, like the coccids or adelgids, are killed during the midsummer by the
direct rays of the sun causing lethal temperatures at the surface of the bark.
This would suggest that an open stand would be less easily injured, but,
unfortunately, the degree of thinning necessary to obtain any results of value
would be too severe for the health of the trees and other factors, such as bark
scald, enterin. Ehrlich (1934) has recommended thinning operations against
the beech scale on the ground that dense shade favours the moist conditions
neccessary to the development of an associated fungus which he considers to be
an essential factor in the death of the trees.

There are many considerations entering into the use of shade or sun-
light and careful ecological study is needed as a basis for such recommend-
ations. Observations in one locality should not be applied too hastily to
another set of conditions. or instance, it has been recommended in Denmark
that fir be grown in the open as a safeguard against attack by Adelges nusslint
(C.B.), while another author in Switzerland recommends the opposite. It is
also of interest here to note MacAndrews’ (1932) study of the locust borer
(Cyllene robiniae Forst), which indicates that this species is more likely to be
controlled by removal of the suppressed and intermediate trees than by seek-
ing to produce shade, as had been the general practice. “This is a sanitation
measure involving removal of the trees acting as most favourable breeding
centres.

Seed Selection.—A possible future development which may be mention-
ed here is the reproduction of resistant trees. It has frequently been noted that
individual trees are resistant to certain insects. A striking case was discovered
during the recent outbreak of the black-headed budworm on Cape Breton
Island where a young balsam fir was practically untouched although closely
surrounded by almost completely defoliated trees. It was refused by the
migrating larvae although there was considerable competition for foliage.
It has been found also in experiments with Adelges piceae that on certain trees
artificially infested the insect rapidly dies out. Similar observations on Adelges
abietis L. have been reported by Friend and Wilford (1933). Prell (1934)
studied spruce trees which were immune to attack by the nun moth and con-
cluded the needles were chemically unsuitable to the larvae. This was asoci-
ated with high turpentine content. Attempts should be made to discover the
basis of such immunity and to test its practical value by using the seed from
immune trees in nurseries for plantation work.

That trees may be selected for their ability to overcome injury as well as
for their resistance to attack has been suggested by Graham and Baumhofer
(1928) in the case of the pine tip moth. ~

Cutting Methods.—The immediate need of Canadian forests, however,
is for a programme of silvicultural research and practice designed to develop
methods of cutting which will cause a minimum of disturbance to the stand
and ensure the required type of reproduction. Harvesting and cultural methods
are often synonymous in practical forestry. Under certain conditions, such
Operations as weeding, thinning, planting and seeding can be shown to be
profitable, but of primé importance at present is the adaptation of logging

48 ‘EHE (REPORDOGPTTHE

methods to the silvicultural needs of the forest. This does not necessarily
mean increasing the cost of cutting operations but it does mean that before
a stand is cut it should be known to what effect the cutting will have on the
succeeding crop and how it can be made to ensure the maximum annual
increment to the most desirable species. Protection from insects, fire and
disease is an essential part of such knowledge.

Comparatively few studies of the effect of different methods of cutting
on insect attack have been made. One of the most complete discussions of
this question in relation to any one insect is that by Craighead in his study
of the spruce budworm (Swaine, Craighead © Bailey, 1924). He states
that prevention of a recurrence of the budworm outbreaks is purely a question
of forest management, but in describing the possibilities of control by silvi-
cultural management in each of the spruce types he remarks that a great deal
of experimental work is needed to evolve satisfactory methods of handling
them.

NEED FOR ECOLOGICAL STUDIES

In Canada, the forest entomologist is very largely preoccupied with
problems of immediate economic importance. With each new outbreak he
is forced to turn his attention to a new set of investigations, often dealing with
a little known species. He commences to work at the peak of the outbreak
and he seeks to accumulate biological data that will enable him to describe
how the insect works, the nature of the damage and the probable course of the
outbreak. As soon as possible, he makes recommendations according to the
best of his knowledge regarding control and salvage. Owing, however, to
the large areas involved and the absence of intensive management he generally
arrives on the scene too late to apply direct methods of control, if such are
feasible. Meanwhile, another outbreak appears to distract his attention.

For all of this a great deal of information has been accumulated and some
valuable methods of direct control have been worked out which may be ap-
plied to present day conditions. We are, however, very much behind the
Europeans in the amount of our organized knowledge of the bionomics and
ecology of our forest insects. A glance at Escherich’s third volume of “Die
Forestinsekten Mitteleuropea’’ will demonstrate this very clearly. We still
have much to learn about the identity as well as the life histories of some of
our important species. As far as their ecology is concerned we are just
beginning.

If we are to progress toward greater stability in our forests through
more permanent methods of control of their insect pests, we must lay a sound
foundation of ecological knowledge. While we cannot neglect the more im-
mediate problems connected with present destructive outbreaks, we need to
devote as much time as possible to the carrying out of undisturbed long
range studies of the insect fauna as a part of the whole forest complex. We
need studies under endemic conditions. We want to know what species are
present, what their habits and potentialities are, and, above all, what factors
in the environment control their abundance. We already know something
about the final chapters of outbreaks through our habit of commencing our
studies when they are at the peak. We know very little about their begin-
nings, which are more important.

Such work calls for careful planning, and above all for continuity.
It needs men more or less permanently located and immune from the dis-
tractions of unrelated work. Quantitative methods have to be worked out and

BNEOMOLEOGIGAEVSOGIET Y a2

much of this is laborious, but the possibilities of such methods are very
great. It is also important that such studies should be planned and carried
out in co-operation with workers in the related fields of forest research.
*The entomologist cannot at the same time be a silviculturist, a forest ecologist,
or pathologist, but he should know enough about their subjects to be able to
seek their advice and co-operation or to offer his own.

In the full development of scientific management of our more valuable
forested areas the importance of silvicultural methods in forest insect control,
as well as the importance of forest insect control in silvicultural methods will
become increasingly apparent. Such development may come more rapidly
than we expect. How well prepared will the silviculturists or the entomolo-
gists be to answer all the questions that will then be put to them?

REFERENCES

Balch, R. E., 1928, ‘‘The Influence of the Southern Pine Beetle on Forest Composition in
Western North Carolina’’. Mss. Univ. of Syracuse.

Balch, R. E., 1930, “‘The Spruce Budworm Epidemic: on Lodgepole in Wyoming’. Ms. U.S.
Bur. of Ent. z

Balch, R. E., 1932, ‘““The Fir Tussock Moth’’. Jour. Econ. Ent., 25, No. 6.

Balch, R. E., 1934, “‘The Balsam Woolly Aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.) in Canada’’. Sci.
er, Vol. XIV, No. 7.

Blackman, M. W., 1931, ‘“The Black Hills Beetle’. Bull. N.Y. State Coll. of For., Vol. IV,
No. 4.

Craighead, F. C., 1924, ‘“‘Problems and Methods in Forest Entomology’, Jour. of Forestry,
Vol. XXII, No. 6.

Ehrlich, J., 1934, ‘‘The Beech Bark Disease’, Can. Jour. of Research, 10, special number.
Friend, R. B., 1933, ‘‘The European Pine Shoot Moth’’. Yale School of For. Bull. 37.

Friend, Roe. and Wilford, B.-H., 1933, “The Spruce Gall. as a Forest Pest’. Jour. of For.,
Wal. KOCK, No. 7.

‘Graham, S. A., 1929, ‘‘Principles of Forest Entomology’’.

Graham, S. A., and Baumhofer, L. G., 1928, ‘‘Susceptibility of Pines to Tip Moth Injury’.
m.s. (ibid).

Keen, E. P., 1925, “‘Report on Studies Relating to Control of-the Black Hills Beetle’. M.s.
WiS..ur,-of Ent,

MacAloney, H. J., 1930, ‘‘The White Pine Weevil — Its Biology and Control’. Bull. N.Y.
ptate Coll. For., Vol. III, No. 1.

MacAndrews, A. H., 1932, ‘‘Control of the Locust Borer by Forest Management’’, Rept. Ent.
Soc. of Ontario.

Prell, H., 1924, ‘‘Ueber die Immunitat von Fichten gegen Nonnenfass und ihre Ursache’’.
Tharandter Forstl. Jahrb. LXXV, No. 2, Berlin.

Swaine, J. M., Craighead, F. C., and Bailey, I. W., 1924, “Studies on the Spruce Budworm’’,
Dept. of Agric. Canada, Bull. 37, n.s.

Tragardh, I., 1923, “‘Problems in Forest Entomology’. See Jour. of Forestry, Vol. XXII,
No. 6.

50 THE" KREPORT*OFsaaHE

-THE EUROPEAN PINE SHOOT MOTH IN CONNEGHIGES,
By R. B. FRIEND

Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station, New Haven, Connecticut

The European pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoltana Schiff.) is of great |
interest to foresters and entomologists in Connecticut. We are concerned with |
an exoctic insect which within twenty years of its introduction in the state has |
severely injured many plantations of red pine, a tree indigenous neither to the |
area involved nor to the native home of the insect, and has to a certain extent |
upset the reforestation program. Certain environment factors have been favor- |
able to the increase in abundance of the insect, its dispersion, and the degree |
to which it has injured pine stands. Other factors have acted to retard its |
depredations. In undertaking control operations it has been necessary to take |
these factors into consideration as well as the biology of the insect and its |
relation to its principle hosts.

The insect was first found in Connecticut in 1914 in a nursery (Busck
1915) where it had apparently been present a year or two. During the same |
year light infestations were found in other nurseries in the northwestern |
part of the United States. Busck suggested the advisability of an eradication |
program at the time in order to prevent the establishment of the insect in |
forested areas. Nothing of importance was done, however. In 1926 Britton |
reported the presence of the insect in a red pine plantation in Connecticut. By |
1930 there had developed a general infestation on red Scotch, Austrian and |
mugho pines throughout the southwestern part of the state, both ornamental |
and forest plantings being affected. ‘The situation in Fairfield County in recent
years has become so bad that many red pine plantations have been ruined |
and large scale operations on forested areas have been undertaken in only a |
few cases. Next to Fairfield, New Haven County is most heavily infested. |
The extreme northern and eastern parts of the state are very lightly infested. |
The development of the infestation in red pine forest plantations in the last |
seven years has been rapid. Previous to 1927 only two plantations were |
known to be infested, although no careful examination of all the forest plant- |
ings had been made. During 1933 in the course of control work 478 infested |
plantations were found outside of Fairfield County. Of these the infestation |
was heavy in 42, medium in 61, and light in 375.

The state nursery inspection also gives some conception of the increase J
in abundance of this insect in recent years. In 1930 there were 17 nurseries}
infested. In 1932 the number had increased to 77. In the fall of 1933 a)

special inspection of all nurseries growing conifers revealed 137 infested.

Most of our investigations have been confined to the relations of this|
insect to forest plantations, particularly those of red pine. The area planted!
to Scotch and Austrian pines, the other two common forest species which are}
hosts, is significant. Not only is red pine the most abundant host in the state, |
but it is also the most preferred by the insect and the most severely affected. |
In mixed plantings and in regions where pure red pine plantings are adjacent |
to those of other species it is very obvious that the insect concentrates on this|
tree. ‘The severity of the injury is even greater than that which occurs on}
Scotch pines, the most common European host. It is quite a common sight|
to see the terminals of red pine trees killed back six or eight inches in heavily!
infested stands. |

EN TOMOEROGICAEASOCIET Y Dy

The situation is aggravated by the fact that red pine has been planted in
recent years almost to the exclusion of other pines and that most of our stands
are young. ‘This insect is primarily a pest of young trees. [There are over
10,000 acres of red pine plantations in the state, and almost all of these are
under 20 years of age. About one-fourth of this total was planted in the
three years 1929 to 1931 inclusive. “The extensive use of mugho pine as an
ornamental tree has also complicated the situation. ‘This is one of the favorite
hosts and is usually infested in the region where the shoot moth is found. It
is shipped out of the nurseries during that season of the year when the larval
injury to the buds is inconspicuous and is one of the factors responsible for
the dispersion of the insect throughout the state.

The majority of the red pine plantations are infested to a greater or
less extent. It is doubtful if any of those in Fairfield County are free of the
insect, although we have no precise data on the situation in this region. As
mentioned previously, the general infestation in this county is so severe that
little control work has been attempted. Oustide of Fairfield County the 1933
control operations disclosed 180 plantations not infested in a total of 658.
This does not include all the red pine areas in the region involved, but gives
a fairly reliable figure for the degree of infestation. The individual plant-
ations are small in area, usually under 25 acres.

The progress of the infestation in a single plantation is important from
a standpoint of control. It appears to be generally true that if the trees are
about 20 feet high, that is, the stand has closed to such an extent that the
lower branches are dead (the usual spacing is 6 by 6 feet), when the insect is
first introduced, then the injury to the trees increases relatively slowly and
in most cases has been negligible over a period of four years. We have many
cases where plantations six to ten feet high have been ruined while neighbor-
ing plantations 20 feet high, infested during the same period, have suffered no
practical injury. This is a fortunate condition, for it is not economically
feasible to undertake control operations after the stand closes.

Another striking feature of the infestation is the slowness with which
the insect has dispersed in some stands. ‘This has been described in a previous
publication (Friend and West, 1933) and need not be discussed in detail
here. We frequently find stands in which a small area is very severely injured
while the remainder of the trees are in good condition. It appears that from
three to five years elapse between the introduction of the insect and the occur-
rence of severe injury to the trees in any one area.

The relatively slow rate of dispersion and the apparent freedom of tall
trees from serious injury has justified, in our opinion, the destruction of
severely damaged stands in some cases. “The trees in these stands would not
have produced good timber in any event, and their presence constitutes a menace
to the surrounding area. Several stands have been cut down and burned dur-
ing the winter when the larvae were in the buds.

Although this insect has been present in Connecticut at least 20 years,
it has not as yet become injuriously abundant over the entire state. If it were
not for the artificial dissemination of larvae on ornamental trees the disper-
sion would have been less rapid. The forest planting stock has not, as a rule,
been infested. The adult female does not appear to fly far, and the wind
velocity during the evening hours when the adults are active is low, about four
to four and one-half miles an hour on the average. There are some pine plant-
ations, however, in which the only apparent means of introduction of the

52. THE" REPORS OR ERE

insect has been by a flight, aided by the wind, of up to a mile. The direction
of spread in the state is from southwest to northeast.

The question has been raised as to the adaptability of red pine to
Connecticut conditions and the quality of the sites on which red pine is being
grown. Natural red pine stands are rare in the state and are confined to a
few small areas in the northern portion. The tree grows well in most of the
planted stands, however, and the limiting growth factor is soil. Regarding
this latter, most of the plantations are on old field and pasture types or on
land formerly in hardwoods. Hicock et al. (1931), in a report on the rela-
tion of the rate of growth to certain soil characters, state that the soils of
Connecticut may, in general, be classed as good to excellent for the production
of red pine. It is the opinion of foresters that red pine is an excellent species
for planting in the state as far as growth is concerned. ‘The average height
of this tree at 15 years of age, as derived from samples taken from over
200 different locations in the state in which different types occurred, is 17.6
feet and varies from 8 to 22 feet (Hicock et al. 1931).

It appears to be a commonly held belief in Europe that trees growing
on poor sites are more readily infested, and Munroe (1920) suggests that a
severe attack may be an indication of a poor site. This is certainly not the
case with red pine in this state. Slowly growing trees succumb more rapidly,
but we have some of our heaviest infestations on excellent sites where the
trees are growing in height at the rate of one and one-half to two feet a year.

Any control operations must take into consideration the natural con-
trolling factors. Of these factors three appear to be of great importance:
climate, insect parasites, and age (as indicated by height) of the host trees.
Several native Hymenoptera parasitize this insect in Connecticut. “The most
important of these at present appear to be Hyssopus thymus Gir. and Cal-
ltephialtes comstocki Cress. Trichogramma minutum Riley is also sometimes
quite abundant. ‘These parasites vary locally in abundance and their exact
effect is yet to be determined. Sheppard (1929) has also reported the pres-
ence of other native parasites in Ontario. There certainly is lacking such an
imposing number of natural enemies as occurs in Europe according to [Thorpe
(1930). The Federal Bureau of Entomology is at present attempting to
establish several species of European parasites in Connecticut.

Climate may be the most important controlling factor. During the win-
ter of 1933-34 the larval mortality over much of the state was over 90 per
cent and was clearly reflected in the twig growth in 1934 on trees which had
previously been heavily infested. This was one of the coldest winters on
record in Connecticut. For four consecutive days in December, 1933, the
temperature at our Station farm at Mount Carmel went to —6° F., —9° F.,
—11.5° F., and —12° F. respectively, and one of those days, December 29,
had a mean temperature of —6° F. In February, 1934, there were 12 days
when the temperature dropped below zero, the lowest record being —18°
F. on the ninth. For four years previously the temperature at New Haven,
where minima in winter may be three or four degrees higher than at Mount
Carmel, did not reach zero. 4

This distinctly aided control work. During the fall of 1934 an inspec-
tion of plantations on which control operations were carried out in the spring
has been in progress. To date 51 plantations, totalling 593 acres, have been
inspected by examining a fair sample of the trees. INo shoot moth larvae were
found in 42 of these plantations, and in nine the infestation was very light.
We do not flatter ourselves with the belief that control operations alone were.

ENTOM@LEOGICGAL SOGIETY D3

responsible. In 1933 the infestation was heavy on nine of these plantations,
medium on ten, light on 26, and no infestation occurred on six. None of these
last six were found infested in the fall of 1934. In the Mohawk State Forest
where the infestation on 90 acres of red pine varied from light over most of
the area to heavy in one small planting the inspection this fall disclosed 11
living larvae. Not all of the trees were examined, of course. On the water-
shed of the Middletown Water Board no larvae were found in several acres of
trees about 18 feet high which were lightly infested in 1933 and which sur-
rounded a plantation of seven acres that was so badly damaged by the insect
that the trees were cut down and burned a year ago. There is no data as yet
available which indicates the lowest temperature at which the larvae survive nor
the effect of marked fluctuations in temperature during the winter months.
This is important in regard to the spread of the insect into regions where nat-
ural stands of red pine, and other host trees, occur.

The height of the trees appears to have an effect on the injury which this
insect can cause to pines. Such an effect is probably indirect and not due to
any peculiarity of the taller trees. If the stand becomes infested before the
trees reach a height of about 20 feet then the infestation may cause severe injury
and may so persist even though the trees grow above this height. Unfortun-
ately there are no infested red pine stands over about 25 feet in height among
those that have come under our observation. Several stands about 20 feet in
height, many of them adjacent to small heavily infested trees, have been infested
for the last four years at least yet show no great increase in insect population
and no injury of economic significance. “The danger of such an infestation lies
in its function as a reservoir from which the insect will spread to younger
plantations.

Control operations have dealt with the insect as a pest of ornamentals and
as a pest of forest trees. On ornamentals a lead arsenate-fish oil spray has
proven effective (Friend and West, 1934). In 1932 de Gryse described the
early larval habits of the insect for the first time and called attention to the
relation of these habits to possible control operations. “The fact that the larvae
bore ino the bases of the needles before attacking the buds favors insecticidal
control. If the trees are heavily sprayed so that the insecticide accumulates
at the needle bases, the larvae are killed before they cause any injury. In New
York, Glasgow has obtained excellent results with sprays containing rotenone.
Spraying has not as yet proved economically feasible in forest stands.

In forest plantations the aim has been to eradicate the insect as far as
possible by removing and destroying infested tips. “[he method has been des-
cribed in a previous publication (Friend and West, 1933). This work is
preferably carried out in May when the larval population is relatively low
and the injury conspicuous. It can, however, be done efficiently in the fall.
The work must obviously be confined to plantations of young trees, the tips
of which can be reached from the ground. Red pine develops adventitious
buds profusely and no permanent injury to the tree is caused by the clipping
Operation. [he normally slow spread of the insect into a region allows for
considerable growth after the control operations cease because of the height
of the trees and before reinfestation occurs. Once the stand has closed the trees
apparently become less susceptible to injury. Such, at least, is the present basis
for control operations.

During the season of 1933-34 crews of men from the Civilian Conserva-
tion Corps went over all of the plantations in the state except some in the
heavily infested part of New Haven County and those in Fairfield County.
Between October 1, 1933, and January 1, 1934, they covered 4,033 acres of

D4 TLHE REPORDZORM GEE

red pine. In the spring of 1934 3,501 acres of the above were worked a
second time and 2,567 additional acres covered for the first time. Between
December, 1933, and March, 1934, crews of men on relief work under the
Civil Works Administration covered 1,500 acres in New Haven, Fairfield,
Hartford, and Litchfield Counties. “The results of this work, aided materially
by the severe winter, appear to have been excellent. The insect population
has been much reduced over most, if not all, of the state and may have been
eliminated in some localities.

The depredations of this insect have had a very noticeable effect on the
use of red pine for forest planting. For several years previous to and including
1931 the average number of trees distributed by the forester of the Experi-
ment Station was about a million. In 1934 this had dropped to one-fourth
of that figure. The economic depression probably had some influence, but
during the last two years the number of trees actually distributed has been
less than half of that requested. It is the policy of the Experiment Station to
advise against the planting of red pine west of the Connecticut River until the
status of the shoot moth as a forest pest becomes more clearly established. As
an ornamental tree, red pine is no longer highly regarded by the nurserymen
of the state.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Britton, W. E. (1926). Twenty-fifth report of the State Entomologist of Connecticut, Conn.
Nore expe Ota Mlle, 977 ova

Busck, A. (1914). <A destructive pine moth introduced from Europe. Jour. Ec. Ent., 7:
340-341.

Busck, A. (1915). The European pine shoot moth; a serious menace to pine timber in Amer-
ica.) -LWESE Ace bull a0:

De Gryse, J. J. (1932). Notes on the early stage of the European pine shoot moth. Can. Ent.,
64: 169-173.

Friend, R. B., and West, A. S., Jr. (1933). The European pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia
buoliana Schiff.) with special reference to its occurrence in the Eli Whitney Forest. Yale
University School of Forestry Bull., 37.

Friend, R. B., and West, A. S., Jr. (1934). Spray experiments for the control of the European
pine shoot:moth. Jour, Ec, Ent. 272 354-5510.

Hicock, H. W., Morgan, M. F., Lutz, H. J., Bull, H., and Lunt, H. A. (1931). The relation
of forest composition and rate of growth to certain soil characters. Conn. Agri. Exp. Sta.

Bull; 330:

Munroe, J. W. (1920). Survey of the forest insect conditions in the British Isles, 1919.
For. Comm, Bull. 2, London.

Sheppard, R. W. (1929). The European pine shoot moth in the Niagara Peninsula. 60th
Ann Rep. Ents Soc) (@Ont.-)7 3-7 OL

Thorpe, W. H. (1930). Observations on parasites of the pine shoot moth, Rhyacionia buoliana
Schitt:) Bull! Ent. Res. 2 bo 87-4a2

NOTES ON THE ALFALFA SNOUT BEETLE; Brachyrhinus tases
A NEW INSECT PEST IN NEW YORK: Si Ade

By CHARLES E, PALM

Until recently there have been no serious insect enemies attacking alfalfa
in New York State. With the advent of the alfalfa snout beetle, Brachyrhinus
Iigustict L., this crop is threatened to be wiped out in the limited areas where
the pest exists.

ENTOMOL OGICARSSOGIET Y 215)

Although it was not until 1933 that this insect was definitely connected
with its destructive role, growers in the vicinity of Oswego, New York, say
that they have noticed their alfalfa dying out in spots for some ten or twelve
years. ‘The loss of the stand, however, was for a number of years attributed
to dry weather, sour spots in the soil, and other environmental conditions.

The data to be presented are based on the investigations of a part of one
season and must be considered as of a preliminary nature. Because of the
probable future importance of the problem, information concerning the snout
beetle, its habits and life history, is of interest at this time.

DISTRIBUTION

The alfalfa snout beetle is generally distributed throughout northern and
central Europe. It extends east through Russia into Siberia, north into Sweden,
and west into England. ‘There are records of its occurrence in the Piedmont
Alps of Italy. The presence of this species in North Amercia was first re-
ported by Herrick! in 1933. Since that time a single specimen collected by
Wickham at Oswego, New York, in 1896 has been found in the United States
National Museum. Investigations of the past season show that it is well
established in a narrow strip along the southern shore of Lake Ontario extend-
ing from Sacketts Harbor on the east to Oswego, New York, on the west.
Within this area several fields of alfalfa have been killed outright and new
seedings are suffering severe injury. Credit is due Mr. Elmer W. Beck of the
U.S.D.A. Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, whose scouting ac-
tivities in 1934 established the present known distribution of B. ligustict L.
in New York.

ADULT

The beetles are dark greyish-black, about 11 mm. long (9-l14mm.). The
head is little longer than the thorax, the snout broadening at the tip. The
thorax is slightly wider than long, granulated and covered with short closely
pressed yellowish-red hairs; the elytra are egg-shaped, convex, and at the pos-
terior end narrow and somewhat drawn down. ‘The surface is grainy shag-
green, covered with fine closely pressed copper-red hairs and with patches of
pearl-grey scales.

Vassiliev+ reports that in Russia the beetle has a two-year life cycle.
Adults appear in March and April from their resting cells in the soil where
they have remained inactive since transforming from the pupal stage the previ-
ous summer. On first appearance they are sluggish and seek shelter beneath
clods and stones. After a few days the beetles begin to feed upon the opening
buds of grape, peach, hops, and asparagus, and the foliage of barley, rose, beet,
alfalfa, pigweed, strawberry, ash, elder, and other plants. He does not con-
sider the species as being omnivorous as do some workers since among the
legumes it does not feed on peas.

In the vicinity of Oswego, New York, beetles were observed feeding upon
alfalfa, red clover, narrow-leaved dock, rhubarb, strawberry, raspberry, and
daffodils. In cages they fed upon the foliage of apple, grape, cherry, white
and yellow sweet clover, broad-leaved dock, and also upon asparagus tips.

The beetles cannot fly but are capable of travelling long distances on
foot. After feeding, enormous numbers migrate across fields and roadways in
search of favorable host plants around which to deposit their eggs. Hollrung?
speaks of a migration in Germany in which the road from Halle to Eisteben

56 THE*REPORS= OF THe

was covered for several hours by a procession of these: beetles. This same
migratory habit was observed in the vicinity of Oswego during May, 1934.
Some twenty-five to thirty thousand beetles were caught in a trench barrier, .
approximately 250 yards in length, along one side of an infested field.

EGG STAGE

The eggs are deposited in the top soil around the crowns of the alfalfa
plants. They are white when first laid, but soon change to brown as develop- |
ment begins. Forty beetles caged separately deposited a total of 13,427 eggs,
ranging from 125 to 515 eggs per beetle with an average of 335.7. The.
incubation period lasted 12 - 13 days at 75° F. Most of the eggs were kept
at temperatures varying from 68° to 75° F., under which conditions hatching
took place in from 13 to 25 days. “Twelve to thirteen days is considered to
be the average incubation period under field conditions in Russia.

Since this insect is parthenogenetic, every individual is capable of laying
eggs. Although Seidlitz® records the occurrence of a male in the species,
Vassiliev was never able to verify this fact in any of his observations. As
yet no males have been found in this country.

LARVAL STAGE

In spite of the absence of legs the young larvae move about quite actively.
Strong auxilliary hairs in the place of true legs greatly aid locomotion. Newly |
hatched larvae feed on the alfalfa crowns near the surface of the soil and grad-
ually work down. ‘They prune the side roots and feed on tender parts of
the taproot which they eventually cut in two. Larvae have been taken to a.
depth of twenty-six inches, but plants were found with their root systems cut
off at 28 inches below the surface, indicating that the larvae feed that deep if
not deeper. Probably soil moisture and available food material are primary
factors in determining the depth at which the larvae will work. |

From the middle of July on into September severely injured plants were
easily spotted because of their stunted growth and yellow foliage. Large |
alfalfa plants were easily pulled up because their root systems were practically
destroyed. In areas where the larval population was high the majority of the
grubs gradually worked up into the upper 2 - 4 inches of soil, destroying all
of the alfalfa roots and causing the death of the plants. In these severely
injured areas larval populations at times exceeded 200 grubs to a square foot |
of surface area. More mature not only fed on the surface of the taproot, often
leaving a deep spiral groove, but they bored up through the heart of the root |
itself leaving a mere shell of cortex intact. ‘This type of injury was more
common in older plantings of alfalfa because the taproots were eee Some
larvae were still feeding late in November. |

Apparently there are seven instars in larval development, although it is
possible that some individuals have only six. When fully mature the larvae’
average about 12 mm. in length. “They pass the winter in cells in the soil. |
Overwintered grubs were taken at depths ranging from three to twenty-six
inches, with an average depth of about a foot.

PUPAL STAGE

In the summer following larval development most of the larvae pupate
in cells in the soil where they passed the winter. The first pupa was taken
from the field on June 7 — the last on July 24. The pupal period lasted

ENTOMOL OGIGAL SOCIETY DT

from 22 to 26 days. After transforming from the pupal stage the newly
formed adults remain inactive in the old pupal cells and emerge sometimes the
following spring. Beetles were first observed in 1934 on May 9. Judging
from feeding evidences at that time the adults had been out for at least several
days.

PLANTS ATTACKED BY THE LARVAE

In Europe larvae attack the root systems of alfalfa, grape, red clover,
yellow and white sweet clover, as well as those of other plants. In this coun-
try in addition to alfalfa, which is the favored host, grubs have been observed
feeding on dock, wild carrot, yellow and white sweet clover, wild strawberry,
red clover, alsike clover, sorrel, cinquefoil, goldenrod, millfoil, and in areas
where the favored host plants are destroyed the basal stem portions of quack
grass, timothy, blue grass, and orchard grass are attacked. Whether all of the
above mentioned plants will support larvae during their entire development is
as yet unknown.

SUMMARY

The alfalfa snout beetle, Brachyrhinus ligustict L., is a new insect pest
of leguminous forage crops in this country. Because of its extensive damage
in Europe its presence here is looked upon with great concern.

The insect has a two-year life cycle in its native home and apparently
will deviate but little from this in New York. Adults appear in the early
spring, feed on the foliage of various plants and migrate in search of suitable
hosts plants for the larvae. Last season egg laying began late in May and
continued through most of July. ‘The beetles are parthenogenetic and deposit
an average of over 300 eggs apiece. Larvae hatch in approximately two weeks
after the eggs are laid. ‘The larval feeding injury to the root systems of alfalfa
and other hosts often kills the plants outright. Mature larvae overwinter in
the soil and pupate the following June and July. “The newly formed adults
remain inactive in the old pupal cells until the following spring.

Heavily infested areas can be located during July and August by the
yellowing and dying of the foliage of the injured alfalfa plants. “These plants
can be easily pulled up because their root systems are badly injured. In Sep-
tember, October, and November dead areas in fields can be spotted, and in
these areas the grubs may be found near the surface feeding on the remaining
roots of the injured and dying plants. During April and May the dead areas
stand out in contrast to the growing foliage of the living plants. At this
time fully matured larvae are present in the soil, particularly around the edges
of the dead areas.

REFERENCES

1Herrick, G. W., Otiorhynchus ligustici L., an European snout beetle new to this country.
woutn. Econ.,Ent. 26 :-731-732.. 1933,

2Hollrung, M. Einige weitere Bemerkungen zu Otiorhynchus ligustict L. Ill. Wochenschr.
Ent. 2: 549-550. 1897.

3Seidlitz, G. Fauna Baltica. Die Kaefer (Coleoptera) der Deutschen Ostseeprovinzen Russ-
lands, «p..977.. 1e9l.

4Vassiliev, I. V. (Wassiliew, J.) (Russian title). The principal insects injurious to lucerne.
Part II. Ottorrhynchus (Cryphiphorus) ligustici L., its description, life-habits, and methods
of fighting it. Cent. Bd. Admin. and Agr., (Petrograd), Sci. Com., Ent. Bur. Mem. 82:
9-39, 1914;

58 THEY REPOR ¥ }ORViaE

Fig. 1.—Larvae of the alfalfa snout beetle at work on the badly damaged root of an alfalfa plant.

ENVOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY Ss)

SOME STORED PRODUCT PESTS IN CANADA
eit SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE HAIRY SPIDER BEETLE,
Ptinas villiger REIT.

by ia. EeGRAY
Entomological Branch, Ottawa, Ont.

The ability to store food for future use is one of the cornerstones of any
advanced civilization. In wheat and the other cereals man found a food
which could be stored from one harvest season till the next or longer and the
stored product could also be used as seed to grow future crops.

Coincident with the long culture of cereals has been the damage sustained
to the grain by insects. Granary weevils were well known as pests long
before their description by Linnaeus. Plautus, writing about 200 B.C., refers
to the “‘curculio”’ in the wheat, and the writings of Pliny and other authors
of his time mention the same insect. In recent years excavations of the tombs
of the Pharaohs in Egypt have brought to light grain with which was associ-
ated the remains of the Granary Weevil. Control measures against this pest
are also very ancient. For many years air-tight storage has been practised in
the Orient as the only safe way in which to protect grain from insect infesta-
tion. It is interesting to note that Dendy and Elkington carrying on grain
investigations during the Great War reached essentially the same conclusion.

Not all stored product insects are pests of long standing. One of the
insects which has caused a great deal of trouble in Western Canada in recent
years is a comparative newcomer in the ranks of stored product pests, the
Hairy Spider Beetle, Ptinus villiger Reit. One of its close relatives, the White
Marked Spider Beetle, Ptinus fur L., caused trouble in France about 100 years
ago, but the trouble in Western Canada is the first case of large scale damage
by villiger Reit.

THE HAIRY SPIDER BEETLE, Ptinus villiger REIT.

This insect is a good example of the ability of a stored product insect to
increase and spread under favourable conditions. It was first noted by the
milling industry in Western Canada at Rosebank, Man., in 1915, and at
present is quite common in the flour warehouses in Manitoba, Saskatchewan
and Alberta, and has been reported from British Columbia. To date its
activities are restricted almost entirely to the storage sheds at country points.
In two cases, it has been found in small country mills in Western Canada,
but in both cases the facilities have been used for storage as well as the manu-
facture of cereal products.

Infestations varying in intensity occurred in approximately 2,000 flour
warehouses in the Prairie Provinces during the past season, some of the worst
ones being found in the Province of Alberta, where many of the agents were
unaware of the presence of the insect. The loss in spite of control measures
during the past season will approximate $8,000 to $10,000.

The insect does not actually damage the flour in any way save that when
the infestation is very bad, there is an accumulation of silk and granular
material which in the case of patent flour is easily removed by sifting. Samples
of rebolted flour have yielded bread equal in quality to that produced by
uninfested samples of equal age. “Ihe problem is largely an aesthetic one as
the buying public demands products which are free from insect infestation.

60 THE -REPORW; GF YDRHE

THE SPIDER BEETLE IN RELATION TO THE MILLING COMPANIES IN
WESTERN CANADA

In the areas where the Hairy Spider Beetle is present in numbers loss has:
been sustained by the milling companies because of:

1. Necessity of rebolting the flour or selling it at a reduced price as stock
feed. |

Increased cost of distribution.
3. Local freight on returned shipments.

4. Loss of patronage due to the presence of insects in the various
products.

Salvage by rebolting is only feasible in the case of patent flours as the |
similarity in the size of the insect stages and the particles in the coarser prod-
ucts prevents mechanical separation. When the mechanical separation is im-
possible disposal as stock feed represents the only salvage possibility. To
rebolt the product in a satisfactory manner requires power machinery involving
an investment of about $2,000, and such a set-up can only be made at central
points. As the infestation is usually most severe at country points, the return
freight charges are frequently considerable.

Prior to the serious infestations of the Hairy Spider Beetle at country
points, it was the custom of the milling companies in Western Canada to
ship a carload of flour and feed to any point when the supplies at that par-
ticular warehouse were sufficiently low to permit the storing of such a quantity
of material. It is now necessary to maintain stocks at a minimum during
the warm weather and any shipments during this period are made by local
freight. ‘This is a more expensive method of shipment, but the salvage of
stock following infestation by the return freight and rebolting route is even |
more costly.

Slow selling lines of material are reduced to a minimum or dropped from
eee stocks, as such material represents a potential danger to the | new clean
stock.

All the companies in Western Canada have found that the points at
which damage is most severe are those where the turnover is slow. ‘This is
now being remedied to a large extent by shipping partial cars to several points
on a railroad line, so that the amount of stock carried at any one place is never
large, nor is the stock old.

One outcome of the prevalence of the Hairy Spider Beetle has been that
much more attention is now devoted to the warehouses. They are kept in
cleaner condition, the flour is often piled on racks, the older stocks are dis-
posed of first and in general, better warehouse management is in evidence.

MATERIALS INFESTED BY THE HAIRY SPIDER BEETLE

This insect occurs in practically the entire list of foodstuffs handled by
the milling companies. ‘This includes flour (patent, graham, whole-wheat,
rye, corn and buckwheat), cornmeal, rolled oats, oatmeal, farina, and the
feeds such as bran, shorts, and meal preparations of all kinds.

Ptinus villiger Reit. is also able to feed in grain, such as wheat and rye,
-and more rarely in the coarser grains. One of the first cases of this was
encountered in 1932 when sample boxes in grain elevators were reported as

ENTVOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 61

infested. [he larvae cement the kernels together rather loosely to form clusters
in which they feed. Many of the larvae were mature at the time the material
was secured and adults emerged a short time later. In some cases Durum
" wheat was attacked and development was completed in samples with a mois-
ture content as low as 10.5%. ‘The condition was fairly common in South-
ern Manitoba and in two cases bin infestation was reported. The annual
_weigh-up with the accompanying transfer and ‘running’ of the grain broke
up the clusters so that subsequent examination failed to yield any evidence of
infestation. Ihe long time storage of grain in country elevators without
transfer of the material may result in rather serious infestation of such stocks
by the Hairy Spider Beetle.

There has been widespread interest on the part of those handling cereal
products as to the source of the Spider Beetle infestation in Western Canada.
In no case has the writer ever found this insect in locations other than in close
association with grain and cereal products. At the time when the original
infestation was reported, it was the custom of many of the firms to import
products such as cornmeal and rye flour from the United States, and it seems
most probable that the first insects of this species arrived in Western Canada
by this route. Since its introduction the medium of local shipment from point
to point has contributed very largely to its spread. Many of the country
representatives have felt that this insect came from the mills with shipments
of flour, but the small numbers recovered in any of the large shipping ware-
houses does not bear out this contention. On the other hand, their presence
in the large shipping warehouses is easily explained by the return of infested
stock from country points.

The number of insects found in sacks of stock infested by the Hairy
Spider Beetle varies considerably. In some cases, 98-pound sacks of flour
have been sifted and only 1 or 2 larvae were recovered, and externally such a
sack would give no indication of infestation. On the other hand the number
of insects present may be quite large. An examination was made in October,
1932, of a 49-pound sack of patent flour which had been shipped to a country
- point in January of the same year. Due to infestation a considerable portion
of the stock in this warehouse had been returned to the milling company for
tebolting. ‘The following material was recovered:

Alive ~ Dead Total

PNCIIIES MM rE oe a 1386 246 L632
[Ee VET UM Vr ae al Ml limes la as ae Ae 1352 ING 1379
PUnpacden Senet ee coe ek | ito 96 19 15
TIOCAIS oes ececn ee 2834 292 3126

This sack was badly riddled with holes made by the larvae in leaving
the sack in search of another location in which to pupate, so that had the
count been made earlier in the season, no doubt even a higher recovery would
have resulted. On the basis of the total this represents a population of 66
insects per pound of flour.

DESCRIPTION OF THE STAGES
The Adult—

The beetles are spider-like in form, reddish brown in colour, frequently
with four irregular white patches, two on each elytron. On each elytron
are several longitudinal rows of shallow pits, with a single seta arising from
each pit. Between the rows of pits there are longitudinal rows of setae.
The average body length is about 3.4 mms. The males and females differ in

62 THE REPORT OR )iite

body width, the former having the sides subparallel while the females are |
more rounded.

The Egg—

The egg of this species is roughly spindle shaped and has a pearly opal-
escence. As it is frequently covered with particles of flour, the true shape is
more or less obscured. “The average measurements are .59 mms. in length,
and .32 in diameter at the mid point.

ihe tana

The general body colour is creamy white, with a head capsule of light —
brown bearing mouth parts of a somewhat darker hue. ‘The body is cov- |
ered with hairs to which particles of flour frequently adhere. A curved posi-
tion is assumed by the larvae, on its side, forming an open circle. The newly |
hatched larva has a length of approximately .70 mms. while the mature form
is about 3.8 mms. in length.

The Pupa and Pupal Cell—

The newly formed pupa is pearly white in colour, deepening in colour
to a light reddish brown as the pupal period progresses. “The pupa is formed
within a cell secreted by the larva, the outside of which is covered with adher-
ent particles of food in which pupation occurs. In measurement the pupa is
approximately 3.5 mms. in length, with a greatest width of 1.5 mms. In
the case of the pupal cell, the corresponding measurements are 5.1 mms. and
3.0 mms. respectively.

Biology—

The adults make their appearance in the flour sheds on the first warm
days of spring, the date of appearance being governed by the temperature.
In 1932, they were first noted about April 15th, while in 1933 they did not
appear until April 28th at Morden, Man. In southern Saskatchewan in both |
years they were present in the flour sheds at somewhat earlier dates.

The length of life of the adults is quite variable. As some of the adults |
in the autumn, winter over they are rather long lived. Only a very small |
percentage, however, of the number emerging in the autumn manage to survive |
the winter temperatures. At higher temperatures the life of the beetles is not |
particularly long. When adults were confined in tubes with food, the fol-
lowing mortality was noted in 14 days:

‘Temperature | Per cent Mortality
Below 15" dee. (Cece nee, cee ee ee ee eee 25%
1 220 deg Co ee gn en te ene te 46%
ZO 2BS dee, CF a chk hoc. thee ale ek a ae Ce ee 80%

No record was available as to the conditions of relative humidity, but
in any event it was comparatively low. Where food was not furnished, the
mortality was approximately 20% greater in each case.

Mating was observed in many flour sheds in the spring of the year at
temperatures ranging from 16 - 22 degrees C. ‘This activity has never been |
noticed during the late summer and autumn.

In the spring of the year the females oviposit quite freely. As many as
7 eggs have been secured from one beetle in a period of 24 hours, and a total
of 40 eggs was laid by one female during her lifetime.

Adults captured in the flour sheds were transferred to pint sealers con-
taining a small amount of flour and strips of paper towelling. In such con-

ENPFOMOLOGIGAL : SOCIETY 63

tainers eggs were secured in numbers. ‘The eggs were laid singly, and in most
cases had adherent particles of flour. In the flour sheds adults were noted
Ovipositing in the following locations:

(a) On the outside of the bags.
(b) Through the mesh of the sacks.
(c) In the flour debris in cracks and corners.

Many adults have been secured in late summer and early autumn and
have been handled in a manner similar to that described above, but in no case
have any eggs been secured.

Hatching of the Eggs—

Freshly deposited eggs were maintained at constant temperature to deter-
mine the duration of the egg stage. [he following results were secured:

Temperature First Hatching 50% Hatch
2D) 10 days 13 days
24 7 days 11 days
26 5 days 10 days
28 5 days 9 days

Larval Development—

The larvae are able to complete their development in about three months
when maintained at a temperature of 28 - 30 degrees C.

Formation of Pupal Cells—

When the larva becomes mature, pupation may take place within the
sack of food material or elsewhere. A fairly large percentage of the larvae eat
their way through the sack and pupate in the cereal debris on the floor or
burrow into the wood of the shed. Where serious infestations have occurred,
the wood in the sheds is frequently pitted with shallow depressions made by
the larvae in the construction of their pupal cells.

The pupal cells consist of silky material secreted by the larvae, covered
externally by particles of the material in which pupation occurs. When trans-
formation occurs in wood, there is usually a small “‘cap’’ of silk visible on the
surface of the wood.

After the formation of the pupal cells many of the larvae do not change
over to the pupal state but remain as mature larvae, passing the winter in this
manner. Such larvae normally pupate early in the following spring, though
some may remain as larvae for a year or more without transforming.

Resistance of the Larvae to Low Temperature—

Due to the extremely low temperatures which occur during the winter
seasons in Western Canada, the milling companies have employed this method
of combatting various mill insects with marked success. References in the
literature indicate that certain of the Ptinidae are able to withstand low temper-
atures quite successfully. .

Laboraory tests were carried out to determine the point to which the
larvae must be cooled in order that freezing of the tissues would occur. This
was determined by means of a thermocouple and a potentiometer, a bath of
kerosene and solid carbon dioxide being used to produce the necessary low
temperature. In this way it was possible to secure the ‘‘undercooling”’ as well

64 THE REPORT OR HE

as the point at which freezing actually occurred. The undercooling points
varied from minus 17 to minus 29 degrees C., with the actual freezing point
averaging about 3 to 4 degrees less in each case. Larvae which had been main-
tained in the laboratory gave essentially the same readings as those which had
been stored under outside (winter) conditions for three months prior to the
tests. :

The evidence secured from the examination of sacks of flour stored in
unheated sheds at the country points during the same season is quite inter-
esting. Several 98-pound sacks of infested flour which had been in unheated
storage at Moose Jaw, Sask., from October, 1932, were sifted on March 16,
1933. About 100 larvae were recovered from each of 10 sacks, and all the
larvae were alive. In the case of several shipments of infested flour returned
to Winnipeg for reconditioning, a mortality as high as 30% was recorded
from 98-pound sacks while in the case of the 49-pound sacks all the larvae
were dead. ‘This flour had been stored in an unheated warehouse in southern
Saskatchewan.

The winter of 1932-33 was more severe than the average, and the low
mortality secured in the larger sacks, which represent the bulk of the stocks,
indicates that not much can be hoped for in the way of control by this natural
agency in normal seasons.

Parasites and Predators—

In some of the more seriously infested flour sheds a small chalcid parasite,
Pteromalus sp., has been recovered from sacks of badly infested bran and
shorts. It is felt that the presence of these insects in a shed indicates a situa-
tion of long standing rather than indicating any serious possibility of biological
control.

Coniro-=—

In devising control measures for the Hairy Spider Beetle in Western
Canada, there were several factors which had to be taken into consideration.

1. After the flour is infested, nothing save rebolting will render it mar-
ketable at regular prices.

2. The type of construction in most of the buildings used for flour
storage is so open that neither fumigation or superheating are feasible as a
means of control. Even if such treatment were feasible the rebolting process
would still have to be employed once the insects have penetrated the sacks.

3. The stages of the Hairy Spider Beetles are quite resistant to low
temperatures.

4. The most logical time to carry out control measures appeared to be
in the spring of the year as soon as the adults make their appearance in the
flour sheds. At this season of the year, the insects are on the outside of the
stock, most of which has come into the warehouse during the cold weather.

Attention was directed to the use of contact sprays to combat this insect
by the satisfactory results secured by certain flour shed operations with com-
mercial brands of contact sprays. An examination of the various brands avail-
able showed them all to be quite odorous as well as high in price, both of
which militated against their general use in flour sheds. In preparing a new
spray, several considerations were borne in mind:

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 65

1. Freedom from taint.
2." Fuigh. toxicity, tO insects.
Zee KowlCost.

In most contact sprays used in warehouses and households, the carrier
is kerosene or other similar oil. In the past, this material has been the occa-
sion of considerable trouble to the milling industry because of claims. With
such a background, it was realized that regardless of the other merits of a
spray, it would not be acceptable to the millers unless free from tainting effect
on the products to be protected. Representative samples of the various avail-
able kerosenes were first tested as to their ability to taint flour. It was found
that while certain of the lower priced grades did produce definite taint, certain
of the highly refined samples left no trace on the products on which they were
sprayed. The less refined oils were definitely higher in toxicity to the test
insects employed and the deficiency of the higher grade, more refined oils was
remedied by the addition of extract of pyrethrum.

Extract of pyrethrum from two sources was used in compounding the
spray and both yielded satisfactory results at the dilutions recommended by
the manufacturer. [he cost per gallon of the mixture did not exceed $1.20
per gallon for the materials used.

Agitation of the ingredients in a kerosene drum by rocking or rolling the
container results in a uniform mixture.

Testing the Toxicity of the Spray Matertal—

As adults of the Hairy Spider Beetle were not available at the time of
the testing of the sprays, it was necessary to use adults of the Granary Weevil,
Sttaphilus granarius L., and the Confused Flour Beetle, Triboltum confusum
Duv. Subsequent laboratory tests of the spray against the adults of the Hairy
Spider Beetle demonstrated that it was fully as toxic to this insect as to the
ones used in the bulk of the tests.

Technique—

The material to be tested was placed in a small atomizer of the nasal
type connected to a portable spray tank serving as a source of air pressure.
The tank was equipped with a pressure gauge so that all the tests were con-
ducted at constant pressure, in all cases a pressure of 10# being employed. A
petcock between the tank and atomizer enabled the time of spraying to be
controlled, this factor being checked by an interval timer. Repeated tests
demonstrated that in a constant time interval at constant pressure, the same
volume of any one spray material is delivered through the atomizer nozzle.

The stage for the insects consisted of a shallow metal tray 12” square
into which a fresh piece of paper towelling was placed prior to each test. The
tray was so placed that it occupied the centre of the spray pattern delivered
by the nozzle under the conditions of the test. The tray was covered by a
large hood of semi-circular outline, open at the end facing the atomizer.

The test insects were employed in lots of 50 and were maintained in
salve tins prior to the tests. When ready to be sprayed they were transferred
to the towelling on the tray by inverting the tins and after being allowed to
spread out they were sprayed for the desired interval. Most of the tests were
run for a period of 3, 5 or 7 seconds, as it was found that where a partial

66 ‘FHE -REPOR@ OR iii

mortality was secured the difference in the sprays could be seen to better ad-

vantage. Following treatment, the insects were returned to the salve tins

and the mortality was determined at the end of 24 hours. All the tests were:
run in replicate and the two compounded sprays were found to be fully as

toxic as any of the commercial sprays used as checks.

While all the laboratory tests indicated that the spray would not taint q
flour, a supply was furnished to each of the chemists employed by the larger |
mills for further test. All reported that they considered the material satis- |

factory to use around flour.

As the men who were to apply the spray in the country flour sheds were |
a rather cosmopolitan group, instructions were issued regarding the season |
of use, frequency of application, and the actual technique of spraying to be
followed to secure best results. “They were particularly warned not to allow |
the liquid to drop on the sacks as while the nap of the sack would catch a |
mist-like spray, drops of liquid might not only discolour the sacks, but might

also result in a tainting of the product.

During the season of 1933 and that of 1934, approximately 2,000 gal-

lons of the spray has been used under all conditions by the warehouse men
in Western Canada against the Hairy Spider Beetle, and where the spray has

been used as directed, satisfactory control has been secured and no reports of |

tainting have been made by any of the operators.

Where warehouses have been seriously infested, the mere removal of the |
stock followed by sweeping does not remove all the insects. The larvae |
frequently leave the sacks and burrow into the wood of the flour shed. Unless |

such a shed is thoroughly cleaned a new stock will certainly be infested.

Good results have been secured by the use of a lye solution at the rate of }

1 Ib. of lye to 5 gallons of water applied to the walls and floor, preferably
by means of a sprayer. “The shed should be thoroughly brushed with a stiff

brush, and all accumulations removed by scraping, paying particular attention |
to cracks and crevices. [he spray is applied driving it into all the points |
where the insects might hide. The shed should be allowed to dry thoroughly |
after such treatment, and if desired the walls may be whitewashed. Racks |
must be used following lye treatment of the shed, on which to pile the flour |

as otherwise the sacks will be damaged by contact with the floor.

Outlook for the Future—

The Hairy Spider Beetle is now well established in the Prairie Provinces.
The representatives of the companies concerned are now quite conversant with |

the various stages of the insect and undoubtedly will report it from many
sheds where it has been overlooked in the past.

The insect may be controlled by the use of a suitable contact spray and |
the annual loss sustained by the companies reduced to a small amount. While |
the insect may be eliminated from certain warehouses, the practice of local

shipment will probably result in its re-introduction into such sheds. System-

atic measures are necessary to control the various pests found in flour mills |
and it is essential that the same principle be applied to the country warehouses |

to combat the Hairy Spider Beetle.
OTHER WAREHOUSE PESTS

In addition to Ptinus villiger Reit., the Golden Spider Beetle, Niptus |
hololeucus Fald., was frequently taken in flour sheds in Western Canada, usu-.

ally on or in stocks of rolled oats and oatmeal.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 67

Another insect found in flour warehouses throughout Canada is the
Black Carpet Beetle, Attagenus picéus Oliv. It has been frequently taken in
the flour sheds in Western Canada and is by far the most common insect in

"the flour sheds in Eastern Canada. While normally considered primarily as
a household pest, it breeds quite successfully in cereal products.

The meal worms, Tenebrio molitor L., and T. obscurus Fab., are also
frequently encountered in warehouses as well as in elevators and grain boats.
Only the Yellow Meal Worm has been taken in the Prairie Provinces while
in mixed collections in the East, usually about 80% of the specimens belong
to that species. [hey are most frequently found in locations which are not
cleaned frequently, and with their long life cycle, are usually easy to control
by effective cleaning procedure.

The Cadelle, Tenebrotdes mautritanicus L., is frequently found around
coarse cereal products in warehouses and in grain boats where grain has been
allowed to accumulate. In the case of sound grain, the attack is usually re-
stricted to the embryo end of the kernel. This insect has a long life-history
and proper attention to cleaning usually prevents serious damage by this pest.

The Larder Beetle, Dermestes lardartus L., frequently is found in pre-
pared stock foods which carry a percentage of animal matter. In several in-
stances, serious infestations of such products have been encountered. In most
cases of this nature the product had been held in storage for a long time.

FLOUR MILL PESTS

The two most abundant insects found in flour mills in Canada are the
Mediterranean Flour Moth, Ephestia Ruehniella Zell., and the Confused Flour
Beetle, Tribolitum confusum Duv. Of the two, the latter is much more diffi-
cult to eliminate from the mills. In some mills, no trace of the former has
been found for some little time. Various methods of control are applied.

i ew eeat

| 2. Low Temperature

3. Fumigation.

Of the three methods the first is probably the most effective when carried
out at regular intervals and where machinery is so constructed that damage
| will not be sustained by the use of heat.

|
In Western Canada, the second method has been found very successful in
many of the plants.

| Where fumigation is used, Hydrogen cyanide is the most commonly used
‘material with Chlorpicrin probably ranking second. While both materials
|are effective, the mortality is never as high as with a successful heat or low
‘temperature treatment.

A new insect was recovered from two Eastern mills during the season of
1933, Alphitobius piceus Oliv., sometimes called the Black Fungus Beetle. In
each case it was found in the basement of the plant around the elevator boats
handling the coarser materials such as bran, shorts and middlings. In each
‘case the adults were present in considerable numbers but were not found else-
‘where in the mill. Eggs were secured from the adults but very few of the
larvae survived to complete the larval stage under laboratory conditions.

68 THE REPORT OP *£HE

GRAIN PESTS

Two of the most common grain insects in Western Ontario are the .
Granary Weevil, Sitophilus granartus L., and the Saw-toothed Grain Beetle,
Silvanus surinamensis L. Both have caused damage to grain in farmers bins.
The latter is found in many cereal products and is one of the most commonly
reported insects during the late summer and autumn. Both these insects are °
recovered in elevators and grain boats.

THE MEAL MOTHS
There are three common species of meal moths found in Canada:
The Indian Meal Moth, Plodia interpunctella Hbn.
The Snout Meal Moth, Pyralis farinalis L.
The European Grain Moth, Tinea granella L.

Of these the first is certainly the most common and causes the greatest
damage. In addition to being found in mills and warehouses where cereal
products are handled, it is a pest of dried fruit and nuts and quite frequently
causes losses to the manufacturers of confectionery.

The Snout Meal Moth is frequently found in elevators and grain boats
where it breeds in damp and spoiling grain and cereal products. In the labor-
atory it has been found impossible to rear the larvae save in material of high
moisture content.

The European Grain Moth also breeds in damp, dark corners in elevators
and grain boats and while fairly common does not damage sound material to
any extent. : !

PARASITES OF THE ORIENTAL FRUIT MOTH
(Laspeyresia Molesta BUSCK) IN ONTARIO

A SUMMARY 1932-33-34
By W. E. VAN STEENBURGH

Dominion Parasite Laboratory, Belleville, Ontario.

The severity of the Oriental Fruit Moth outbreak in the peach orchards |
about St. Davids in 1927, coupled with its freedom from natural controlling |
agencies, made it appear desirable to undertake the introduction of useful fruit |
moth parasites from foreign countries. This work was initiated with the _
introduction and liberation of the ‘‘gray’”’ strain of Trichogramma minutum |
Riley in 1928, and the introduction of Macrocentrus ancylivorus Rohwer from |
Southern New Jersey in 1929 and 1930. During the early years of the work |
all the parasite releases were made in Niagara township near St. Davids, Queens- |
ton and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Macrocentrus was particularly successful in its
establishment in this area and was soon present in sufficient numbers to cause |
a substantial reduction in the moth population. |

The general westward shifting of the moth infestation from the eastern |
end of the peninsula was followed by Trichogramma and Macrocentrus re- |
leases in the St. Catharines district, and later Irichogramma liberations neat /

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 69

Grimsby and Macrocentrus releases throughout all the area between St. Cath-
arines and Hamilton. Because of the few Macrocentrus available, the colonies
Ze west of Vineland were much smaller than those placed farther east.
“Also, the parasites were not available for distribution until the second genera-
tion larvae were present, while the releases placed east of Vineland had been
made on the first generation. Colonies placed in the orchards during the first
generation had sufficient time to develop through two complete life cycles before
going into hibernation, while those colonized on second generation larvae
could only complete one life cycle. “The conditions in the orchards are also
much more suited to rapid parasite multiplication in the early part of the season
when larvae are plentiful in succulent twig growth. Trichogramma releases
were continued during 1932 and 1933. The declining intensity of the moth
infestation, as well as the need for economy, made it appear desirable to dis-
continue the work with this parasite. In 1930 the native larval parasites
began to appear in important numbers in the recovery collections, and, of late
years, one parasite in particular, Glypta rufiscutellaris Cress., has become very
important.

?

During the three years under consideration, natural Trichogramma played
a decreasingly important role in peach moth egg parasitism. Of a large number
of orchards examined, only a few showed an egg parasitism of over 20 per
cent, while most orchards contained an egg parasitism of 10 per cent or less,
Miatcis is of little importance in control. In 1932 laboratory reared
Trichogramma, to the extent of 7,425,000 were released, and in 1933 an
additional 2,621,000 Trichogramma were liberated in the orchards. The
orchards used as colonization points contained a low moth infestation and the
amount of egg parasitism secured in the various experiments was not significant.
The work with this parasite showed that, in general, with a low moth
infestation, control was difficult to obtain, regardless of the numbers of the
parasite released.

Throughout the years, Macrocentrus has continued to increase its useful-
ness as a natural enemy of the moth. It is the only major parasite effective
against the first, as well as succeeding generations, of larvae and is, in a great
measure, responsible for the striking reduction in the moth injury east of
Vineland. During the last three years Macrocentrus releases have been made
almost exclusively west of Vineland but, as yet, the parasite is not numerous
in this area and larvae parasitized by Macrocentrus are scare. It would appear
‘that this low concentration of the parasite is due to the small size of the
individual releases and to the time of the season when they were colonized.
The following Macrocentrus were liberated in orchards during the period under
Sreemsston: 1932, 4,251; 1933, 1,331; and 1934, 4,090.

Glypta rufiscutellaris Cress., our most important native parasite, iS
principally a parasite of second generation larvae, and, of late years, it has been
of great value in reducing the larvae of this generation. Unfortunately, its
late seasonal appearance in the orchards allows the host one generation of
uninterrupted development, which results in the production of such a large moth
population that, even though the parasite destroys a high percentage of the
second generation larvae, sufficient are left to produce a high peach infestation.

_ Also, Macrocentrus is the dominant species in the competition for hosts and
consequently, as Macrocentrus increases in numbers, Glypta becomes less
— successful. From the standpoint of fruit moth control, this is not a serious

problem, since Macrocentrus is equally as good a second generation parasite as
_ Glypta, and has the added advantage of destroying first generation larvae.

70 TFHESRERORG OF irre

The relative importance of the more successful fruit moth larval parasites
for the last three years is given in the folowing summary. It should be noted |
that the figures are secured from the entire district and that in certain areas '
Macrocentrus parasitism is much higher than the table might indicate. This
is due to the fact, as will be shown in a later table, that the parasite appears _
in much higher concentration in some districts than in others.

All the figures in the table are given as percentages of emergents. he
total number of emergents handled in each generation is given at the top of the |
column.

1932 » 933 1934
First Second. ‘Third First Second Third First Second

Number of emergents | 5,853 | 4,436 | 229 42S Al 289 125 (Q2ie7s i628
Macrocentrus an- lie a
cylivorus Rohwer ..| 8.5 10.4 | 4.8 218 253 31.2 1D, 38.6
Glypta si 4 |
rufiscutellaris Cress... De POLO 226 4 37.4 4 39.4
Cremastus minor |
Cusine. 4 fo eet 3.43 6.1 4 4 6 4.1
Cremastus forbestt |
Wed ae eta ee 508 14 io 2.4 AS 2.8
Ascogaster | |
carpocapsae Viet. .... ) 43 9 lh) a)
Dioctes obliteratus |
Cressi ne. so meat 1.5 .6 Ls85 ey 25 |
Lixophaga plumbea
Reese ial Soke 3 02 25 |
Epiuus indagator |
Wralsh. “ate peee eek a 05 202.4) .24 8 |
Macrocentrus
delicatts, Gress. 02 .29 |
Others Vee ee .02 .05 ee .08 8 07 7

Because of the scarcity of larvae and the early hardening of the twigs,
no third generation larvae were secured in 1934.

It will be seen from the figures that Macrocentrus showed a decrease in |
parasitism in the first generation of 1934. ‘his was probably due to the dry |
summer of 1933, which caused a premature hardening of the twigs and, |
consequently, few larvae were left in feeding situations where they could be ©
reached by the parasites. |

The relative importance of Macrocentrus and Glypta, as peach parasites |
in the eastern and western parts of the Niagara Peninsula, is shown in the ©
following summary. Vineland is taken as the point of division and is
included with the figures for the eastern part of the Peninsula.

First Second
Generation Generation 3
EAST WEST EAST WEST
Mactocentrus anculivorus sronwer L952) .e ae ee 10.1 4] 14s Oe
Macrocenttusmanculivorus Rohwer! 953.74 ee ee 29.4 2.6 3) 37300 et Ged
Moctocentrus ancylivocus, Rohwer 9344-5) ee 18.3 4,2. | 56.87 6.9
Glypta cafiscutellaris. Cress. V9 52 5yeee pare ae eee ee 6 el | DOG) Sie wa
Glypta cufiscutellaris: (Cress, W983). eee ee eee 5 0 27 Gla O56
Glupta cafiscutellaris (Gress. 19340... eee 4 3 | 22,1 S40

The table shows the relationship of the two ma jor parasites. Macrocentrus |
is most active and important in the eastern half, while Glypta is mainly
responsible for the larval destruction in the western half. It also indicates
the results of the competition for host material. Where Macrocentrus is on)
the increase, Glypta successfully parasitizes fewer larvae, and where Macrocentrus
is scarce, and competition less keen, Glypta becomes abundant as a second
generation parasite.

ENROVMOLOGICAL SOGIETY 71

During the period in which the parasite investigations have been conducted
in Ontario, 39 species of parasites have been found attacking the Oriental
Fruit Moth. By referring to the first table, it will be seen that, of these, four
or five play a role in control, although by far the larger percentages of
parasitism is produced by two of these, Macrocentrus and Glypta. A list of
the parasites secured in Ontario is given herewith,—

Actia interrupta Curran
Aenoplex betulaecola Ash.
Anachaetopsts tortricis Coq.
Angitia sp.

Apanteles sp.

Ascogaster carpocapsae Vier.
Atrometus clavipes (Davis)
Bassus cinctus Cress.
Calliephialtes grapholithae (Cress. )
Campoplex sp.

Cremastus forbesit Weed.
Cremastus minor Cush.
Cremastus sp.

Dibrachys boucheanus Ratz. (Primary and Secondary )
Dioctes obliteratus (Cress. )
Elephantocera greent Town.
Epiurus indagator Walsh.
Epturus sp.

Ephialtes aequalis (Prov.)
Eubadizon pleuralis (Cress. )
Eubadizon sp.

Glypta cufiscutellaris Cress.
Glypta vertpes Cress.

Glypta sp.

Itoplectis conquisitor Say.
Lixophaga plumbae Ald.
Macrocentrus ancylivorus Rohwer
Macrocentrus delicatus Cress.
Macrocentrus laspeyresiae Mues.
Meteorus sp.

Microbracon mellitor Say.
Microbracon politiventris (Cush. )
Microbracon sp.

Microgaster ecdytolophae Mues.
Nemorilla maculosa Nig.
Pristomerus ocellatus Cush.
Trichogramma minutum Riley
Tromera sp.

Phorocera erecta Coq.

The three year period under review shows a general decrease in the
importance of the Oriental Fruit Moth as a peach pest in the Niagara Peninsula.

¥2 ‘PHE- REPORT: OFF fHE

With this decrease in the moth population, there was a falling off in the
usefulness of Trichogramma minutum Riley as an egg parasite, since its habits
make it more active when host material is abundant. The liberation of
laboratory reared Jrichogramma was also discontinued in 1933. At the
present time 39 species of larval parasites have been found attacking the moth
but, of these, only two, Macrocentrus ancylivorus Rohwer and Glypta
rufiscutellaris Cress, are of economic importance in control. Macrocentrus is
abundant east of Vineland and is yearly becoming of greater importance, but,
as yet, it is not well established in the western half of the peninsula. In
this area Glypta plays the major role, but tends to become less successful when
brought into competition with Macrocentrus.

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF GREENHOUSE INSEGas
By A. Be-DAIRD

Dominion Parasite Laboratory —- Entomological Branch, Belleville, Ontario.

The control of insect pests on greenhouse crops is becoming an increasingly
important problem each year. “The production of greenhouse vegetables, fruits
and flowers ranks as one of the most important of Canadian industries, the
sale of flowers alone amounting to upwards of one hundred million dollars
annually. “The losses caused by insects in greenhouses are greatly magnified by
the increased cost of production, as compared with field grown plants, but
this is partly compensated for by the fact that control measures are, for the
most part, more effective and more economical of application in such enclosed
spaces. However, chemical and other artificial control measures, as at present
developed, are not entirely satisfactory under all conditions and with all
plants, and there appears to be an important field for biological control as an
aid in combatting some of the more persistent pests.

Developments up to the present have been largely in connection with the
control of the greenhouse whitefly (TJ rialeurodes vaporartorum Westwood.),
utilizing the chalcid parasite, Encarsta formasa Gahan. The technique for
propagation and distribution of this parasite was worked out in England at
the Cheshunt Research Station of the Nursery and Market Garden Industries
Development Society, and since 1927 several million Encarsia have been utilized
by members of the Society. In the summer of 1928 a stock of this parasite
was supplied to us through Farnham House Laboratory, and material has
since been maintained in sufficient numbers to supply colonies to growers on
request. The distribution has proven extremely valuable, particularly to
those growing tomatoes and cucumbers, and the demand has increased steadily
each year, so that during the winter of 1933-34 approximately 200,000
parasites were sent out to the growers in all parts of the Dominion. The
results were carefully checked up by officers of the Branch Laboratories and
Inspection Stations in the various provinces, and complete success was reported
in almost every instance, where the parasites were obtained sufficiently early
in the season before the whitefly was already present in destructive numbers.
Even in houses where the parasite is established, the population may be so
reduced by the destruction or removal of plants between seasons that restocking
will be necessary for each crop. ‘This service can be rendered at very small
cost —— probably less than the cost of one fumigation, and provides very
cheap insurance against whitefly injury.

Se ar a

ee eg ee re a es ee ae ee

a a

|

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY .

The common mealy bug (Pseudococcus citri Risso.) is another very
troublesome pest, which is amenable to biological control and, while this
work has not yet been incepted in Canada, it is receiving considerable attention
in the United States, England, Australia and other countries. -The predaceous
ladybird (Cryptolaemus montrouziert Muls.) is commonly utilized, the
technique for propagating it in large numbers having been developed many
_ years ago in California. ‘I’wo species of parasites are also being utilized in

California.

Aphids are usually considered the most generally injurious of all green-
house insects and the utilization of parasites to aid in their control is being
investigated at the present time. In our own greenhouse aphids have been
very serious pests and their control is complicated by reason of the fact that
the application of poisons to foliage makes it unfit for further use in rearing
host insects used in parasite propagation. In the late fall of 1932 the
Ichneumonid parasite, Aphidius phorodontes Ashmead, was reared from aphids
feeding on dock plants brought in from the laboratory garden. ‘This stock
was carefully cultured and used in an experimental way during the winter
with very promising results. During the winter of 1933-34 some special
attention was given to its propagation. Excellent control was secured in
the warmest house and no sprays were necessary. In the other houses the
temperature was too low for satisfactory parasite development during the first
part of the winter, but during March and April they increased very rapidly
and sprays were not necessary during the period of early spring production,
when food material was most valuable. “The matter is being further invest-
igated this winter with a view to developing technique for large scale
propagation when required.

Thrips, spider mites, the fern scale, and many other common greenhouse
pests have important insect enemies, which could doubtless be manipulated
to the advantage of growers, as readily as the whitefly parasite. “he biological
method of controlling greenhouse insects should receive greater attention in the
future and become a most valuable aid in the development of this important
industry.

THE IRON SULPHATE AND LIME-SULPHUR MIXTURE
By A. KELSALL

Dominion Entomological Laboratory,
Annapolis Royal, N.S.

INTRODUCTION

This paper is essentially a summary of our observations and records
concerning the use of the iron sulphate and lime-sulphur mixture, on apple
trees, under the conditions prevailing in the Maritime Provinces. Most of the
information, particularly that dealing with fungicidal data has previously
_ been published in various reports of the N. S. Fruit Growers’ Association, in
_ co-operation with J. F. Hockey, Plant Pathologist. No tabular or other

detailed data are presented, but the paper is confined to certain general state-
__ ments which have held true in an extensive series of field experiments.

i:

74 THE TREPORDW OP iiae

HISTORY OF THE MIXTURE

Experiments were made with mixtures of iron sulphate and lime sulphur |
many years ago by various investigators. In fact, such mixtures were tried |
shortly after the introduction of lime-sulphur itself. However, the spray did
not seem to show the merits expected of it, and it apparently never became
popular nor was it widely used.

In the Maritime Provinces, the use of iron sulphate in lime-sulphur was
originally a minor experiment, being a small part of a larger project, in which
an extensive study was made of the merits or demerits of lime-sulphur sprays
which had been precipitated by a large number of chemical re-agents. This
project was commenced about ten years ago, but it was not until 1927,
following promising results from preliminary small trials, that iron sulphate
and lime-sulphur mixture appeared to be of a sufficient promise to warrant
extended work. In 1927, a large number of field plots were devoted to this
mixture, following which, in successive seasons, much data were accumulated.
As certain formulae had continuously appeared promising, in 1931 the mixture
was definitely recommended to growers.

At the present time the mixture is widely used in the Maritime Provinces,
being in fact more widely used than any other orchard spray, with the exception
of Bordeaux mixture.

COMPOSITION OF THE MIXTURE

One of the first points to be determined, was the ratio of iron sulphate
to lime-sulphur most desirable to use. It must be remembered that in
speaking of iron sulphate, crystal ferrous sulphate is meant, and in speaking
of lime-sulphur it is assumed that this material is a standard strength, that is
not less than 32 degrees Baume. Accordingly, during several years field plots
in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were utilized in which iron sulphate
was used in amounts varying from one-half pound all the way up to eight
pounds per each Imperial gallon of concentrated lime-sulphur.

It was found that the most satisfactory ratio was four pounds of iron
sulphate per one gallon of concentrated lime-sulphur. Used in these pro-
portions, the lime-sulphur is nearly completely precipitated, only a trace of
lime-sulphur still remaining in solution. The field experiments indicated
that this was the most desirable ratio, from three standpoints:

(1) If more iron sulphate than this were used, there was an excess of
iron sulphate in solution which was productive of certain foliage injuries.

(2) It was found that the typical lime-sulphur injury was reduced in
accordance with the amount of iron sulphate used, up to the stated amount.

(3) It was found that the larger the amount of iron sulphate used,
provided there was not an excess, the larger was the dosage of arsenical insecticide
that could be added with safety to foliage.

COMPATIBILITY WITH INSECTICIDES

Numerous insecticides were used in conjunction with the iron sulphate
and lime-sulphur mixture. For purposes of brevity, it is only necessary in this
paper to mention the more common ones. The following constitute the main
facts found in this connection:

ENPOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 75

(1) Nicotine sulphate is compatible and effective in this mixture. The
nicotine sulphate has no effect on the fungicidal value of the mixture.

_ (2) Lead arsenate is compatible and is an effective insecticide with this
mixture, and in addition slightly, but only slightly, increases the fungicidal
value.

(3) Calcium arsenate is compatible and is an effective insecticide in
combination with the mixture, and in addition materially increases the fungi-
cidal value. In cases of comparatively slight infestation of scab, this increase
in fungicidal value may not be very pronounced, but in cases of severe
infestation, the increased fungicidal value is very evident. In fact, this mixture
is to a considerable extent, a arsenical fungicide.

(4) Regarding the quantities of calcium arsenate which may be safely
used in this mixture, a rough approximation is a maximum of one pound of
standard calcium arsenate to every pound and a half of iron sulphate. In
order to get the highest possible fungicidal value, it is desirable to use calcium
arsenate in such quantity as is just a trifle under the safe maximum.

INSECTICIDAL AND FUNGICIDAL EFFICIENCY

The lime-sulphur and iron sulphate mixture combined with calcium
arsenate is an efficient fungicide. In an extensive series of tests covering many
years, a calendar based on Bordeaux mixture gave the highest fungicidal
efficiency, one based on the iron sulphate and lime-sulphur mixture standing
second in efficiency, and a calendar based on lime-sulphur and lead arsenate
being third. Nevertheless, in individual experiments, there were variations
from the above, and the control obtained from all three spray mixtures was
good, and the difference between them, on an average, was small. For
practical purposes they may all be considered of equal efficiency.

It is well known, that against certain orchard pests a given arsenical is
not as effective in Bordeaux mixture as it is when combined with lime-sulphur.
The iron sulphate mixture stands intermediate between the two. While the
iron sulphate and lime-sulphur mixture with calcium arsenate gave rapid and
efficient control of such orchard insects as canker worm, tent caterpillars,
tussock caterpillars, etc., nevertheless against such insects as the budmoth and
leaf rollers, it was never as effective as lime-sulphur and lead arsenate.

Records have been kept over a long period on the population of European
red mite on comparative experimental areas treated with the above mentioned
spray mixtures. ‘The red mite population has been consistently highest on
the Bordeaux plot, intermediate on the iron sulphate and lime-sulphur plot,
and lowest on the straight lime-sulphur plot. However, during all this time
the red mite population was never sufficiently numerous on any plot to be a
pest of consequence, with the occasional exception of the variety Wellington.
However, abundant experience has demonstrated that the iron sulphate and
lime-sulphur mixture cannot be relied upon to give any material control of the
European red mite, being decidedly inferior in this connection to straight lime-
sulphur.

EFFECT ON TREES AND FRUIT

In so far as our experience is concerned, the iron sulphate and lime-
sulphur mixture has the least detrimental effect on the foliage of trees of any
spray mixture of equal efficiency. Frequently, the Bordeaux plots carried
foliage equally as good, but the foliage on straight lime-sulphur plots was
invariably much the poorer.

76 THE REPORDOOFFATIE

Regarding the quality of fruit, Bordeaux mixture of course, produced
russeting when applied at certain periods. During some seasons, and on such
varieties as Ben Davis and Geno, lime-sulphur and lead arsenate also caused
a certain amount of russeting. “The iron sulphate and lime-sulphur mixture,
on the other hand, was not responsible for trouble of this character, or at the
most only to a trifling extent. However, when this latter mixture was used
too late in the season, the coloring of the fruit was detrimentally affected.

Of particular interest is the relationship between weather conditions and
the effect of spraying. When spray applications were made during light rains,
or under conditions whereby the trees remained wet for long periods, straight
lime-sulphur produced a serious foliage injury. Likewise, Bordeaux mixture
applied under the same conditions was responsible for foliage injuries in varying
degree. In the case of the iron sulphate and lime-sulphur mixture, however,
it was possible to make applications with entire safety to foliage under weather
conditions which were quite impracticable for the other two spray mixtures.

- USE OF SPREADERS WITH THE MIXTURE

Much work has been done. on the use of spreaders in conjunction with
the iron sulphate and lime-sulphur mixture. Spreaders with an alkaline re-
action such as calcium caseinate, etc., are entirely satisfactory. Of the spreaders
tested to date, lignin pitch used at the rate of 3 or 4 pounds per 100 gallons,
is probably the most satisfactory, but it is difficult as yet to definitely state
that even the use of this spreader is economically justified.

USE OF WEAKER MIXTURES

The standard iron sulphate and lime sulphur mixture, has consisted of: |
10 pounds iron sulphate
24 gallons lime-sulphur

4 to 5 pounds calcium arsenate
per 100 gals.

During recent years mixtures weaker than this have been extensively
tested. For the most part, weaker mixtures have given excellent results, but
in one case of very severe infestation of scab, the weaker mixtures were definitely
inferior in fungicidal value to the mixture of standard strength.

However, in the case of orchards which are thoroughly sprayed, and
which are treated each year, the following formula is one of distinct promise:

6 pounds iron sulphate
144 gallons lime-sulphur

3 to 4 pounds calcium arsenate
per 100 gals.

AN IMPROVED FORM OF ARSENIOUS OXIDE AS AN
INSECTICIDE
By A. KELSALL
Dominion Entomological Laboratory,
Annapolis Royal, N.S.
INTRODUCTION

In this paper is described a form of arsenious oxide, differing in physical
properties from the white arsenic of commerce, which may widen the range of

EPNEFOMOLOGI@GAL SOCIETY 77

suitability of arsenious oxide as a direct insecticide. An account is given of the
general properties of this material, and a summary of results from field
experiments.

PROPERTIES OF ARSENIOUS OXIDE

- The ordinary white arsenic of commerce has a limited use as an insect-
icide. It is a suitable ingredient in certain baits, but speaking generally, has
been considered unsuitable for direct use against biting insects, on plant foliage.

The objections to the use of white arsenic are:

(1) The material is injurious to most foliage. Nevertheless white arsenic
has been used to a limited extent, in Bordeaux mixture on potatoes in the
Maritime Provinces, and also diluted with an inert powder, on the potato in
the drier sections of the Dominion.

(2) The material is not readily wettable with water, though this
difficulty may be largely overcome by incorporation with certain ‘“‘spreaders’’.

(3) No matter how finely divided the material may be, it nevertheless

remains dense, and when suspended in water, sinks rapidly to the bottom unless

violent agitation is maintained.

(4) When sprayed on foliage the material has very poor adhesive
properties.

(5) In proportion to the amount of arsenic present, the material is not
as poisonous as one would anticipate, this being largely due to its physical
properties.

In the case of the new form of arsenious oxide which has been developed,
the undesirable physical properties outlined above, are entirely removed. ‘The
material is most readily wettable in water, it will remain in suspension for long
periods, and it has good adhesive properties. While it is harmful to foliage
when used alone or in combination with many other materials, yet it is safe on
foliage up to certain limits, when combined with certain of the more common
fungicides.

INSECTICIDAL PROPERTIES

The relative efficiency of an arsenical insecticide is primarily dependent
upon the amount of arsenic present, but this general statement is much modified
by the many complicating factors which enter into the use of an insecticide.
The valence of the arsenic, the base with which either the arsenious or arsenic
acid is combined, and the physical characteristics of the insecticide, are all
factors which profoundly affect the toxic properties. Against most forms of
life, tri-valent arsenic is more toxic, per unit of arsenic, than penta-valent arsenic.
While there is not entire uniformity in the literature dealing with the relative
toxicity of tri-valent and penta-valent arsenic against insects, yet the large
preponderance of evidence is that tri-valent arsenic is between 50 and 60 per-
cent more toxic than the penta-valent. [his appears to be the case with the
new form of arsenious oxide. While this material contains about 70% metallic
arsenic, as against 22% in lead arsenate and 26% in calcium arsenate, yet its
toxicity appears to be much higher than is indicated by these figures.

An extensive series of insectary feeding tests was conducted, using a
number of different insect forms, and using the insecticides in several concent-
tations. Likewise, records of insect control have been kept on a large number

78 THE -REPORG= OF “Tae

of field plots. Speaking approximately, and somewhat roughly, these records
indicate that one pound of the improved arsenious oxide is equal in toxicity
to from four to six pounds of either lead arsenate or calcium arsenate. How-
ever, in this connection it must be remembered that there are many insects
against which the material has not been tested, and as is well known, there is a
variation in the relative response of different species to different insecticides.

USE ON FOLIAGE

Speaking generally, the improved arsenious oxide is toxic to plant foliage.
Similar to ordinary white arsenic, it is extremely toxic when used in con-
junction with lime. However, the material is harmless to foliage when used
up to certain limits, combined with either Bordeaux mixture or the iron
sulphate and lime-sulphur mixture. The agents responsible for safening the
arsenic are either the basic copper or iron compounds, which are formed in such
mixtures.

Extensive tests were conducted for the purpose of determining the limits
of safety. Further work to cover varying conditions is necessary. However,
as an approximation, one pound of the improved arsenious oxide is safe on
apple foliage if there is a minimum of six pounds of either copper sulphate or
iron sulphate present, in the above mentioned mixtures. This is ample for
most practical purposes.

It is interesting to record that, similar to calcium arsenate, the improved
arsenious oxide has a decided influence in increasing the fungicidal value of the
iron sulphate and lime-sulphur mixture.

INDICES OF TOXICITY FOR VARIOUS POISONS TO
DROSOPHILA AMPELOPHILA LOEW.

By N. A. PATTERSON
Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Annapolis Royal, N.S.

INTRODUCTION

The relative toxicity of certain poisons, and materials considered likely
to be poisonous, were determined, using the adults of Drosophila ampelophila
Loew. ‘This particular insect was used as it was readily procurable in quantities,
and with the possible exceptions of baits poisoned by either derris or pyrethrum
products, it appeared to feed readily on all the poisoned baits submitted. It
was originaly hoped that the relative toxicities of the materials under test
might be equaly applicable to other flies, such as the apple maggot. However,
this did not turn out to be the case, as at least some species of flies were
extremely sensative to a repellant influence asociated with many of the poisons.
However, due to the fact that Drosophila ampelophila fed freely on the baits
used, it is considered that the results obtained are fairly indicative of the
actual relative toxic value of the materials under test.

FEEDING MEDIA AND CONCENTRATIONS OF THE POISONS USED

Three feeding media or baits were used, (1) apple syrup, (2) molasses,
and (3) cane sugar-glycerine. The apple syrup and molasses were of ordinary

ENROMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 79

commerical grade. They were diluted with tap water before the poisons were
added; the apple syrup and molasses to concentration of 1214 per cent, and the
cane and sugar-glycerine to 5 per cent cane sugar and 2.5 per cent glycerine,
Poisons were all compared at six concentrations, 1:200, 1:400, 1:800, 1:1600,
£3200, and 1:6400. |

A wad of cotton wool was thoroughly soaked in each of the poisoned
baits and the excess liquid squeezed out. Finally each wad was placed in the
bottom of a shell vial of about 20 c.c. capacity and ten flies were introduced.
After being loosely stoppered with cotton wool the vials were set away. Vials
with unpoisoned baits were included as controls.

All tests were in duplicate, so 20 flies were used at each concentration of
poison for each feeding medium.

Dead flies were recorded daily for a week when the test was concluded.
COMPUTING THE INDICES OF TOXICITY

In computing the relative effectiveness of the various poisons two qual-
ities had to be considered, viz., the rate of the toxic action, and its certainty.
At the suggestion of Mr. James Marshall a numerical rating was devised, called
the “Index of Toxicity,’’ the calculation of which is hereby described.

1. The number of dead flies as recorded each day for a given dilution was
multiplied by the number of days that these flies had lived (for instance, if
on the fifth day of the test, six flies died, the number six was multiplied by
four, the days actually lived). “This was carried out for each of the seven
days duration of the test and the combined results, plus the number of flies,
if any, still alive on the seventh day, multiplied by seven, added together.

2. This sum was divided by the number of flies used in the test and the
resulting value called the average number of ‘‘fly-days’’. The average number
of “‘fly-days’’ for each of the six dilutions used were then summed, the total

divided by six and thus an average for all dilutions arrived at.

_ 3. This figure was then divided by seven (the number of ‘‘fly-days’’ as
in the controls when no poisoning occurred) and multiplied by 100 to pro-
duce as a percentum value, the effect of the poison.

4. Since the percentum value inversely represented the toxic qualities, it
was subtracted from 100 so the final value or so-called “Index of Toxicity”
was the complement of 100.

TABLE I.
INDICES OF TOXICITY FOR VARIOUS POISONS TO DROSOPHILA AMPELOPHILA

Index of Toxicity with

Apple Cane sugar

Material Syrup Molasses © glycerine
Meeeepabasin sulphate 35:76.) 2 5... scccccccescndeccessseszereveces 14.0 2. 3 OW7,
Meemecmaline hydrochlorine </..5.0.......6¢.<ccd0scectesstaeeactesenees 0.0
MEE HALC, CAS ACI oe. waccs nace vasisa tess ssaisecsdsenss ss Doral 1533 17.4
emmpemiseniate cad, DasiG ass. .... Wisscsscencvsssevesvesscates erdees 4.3 0.8 0.0
LA HPD ENT ORNS] GT i's ag eS Lg 73.9 67.6 47.0
MMPMESCHIAUE, MMACTICSIUIM 4. . foc... ..c.ccunteeeeuvecae vacetieieninestese 41.5 27.9 DIE
SPMMPEMESCHALC, THAMGATICSE |... secs ss... 20s-ccsceccsrsseesetaczeseversese 68.6 66.1 3755
SEMESCMALC, SOGUUIM =... Se hicn-cvvarvenscseckssiexscscsqueesauelss 67.2 29 74.5
A GROSS TCA teYa (1 ate 78.6 62.8 ODh7
MMR CHIce SUIPINGE . or... tick... ccc.sscoccsseeneueversacecasees 0.0 3:3 5.8

80

“FHE “REPORT OP TIEE

TABLE I. (continued )

Index of Toxicity with

Apple
Material Syrup
Arsenious: oxide “(precipiated) “5. oe
Barium: silicoiluonide’ 2 eee ee 10.0
Borax. -£...: sas sha ee ee oe eee ee ee 0.5
Calcium: flugsilicate. (compound) eso ee
Chlotal. hydrate <2... .05.. $2 e ee 1.2
Cocaine. “by drochlonides 3329) ee pe eee Dee
Copper carbonate (Comm. -20%)/ Cu) ) eee 4.0
Copper .catbonate (GP ooo) sie ee eee 40.5
Copper <ferrocyanrde +5. aor. oF 5th ose fee tee 0.0
Copper oxy chloride: — oo 52ers
Copper: phosphate "GC. Po -7 =... cee ee ee 17.4
Copper sulphate? or. en ee eee ae eee eae
Cryolités oi) os ncecem eee eee eee Al omens 29.6
Derris. (powdered, root) a ae Ae ee
Derris extract (derris 1 gm., glycerine 5 gms.)......
Derrising: Tiere MeN AI. ORS Ores Te eee. See ee 20.4
Dereisol') 2, 2832.. 2a ee Se ee eee 2 0.4
Dinitroorthocresol, 2 314. 2s. Chee be eee ee 99)
Dinitroorthocresol, 3, 5 (dissolved in Aieoholy s ae
Dinitroorthocycdlohexylphenol ~~... +0. eee
Dinitroorthopheny! phenate 02 Sh ee eee 49.9
Dinitroorthophenylphenol 1k eee Sie a:
Masnestum -sulphatec)46 a at ot ee ee eee
Mercunte vehloridet =*25 eee te ner eee amr an Esai)
Mercurie. todide® (hab. ) 6s ae eae ae 250
Mercurie aodide, (C7 Qi 2h, Ne: 2 ie eee ee 3204
Mercurous. chloride (colloidal) as. ee ee 0.0
Nicotine dinitroorthocyclohexylphenol ....................
Nicotine dinitroorthophenylphenol ..........0....0.0.0....
Nicotine ‘sulphate. 40%: nce cc ten er ern ees L952
Oxalic acidic: 228 her. es | ee a eee ee 4.3
Oxo Bordeaux (12%% metallic copper) .............. 2.6
Pherolphthalein *” 3.5.2. : 2 eee I es
Pyrcthrum, (powder). oe ee ee 17.9

Pyrethrum extract (pyrethrum 1 gm., glycerine 5 gms.)
Pyrethrum (mixed with syrup and stood for 12 days)

“Pysect’’ (5%. pyrethrins)) — > see ee ee ee
Ourmine: sulphate: 5 Uo oe Re eee ai
Rotenone: ope an. eee eee ee
Salicylicldeid’ sale 1 kG Aa) See eee 30.0
Saponmim. 4 0i4) 3). nee, 1 eee ee eine meee 0.0
Soap sbatke ooo. apt ee sa eee eeedhe e ne
Sodium: benz@ate.<:.i: eee. eae tetas ee 152
Sodium flugride ©=..1..3 Pa ee ee Ce RA Ye DSi 528
Sodium fluosilicate ......... ands ci, RO OP ie ae eee 53r1
Sodium formate” 2.4...0826..2-0 2 eee
Sodium dibromoxymercuryfluoresein ......................
Sodium dinitroorthocyclohexylphenate ..................
Sodium nitropaisside 2-340. ee Fad
Sodium, salicylate... UA ore oe eee 22.9
Sirychnine allloid -°...:4:32).;.J225, 32 eee 1.6
‘Bellurium “2020 22.20. Ae, eee eee

Molasses

41.4
72

0.0

5.0)

= a)
18.2

7.0
30.8
2.6

293
O27.

+ 9Da8

29 2

Ghee!
32
Lia

0.0

144

30.6
0.5

28.7,
0.6

0.0

Cane sugar
6 glycerine

63.6
30.0

ENTROMOLOGIGAL SOCIETY 81

WARBEE FRY CONTROL IN ONTARIO
By L. STEVENSON
Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, Ont.

The Need.—The known losses due to the two Warble Flies, Hypoderma
_lineatum and Hypoderma bovis, may be listed as follows: grub injured hides,
a severe handicap on the production of beef and milk, interference with animal
health and physical injury to cattle. If such losses could be accurately estimated
they would represent a vast sum.

European effort.—Attempts have been made to control the Warble Flies
in European countries, during the past sixteen years. Notably in Denmark,
Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Great Britain. Considerable
success has attained these European efforts, particularly so since the introduc-
tion and use of Derris root compounds, for the purpose of killing larvae.
The European effort on Warble Fly eradication, previous to 1927, was slow
due to the killing agents used, being largely poison ointments and disinfectants
of low efficiency. Hence the advent of Derris root and its rotenone com-
pounds, gave a worth while stimulus to the European workers in their effort
in the control of the Warble Flies.

Dertis the Remedy.—Derris root is grown in the East Indies, on deep
organic soils in a climate where the atmosphere is noted for its humidity and
high temperature. Derris root of a good commercial grade may contain four
active principles of value in combatting animal pests. ‘These active principles
are known as rotenone, dequelin, tephrosin and toxicarol; of these rotenone is
most highly valued in the killing of the larvae of the Warble Flies. “The
introduction of the Derris compounds containing one or all four of the active
principles, collectively spoken as tuba toxin, was a most important step, com-
ing at a time when interest in Warble Fly control was developing. It gave
a highly efficient remedy when it was being sought by many interested cattle
owners. This saved Ontario going through the slow and not very satisfactory
experience endured by promoters of Warble Fly control in Europe. A Derris
compound distributed by the Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers was avail-
able in Ontario, during the past three seasons and proved a factor of success
in the warble control undertaken in Ontario. Other firms interested in the
commercial production and sale of Derris compounds have also entered the
field of supply, which will insure a wide distribution over the Province, of
suitable warble larvae killing compounds. Such an efficient remedy then being
easily available to the cattle owners, will be a great aid in removing this cattle
pest. All Derris compounds intended for the killing of Warble larvae should
contain at least 2 per cent. of rotenone or its equivalent in the combined active
principles of Derris.

Barrie Island Township.—An experimental area was needed so that
information regarding the application and efficiency of a Derris compound
might be obtained. So the co-operation of the 34 farmers resident in this
township, owners of 800 head of cattle, was sought in 1932. A preliminary
meeting was held, the project explained, the local plan of action explained
and adopted. Starting on March 26th and occupying three days, all cattle
Were examined and treated. [his was repeated twice at 30-day intervals.
The treatment consisted in wetting the warbled areas with the Derris com-
pound and scrubbing same vigorously with stiff brush, to ensure the entrance
into the skin perforations of a few drops of the Derris solution. Cattle were
examined following each treatment and the condition of the back noted. ‘The

oe

82 THE -REPORG< OR Vibe

killing of the larvae, their shrinking and expulsion, together with the healing
of the sore back was quite marked and pleasing to see. As a result of treat-
ment 10,026 grubs were killed on the 700 cattle, this materially reduced the .
supply of flies during the summer. There was very little unrest in the herds,
the animals remained in the fields at pasture during the entire day. “This work
was continued during 1933 and 1934 with every indication that Warble Flies
could be controlled quite easily and at little cost if the cattle owners would :
only do their duty toward their cattle. Careless or unthinking people brought |
outside, untreated warbly cattle onto the island during 1932 and 1933, which
influenced somewhat the result that we had hoped for, indicating the necessity
for legislation. From Barrie Island township, 1,200 Manitoulin farmers heard -
the story of success in warble control, and asked that all of Manitoulin
be included in 1933. So in 1933 an additional 18,000 were subject to treat-
ment, under difficult conditions. The satisfactory results obtained in Mani- |
toulin areas were made known to the farmers of the Province generally, and
had a very great influence in giving impetus to the work. Small demonstra-
tions were also carried out on Scugog Island and Thorah Island in 1933.
Many herds were treated independently by farmers that became interested,
through attending live stock meetings, seeing warble and other parasite ex-
hibits, reading press articles and advertising. So by the end of 1933 many
farmers over the Province knew something of Warble control and the awakened
interest of the owners of 2,000,000 had been attained.

Elgin and Oxford Counties in 1934.—The interest created by the ap-
parent success on Barrie Island, resulted in the County of Oxford with some
70,000 cattle and the County of Elgin with about 55,000 cattle considering
a county wide Warble control program. The Agricultural Representative for
Oxford, J. R. Green and the Representative for Elgin, F. S. Thomas, under-
took to organize these counties, hoping to materially reduce the Warble pest, |
and thereby remove a handicap to the dairy industry. :

The Oxford Organization.—The interest of the Agricultural Committee
of the county council was sought and obtained. Then followed a meeting
of the Live Stock Improvement Association of the county, for the purpose
of considering a county wide plan. Both organizations supported the pro-
posed movement. “The county council voted sufficient funds, $2,000, where-
with to purchase the Derris compound and pay for its distribution. [he Live
Stock Improvement Association and the Junior Farmer’s Association formed |
the basis of a voluntary structure or organization composed of over 200 |
interested cattle owners, selected for the purpose of being overseers or keymen, |
to supervise the work of application in their own township or school section.
The educational program started in February with the holding of a series of |
24 meetings, well distributed over the county. ‘These meetings were generally
held in suitable capacious stables, where a lecture could be given and also a |
demonstration in the application of the warble killing wash. ‘The attendance |
at these meetings averaged 75 farmer cattle owners. The co-operation of the |
county school inspector was sought and obtained, resulting in a school lesson |
being taught on the Warble Flies in every rural school in Oxford county. |
Multigraph sheets were sent to every farmer in the county, on five occasions |
at opportune times, describing and directing the carrying out of the work on |
the farm herd. The county press co-operated liberally in giving publicity to |
the movement, with timely news paragraphs relating to the progress of the |
work. The township overseer, usually a member of the council, and the key- |
men in the school section gave direction and assistance where needed, to ensure |
the work being well done. The Agricultural Representative and his Assistant
were directly in charge of the campaign, gave up a great deal of time in general

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 83

directing and checking up on the work. ‘They also investigated obstinate cases,
reported to them by the township overseer, endeavouring to get action on
every farm.

The organization in Elgin county where Mr. F. S. Thomas and his
assistant, John Charlton, were in charge, was identical with the organization
in Oxford, so need not be repeated here. “The Derris powder compound pur-
chased by the county, was distributed through the Agricultural Representa-
tive office, on the basis of one pound for each 20 head of cattle.

Results in Oxford and Elgin.—At a cost of less than three cents per
head, the cattle in these two counties (approx. 110,000 head) were treated.
All were treated twice, most of them three times, and a few four times. Very
few herd owners reported any gadding during the summer and a more steady
milk flow to the depots, creameries, cheese factories, and condensers was experi-
enced than ever before. Expressions of satisfaction were heard from every
school section, commenting on the quietness of the cattle, their remaining in
the pastures and feeding instead of seeking protection in buildings or ponds.
In Elgin and Oxford counties, where the cattle are largely kept for the milk
they produce, herds that were regularly sprayed with fly repellants were much
less infested, than were those herds where no spray fluid was applied, for the
purpose of repelling the common stable flies. Evidently the common fly sprays
have considerable effect in reducing the hatchability of the Warble Fly eggs.
The ratio of Warble infestation with sprayed cattle versus unsprayed was |
to 8, this average was taken from about 100 herds of dairy cattle and included
all ages. [he young cattle in the herds showed heaviest infestation during
April, while the older cattle were largely free of larvae in the back area until
late May or June. This was probably due to the greater migration distance
required for the larva in the older and larger animal. In some herds larvae
appeared in June and July, indicating the need for a late June treatment.

Activities in other parts of the Province.—In addition to the wide move-
ment in Oxford and Elgin, many smaller units as townships, school sections,
concession lines, and groups of farms, throughout the Province became areas
for Warble control activity, resulting in over one-half million cattle receiving
treatment during 1934. ‘The reports received from all were uniformly good,
and indicated to many that work well done in Warble killing gave a profitable
return, in increased weight of cattle, in increased milk production, with less
unrest and fewer broken fences.

Difficulties.—There were a few cattle owners, usually those keeping or
dealing in feeder steers or outside dealers using grazing lands located within
the supposed Warble control areas. Some of these men refused to have any-
thing to do with Warble control projects. This attitude resulted in. some
cattle going untreated in the sections used for grazing beef cattle. [hese
obstinate or careless men who decline the co-operation offered by their neigh-
bours who happen to be more progressive, will always be a factor in hindering
to control of the Warble Flies.

The Need for Legislation.—Enabling legislation that could be made effec-
tive in those municipalities where the majority desired it, would assist very
much in getting the control work done. The indifferent cattle owners are
the present day obstacle to Warble Fly control, and their persistant refusal to
accept the advice and the remedy will make the task a more difficult one for
the great majority of cattle owners who earnestly desire the effective control
and final eradication of the Warble Flies.

84 ‘THE. REPORT OF He

THE TURNIP APHID OUTBREAK IN ONTART@
By L. CAESAR
Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph.
In the year 1926 there was a very severe outbreak of the turnip aphid

(Rhopalositphum pseudobrassicae Davis) in the central and western part of ©

Ontario. The outbreak began in the latter part of July, reached its height
about August 10th and the aphids had almost all disappeared by August 17th.
This year we have had another great outbreak which began at almost the same

date, and reached its height at the same time, but did not pass away so quickly, ~

for many aphids could still be found especially on the lower leaves in the heavi-
est infested fields until the end of August or the first week in September. All
the main damage, however, had been done by about August 17th. So far as
I have been able to find out the area most heavily infested was again this year
about the same as in 1926, namely, from about Toronto on the east to Strat-
ford and London on the west, and from the Great Lakes on the south to a
line running from Aurora to a few miles north of Stratford on the north.
This, of course, includes most of the main turnip growing area of the Prov-
ince. Outside of this area an occasional field was heavily infested.

AMOUNT OF DAMAGE

A very interesting characteristic of the infestation was that it did not |
cover every field in any locality for even in the most heavily infested localities |
25 per cent. or more of the fields were very little damaged. It was common |

to find two or three fields with almost every leaf drooping and dead or dying,
while quarter of a mile away, or sometimes only one hundred yards or less,

a field would have fine vigorous foliage and be almost totally uninjured. I |
visited several of these fields and saw some that had scarcely any aphids pres- |
ent, while others had a considerable number but not sufficient to weaken the |
plants perceptibly. ‘Ihe reason for some fields being heavily infested and |
others not, was not determined. In many cases exemption from serious injury |
seemed to be due to early planting, but this did not hold true in all. Neither |
did the size of the leaves explain the degree of injury; for in certain fields the

plants that were growing most rapidly were the ones most heavily attacked,

and the first to collapse. The greater succulency of rapidly growing plants f

may have been a big factor in enabling the aphids to become established and
to increase quickly and thus cause more damage. Some fields which were well
fertilized and had very fine plants were so heavily attacked that almost every
leaf was covered on the underside. Such fields were a total loss. In the entire
infested area hundreds of fields were almost totally ruined and in hundreds of

others the crop yield greatly lessened. Certain large growers lost from 10 to |

20 acres each.
Host PLANTS

Swede and white turnips were equally attacked, and no variety or strain
of either, so far as seen, was exempt. Rape in some localities was also heavily
infested but seldom so heavily as turnips. Cabbage and cauliflower seemed, as |
in 1926, to be entirely free, even when growing alongside turnips.

CAUSE OF THE OUTBREAK

I do not yet know sufficient about this aphid to be able to say what |

climatic or other conditions seem responsible for the working up of the out-
break. It looks, however, as if a fairly long period of dry weather in June
and July may have had something to do with it.

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ENEFOMOLOGICAL ‘SOCIETY 85

NATURAL ENEMIES

Most of the predaceous and parasitic enemies which ordinarily attack

+ turnip and cabbage aphids were present. “[here were two hymenopterous para-
sites (possibly the smaller one may have been a hyperparasite on the larger),
five species of ladybird beetles and their larvae, some syrphus fly larvae, aphis
lions and a small red dipterous larvae probably a cecidomyiid. Of these the
hymenopterous parasites were the most important in some fields, the ladybird
beetles in others and in the Hamilton district the small red dipterous larvae
at least towards the end of the outbreak. Syrphus fly larvae and aphis lions
seemed to be too few to have much effect. At first none of the aphids were
attacked by fungus but later on in some places about twenty per cent. were

killed by it.

Though the above enemies were fairly numerous in all fields and very
numerous in a few, I am doubtful whether the gradual lessening of the number
of aphids after about August 12th was caused by them alone. I am inclined
to the opinion that in some way climatic conditions and the gradual change
taking place in the plant itself may have done as much as all the other factors
combined.

CONTROL MEASURES

Two large growers, at our suggestion, tried to save their fields by using
a 2% nicotine dust applied by a power duster with a canvas sheet trailing
behind to concentrate the dust. In both cases the dust stupefied the aphids
but they nearly all recovered and crawled back to the leaves. Even a 4%
dust did not give the expected kill. We then carried out a series of laboratory
tests with Red Arrow, Smutherbug, Pysect, Solomia, Katakilla, Derrisol, Black
Arrow Dust, derris, nicotine sulphate 40%, kerosine emulsion, lubricating
oil emulsions, and soap. [he most promising of these were then tested in
the field. After experimenting in this way we finally came to the conclusion
that the most satisfactory and economical mixture was linseed oil soap, 1 Ib.
to 10 gallons of water, the water being either soft or hard. ‘This soap costs
about 8 cents a pound or 80 cents for 100 gallons of spray. “To apply it we
used a ten-gallon Hardie Sprayer outfit and a home-made iron rod about 3
feet long with a curve of about 33° near the end and on the tip of this a disc
nozzle with a moderate sized opening. [The nozzle was placed under the
lowest leaves and permitted the spray to be driven right through beneath the
leaves to the opposite side. In this way we were able to hit almost every aphid.

Spraying turnips with a hand outfit is a slow job, but I believe it would
pay well if the seed had germinated well and the plants had got a good start.
I am not sure whether power outfits with stationary nozzles would be satis-
factory. [hey certainly would not be unless the nozzles were so arranged
that the spray could be shot up from close to the ground to hit the under-
surfaces of the leaves.

THE CORN BORER SITUATION IN ONTARIO IN 1934
By L. CAESAR
Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph.

The Corn Borer Act was enforced this year as usual in all the counties
which have at any time been under the Act except the counties of Prince
Edward, Lennox and Addington, and Ontario. In 1933 at the request of

86 THE REPORT OF THE

the county council of Prince Edward and with the tacit approval of some
of the other councils it was decided, as an experiment, to allow counties east
of Toronto the option of enforcing the Act or not. About half of them ©
chose to enforce it and the other half not to. West of Toronto there was
no option given, all the counties being required to appoint inspectors as usual.

The clean-up last spring was about as good as usual in most counties ©
but in Essex and Kent was probably better than in any year since the Act
came into force.

This fall, in late August and September, we inspected as many counties .
as we could to see what percentage of the corn plants had been infested. The
following table gives the counties inspected and the degree of infestation in
each compared with that in 1933.

TABLE SHOWING THE PERCENTAGE. OF CORN PLANTS AlPQACKER Sareea
BORER IN: THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES. IN -1933 AND 1934) REsPEGhiy ery

Average Average Highest percent
No. of fields percent percent infestation in
Inspected infestation in infestation in any field

County BIS) S14 y ESS 1934 1933 1934
ambton eee 40 43 TDD Thsd) 79.0 28.0
TSSSOX 0h. ete ee te 4] 3)5) 29D L.8 96.0 44.0
Kemet eh. Tarn ee eae 42 aS 35.0 eS) 98.0 S5E0
Peleen island: eyes 16 18 A) 3.8 39.0 8.0
1) Repo ia tn Wit Eee ore 30 30 16.6 6.6 43.0 2530
Middlesex: je ee 40 40 20.0 4.6 54.0 22.0
INOriOlkS Mey it fa Ae 30 30 OE Deo) 220 17-0
Oxitordseio eee 28 28 17.0 6.0 60.0 17.0
i aldiumandencs.. eee hae 16 not inspected 5.60.42 Boe 26.0
*Woellanidey 7 el ete ae 40 22 75 1.5 19.0 8.0
Lincoln 2.0. een 29 20 20.0 > 58.0 28.0
WienGwortby se. ve 2g) 22 W8e5 7 J 70.0 43.0
laltone mys a Ce eeeceee 20 20 16.6 8) 56:0 27.0
PPcel che cs ee 20 20 3930) 11.0 80.0 33.0
TOMATO mys & «ieee A) 20 not inspected 15.2. 3 ae + Ab 280
Dwain: fox Sees oe jee 20 not inspected 94: .2 3 eee B71.0
Northumberland ...... de 21 not inspected 5:30: 1435 17.0

*Much of the early corn in Haldimand and Welland in 1934 had been cut; hence the per-
centages in these two counties are probably too low for this year.

fOnly the southern half of these counties was inspected in 1933 and 1934. The northern half :

has less sweet corn and is more lightly infested.

tOntario county was not under the Corn Borer Act this year, but it would not be safe to assume
that this alone caused it to be the most heavily infested county.

It may be of interest to mention that the percentage in 1933 has gone up |
considerably compared to those of the previous three years and had been caus- |
ing us some anxiety lest we might not be able to hold the insect in control. |
The great reduction this year illustrates the point we have been emphasizing ~
for several years, namely, that climatic conditions, especially temperature and |
moisture, have a great deal to do with the decrease or increase of this insect |
in any particular season. So far the results obtained in the eight years since |
the Corn Borer Act was passed, encourage us to hope that unfavorable weather |
for the borer will occur with sufficient frequency to enable us to grow corn |

ENTOMOLOGICALE SOCIETY 87

almost every year without any serious loss, provided that we continue to clean
up the refuse each spring fairly well. I feel sure that we cannot for many

, years or perhaps ever, go back to the methods practised in Essex and Kent previ-

ous to 1927. I mean the practice of leaving most of the stalks in the field
and not even ploughing them under that fall or the next spring. Present
indications are, however, that outside of the husking corn areas and counties

- where there is considerable corn grown for table and canning purposes, we

may even be able to do without a compulsory clean-up, because in such dis-
tricts very little corn refuse is left on the fields, all the crop being cut and fed
and nearly all the stubble being ploughed under each year. We ought to
know in another five years whether I am right in this hope.

In studying the table you will see that there has been a great reduction
this year in every county except Ontario —— and this county was not under
the Act. You will also notice that in no field except perhaps in Ontario county
was the infestation as high as last year. I am probably correct in estimating
that there is not one-third as many borers in the Province this year as there

were in 1933. ‘The infestation would not have been so low had it not been

for the enforced clean-up, nevertheless, | am convinced that other factors, espe-
cially the drought, contributed as much towards the decrease as the clean-up,
even though the case of Ontario county seems to indicate the opposite. I do

not know why Ontario county was so much more heavily infested than the

adjoining counties. Part of the explanation is of course that the Act was

‘not in force there this year, but I am doubtful whether that was the only

reason. Previous to this year it had been one of the lightest infested counties.

Some of you are probably wondering whether the low temperatures of
last winter by killing the larvae may not account for the decrease. Mr. Baird
and his assistants have data which show that in the Belleville and Prince Ed-
ward district the winter did kill many borers, and that it also increased the
mortality in several other counties; but in Essex and Kent the winter mortal-
ity was only 9.5% compared with the normal of about 6%. Yet in these
two counties we have just as great a decrease as anywhere else, so we cannot
ascribe much of the reduction to winter mortality.

I should like to add in closing that I feel it is a pity that more attention
has not been given both in the United States and in Canada to the study of
the effect of temperature and moisture upon the corn borer. I believe if we
had a good deal more information upon this, it would be a great boon and
would enable us to foresee the part the insect is going to play in the future
and also the amount of attention we should give towards artificial control
measures. I know of no insect which seems to lend itself better to such a
study. ‘lhe ecologist has here a good opportunity to make a great contribution.

THE GRASSHOPPER CAMPAIGN IN MANITOBA IN 1934
ive oe Wile EINE kk
Professor of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg.

In the reports of the Entomological Society of Ontario for the years

1932 and 1933 there appear accounts of the grasshopper campaigns carried
on in Manitoba for these respective years. [he purpose of this paper is to
continue the record of this, the most extensive and severe grasshopper out-

break in the history of this Province.

88 THE “REPORT OP“ fHE

In practically every respect the campaign procedure of 1934 followed that |
of 1933. Prepared poisoned bait was made available locally as formerly for
all farmers who wished to make use of it. A maximum of two bags of pre- ’
pared bait per quarter section (160 acres) of land owned, could be obtained |
by each farmer daily from the nearest mixing station. This bait was the |
same as that used in 1933 except for the fact that a larger proportion of saw- .
dust was used this year. In many instances the carrier consisted of two parts |
of sawdust to each part bran. In addition to bran, malt sprouts, oat feed |
and brewers’ grains were used as carriers for the poison. No salt was used
in the bait. ‘The species of grasshoppers involved in the 1934 outbreak were |
the same as those which occurred in 1933, the clear-winged grasshopper,
Camnula pellucida Scudd., being the most important species.

The map accompanying this brief account indicates relative severity of |
infestation by municipalities. In order to understand how the infestation has |
developed this map should be compared with similar maps to be found in the
two previous reports of the Entomlogical Society of Ontario.

Hatching first began in the south-western part of the Province where
bait mixing commenced on May 16. Approximately 78% of the mixing
stations commenced operations after May 24, the latest beginning operations
on June 12. Again we wish to state most emphatically that grasshoppers
should be poisoned just as soon as they begin to feed in order to effect the
most economical results. Fifty-two per cent. of the mixing stations had |
closed down before July 1. ‘The last station to close ceased operations on
whys 12: 7

During the poisoning season this year 31,454 cwt. of bran, 10,187 cwt. |
of malt sprouts, 6,510 cwt. of oat feed, 530 cwt. of brewers’ grains, 34,650 ©
gals. of liquid sodium arsenite containing 8 pounds As,0, per gal., and 254 |
carloads of sawdust each containing approximately 20 tons each, were used.
These ingredients provided approximately 13,767 tons of prepared wet bait |
for approximately 18,500 farmers who carried on poisoning operations. ‘The |
net cost to the provincial government was $62,253.41 while the campaign |
cost the municipalities approximately $40,000.00. Some 65 municipalities |
prepared their own bait. In addition 16 other municipalities obtained their |
poisoned bait from adjoining municipalities where bait was prepared. The
accompanying map does not indicate a few of the municipalities which obtained
only a small quantity of bait.

It is the writer's considered opinion that much more could be and should |
be done by farmers to prevent Camnula pellucida Scudd. from ovipositing along
roadsides, fence lines, headlands, lanes and in other short-grassed areas. By
plowing such areas the environment is made unsuitable for egg laying and the |
female grasshoppers will not deposit eggs near farms where such plowing has
been done. When short-grassed areas are found to contain egg beds such land |
should be plowed deeply in autumn or spring to destroy the eggs before they |
hatch. By undertaking this method of control farmers will avoid much ex- |
pense and damage in muncipalities where the above species of grasshopper |
abounds.

We estimate that approximately 7 million bushels of wheat, 444 million.
bushels of oats and 3 million bushels of barley were saved from destruction |
by grasshoppers through the use of poisoned bait in Manitoba in 1934. The
widespread use of the bait indicates the confidence the farmers had in its
effectiveness.

H

ENTE OMOLEOGICAL SOCIETY 89

For information concerning the amounts of ingredients used in various
municipalities as well as to costs the writer records his indebtedness to Mr.

, H. E. Wood, Assistant Director, Extension Service, Department of Agriculture,

Winnipeg.

MANITO ay cau

Grasshopper infestation

Relative infestations are based upon the total amounts of prepared bait actually used during the

season. In the municipalities indicated as having very heavy infestations more than 4,000

pounds of prepared bait were used per section of taxable land. Where heavy infestations occurred

from 2,000 pounds to 4,000 pounds of bait were used, where moderate infestations occurred

from 500 to 2,000 pounds of bait were used and where light infestations are indicated less than
500 pounds of prepared bait were used per section of taxable land during 1934.

menos: IN NEW BRUNSWICK. POTATO. FIELDS IN 1934

By R. P. GORHAM and J. C. BURNHAM
Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Fredericton, N.B.

In connection with the study of plant diseases of the potato being carried
on under the direction of Mr. D. J. MacLeod at the Dominion Plant Path-
ology Laboratory at Fredericton, the identification of the aphids present on
the plants became necessary. Accordingly, arrangements were made for the
collection of a number of samples by the potato inspectors while making their

90 THE REPORA OF Ra:

examination of fields in July and August, and for the examination of these
at the Entomological Laboratory. ‘The inspectors would visit only the farms
where the best types of potatoes were being grown and whose owners had
applied for examination and certification for seed purposes. An additional
number of samples were collected by the entomological staff from small fields
grown only for home use or local sale. ‘The two series of samples gave a
representative collection of the aphids present on the potato plants in the
potato-growing areas of thirteen counties of the Province.

The general plan was to make four collections in four different parts of
each field visited, two of these from the upper portions of a plant, or plants,
and two from the lower portions. “These samples were marked and for-
warded with an accompanying record sheet, giving the name of the variety,
area and slope of field, ecology of surroundings and notes on recent rainfall,
to the Entomological Laboratory. “There the samples were examined, checked
with the field record, and a slide mount of from four to six specimens prepared
for microscopic examination and identification. In this last feature the writers
had the generous assistance of Dr. E. M. Patch, of the Maine State Experiment
Station, to whom all specimens of doubtful identity were referred.

Seven hundred and forty samples were obtained from the fields and seven
hundred and ninety-two determinations of species made, some samples show-
ing mixed colonies. Of these, 540 were Macrostphum solanifoli. Ashm., 223
Aphis abbreviata Patch, 26 Myzus persicae Sulger, and 3 Myzus pseudosolant
‘Theobald.

In a general way, aphids were not particularly abundant in the potato
fields of New Brunswick in 1934. During July, they were difficult to find.
In August, they were only moderately abundant in most regions, and with
the early dying of the potato foliage in September they disappeared without
having caused appreciable damage to the crop.

Macrosiphum solanifolt was the most abundant species in all regions from
which samples were obtained. Aphis abbreviata was found in all regions but
most abundant in Carleton, York and Victoria counties and somewhat scarce
in Sunbury, Queens, Kings, Westmorland, Gloucester, Charlotte and Resti-
gouche. ‘The few specimens of Myzus persicae found were in samples from
the counties of Carleton, York and Victoria.

PRECAUTIONS TAKEN TO PREVENT THE IMPOR TAG
PESTS AND DISEASES ON EXHIBITS FOR” THE WORIED:s
GRAIN EXHIBUTFION, REGINA, 1933

By LEONARD S. McLaINnE*
Entomological Branch, Ottawa.

When the announcement was made in 1929, that a World’s Grain Ex-
hibition and Conference was to be held in Regina in 1932, and that all
countries were to be invited to participate and send exhibits of cereals, grains,
seeds, etc., for competition and display, it was realized that due precautions

*Mr. H. E. Gray, in charge of Stored Product Investigations, acted as technical advisor and
consultant, supervised the erection of the fumigation and superheating chambers and carried
out the disinfections. Mr. P. C. Brown, Estevan, assisted by Mr. D. M. McLean, bales
had charge of the inspections and looked after the exhibits throughout the exhibition.

ENIFOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 91

overcome this difficulty, a modification was made with regard to the procedure
would have to be taken in order to prevent the introduction of new insect

., pests and plant diseases as well as to avoid an outbreak of cosmopolitan species

?

of stored product pests in the various exhibits. In view of what occurred at
the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1893), the necessity for tak-
ing these precautions became obvious. Riley! in his report of the situation,
states that “toward the close of September, many species not hitherto observed
began to make their appearance in such numbers in the agricultural building
as to cause very general alarm among the exhibitors of agricultural products’.
The exposition officials had to take drastic action and the exhibits from many
countries were so severely infested that they had to be destroyed. Mr. F. H.
Chittenden made a survey of the situation and collected the insect material.
When this was identified, in many cases it was only possible to go as far as
the genus, it was found that one hundred and one different species had been
collected, many of which were new to North America.

To complicate matters with regard to the pest control at the Regina
Exhibition the awards committee decided that in connection with certain com-
petitive exhibits, in addition to being judged on the physical appearance, etc.,
the exhibits. would be subjected to a germination test and also to field tests to
determine the purity of the strain to ensure no substitution of varieties. This
meant that if it were necessary to fumigate or treat any exhibit as a precau-
tionary measure, the fumigant used must not injure the physical appearance
of the grain nor affect the germination. Such being the case, it was decided to
carry On an extensive series of experiments*? with two fumigants, carbon bisul-
phide and ethylene dichloride-carbon tetrachloride mixture, to determine if
they affected the grain in any way. In these experiments eight varieties of
wheat, nine of oats, four of rye, ten of barley, three of flax, two of beans and
six of peas were used. [hese samples were received from different points in
Canada and an endeavour was made to secure samples of the highest quality
suitable for entry in competition. “The Cereal Division of the Central Experi-
mental Farms Branch, and the Seed Branch of the Dominion Department of
Agriculture co-operated in the work, the former by making a physical exam-
ination and soil germination test of the treated material and checks, and the
latter by carrying out germination tests of the treated and untreated material
in accordance with the procedure followed in the Canadian official germination
tests for commercial seed.

Neither of the fumigants used appeared to affect either the physical appear-
ance of the grain or the germinating qualities. “To avoid the fire hazard, how-
ever, it was decided to use if necessary, the ethylene dichloride-carbon tetra-
chloride mixture at the rate of fourteen pounds per one thousand cubic feet
of space at a temperature of eighty degrees Fahrenheit.

As an added precaution, the Exhibition authorities were advised to notify
exhibitors in countries other than the United States, that all exhibits must
be accompanied by a certificate of health issued by an authorized official of
the country of origin, to the effect that not only were the exhibits free from
insect pests and plant diseases but also that the crop from which the exhibit
had been procured had been examined during the growing period and was
found free from pests and diseases. Owing to economic conditions the
Exhibition was postponed and it was not until the early fall of 1932, that it
was decided to hold the show in July 1933. This was too late to arrange
for the field insepection of exhibits grown during the previous summer. - To

mievey, C,V., Insect Life, Vol: VI, No. 2, Dec., 1893.

*2'These experiments were conducted by Mr. P. N. Vroom, Entomological Branch, Ottawa.

92 THE} REPOR To@R hie

to be followed in connection with the field tests, in that all exhibits from
countries other than the United States, were to be grown on special plots of
the Cereal Division at the Experimental Farm, Ottawa, where they would be :
kept under close surveillance by officials of the Division of Botany.

In the Exhibition Building at Regina, the authorities were required to
construct in accordance with specifications a fumigation chamber 7’x8’x10’, .
also a small fumigation box, and an electric superheater for treating corn on
the cob. All this apparatus was carefully and thoroughly tested before the
exhibits began to arrive.

Competitive exhibits from countries other than the United States were 7
required to enter Canada through one of the ports of importation established
for the entry of nursery stock. On arrival at one of the said ports, the
exhibits were checked with regard to the certificate of inspection and the
inspector at Regina notified that the shipment was en route. All such exhibits
were due to arrive in Regina previous to March 15, 1933. The Exhibition
Building was established as a bonded warehouse by the Department of National
Revenue, Customs Division, and exhibits could not be removed without
permission. '

A definite line of procedure was followed in the handling of exhibits at
. Regina and the inspection and sampling began on March 20th, and continued
until pratically the end of April. Engaged in this work were three represent-
atives of the Entomological Branch, two of the Division of Botany, five of
the Seed Branch (all the above being officials of the Dominion Department of
Agriculture) and four of the Exhibition authorities. The exhibits were first
marked by a representative of the Exhibition, when passed to an entomological |
inspector who made a thorough examination, and who in turn passed it to a
plant pathologist. After being passed by the latter, samples were taken by a |
seed inspector for the germination and field tests when required. A metal |
scoop was used for drawing the sample, which was disinfected in methyl |
alcohol after each sample was taken. Before shipment and under supervision |
of a plant pathologist, all samples for field growing tests were dusted with |
a mercury preparation, “Improved Ceresan’’.

During the course of inspection, no insect specimens were actually found, |
but in many cases damage was noted and all materials was fumigated. As |
a matter of precaution, all peas and beans were fumigated on account of the —
danger of weevils. . Ihe display exhibits arrived later in the season, and some |
of these proved to be badly infested with the rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L.)
and the angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella Oliv.). All this material |
was promptly fumigated. The number of competitive exhibits sampled |
amounted to 2,144; of these 580 (including 12 wheat and 10 rice non- |
competitive) were fumigated, the material treated weighing 17,555 pounds.

Table showing quantities of materials fumigated :—

No. Exhibits Commodity Weight (Pounds)

73 Wheat 3,650

1 Oats 30

6 Barley 240

1 Rye xe)
134 Rice 3,5 90
155 Field Peas 4,650
13:1 Field Beans 3,930
42 Soy Beans 1,260
15 Vegetable Seeds 79
TZ Wheat * 120
10 Rice * 200

580 * Non-competitive. 17,550

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY Le

The corn on the cob exhibits were all superheated. On account of
the European corn borer, arrangements were made to superheat all corn orig-

J inating in the Maritime provinces in Saint John, corn from Quebec at Ottawa,

“and corn from Ontario at Windsor. The United States Department of

?

Agriculture kindly arranged to collect all exhibits originating in the quarantined
area, and to superheat them at one central point. In view of the condition
of the untreated corn on arrival in Regina due to insect damage other than
European corn borer, it was decided to treat all material that had not been
previously treated. In all, 302 exhibits consisting of ten ears each, were
entered for competition; of these 58 exhibits were treated in eastern Canada
and 34 in the United States previous to shipment. At Regina, 210 exhibits
were superheated, 45 were of Canadian origin, 163 originated in the United
States, and 2 in other countries.

Prior to and during the course of the Exhibition, both the competitive
and display exhibits as well as the surplus material placed in storage in the
building, were kept under close observation for outbreaks of stored product

insects, but no trace of them was found. As some of the display material on

arrival had shown serious infestation, particular care was taken to keep it under
supervision, but a careful check-up failed to disclose any further insects or
damage.

After the Exhibition closed, all display material not returned to the
country of origin, was destroyed in the Regina incinerator under supervision
of entomological inspectors and custom officers. Precautions were also taken
with regard to the competitive exhibits, which in most cases were returned
either to the country of origin or in certain instances after processing were
permitted to be used as a relief measure, for human consumption. In the
case of one country, which desired to have the bags returned, the exhibits were
destroyed and the bags thoroughly fumigated before shipment.

In conclusion it may be said that the Exhibition was an unqualified success,
not only from the point of view of the high standard of exhibits that were
entered for competition and display, but also due to the fact that no insect
pest or plant disease outbreak resulted from the exhibits which were received
from all over the world. The precautions that were taken, which seemed
onerous and almost too stringent at times, appear to have been fully justified

and sincere thanks are due not only to the many officials of the various branches

of the Dominion Department of Agriculture for the care, energy and efficiency
which they displayed, but also to the officials of the Exhibition itself and
particularly to its Secretary, who so willingly co-operated and assisted in
carrying out the detailed instructions laid down.

PeLEOPPERONS COLLECTIONS FROM JAPANESE BEETLE
TRAPS IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO

By R. W. SHEPPARD

Entomological Branch, Dominion Department of Agriculture,
Niagara Falls, Ontario
For several years past, Japanese beetle quarantine officers of the United

States Department of Agriculture have been systematically trapping in the cities
of New York State adjacent to the Niagara river border.

-

4, “PRE ‘(REPORS OR ibe

These operations have been watched with much interests by the Entomo-
logical Branch of the Dominion Department of Agriculture, and following
the receipt of official information from the United States Department regarding ,
the capture, during the seasons of 1932 and 1933, of a dozen or more examples
of Poplia japonica, in the cities of Buffalo, and Niagara Falls, N.Y., it was
decided to supplement our previously incepted border scouting, and prevent- |
ative inspection work, by a system of trapping similar to that adopted in the °|
United States.

Arrangements were accordingly made, early in the present year, for a |
supply of 500 of one of the latest model traps, with steel standards, collecting |
bottles, bait bottles, wicks, and geranioleugenol bait mixture. :

The entire 500 traps with component parts were finally assembled and |
distributed from the Entomological Laboratory at Vineland Station about the |
middle of July. Eighty-five of the traps were packed up and sent in small |
lots to various points such as Toronto, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; Saint John,
New Brunswick, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, the balance of 415 were set
under the direction of the writer in several different localities in Lincoln
county, and in the vicinity of Simcoe in Norfolk county.

Before any traps were placed in situation, a careful survey was made of
the intended trapping area and much thought was given to the selection of
suitable sites. During this survey of the area to be trapped, and in the selection
of trap locations, quarantine officials of the United States Deparment of
Agriculture, with characteristic courtesy, gave us much helpful advice, and
extended to us with a free hand, the benefit of their wide experience in this
work.

The area decided upon in Lincoln county covered a twenty five miles |
stretch of territory, from the extreme western outskirts of Grimsby, near the |
Wentworth county border to the east end of the city of St. Catharines, adjacent |
to the Welland ship canal.

The majority of the sites selected were in the yards of private houses,
but some traps were placed in tourist camps, as well as in municipal and
other public gardens, a very large proportion of the traps being placed in
situations adjacent to the much travelled Niagara~-Hamilton highway.

About one hundred and twenty traps were placed in the Grimsby-Grimsby
Beach area; approximately 55 at Beamsville; 35 in the Vineland area; 16 at |
Jordan; 18 at Port Dalhousie; 12 at Port Weller, and about 130 in and around
the city of St. Catharines. Thirty traps were taken to Norfolk county, and
there placed in carefully selected farm gardens, private yards, and tourist camp |
sites, between the town of Simcoe and the village of Lynnville. “This area |
being chosen for trapping due to the recent discovery of a specimen of the |
Japanese beetle in a collection of insects made some years ago in the vicinity |
of the latter point. |

The traps were all set out during the latter part of July and taken up |
for the season toward the end of September, or very early in October. The |
duration of the trapping period varied from 10 to 12 weeks; the traps being |
out in some districts at least a week to 10 days longer than in some of the |
others.

Adults of the Japanese beetle are essentially light loving insects and with
this fact in mind all traps were placed in sunny, open spots, when possible,
close to bright flower borders and preferably, but not always necessarily, with |

wd

ENGOMOLOGIGAL.SOGIE TY 95

a southwestern aspect. In placing the traps near flower borders, no very
particular attention was paid to the variety, or varieties of flowers in the
beds so long as they were bright and in the open, and gave promise of
remaining in bloom throughout the season; but when choice was possible,
our preference was given to spots in the immediate vicinity of such special
Japanese beetle favourites as hollyhocks, zinnias, or roses. Where flower
borders, and beds, were scarce or scanty, in otherwise desirable situations, a
spot was frequently chosen in the open near a grape vine covered fence, or
arbor.

There can be little doubt that the exposed, sunny nature of the trap
locations have had at least some bearing upon the species of beetles found in
our traps, but the extent to which such selective locations have influenced our
collections can only be determined by a careful analysis and examination of
the following list of Coleopterous families, genera, and species.

We are indebted to Mr. J. A. Hall for the collection records from the
30 traps placed near Simcoe in Norfolk county, and Mr. T. Armstrong for
records from the 10 traps placed on the Horticultural Experiment Farm at
Vineland Station. All the collections and records from the other 370 or more
traps under the direction of the writer are our own.

Lack of time prevented us from attempting to collect and preserve all the
insects caught in our traps and so systematic work in this connection was
attempted only insofar as the Coleoptera was concerned. In this connection,
it is perhaps interesting to record that this order of insects, the one with which

we are concerned, apparently outnumbered all others in our traps by possibly
B to: 1.

Among the incomplete and somewhat haphazard records available in
connection with insects other than beetles caught in our Japanese beetle traps,
we may mention here as a matter of possible interest the capture of a number
of cicadas, tree-hoppers, leaf-hoppers, and winged aphids; many true bugs,
including shield-bugs, assassin-bugs, ambush-bugs, lace-bugs, leaf-bugs, and
squash-bugs; a few small butterflies, and some Noctuid and other moths;
numerous dipterous flies; many bees, wasps, and winged ants, with a few
ichneumons, and horntails; several grasshoppers, and one or two crickets;
some caddice-flies, and some lacewings.

No examples of the Japanese beetle, or of any species even remotely
resembling the Japanese beetle were caught within our traps. However, during
the season, a very considerable, and quite interesting, collection of miscellaneous
Coleopterous material was obtained, from among which determinations have
been made as follows:—

Throughout the Niagara peninsula trapping area, beetles of the family
Carabidae were caught more frequently, and in greater numbers, than those of
any other group; but in the Simcoe district, ground-beetles were forced to
second place by the Scarabs, due to the presence in that district of large
numbers of late flying rose-chafers.

A small Carabid, apparently Agonoderus pallipes Fab., was so numerous
in the traps set out in Lincoln county that it is perhaps safe to state that
this one species outnumbered all the others combined. In the Norfolk

96 THE REPORT OF WEE

county traps, this small Carabid was also very plentiful, and takes second
place only to the previously mentioned rose-chafer, on Mr. Hall’s list.

Among other Carabid beetles taken in the Lincoln county traps were
about 15 Bombardier beetles Brachinus sp.; approximately 150 ground-beetles
apparently referable to Harpalus and related genera; 20 or more provisionally
identified as Poectlus lucublandus Say., and a few which should doubtless be
referred to the genera Platynus and Amara.

Although ground-beetles were so common in the traps, the related family
of tiger-beetles were very poorly represented, only 3 examples of a species of
Cicindela being taken during the entire season. Water-beetles were also very
scarce in the traps, and only 2 or 3 Hydrophilids, and Dytiscids were collected.

Among the carrion-beetles trapped, were about half a dozen Silpha of
two separate species, and about the same number of Necrophorus, with possibly
two or three different species represented; while of Staphylinids, or rove-beetles,
we collected approximately 25, including a single specimen of Creophilus
maxtulosus L., and two examples of Ontholestes cingulatus Grav.

Click-beetles of the family Elateridae were quite frequent in both the
Lincoln and Norfolk county traps. Mr. Hall mentions 10 wireworm adults
in his Simcoe records; while about 60 were taken in the Niagara peninsula.
These include a few specimens of Oeolus sp., the balance being probably refer-
able to the genera Elater and Melanotus.

The family Cantharidae is represented in our Lincoln county collections
by about 14 specimens of the soldier-beetle Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus
DeG. The family Lampyridae by one example of the firefly group only;
the Melyridae by 4 specimens believed to be referable to Collops quadrimaculatus
Fab., and the Melodae by 4 examples of the blister-beetle Epicauta
pennsylvanica DeG.

Dermestids of several species were found on a number of occasions by
Mr. Armstrong in the traps at Vineland Station, and two beetles of this
family are mentioned in the Simcoe list.

Histerids occurred sparingly in the Lincoln county traps, and apparently
only once in those near Simcoe. The same might be said of the family
Nitidulidae which is represented in the Lincoln collections by 10 or more

specimens which may be provisionally referred to Glischrochilus (Ips) fasciatus
Oliv.

Among ladybird beetles, Coccinellidae, our most interesting capture
occurred at Grimsby, with the finding of 2 examples of the Mexican bean
beetle Epilachna corrupta Mulsant, in two somewhat widely separated traps.
About 50 specimens of various other Coccinelids were taken in Lincoln
county, among which may be mentioned Adalia bipunctata L., Hippodamia
convergens Guer., Coccinella novemnotata Hbst., and Megtlla fuscilabris Muls.;
while the report from Norfolk county indicates that 15 specimens of ladybird
beetles were taken in the traps around Simcoe.

The large, and important family of Scarabaeidae is fairly well represented
in our collections; but the leaf-chafer group did not come to the traps set for
their relative quite so frequently, or in such numbers, as we expected them to.
However, the following species make rather an interesting list: —— rose-chafers
Macrodactylus subspinosus Fab., 80 from Norfolk county and 13 from
Lincoln; spotted pelidnotas Pelidnota punctata L., 12 from Lincoln county

ENTOMOLOGIGAL SOGIET Y 7,

and 1 from Norfolk; 45 bumble flower beetles Euphoria inda L., 2 hermit
flower beetles Osmoderma eremicola Knoch., and 2 rough flower beetles
Osmoderma scabra Beauv., all in the Lincoln county traps; while one June
"beetle Phyllophaga sp. is listed from Norfolk, and 3 small species of that
generic group were found in the Niagara peninsula collection. The scavenger
scarabs are not so well represented. Mr. Hall lists a Geotrupes splendidus Fab.,
‘and 2 manure beetles from the Simcoe traps; while about 45 specimens of
the Aphodian dung beetle group turned up in the Lincoln county collections.

The family Lucanidae is represented in our collection by a single example
of the stag-beetle Lucanus dama Fab., trapped at Beamsville on July 30th.

Cerambycid, or long-horned beetles, occurred in our traps in some
numbers; but the family is poorly represented in so far as variety is concerned,
among the typical long-horns, we took 26 specimens of the Locust borer
Cyllene robiniae Forst., in Lincoln county, and 1 in Norfolk; while about 8
other typical Cerambycids were collected; six of which appear to be referable
‘to a species of the Lepturoid group. Of Prionids, we trapped 3 specimens
of the parandra borer Parandra brunnea Fab., and one example of the lesser,
or straight-bodied prionus Derobrachus brunneus Fab.

Leaf-beetles of the family Chrysomelidae occurred in the traps in some-
what limited numbers; but this group is of some interest due to the variety
of species represented in our collections. Of the two asparagus beetles, the
twelve-spotted Crioceris duodectmpunctata L. was taken but 4 times, and in
the Lincoln county traps only; while the common asparagus beetle Crioceris
asparagi L., was collected 9 times in the Niagara area, and twice at Simcoe.

Our collections of this group also contain the two species of cucumber
beetle; 5 specimens of the striped species Diabrotica vittata Fab., and 10 of the
twelve-spotted Diabrotica duodectmpunctata Fab.

Among other leaf-beetles found in the traps, mention may be made of
‘3 specimens of the three-lined potato beetle Lema trilineata Oliv., and 2
examples of the brilliant, bluish-green milkweed beetle Chrysochus auratus
Pab.; while Mr. Hall’s Simcoe list records one potao beetle which apparently
‘refers to the common Colorado beetle Leptinotarasa decemlineata Say.

Weevils of any kind were rarely found in our traps, but about 12
icurculios, or scout-beetles turned up in the collections from the Niagara
peninsula district, and from these we have identified 3 specimens of the clover
leaf weevil Hypera punctata Fab.

Further specimens belonging to some of the more obscure forms are to
be found in our collections, which have not as yet been thoroughly worked
out, and it is possible that other families not mentioned here are represented.
However, it is hoped that the list is sufficiently full to give some idea of the
father surprising variety of coleopterous material that was either attracted
to, or chanced to blunder into, the several hundred traps which were set out
in an effort to ascertain whether or not the Japanese beetle had invaded
southern Ontario.

98 THE REPORT OR fae

OBSERVATIONS ON THE FLIGHT OF ADULTS @OFEe
GENUS CRAMBUS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE
TO: THE “ECONOMIC: SPECIES
By DAvip A. ARNOTT, B.SC.

Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Chatham, Ontario

This paper deals with the life-history and other related bionomics of.
various species of crambids observed from catches in a light trap and field
observations at Chatham, Ontario, during the past four years. The period
of observation extending as it does from 1931 to 1934 includes one period
of great activity on the part of certain species, as during 1931, a widespread
and injurious outbreak of sod webworms occurred. [he observations made
during this outbreak were included in a previous paper by Stirrett and Arnott?®.

Historical Review.—TIn the literature dealing with crambids there are a
number of references in relation to their attraction to light and occurrence in
light traps. Slingerland® deals with the early use of light traps as a means
of control for injurious insects. He gives a list of the crambids taken in light
traps at Ithaca, New York, in 1889 and 1892. Felt’ in 1894, made use of
Slingerland’s data to describe the flight period of various species. Ainslie?
made observations on the attraction of light for Crambus praefectellus Zinck.,
stating that on June 22, 1915, at Greenwood, Mississippi, he took thirty-four
moths of this species at electric street lights. Ainslie? also records all-night
collections of Crambus mutabilis Clem., made at light throughout the season
of 1915, but deals only with the proportion of the sexes attracted at various
times during the night. Further reference by Ainslie® records the collection of
Crambus trisectus Wlk., in a light trap at Lafayette, Indiana, in 1915 and
1916, in relation to the insect’s flight period. In making observations of
Crambus teterrellus Zinck., Ainslie® found this species to be more strongly
attracted to light than any other except Crambus trisectus WI1k.

Although these observations in the past have revealed much about the)
response to light of various crambids, little has been done to show the
possibilities of studying the insects by means of light trap catches.

The Light Trap and its Operation—A light trap was operated at
Chatham during 1931 to 1934 inclusive. Its location has been permanent,
and detailed records have been kept of each species taken nightly during the
four seasons. ‘The trap used consisted of a sheet metal funnel about eighteen
inches in diameter at the top, six inches in diameter at the bottom, and eighteen
inches deep. It was suspened eight feet above the ground. About a foot above,
the upper end of the funnel, a circular sheet metal roof was fixed which
extended past the outer margin. At the bottom of the funnel a detachable
container was arranged for holding the insects caught in the trap. Electric
current was used as a source of light, a 100 watt bulb being housed in the
centre of the underside of the roof just above the upper end of the funnel.
In operating the trap, the light was turned on each evening just before dusk,
and left on until daylight. The insects entering the trap were killed by
hydrocyanic acid gas emanating from calcium cyanide placed in the bottom)
of the container. To allow for a uniform and efficient strength of gas,
fresh calctum cyanide was provided every two or three days. ‘The trap was!

ENTOMOLOGICAE- SOCIETY Uy

located in a farm yard about three miles south of Chatham. Within four
hundred yards of the trap such vegetation occurred as corn, tobacco, clover,

+ potatoes, pasture, lawn, apple orchard, vegetables, cultivated flowers, ornamental
shrubs and trees, and weedy roadside.

In 1931, the trap was operated continuously from June 16 to September
iy, with the exception of August 1, 23, and. 26, when it was out of order.
Collections were made daily except on June 21 and 22, July 15 and 16, 17
and 18, and August 12 and 13, when catches for these double dates were
combined. During 1932, it was operated continuously from early April until
the middle of October, except on the nights of July 1, 19 and 27, and
August 1, when it was out of order. In 1933, it was operated from April
to October every night except that of September 16, and nightly records were
obtained except those for June 8 and 9, which were combined. In 1934
operations were continuous from April to October, except on the nights of
August 2 and 5, when the trap was out of order, and catches were combined
for September 12, 13 and 14, and September 15 and 16.

During the four seasons, seventeen species of crambids were taken. ‘The
number of each species taken yearly and the total number of each for the four
years are given in the following table:

TABLE 1—SEASONAL CATCHES OF CRAMBID ADULTS INDICATING TOTAL
eben S LAKEN PROM 1931 TO 1934 IN LIGHT TRAP AT CHATHAM, ONT.

Total numbers taken each year

Species * Total for
1931 1937 1933 1934 four years

Mrambus trisectus Wlk. ................ 7370 547 218 10958 19093
Crambus caliginosellus-luteolellus

Sci eee eee 1627 992 580 2233 3432
Crambus vulgivagellus Clem. ........ rapa ig§ 538 79 505 BBY
Crambus hortuellus Hubner ......... 843 405 BI) 7 629 2254
Crambus mutabilis Clemens ........ **No record 127 230 1870 1327
Crambus teterrellus Zinck. ............ By 123 252 740 1146
Crambus elegans Clem. ................ 33 44 210 368 655
Crambus alboclavellus Zell. ....... ms 0 53 94 240 387
Crambus girardellus Clem. .......... 59 12 13} 20 104
Crambus praefectellus Zinck. ........ 4l 3 4 Dall 102
Crambus ruricolellus Zell. ............ 0 39 8 28 75
Szambus albellus Clem. ................ 46 ZN 5 2 74
Mrtambus pascuellus Linn. ............ 0 0 Pe 32. 44
Crambus laqueatellus Clem. .......... 1 3 4 Bl 39
Crambus leachellus Zinck. ............ 2 3 1 6 12
Crambus agitatellus Clem. ............ 0 1 4 3 8
Crambus innotatellus Wlk. .......... 0 1 0 0

*In 1931, no records were secured previous to June 16 and after September 17, consequently,
records for the early flying and late flying species, Crambus trisectus, the Crambus caliginosellus-
luteolellus group, Crambus hortuellus, Crambus teterrellus, Crambus elegans, Crambus vul-
givagellus, Crambus leachellus, Crambus mutabilis and Crambus praefectellus are not complete
for the year.

+ **In 1931, the author was unable to identify Crambus mutabilis specimens taken in the trap.

100 THE. REPORT OF THE

Detailed records of the flight of certain species are shown in figures | and 2.

C.hortuellus |
c en eres — -- | 193!
7) —_ —_ ey ey ey 1932 =
I tl callie ee pres 135 |
m |
a — ———aeinn a 1934
| C.girardellus |
a at eee [931
1 s[oces oe 1032
Pe Sa sd 1935,
% —---- +e 1954
C.pracfectellus
1 irchiorthy at Bere
% 1932
% : = 1933
fs eens , pie eae (O58
C.eleaans |
1 {SER ay _ 193!
1 wool eran % be ee 1 i932
3 eee ae ee Pv | I IGE
4% - i ee | 1934
C.mutabilis |
No Record 13
“ Rare © iat iy oe | A 3 Tare Seca) 1932
Sea Sek | ie VE ee eons
_ sities NR a = a Pee ES Bees Sh
| | Calbellus e
: - — 1932
1 ore wus 1033
1 iy
|_ JUNE a | yuty a | uc Sie eo i

Fig. 1.—Chart showing in detail the flight of five crambids as indicated in the light trap during
the seasons 1931 to 1934 at Chatham, Ontario. Included is a partial record of flight
for the species Crambus leachellus Zinck in 1930. Numbers of moths taken each night
are indicated at the left of the chart.

*In 1931, no records were secured previous to June 16 and after September 17.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 101

|
S ee luteolellus

|
g vulgivagellus

|
|
1951 oe es
(932 ga Oe Dealt td Bae 3

1935 CS Sale, Sa as pe
1934 Re cece

.C.leachellus

"a
No records for June and July Dol a 2 Es
iy eee 1D 52h eee RS ore eee RIES ee
2o5 AO BVISERT wisps ye ee lye rey Sy Eee
Se = Se ES - AEDS AD emiel Serene a - --2-fe -
;

No record No record iy) No record |
e

ba te 1932 | pe
2 jb aie:
= SE OCT.

Fig. 2.—Chart showing in detail the flight of crambid adults as indicated in the light trap
during the seasons 1931 to 1934 at Chatham, Ontario. For the year 1931, no records
were obtained previous to June 16 and after September 17. Numbers of moths taken
each night are indicated at left of chart.

The Crambus caliginosellus - luteolellus group includes Crambus
caliginosellus, Crambus luteolellus, and Crambus zeellus of authors. ‘These
three species are very closely related, if not synonymous, and their specific
identity is thus certain. It was found in practice impossible to separate the
species, especially as they fly simultaneously.

Among the various species present at Chatham, Crambus trisectus, the
Crambus caliginosellus-luteolellus group, Crambus vulgivagellus, and Crambus
teterrellus have been found to be of economic importance. These species are
discussed in the above order followed by other economically less important in
the region.

Crambus trisectus Wlk., appears to be the most abundant species in the
Vicinity of Chatham. The detailed flight record during the past four years
show that the species has two broods annually. “The moths of the first brood
fly mainly from mid-June to mid-July, and those of the second from mid-
August to mid-September.

Felt” states that at Ithaca, N.Y., in 1889, light trap records showed the
moths flying through June and July while some individuals were taken as late
as September 30. He concludes from his observations that the long flight
period indicates irregularity in time of breeding, but does not necessarily indicate
More than one brood a year. Although his records are from six light traps

102 PHE (REPORT? OF fee

operated continuously from May I to October 15, only a total of eighty-eight |
moths was taken. Apparently these dates were sufficient to indicate the occur- |
rence of the moths but insufficient to indicate the occurrence of two broods.

Ainslie®, from both light trap and field observations, states that at |
Lafayette, Indiana, the species appeared as early as May 12 and as late as |
October 13, and at Hagerstown, Md., the moths were taken on May 8, while |
in Ohio they appeared on April 26. He states that between these two extremes |
the moths were almost continuously present and varied in numbers throughout —
the period, but without enough variation in abundance to permit separation
into distinct broods. He also makes reference to the fact that records from
Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Vancouver, indicate two broods in the
north. From the data he had to work with, he concluded that it was safe in >
saying the species is two-brooded over the greater part of its range, with a |
possibility of a partial third brood at its southern limits. |

The larvae of Crambus trisectus Wlk. mainly attack grasses and no doubt |
do a certain amount of injury annually. However, unless infestation is severe
its presence remains unnoticed. During 1931, this insect was taken in large
numbers in the trap. “The same year the species caused severe injury to grass
in several areas of southwestern Ontario. In 1932 and 1933 the numbers
taken in the trap were quite small compared with 1931, while in 1934 the |
number taken exceeded those of 1931. During the latter three years no |
significant injury occurred. At present not enough data are at hand to |
adequately compare the magnitude of moth flight with pronounced injury.

In connection with this point it is significant that in 1931 the second |
brood was materially smaller than the first. “This observation together with |
the fact that successive reductions occurred in the number of moths during 1932 |
and 1933, suggests that some natural controlling factors were in operation |
before the end of the season in 1931. In 1934, however, the second brood |
is the greater, suggesting that natural control factors up to that time were |
not effecting the rising abundance of the species. If such was the case, one can
reasonably expect pronounced injury in 1935.

The Crambus caliginosellus-luteolellus group are the most important |
economic species in the vicinity of Chatham. Annually, they do more or less |
serious injury to tobacco, corn, and other crops.

During 1931, more complaints of injury were received than during any |
year since. It will be noted from table I and figure 1, that in this year the
flight, as measured by the light trap, was greater than in the two following
years. [he magnitude of the flight increased in 1934 to even larger proportions
than in 1931, yet very few records of injury were noted.

The moths of this group, according to field collections, are common
and fairly abundant, but are considerably less abundant than those of Crambus |
trisectus. Evidently, from the numbers taken in the trap, they have a strong
attraction to light. “The trap records show that the adults fly mainly from |
early June to late August, while a few individuals occur throughout Sep Cnet
Only one distinct brood occurs at Chatham.

Felt’ states that Crambus caliginosellus was quite common at Ithaca,
New York, in 1889. His records from six trap lanterns were very meagre,
only four moths having been taken. From these records he established the
flight period to be from late June to early August, but states that very few
moths are attracted to lights. For Crambus luteolellus, he records the flight

|

»

ENROMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 103

period to be from late June throughout July, but gives no record of any moths
taken in the traps. He gives no records for Crambus Zeellus.

Ainslie! records Crambus caliginosellus appearing in late June, July and
most of August in Tennessee. Forbes® records this same species as having two
broods in New York state, the adults flying from June to late August. He

_also states the three species in this group to be injurious to corn, but records

no flight period for Crambus luteolellus or Crambus zeellus.

Our knowledge of the flight period of these insects indicates that the
larvae are quite active until mid-June. “This has been confirmed from field
observations during the past four years. Larvae, when injuring corn and
tobacco, are active during the first week of June, but by June 15, injury becomes
less and towards the end of the month activity ceases.

Crambus vulgivagellus Clemens.—In the field this insect is observed in
flight during August and most of September. It is common, and appears to
be numerous. Apparently, the moths are strongly attracted to light, as they
are taken in the trap in comparatively large numbers. ‘Ihe trap records
during the past four years show the flight period to be from mid-August to
the end of September, the bulk of the flight occurring from the end of August
to the middle of September. “The records indicate one brood at Chatham.

Felt? records this species as flying at Ithaca, New York, in August, and
that in the light trap during 1889 they appeared from August 19 to September
18. He also states that the moths are attracted to lights in large numbers

and that the larvae aestivate during the earlier part of the season.

Ainslie! records the insects as having one brood, the overwintering larvae
feed until early June, then aestivate until August. He says the adults appear
in mid-August and fly till the end of September.

During the four years of study at Chatham, the species was not found
to be injurious. However, during the outbreak of crambids in 1931, recorded
by Stirrett and Arnott!°, this species caused serious injury to a pasture field
in Peel county, Ontario. As no records of adult flight are available for this
part of Ontario, it is impossible to make a comparison between heavy flight
and pronounced injury.

Crambus teterrellus Zinck.—The trap records indicate that this species
has experienced yearly increases in numbers during the four years. In the
field the insect was hardly noticeable until 1934, when it appeared in moderate
numbers. It apparently has quite a strong attraction to light as the numbers

taken in the trap are comparatively large compared to the numbers observed in
the field.

‘This insect has two broods at Chatham. Moths of the first brood fly
throughout June, while those of the second brood fly from late August until
early October. [he few individuals appearing in late September and early
October might indicate a partial third brood, but our records are as yet
insufficient to definitely determine this point.

Felt? records the species as occurring in New York State, but did not take
them in the traps operated at Ithaca in 1889. Forbes’ records it as flying in
New York State in June and July, but makes no reference to there being more
than one brood. Aijnslie® records the insect throughout its range as being more
strongly attracted to light than any other species except Crambus trisectus. He
also states the species to be abundant in Tennessee, the moths flying from early
May to early October, with two distinct and a partial third, broods.

104 THE REPOR OPA A te

Although this insect was not found to be injurious during the past four
years, serious injury was caused by larvae of the second brood to grass sod of a
golf course in Essex county, about sixty miles from Chatham, during the late’
summer of 1931. Evidently, a heavy flight of second brood adults occurred |
in the vicinity of the golf course during that year. Field observations made in
this golf course during the first week of August revealed adults of the species.
to be quite numerous, as many as thirty being taken on a tree trunk within a
height of twelve feet from the ground. At Chatham, very few adults were
taken in the trap. The population present at Chatham in 1931 apparently
was not sufficient to cause noticeable injury.

Crambus leachellus Zinck., is a common species of Chatham. During the
past four years it has occurred regularly in the trap, but in very small numbers.
In the field it has been correspondingly scarce, only half a dozen moths being
observed or taken during the period. On comparing the numbers taken in the
trap with the numbers observed in the field, the insect evidently has no
particularly strong attraction to light. Felt* states the species is attracted to
light, and gives a record of eight moths taken in the trap lanterns at Ithaca,
New York, in 1889, between May 31 and July 10. His records show one
moth to be the largest number taken on any one night. He states the species
to have no sharply defined period of flight, but that a few individuals may be
found almost any time in June and July. Forbes® records the same time of

flight for New York State.

‘The trap records at Chatham were so meagre that all available observations
on this species have been considered with respect to its flight period. During
1930, no regular observations were made, but among the insects in catches
taken with a light trap during late September a few moths occurred. It appears
that the species is more prevalent during the late summer. ‘The occurrence of
a few moths in the trap during the early summer of 1932 agrees with the
flight period by Felt and Forbes. However, the Chatham records for late
August and the month of September, together with the record for late June
in 1932, indicate that the species has two broods.

Crambus hortuellus Hub., is quite common at Chatham. During most
of June and July it may be seen, at least in moderate numbers, in almost any
grassy field. A comparison of the numbers taken in the light trap with its

observed abundance in the field indicates the insect as strongly attracted to
light.

As shown in the trap records the moths fly from early June to mid-
August, while some individuals occur in September. The bulk of the flight
occurs from late June to late August.

Felt* states the species is one of the commonest in New York States, its
flight being practically limited to the month of July. He bases this flight
period on a trap record of fifty-one moths taken at Ithaca, New York, in
1889 from July 5 to July 28. Forbes® states that the species is in flight in
New York state during June and July.

Crambus girardellus Clem.—This species has been taken regularly in the
trap at Chatham. It is apparently common but not numerous, relatively few
having been taken in the trap compared with other common species. In the
field, it has not been observed. Its apparent absence in the field and regular
occurrence in the trap, even in small numbers, indicates that it is very strongly
attracted to light.

ENT OMOLOGICAE SOCIETY 105

Felt? states that the species is not abundant at Ithaca, New York, only
four moths being taken in the traps during 1889. His statement, that light
seems to have little attraction for the moths, is reasonable, considering the
data he had in his possession, but our records over a four-year period indicate
the insect to be rather strongly attracted to light. At Chatham, the species
has one brood with a comparatively short flight period, ranging from late
June to late July.

Crambus praefectellus Zinck.—This species occurs in comparatively small
numbers in the trap and appears to be even more scarce in the field. Gener-
ally, in a day’s field collecting, one will observe, at most, half a dozen moths
in the vicinity of Chatham. Although small numbers have been taken in the
trap, the records indicate that the insect has two broods in our region. Forbes®
records two broods in New York, flying mainly in June and August.

Ainslie* records the earliest appearance of the species for Texas to be
January 30; for Florida, in February; for Tennessee, late April; and for Mas-
sachusetts, June. His records show three broods in ‘Tennessee. He also states
that the insect is not abundant anywhere in its range. |

Crambus elegans Clem.—This species has been scarce in the field until
1934, when it appeared in moderate numbers. ‘The light trap catches were
small during 1931 and 1932, while in 1933 and 1934 they were consider-
ably increased.

The species has one brood at Chatham, flying from late June to early
August, with some individuals appearing throughout August and early Sep-
tember. Although our records show a period in August when no moths
appeared in the trap, followed by a scattered flight in late August and early
September, there is no definite evidence of a second brood.

Felt? found the insect common in New York State, but none were taken
in the traps at Ithaca in 1889. He records the adults as flying in July and
the first part of August. Forbes® states the time of flight for New York State
to be from July to September.

Crambus mutabilis Clem.—In 1931, it was impossible to identify this
species and no trap records were secured. The records for 1932 to 1934 show
that the insect has apparently increased in numbers at Chatham. In 1932,
only 127 moths were taken in the trap, while in 1934 the number had
increased to 1,870. In the field the insect was scarcely observed until 1934,
when it appeared in moderate numbers. ‘The species is evidently quite strongly
attracted to light, since it was not observed to be abundant in the field during
1934 and yet was comparatively abundant in the trap.

The records show two broods at Chatham. The first, flying mainly
through June and the second during August. “[he moths occurring in Sep-
tember are most likely late stragglers of the second brood.

Felt’ states the moths fly at Ithaca, New York, through June, July and
August. Apparently his records were not adequate enough to indicate the
broods, as he says the species has an exceptionally long breeding season, with
a possibility of two broods a year, but adds that his records do not confirm
this point.

Ainslie® for Tennessee, records two broods, the first flying from mid-
May to mid-June and the second from early July to mid-August, with a few
appearing in late August and early September, indicating a partial third brood.

106 THE, REPORT ORS THE

He records similar observations for Lafayette, Indiana, where the first two
broods appear about a month later than in Tennessee, there being a partial
third brood appearing in early October. He states conditions in Illinois to be
similar to those in Indiana. 7

The Chatham records agree with those of Ainslie for Indiana and Illinois,
except that there is not sufficient evidence in our district of a partial third brood.

Crambus albellus Clem.—This insect is common at Chatham, but has
not been observed in the field to any extent, except during 1931. ‘That year,
it was observed in moderate numbers. During succeeding years few moths
have been seen. ‘The trap records show one brood a year, and a regular yearly
occurrence in the trap. Only forty-six moths were taken during 1931.

Felt* states these insects fly mostly in the late afternoon, but rarely fly
at twilight and therefore are not attracted to lights. In the trap catches at
Ithaca, New York, in 1889 and 1892, only two moths were taken. He says
the moths fly at Ithaca the greater part of June and July. “The Chatham
records agree with those of Felt as far as abundance and flight period are
concerned, except that at Chatham, the moths do not appear in the trap
until after the middle of June.

The four species, Crambus alboclavellus Zell., Crambus ruricolellus Zell.,
Crambus pascuellus Linn., and Crambus laqueatellus Clem., are common at
Chatham. ‘They are observed in the field in small numbers when compared
with the first four species discussed. Relatively small numbers have been
taken in the trap. None of these species have been found injurious at Chatham
during the four years and are not recorded as economic species in literature.
Because of their unimportance economically, their detailed flight records in
the trap are not given. Each species has one brood at Chatham which is in
agreement with the records of Felt’ for New York State. Crambus alboclav-
ellus flies from late June to early August. ‘This species has evidently experi-
enced a yearly increase in numbers since 1931, as indicated by the total
catches in Table I. Crambus ruricolellus flies in the late summer from late
August through early September. Crambus pascuellus is common, but appears
less numerous, both in the field and trap, than either of the species mentioned
above. Crambus laqueatellus is one of the earliest flying species at Chatham.
In the field it has been observed as early as May 30 and as late as June 23.
In the trap, it has not occurred before June 3 or later than June 23.

The two species, Crambus agitatellus Clem., and Crambus tinnotatellus
Wik., are among the scarcest crambids at Chatham. Very few moths of
Crambus agitatellus have been taken in the trap and they have appeared equally
scarce in the field. Only one moth of Crambus innotatellus has appeared in
the trap during the past four years and none have been observed in the field.
Both these species are not only scarce, but apparently have little attraction
to light. ‘They are not of economic importance.

Summary.—Seventeen species of crambids occur in the vicinity of
Chatham. All of the species have been taken in a light trap and most of
them have occurred regularly in the trap each year. “Iwo of these species
were not observed in the field, but their presence in the vicinity was detected
by means of the light trap.

Crambus trisectus Wlk., is the most common and abundant species in
the vicinity. The Crambus caliginosellus-luteolellus group, Crambus vulgiva-
gellus Clem., Crambus hortuellus Hbn., Crambus mutabilis Clem., and Cram-

BNFOMOEOGICAE SOCIETY 107

bus teterrellus Zinck., are generally common and abundant, but not nearly so
abundant as Crambus trisectus. Of the remaining species, eight are common
but are present only in moderate numbers, and three are scarce.

The species found to be injurious are among those which were found
to be most abundant. ‘Ihe study of these species during four years indicates
the possibility of a close relationship between pronounced injury and heavy

moth flight, but a conclusion is not justified as four years’ records are
insufficient.

The trap records indicate clearly the flight period, number of broods,
and fluctuation in numbers from year to year of the various species.

The fact that most of the species are strongly attracted to light, and
that their regular seasonal occurrence is clearly shown by trap records, is evi-
dence of the fruitful possibilities of continued study of the insects by this means.

Acknowledgements.— The author is indebted to Dr. J. McDunnough,
Chief Division of Systematic Entomology, for the original determination of
many of the species, to Mr. G. M. Stirrett, Entomologist in charge, and Mr.
G. Beall, Junior Entomologist, of the Chatham Laboratory, for their assist-
ance in the collection of data and arrangement of this paper.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1 Ainslie, Geo. G., 1922. Webworms Injurious to Cereal and Forage Crops and Their Control.
ise A. Farmers, Bull. No. 1258, pp. 3-16.

- 2Ainslie, Geo. G., 1922-23. Contributions to a Knowledge of the Crambinae II, Crambus

lagueatellus Clem. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer., Vol. 15-16, pp. 125-136.

3Ainslie, Geo. G., 1923. The Striped Sod Webworm, Crambus mutabilis Clem. Jour. Agric.
ies. Vol. XXIV, No.5, p; 405.

4Ainslie, Geo. G., 1923. Silver-striped Webworm, Crambus praefectellus Clem. Ibid.

SAinslie, Geo. G., 1927. The Larger Sod Webworm, Crambus trisectus Wlk., U.S.D.A. Tech.
Bull, No. 31.

6Ainslie, Geo. G., 1930. The Bluegrass Webworm, Crembus teterrellus, Zinck., U.S.D.A.
Mech, Bull, No. 173.

aeelieee. Ps 1894. On Certain Grass-eating Insects, Cornell Univ. Agric. Exp. Sta., Bull.
INo: 64, pp. 64-80.

8Felt, W. T. M., 1923. Lepidoptera of New York and Neighbouring States, Cornell Univ.
Agric. Exp. Sta., Memoir No. 68, pp. 595-604.

9Slingerland, M. V., 1902. Trap Lanterns as ‘‘Moth Catchers’’. Cornell Univ. Agric. Exp.
Sta. Bull. 202, pp. 199-225.

10Stirrett, G. M., and D. A. Arnott, 1931. Observations on the Outbreak of Sod Webworms
During the Season of 1931. Sixty-second Annual Report, Entomological Society of

Ontario for 1931, pp. 69-75, Toronto,’ Ontario, 1932.

108 THE: REPORT Or viaie

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON LHE GRAPE GERRo MOT ey
By. W. G. GARLICK

Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Vineland Station, Ont.

The grape berry moth, a native of North America, was first described —
as long ago as 1860. Since then reports of its injuries have been made from
the tender fruit section of Southern Ontario, Canada, from practically all of
the States east of the Great Plains and from Texas. ‘This area is also covered
by native wild grapes of the Euvitis group which are favoured hosts of the
berry moth. Injury to grapes in Ontario seems to have been first reported
by Saunders in 1883, fifty years ago, yet our knowledge of the habits of this
insect under Ontario conditions is still very meagre. Nor is this entirely due
to its unimportance but rather to the fact that unless its ravages are severe
it often passes unnoticed. [he notes which follow comprise observations
made in the years 1929 to 1934.

Injury.—This is caused. by larval feeding and in Ontario consists mainly
in the destruction of the berries. In severe cases the entire crop may be
rendered worthless as was observed in 1932 when a grapery of slightly over
four acres was so heavily infested that scarcely a single bunch of uninfested
grapes could be found at harvest time. An idea of the moth population in
this grapery is obtained from the catches of twenty bait-pails hung in two
grape rows. ‘These caught in the season 9,209 moths, the greatest catch for
one day being 1,206.

The larvae feed on the blossoms, the stems of the inflorescence (where
they rarely cause withering of the parts beyond the point of attack) and ber-
ries of all sizes from the time the fruit sets until it is dead ripe. ‘The pos-
sibilities of destruction just before and for some time after blossoming are
very great for at this time one larva may consume many potential grapes by
feeding on floral parts and newly set berries. Actually this injury is usually
very slight with us (owing to the tardy emergence of spring moths) else the
growers would early notice unshapely bunches. ‘The early larvae are com-
paratively few but their numbers may be enormously increased later in the
season so that by harvesting time in October they may appear to the grower
as a visitation.

The loss to grape growers though difficult to estimate must be very appre-
ciable, for, setting aside severe infestations which force themselves on the
grower's attention, there must be a continual loss in the weight of the crop
in many graperies due to injury which the grower never sees. “The writer has
found grape berry moth present, though often only a trace, in practically
every vineyard examined in the Vineland and surrounding district and since
our commercial grape acreage is in the neighbourhood of 15,000 the aggregate
loss from berry moth may be quite large.

Host Plants.—Grapes, wild and cultivated, seem to be the only host
though the writer found many larvae in 1929 on the flower clusters of elder-
berry (Sambucus canadensis L.). These were reared to maturity and the
adults examined by Dr. McDunnough who was unable to find any differ-
ences between them and our common grape berry moth. No larvae were
taken on elderberry in the years 1930 to 1934.

* Polychrosis viteana Clem.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 109

Hibernation.—Winter is passed in the pupal stage on the surface of the
ground near where the larvae fed. [he pupae are protected by a cell made
of leaf tissue which the mature larva cuts out, usually from grape leaves, and
lines with silk. Winter mortality will be discussed later under natural control.

Emergence of Spring Brood.—The earliest moths appeared in late May
or early June, when the blossom clusters of Niagara, Worden, and Concord
Varieties, were quite compact and the shoots about six to eight inches long.
Wild grapes were always in advance of the cultivated ones and when the
first moths emerged they had just started to blossom in favourable locations.
The peak of emergence was soon reached on June 16 to 28, which was usually
‘about the time wild grapes were past blossoming and tame ones had just
commenced. However, in 1934, the peak was somewhat later and occurred
immediately after the tame grapes had blossomed. It will thus be seen that
there is little likelihood of serious blossom injury in this district.

The period over which the spring brood moths continue to emerge seems
to be closely related to weather conditions and the moisture content of the
soil. Ihus, the later date of the peak in 1934 is ascribed by the writer to
the very dry weather and dry soil conditions obtaining in May and most of
June. Furthermore in 1934 moths continued to emerge all season and were
still emerging in early October when colder weather in all probability stopped
further activity. ‘This peculiarity is of real significance, when we consider
control measures, for it means there may be moths in the field throughout
the season in addition to those which develop during the season.

Habits of Adults.—The moths themselves are about a guarter of an inch
long with no very striking markings. They were not often seen in the field
being inconspicuous when at rest on the vines and flying only short distances
when disturbed. Since infestations in the field are often quite localized in a
single grapery it is possible the moths are not generally inclined to travel any
distance. Other workers have shown that low places in graperies were more
heavily infested than the higher ground. The writer has had no opportunity
of observing this but has noted frequently that the ends of rows are generally
more heavily infested. This fact is quite often noticed by the growers them-
selves. In one grapery where the rows sloped fairly steeply a few of the
vines at the higher end were badly infested, the rest of the grapery remaining
fairly free. In another grapery, where the infestation was severe, levels were
taken along the seven hundred feet rows and it was found that one end of
the grapery was six feet higher than the other. In this case both ends were
equally infested and more heavily than the centres of the rows.

One would be led to suspect a grouping of the moths into localized areas
from the peculiar sex ratio which exists. The females outnumber the males
by about four to one so that where the moth population is small it would
seem necessary for them to stay in groups in order to preserve the species.
Actual figures for moths emerging in cages were: females, 78 per cent.; males,
22 per cent. out of a total of 3,798; and for moths caught in bait-pails:
females, 83.5 per cent.; males, 16.5 per cent., in a total of 1,466 moths.

The preoviposition period of the females in the few observations made
was three to four days. “The number of eggs laid by a single female was not
obtained. Indeed the writer was unable to induce the moths to lay (in the
Insectary) consistently or even sufficiently to keep up the population though
several kinds and sizes of cage were experimented with. Moths lived from
seven to thirty days in the cages but the egg-laying period was only from four

>

110 THE REPORTAGE Wa

to fifteen days. In the cages, eggs were laid singly on the leaves, green stems |
and parts of the flower cluster of grape. In the field, no eggs were found on
leaves but a few eggs were located on the corollas of unopened grape blossoms ‘|
and it is probable the bulk of early eggs are laid there. “This is curious because |
immediately the blossom opens the corolla drops off so presumably any un- |
hatched eggs which drop off with the corolla will be lost. If the egg hatches |
beforehand the larva holds the floral parts together with webbing. It may |
be mentioned here that some plants of our wild vines have perfect flowers |
whilst others bear only staminate ones. Since larvae were found in about ©
equal numbers on both it is presumed the moths lay indiscriminately on either. |
The staminate flowers fall off soon after opening and any immature larvae |
in such inflorescences are left with nothing but stems to feed on. “This may
help to explain why in 1929 larvae were found on elderberry clusters for it
is evident that it is the blossom that attracts the early moths in these cases. |
The flowers of grape, wild and tame, have a very agreeable odour which is |
easily recognized before the grapery is entered. Elderberry also produces a dis-
tinct odour. As soon as the fruit had set, eggs were nearly always laid on the |
berry, usually toward the stem end. Occasionally eggs were found on the
pedicel close to the receptacle.

Egg.—This resembles the egg of the Oriental fruit moth, is more or less |
elliptical in outline, convex on the exposed surface, clear and inconspicuous |
when fresh but when hatched the shell collapses and it is readily seen as it |
reflects the light. Under high magnifications the surface is seen to be finely |
reticulated, the interspaces having a granular appearance. Measurements of |
twenty-six eggs gave an average size of 0.59 x 0.75 mm. The incubation
period of the first generation eggs ran from four to eight days, according ta |
temperature. Prior to hatching the embryo can be clearly seen and its head |
capsule causes an appreciable swelling at the surface of the egg.

Larva.—The immature larvae showed considerable difference in intensity
of colouring, some being a light green, but mature specimens (which were |
about three-eighths of an inch long) were all of a dark olive green, the head
and thoracic shield being dark also. Early in the season the larvae fed on
almost all of the floral parts of wild and tame grapes excepting as a rule the |
corolla. In feeding on grape blossoms a newly hatched larva would often eat |
a hole in the side of a single unopened blossom and for a time would have fair
protection therein. As the bud was demolished or the larva became too big |
to be contained by it, two or more nearby blossom buds would be webbed
together. Often coincident with this the larva would web together two or
three parallel pedicels forming a tube which sheltered it at rest and whilst
feeding. Later quite a number of individual blossoms or blossom buds were
webbed together forming a sort of nest within which the larva fed. Obcca- |
sionally the stems of the bunches were eaten and rarely tunnelled into. In ©
the insectary small larvae fed on grape leaves for a time when deprived of |
fruit or blossoms. As mentioned above, larvae were taken on blossoms of |
wild and tame grapes and also on the blossom clusters of the common elder- |
berry. On the latter host they produced the characteristic webbing as noted |
on the grape. Later in the season they fed on the berries of tame and wild |
grape but they were not found on the berries of elderberry. When the grape
berries became available the larvae soon tunnelled into the pulp entering at |
almost any spot until the grapes were touching in the bunch when they usually
entered at or near the point of contact. When the pulp of a grape is finished |
and often before this, the larva will come out and enter another grape. Often
contiguous berries will be found with a hole in each so placed as to make a

ENROMOEOGICAL SOCIETY dial.

continuous passage from one berry to the other, any exposed crevices being
closed with webbing. This webbing may be of sufficient strength to hold
the berries together after one of them has separated from its stalk.

The larval period for the first generation was about twenty-one days.
In the insectary first generation larvae were maturing from July 11 to August
20 in 1930, and at the latter date a few second generation larvae had reached
maturity also. Moores Early and Campbell grapes were by this time colouring.

In the insectary mature larvae lost no time in cutting little flaps in the
grape leaves, turning over the edges and fastening themselves in. Any part
of the leaf blade excepting the larger veins was used for this. The cutting is
not quite complete so that the case containing the larva does not fall away
from the leaf itself. Inside the cell thus formed the larva spins a silken lining
and soon pupates. First generation pupae were difficult to find in the field.

Pupa.—The pupae varied in colour, being brownish with areas of pale
to dark green and sometimes with a distinct violaceous tinge. The pupal
period was not recorded but the time elapsing between the spinning up of the
mature larva and the emergence of the adult (pre-pupal plus pupal period)
varied from ten to twenty-three days.

First Generation Moths.—In the insectary the first generation moths
began to emerge about July 20 in 1930, when cultivated grapes were large
enough to be touching one another in the bunch. Peak of emergence was
about the first week in August and moths continued to emerge till the first
week in September.

Second Generation.—The eggs of this generation were found only on
the fruit both in the insectary and in the field. “The second generation larvae
began maturing on August 18, 1930, and continued until the beginning of
November. Like the first generation, these larvae cut out pieces of leaf in
which to spin up, unlike them they prefer leaves on the ground to those on
the vines. With the rotting of the leaves the pupal cells drop out so that if
leaves are gathered up in the spring no pupal cells will be found with them.

Number of Generattons.—It may be stated roughly that there are two
generations a year, the first a complete one and the second incomplete in that
it only reaches the mature larva stage. Actually there may be no complete
generation in the year for in 1934 moths emerged from overwintered pupae
throughout the season and insectary rearing clearly indicates that larvae matur-
ing after the middle of August do not reach the adult stage in the current
year and even a number maturing on August 1 fail to reach the adult stage
the same year. If, however, we choose to ignore all those moths from over-
wintered pupae that emerge too late to give rise to a complete first generation
we shall find that about seventy-seven per cent. of first generation larvae give
rise to a second generation. For example, in 1930 out of 2,576 first genera-
tion pupae 1,982 moths, or about 77 per cent., emerged up to September 6.
The remainder emerged the following year. Thus there is much overlapping
of broods in the field and bait-pail catches do not indicate the rise and fall
of generations.

Natural Control_—The grape berry moth is subjected to the attacks of
Parasites and predators in all of its stages. “[he adults may be captured by
spiders which are often found in the grape bunches, and the eggs parasitized
by Trichogramma, especially when numerous late in the season. The chief
larval parsite in 1929 was Dioctes obliteratus (Cress.) and the adults emerged

112 (LHECREPORT OF) tie

through a small hole in the side of the leaf cell in which the larvae spun up.
Two specimens of Microbracon varitabilis (Prov.) were also bred from berry
moth material. In 1933, no Dioctes but 45 specimens of Glypta nr. varipes
Cress. were reared from 319 overwintered pupae (leaf cells). In 1934, from
5,000 overwintered pupae scarcely half a dozen parasites were reared. It would
appear that larval parasites are very uncertain and often of no consequence
when most required. Small larvae were often destroyed by spiders in the
insectary but no cases of this were observed in the field. Aphis lions also
attacked the larvae in the insectary and were even found to reach the spun
up larvae by piercing the leaf tissue cell and sucking out the contained larva.
It is possible that mice may feed on the overwintering pupae lying on the
ground and that in the warmer days of fall and spring insect predators includ-
ing ants may destroy a number of them. Where pupae have been wintered
on the ground in cages, earthworms have sometimes been troublesome in
pulling the bits of leaf containing pupae into their burrows. It is not known,
however, if this takes place in the field.

Winter Mortality—The writer has no figures on the mortality of over-
wintering pupae in the field. Reared material under varying conditions of
exposure gave figures of from 29 to 83 per cent. One fact, however, stands
out clearly, viz., that the pupae are not greatly affected by our winter temper-
atures. It has been stated that temperatures below 10° F. proved fatal to
them, but with us they will withstand exposures of zero and lower. During
the severe winter of 1933-34 we wintered 5,000 pupae on the surface of soil
in pots submerged to the rim in the ground of an open insectary (wire screen
and frame) and covered only with one thickness of cotton cloth. “There was
very little snow on these pots at any time, yet 45 per cent. of the insects
emerged in the season of 1934. Similar experiences with smaller numbers in
other winters have indicated the same result. In the winter of 1929-30 a
solitary pupa in a grape in a shell vial on the insectary table survived though
it was on two occasions subjected to a zero temperature. Our observations
further show that even though a high percentage of pupae escape the rigours
of winter very few moths will emerge under very dry weather and soil
conditions.

The presence or absence of snow cover has been definitely correlated
with winter mortality by some workers under the assumption that a snow
blanket protected the pupae from low temperatures to which they were sup-
posedly susceptible. Furthermore, some infestations have been shown to orig-
inate from low places in the grapery and protected spots where snow would
remain longest. We feel there may bé a correlation with snow cover but
it is more likely to be due to the moisture which the snow supplies. Also, if
not too wet the low spots will supply the pupae with the requisite amount of
moisture long after the higher spots have dried out.

A SUMMARY OF INSECT CONDITIONS IN CANADA IN 1934+
By C. R. TWINN

Entomological Branch, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa.

INTRODUCTION

In presenting the annual summary of insect conditions in Canada, in
1934, grateful acknowledgment is made of the support accorded to the Cana-
dian Insect Pest Survey by officers of the Dominion Entomological Branch

ENPOMOLOGICAL?SOCGCIE TY PLS

carrying out investigations on insect pests in various parts of the Dominion,
and by provincial workers in entomology and certain officers of other branches
_ of the Dominion service. Special mention should be made of contributions
submitted at the end of the year in the form of papers on insects of the season
prepared by entomologists in the various provinces. Formerly these papers
were published in the annual reports of the Entomological Society of Ontario,
but in 1933, at the request of the Council of the Society, they were replaced
by a summary statement covering the whole Dominiony, and were included
in the first issue of volume 12 of the Canadian Insect Pest Review. ‘The
papers “Insects of the Season 1934” used in the preparation of this summary,
were submitted by the following: Nova Scotia: F. C. Gilliatt, Annapolis
Royal, New Brunswick: R. P. Gorham, R. E. Balch, L. J. Simpson, Freder-
icton, Quebec: C. E. Petch, Hemmingford; G. Maheux, Quebec City; M. B.
Dunn, L. Daviault, Ottawa, Ontario: L. Caesar, Guelph; W. A. Ross, Vine-
land Station; G. M. Stirrett, Chatham; Manitoba: A. V. Mitchener, Winni-
peg, Saskatchewan: K. M. King, A. P. Arnason, Saskatoon; K. E. Stewart,
Indian Head, Alberta: H. L. Seamans, Lethbridge; E. H. Strickland, Edmon-
ton; British Columbia: E. R. Buckell, R. Hopping, Vernon; R. Glendenning,
Agassiz; W. Downes, Victoria. “The papers in question may be referred to
by consulting the Canadian Insect Pest Review, No. 1, Volume 13, 1935.

FIELD CROP AND GARDEN INSECTS

The serious grasshopper outbreak in the Prairie Provinces which had
developed to major proportions since 1930, continued to be the most impor-
tant insect outbreak in the Dominion during 1934, and occurred largely in
the areas as forecast. Millions of acres of grain crops were threatened with
partial or total destruction by the grasshoppers in the three provinces, and,
as in 1933, heat and drought conditions in many sections materially aggravated
the situation. A well organized control campaign in which great quantities
of grasshopper poisoned bait were distributed, was carried out by farmers
and others, under the direction of the provincial governments assisted by the
officials of the Dominion Department of Agriculture, and was instrumental
in saving a large proportion of the crops and preventing enormous losses.
The species chiefly concerned in this outbreak were the lesser migratory grass-
hopper, Melanoplus mexicanus Saus., the roadside grasshopper, Camnula pel-
lucida Scud., and the two-striped grasshopper, M. bivittatus Say. Egg surveys
carried out in the autumn of 1934, indicated that the 1935 outbreak will be
somewhat less intensive in Alberta, considerably less so in Saskatchewan, and
at least as serious, if not more so, in Manitoba. Accordingly, a large scale
and intensive control campaign will again be necessary to ensure harvesting
the greater proportion of the prairie grain crop.

In British Columbia, the evidences of a general increase in the number
of grasshoppers of various species noted in 1933, continued, and in some
Instances outbreaks occurred and poisoning was resorted to. Grasshoppers
had been at a low ebb in the province for several years, but the increase noted
may have serious consequences, particularly in interior valleys. In Eastern
Canada, no important grasshopper infestations were reported during the year.

As always in years of grasshopper abundance, blister beetles continued to
be very numerous in the Prairie Provinces. “The most conspicuous and impor-

*Prepared by direction of the Dominion Entomologist.
764th Ann. Rep. Ent. Soc. of Ont. 1933.

Les TAHECREPORTD GE aaa

tant species, namely, the caragana beetle, Lytta nuttalli Say, damaged caragana
hedges, beans and other legumes. Other species reported included L. sphaer-
tcollis Say, Macrobasts subglabra Fall., and Epicauta maculata Say. Blister
beetles caused some damage to potatoes locally in Manitoba and in the Kam-
loops area, B.C. Infestations were apparently negligible in the East.

The field cricket, Gryllus asstmilis Fab., was widespread in Manitoba and
common elsewhere in the Prairie Provinces, but apparently noticeably less
abundant than in 1933. A reduction in numbers was also reported from
southern Quebec.

During 1934, there was a fairly widespread outbreak of the pale western
cutworm, Agrotis orthogonia Mort., over several areas in the provinces of
Alberta and Saskatchewan. “The amount of crop damage done by this insect
in certain infested districts was much greater than was expected or was justified
by the cutworm population. Warm weather and drought conditions in April
and May resulted in the complete destruction of grain crops in local areas
by infestations of four and five cutworms per square yard, which under normal
conditions would have caused only a fraction of this damage. The aggregate
losses, however, were relatively slight as the control recommendations had
been followed over a great proportion of the area. June rains were of great
benefit in assisting crops to recover, but came too late to avoid an outbreak
of the cutworms which will develop in 1935. This will be of a widespread,
but patchy nature, and probably of materially reduced severity.

Other species of cutworms caused relatively little damage in the Prairie
Provinces. The red-backed cutworm, Euxoa ochrogaster Guen., and its allies
Were again unimportant in field crops, but destroyed garden and truck crops,
to some extent, in Saskatchewan. Small numbers of the army cutworm,
Chorizagrotis auxiliaris Grote, occurred in the lower Fraser Valley, where
certain species were reported as more numerous than for many years past. In
Eastern Canada, cutworms continued moderate in numbers and damage, with
the exception of sections of Nova Scotia and Quebec provinces, and the Ottawa
district, where they were injurious to various field and garden crops in spring
and early summer.

Wireworms were again one of the major field crop pests in British
Columbia. They also caused damage to grain crops in southern Alberta, but
in northern sections were reported as less injurious than usual. In
Saskatchewan, wireworms, chiefly Ludius spp., effected considerable crop losses
particularly in the western part of the province. Their presence was also
demonstrated in most areas of medium and light soils in south-eastern
Saskatchewan. Heavy damage was reported in northern Saskatchewan on
land cleared of spruce and broken for cropping. In the East, a few cases of
damage were noted in Quebec and about the average amount was reported in
Ontario, species of Aeolus, Ludius, Limonius and Agriotus being involved.

Damage by white grubs, Phyllophaga anxia Lec., in eastern Ontario in
1934, was only a fraction of that in 1933. Although the grubs, which were
largely in the third year stage, showed a distinct reduction from the previous
year they were sufficiently numerous (commonly 40 or more per square yard
in sod) to indicate an exceptionally large flight of beetles in 1935. ‘The
presence of third-year grubs at many points in central Ontario (York county,
etc.) shows that the infestation has a much greater distribution than was at
first believed. Heavy localized flights of beetles occurred at various points in
southern Ontario. In Quebec a major flight of the bettles occurred throughout

iW

EN EOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY E15

the southern areas of the province, involving a territory exceeding 4,000
square miles. The flight was believed to be the largest since 1928 and resulted
in much defoliation of shrubs and trees. During the season following this
flight, first-year white grubs were commonly found at the rate of 200 or more
per square yeard in untreated sod over the greater part of agricultural Quebec.
In 1935 these will be in the injurious second-year stage. Heavy losses from

second-year white grub attacks occurred in 1934 in the area north of Montreal.

In New Brunswick, damage by white grubs was less noticeable than in other
years, but a heavy flight of beetles occurred presaging more severe grub injury
in 1935. No reports were received from other parts of the Dominion.

The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Nort., was again very abundant
in south-central Alberta, and a survey showed it to be distributed throughout
most of the southern part of the province. It continued to be present in sub-
normal numbers in the Edmonton region. This insect is a serious pest in
Saskatchewan and a less severe one in Manitoba. No reports on the 1934
situation were received from these provinces, but it is presumed that conditions
were similar to those reported in the summary of 1933.

The wheat stem maggot, Meromyza americana Fitch, continued to take
a toll from the wheat crop in fields in the Red river valley.

The hessian fly, Phytophaga destructor Say, continued very scarce
throughout Ontario in 1934. In British Columbia, it occurred in large
numbers in the Victoria district, and losses to fall wheat as high as 50 per
cent, were reported.

_ The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, was about
normally injurious in most parts of the infested areas of the Dominion.
Southern sections of Ontario and south-eastern British Columbia reported it
as scarcer than in 1933. In New Brunswick it was more than usually
troublesome.

Infestation and damage by the cabbage maggot, Hylemyia_ brassicae
Bouche, was about average in most regions, but was noted as less common than
usual in Nova Scotia, and in sections of Ontario. The onion maggot, H.
antiqua Mgn., was decidedly less injurious than in 1933, throughout Ontario.
It was not very abundant in British Columbia. Reports from Quebec and the
Prairie Provinces indicate it to have been at least normally injurious in those
provinces. Infestations of the seed corn maggot, H. cilicrura Rond., were noted
as unusually prevalent in field crops in Quebec. Some losses of corn occurred
in eastern Ontario; in southern sections the insect was apparently even scarcer
than in 1933. ‘The sugar beet root maggot, Tetanops aldrichi Hendel, was
found for the first time in irrigated districts of southern Alberta, seriously

_ damaging sugar beets.

A considerable reduction in the population of the imported cabbage worm,
Pieris rapae L., as compared with 1933, was noted in the Annapolis valley,
N.S. The species was also comparatively scarce in most parts of British
Columbia. Elsewhere it occurred in normal numbers and caused the usual
losses. The diamond-back moth, Plutella maculipennis Curt., continued
negligible as a pest of cruciferous plants.

A marked reduction in the percentage of stalk infestation by the European
corn borer, Pyrausta nubilalis Hbn., occurred throughout southern Ontario
during the season of 1934. The infestation for most counties was lower than
during any year since 1923 and no commercial damage occurred. It is estimated

‘ee

116 3 THE” REPORT OF sare

that there were less than one-third the borers present in the province than in
the previous year. Clean-up measures and weather conditions (drought for
instance) are believed to have been largely responsible for this satisfactory '
situation. The reduction cannot be attributed to unusual winter mortality.

The corn ear worm, Heliothis obsoleta Fab., which was of minor _
importance in 1933, greatly increased in numbers in 1934, and caused con-
siderable damage to corn in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontraio and Manitoba.
The infestation in Manitoba was referred to as perhaps the most widespread
and severe in the history of the province. Several infestations were reported in
Saskatchewan and Alberta, but were not important.

The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis L., was still further reduced in —
abundance, over previous years, in the Prairie Provinces. It was reported scarce —
in Alberta, and only occosionally troublesome in Saskatchewan. ‘The larvae
were noted abundant on Russian thistle in south-western Manitoba.

Various species of flea beetles were, as usual, injurious to crops in many
parts of the Dominion. ‘The potato flea beetle, Epitrix cucumeris Harr., was
somewhat less than average -in Nova Scotia, and about average in New
Brunswick, with local outbreaks which caused almost complete defoliation of
potatoes. The species was again very abundant in Ontario, especially in late
summer, and attacked potatoes and other solanaceous plants. The hop flea
beetle, Psylliodes punctulata Melsh, was common on sugar beets in southern |
Ontraio, but less so than in 1933. General infestations occurred on radish,
rhubarb and sugar beets, locally, in southern Alberta, and the species was
troublesome on hops in the Lower Fraser valley, British Columbia. ‘The
spinach flea beetle, Disonycha xanthomelaena Dalm., a common pest on sugar
beets in southern Ontario, was less numerous than in 1933. Spinach was
heavily infested by flea beetles, locally, in Alberta. “The species Systena taentata
Say, and S. blanda Melch, were more abundant and widespread in southern
Ontario than previously noted, and damaged a variety of crops. “The cabbage
flea beetle, Phyllotreta albionica Lec., occurred in large numbers in southern
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and did much damage to cruciferous crops.

The striped cucumber beetle, Diabrotica vittata Fab., occurred in injurious
numbers on cucurbits in the provinces of Eastern Canada. The situation
apparently was similar to that in the previous year.

Some heavy infestations of chinch bugs, Blissus leucopterus Say, were
noted locally in the Maritime Provinces. In south-western Ontario, the species
occurred in greater numbers than in any year since 1922, and some damage was
done to small grains and corn in Eessex county.

The squash bug, Anasa tristis DeG., was somewhat more abundant than
in 1933, in south-western Ontario. The four-lined plant bug, Poectlocapsus
lineatus Fab., was reported common in gardens in Ontario and the Maritime
Provinces.

A severe outbreak of the turnip aphid, Rhopalositphum pseudobrassicae
Davis, comparable to the outbreak of 1926, occurred in southern Ontario,
and involved most of the chief turnip-growing areas of the province. The
outbreak was patchy, but hundreds of fields were almost totally ruined or had.
their yield materially lessened. The species was much reduced in Nova Scotia,
compared with 1933, and damage was negligible. Aphids, Macrostphum
solanifolii Ashm., and other species on potatoes, were scarce to moderately
abundant in New Brunswick. A serious outbreak of the pea aphid, M. pist |

ENEFOMOLEOGICAL SOCIETY 117

Kalt., in the Lower Fraser valley, British Columbia, was averted by natural

oi

control agencies. [his species increased in abundance in the Isadore district in
Quebec, but elsewhere in the province injury was less than in 1933. For the
first time the sugar beet root aphid, Pemphigus betae Doane, was found
seriously injuring beets in southern Alberta. It had previously been found
on lamb’s quarters and pigweed. Light infestations of the wheat root aphid,

_ Forda occidentalis Hart., were also found for the first time in Alberta. Aphids

of many species were abundant and injurious on a variety of field and garden
crops in the Prairie Provinces during 1934.

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci L., were again abundant and injurious in
the Jeannette Creek area and Point Pelee marshes, in southern Ontario. Else-
where the thrips were less prevalent than usual. In southern Alberta, the oat
thrips, Anaphothrips obscurus Mull., caused serious losses to oats, accentuated -
by drought-retarded crop growth; the grass thrips, A. striatus Osborn, caused
damage exceeding 10 per cent. in some sections. ‘The gladiolus thrips, Taento-
thrips gladioli M. & S., caused damage locally in Ontario, but was much less
injurious than previously. Severe infestations occurred in Quebec, but in gen-
eral, there was a large reduction from 1933. ‘The species increased enormously
in Alberta and caused extensive losses. It now appears to be widespread in
the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia.

Insect pests of roses were prevalent as usual, in various sections. The
rose chafer, Macrodactylus subspinosus Fab., was troublesome on roses and
other plants in some of the sandy sections of southern Ontario. At Abbots-
ford, Que., where it was first recorded in the province, in 1933, it was present
in considerable numbers on raspberry. The green rose chafer, Dichelonyx

backi Kby., infested wild roses between Saskatoon and Battleford, Sask. Roses

were again seriously attacked by the rose curculio, Rhynchites bicolor Fab., in
the Prairie Provinces. Leaf-cutting bees, Megachile spp., did much damage to
the foliage of roses, boxelder and certain other plants in southern Alberta, and
to a lesser extent locally in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. [he rose stem
eirdler, Agrilus viridis fagi Ratz, was sent in from several localities in Peel
County, Ontario, and threatens to become a serious pest. [he bristly rose

slug, Cladius tsomerus Nort., was fairly common and injurious in south-west-

es

ern Ontario.

The pea moth, Laspeyresia nigricana Steph., was recorded for the first
time in British Columbia, where it occurred abundantly at Sumas and Agassiz.
In the Maritime Provinces it was more destructive than normal in parts of
the Annapolis valley, but about average in New Brunswick. No reports were
received from other provinces.

Extensive damage to the carrot crop was done by the carrot rust fly,
Psila rosae Fab., in New Brunswick. The species appeared to have increased
in numbers in many parts of the province in 1934. Elsewhere in Eastern
Canada it apparently was moderate as no reports were received except from
Eastern Ontario, where light infestations were recorded.

Sod webworm larvae which occurred in outbreak form in southern Ontario
in 1931 were at a low ebb in 1934. Heavy flights of moths occurred, how-
ever, and may presage further larval damage in 1935. The species observed
included the striped webworm, Crambus mutabilis Clem.; the blue grass web-

118 * HE REPORT OPR ELE

worm, C. teterrelus Zinck., and C. trisectus Wlk. Moths of Crambus spp.,
were exceptionally numerous at Clarenceville, Quebec, during the season. Sod.
webworms damaged clover at Pincher Creek, Alberta, affecting about 1,000.
acres.

The Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna corrupta Muls., which was first.
discovered in southern Ontario in 1927, continued to be negligible as a pest,
only a few specimens being seen in the province in 1934.

The European earwig, Forficula auricularia L., occurred in very large
numbers in urban areas in southern Vancouver Island, and on the mainland |
of British Columbia, in the Vancouver district. In the Victoria district the
pest spread into country areas and did much damage to field crops. |

FRUIT INSECTS

The various species of fruit aphids were moderate to scarce in numbers in |
the fruit-growing areas of the Dominion in 1934, and no important outbreaks
occurred. The apple aphid, Aphis pomi DeG., was a troublesome pest in |
some apple orchards in Nova Scotia and southern Ontario, but nowhere
developed in outbreak form. The rosy apple aphid, Anuraphis roseus Baker,
also was of comparatively minor importance. Infestations of the woolly apple |
aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum Hausm., occurred in orchards in a number of |
localities in the eastern provinces; the species continued sparse in the Okanagan |
valley, British Columbia. The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae Sulz., by |
its numbers, in late May caused alarm to peach growers in the Niagara district, |
but was responsible for little damage. Minor local outbreaks of the mealy |
plum aphid, Hyalopterus arundinis Fab., also occurred in that district. Local |
damage by the black cherry aphid, Myzus cerast Fab., was reported in Nova |
Scotia and British Columbia. Once again this species was present in destructive
numbers, particularly on neglected trees, in the Niagara district, Ontario.

There was about the same degree of infestation of the codling moth,
Carpocapsa pomonella L?, in Nova Scotia, in 1934, as in 1985 ieee
major pest in that province. Local infestations were reported in New |
Brunswick. In Quebec, the codling moth was the most important apple pest | |
of the year, and injury was much greater than in 1933. In Ontario, in|
spite of unusually high winter mortality of larvae above the snow line, the
species was very injurious in all fruit districts. Even in the Ottawa-St. |
Lawrence river area, one of the coldest in the province, the percentage of |
wormy fruit was unprecedentally high. “This. was probably due to winter |
protection by deep snow; favorable hot, dry summer weather conditions; a |
short crop resulting in concentration of the infestation, and reduced spraying |
activities. In the Okanagan valley, British Columbia, the situation was similar |
to 1933; several large orchards are still quite free from the pest. A marked|
increase of infestation and damage was noted in the Victoria district.

The satisfactory situation in the the commercial apple-growing districts |
of Eastern Canada, in regard to the apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella |
Walsh, as reported for 1933, in general, was continued in 1934. ‘The|
infestation in New Brunswick and Quebec paralleled that of 1933, and very:
little injury occurred in commercial orchards. In Nova Scotia, the natural |
spread of the insect continued in uncontrolled areas, but in sprayed zones a/|
further decrease was recorded. In Ontario a moderate reduction, further to|
the important reduction of the previous year, took place.

ENTOMOLOGICAEYSOGIETY 119

The lesser apple worm, Laspeyresta prunivora Walsh, which is annually
a pest of some importance in the Okanagan valley, British Columbia, was
reported to be increasing in 1934, so that special control measures will be
required in 1935.

Large numbers of apples were attacked by the apple seed chalcid,
Syntomaspis druparum Boh., in southern Quebec, and many prematurely
ripened and dropped from the trees. Infestations were reported by apple
maggot inspectors in many orchards of Ontario where the species seems well
established, although apparently not previously recorded. In some cases the
injury was severe resulting in a large percentage of dwarfed and malformed
fruit. It was first recorded in Kings county, Nova Scotia in 1916.

The eye-spotted budmoth, Spilonota ocellana D. © S., showed a further
marked increase in orchard sections of Nova Scotia, particularly in parts of
Kings county, and damaged more fruit than for several years. “[he species also
definitely increased over previous years in the Okanagan valley, British
Columbia.

The infestation of the gray-banded leaf roller, Eulia mariana Fern.,
which is one of the worst apple pests in Nova Scotia, again damaged much
fruit in the Annapolis valley, in 1934. The fruit tree leaf roller, Cacoecia
argyrospila Wlk., and the oblique-banded leaf roller, C. rosacaena Harr.,
which had been scarce for some years in the Okanagan valley, British Columbia,
increased greatly in 1934. ‘The latter species was abundant on a variety of
plants in Saskatchewan and Alberta. No other important infestations of
leaf rollers were reported from orchard sections of the Dominion.

The outbreak of green fruit worms, Xylina sp., that occurred in 1933
in southern Quebec, completely subsided in 1934. They were present in about
their usual numbers in Nova Scotia apple orchards.

The yellow-necked caterpillar, Datana mintstra Drury, was more than
usualy common in southern Ontario, but occasioned little damage. ‘This
species and the red-humped caterpillar, Schizura concinna S. © A., were
injurious in many orchards in the Okanagan valley, British Columbia. In the
latter region, Bruce's measuring worm, Rachela bruceata Hulst., was again
abundant and caused serious damage in some orchards, especially in the southern
end of the valley.

There was, apparently, no marked change in infestations of apple and
plum curculios, Tachypterellus quadrigibbus Say, and Conotrachelus nenuphar

Hbst., in the apple-growing sections of the eastern provinces, as compared
with 1933.

The round-headed apple tree borer, Saperda candida Fab., has continued
to decrease in Quebec. It is stated that this is due to the general application
of control measures. Infestation was very light in 1934. An apparent slight
increase was noted in the eastern Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia; light local
infestations were reported in York and Sunbury counties, New Brunswick.

The green apple bug, Lygus communis Knight, continued to be of minor
importance in the areas where it occurs. A slight increase in prevalence was
noted in the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia.

A few orchards in Kings county, Nova Scotia, were rather heavily in-
fested by the apple red bug, Lygidea mendax Reut. There was no appreciable
injury by it in Ontario.

120 THE-REPOR FOP ane

The apple sucker, Psyllia mali Schmid., was generally less numerous in |
Nova Scotia orchards, than in 1933.

The European mealy bug, Phenacoccus aceris Sign., which was first —
recorded as a pest in Canada on apples, in the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia, |
in 1932, is now widespread in the valley, and in a few orchards was respons- |
ible for considerable blackening of the fruit. Apparently it is most trouble- ©
some in dry seasons.

Injury to young apple trees by the buffalo tree hopper, Ceresa bubalus
Fab., was not so extensive as usual. In Ontario the species was again injurious |
in young sod orchards. |

Certain species in leafhoppers were injurious to apples and grapes in |
1934. The pale (or white) apple leafhopper, Typhlocyba pomaria McA., |
caused much foliage injury and speckling of early fruit, in Nova Scotia, and
was abundant in many Ontario apple orchards, where a widespread outbreak
in 1935 is feared. The species was comparatively scarce in these provinces
in 1933. The apple leafhopper, Empoasca fabae Harr., was again decidedly
injurious to apple nursery stock in Ontario. Favoured by hot, dry weather,
another outbreak of grape leafhoppers, Erythroneura comes Say and E. tric-
incta Fitch, occurred in the Niagara district and caused losses, particularly in
unsprayed and poorly sprayed vineyards.

The pear psylla, Psyllia pyricola Forst., was abundant in southern Ontario,
but reduced to insignificant numbers in well sprayed orchards. An increase
of the species was noted in Nova Scotia with damage to pears where spraying
was neglected.

Injury to fruit buds and fruit by the tarnished plant bug, Lygus pratensis
L., was reported locally in southern Quebec, and the Niagara district, Ontario
(near Beamsville). Only slight damage to fruit occurred in the Okanagan
valley, British Columbia. ‘The species was injurious to ornamental plants in
New Brunswick. |

In view of the fact that the severe winter of 1917-18 almost eliminated
the San Jose scale, Aspidiotus pernictosus Comst., from Ontario, it was antici-
pated that the exceptional winter of 1933-34 would have the same effect.
This, however, was not the case. [he winter mortality in southern Ontario
ranged from only 56 to 89 per cent. and by autumn the insect was again
conspicuous in many orchards.

The cold backward spring of 1934 retarded the development of the
Oriental fruit moth, Laspeyresia molesta Busck., in the Niagara district, Ontario,
and the emergence of the spring generation moths started on May 18, 13 days
later than in 1933. The species survived the unusually cold winter quite
well, however, even in areas where temperatures as low as 23° F. below zero
were recorded. The average twig and fruit injury caused by it was about
the same as in 1933.

The pear slug, Eriocampoides limacina Retz., was quite widespread and
more numerous than for some three or four years in Nova Scotia orchards.
Except locally, its numbers were sub-normal in Ontario.

On Vancouver island, British Columbia, the early season resulted in the
moths of the cherry fruit worm, Grapholitha packard: Zell., emerging nearly
a month before the usual time. As a result sprays were applied too late to
protect the fruit of sour cherries and 30 to 40 per cent. were wormy.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 12

The grape berry moth, Polychrosis viteana Clem., successfully survived
the unusually severe winter of 1933-34 in the Niagara district, Ontario. How-
ever, no reports of damage were received.

The raspberry cane borer, Oberea bimaculata Oliv., and the red-necked
cane borer, Agrilus ruficollis Fab., were decidedly more abundant and destruc-
tive in Ontario and Quebec than in 1933, and in many plantations killed a
large proportion of the plants. “The raspberry sawfly, Monophadnoides rubi
Harr., was more abundant in southern Alberta than previously reported and
badly defoliated many raspberry patches. It was recorded at Steinbach in

Manitoba. ‘The raspberry fruit worm, Byturus unicolor Say, after some years

of scarcity, appeared in increased numbers in the Lower Fraser valley, British
Columbia.

The imported currant worm, Pteronidea ribest Scop., continued com-
paratively negligible in Eastern Canada, but was noted as among the chief
pests of currants in the Saskatoon district, Saskatchewan, and the Lethbridge
district, Alberta. The currant spanworm, Itame ribearia Fitch, was also
reported injurious in these areas. “The currant aphid, Myzus ribis L., again
severely infested currants at Lethbridge; also the currant borer, Synanthedon
tipuliformis L. Currant aphids were very injurious in the Peace River district,
Alberta. A light infestation of the currant bud mite, Eriophyes ribis Nalepa,

was discovered at Royal Oak, Vancouver island, and steps were taken to
eradicate it.

A severe frost in June decidedly checked the infestation of the cranberry
fruit worm, Mineola vaccinu Riley, on cranberry bogs in the Annapolis valley,
Nova Scotia.

During 1934 the widespread occurrence of the blunt nose leafhopper,
Euscelis striatulus Fallen, on the cranberry bogs of Nova Scotia, was established.
None of the insects were found on Cape Breton island. “This hopper is the
carrier of false blossom disease of cranberry.

The strawberry leaf roller, Ancylis comptana Frohl., effected consider-
able injury to strawberries in eastern Nova Scotia, but was not observed at

all on small fruits in New Brunswick. In the same region of Nova Scotia,

the strawberry leaf chafer, Serica tristis Lec., caused marked damage. AQ severe
local infestation of the black vine weevil, Brachyrhinus sulcatus Fab., occurred
near Port Dalhousie, Ontario. Strawberry root weevils, B. ovatus L., were
troublesome in the Victoria district, British Columbia, and invaded some
dwellings in that vicinity. In the same region, the June beetle, Polyphylla

_ decemlineata Say, attacked strawberries particularly, but also young fruit trees

and vegetables.

The European red mite, Paratetranychus pilosus C. © F., was not very
abundant in Nova Scotia ochards early in the 1934 season, but increased
rapidly in August and September. In Ontario it was abundant on plums
in Essex and Kent counties, and conspicuous in some plum and apple orchards
in the Niagara district, but elsewhere occurred in only light to moderate
infestations. It was quite numerous and destructive in some parts of the
Okanagan valley, British Columbia, affecting apples and stone fruits.

The common red spider mite, Tetranychus telaritus L., occurred in in-

_ creased abundance in various parts of Canada. Favoured by hot, dry weather,
an outbreak developed in raspberries in the Niagara district and southwestern

»

rf

- Ontario, seriously reducing the crop in many plantations. This species was

122 PHEVREPORT OFA re

more numerous than for several years in southern Alberta and did much
damage to shade trees, garden plants and small fruits. It also occurred |
throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan, but to a lesser extent. It was a
worse pest than for some years past on hops in the Lower Fraser valley, British |
Columbia. a |

The galls of the pear leaf blister mite, Eriophyes pyri Pagnst., which has |
been of minor importance for many years in Ontario, were noticeable in a
number of pear orchards in the Niagara district, and the species was locally |
present in outbreak form in the Grimsby area. Although this mite was not |
a serious pest in the Okanagan valley, British Columbia, in 1934, infestations
were heavy in some unsprayed orchards. |

The mites, Epitrimerus piri Nal., and Phyllocoptes fockeut Nal., were |
again common pear and plum trees respectively, in the Niagara district, Ontario.
Both were particularly abundant on nursery stock and were responsible for |
noticeable browning of the foliage. |

Reports of reduced abundance of the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea |
Dru., were received from localities in Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario. The |
species was conspicuously common in parts of British Columbia and an increase
was noted in the Okanagan valley.

FOREST AND SHADE TREE INSECTS

The European spruce sawfly, Diprion polytomum Hartig, was again very |
numerous throughout the Gaspe peninsula, Quebec, over an area of some |
5,000 square miles, and many white spruce and some black spruce were com- |
pletely defoliated. ‘“[he infestation in Kamouraska county, Quebec, was much
lighter owing to over 95 per cent. of the larvae remaining dormant. The |
species has been found generally distributed in New Brunswick, where red |
spruce as well as white is infested. In this province noticeable defoliation |
occurred locally between the Miramichi and Salmon rivers, but no obvious
damage occurred elsewhere. Native parasites have so far failed to attack the |
sawfly, and European parasite species are being introduced with a view to}
bringing about natural control.

The spruce sawfly, Neodiprion abietis Harr., was unusually numerous
in Halifax and Guysboro counties, Nova Scotia, and on Isle Madame. Some
trees lost half their needles. Serious defoliation was reported over an area of
a hundred square miles or more in Newfoundland. A small but severe infesta- |

tion of a species of spruce sawfly was observed in the Fernie district, British |
Columbia. |

The yellow-headed spruce sawfly, Pachynematus ocreatus Harr., was}
collected locally in New Brunswick and the Gaspe, where it seemed to be}
more numerous than usual, particularly at points on the headwaters of the
St. Anne river, Gaspe county, Quebec, where some noticeable defoliation took
place. ‘This species was again in outbreak form in the northern portions of |
the cultivated areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta, the territory involved |
extending from near the Manitoba border, as far west as Stettler, Alberta. |
A number of isolated outbreaks were also recorded in southern Saskatchewan.
Considerable injury to planted spruce trees resulted.

‘

ie

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 123

The long standing infestation of the spruce budworm, Cacoecia fumt-
ferana Clem., at Barkerville, in the Cariboo district of British Columbia,
still continues more or less epidemic every second year. Spruce and balsam
have been greatly retarded in growth, but not actually killed by the budworm.

The red spider mite, Paratetranychus ununguts Jac., was again very prev-

alent throughout the Prairie Provinces, and has done extensive injury especially

to spruce, in Manitoba and Alberta.

Sawyer beetles, Monochamus spp., were moderately abundant through-
out all forested districts of western Quebec and caused the usual damage to
pulpwood and sawlogs left in the woods during the winter.

The outbreak of the eastern spruce bark beetle, Dendroctonus piceaperda
Hopk., which had ravaged spruce throughout the Gaspe peninsula, Quebec,
and in parts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, during the past few years,
continued to decline in 1934, and appears definitely to have terminated. How-
ever, during the course of the outbreak, almost one-half the volume of white
spruce was destroyed over several thousand square miles. A moderate outbreak
was reported in 1934 in the Laniel district, Quebec, where many large, white
spruce in the stream valleys were killed.

Several species of bark beetles continued to cause much damage to the
forest trees of British Columbia. “The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus
monticolae Hopk., and to a lesser degree the western pine beetle, D. brevicomis
Lec., continued to cause great loss in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws).
Although the infestation has been on the decline during the past three years
the stand of this valuable timber has been so reduced that yellow pine is no
longer a factor in the timber supply of the province. ‘The infestation of
D. monticolae Hopk., in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Loudon) has almost
disappeared and is now due to increase in some areas. [he controlled area
at Lorna is still free from this bark beetle although contiguous areas were almost
wholly destroyed by it subsequent to the control work. ‘The infestation was
controlled to protect the Kelowna watershed. ‘The infestation in the Cariboo
district in balsam (Abies lastocarpa Nutt.) by the western balsam beetle,
Dryocoetes confusus Sw., continues to take a steady toll from the forest, and
will gradually eliminate the balsam from the spruce-balsam stands. An
infestation of the Alaska spruce beetle, Dendroctonus borealis Hopk., in spruce
near Cranbrook, B.C., was reported this summer. This infestation has in-
creased tremendously since the mills at Lumberton closed woods operations
about three years ago, and has already caused a heavy loss to standing timber.
During 1935 the lumber company will cut sufficient trees to absorb the
infestation in the slash and will also log all freshly infested trees. |

The severe winter of 1933-34 resulted in a remarkable reduction in the
numbers of the European pine shoot moth, Rhyacionia buoltana Schiff., in
the infested areas in southern Ontario, to the north of Lake Erie. Conse-
quently little damage by this insect may be expected for the next two or three
years. Surviving larvae had probably passed the winter below the snow line.
The larvae of the pine bud moth, Exotelia dodecella L., which attacks pines
in various parts of Welland county, Ontario, also suffered heavily from the
effects of the winter, but proved hardier than those of the pine shoot moth,
and developed in considerable numbers in 1934.

The jack pine sawfly, Neodiprion swainet M’d’tn., was again present in
epidemic form in the district centering about Laniel, Quebec. In some sections

24 | THE -REPOR POOR TALHE

the attack was from 20 to 40 per cent. more severe than in 1933. A sawfly,
Neodiprion sp., was found feeding in considerable numbers on jack pine along ~
the Canaan river, in Queens county, New Brunswick. The red-headed pine
sawfly, N. leconter Fitch, was abundant and destructive in the Muskoka dis-
trict, Ontario, attacking chiefly jack pine, but also red and white pines. It
caused partial defoliation of many pines in the Berthierville district, Quebec.

The pine needle scale, Chionaspis pinifoliae Fitch, continued as an im-
portant and widespread pest of spruce in the Prairie Provinces. The infesta-
tion varies considerably, but in some areas the trees have been seriously weak-
ened and may die. “The infestation is generally distributed in Saskatchewan,
except the extreme south, and is severe-in southern and northeast Manitoba
and northern Alberta.

The larch sawfly, Lygaeonematus erichsont Hartig., after being com-
paratively scarce for about ten years, became numerous in parts of southern
New Brunswick and caused as high as 75 per cent. defoliation of many trees.
Infestations in Quebec province were comparatively light in 1934. An out-
break was reported in Saguenay county, and a general but moderate infesta-
tion was noted in Kamouraska county. In the tamarack swamps of southern
Manitoba, the species has largely disappeared as a pest. ‘Ihe outbreak in the
Kootenay district of British Columbia continued to spread in second growth
stands, but so far, no trees have been killed by defoliation. Parasites have
been liberated in the area with a view to controlling the pest before it spreads
into virgin timber stands.

The larch case bearer, Haploptilia laricella Hbn., appeared to decline in
numbers in 1934, as compared with previous years, throughout Eastern Canada,
except Nova Scotia, where severe infestations occurred in most forest areas.

The hemlock looper, Ellopia fiscellaria Gn., was common over most of
the Maritime Provinces, but nowhere caused noticeable damage. On Anticosti
island and in southern Quebec it appeared in destructive numbers in 1934.
No trace of the western hemlock looper, E. somniara Hulst., has been found
in British Columbia since the outbreak subsided in 1930.

Ambrosia beetles (Scolytidae) continue to damage hemlock sawlogs on
the British Columbia coast and certain preventive measures are being investi-
gated at the Vancouver sub-laboratory. The pitted ambrosia beetle, Corthylus
punctatissimus Zimm., caused the death of thousands of sugar maple seedlings
in the woods at Abbotsford, Quebec. This is a new record for the province.

The balsam woolly aphid, Dreyfusia piceae Ratz, largely as the result
of winter killing, was much less numerous in 1934. A large number of
balsam fir trees died, however, from previous attacks, in parts of Nova Scotia
and southern New Brunswick. “The numbers of aphids have begun to build
up again from those which survived beneath the snow.

The spruce pineapple gall aphid, Adelges abietis L., continued to be
severe, in many parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, on planted
spruce. ‘The greatest injury occurred in north-central portions of Manitoba
and Saskatchewan, and throughout Alberta. “Trees were frequently observed
to have 50 to 70 per cent. of their terminal twigs destroyed. The species was
quite injurious to young black spruce in certain sections of southern Quebec.
Aphids of various species were extremely abundant on deciduous trees as well
as other plants, throughout the Prairie Provinces. Damage by these insects
Was more in evidence than usual on forest and ornamental trees in parts of

ENTOMOLOGICAL: SOCIETY 125

Eastern Canada. ‘The species Neoprociphilus aceris Monell, was very abundant
on maples in the Berthierville district, Quebec, and in other parts of the St.
Lawrence river valley.

Tent caterpillars were conspicuous in many parts of the Dominion in
1934. Increased abundance of the eastern tent caterpillar, Malacosoma amert-
cana Fab., was reported in Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, where the
larvae caused foliage injury to forest, shade and neglected fruit trees. The
forest tent caterpillar, M. disstria Hbn., still further increased in 1934 and
completely defoliated large areas of poplar in the west-central part of New
Brunswick. White birch and alder were also stripped when adjacent to

poplar. ‘The new foliage of white spruce was eaten. Hard maple was

attacked, but red maple was not touched. Parasitism by Blepharipeza leuco-

phrys Wied., and other tachinids was high at points heavily infested in 1933.

The trees have survived two seasons of complete defoliation although much
of the new growth died back and the 1934 ring was very small. “The forest
tent caterpillar occurred in various sections of Pontiac county, Quebec, com-
pletely defoliating large areas of second growth poplar and white birch. A

major infestation occurred on deciduous trees in eastern Ontario. Outbreaks

were also reported in sections of the Thunder Bay, Rainy River and Temis-
kaming districts of Ontario. In certain localities trains were delayed owing
to the crushed bodies of the caterpillars making the rails of the permanent
way slippery. “There was a similar outbreak in this region in 1933. Heavy
outbreaks of the forest tent caterpillar continued again this year in northern
portions of Saskatchewan, centering around the National Park at Prince Albert,
affecting poplars and willows. The species was very abundant in the Goose-
berry lake area of Alberta. Forest tent caterpillars were numerous in several
regions in the eastern part of British Columbia. An increase of tent cater-
pillars was noted in other parts of the province where they have been scarce
for several years past.

The fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria Harr., was only locally
abundant in the Maritime Provinces, and caused no serious defoliation. Much
defoliation of boxelder occurred in the Prairie Provinces; this involved exten-

sive areas in Manitoba, smaller isolated areas in Saskatchewan, and one area

west of Lethbridge, Alberta. In Manitoba the heaviest infestation included
an area extending from slightly west of Carberry to Brandon, and south to
the Assiniboine river from Souris to Rathwell. Another area centred around
Carman, Manitoba. In Saskatchewan, the infestation comprised small areas
near Indian Head, Baring, Swift Current and between Davidson and Dundurn.
Further damage is expected in 1935.

The satin moth, Stilpnotia salicts L., was much reduced in numbers in
New Brunswick. Parasitism by imported parasites was high at points of

liberation and there was about 95 per cent. mortality from low winter temper-

atures. A small outbreak was reported to have reappeared near Annapolis,
Nova Scotia, where winter killing apparently did not take place. Adults

were received from Newfoundland, where they were reported to be numerous

around St. Johns. ‘This is the first record from Newfoundland. In the
Lower Fraser valley, British Columbia, the species was also much less abundant
due to winter mortality. The infestation did not spread farther east than
the Seton Lake area, near Lillooet, reached in 1933. Moths were found,

_ however, in freight cars as far east as Kamloops and in automobiles entering

if

the Okanagan valley. A report that the insect had been found near Rolla, in
the Peace River district, was not substantiated.

126 THE REPOR@ OF THE

As usual, various species of insects were injurious to poplars and willows,
particularly in the Prairie Provinces. In this region infestations of the cotton-
wood blotch miner, Zeugophora scutellaris Suffr., occurred, with injury to
foliage amounting to 50 per cent. The infestation was very severe and
extensive throughout the southern half of Alberta. In Manitoba and Sask-
atchewan the infestations were less severe although of fairly general distribu-
tion. The poplar leaf roller, Extenera tmprobana Wlk., was abundant in
Manitoba and defoliated poplars along the edges of groves. Larvae of the
American dagger moth, Acronycta americana Harris, were very plentiful and
caused considerable defoliation of poplars and Manitoba maple in Alberta.
The poplar leaf folding sawfly, Pontania bozemani Cooley, was very abundant
in Alberta, and very few trees escaped its attacks. It was also present in
Manitoba and Saskatchewan, but little damage was recorded. Very severe
damage resulted to aspen, balsam poplar, and cottonwood from the aspen
poplar leaf beetle, Lina tremulae Fab., in north-eastern Saskatchewan between
Yorkton and the Manitoba border. The damage ranged from 50 per cent. on
large trees to 90 per cent. on small trees. Fortunately this was confined
mostly to native bluffs. The species defoliated many young aspens in Mani-
toba. The adults and larvae of the cottonwood leaf beetle, Lina scripta Fab.,
did much damage to poplars, especially to young trees, throughout Alberta.
Local outbreaks of this chrysomelid were observed in localities near Berthier-
ville, Quebec. The species Calligrapha bigsbyana Bby., caused considerable
defoliation to aspen and willow in native wooded tracts in northern and central
Saskatchewan. The species was again numerous in Quebec and destroyed the
foliage of many willows of all species.

Throughout the southern half of Alberta the red spider mite, Tetranychus
telartus L., was extremely abundant, causing serious defoliation of trees and
shrubs including poplar, elm, and other trees and plants. Injury to foliage
of poplars ranged to 100 per cent. “This mite was also present in Manitoba,
but not in serious numbers as in Alberta.

Small outbreaks of the beech scale, Cryptococcus fagt Bsp., were in
progress in parts of Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick and trees con-
tinued to die from the attacks of this insect, the larger trees being most seri-
ously affected. “The insects survived the temperatures of the previous winter
in most parts of Nova Scotia, but some winter-killing above the snow occurred
in New Brunswick. There are considerable local variations in numbers from
year to year.

Observations at different points in Quebec showed that the infestation
of birch skeletonizer, Bucculatrix canadensisella Chamb., was again heavy in
Quebec, but somewhat reduced in some localities. A decided reduction in
numbers was reported in the Maritime Provinces, this apparently marking
the end of the recent outbreak. The European birch leaf miner, Fenusa pumila
Klug., too, was very common and abundant on birch stands in Quebec. It
was not reported from the Maritimes in 1934 although heavy infestations
were recorded during the previous year.

The lace bug, Corythucha juglandis Fitch, occurred in outbreak form on
elm, basswood and butternut in eastern Ontario. The infestation showed a
large increase over that of 1933. Lace bugs, Corythucha spp., were very
prevalent in eastern Saskatchewan and in Manitoba on aspen poplar and
native oak.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 127

Cecropia moth larvae, Samia cecropia L., defoliated large numbers of
Manitoba maples in the south-central portion of Saskatchewan, extending
from near Yellow Grass to Weyburn. ‘This outbreak has been in progress
during the past four years with varying intensity. Moderate damage to shrubs
of flowering and black currant occurred locally in southeastern Alberta.

For the fourth year in succession the walnut caterpillar, Datana integer-
rima G. © R., partially or wholly defoliated walnut and butternut trees in
south-western Ontario. The infestation was possibly somewhat less severe

than in 1933.

Scouting for the brown-tail moth, Nygmia phaeorrhoea Don., was car-
ried out in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia early in 1934. Only four webs
were found, near St. Stephen, New Brunswick, and the caterpillars in these
were all dead, probably owing to the severe winter.

INSECTS AFFECTING ANIMALS AND MAN

In many parts of Eastern Canada mosquitoes of several species of Aedes
were a severe pest in the early part of the season. Numerous reports in the
press and from field officers revealed them to be particularly abundant in
Ontario and Quebec, in parts of which they were recorded as a worst pest
than during any period since 1929. Unusually heavy precipitation and per-
sistently severe cold weather during the preceding winter, which retained the
bulk of the snow on the ground until spring, was largely responsible for this
condition. Considerable trouble from mosquitoes was also experienced in
British Columbia, but in the Prairie Provinces they were moderate to scarce
in most areas. :

Blackfly species of Stmulitum and other genera, and punkies, Culicoides
obsoletus Mgn., and probably other species, were troublesome pests in various
parts of the Dominion, especially in forested areas.

Tabanids (horse flies, deer flies, etc.) were reported attacking livestock
and humans in western Quebec, southern Ontario and southern Manitoba.
Although field officers generally omit to report. these insects they are trouble-
some every year in many parts of the Dominion.

The usual enquiries concerning the control of bedbugs, Cimex lectularius
L., were received during 1934. Further evidence was obtained showing the
danger of these insects being introduced into clean homes through the agency
of second-hand furniture, or housemaids who live in less clean surroundings.

Infestations of cat and dog fleas, Ctenocephalus felis Bouche, and C. cants
Curtis, developed in many dwellings, humans as well as domestic pets being
attacked. The cat flea appears to be the species most commonly involved in
biting persons. Basements of houses, apartment blocks, etc., are usually the
source of these infestations. Even a school basement (Sherbrooke, Quebec)
was infested. [he human flea, Pulex irritans L., was recorded for the first
time in the Province of Quebec, at Lac la Grande Fourche, in Temiscouata
county, where it was reported very numerous and troublesome. The only
other records for the Dominion refer to isolated localities in British Columbia,

Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island.

ab

128 THE: REPORAY ORME

Organized efforts to control the widespread and injurious warbles, Hypo-
derma lineatum DeVill., and H. bovis DeG., are becoming widely adopted in
Canada. For instance, it is estimated that during 1934 one-half a million, |
or approximately 20 per cent. of the cattle in Ontario, were treated for these
insects with marked success. The control of bot fly grubs, Gastrophilus spp.,
in horses, is now being organized in a similar manner in Ontario, under the
direction of provincial officials.

Blow flies were again abundant in the Dry Belt (Kamloops district) of |
British Columbia. In early spring myiasis in sheep was worse than for sev-
eral years, resulting in considerable loss. At Indian Head, Saskatchewan, the
species Sarcophaga cooleyi Ald., was reared from larvae syringed from the ear
of aman. During recent years, in the Edmonton region of Alberta, unidenti- |
fied blowfly larvae on a number of occasions have been removed from abcesses
in children and adults. Blow flies are a serious household pest in this area.
Maggots from an unknown source, crawling about the floors of a residence
in Ottawa, Ontario, were reared to the species Calliphora vomitoria L.

HOUSEHOLD AND STORED PRODUCT INSECTS

Reports of infestations of clothes moths, principally Tuineola biselliella
Hum., and carpet beetles, chiefly Attagenus piceus Oliv., were, as usual, very
numerous during the year from various parts of Canada. Undoubtedly these
insects, particularly the clothes moths, annually do important damage. |

The cockroach species, Blatella germanica L., probably occurs in all)
settled areas of the Dominion, and as in previous years, was prevalent through- |
out the year in many heated buildings. These insects were reported infesting |
garbage dumps at Ottawa and Kitchener, Ontario, in great numbers, during
the summer, and invading neighbouring property with the advent of cool
weather. “wo comparatively uncommon cockroach species were also reported:
the English black beetle, Blatta orientalis L., infesting a dwelling at Ste. Anne
de Beaupre, Quebec, and the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana L., in
dwellings and other buildings in localities in south-western Ontario. |

Houseflies, Musca domestica L., and other species of diptera, continued to
be among the most abundant of household pests in many areas where their
breeding places were neglected during the summer months. The widespread
use of door and window screens and the application of effective fly sprays by

householders generally, has somewhat mitigated these annoying and potentially
dangerous pests. :

Silverfish, Lepisma domestica Pack., and ants of various species, proved
troublesome in dwellings in many localities in 1934.

Additional records of larvae of the larder beetle, Dermestes lardarius L.,
causing damage by boring into wood pulp or fibre board used for construc-
tion purposes, were received from localities in southern Quebec,

Stored product pests of numerous species continued to take their toll of

grain and grain products and various other foodstuffs and materials in the |
Dominion.

ENDOMOLOGICAL, SOGIET Y 29

GORKECRION OF) 64 0H REPORT, 1933.

PAGE 15—-No minus sign needed at top of middle column.
©

PAGE 16 (Cut)—Wrong histogram; data properly represented as below.

MOTH FLIGHT IN LAB. PLOT

2 IN LIGHT TRAP

FUNE 2 TSSULY IS 23—~CSCG Z 7 T2RUG17 22.

o+? IN LIGHT TRAP

PAGE 17—Minus sign in formula should be equal (=) sign.
PAGE 18—Insert minus sign before first:30.
PAGE 19—Table V—As on Page 18.

PAGE 19—-Table VI—Omit minus sign at head of second column.

130 THE REPORT OF THE |
INDEX

PAGE PAGE —
Acronycta americana Harris ........... hie te 126 Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst. .............. 120 |
Actia untercuptas Gurtany eee TA Assassin DUS © .......2):..2geeeee ee 95 |
Adalia bipuntiaia Li 2 ee 96 Atrometus clavipes (Davis) ..........0....: 7G |
Adelges abiettss anaes See eee 47, 124 Attagenus piceus Oliv. ..........cseeeee 128
Adelges nassiimt(C.B.) ese ee 47 Balsam woelly aehid |... See 124
Adelges -piceae “CRAtZS) aoe ec A 6) aay Bassés: ciretas: Cress |... ee 7d |
delosds 4aue nae eet eee eee eae 47 Bean leaf beetle ...... ee ee see 34 |
Aedes SPO. “races ee en el eee 17, B@@DUS. ooo. idee ds sas ee 12H
Aenoplex betulaecota: Ashi. ....1...2....... 7a Beech: . scales... . c. vee ee 46, 47, 126
Aeolus ASP. |p Be inns Ae eee 96, 114 ICES Oe 2 sea Se sees) onal ae ee 95
Agonodesus: pallipes: Fabio. 0.0.22... 2 95 Beet: leaf-hoppet ......... Rae eee 355%, |
Agtilus iweidis Tagt (Rah. oo evs 30, 27 Beet root aphid |....5 5 eee 117
Agrilus rutcolis Falbbitran.. chien ee 2 Beetzwebwerm 4..:..:. 4.203 ee eee 116
Agriotes 0... epee ee alae 114 Birch: skeletemizer 1.7...) 7 eee 126
Agciotes. MGNCUS) Say 29, 30, 32, 34 Black ¢arpet hedtle 2.7 ew: 67
Agriotes orthogonia Mort. diy es BA ae 114 Black cherry aphid ie Saar dce ects eo iB)
Alaska spruce beetle: eae ae on een 123 Blackfly civigendsnneds 1/00 eR RCE E EEE eer EEE Ee 127 |
Alfalfa snout ‘beetle 80) ee 54, 57 Black. fungus beetle... ey eee 67 |
Alfalfa thtips rey..-i ane eee 26 Black-headed budworm ............ 45, 40, 47
Alphitobius piceus- ON... 5.75.20 67 Black: vine’ weevil! 4. eae ee 121
Alsophila pometacta Hatt) i... usc 125 Blatella gecmanica Wy 128
PRIM tal Se ae Ue. eas a Sena a et eRe 96 Blatta orientalis L. eee 128
Wait stay eS a, tea Re et tee eee 95 Blepharipeza leucophrys Wied .............. 125 |
Armerican cockroach mens meee. eee 128 Blissus leucopterus Say .......... 1G, 7295+ Sie |
Wmerican daceer moth —..s.4. ee 126 Bhister- beetles: 2. 30, 96, Issa |
Anachaetopsis: toctricis: Coq. 12.4,..:45..5. 71 Blow. flies. at 2. acalcrepmemeie wees 128.
Anaphothrips obscurus Mull. .......... De VA Blue “grass webworn =o) 2 ees dale
Anaphothrips striatus Osborn ..........:.... 117 Blunt nose leathopper sa.) ee 121 |
Anasgvicistis IDeGy 2.0. oa ee DO AG Bombardier beetles |... eee 96 |
Ariculis comtana -rohls\s2 eee seer 125) Botetss.s oh see ee 29 B03 |
AiG Ut Si Meee eee, he ort em ae Fall Bot fly 00. ee 128 |
Angoumos eratn amothn oi eee 92 Brachinus sp. ..).... ee 96
AGS het ee eR a er ae 128 Brachychinus ligustict 1) ee DAs Oe |
Anucaphis roseas, Baket (2s oe 118 Brachychinus: ovatus (eee 121 |
AP GATCLES “SD. es ae Els hte) hee ene Ta Brachythinus ‘sulcatus Fab. 121 |
Aphids phorodontes Ash: =... WE, Brevicorynée brassicae 10. ee 29 ee I
A piaigds ee Soar amie aes 29, 34, 42; 90; 146 Bristly rose slug \.......... ee LTz |
Aphis abbrevrata Patchys-..y4. eee 90 Bronze cutwotm ...........)3 eee 39 |
Aphis port eG: Qa sae baer nae 118 Brown-tail: moth .......\ eee 12h
Aphodian dung beetle group .............. a7 Bruce s measuring worm =... 119 |
Apple.aphid 34. oo 118 Bruchophagus funebris Howard .......... 26
Apple curcwliots. (202) 3 Mie 4] Bucculatrix canadensisella Chamb. ........ 126 |
Apple teathopperiie i. Sree. sence LZ0 Buffalo: tree, hopper)... eee ATs UZ |
Apple leat skeletonizer. 4 ee 4] Bulb: amites. 8 3 ch.ce- cess. 33 |
Apple mdagcote,! ta) ee ee 40, 118 Bumble flower beetles (2.5. (eee 97 |
Apple ted buts ea ee 119 Butterflies “ue ee 95.
Wople seed *clalcids. en se eee 119 Bytucus unicolot Say |... eee 121
Apple ssuckee. 7.60 hee ccoeaae. een ae wee 120 Cabbage aphid 2.5.1... >) cere << aaa 22 ae |
Army COLWOLM. 9.2.8.8 ee oe ee 114 Cabbage flea ‘beetle 3... kee 116}
PUISeTIOUS- OXIdE 70.88, nee ae Jf 6n~ 78 Cabbage maggot....29, 31,32, 33;532 yeu
Ascogaster carpocapsae Vier. .......... 70, Fak Cacoecia argyrospila Wik, . 7.0 eee 119 |
sparagus, beetle Ue a. 29, BN, S27 eee Cacoccia ramirerana Clem) ye eee 45, 123)

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY | 1

: PAGE
Cacoecia rosaceana Harr. ................ 30, 119
BIZ ING 0) 222 am el ee 67

MEAGICE, MICS ooo... ssc. eec eee eendeee sii ae Ret CP 95
WGailsrephialtes comstocki Cress. .............. 52
Calliephialtes grapholithae (Cress.)....... 71
Galligrata bigsbyana BbZ. .........0cc..0.ee 126
Mminpora VOMILOTIA Woe. oye. bidaeee ve pends 128
METS IVOKS SI oo 5 oes wgngiiihe= ig baclgrvie ong tenn 71
iCamnula jpellucida Scud. ...........-+: SMeyn AES)
MIO a in ccna nag tgene soiaelgs Re Coes Aa
NING AVI ce ga» oninyfeintrei ne ee 96
os PELDIGRNS” ten ge le ane eree ear ODE a0
eresopirg, DCCC ace anac ae cayenne ts deere nen 114
BMRA CCCDICS 28 te gig th wtye Saaae wisider'van sos 128
Macpocapsa pomonella Le ......c..s...- nen 118
Carrion-beetles ..... POEL ea aaisuiney suid ads 96
Macrot cust fly .....:.... 39), 94,0 39, 286 al AZ
MMB PEE ec gci ok coven givdty sev iaignn dab ae 127
MURAI TOU oo yoc. ites yap det wes bemev ees 127
Beeps concius INOrt. ...2i. ceed: 24, Add
Meramboycid beetles feo ag kcecpsn iets O17
Meesomomomlis FAD... ...b....<cenbsasaedes es 120
E@eroroma tcifurcata Forst. 052. ...c0.cese 34
Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus DeG. .... 96
TE CTPIS Y= SATURN GS GG ee 4: 120
INC Sih LOTS ale ny 295-39), AN
(einespis pinifoliae Pitch ....)....01...-c00 124
@rorwugrotis auxilaris Grote ........02.0: 114
Merysochus auratus Fab. ....s.j.1 ccs. .pnns-s 97
aS OMCLIG AS ear e ubsiwh scan pani ea neces ene 97
Chrysomela exclamationis Fab. ............ 26
1 PEGIESS) «Jue Nei gs Re eee 95
EL RICIGI2 I ae I eee Ree eee 96
eonemlectartUs Vo. os. ica estas vo. + os 127
Mimdras gsomerus Nott. ...cscca. vai vunensees 117
MMs CEECSig het S on bec ch teva apvnncds 96
MSGS MOTOS, oie iene es. cede enc bee nebo nt 128
Blower Neat weevil... ..si, 0s. <eccmacl vdens sons 97
MOT ESCO MMSE oss hele score tom dew suns 38
Coccinella novemnotata Host. ....,......... 96
ECU GAC er. oc. ss. ceeds e amennmeue Sets 96
- LISICIGIS RSS Sree orc or ee Neen 47
BRAN CS es oot Gee Dalhe nar ones senns EGS 128
Modine moth ...2..3)... nas. 40,44, 42, 208
ECT AN then eas ced onnts Vigo Ya op
(Goleopterous collections ............:.66.043 93-97
Collops quadrimaculatus Fab. .............. 96
Selotrado potato beetle |... cc. c0.. 00 97, 05
Common asparagus beetle ..........c0....0 97
Conotrachelus nenupher Hbst. ............ 119
@ontused flour beetle iss. .cc.. cco 65, 07
MAG, CALWOLIM © ccc... ues danaeee ds. 30, 335. Ad
MeaO CIE (SPD. aie aye aR wd ola ebb. ki 126
@orythucha juglandis Fitch: ............... 126
Corthylus punctatissimus Zimm. ........ 124

PAGE
Gattanwood leat Jbeetles. 3) ..h es 126
OTANI SH Ree ciate Seles So nce es 98, 99
Crambus agitatellus Clem. ........-.-. 99, 106
Crambus albellus Clem. ........ GF 100, 06
Crambus caliginosellus 101, 102, 103, 106
Crambus alboclavellus Zell. .:........ hr i 06)
Crambus caliginosellus - luteolellus
POGOUM Pe ia enc, OOF ON, OZ 06
Crambus elegans Clem. ........ 99, 100, 105
CGrambus -gicandellus Clem. 3)...
99, 100, 104, 105
Crambus hortuellus Hubner ................
99, 100, 104, 106
Crambus innotatellus Wlk. .......... 995” Ob
Crambus laqueatellus Clem. ............ 99) 0.6
Crandbus-leacnellas: Aime a Ves...

997 100; Ol. 04,
Crambus luteolellus Clem. ..101, 102, 103

Grambus mutabtles Clem. | 2.20... ...0..)..4..
S99 OO, 105, 1 Giezagal7
Gronbus pascuelias Wegnn. 9 ss... 99, 106
Granbus praefectellus Zinck. ....0......2--
92-299, 100, 105
Granbus cactcolellus, Zell 4... 99, 106
Crambus SOD. oe Be is Sh 08, O77, 18

Grambus tetercellus- Zick =. 643
eros LON 103, 1077 116

Granmbusmisisectus Owilk. .-..-....-6)..-2
98, 99, 101, 102, 103, 107, 118

Grambus vulgivagellus Clem. ..............

b9, 1015, 108), 1:06
Goan DUSe ZOWGS: veh sie cscechone sons: 101, 103
Granlbenty, fruit worm 600.0 ..5.---asieaan 124
Gremastus forbesti Werd. .......:.-,.-. Tien aval
Gremastus minoc Cushy. ccc.ten..58- Oneal
GSmeTAGSEUS SIO fascia hohe, « oo tpat hiatus eais 74
rmoppilus macilosus We. 2k cee 96
(BACKOUS a4 wie lect hs auase acco sats De) 9)
Grioceris asparagi L. ........ 22) Soe 32 cig
Crioseris duadecimpunctata L. 31, 32, 97
ErUplococcus fagt SPe fo... 46, 126
Cryptoloemus montrouziere Muls. ...... TS)
Ctenocephalus felis Bouche .................. WAT
Guctimibben™ beetles (rev be wenden 97
Culicoides obsoletus ;Mign................:-.: VALI
CTU GRY 2 Sie I SRS ae O7
CGurtane aphid: (0 2.ay ees. eee rei as P43
Currant DOTer wry. eee, are Suan 12)
Gurcant bud’ mits: hsp eee, 121
GucranG sSPamWwOLMy nic. rces esate oreo L251

Cutworms ....23;° 24, 26.729, 30; 34,. 37

Cyclamen: mite 2. kee eet ete: 30
Ciullene cobiniae. | Osten... 0 ee 97
Dasyneura legumicola Lint. .................. 38
Datand integertima Gs WOeR: 0 i.s..8s.: 27
IDeiand MINISICOMOLUTY 4o00.c ed scewk kas 119
ADeer Mies eek eee NT UI RR ear 27

IDERAGOGLONUS) SI0> «late sncconeccs eces vsehu eaten 44

2 HHE-REPORG ,@FriGhie

PAGE
Dendroctonus brevicornia Lec. ........ 46, 123
Dendtoctonus berealissilopk. 4. 123
Dendcoctonus frontalis Zamm:, 0... 45
Dendroctonus monticolae Hopk. ........ 123
Dendroctonus piceaperda Hopk. .......... 123
Depressia. heractiana, De G. 4.2 ea 20a. cot
Dermestes, landartdsall. 7). eee 67 N28
Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopk. .......... 46
Dermestids... 0 ae ey ea oe ee 96
Decobrachasubaanneus Fabre Vee) eee 97
Diabrotica duodectmpunctata Fab. ........ 97
Diabrovica Oittata ab. 31,32, 93.097 «Ako
Diamond=backvmoth = ee eee 15
Diaphanta nitidalis Stoll... 30, 32, 33, 34
Dibrachus boucheqnus Matz, eee 71
Dichelonyx tbackt- iby. panne eee LA7
Dioctes obliteratus Gres.....70, 71), IA EN
lOnptenas i. Bey io Ske 3 OR Petey nes tae aati 128
Diprion polytomum Hartig. .......... 45122
Dipterous. dites see Lee ee 95
Disonycha anthomelaena Dalm. .......... 116
DO e 4 flea 2 ee Beem ce eee nee 127
Dreutusia -picegemiNatzuy eee ee ee 124
Drosophila ampelophila Loew........ 78, SO
Druocoetes \COmLUSUS, Swi) eee 123
Dy ciscids: fate 3. 6. te letet at ae Saale Seek 96
astern) spruce: bark beetle. a) = se ee NZS
Bastern= tent) catecpillam 2 = oe 125
dN Ce ¢ Ao apathy corer ms se Tet. 4° 96
Plateridaer cic aie ee epee aerate Nees 3 96
Elephantoceta greent Wowmn. ...).5. 7... 7a
Ellopia siscellarias Gil. one eee 124
Ellopta-somniaca Hulst, =... ee
Erapoasca fabae- Barta oo. Beugen £7219)
Encatsig formosa. Gali) seer ee Te.
English: ‘black beetley...355 he etn ee 128
Epeblema strenaana Wik. .....0.2).5......2. 41
Eiphestiaskuenniella Zee 5 ae 67
Embialies degualis™(2teve) > 71
Epicanta maculata Say on). eee ies
Epicauta pennsylvanica DeG. .............. 96

Epilachnga corrapia Wials: ee
29,30, 31,035) 09 Oates

Epirus andigator Walsh....... 2922... TOS 7al
Epitcumerus pitt Nal), os... ee ee 122
Bpittix cucameris, Elatt, see eee 3185 L-6
EPIUCds SP, <...2505 denn ee 7A
Ertocampoides limacina Retz. .............. 120
Eriophes tibis Nalepa, 3... 2 ee 2A
Eciophyes puri Pagnst: ts +. ose ee 12.
Eritosoma lanigerum Hausm. ................ 118
ExtjiReoneura COMES Day, oe. ee ee 120
Erythroneura “tricincta Pitches 120
Bubadizon pleuralis (Cress.)-.......9e< 7A
ESV OAIZOM: ‘SP. vn cch.. scat s2a-. oes TA

PAGE
Eulia mariana Fetn. ....2..... ee 119; ||
Euphoria inda L. .....:::eeeoeeeeeee 97
European earwig ......)...-e eee 118
European birch leaf miner 22. reere 126
European. corn boret 7.2222) esse
29, - 30; °85, S77 9ay TT |
European gtain: moth-...22.-- seers 68 |
European mealy bug (222-5. 120
European pine shoot moth ........ 4,50; 123 |
Euorpean red mite... eee 124
European spruce sawilys 20s 122
Euscelis striatulus Fallen ...................- 12], |
Euttetix tenellus Baket -2 331° 34 |
Euxoa ochrogasiter Guen. eee 114 |
Exotelia dodecella Lz 23 eee 123
Exteneca tmprobaba W1k.\. eee 126
Eye-spotted budmoth —)3-32)=es ne
Fall armyworm: ....0). 02.3 34
Fall cankerworm ............5 =e 425
Fall «webworm. .......4:) 22205 = eee 122
Fenusa -pamila Klug... eee 126
Field cricket \......un523 eee 114
Fir tussock moth (233) 45
Firefly 2... eee 96
Flat-headed apple tree borer ................ 41
Flea ‘beetle =<: ...0..:.... eee 297. 26 SiG
Forda occidentalis Hatt, = ee 119)
Forest* tent caterpillar = ee ASTD
Foricula auriculacia 12 ee Ths
Four-lined plant. bug |. 3 116
Frankinella tritici Fitch ............... Beate 26
Fruit tree leaf roller. 23 eee tis
Galeruca externa Say....2. 2 34
Garden. webworm ...... 33 34
Gastrophilus spp. ...... 128
Geotrupes splendidus Fab, 2 97
Gladiolus -thrips ....2... ee 35, 11g
Glischrochilus’ fasciatus Olive eee 96
Glypta rufiscutellaris Cresson....41, 69, 72
Glypta. SP.0 cnn ks eee Fig TAS
Glypta veripes Cress. 22 eee wi) |
Golden. spider beetle ...2. 2 eee 66
Gophers: oisi2ckc oo ek eee elon
Gortyna- micacea: Esp. ....3 29}. 32 een
Granary weevil. «03:55 59, 653" 68
Grape’. berry. moth). ese 1087 112 e ae
Grape leafhoppers. =. 2 eee 120
Grapholitha. packard Zell. -) eee 120
Grasshoppers ........ 5, 21-26, 87,°893 ee
Gtass: thtips 1.95.56. 117
Grey-banded leaf, roller... 2222 eee 119
Green’. apple aphid)... ee . Os 40
Green apples bug... 119
Green, fruit. worms ..75 Se 119

Greenhouse aphids ).60).. See 73

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 138

PAGE

BereeHOUSe WIECH Y oie... ccccesenece cone nee his
Memmeed peach aphid: 22.3... 1.2... eee ceeeeeee es 118
EMECSCRCMAGCE oo. osc cece cs sapneavnnecgreesee EIU
MarR MDCCEICS. oo... 5. coos sec eee de edo eres 9575 296
Mapes ussimilis Fab. ............6.-000--080e0 114
TS a eee 12
Eater spider beetle oo... eee OW)
igplopitlia iaticella Hbn. ..................+. 124,
“= 2 LUC Lee 01 ee DOS eae
NE LSI Foo ces wos cin sac cunesaetannenine ree 96
ffelroinis obsoleta Fab. ............ 5057.95, 11,6
Hemerocampa pseudotsugata McD. ...... 45
EIIGEKOMOOPEE ooo. .os cetncosnenveeseoucaees 124
feemit flower beetles ...................-...00055 97
UM dun: JEN)? > 520g ae 25, all
Hippodamia convergens Guer. .............. 96
LS IYELGS yi. ..sdce deed 96
_ DLP GET 00 0 eee 29
Lib [2@2) |9 C210 | a ee 116
MeUOEMEAUS oss nsee ses yes seee et ee 95
TSE TAGS RR Neer ewe 127,
= SUSE UGC. cone 128
BPN CA naan eh dcecaddueaethereastaese WALT
Hyalopiecus arundinis Fab. .................. 118
“nrg ATO st ee 96
Hylemyia antiqua Meigh. ....31, 32, 35, 115

Hylemyia brassicae Bouche ..................
Domo 5252955 50. 419

Hylemyia cilicura Rond. ........ 6) ioe aie i iS)
iegerd paunctata Fab. -.. 22.2.2 .6..........c.08- 97
megepanttia cunea Dru. .........0....6.0.005+ WZ
' Hypoderma bovis DeG. ............ 81-83, 128
Hypoderma lineatum DeVill...... 81-83, 128
Beessopus thymus Git... ... 20.2... ...s- 0200s DZ
|) LUT SRG IIG() Saga nena alee imate eee aaa 95
GLEE TESTIS OE a eo 33
Illinoia solanifoltt Ashm. .............. Sine Welas
Imported cabbage worm ............ S08) ye We i
Maipocted CUrrant WOrM ....................5: 121
Memmi meal MOH 62s... 6. oc... cee cease nese seen 68
MME OTUS! TNISCCES loi ecco cececavees 98
Memmmascrarus Olive ooo... ccsceccceecee ses 96
ls SEE. URSA See ae 44
Iron sulphate and lime-sulphur mixt. 73-76
emma ribedtia Fitch .2..s.65.0.0....02.e cede neo eo
Mtoplectis conquisitot Say ..................+ 71
MEMRG ASIC SAWHY 6 2003.00o.coiiicecleccetessssenees 123
Japanese beetle .................. Oar 945-95, 97
MIEDELICSRS re ee. aa |
Seeetche ee se TB ee 95, 126
DemERaCy a Oe ee NC 95
Meme oitd bectles 22.0.2... 00.2 oec.cseccsscaeceeuees 96
(TESTIS SSce ea aetean 96
Eaphygma fraugiperda S. @ A. ............ 34

BREE CAS’ DEALCE 6) sec feo oe ee ceccec hc csceesees 124

PAGE
rar Chae SAWwil Var tlt Ss. eer ae a Lecce coca ae 124
Warder: beetlesiisti s.r ncte cs osetn es 67, 128
Laspeyresia molesta Busck. .................. 120
Laspeyresta nigricana Steph..................
30, 327-34, 147
Laspeyresia prunivora Walsh................ 119
eat-beeblesusettecrn scheint bn, oh eer 79
eat chaterSrOWp er..ccok cesses. eee 96
Weealk= DUS) oo ee eee ee Al, 95
eat =cuceine.. DES os ecede.sscssaenctacs eee 117
eat MOPpPers yh. .t kei ee ee ee 95
LGA 0) UG Geis Saas aia ie SRI tees a ane SOe 40
Wemap fotlimeate: OW ss ccncseccwweanersett ies 97
ieepismma, domestica Pack. © )-.27....2 128
Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say ........ WS
Peptucoideroupy yk en. oe OW,
esseemapple worn i. ¥. f.ccecccnisccwscnes os Pro
Lesser: «micratory.. locust —.4....0...::...: 6,7 13
WNCSSere, PRIOMUSH yeas eee ete 97
TE TIOMUUS ASP. Pe Fo het Saas eee 114
Mina SCOLDEG! ease keine aes eee 120
[tad tremulas PADS yee he tend ete te 126
Eitotcoga cerealella- Olive 2.0.2.2. 92
Er<ophaga; plambea Ald...) 005.4..2. TOP 7a
WE PGUS \CONCAUUS “SAY 205 ees enee see BO) ee a)as
IGcust DOrer ies: Leet ee AW i OT,
jeong-borned beetles)... ete eee 97
WongohOrmeDOKers yes cece cece: 47
Longttarsus mentha-phagus Gentn....... B)/2
EOD RU GUSH Re Oe ee 45
Laspeyresia molesta Busck..................... 68
Koxostege: similalis Guen...........:2.....:... 34
Koxcostegerstichtcalis Wo. 0. sc. 116
ILEC2N aa AVS SS RON 2 I eA 97
lencamua dama wrap. 2.000). 0oss. stent 97
[LUG RTE EES 0 VR VOL UP atts Rt nba te seg pene LA 114
Lygaeonematus erichsoni Hartig............ 124
[ggidia mendax “Reut 275 en. ek je)
TEU GAS COGU CEN IG e528 hood Boa ssc ded anes 41
Lggqus- communis Knight 52.0 07025.0.5.:. wg
deggus: pratensis Wr ions 29, 120
ugusequencalbae: Kets 35.08: isicdstesee ee 41
Lymantaia monacha. 606.8). .tcesccc sos 44
Buttasmutiaule: Sayi ee acces eke 114
Mytia- sphaericollts Say. ....5..:.0c..000s sess 114
Macrobasts subglabra Fall................. Pasa ONG:
Macrocentrus ancylivorus Roh........ Gorn 2e
Macrocentrus delicatus Cress............ ZO) 7
Macrocentrus laspeyresiae Mues.............. fi
Macrodactylus subspinosus Fab......... 6; 117
Maccosiphum: (ptst Walt nc. on). cece eee 116
Macrosiphum solanifolit Ashm....... 90, 116
Malacosoma americana Fab. ................ 125
Malacosoma disstria Hbn. .............. 45, 125
Miamirce a beetlesira tts ccs. aesGeangeaasenaennses 97

134 , THE REPORT OF THE-=

PAGE
Mealy plum. aphid 7.05) oe eg 118
Mediterranean flour moth .................-. » 07
Mayachile spp. 22 o> et tae opal LY
Megilla fuscilabris Muls........ Eee cece Pes 96
Melanophila ..... ne ie es ST ie cee eal 44
Melanoplus bivittatus Say...............06... 113

Melanoplus mexicanus mexicanus s Saus. 6, 17

Melanoplus mexicanus Saus.,............0.... 17
Melanoplus spretus Walsh............... 55 6
Miclanotus: 2.5), -cursk unk See eee ios 2 Ob
Melittia satyriniformis Hbn. .......... a0, BB
MMelodae =...) 2.8 ipachemhee deme Sie ii 5. 250 : 1S
Melyridae 7... soe). cee eee 96
Merodon equesttis Fabi s.c..c:cc0. 22st: 33
Meteorus SD. wae, a uSee eee ens oe pare 6 ||
Mexican bean beetle ..0.0..ccccccccccccccee
ee a are ee 29, 30-344 33,296, 1 18
INDE 2 a oss oes i, snd meat age tee AZ
“Wiccobtacon mellitor Say. yoyo 71
Microbracon politiventris (Cush)........ . TA
Weccobvacon Sp. “22... 10. ae eee yal
Microbracon vaciabilis (PtOW Julncecse. 112
Microgaster ecdytolophae Mues............ TA
Vlilk weed “beetle. i Se ules cee eee. 97
ieiltigerles ots ee es ee ee ee 34
Mineala vaccinit Riley. ees oe 121
Vint. “flea beetle... geese Mees 32
AVNILOS oF Soi bac ob bee io AE eee ey 122
Monochamus, SOP. widens aun ee 123
Monophadnoides rubi Hart. |. see 121
SWLOSGUIEORS’ (oF 5k ee aes, eens, 12/7
DA OUNS. Vso. .c5. Siete Gee eee eRe 95
Mountain pine ‘beetle 7. 2es. ee ca eee 123
Murgantia historionica Hubn........... 80): 32
Wiascaxdomestica Ner- stat een epee 128
Migizus <cerdst ap. 2.500% 0 ake iat a Ba 118
Muyzus persicge. Salz....sd:c.4:-000 33, 90, ALS
Myzus pseudosolani Theo.......,..:6,...2-. 90
WIUZUS TiDis Nor Sie ee Sh area ee 174
Warcisus “bulb “ty se sk coe ee 53
Naromyza americana Fitch.................. oo etd
Necropiiarus!: 10 wir et a eee es
Wematodes) 5) nono (oiaeaeo ee a4:
Nemorilla maculosa Nig “aya cc Ree eer oe: vial
Neodiprion obtetis Hag. Aste 122
Neodtiprion lecontet Fitch............... nie 124
Weodwirion spy. 5 aah Dae 124
Neodiprion swainei M’d’tn .................. 1323
Neoprociphilus aceris Monell.............. i DZD
Nephelodes emmedonia Cram...........:.... 39
Niptus hololeucus Pald............... be teae 66
Diidwudae oe. aa A. ct ai ea 96
1 EPS VCs i eee Peele REIN sitar: 95
MUSCiMid “MNOUIS | Fes ia. tara eee 6)
PTS ANOLE e522 nese ae oaes eek A 42a ee

PAGE
Meee phaeorthoea Don.. re et eae es
Dar. thrips 153... oo itincee eee 25
Oberea bimaculata Oliv. (23 ee
Oblique banded leaf roller ..........0..... pyle
Onion magsor jicaeee 31,- 332 35gy 195
Ontholestes cingulatus Grav................... 96
Onion thrips 2a dear 29, 31, Ady,
‘Oriental Truit/moth 41, 42-08, 120
Osmoderma eremicola Knoch......... as, Oe
Osmoderma scabra Beatty, ee 97
‘Oyster shell scale =... 3 4]
Pachijnematus .octeatus Watt, 5) eee
Pale apple leathopper ...22:eeee 120
Pale striped flea beetles... ee 30): <3
Pale ‘weevils io eos
Pale western cutworm ............ 25; 26, Ay
Papaipema cataphracta Gr.) 30
Patandta boret ....... es
Parandra brannea Fabs 2 eee ra. 97
Pdratetranychus pilosas @) Ge.) eee 12d
Paratetranychus ununguts Jac............... 123
Parsnip webworm ©/:)...5.5o eee 30, 34
Pea aphid 2.0.22, :.....0s.eeeee 33 11h |
Ped Moths: .4,.- ee 30... 32, 34, 38 Tia
Pear leaf blister mites ..... Pim © 122
Pear psylla......... 0.02. 40, 120
‘Pear ‘slug: oo... .i0.. i 120 |
Pegomyia hyosayami PanzZ...........0......- 29 |
Pelidnota punctata L. ..... satin ee aa 96 |
Pemphigus betae Doaneite aes 325~ Son IA
Repper grass beetle 2.5 22 eee 34
Peri planeta americana Ao a 128 |
Peronea vatiana Pern: otccieee i 45 |
-Phenacoccus aceris Sign............. A 52 ete 120
Phorocera: erecta Coq...) Ta
Phttorimea operculella Zeina ee 33.108 |
Phyllocoptes fockeui Nal............... ete ee |
Phyllophaga sp. ic 30, -- 7 \
Phyllophaga auxia Lecouiome ae acces 114 |
Phyllotceta albtonica ec. fe eee 116 |
Phyllotreta vittata Fab. ............. ee Spee |
Phytophaga destructor Say...........c.c00.0+. A415 |
Bickle worn eee 30, 300 33, JA ||
Pieris rapae Ly. 82 hae ee <.. Od, sae |
‘Pine bud moth ........¢oeeeee Aaa es 123 |
Pine ‘needle scale ....2,... 2 124
Pine shoot moth’... 45, 46)
Pine tip moth ~......4......5. 4h |
Pissodes strobi Peck... eee 46
Pitted: ambrosia beetles ...... 2 eee 124.
sPlatunus SP ai ae ee ce ewes, 29D |
Plodia interpunctella Hbn.................... 68

Blum curcolio 2.27) ie....0.012. 2 119)
Plutella maculipenmis: Cutt, \. 2.0. ueeeree 115)
Poecilocapsus lineatus Fab». ones acer 116,

pees 2 PAGE PAGE
eecilus, lucublandus. Say:..ceccccccc0. dell. -- 96 Rough. flower beetles -2.2.0400..2..00)..00%.. 97
Polychrosis.. viteana Clem.....108,; 112, 121 Round-headed apple tree borers ....41, 119
Polyphylla decemlineata Say....... ae LD I Beetviel beetlesy sei): ak cent Oee. Ries 96
Bemolar teat. beetles. .... 052.00. ose fi TZ6 Samia cecropia L. ...... Da UREA SL Go BM Lac E27
_ Poplar leaf-folding sawfly ......... eae 126 Saint Jose: scale. 10"). esses 40; 41, ¥20
Prin japormc@ <....2i0. Aleve? 94 Saperda candida Fab....... feo) Seca aes, 119
Pontania bozemani Colley ..........00...... 126 Satcophaga cooleyi Ald.............. ee 8 128
Seta Wapbidl oo etieBby 34 Sagin moth, 47... Meats, OE ean ms. 125
MreEG) Wectle ke eeeecce Sle. eas ts WG nt Gaff SoFLGal nae Se aoe ae Re tee. 124
Meeitol Bea Beetle occ ccoe cosets 116 Saw-toothed grain. beetle ..........cc. 68
Memirato stem. DOLCE oc iceccercecsn. 29,. 32, 34 Sawyer. beetles ....:..... DEVON DS ip coke ag 123
Potato tuber moth ................. tS 6 ES S| Scamabseidad: 2a ae Oe Oe 96
Predaceous ladybug ............: peor eee 404 Bee Le AAAS PC eh ancneam sr souls’. Libhrns aaah 3h. praNt 95
LOSS Sy IT es re Berea ay 97 Scavenger Scarabs ....... Lace Gea 97
Pristomerus ocallatus. Cush.................. IA Samizura, concinna:.S.. 6. Age Sri 119
MEVGGCOCGUS. ClLTt. RASSO..00 05.00. 00c00.08-6.4 0s he, See dichal Cideres it isso Oe dake 26
Pewee COSA. AD. noe cccecniw en 335. 34, 3:55 1-17 Seed corm, maggot: jctiiict av. DE WS
familia. malt Schmid..:...2:)..000...65: nit EG Serica. WriStisw Wes. ee ricky Santen ease 121
ara puricola otst.....3...052..i2sen 120 Siield-bues Pt. ch. seh eS OR ate es 95
Psylliodes punctulata Melsh.................. 116 SPIE SID y-apuerniceahnes Oot v iaere neal GG
Eerenonided. cibest ScOP...0i2'.. ical TEAJh TUSSI E: So cee enc Mie hb al aan a OI a ae 128
RE Ceci ucncslicbe eis Sitetds os 59 SUMP ee Mele. yas cinnss ewer: Stes, 127
Beas Oilliger Rett. 2.0... cece eccen lite 595400616 Siro plavlus, acananiusy Wak... ve... Je 65
ROR GIEATIS Loe tec idsneeeverere vonnteavt 16s 127 Gino plawitis: OGY zae. Vis yacyan.s eben 68
RUMEOS ae OMe ds veto 127 Sitatroga cerealella OWiwa. \.. 2220.0 d0sse.. ts 92
Pyralis- farinalis L. ............. Se ee 68 SHES 5 cate Leora Me Le. HE Bh 3!
Pyrausta nubilalis Hbn...... ieee DSO ELS Sout beetlesie vi jccwans eves svienite y. Sok La Aap 97
IRachela braceata Hubst.....:...0....00......0: 119 Smout. imealy moth: 325.00 ote fk 68
Peremm@adl DOLer 9 si2i::6.6.555.6..22c0l. beet. 41 Sod welwarms. 2.8 Hi. OR ek i 30
Raspberry cane borer: ............... se Oyen WA Walger nee tlie. Seu: (atte wiasnscstucs Oe ie eetees 96
Raspberry ie WOE! a. ce 121 Southern pIMevineRtlen AMT. a. 45
Raspberry sawfly 0... lcccseceeceeteese 121 SCH MUCOSA ec aee terrors tees 13
Red-backed cutworm ©......0/..0ccc.c03. V14 Spilonota ocellana D. 6 S. o...c ccc. tg
Peee= backed pine sawily ......5.....00..0..00e00- 124 Spuaach apie akg eise veges Sea meee o8 33
medemumped caterpillar ...................... 119 Spunachy fleavbeetle = to... eek uct. 116
MENS T ES ei seca bncececcaseees EZ AO Spinecw lea miner... ee. Seek ehsc oe 29
feeaemecked cane. borer ...........c..c.c0ccece IN Spotted pelidnotas. oie. donee ences 96
MEMES he os canto genaasr adi eeoeiebons 34 SOAS CAUS PEN Eons soon Selecta do us Du
23) SBC (asta hs 12350 126 Spruce budmioth: 05223 45, 48, 123
Rhagoletis pomonella Wash.................. 118 Spruce. pineapple sallyn kee 124:
Rhizoglypus echinopus F, ® R. ............ 33 SOGUCe Saviano koh nese suckh Se once 122
Rhopalositphum_ pseudobrassicae Davis ScMas MebDU GH 5 cacharesacoackcancthe. USi5 or. BAe
29, 32, 84, 85, 116 Sauasle vane borer — yo... veces 8 D0p= 35

Rhopobota naevana ilictjoliana Hbn..... 29 SASS DCCCLO eet Meererae aol, erie sad sbDe es be 97
MEAT CUTCUIIO 0002. cc. DOp eae Staplnylimidsin Meee iene a ts ly hea 96
Rhyacionia bioliana Schiff....4, 45, 50, 123 SU MONG SANIGIS COR ee od poe eee sae: 125
Evmurcites bicolor Fab..................... ZO pes lelo7, Sloredi product (imSects) c.f cke.hccdean sch 93
RMPCMT COVA Se ep 92 Straisht-bodied: prions ....4....c65. 0. sc. ss 5s o7
eeadstGe Grasshopper .....2.... 0) ccceesesceess E13 Strawbetny leat chatee soe. (8. rsny ray
Becocky mountain locust. ................22.060.6 6 Strawiberty. leat wroler: ty oe hes 121
BOO OMACCOE |. oo... 0. sevciece.ievcess Beeson’ mee] Straw betty root weevils 0... ).c6....c000.c al
Mieeesemater fk Aly Oa Oe A leh Striped cucumber beetle 31, 32, 33, 97, 116
MT CUNCCIUION Fh oye eiecsess. DO WAS, Deriped. WWEDWOLOMD \ gues ccetcveheseecedeonss 17.
MPGeISCEI CIPGICE ooo) ..5s.s0lccoaeien Opt 7 Stubble grasshopper 2.2000... sscies...ctencse Ora k?
Me eae ADIN 6.5... oeo ce ccecicclacds 118 Sugam beck toot aphid Mi). ee... S23" 34

136 (HE REPORT (OF? aoe

PAGE
Supar beet root maggot anee-.s 115
Sunflower -beetleq47..25.14 eaterre . eens 26
Sylvanus sucinamensis Ib. tee) ae 68
Synanthedon tipultfocmis vi. |. dZit
Syntomaspis druparum Boh................. 119
Systena blanda Melsh...)..5.7).0 ees. 116
Systena taeniata blanda Melsh............. ay
SUStend tdentard Say. 55 es ee 116
Hvala muds UWS One ee ernest rhe tanes 127,
Machinids! fase. 5) PU ah hrs Re Ree ECU 125
Tachypterellus quadrigibbus Say............ 119
Taentopthrips gladioli M. ®% S. ....35, 117
tarnished’ plant bucw 29, 43, 120
Tarsonemus pallidus Banks ................ 30
DRenebrio molitocMe we ee eee Le Oe
Wenebrio obscucus, Faby... 4 eee 67
Wenebroides mauritanicus 1. ny ee 67
Tetanops aldrichi Wendel... ae) 115
Tetranychus telartus L. ........ 34, cA ZAG S126
Three-lined potato beetle ....0.0..0.....0.... gS,
PRES ea rhea ata | | Le OMe aes ee 43, 73
(bhaips abaci sen reeen ee 29 31 eS oelys
Tager- beetles). ns. a er ee eee 96
Uinea grametia Nos. swe ea eae 68
iiineola: biselliellay) Fluan. 6 ee yen 128
Toxicity various poisons ................ US 230)
SIPRCe=Op PeEs ie. see Medic is Benen eae 95
Trialeurodes vaporiariorum Westwood.. 72
iiciboltum: conrusum Duy, eas G7) 767,
PRCROGEOMAIG ws. fos. date ates, 2 ey 111
Trichogtcamma minutum Riley............
DD. 'OOnpad ly ieee
TEROMCEANSD ooh. {AN im CS EN ie ea 71

PAGE
True bugs) occ. cent eee 95
Trumpet ‘leaf. miner 73s Voie eee 41
Turnip aphid 7340.8 29, 32en Ba OS weIONG
Turnip flea beetle... eee 295 too
Twelve-spotted asparagus beetle ............ 97
Twelve-spotted cucumber beetle ............ oF,
Two-striped grasshopper .................... 113
Typhlocylba pomarja McAs = eee 120
Walnut caterpillac 1) 2 ee 1275
Warble flies 3.2... eee Sls ses
Wasps oi i ick ane 95
Water-beetles )......0....:.:.9. eee 96
Western balsam beetles ....:......0:........... 123
Western hemlock looper ...................... 124
Western pime beetle 2 2ys33 = eee 123
Weevils: o..c00.0..2 eee 97
Wheat root aphid...) 3... 117
Wheat stem maggot <3 ee 115
Wheat stem sawfly .......... 24; 255 2 6 lS
White. grubs ...45 6S eee 3:0; 395 WIA
White marked spider beetle .................. 59
White pine weevil +... 28) eee 46
Winged ants:........0..... cane eee 95
Winged aphids .......2.0. 35s 95
Wireworme...... 23, 25, 26,29) SO salou.

345539 Or 4 |

Wood, blotch miner... 3.5 ee 118
Wooly apple aphid’ 2.33 118
XYlind SPs eocsebocacscs dete. he 119
Yellow-headed spruce sawfly .............. 122
Yellow. meal: worm... 22 67

Yellow-necked caterpillar
Zeugophora scutellaris Suffr. ................ 126

_ Ontario Department of Agriculture

Sixty-Sixth Annual Report

of Ontario

eee

PRINTED BY ORDER OF
HON. DUNCAN MARSHALL, Minister of Agriculture

ONTARIO

NORONTEC
Printed by T. E. BowMAn, Printer to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty
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CONTENTS

TT ERS TATE Tus Sb ind 6 Si reall meemaietete eee ae selene, ernst et ade toca nent A leat it MRR ili
DMRECSENTERIENT . Lint) vortieue or’ 1 bl-- isa eeth:
EE EE TENT 2S Oe 0-7 i 181 eS BS RR SPS ie ol Ne A oe aN a
BITE EVEISEOOORUMBIA BRANCH 60 e oo ocie ccccecnssce suvesucenses voveechcccusteceecehess

Preliminary Notes on the White Pine Weevil Situation in the Petawawa
Horess aescrve:. Ongarion ss Peaks: WATSON: .10:20.)... cle). eels.

The Function of Wood-boring Insects in the Development of the Forest:
EL TEA DUT RGNE 6 08 8 SO on Go i'd 0 RN UAE OC See eee oh Ce ee a

Population Study of Ips perturbatus Eichh.: A. R. GOBEIL
Notable Chanees in the Oriental Fruit Moth Parasite Situation:

OPS TES Ape nae SHI SAN Es Ure G9 5 2 043 Gait aah sal Dek We mn a le Se Ae es
Two Parasites of the White Apple Leafhopper (Typhlocyba, pomaria McA.):

ae ree ETE SE Oe aE Bas sp PY op cadnds cdaleapan Racenabinn EE <a! danse sayen Bol
Shipping of Potato Beetle Parasites and Predators to France with Notes on

Bae PCCIes: volved r/ be Jie bREAND ie .<. 5 bios) eh dh.) g xe deh hd DR. deen
mes ue Control in ‘Nova Scotia: N: AP PATTERSON. 00.0.0 OSes.
The Insect Fauna of the Raspberry Plantations of the Province of Quebec:

oe hae LESS se abla a ee ke A ei a
The European Corn Borer in Ontario in 1935: L. CAESAR..............0.cce if
An Interesting June Beetle Habitat in Ontario: H. F. HUDSON AND

la hin VAN UAE ge Sige cae: Joey oe eee a Sea Oe ee re oe
White Grub Surveys in Cntario During 1935: G. H. HAMMOND..........00000........

Observations Concerning the White Grubs in Quebec in 1985: G. GAUTHIER...

The Present Status of the Alfalfa Snout Beetle (Brachyrhinus ligustici L.) in
BOI aa Gasca ATE a Lo tes, cise sctagrn cdl aciee «essen edeam ep ef vadawe we

Notes on a New or Hitherto Unrecorded Pest of Sweet Clover in Ontario:
line (GRTESSIE es ace een OBE Ne I Rak SoG BF i 07 00 7 0 Ok a

The Bronze Cutworm (Nephelodes emmedonia Cram.) in the Maritime
haat OR Ce mage Ey os OEE WUE eerie Se eee Sh ace ices sda usihe ceeuhodusetcatuassegers

The Grasshopper Campaign in Manitoba in 1935: A. V. MITCHENER................

A. Note on Grasshopper Outbreaks in the Counties cf Renfrew and Hastings,
Sinai ieee) ere GBBT 32 ter cee

Kiffects of Some Ecological Factors on the Pea Aphis: P. LAGLOIRE................

Notes on Insects Found Infesting Packing Materials Entering the Port of
ontnreal say pepe Ui NiuiINROre ie: IG oN ee a ee eee

Further Notes Regarding Honey Bees and Pollination: C. B. GOODERHAM......
The Walnut Husk Fly (Rhagoletis suavis Loew) in Ontario: G. M. STIRRETT..
Insect Collections from Niagara’s Coloured Searchlights: R. W. SHEPPARD...
A Note on the Bat Bedbug (Cimex pilosellus Horv.): G. M. STIRRETT..............
A Note Filing System for Entomological Field Laboratories: G. M. STIRRETT..
A Summary of Insect Conditions in Canada in 1935: C. R. TWINN.......0...0000.0.

RO RHEE Hee E He aH EHH EEOE DEED HEE E HE Eee EE EE ET EEE EDD SHE EHH HEDESS SH SEE HEE HH SS TEESE EES SEPSEHHE ESSE SEH SEES EEES SESS ED ESE DEESE

Entomological Society of Ontario

OFFICERS FOR 1935-1936

President—L. 8. MCLAINE, Entomological Branch, Ottawa.
Vice-President—H. F. HUDSON, Strathroy, Ontario.

Secretary-Treasurer and Librarian—R. H. OZBuURN, O. A. College, Guelph,
Oniario.

Directors—R. E. BALCH, Fredericton, New Brunswick; GEO. Moore,
Montreal, Quebec (President of the Montreal Branch); G. M. STIR-
RETT, Chatham, Ontario; R. D. BirD, Brandon, Manitoba; R. M.
WHITE, Lethbridge, Alberta; W. DOWNES, Vernon, British Columbia
(President of the British Columbia Branch).

Directors (ex-presidents)—-PROF. JOHN DEARNESS, London; PRoF. E. M.
WALKER, University of Toronto; PRoF. LAWSON CAESAR, O. A. College,
Guelph; Dr. ARTHUR GIBSON, Entomclogical Branch, Ottawa; F. J. A.
Morris, Peterborough; Dr. J. M. SwWAINE, Dominion Department of
Agriculture, Ottawa; REV. FATHER LEOPOLD, La Trappe, Que.; PROF.
A. W. BAKER, O. A. College, Guelph, Ont.; T. D. HARVIS, Oniario
Research Foundation, Toronto; PRor. J. D. DETWILER, Western
University, London, Ontario; Dr. W.-H. Brivraie Macdonald Col-
lege, Quebec; W. A. Ross, Vineland Station, Ontario.

Editor—Dr. J. H. MCDUNNOUGH, Entomological Branch, Ottawa.
Associate Editor—H. G. CRAWFORD, Entomological Branch, Ottawa.

Auditors—PROF. L. CAESAR, O. A. College, Guelph; G. G. DUSTAN, O. A.
College, Guelph.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO
FINANCIAL STATEMENT

FOR THE YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31st, 1935

Receipts Expenditures

Cashion. Hand 19ste 2 Se: $ 338.24 Printing ice ee $1,170.00
DUDSEEIPHONSty A. ak eee a 468.02 Editor’s.. Salary. <.:.....4.5) =a 100.00
DOGS pe ete at as Seed eh ee £9059 Back Salary (Editor, 1933950: 75.00
Back Numbers... ion ore ee 171.06 Reprints: | .c-0.cu20 ee 2.33
Advertisementsic ek. oe. tee 293.25 EXpenses onan... Ae 37.04
Exchange ice’ steers ee ema 15 Eexchanve (603s... 23.51
Reprwrts: 127) Shes Wan ee bee 2.33 Cash” on Hand +. .22°222. eee 15
Government. 'Grants.)...52:55 350.00 tamps”.on’ Hand...) eee 4,71

ce Balance in) Bank...) eee 400.26

$1,813.60

$1,813.60
Respectfully submitted,
REG. H. OZBURN,
Secretary-Treasurer.

Audited and found correct.

LL. CAESAR,

G. G. DUSTAN, Auditors.
(4)

Pe i!

Entomological Society of Ontario

REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1934-35

The Council of the Entomological Society of Ontario presents its
report for the year 1934-35.

The Seventy-First Annual Meeting of the Society was held in the
Entomological Lecture Room, Ontario Agricultural College, on Thursday
and Friday, November 21st and 22nd, 1934.

The morning and afternoon sessions were largely devoted to the
reading and discussion of papers. At the evening meeting, held in
Memorial Hall, Mr. K. M. King gave an illustrated talk on “‘The Grass-
hopper Outbreak in Saskatchewan.” On behalf of the Society Dr. Brittain
thanked the speaker for his interesting address.

At the close of the evening meeting the members of the Society and
a number of friends adjourned to the Faculty Lounge Room where an
enjoyable smoker was held.

The Canadian Entomologist, official publication of the Society, com-
pleted its sixty-sixth volume in December last. This volume had 288 pages,
illustrated by 12 plates and 16 original figures. There were 50 contributors
from Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, England,
Scotland, China, and 17 of the United States. e

It is the sad duty of the Council to record the deaths of Albert EZ. Winn
and H. E. McMillan.

Mr. Winn, Entomologist and Curator of the Lyman Entomological
Collection and Library, Redpath Museum, McGill University, died on July
3rd, 1935. For almost 30 years he was a member of the Society and took
a keen interest in its affairs. During this time he did a great deal for the
advancement of Entomology by contributing papers to the Canadian
Entomologist and other journals, and by encouraging the study of insects
by amateurs in the region of Montreal.

REPORT OF THE BRITISH COLUMBIA BRANCH

The Thirty-Fourth Meeting of the Society was held on Saturday,
February 23, 1935, in the Board Room of the Vancouver Daily Province.
The meeting was called to order by the President, Mr. W. Downes. The
members attending were Miss M. Allen, W. W. Baker, E. R. Buckell, S. E.
Crumb, A. A. Dennys, J. Finlay, R. Glendenning, K. Graham, A. D. Heriot,
-R. Hopping, J. R. J. Llewellyn-Jones, H. F. Olds, W. G. Mathers, J. Wilcox,
J. W. Winson and the Secretary.

New members elected were K. Sangster, of Vancouver, B.C.; T. K.
Moilliet, Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Kamloops, B.C., and J.
Marshall, Wenatchee, Washington.

(5)

7 rEB 26 1937

6 THE REPORT OF THE

The following papers were presented :—

Presidential Addresses ioe 9n ype ee W. Downes
The Production of Artificial Conditions Conducive to Winter Feeding of

Ticks (Dermacentor andersoni Stiles) ..-.........0....-:ce J. D. Gregson
Some Aspects of the Pea-Moth Situation. ........ ee ee R. Glendenning
Notes on the Growth and Development of Insecis..................... A. D. Heriot
A Preliminary List of the Fleas of British Columbia.............. G. J. Spencer
Gryllus domesticus Jai in Vaneouver..........0....22.- 4 ee J. K. Jacob
Tlustratine Insectss isle 79.. OOS. The. Tee tO Ee ae G. R. Hopping
Notes on the Life-History of the Rhododendron White Fly in British

Golambia 5. 5555. SS he Si ee ee ea oe ee H. F. Olds
Some Food Plants of Lepidopterous Larvae............ J. R. J. Llewellyn-Jones

On the External Parasites of Swallows in British Columbia....G. J. Spencer
The Earwig Parasite, Digonichaeta setipennis Fall............0....... W. Downes
Notes on the Life-History of Cuterebra tenebrosa Coquillet...T. K. Moilliet

An Outbreak of Autographa californica in the Kamloops district................
OS EER SIEM OEE Ge Se tO ee ge G. J. Spencer

OFFICERS ELECTED

Honorary President, L. E. Marmont; President, W. Downes; Vice-
President (Coast), G. J. Spencer; Vice-President (Interior), EK. R.
Buckell; Honorary Secretary-Treasurer, G. R. Hopping; Honorary
Auditor, J. S. Eastham; Advisory Board, J. S. Eastham, H. F. Olds, F. H.
Larnder, W. H. Lyne, J. R. J. Llewellyn-Jones.

Finances:—The present bank balance as indicated and audited is
$283.89. Out of this must come expenditures for the publication of two
issues of the Proceedings. ‘The bill for the 1934 issue has not yet been
tendered and the 1935 issue must also be financed by the above monies.
Fifty dollars will go into sinking fund provided this step is ratified by the
members. After these things have been done, the balance will be less than
620.00 so the large balance shown in this report is misleading due to the
delay in issuing the 1984 number of the Proceedings.

For your approval or otherwise the Committee on Finance has recom-
mended the establishment of a sinking fund, the principal of which is not
to be touched and the interest to accumulate for at least ten years. To this”
end the Committee recommends that fifty dollars of the present surplus
be transferred to this sinking fund.

Proceedings:—The 1934 number of the Proceedings is considerably
larger than the preceding one. It has been somewhat delayed but when

this report is presented it is hoped that the issue will be in the hands of
the members.

«

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 7

Ee Ene

Membership:—Our members number forty at present, a decrease of
five, but I believe there are about five new members to be considered at
the present meeting. The decrease is largely due to members moving to
distant parts.

Advisory Board:—A meeting of the Advisory Board was held on
Saturday night, February 24, 1934. The papers to be included in issue
No. 31 of the Proceedings were decided upon and a financial plan con-
sidered. This last has been explained under the section on Finances above.

Respectfully submitted,

GEO. R. HOPPING,
Hon. Secretary-Treasurer.

PRELIMINARY NOTES ON THE WHITE PINE WEEVIL*
SITUATION IN THE PETAWAWA FOREST
RESERVE, ONTARIO

By EK. B. WATSON
Entomological Branch, Ottawa

The white pine weevil has for years been the most troublesome pest
of white pine in plantations and in pure natural regeneration. Its injuries
are reflected in forked and distorted stems, caused by the repeated destruc-
tion of the leading shoots. In the Petawawa Forest Reserve, studies on
the white pine weevil have been directed towards the problem of preserving
the second-growth white pine from weevil attack following cutting of the
jack pine or poplar overstory. Young white pines growing under cover
of either of these species are practically immune from weevil attack, but
there is considerable evidence to show that a weevil infestation will develop
in the stand if the protection afforded by the jack pine is removed in the
course of lumbering operations. The immunity from the weevil appears
to be due to lack of vigour in the second-growth white pine; in a dense
stand of white pine, or in a stand containing a heavy cover crop of jack
pine, the competition is so keen that the leading shoots of the white pine,
while of considerable length, are decidedly slender. This condition is not
favourable to an attack by the weevil. A weevil-proof condition is also
observed in types where the soil is very poor; although there may be no
root or crown competition, the rate of growth is so slow that the leading
shoots are not of sufficient size and vigour to encourage an infestation of
the weevil.

In open plantations or in natural regeneration on abandoned farms
where there is little or no root or crown competition, the leading shoots
are vigorous and robust, and weevil injury is very severe; following
ie infestations, trees in this type develop into multiple-top worthless
shrubs.

The problem facing the silviculturist is the growing of merchantable
white pine on a 90-year rotation; if the cover crop in the forest is harvest-
ed, its total removal will result in rapidly improved growth of the white

* Pissodes strobi Peck.

g THE REPORT OF THE

pine, but there is always the danger of the white pine weevil becoming
established as a direct result of the more robust growth of the white pine.
Selective logging experiments have been conducted by the Dominion Forest
Service, involving the removal of a jack pine overstory in proportions of
86°%, 60% and 20% of the whole. The reaction of the young white
pine, both as to growth and susceptibility to weevil attack will be studied
closely in ensuing years in each type of cut so that a method may be
devised, if possible, of regulating cutting operations so as to induce im-
proved growth in the white pine understory combined with immunity from
weevil infestation.

Investigations are also being carried out in plantations, and efforts
are being made to determine the most satisfactory conditions for growing
white pine in mixture with other species so as to protect the former from
weevil injury as much as possible, as plantations of pure white pine are
almost invariably a total loss through repeated weevil attacks. Fairly
satisfactory results have been obtained by growing white pine with red
pine; the latter species grows much faster during the first few years, and
affords a considerable degree of protection to the white pine. Experi-
mental plantings of white pine have also been made under cover of fast-
growing Carolina poplar, the two species being planted in alternate rows;
results from this experiment will not be available for at least four or five
years. Other methods of planting, employing various arrangements of
different tree species will ke tried out in an effort to produce, if possible,
a crop of weevil-proof white pine.

THE FUNCTION OF WOOD-BORING INSECTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOREST

By M. B. DUNN
Entomological Branch, Ottawa

The activities of wood-boring insects are usually considered as entirely
destructive. Such an assumption seems logical when one examines a pile
of pine lumber riddled with the tunnels of Monochamus scutellatus.
However, while it is true that many wood-borers are the cause of great
destruction in the forest, it is erroneous to suppose that they all should
be included in the category of injurious insects.

Among the wood-borers which may be correctly considered actual
enemies of the forest are such insects as the oak. carpenter worm,
Prionoxystus macmurtrei, whose large galleries seriously weaken the
timbers of ash, oak and maple; the bronze birch borer, Agrilus anxius,
whose narrow winding tunnels through the cambium of paper birch cause
serious injury and eventual death to immense numbers of trees of this
species; the two-lined chestnut borer, Agrilus bilineatus, a serious enemy
cf oak and chestnut; the spotted hemlock borer, Melanophila fulvoguita,
which occasionally attacks hemlock in sufficient numbers to kill even large
trees very quickly; the hickory borer, Cyllene pictus, and the locust borer,
Cyllene robiniae, which together make the growing of black locust almost
impossible in certain sections; the sugar maple borer, Glycobius speciosus,
a very injurious pest of the sugar maple; the poplar borer, Saperda
calcarata, a serious enemy of poplar throughout Western Canada; the

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 9

mottled willow borer, Cryptorhynchus lapathi; the white pine weevil,
Pissodes strobi, one of the most serious enemies of white pine in Eastern
Canada and many others scarcely less important.

In addition to these numerous insects of the true borer type, there are,
of course, many very serious enemies of forest trees among the members
of the family Scolytidae. Such insects as the eastern spruce bark beetle,
Dendroctonus piceaperda, and the balsam bark beetle, Pityokteines sparsus,
while not true borers as they work only in the cambium or outer sapwood,
are annually the cause of the death of large numbers of spruce and balsam
throughout eastern Canadian forests.

All these insects are of great importance in the development and com-
position of the forest. When present in moderate numbers, they are
probably more beneficial than detrimental as they maintain a minor though
regular mortality rate among the over-mature, weakened or injured timber,
continually weeding out this poorer material and providing for the more
rapid development of the younger, more healthy and desirable stock.

When any of these primary forest enemies become suddenly epidemic,
great changes in the composition of the forest may take place very rapidly,
and its entire character undergo a marked alteration within a compara-
tively short period of time.

A second series of boring insects, whose attacks are confined to dead
or dying trees, fire-killed timber or log piles, are the cause of serious losses
to the lumber industry. Conspicuous in this group are the members of
the genera Monochamus, Xylotrechus and Trypodendron. Since the attacks
of these insects are of a secondary character, the resultant damage occurs
among forest products rather than within the forest itself, and indeed,
investigation of the activities of these insects and of many accompanying
species indicates that the results of these activities within the forest are
almost entirely beneficial. Upon first thought, this may appear to be a
surprising, if indeed not an inaccurate, statement, but due consideration
will substantiate its correctness.

Thousands of trees die annually throughout Canadian forests from
such causes as the attacks of primary insects and fungi, violent winds,
Suppression and overcrowding, over-maturity and fire. Imagine the
condition of these forests within a short space of time if there were no
powerful agencies such as secondary insects and fungi to commence im-
mediately the task of reducing this immense mass of dead material to
humus. Within a few years, the forest would become an impassable jungle
of tangled windfalls and stark, ghostly rampikes, interspersed with a few
stunted, under-nourished trees attempting to struggle through the debris.
such a phenomenon may occasionally be witnessed in a forest where sudden
and complete devastation has occurred over great forest areas and the
agencies of decay are temporarily unable to keep pace with the destructive
agent. An excellent example of this condition could be witnessed in the
forests cf New Brunswick for a few years subsequent to the wholesale
destruction of balsam by the spruce budworm.

Normally, however, the agencies of decay are able to cope with the
Situation. As soon as a tree dies from any cause whatsoever, the process
of its reduction to humus begins, and while the work of fungi in this regard
is exceedingly important, the role played by insects is scarcely less so.

10 THE REPORT OF THE

In the case of coniferous trees, an immediate attack is conducted by
various species of Scolytids, followed and assisted by many Cerambycids
such as Monochamus, Xylotrechus, Anacomis, Tetropium, Callidium,
Acanthosinus and Astylopsis; Buprestids such as Chrysobothris and
Dicerca; the Pythids, Pytho planus and Pytho niger and wood-boring
Hymenoptera such as Sirex juvencus cyaneus. The Scolytids, the Pythids
and certain Cerambycids and Buprestids work in the inner bark and cam-
bium, reducing it to a damp, pulpy mass of debris, ideal for the growth of
fungi. Monochamus, Xylotrechus, Trypodendron, Tetropium, Dicerca,
Sivex and many others bore into the wood itself, reducing an appreciable
volume of it to debris through their own efforts, and riddling it with
tunnels which facilitate the entry and growth of fungi.

The majority of these insects confine their activities to recently killed
trees and seldom, if ever, attack the same material twice. Their places
are immediately taken, however, by other species such as the Cerambycids,
Bellamira, Anaplodera, Pachyta Acanthoderes and Anthophilax, various
Buprestids and the Tenebrionid, Upis ceramboides. No part of the tree
escapes attention, even the roots attract various species. Spruce roots for
instance, inches underground, will be found several years after the death
of the tree, to be infested with larvae of the large bronze Buprestid,
Chalcophera virginiensis.

As decay and destruction progress, additional species render assist-
ance. Red and white pine, the heartwood of which is exceedingly resistant
to decay, will be found to contain the larvae of various species of
Anaplodera twenty years after the tree has fallen; poplar stubs so rotten
that a vigorous push will break them off will contain scores of the larvae
of Anthophilax and Bellamira, and birch logs so decayed that, when the
bark is removed, the wood may be crumbled in the hand, almost invariably
are populated by Upis ceramboides and the Scarabids, Trichiotinus
assimilis and Osmoderma scabra.

The Tenebrionid, Upis ceramboides, is an especially interesting insect
in that it will breed in material in almost any stage of decay. Adult beetles
will emerge from beneath the bark of conifers dead but two years, others
from wood which is thoroughly rotten. In sound wood the larvae work
only in the soft inner bark and cambium; in rotten material they make
large and extensive tunnels through the wood. In the course of cage studies
made at Laniel, Que., this insect completed several generations in a cage
containing rotten logs of paper birch, each brood of adults ovipositing
upon the same material from which they had emerged a short time
previously.

The deciduous trees, for a year or two following their death, are more
resistant to borers than most conifers, but once the reduction process
begins, it accelerates very rapidly and within a few years such trees as
poplar and birch have become masses of humus, providing sustenance for
their successors. Certain Conifers, such as balsam, are also reduced very
rapidly. Others, such as white pine, are remarkably resistant—the heart
wood of this tree often being suitable for the cheaper grades of sawn
lumber for many years after death.

The insect agents which assist the fungi in the final reduction processes
are the larvae of a few Tenebrionids, Scarabids, Elaterids and a very few |
of the Cerambycids, notably those of the genus Anaplodera. A few years ©

wstiey

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 11

i

after the last of these emerge as adults, the material in which they worked
has once more become a portion of the forest floor from which it came.

POPULATION STUDY OF JPS PERTURBATUS EICHH.
By A. R. GOBEIL

Entomological Branch, Ottawa

During the years 1933 and 1934, a study of the biology of [ps pertur-
batus Eichh. was made in the Gaspe Peninsula, province of Quebcv. The
work was carried on in the vicinity of the Federal Mine which is situated
at an altitude of 1,750 feet above sea level near the middle of the Peninsula,
i.e. 50 miles north west of the village of Grand Cascapedia. The district
is very hilly, and some of the highest mountains of the province occur
within a radius of from 5 to 10 miles from the Mine. These are: Mount
Lyall 3,000 feet aititude, Mount Sterling 3,100 feet, Hogsback 2,725 feet,
Mount Richardson 3,885 feet and Mount Albert 3,775 feet. In this type
cf country the summer is rather short and precipitation is high.

This paper covers certain phases of a population study made in con-
nection with the above investigation. Ips perturbatus Eichh. generally
breeds on white spruce killed by Dendroctonus piceaperda Hopk. How-
ever, in the Gaspe Peninsula it has been found inhabiting the trunk of
white spruce heavily defoliated by the European spruce sawfiy (Diprion
polytomum Hartig).

The number of beetles breeding in a tree harbouring Ips perturbatus
varies directly as the area of the tree. If the latter, instead of being the
only species occupying the upper part of the trunk, is mixed with Ips
borealis Sw. and Dryocoetes affaber Mannh., its number may be reduced
to a Minimum, sometimes less than 1,000. However, in certain cases where
the weakened condition of the tree is due not to Dendroctonus but to
Diprion polytomum, Ips perturbatus may occupy the total area of the trunk
and the number of larvae reaching maturity will, probably, be over 50,000.
This is, however, a case peculiar to the Gaspe Peninsula where two out-
breaks, the spruce sawfly and Dendroctonus piceaperda, occur at the
present time. In general, the portion of the trunk infested by Ips pertur-
batus varies between 15 and 30 feet and the number of beetles reaching
maturity is 10,000 to 20,000.

The most exact manner of obtaining information on the population
of a tree infested by Ips perturbatus would be to peel carefully the whole
tree under observation and make an exact count of the beetles found under
the bark. It is possible, however, to have quite precise data by stripping
the bark only en sections of uniform length uniformly spaced. Owing to
the limited time, the latter method was the one followed for this population
study.

The tree used had a total length of 66 feet and a D.B.H. of 9 inches.
The distribution of the different species of bark-beetles under the bark of
the trunk was, from the base to the top, as follows :—

Dendroctonus zone: 13 feet long; dia. at the lower part 9 inches; dia. at
the upper part, 7 inches.

12 : THE REPORT OF THE

Ips perturbatus zone: 82 feet long; dia. at the lower part, 7 inches; dia.
at the upper part, 4 inches; average circumference, 18 inches; ‘total
superficies, 48 feet.

ips berealis zone: 18 feet long ; dia. at the lower part, 4 inches ; dia. at
the upper part, 1 inch, i.e. 3 feet from the top.

Pityphthorus sp. zone: The last three feet.

On the portion of the trunk infested by Ips perturbatus, three sections,
A, B and C, representing the lower, middle and upper part of the infested
porticn, were cut. Their dimensions were:

Section A: 2 feet long x 20 inches circumference; cut at 9 feet from the
base of [vs perturbatus zone, i.e. at 22 feet from the D.B.H.

Section B: 1 foot long x 16 inches circumference; cut at 17 feet from the
base of Ips perturbatus zone, i.e. at 30 feet from the D.B.H.

Section C: 2 feet long x 15 inches circumference; cut at 22 feet from the
base of Ips perturbatus zone, 1.e. at 35 feet from the D.B.H.

These three sections being cut, the bark was carefully removed and
an exact count of the egg-tunnels, egg-niches, larvae, pupae, young adults,
parasites, etc., was made.

Among the different methods of analyzing bark-beetle population, the
one proposed by Golovjanko and later modified by Iljinsky seems to be
the most suitable. These two quantitative methods of special population
studies with many others are very well summaried in a paper by J. J. de
Gryse (34).

ri Using, with few modifications, the system of symbols devised by
lijinsky, the analysis of the above population study shows the following
interesting facts:

A. — Number of egg-tunnels per square foot Small
M.— Number of egg-niches per square foot == 1225
O. — Number of young adults per square foot =. 469
b. — Density of attack = A Sag ts)
1 square foot
d. — Average number of eggs per egg-tunnel = M SS Oe
A
ce. — Average number cf young beetles per egg-tunnel = Oy— 9
A
fi. — Pereentage’ of mortality = 100(dy te) = ONO
d

fi

The high percentage mortality © is the most striking character of
all these data. This high percentage is almost entirely due to the factor
“On density of attack. Golovjanko was also of that opinion when he
stated in his conclusions: “A decrease in, ‘‘b” is followed by (1) an
increase in the number of larval tunnels; (2) an tnerease in the percentage

1J. J. de Gryse (1934); Quantitative Methods in the Study of Forest peal Scient.
Agric., Vol. XIX, No.9, pp.)477-40 5:

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 13

99

of larvae successfully completing their development ....” Illjinsky also
shows conclusively that the density of attack is in itself a factor affecting
the favourableness of the environment.

There are two reasons why a high density of attack of Ips perturbatus
reduces the progeny of the families to less than half its original number:
(1) The scarcity of food; in fact, it would be quite impossible for the
progeny of 50 females per square foot laying a total of 1,225 eggs thus
giving an average of 9 larvae to the square inch, to reach maturity in such
a restricted space. Some will necessarily die by starvation. (2) The other
reason for this high percentage of mortality lies in the fact that when the
density of attack is high the condition represented in Pl. I., figs. 2b and 3a,
is often found; that is to say, the egs-tunnels are very near one another,
almost contiguous. In such a case, what evidently happens is that when
the young larvae of the egg-tunnel “38a” of Plate I. have fed until they
reach the egg-tunnel 2p (Pi. I.), they try to go through it, but apparently
the hardened dust which is deposited in the ege-niches on one and some-
times both sides of the tunnel “2b” will prevent the young larvae from
crossing the second egg-tunne! and causing them to die at that point by
starvation.

Ali the data obtained from this population study and not indicated in
the previous figures are summarized in table I.

It can be readily seen that the estimates for this particular tree give
a total number of 2,448 egg-tunnels or beetle families and 58,800 eggs out
of which a total of only 22,512 larvae reached maturity.

Owing to the large number of egg-niches per square foot, those of
section B only were counted and from this section the figures giving the
percentage of mortality were obtained.

TABLE I.
POPULATION STUDY OF Ips perturbatus ON WHITE SPRUCE
Young
Living Dead adults
adults adults Egg- per % of
Section and and Coe- tun- Egg- egg- mor-

pupae pupae loides' nels niches’ tunnel tality
AM ar 20) + == Blt) 47 104 75 9
Average per f? 521
Bel’ ox 1.6". =. 1162) 669 91 21 67 16338 10 58.33

Average per f? 502 68 16 50 1225
Ore a x fly "Se 252) 956 53 91 115 8
Average per f2 384 PAL 36 A6
Total aver. per f? 469 40 25 51 9
Total Population of —S Ss
the tree 22,512 1,920 1,200 2,448 58,800

It should be noticed that the average number of living pupae and
adults is lower at the upper part of the trunk (section C) than at the lower
and middle parts, where we found the optimum conditions for Ips pertur-
batus. The thinner bark of the upper section makes the conditions less
favourable for its development.

The item “dead adults and pupae” includes chiefly the pupae, since
more than 50% of the progeny had reached the adult stage when the work
was done. Moreover, most of the deaths were caused by Coeloides dend-
roctont Cushman which generally kill the full-grown larva and pupa. The
number of dead pupae and adults in section B is much larger than in the

14 THE REPORT OF THE

Fic. 1.—Ips perturbatus tunnels. All natural size.

1.—Engraving with three egg-tunnels, a, b, and ec, (Triramous);
2.—Engraving with two egg-tunnels, a and b, (Biramous) ;

3.—Engraving with one egg-tunnel, a, (Uniramous) (Original).

other two sections; the higher percentage of mortality in this case was
caused by a white fungus surrounding the pupal cells and killing the pupae.
This fungus, however, was confined to only a small part of section B.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 15

NOTABLE CHANGES IN THE ORIENTAL FRUIT MOTH
PARASITE SITUATION

By W. ELGIN VAN STEENBURGH
Dominion Parasite Laboratory, Belleville, Ontario

In a series of papers presented before the annual meeting of the
Entomological Society of Ontario in 1930, 1931 and 1934, the inter-
relationship between the oriental fruit moth and its parasites in Ontario
was traced from the first serious outbreak of the pest at St. David’s, in
1927 until 1934, when the moth had succeeded in becoming abundant in
all the peach growing districts of the province. In 1928, detailed parasite
studies were begun and these showed that less than one per cent of the
larvae were parasitized by native species. In 1929 and 1930, Macrocent-
rus ancylivorus Rohwer, a larval parasite, was introduced from New Jersey
and successfully colonized near St. Davids and Niagara-on-the-Lake. In
succeeding years the parasite was distributed in the St. Catharines area,
then about Vineland, and later throughout the western half of the Niagara
Peninsula. By 1934, Macrocentrus had become numerous enough around
Vineland and eastward to be an important control factor, and was well
.distributed, but, in light concenty “ations throughout the remainder of the
peach growing distr ict of the peninsula.

In 1930, numbers of native parasites were taken in the larval recovery
collections, and in 1931 they appeared in such large numbers that over
67 per cent of the second generation larvae were parasitized by native
species. Of the native parasites, Glypta rufiscutellaris Cress. was mainly
responsible for this high larval mortality. In the following years Glypta
maintained itself as the mest important native species but, unfortunately,
from the standpoint of control, it appeared in the orchards so late in the
season that the moth had passed one complete generation. This gave the
moth an opportunity to build up a large population before the influence of
the parasite was felt. Glypta also has the disadvantage of being dependent
upon alternate hosts, the abundance of which regulated its later activity
against the peach moth. Also, as was pointed out in 1934, the parasite
appeared to suffer in host coi npetition with Macrocentrus. In each suc-
ceeding district where Macrecentrus became abundant, Glypta was taken
in fewer numbers in the recovery collections. From the standpoint of
control this is not so disastrous since Gli ypta is only active against second
generation larvae while Marcocentrus maintains itself generation after
generation upon the moth.

Of late years all the Macrocentrus available for distribution were
colonized west of Vineland. The colonies placed in this area prior to 1934
were small and the Macrocenirus population did not rapidly increase. The
eee encouraging evidence appeared in 1934, when the larval recovery

ollections showed the parasite to be well distributed, but still of such
ee concentration to be of little value in control. The same policy of
Macrocentrus distribution was followed in 1935, and 16,247 parasites were
placed between Vineland and Stoney Creek. The result of the continued
liberations in the western part of the peninsula was apparent in a sharp
increase in the larvae parasitized by this species during the past season.
Against second generation larvae the parasite was almost as active in the
western half of the peninsula as in the districts of older parasite establish-
ment. The following table shows the increasing yearly value of Macro-

16 THE REPORT OF THE

centrus both east and west of Vineland. It also shows the relative
importance of Glypta and the sharp decline in the usefulness of this para-
site as a control during the season of 1935.

First Second

generation generation

Year East West East West

Macrocentrus ancylivorus Roh. 1932 10.1 A 14.3 yAD
1933 29.4 a 6 37.0 16.9

1934 18.3 4.2 56.8 16.9

1935 36.6 20.1 TT2 66.2

Glypta rufiscutellaris Cress. 1932 6 a 58.6 73.4
1933 5 .0 27.6 46.6

1934 4 ia Pe 54.0

1935 6 0 pea 4.9

It will be seen from the above figures that Glypta was becoming less
important as a a peach moth parasite east of V inela nd as early as 1932, and,
with the exception of a slightly i increased activity in 1934, it has decreased
in importance every year until, in 1935, it played no practical rele in peach
moth control in the peninsula.

The following table, based on the parasite recovery records for the
entire peninsula, shows more graphically the decline in the importance of |
Glypia and the increasing value of Macrocentrus in peach moth control.

First generation Second generation
Year Macrocentrus Glypta Macrocentrus Glypta
1932 8.5 HS) 10.8 63.5
1933 27.8 ae 25:3 37.4
1934 1233 A 38.6 39.4
1935 30.8 25) 74.4 3.2

The decline of .Glypta and the increasing importance of Macrocentrus
is a decided advantage in securing a more eveniy distributed and consistant
parasite control. Macrocentrus is yearly parasitizing an increasing
number of first generation larvae, which were previously free of parasite
attack, and has also become more active against second generation larvae
than Glypta was in 1931 and 1932, the years of its greatest abundance.

TWO PARASITES OF THE WHITE APPLE LEAFHOPPER
(TYPHLOCYBA POMARIA McA.)

By THOMAS ARMSTRONG

Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Vineland, Ontario

ABSTRACT
St ues were made during the seasons of 1933, 1934 and 1935 at Vine-
land Station, Ontario, of the live Notun and habits of two important

parasites « ot the white anple leafhopper. Anagrus armatus var. niagriven-
tris Gir, feeds within the leafhopper eggs and parasitisms of over 70 per
cent have been recorded. The insects spend the winter as grubs in the
host eggs, mature in the spring, and attack hopper eggs deposited in the
leaves of apple during the summer. The autumn generation preys on the
overwintering host eggs laid in the apple limbs. Aphelopus parasites

ie

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 17

attack leafhopper nymphs with the external parasitic sacs later forming
on the adults. The winter is passed in the mature larval state in a cocoon
below the ground surface. The adults emerge in late May to attack the
first brood nymphs. <A cocooning and pupal period averaging 40 days
occurs during June and July to be followed by a fall brood feeding in the
leafhoppers of the second generation.

INTRODUCTION

For the past three years a study has been made of the habits and life-
history of the white apple leafhopper, Typhlocyba pomaria McA. In the
course of the investigation, two parasites were found to be important fac-
tors in checking the ravages of this apple pest. The insects in question
are an egg parasite, Anagrus armatus variety nigriventris Girault, and
an adult parasite, Aphelopus nr. microleucus Perkins. Observations were
not made over a Sufiiciently long period to determine which species is the
more important control factor, but during the three years of observation,
the egg parasite appeared to be more numerous. Egg parasitisms of over
70 per cent have been recorded and in 1934 adult parasitism ran as high
as 36 per cent and averaged i6.8 per cent in some leafhopper collections.
The notes which follow were prepared from observations made during the
seasons of 1933, 1934 and 1935, at Vineland Station, Ontario.

THE EGG PARASITE

General Life-history. Anagrus armatus variety nigriventris Gir.*
passes the winter as a partially grown grub about 0.4 mm. in length within
the egg of its host, and in June and July emerges as a very small four-
winged fly. (Plate I. fig.1.) The adults appear at the time when eggs of
leafhoppers are being laid in the leaves of apple, and thus the parasites
find an abundance of host material. The summer brood or broods of adult
parasites commence to emerge during the third week of July and continue
until October. Very likely the earliest ones to appear continue to attack
summer eges, but those coming after August 20, find overwintering leaf-
hopper eggs in which to oviposit. Thus, in a general way, the life-history

of the parasite follows closely that of the host.

Description of the Adult Anagrus.—This tiny mymarid (Plate II.,
figs. 4 and 5) is about 0.5 mm. in length, the male being slightly shorter
than the female. The adults are extremely active when one considers their
size, and in captivity have been observed to fly very readily and with con-
siderable rapidity. When confined in test tubes they lived but a short time,
24 hours or less, but it is altogether likely that their span of life is much
greater in the orchard. The antenna of the female is 9-jointed, terminating
in a club; that of the male is 13-jointed and filiform. In both sexes the
antennae are long. The wings are very characteristic, being narrow and
graceful with very long marginal cilia. The fore wing is curved, clavate
and narrow proximad, gradually enlarging distad, then more rapidly
enlarging to a pear-shaped apical head. The posterior wing is very narrow
and slender, a little shorter than the fore wing, and tapering to a long

point. In colour, specimens of the species vary considerably, some being ~~

mueh lighter than others. Generally the abdomen is dark, the thorax’
yellow, and the pronotum and head dark.

1 Determined by A. B. Gahan, United States National Museum.

18 THE REPORT OF THE

The Overwintering of the Parasite.—The insect passes the winter as
a partially grown larva (Plate I., fig. 3) within the host egg. Apple limbs
containing eggs of the white apple leafhopper were brought into the labor-
atory during the winter and the eggs were examined under the binocular
microscope. In dissecting, the parasitized egg is readily identified by the
whitish streak of fatty tissue present within the body of the partially :
grown parasitic grub. If the host egg is not too deep beneath the bark ©
tissue this area of fat within the parasite can be made out indistinctly,
but usually the egg is too well buried to observe this.

A number of eggs were dissected and in every case when parasites
were present they filled about one-half of the egg cavity. In size the larva
was approximately 0.4 mm. in length. Every parasitied egg examined |
contained but a single grub.

Larval Development.—During April and May the tiny overwintering
grub feeds within the host egg, moults, and increases in size until at
maturity it measures from 0.6 mm. to 0.7 mm. in length, and practically
fills the ege cavity. The early larva (Plate I., fig. 3) possesses prominent
ventral appendages (V) and ear-like organs (E), as well as chitinous
mandibles (M). The white fatty tissue in the larval body is very con- |
spicuous. As the larva develops to maturity the ear-like organs and ventral
appendages decrease in size and become much less prominent, until at full
growth they appear as illustrated in Plate I., fig. 2. At the close of feeding,
the larva casts its skin and goes into the pupal stage. A mature larva
dissected from the host egg and placed in a 0.6 per cent sodium chloride
solution pupated while under microscopic observation. This pupa is shown
in Plate L, fig. 4. The pupae vary in length from 0.55 mm. to 0.6 mm.,
being shorter than the mature larvae. They occur in the overwintering
host eggs in early June.

Spring Hmergence.—Adult emergence commenced on May 31, in 1934,
nearly three weeks before any eggs of the apple leafhopper were laid in
the orchard, and continued, from the overwintering eggs, until July 26,
a period of 56 days. The peak occurred on June 29, and over 50 per cent
of the adults appeared during the week starting June 28. In 1935, the
span of adult first brood emergence was June 10 to July 19 inclusive, with
the peak coming in late June and early July just as in 1934. The rate of
emergence was as follows:

1934 1935
First adult appeared................ May 31 June 10
SUMe TS OS Ae we een eee 4.4% of emergence 3.2% of emergence
SUNEE LT a0ho0 ie? eee ee 244A fo5 * ES hes 3 aoe
SUVA I)... AE: Be 85.3% at i, 67.6% “ ki
July 26 (1934)-July 19 (1935) 100.0% “ 3 100.0% “

_There seems to be a temperature correlation with the emergence, for
during the time when the maximum number of inscts appeared the average
temperatures were considerably higher than those of previous days.

Habits of the Newly Emerged Adult.—An adult male Anagrus (Plate |
IT., fig. 4) was observed emerging from an overwintering egg on an apple
limb in the spring of 1935. When first noticed the specimen was just
forcing its abdomen out of the round exit hole, having already emerged —
to this point. The wings were folded aiong the dorsum of the thorax and —

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 19.

Table No. 1 gives the time of emergence of 320 adults from over-
wintering eggs laid in the bark of 10 apple limbs each about one foot long.

TABLE I.
Number Number

Date emerged Date emerged
TCE 2 en ec a 1 July Ores PI, ENA Petal 26
June a | UE oc aM RR SPAR eo come ER é 5 BEM penile ltirate ae

Poa es Rear ae Q . Barta te ge iie et a

et ee Ln ad. taal anc ee

TLE) ld te pe ell a 3 s re Ste Oe NMR: AR fe

i OMe 2 CMe Ped oe 2 of SEEDER ea 1.2, 8

aE oP ae psa ih sd iia abit s

pee oe oe aaa. Z jpobsnes iauaaeen g

5. Cae ee 2 adewsicmahataivne oli 2

Bae PCO OES OE 1 SOR GW OMOT IG FS eg

a es es a ie; et alae ants !

. Se ee = sat Wearing :

ae i ae OR eet P

ee Bee te eter a feat page Beg te :

me med TR a Meee. ae ;

eee Oe spor GOO rae Bio sot Ot
lier liyean align he eo Shes 24 Re OGN oi... BW Seah. 2

abdomen and extended beyond the end of the body. The insect was wet
at first but gradually dried off. Just as soon as it left the host egg it
started to walk around, only stopping to preen the wings, first one and
then the other, with the metathoracic legs, and to run the long antennae
through the prothoracic legs. The cilia of the wings being wet were
matted together and the insect was working to get these long hairs
straightened into place. No attempt was made to fly while the insect was
drying off. When disturbed it worked its wings and “jumped” away but
took no sustained flight. The leg action was extremely vigorous carrying
the minute body over the bark at a rapid rate. The antennae were con-
stantly in motion, feeling the surface as the insect moved along. After
a period of approximately ten minutes the specimen was lost to view, and
when last seen appeared to be ready for its first flight.

Percentage of Parasitism of Overwintering Leafhonper Eggs, 1935.—

In order to secure some information on the amount of parasitism of over-

wintering leafhopper eggs by Anagrus, four twigs were caged and the

nymphs hatching from the eggs recovered and counted. On June 1 these

twigs were transported to a dark cage (Plate II., fig. 3) and the parasites

recorded as they emerged into the vials. The results are presented in
table No. II.

TABLE II.

i Insects in:
N.Cage S.Cage E.Cage W.Cage Totals

Newly-hatched leafhopper

nymphs recovered .................. 75 146 37 Hi. 335
Anagrus parasites recovered...... 84 79 32 12 207
Ce AV ASUUASIN: | 00s scone Misbit ose Sboce 52.8 35.1 46.4 13.5 38.2

During March, another group of leafhopper eggs was examined under
the binocular to determine the parasitism by Anagrus armatus. The
invading insect, a half-grown grub at this time, is conspicuous enough to

_ be distinguished immediately. Table III. shows the results secured.

20 THE REPORT OF THE

TABLE IIT.

Date eggs Total eggs Number Number Per cent

examined dissected normai parasitized parasitism
DT are Chaat = 2s ae 8 Sas ane oe AS 9 37 80.4
Warchot 2 eva sue eae cee 30 9 21 . 70.0
Miarely US... sah oe aes eee 67 15 2 717.6
ae chair eee iene ne core reer 43 ee 29 67.4
Ota te Bee oe fhe ee 186 47 139 74.8*

* Material from the McKenzie orchard, Vineland Station.

Summer HEmergence.—the first exit heles of the parasites were
observed on apple leaves in the orchard on July 16, in 1934, and leaves
which had been transferred to the dark cages produced the first adults on
July 17. These individuals were the first of the second brood which
attacked the summer leafhopper eggs. From this date until the end of
the season (October 19), Anagrus flies emerged practically continuously
as shown by the following insectary records.

TABLE IV.
Cage Date set Emergence Emergence Number of
No. up Contents started completed parasites
3 July 16 100 leaves July 17 Aug S4 5A
4 Aug. 16 100 leaves Aug. 17 Sept. 138 35
5 Aug. 20 109 leaves Aug. 27 Oct. 10 48

In 1935, the summer broods of the ege parasite commenced to emerge
from leafhopper eggs laid cn the foliage of apple on July i8. The tiny
insects were present in the orchard from this date until the end ef October.
Text-Figure 1 shows the time of emergence of 927 Anagrus aduits through-
out the summer. The first large peak on the graph represents the
emergence of the 557 specimens from the overwintering leafhopper eggs.
The next group (July 18 to August 14) indicates the first generation
emergence from summer host eggs. Then follows a small continuous series
ending in another fairly prominent peak (September 18 to October 28),
which represents a second and possibly a third generation of adults.

NUMBERS OF PARASITES

Fic. 1.—Graph to show the time of emergence of 927 leafhopper egg parasites
throughout the season of 1935.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 24

———

During 1935, the number of egg parasites in the orchard declined

considerably as the season progressed. We are at a loss to account for this

* decrease. Large numbers of pomaria eggs hatcned normally during the

period of the second generation; and should have been parasitized in view

of the very large population of parasites present in the orchard in June

and July. Some factor or group cf factors was responsible for destroying

' the parasites. Starvation would not account for the loss as host eggs were

plentiful. It is altogether likely that a predator or parasite attacked the

minute Anagrus itself in some stage, but we gathered no evidence during
the season to prove this.

What Egg Parasitism Looks Like in the Orchard—When the adult
parasite is ready to emerge from the host egg it cuts a round hole, quite
regular in outline, through the egg chorion and the enclosing plant tissue,
and issues forth. These circular holes are to be found on the egg blisters
(Plate II., fig. 2) on the limbs of apple, as well as on the mid-ribs and main
veins (Plate II., fig. 1) of the foliage, where the summer host eggs are
deposited. Where the summer eggs are parasitized, the leaf tissue imme-
diately surrounding the parasite exit hole takes on a deep brown colour
and collapses to form a depression. This tissue-killing does not occur
where the egg of the leafhopper hatches normally.

Proportion of Sexes.—Daily collections made throughout the season
gave the following results:

MGUAl VAMLOOIUS, EXAMINE. oi eis acces ve 281
PNAHIMOCIOt LEMMALeS) eo Pk ya) al eel sie ek ae a ck a 197
[ESI CSN. “ie! SS es eT Ee ae ee ee ee ene ae 29.9
eis COM WOMALCS eae ok meds usa ves lion Pan eG oe 70.1

The Autumn Population of Anagrus in an Infested Orchard, 1934.—
An examination was made of a series of leaves picked at random from the
trees of the observation orchard in order to discover the number of para-
sites present. The counts were made on August 15, 16, 17, 20, 22, 23,
and a total of 199 leaves were carefully examined. It was assumed that
the nymphs present on a leaf represented those which hatched normally
from eggs laid in that particular leaf. The results in summary form were:

INimiben «ef leaves “exammed’ @os ee aii) Ot Woe Or Bae 199
Number of T. pomaria nymphs present...........0........00..0:cccc 1657
Name OF Anagrus exit oles 3 ee eeces 1121
PPS MOAI USIGU ZOO. ele, gre Mer de der me he sig MBE cbc Soa s ste codecs 40.4%

The maximum number of Anagrus exit holes in any one leaf amounted
to 31, and the average for the leaves examined was 6. One particular leaf
showed a population of 52 insects, 21 being nymphs of the white apple
leafhopper, and 31 eggs which gave rise to parasites. The percentage of
parasitism for the various collections is given in table No. V.

TABLE V.
Number of Number of Number of
leaves leafhopper Anagrus Per cent
Date examined nymphs exit holes parasitism
PCRS Met eee 31 180 213 54.2
ut 1S sab cee a i Mercian? aang 46 327 239 42.2
a 1S eee Mae ee Uae 26 154 1138 42.3
i PAUI s AE a5. BaP Me APE 35 302 143 Be
f re el pense wal: ust gh 30 o14 180 36.4
~ PASS. eNO CANTER IRE PORES 31 380 223 38.0

SLTOAEE he hei tS aia aaa ini) 1057 dial 40.4

22 THE REPORT OF THE

Hatehing of Eggs
| WHITE APPLE LEAFHOPPER
= Immature Stages |

Diese First Generation Adults

SET EET EEN | SUMMer E<es

Autumn Se EP ee SREP EB CE RT SE EE Pe SS eR Es
| |
Autumn | = =< = = a Adults
ESS Wintering Eggs SSS a PS | SETS
— nt ad a Se —

qmmsstsmmm>-«s Spring Emergence | =
| APHELOPUS PARASITE

i
ce & Naturing Larvee |

Cocooning and Pupval Period

Second Generetion Adults

|

pene. Maturing larvae

Overwintering Grubs pee Ee EEE SEE Be i .
| ee Se

| ANAGRUS PARASITE
ees |Spring Generation Adults

edkganyt se sees Summer Adults

EEE Overwintering nib
MAY JUNE JULY eee

Fic. 2.—Graph to show the life-histories of the two parasites, Anagrus and
Aphelopus, compared with that of the host, T. pomaria, 1934.

THE ADULT PARASITE

White apple leafhoppers afflicted with parasites were extremely numer-
ous during the flight of the e spring brood in a heavily infested orchard in
1924. The parasite in question was determined by G. S. Walley* as belong-
ing to the Bonus Aphelopus and near to the species microleucus Perkins.
According to Imms (5) the genus is one of the family Bethylidae
(Dryinidae)

General Life-history. Aphelopus overwinters aS a grub spun up in
its cocoon of silk below the surface of the ground. In late May the adults
emerge and vigorously fly away in search of their prey. The adult leaf-
hoppers are visibly parasitized from mid-June until ear rly July. The
cocooning and pupal period of the parasite in July and August lasts for
an average of 41 days. A second brood of adults emerges in time to attack

1 Entomological Branch, Ottawa.

/ j

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 23

the autumn generation of white apple leafhoppers. The first leafhoppers
with characteristic Aphelopus sacs were taken on August 28 in 1934, and
, mature grubs left their hosts during the period August 30 to September
* 25. These mature grubs overwinter.

Description.—The mature parasite (Plate III., fig. 5) is about 2 mm

' in length, and black in body colour. The pro- and mesothoracic legs are

pale yellow, while the metathoracic legs are dark brown to black. The
coxae and trochanters of all three pairs are yellowish white. The clypeus
and mandibles are whitish, and stand out prominently against the black
of the rest of the body. Viewed from above the abdomen is compressed
laterally, and is shorter than the thorax. The antennae are filiform.

Spring Emergence.—Only one specimen was overwintered successfully

in captivity during the winter of 1933-34, and this adult emerged on May

27. Due to improved technique in handling the mature grubs, the over-
wintering of Aphelopus material was more successful in 1934-35. Out of
a total of 77 grubs placed in soil tubes in the insectary 49 adults emerged,
a mortality of 36.4 per cent. Emergence occurred in 1935 during the very
short period May 30 to June 4, the peak coming on June 3, when 17 insects
appeared. At this time in the orchards the white apple leaf fhoppers were
for the most part in the second and third instars.

Spring Parasitism.—On June 18, the first parasitic sac was observed
protruding from an adult male leafhopper, and on the following day eight
specimens were collected. The accompanying table records a collection
of 957 leafhoppers, 161 of which were parasitized, giving a percentage of
16.8. On June 25, in a collection of 250 leafhoppers the parasitism was
36.0 per cent, the largest recorded in the season of 1934.

TABLE VI.
LEAFHOPPER PARASITISM IN THE MCKENZIE ORCHARD, 1934

_ Date of Leafhoppers collected Leafhoppers parasitized % Para-
collection males females males females sitism
ene JOP 8 a B.., aS 44 1 Ope BF 0S ae,
Pala pee 11 48 3 les eas > cae alam ea

* asa teal kell gO ae 16 AT 3 1 ec eae ee

SENT AD AAS aE Sie Wb EOD 65 287 187 4 6.0

See rr ee 36 5% i! 4 16.1

“hy = 9511 5 ay, Le ace Pak 60 13 13 Sed

Pee ne Dyn See Wie. ih SS 132 118 61 29 36.0

MEO eR Sek ok. 296 661 109 52 16.8

Sex and Parasitism.—It is interesting to observe that, out of a total
of 472 parasitized leathoppers collected during the period June 18 to July 8,
1934, 261 or 55.3 per cent were males and 44.7 per cent females. In early
collections parasitized males predominated; e.g. in the first 229 parasitized
leafhoppers taken, 69.0 per cent were males. In view of this, and as the
earliest hoppers to mature are invariably males, it is evident that
Aphelopus is at work soon enough to attack the earliest appearing indi-
viduals in the orchard.

Cocooning and Pupation.—When the grub is mature it leaves the host
and falls to the ground, and at once searches for a suitable location to spin
the cocoon. The spot chosen is beneath the ground surface. The cocoon

24 -THE REPORT OF THE

TABLE VII.
ORCHARD COLLECTIONS OF PARASITIZED LEAFHOPPERS
Totai Per cent parasitism
Date leafhoppers Males Females Males Females
Alivia Src Retr koe a if 0 160.0 0
pat SAE fl ok Rea eS 8 8 0 100.0 0
“et. 920 nt pt TES i 6 1 85.7 14.3
PO aR ere 15 2 3 80.0 20.0
eee Gs, RRB nn. Al 30 ca 73.1 26.9
SA spe 2 PR ctor then Ws 15 El | 4 73.4 26.6
Sia? Qerees Oey. Ee 116 74 42 63.8 36.2
Sy eeeG, 23. Bee Seve Dee 26 16 10 61.5 38.5
pee Ai eer eee 62 21 Al 33.9 66.1
iy Lar ee ieee 98 Sy Al 58.2 41.8
pig eee eae 48 14 34 29:2 70.8
shes See | Mace ss intr ah 24 8 16 33.3 66.7
PUNY eae AIK de FERS ale 3 8 27.3 pak",
Motaisii7yG. #syas 472 261 211 55.3 44,7

is white in colour, oval in shape, regular in outline, and about 2-3 mm. in
length. Particles of earth adhere to the surface but are not incorporated
in the construction of the cocoon.

Length of the Combined Cocooning and Pupal Periods.—In 1934,
records were kept of 70 individuals in the insectary, and the time elapsing
from larval maturity to emergence of the adult varied from 24 to 48 days,
the average being 41 days. These figures were taken from larvae which
left the hosts from June 23 to July 3. |

The maximum, minimum, and average duration of the cocooning and
pupal periods for 143 specimens in 1935 were respectively, 51, 31, and
42.5 days. These records were taken from grubs maturing from June 28
to July 6 inclusive.

Adult Emergence, Second Brood.—The adult Bethylids emerged from
the cocoons located in the soil from July 17 until August 20, 1934, the
maximum emergence taking place on August 8. At this time second brood
nymphs of the white apple leafhopper were quite abundant, all stages from

TABLE VIII.

Adults emerged Adults emerged

Date 1934 1935 Date 1934 1935
SAIS BA Orcas sees 1 0 Arie GE oo 36 0
nit 2 eg BS ee ei 8 1 0 sf SS el 50 0
he 0). eae i 0 i U5 ae 20 0
ah Sg oe. ey een 1 0 66. | DR CaF. 5 19 0
se ey elegy Goon a! 0 eRe Gi See aan co 15 0
$A ae 3 0 BE eed ce hs 17 4
pee) AT ly ag 3 0 SB. sank et 15 gh)
OES DG) ae A 0 les Sa oe Bs od 4 30
Hi Das RIT 3 0 SO WAS RAS. “tod 9 ye
Soe ee Lee tn ff 0 i yp DG ore See 13 ya |
eae) eee 3 0 uae i Come eee 3 16
acide: Mle eal Ai ate 0 0 See AOR Ot 3 4
Aga ee een 0 4 Se ORAL TM i 4
cs Pini Seba 3 2 “ WO. Wa 1 1
- Sil he ee Ae 0 FPS. Re, 0 2
« 2 Nps On 8 3 OO Dail, cae 0 1
ss ee Ea ee 0 5 Cp 0 6
“i Sata ee 30 0 Sen tel Sete ee 0 0

- ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 25

newly hatched to fifth instar specimens being present on the trees. An
adult Aphelopus was observed in the orchard reconnoitering on the under
surface of a leaf on August 14. In the following year emergence of second
brood adults did not commence until August 1, two weeks later than in
1934. The span of emergence was August 1 to 24, with the peak coming
on August 14. Table No. VIII. shows the emergence records of 286 speci-
mens reared in 1934 and 143 in 1935, under insectary conditions.

Larval and Pupal Mortality —In the insectary rearing of this insect
the mature grubs were treated in five ways, namely :—

In sphagnum moss in petri dishes.
In glass sealers containing damp soil and moss.
In glass tubes plunged in soil.
In pots with growing apple seedlings.
In vials containing damp soil and moss.
The emergence of adults from all five locations is given in summary

form below:

Emergence from petri dishes:

Number of ‘erubs placed ol aS 30
Number or adults emereime 8) oe eee 6
PMTCT CO en ee ee LOE AES A Did RN 20%

Emergence from glass sealers:

Numer Ol-erubs placed ai oe 244
Number of adultsiemerging ye 176
MIMeEO ence fe aise hie nt in See | tool Ge Sire TA %

Emergence from soil tubes:

iINumaberrok Srtibsplaeed o.oo. ceca econ 18
Naim ber. ot tad UltS-CMeGONMNE. biel Sc Gk. eck. oes 18
IMEEM CH COE Gs (aN ie a ee oi 100%

Emergence from potted plants:

Numbercdot erubs placed) <iaul¢..d¢ic. au ee: 136
Numberrvotadults;emereine)) 2s .2chee ta. (fa

NAMES GMee lk Heiser a Ns Sel Noo eh 52.2 %

Emergence from vials:

NEN AOE AIO S) LACED eyes. ? vohereize wRpaeader.. «lated ote 44

Nuomibescot agultis, enrverG ies socsce cody. Se losnBad. cao ie
IES AMES CNC Cid ex rises ct ihe beck Ry wardens cbse Been a gern ee th ps 21.870

The soil tubes proved to be the best method of rearing these insects,
for out of a total of 18 larvae no deaths were recorded. Under insectary

conditions outlined above the mortality was 39.4 per cent, but in the
orchard this would most probably be much lower.

26 THE REPORT OF THE

Parasitizing Leafhoppers.—In 1934, two preliminary tests were made
in the insectory to determine if it were possible to parasitize leafhoppers
when confined in cages. Using a potted plant with a celluloid cage, 3
Aphelopus adults were confined with 10 partly grown nymphs on August 3.
On August 20 the characteristic protruding sacs were noticed on the adult
leafhoppers, and four days later eight grubs emerged from the parasitized
hosts. In a second cage of similar type 6 adult parasites were placed with
15 nymphs on August 7. Parasitic sacs were visible on August 31 on the
leafhoppers, and mature grubs commenced to leave the hosts on September
4. Out of the 15 leafhoppers in the cage, 13 were parasitized.

The adult parasite deposits eggs in the nymphs of the leafhoppers.
The foliowing information secured in the 1935 season shows the parasitism
secured with material confined in cages under insectary conditions.

Cage No. 2: Partially grown nymphs caged with 5 specimens of
Aphelopus on May 31, and removed from the parasites on June 3, some
days before any of the leafhoppers matured. The first parasitic sacs were
ncoticed on June 27, and this cage yielded 6 parasitied leafhoppers in all.

Cage No. 5: Plant infested with nymphs in various stages of develop-
ment placed in gauge cloth cage containing a plentiful supply of adult
parasites. Nymphs placed on June 3 and removed on June 4. Parasitic
sacs were noticed on the adult leafhoppers on June 27, and four “mummies”
were collected from the foliage of the plant at a later date.

Cage No. 7: Plant with nymphs placed with parasites on June 4 and
removed June 5. Practically all of the adults showed parasitic sacs on
July 5, and grubs were maturing on July 7. Seven mummied leafhoppers
were removed from the foliage on July 17.

Cage No. 8: Eleven second brood adult parasites were placed with
nymphs of all stages on August 15. The parasites were removed on August
19, before the nymphs had reached maturity. The first parasitic sacs were
observed on September 5, and a number of the adults were parasitized.
These leafhoppers were reared in confinement under insectary conditions
and could not have been parasitized before being placed with the insectary
parasites.

Fall Parasitism in the Orchard.—Under orchard conditions the first
parasitized leafhoppers were taken on August 28, in 1934, and the mature
grubs commenced to leave the hosts two days later. These autumn brood —
larvae matured from August 30 (August 24 in the insectary) to September
25 in the McKenzie orchard. In 1933, mature grubs were taken from
August 23 to September 9.

Habits ef the Parasitized Leafhoppers.—By the time the parasitized
leafhoppers are recognized in the orchard, the laval sac has become of
considerable size. As the Aphelopus grub reaches maturity the sac pushes
up ene wing and elytron, usually the left ones, out of place (Plate III,
). The host for the most part is about as active as the norma! leaf-
ers at this time. A day or two before the grub leaves the host body,
hopper becomes sluggish, and is readily captured. Large numbers,
ractically mature grub sacs attached (Plate III, fig. 3), congregate
on the trunks of large apple trees, but, when disturbed, always seem to
possess enough energy to fly to the foliage. At the time when the parasitic
grub is devouring the entire internal organs prior to leaving, the host

> ob
cs

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 27

takes a firm hold of the leaf and forever remains in this “death grip”
(Plate III, fig. 2). These ‘“‘mummied” leafhoppers are to be found on the
apple foliage for the whole season—the death grip being so powerful as
to withstand the winds and rains of four months in some instances.

The Larval Sac.—According to Fenton? the larval sac is constructed
from the cast skins of the larva. These skins are attached to each other,
and the whole sac joined to the host by means of a chitinous ring with
hooks. The sac is attached to the leafhopper on the side of the abdomen
protruding from between two abdominal segments, usually the second and
third. In size, when nearly mature, it is about as large as the host’s
abdomen, more oval in shape and not quite as long.

The Mature Larva.—When full grown the larva averages about 3 mm.
in length (Pilate III, fig. 4). It is quite pointed at the head end, and
bluntly rounded towards the posterior. The body is whitish in color and
sparsely pubescent. Although the folded skin makes it difficult to deter-
mine, there are 13 segments present. The head is distinct, light brown
in color, with the curved mandibles being the most prominent feature.
The labrum, maxillary palps, and labium with the prominent spinneret
are distinctly visible.

Habits of the Mature Larva.—When the whole internal organs of the
host are consumed the mature grub splits the retaining sac open and
wriggles out. The insect is extremely active at this time. If the location
chosen by the leafhopper just prior to the grub maturing is unstable the
usual occurrence is for the grub to simply fall or roll off the leaf and drop
to the ground. When the “footing” is more or less safe, it immediately
makes tor the edge of the leaf, and unhesitatingly falls to the ground. In
no instance was an attempt made to find a way to the ground simply by
crawling. One individual under observation dropped from a leat to a
crack in the bark of a limb, disappeared, then re-appeared again, and fell
oii the branch to the ground—a drop of six feet. When located on the soil
surface the larva was hurrying along, falling off clods and working itself
into the soil. Finally an inviting crevice was reached, into which it
dropped and was not seen again.

Orchard Cultivation and Survival of Parasites.—F rom the third week
of June until early August the Aphelopus parasites are in the pre-adult
Stage just beneath the soil surface around the apple trees. The cocoon is
not a very substantial affair, being very readily crushed and the grub
itseli is easily destroyed. Thus the discing and cultivation of an orchard
when these insects are in the ground is going to kill a large percentage
of them. This sort of thing occurred in 1984 in the McKenzie orchard
where the spring parasitism was in the neighborhood of 30 per cent. The
spring population of Aphelopus was high, but the orchard was ploughed
once (about June 20) and disced and cross-disced at least four times
during July, which undoubtedly was responsible for the destruction of a
large number of the pupating parasites. As it turned out in this particular
orchard, it was extremely ditiicult during the period of maximum leaf-
hopper abundance to find a single parasitized individual. The natural
mortality of the pupae would not account for this tremendous decrease
as the same material was used in the insectary records, where the mor-
tality was around 39 per cent.

28 THE REPORT OF THE

REFERENCES
1 Ainslie, C. N.—Entomol. News, 31: 169-173, and 187-190. 1920.
2 Dumbleton, L. J—mNew Zealand Jr. Scien. and Tech., 16: 30-38. 1934.
3 Fenton, F. A.—Dept. of Zoology and Entomol., Chio St. U., Con. 51. 1918.
4 Girault, A. A.—Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc., 37: 289-291. 1911.
5Imms, A. D.—General Text Book of Entomology, 2nd Ed.: 573-574. 1930.
6 MacGill, Elsie—I. Parasitology, 26: 57-63. 1934.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES

PLATE I
FiGURE 1.—Anagrus armatus var. nigriventris Gir. adult female enlarged 70 times.

FiGURE 2.—Mature larva of Anagrus enlarged 115 times. Note the reduced ear-like
organs and the much smaller ventral appendages when compared with
fig. 3

Figure 3.—Larva of Anagrus approximately one-half grown. E, ear-like organs;
F, creamy white fatty tissue; M, mandibles; V, ventral appendages. En-
larged 150 times.

FIGURE 4.—Pupa of Anagrus, newly formed. Enlarged 110 times.

FIGURE 5.—T. pomaria egg showing the parasitic grub in position within the egg.
This is the overwintering stage. Enlarged 80 times.

PLATE II

FIGURE 1.—Exit holes of the egg parasite in the midrib of an apple leaf. _ Enlarged
5 times.

FicurE 2.—Overwintering egg blisters on an apple limb showing the parasite exit
holes. Enlarged 12 times.

FIGURE 3.—Cage used for emergence records of the egg parasite in 1934. Reduced.
FIcuRE 4.—Anagrus armatus var. nigriventris adult male. Enlarged 20 times.

FIGURE 5.—Female adult. Enlarged 20 times.

PLATE III

Figure 1.—Cage used for rearing Aphelopus consisting of glass soil tubes placed in a
flower pot of soil, and the whole plunged in the ground to provide an even
supply of moisture. Reduced.

FIGURE 2.—Aphelopus parasitized leafhoppers. The grub has left the host which
remains on the leaf in a “death grip”. Two-thirds natural size.

FIGURE 3.—Parasitized leafhopper showing Aphelopus sac. Ventral view enlarged 12
times.

Ficure 4.—The mature larva of Aphelopus. The parasite leaves the host when this
stage is reached. Enlarged 9 times.

FIGURE 5.—Adult Aphelopus. Enlarged 6 times.

FicuURE 6.—Characteristic position of a parasitized leafhopper after the grub has left
the body. Note the spreading wings usuaily as in this case on the left
side. Enlarged 7 times.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 29

Plate I.

——————}

i
ZZ ; UL
7 Es = age

SF iia

Va : ¢ | we, / a oe Es
ZA c\\ j = \ : S\N :

Plate II

i Miia iss
ht Meee

THE REPORT OF THE

30

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY dl

Plate Il.

Res

_ SHIPPING OF POTATO BEETLE PARASITES AND PREDATORS
TO FRANCE, WITH NOTES ON THE SPECIES INVOLVED

; By L. J. BRIAND

Dominion Parasite Laboratory, Belleville, Ontario

INTRODUCTION

The Colorado potato beetle has, on several occasions, between 1876
and 1922, been introduced into European countries but, in each case, the
initial outbreaks were discovered and, through cultural and chemical
means, were eradicated in time. In the summer of 1922, however, it was

found to be firmly established in the Gironde District, in the centre of

32 THE REPORT OF THE |

———_$—_—$——$————————————————————————_ _—__—_—

France—the infestation at that time covering an area of 100 square miles.
Since that time, the infestation has continued to spread from year to
year, and now the beetle can be found in all the important potato growing
centres and is very destructive in some localities.

In 1928, a French entomologist, Dr. Bernard Trouvelot, visited the
potato growing centres of New York state, Ontario and Quebec, to gather
some information with regard to parasites and predators of the beetle,
with a view to introducing them to France. The introductions made that
year were mosily from material collected at Long Island, N. Y. The
predators consisted of a carabid Libia grandis, the pentatomids, Perillus
bioculatus and Podisus maculiventris, and the parasites Doryphorophaga
doryphorae. Similar introductions were again made in 1938, this time by
another French entomologist, Dr. Jean Bruneteau. As with the previous
introductions, most of the material was collected at Long Island, N. Y.,
where a man was engaged for two months, collecting and shipping
material. Dr. Bruneteau visited Belleville, Ont., in the middle of July of
that year and a survey of several potato fields was made, but, as it was
a little tco early in the seascn, very few predators could be collected, and
no parasites were seen. It should be noted that the beetle was very scarce
in the Belleville district that year. In the latter part of August of the
same year, a number of potato fields were examined by the writer and
Perillus was, at that time, fairly abundant. Several specimens were
brought to the laboratory for biological studies in the course of which
the supply of larvae collected to feed the Perilius was found to be highly
parasitized and the tachinid, Doryphorophaga doryphorae, began to
emerge a week after the larvae had been brought in. On August 31, a
small experimental shipment of material was forwarded to France, con-
sisting of 16 flies, 15 parasitized larvae, and 85 Perillus. All but the adult
flies arrived at destination in good condition.

The introductions of 1928 and 1933, however, were not sufficient to
get a good establishment of the tachinid, and the laboratory propagation,
up until recently, was rendered difficult on account of the fact that host
material could not be secured for fall and winter breeding in France. We
have recently been informed that a method for rearing potato beetle larvae
has been worked out by Dr. Feytaud, who is in charge of the Entomological
Station at Bordeaux, and that he has succeeded in getting the beetle
females to oviposit at all times under conditions of optimum temperature
and humidity. oe toae

Shipping of Parasites and Predators in 1935.—This year the French
authorities, desirous to secure material to replace the previous importa-
tions which were mostly extinct, asked our co-operation by way of securing
necessary help to collect material, and in supervising all the work connected
with collecting and shipping. The collection, sorting, and shipping charges
were financed by the Government of France. A man was hired for six
weeks and another man was working part time when needed.

Collecting and Handling of Material.—Collecting work was started
on August 5 and continued, as weather permitted, until September 12. The
collections were made in 47 different fields situated within a radius of
twenty-five miles from Belleville, including several small patches within
the city limits. From the time the collecting was started the beetles were
not very abundant. In some fields of early potatoes, although some damage

ae

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 33 |

could be seen, most of the larvae had gone into the ground to pupate. On
the late potatoes, the beetles were scarce and the damage very light. For

| this reason it was necessary to cover a lot of ground and pick all the

individual larvae that could be seen.

The ordinary hand picking method was used, the plants containing

_ beetle larvae were shaken and the larvae allowed to drop in pails. The

collections for each day were brought to the laboratory and placed in either
cheese-cloth or screen cages. A layer of sand one inch thick was put in
the bottom of the cage and kept slightly moist. The larvae were fed on
potato tops for five or six days, at the end of which most of the larvae
would go down into the sand to either pupate or produce a parasite.
Seven or eight days later the larvae were sifted out of the sand and those
parasitized were sorted out and placed in a refrigerator until shipping
time. The parasite eggs are deposited internally but they hatch almost
immediately and begin feeding, and very soon the parasitized larvae can
be differentiated from unparasitized ones. As the parasites develop, the
larvae gradually become softer and more sluggish, their skin turning black
by the time the parasites are full grown. At that time the parasites
occupy the whole body cavity of the larvae and the puparia are formed
within the host skin.

Packing of Material for Shipment.—Several methods of packing
material for shipment were experimented with, these having to do with
type of containers, the number of parasitized larvae placed in each con-
tainer, and material used for packing. According to reports received from
France, the method which we used in most of our shipments was very
satisfactory. In the case of parasitized larvae, 100 were placed between
lavers of moist, sterilized sphagnum moss, in an empty cigarette tin of
the size known as “flat fifty’. The tins were in their turn packed in
excelsior in a wooden box, measuring one cubic foot. In this way as many
as 3,500 parasitized larvae and several hundred of Perillws could be packed
in one box.

The larvae containing puparia ready to emerge were packed dif-
ferently. In this case empty cigar boxes were used. Two hundred of these
larvae were packed in moss in the bottom of the box, leaving sufficient
space (two-thirds of the box) between the top of the moss and the cover
of the box for any flies emerging en route. The moss was kept down at
the bottom of the box with coarse wire screening and the cover of the
box replaced by a fine wire screening. Sugar loaves were placed in the
box to feed the flies. In one instance, Dr. Bruneteau reported several
flies had emerged en route and only two of them were dead. The others
continued to emerge after their arrival.

Perillus—Two species of Perillus were fairly abundant during the
last part of August and the first part of September. These are: Perillus
circumcinctus and Perillus bioculatus, the first one being more numerous.
They were collected as they were observed when collecting potato -beetle
larvae, and brought each day at the laboratory and fed until the time of
shipping.

Packing Perillus for Shipment.—Since these predators are cannibal-
istic in their habit, more especially so when crowded, the method of placing
them in numbers in a single container, even with plenty of food, was not

34 THE REPORT OF THE

satisfactory. The mortality was in some cases as high as 70 per cent. For
this reason screen boxes, divided into small compartments, were used and
between three and five Perillus were placed in each one with sufficient .
number of potato beetle larvae for food.

Details of Shipment.—With the exception of two small shipments
which were sent by mail, the material was shipped to Bordeaux by express,
and arrangements were made to have the material kept in cold storage
on the boats. In spite of the fact that there was a delay of several days
before the material reached destination, it was reported to have arrived
in perfect condition. The delay was caused by a hold-up at Liverpool,
the point of transfer, and at Cherbourgh, the port of entry.

Altogether, in seven different shipments, 15,000 parasitized larvae
and 1,500 Perillus were shipped to Bordeaux.

Parasitism in the Belleville District—During the time of collection
the flies were very abundant in the field and could be seen flying and
attacking the potato beetle larvae. On several occasions in the fields where
the larvae were scarce, flies were attacking the adult beetles and trying
to oviposit. Several of these attacked beetles were dissected but no eggs
were found. The percentage of parasitism in the collections was 51 for
the lowest and 73 for the highest, and the average parasitism was 60.6
per cent for the forty-seven fields.

Distribution of the Parasite in Canada.—In a collection of 3,000
larvae made at Chatham, Ont., by G. M. Stirrett, 1,180 individuals, or
approximately 40 per cent, were parasitized by Doryphorophaga dory-
phorae. H. F. Hudson also reared the species from collections made at
Strathroy, Ont. Collections made in Manitoba by Dr. R. D. Bird, of the
Brandon laboratory, showed parasitism ranging from 13 to 50 per cent,
and R. P. Gorham found a parasitism of 17 per cent in a collection made
at Fredericton, N. B. The above records were all obtained from material
collected in the late summer of 1935.

So far as it can be ascertained, the occurrence of the species dory-
phorae in Ontario was first recorded in 1882; the report of the Entomologi-
cal Society of Ontario of that year mentions its presence, and it is referred
to as Lydella doryphorae Riley. Bulletin No. 52, “The Colorado Potato
Beetle in Canada’, by Messrs. Gibson, Gorham, Hudson. and Flock, pub-
lished in 1925, also mentions the presence. in small numbers, of the same
species, known at that time as Phorocera doryphorae Riley. No indication
is given of it being an important factor in the control of the _ beetle,
although it has very probably been partially responsible for the reductions
of the beetle which were recorded from time to time. These reductions
in several localities were entirely attributed to weather conditions, pre-
daceous bugs and artificial means of control.

MEALY BUG CONTROL IN NOVA SCOTIA

By N. A. PATTERSON
Dominion Entomological Laboratory
Annapolis Royal, N.S.

The mealy bug, Phenacoccus. aceris Sig., has only in recent years
occurred in sufficient numbers to be considered a pest in our apple
orchards. Therefore, it is only recently that any attempt has been made
to develop control measures.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 35

The conditions that favor outbreaks are close planting, thick tree
tops, as occurs in orchards that are lightly pruned, and dense, succulent
foliage, as is obtained from the liberal use of fertilizers. Mealy bugs are
to be found, in small numbers, in practically all orchards. But only occa-
sionally do they increase to such proportions as to cause material damage.
The injury is due to a black fungoid growth on the surface of the fruit
resulting from accumulations of honey-dew. In severe infestations, the
entire fruit becomes blackened, the skin roughened, and the fruit lacks
color. This coating is quite impossible of successful removal by any known
agents. It is not known to what extent the feeding on the sap effects the
growth or production of the tree. No ill effects have so far been observed,
but it is reasonable to expect that repeated severe infestations may have
some effect on the vigor of the tree.

In the search for control measures against this insect, there were
found to be two vulnerable periods. Its full life-history has been described
by Mr. F. Gilliatt.1 Beginning with the first mild weather in March, and
probably corresponding with the first movement of the sap in the trees,
the partly developed females emerge from their hibernating cocoons, from
under the rough bark and crevices in the larger limbs, and move to the
fruit spurs and small twigs where they feed on the sap by piercing the
bark with their long proboscises. The emergence of the females is com-
plete by the middle of April.. Near the middle of May the males emerge
as adults from their hibernating cocoons and at this time the mature
females return to the large limbs where they mate with the newly emerged
males. After mating, they again feed on the spurs for a period before
egg laying begins.

Dormant sprays applied near the middle of April gave excellent con-
trol of the mealy bug. The best control was obtained from a 5 per cent
spray of miscible coal tar oil. A 3 per cent lubricating oil spray, of the
red engine type, emulsified by the pump over method, gave practically as
good control. Each of these sprays gave almost complete control. Strong
lime-sulphur (one part in seven of water) gave a high degree of control
but was not satisfactory when compared with the oil sprays.

In the delayed dormant period, by which time the insects had consider-
able waxy covering, none of the materials used gave very good results.
Lubricating oil, 3 per cent, used in standard Bordeaux mixture, gave the
best results, but was far below the control obtained with the 3 per cent
lubricating oil spray used in the dormant period. Nicctine sulphate, lime-
sulphur, and derris powder had little, if any, effect on them at this time.

‘The second period that the insects are accessible to control by spray
application is soon after they hatch from the eggs. “In the orchard,
hatching of eggs extended from July 2 to August 10” in 1934.1 Late
Summer sprays of nicotine sulphate applied during the last week in July
gave excellent control. It was found that the young nymphs, upon hatch-
ing, remained clustered under the cottony, fibrous, waxy material covering
the egg mass. This covering has become rather open by this time and
the sprays penetrate it quite readily. In all such egg masses examined
these newly hatched nymphs were found to be practically all killed by
the nicotine sprays. The control obtained from the nicotine sprays used
at the rate of one quart per 100 gallons, gave an average control of 90 per
cent, and used at the rate of one pint per 100 gallons, an average control of

36 THE REPORT OF THE

85 per cent. Wetting agents increased the toxicity of the nicotine sprays
slightly, apparently having more influence on the one pint strength than
on the one quart strength. A few pounds of hydrated lime also seemed °
to increase the effectiveness of the one pint strength. Free nicotine (Nico-
fume) gave practically as good control as nicotine sulphate. Nicotine
sprays applied after the middle of August, while giving a fair control, .
were not as satisfactory as the earlier nicotine sprays. —

Sprays of summer oil gave good results; in some instances almost
as good as the nicotine. Sprays of pyrethrum and of derris were inef- —
fective. Lime-sulphur (1-60) showed some degree of control but it is an
unsafe spray to apply to the under surface of the leaves at this time.
“Selocide concentrate” (potassium-ammonium-seleno-sulphide, 30%) at 1
to 400 produced little effect.

In applying the mid-summer sprays it is necessary to pay particular
attention to covering the under surface of the leaves and also the branches
where egg masses occur.

LITERATURE CITED

1 Gilliatt, F. C—A Mealy Bug, Phenacoccus aceris Signoret, a New Apple Pest in Nova
Scotia. Canadian Entomologist, August, 1935.

THE INSECT FAUNA OF THE RASPBERRY PLANTATIONS
OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC

By Jos.-I. BEAULNE
Bureau of Plant Protection, Quebec

This paper deals only of the species of raspberry pests found in the |
province of Quebec. I do not claim that the list is complete. |

_ During the past nine years I had the privilege of examining many |
private and commercial raspberry plantations. At first, the majority of |
the plantations were kept in bad cultural condition. Insect pests which |
limit their nefarious activities to this plant were not known or no atten- |
tion was paid to them. It is only since the last four or five years that |
attention has been directed to the wholesale damage caused by these pests. |
Since then, control measures have been adopted successfully, and it is |
hoped that before long they will be considered as pests of very minor |
importance. |

Spraying and pruning seem to have given the best results. At the |
present there are several power spraying outfits in use designed specially |
for the treatment of raspberry plantations. |

Quebec raspberries are well known for their high quality and flavor. |
It is our duty to keep this reputation intact, through the most efficient |
system of protection, so that under the Quebec Plant Protection Bureau |
a special protection service for all raspberry plantations has been |
organized. |

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 37

More attention is now being paid to the insect pests, and this, for
several reasons. They are the following:

1. A large increase in the number of persons going into the growing
of raspberries.

Old plantations are being increased in area.

3. Insect pests are easily transported on the bushes from one locality
to another.

The insect pests of the raspberry, enumerated below in order of
importance, have all been seen at work in the province of Quebec: Rasp-
berry cane borer (Oberea bimaculata, Oliv.), boring in the canes; white
grubs (Phyllophaga sp.), eating the roots; strawberry weevil (Anthono-
mus signatus, Say.), cutting the fruit buds; red necked cane borer
(Agrilus ruficollis, Fabr.), boring in the canes; cutworms (species not
identified), eating the foliage and young shoots; raspberry sawfly (Mono-
phadnoides ribis, Harris), attacking the foliage; American raspberry
beetle (Byturus unicolor, Say.), attacking the fruit and buds; raspberry
cane maggot (Phorbia rubivora, Coq.), attacking the young canes; striped
tree cricket (Oecanthus nigricornis, Walk.), attacking the young canes in
which it lays its eggs; grasshoppers (Melanoplus sp.), attacking the foliage
and young shoots; white marked tussock moth (Hemerocampa leucos-
tigma, S.A.), attacking the foliage; strawberry leaf roller (Ancylis comp-
tana, Frchl.), attacking the foliage; argus tortoise beetle (Chelymorpha
cassidea, Fabr.), attacking the foliage and buds; rose chafer (Macro-
dactylus subspinosus, Fabr.), attacking the foliage and buds; strawberry
leaf beetle (Typophorus canellus, Fabr.), attacking the foliage; raspberry
red mite (Tetranychus telarius), attacking the foliage; European corn
borer (Pyrausta nubilalis, Hbu.), boring in the pith of the young canes;
raspberry crown borer (Bembecia marginata), attacking the roots and
the crown.

38 : THE REPORT OF THE

THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER IN ONTARIO IN 1935
By L. CAESAR
Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, Ontario
The following table shows the status of the topeshacioe by the

European corn borer (Pyrausta HDs Huet) in the years 1938,
1934 and 1935. ;

County 1933 1934 1935

Jo To Jo

BISSEx. Fey MOSM anes er ere ee ee 29.5 8.5 19.7
Peleeéstsland’ iyo ey See SOR ae 12.0 3.8 9.0
CMbiy Mee ied oth we compen: heer ee Beas 35.0 6.2. eA,

| BEY bol] 16.0) a eee emeey Otter am Nene mee ene) Zaee ia 20.9
1 (2a aati ORR DIR neopeCoaais! aaPalull ne Nusete A Spene pate 16.6 6.6 IEG
INO FLOM 4 Oo AE RE A RO ge 9.4 ey 9.3
fe Middlesex" 2c 507i eI Sepa ey eae 20.0 4.6 5.9
LOD GHC) ROR Mine lies Dee Oen Oe we TUR at em a ame or 17.0 6.0 16.8
Haldimand sas rice ven eee om a ey, — 5.6 4.1
Welland: 2s" an 7” ot. eae Kenasiyie duet te ye 7.5 1.5 41
ineolm tree GO Ak a TEP k0 Gee ee med 20.0 5.3 4.0
Brants persis. cieeauee earl Pane tee ee 14.5 — 3.1
IWeentworthile: aay ae A ea en ne ae ee 18.5 Th 5.8
FRU EOI 5 Se ea, ee ale VD 28.0 — last
Pertln ya) Ueto Sake Cem eae ne eae 6.4 — 11.8
Waterloo iG Nii Bee CLEC E IS Ee sees 10.8 — Wises
Wellington 2.uel ia. ae seer nee — — 6.6
Haltom cy ued erica te Ben eee iee er semen 16.6 11.0 7.8
Peer cin oe ne GR eh te Rn Maer aera 39.0 11.0 11.9
WV One kk Ae i Ra: <A A eae A me 8 —. —= 16.0
Crib aniow 2 Bre Eee Ek iN Ee es eae, —— I 16.5
Depeche’ renin. Sac ee ee ee i TELE —- 9.4 ayeal
Prince Edward (389 fields).................... — — 44,1

The most striking thing about this table is the remarkable decrease
of the insect in 1934 and the large increase again in 1935. A careful study
of the figures for all the years since 1926 would show that this fluctuation
has taken place several times since the Corn Borer Act came into force.
It is not due to a poorer clean-up of corn remnants some years than others
for it occurs in counties where the clean-up has been excellent every year.
Moreover it is not to any appreciable extent due to fluctuations in the
activity of parasites or predators or diseases, but almost solely to the
variation in weather from year to year. Very low temperatures as in the
winter of 1933-1934 did kill many borers in some counties but did not do
so in Essex and Kent or the other warmer counties of southwestern
Ontario. So low temperatures are not the responsible factor in weather.
All the evidence seems to indicate that the months of June and July are
the two critical months and the kind of weather we have during them
will largely determine whether the borers will increase or decrease any
particular year. I shall not try to explain how the weather acts further
than to say that it may, if unfavorable, destroy the larvae and pupae, or
it may shorten the length of life of the moths and lessen the number of
eggs laid by them, or it may loosen and cause the dropping off and destruc-
tion of egg masses, or may kill the newly hatched larvae before they can
enter the stalk or ear and find shelter, suitable food and moisture. Few
insects illustrate so well as the corn borer the great part played by weather
in determining their relative abundance from year to year. We shall leave
this, however, to the ecologists to discuss.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 39

Coming back to our subject, the question that occurs to me, and I
_ suppose to all of us, is: What will happen if next year is favorable for
*the borer? I have no doubt that it will mean that the infestation will
increase and if we get several favorable years in succession we may
expect serious losses from it, especially in sweet corn and seed corn areas.
_However, the last ten years seem to indicate that unfavorable or neutral
seasons are likely to occur more frequently than favorable years and that
if we have a good ciean-up of corn remnants each year we may feel fairly
confident that corn can continue to be grown pee anitely with little loss
from the insect.

In conclusion I would call your attention to the infestation in Prince
Edward county. You will notice it is nearly twice as high as in any other.
An inspection of seven fields in the neighboring county of Lennox and
Addington indicates that the infestation there is also very high. Neither
of these counties is under the Act. They requested to be left out; in fact,
any county east of Toronto is free either to come under the Act or not,
as it wishes. Of the counties in the table, Ontario is the only other where
there is no compulsory control. In it last spring the heaviest infested
fields of 1934 were well cleaned this year, and comparatively little infested
stubble or refuse was present anywhere. So this would help greatly to
keep down the infestation. In Prince Edward up to this year the fields
have, on the whole, been voluntarily fairly well cleaned each spring, but
this spring I observed that there was a lot of stubble and refuse left
untouched. Perhaps this was because the borer last year decreased even
where there was a poor clean-up. So the farmers may have said to them-
selves, “This clean-up is all nonsense, and I am not going to bother doing
any from now on.” Whether that be the cause or not, it is at least sug-
gestive to find the two counties of Prince Edward and Lennox and Adding-
ton much the heaviest infested in the province. We shall watch with great
interest to see what happens in them next year, and the year after.

AN INTERESTING JUNE BEETLE HABITAT IN ONTARIO
By H. F. HUDSON and A. A. Woop
Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Strathroy, Ontario

During 1935 southern Ontario experienced a major flight of June
beetles and several new distribution records were secured. These records
were all made in a very restricted area in the vicinity of Strathroy and
are presented as of possible interest in connection with the June beetle
surveys being carried on by G. H. Hammond. The quite unusual variety
of species present at one time in so restricted an area seems to warrant
the publication of a description of the locality and setting as of possible
value in analyzing the general distribution of June beetles in Ontario.

The point of study was located 4.9 miles south of the village of Grand
Bend, Ontario, on the ‘“‘Bluewater Highway’’, latitude 438 degrees 16
minutes north and longitude 82 degrees 49 minutes west. The general
location was at an elevation above sea level of 600 feet and embraced an
area not exceeding 5.3 acres in extent. The original forest had been cut
over. A few tall trees were present, none of a height exceeding 35 feet,
and such as were present were more or less isolated, occurring in groups

40 THE REPORT OF THE

of but two or three. Grassy areas interspersed with clumps of various
shrubs were common and made up the greater proportion of the area.

The geological features show that the area belongs to the Hamilton
formation of the Devonian of south western Ontario. According to Dr.
Harcourt of Guelph, most of the material from which this soil is formed
is sand bar and beach deposits, washed up and deposited in the time of
glacial lakes Nipissing and Algonquin. Some of the sandy material has
been drifted into dunes subsequently by the wind. The soils are of more
recent geological origin than the higher areas to the south and east. They
are doubtless acid to a depth of two or three feet, where they have not
been recently drifted, and the subsoils or unweathered soil-forming
material would have a fair proportion of carbonate of lime. The surface
soil varies in depth from one to two and one-half inches. It is dark in
color, of a silty nature, and is immediately over a yellow sand.

Fic. 1. — Photograph of typical portion of area at Grand Bend, Ontario from which June
Beetles were collected in 1935.

Of the vegetational cover the trees consist mainly of red oak (Quercus
borealis M.), white oak (Quercus alba L.), dwarf chestnut oak (Quercus
prinoides Wild.), white pine (Pinus strobus L.), choke cherry (Prunus
virginiana L.), large toothed aspen (Populus grandidentata Michx.) and
American aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.). Clumps of shad bush
(Amelanchier canadensis L.), witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana L.),
fragrant sumach (Rhus canadensis Marsh), panicled dogwood (Cornus
paniculata L’Her.), red dogwood (Cornus stolenifera Michx.), thimble
berry (Rubus allegheniensis Porter), high bush cranberry (Viburnum
opulis Mill.), and nannyberry (Viburnum lentago L.) are frequent.

There are extensive grassy patches, the principal grasses being red
top (Agrostis alba L.), Panicum implicatum Scrib. and P. scribernerianum
Nash.).

The smaller shrubbery consists of individual plants or clumps of
New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus L.), lesser red root (Ceanothus

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY Al

ovatus var pubescens Desf.), early wild rose (Rosa blanda L.), spreading
dog bane (Apocynum androsamifolium L.), green brier (Smilax hispida
Mill.), while interspersed between the shrubbery or growing amongst it,
is the poison ivy or poison oak (Rhus toxicodendron L.) and the frost
grape (Vitus vulpina L.).

Several weeds are present, amongst them being the common mullein
(Verbascum thapsus L.), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.), wild pepper
grass (Lepidiwm apetalum Willd.), goldenrod (Solidago sp.), tumble mus-
tard (Sisymbrium altissimum L.), flea bane (Erigeron annus L.), bastard
toad flax (Comandra umbellata Nutt.) and patches of the common brake
(Pteris aqualina L.). Growing amongst these weeds are patches of bear-
berry (Arctostaphylos—uvaursi Spreng.). Silvery cinquefoil (Potentilla
argentea L.), golden ragwort (Senecio aureus L.), wild strawberry
(Fragaria vesca L.), sand wort (Arenaria stricta Michx.), false spikenard
(Smilacina racemosa Desf.), hairy puccoon (Lithospernum Gmelini
Michx.), and the star flowered Solomon’s seal (Smilacina stellata Desf.)
were common. Several species of Carex were present as well as various
mosses.

Five collections of June beetles were made between June.11 and 25
in this habitat. A trap light was used but once, and that at the time of
the final collection on June 25. The light was not placed in the habitat,
but was about one and one-half miles south of where collecting had been
carried on from the vegetation itself. Collections were made by beating
the various trees and shrubbery and recovering the beetles upon a sheet
placed thereunder. Approximately the same trees and shrubbery were
examined on each trip and from two to three hours, depending upon
weather conditions, and the abundance of the catch, were spent in each
evening’s work. It is believed that the collections were taken at or about
the peak of June beetle flight for the season.

TABULATION OF SPECIES AND INDIVIDUALS OF Phyllophaga TAKEN AT
GRAND BEND, ONTARIO, JUNE 11-25, 1935, BY BEATING AND
AT A LIGHT ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 25.

Taken from vegetation Taken
June Total at light trap

Phyllophaga 11 13 16 23 25 June 25
PAULUS HCG. 266. £2... 6 eh 12 9 8 5 25
DCTS BICMOCN, oe cceelsc cd... oa: 2 1) 25 0 8 52 0
ERISEIS QUO ee ene 22 73 40 22 12, 169 0
ara Woy ek: 10 48 19 5 9 91 0
TUISGL he al SSS) Et ee eee 5 9 21 6 Ti 48 40
erenulata Froel._............ — 34 38 2 16 90 3
PMGOSO CIS . cccices tsetse — 52 20 2 Cs 81 48
Ono ees Seem. — if if 0 0 2 0
MOG Nnalisy WeCcr2kee...2 — — 20 3 8 31 pe
Total. Recovery ......... 45. 251 196 49 75 CLG 127

The point of interest in these collections is the fact that from this
small habitat nine different species of Phyllophaga were secured. Had it
been studied more thoroughly throughout the season of flight, the result
might have been even more striking. This genus is not particularly well
represented in Canada and only twenty-two species have been recorded to
date. Of these, eighteen have been recorded from Ontario, the list up to

42 THE REPORT OF THE

1935 embracing the fourteen species :—P. futilis Lec., P. inversa Horn,
P. fusca Froel., P. anxia Lec., P. drakiu Kby., P. marginalis Lec., P. fra-
terna Harr., P rugosa Mels., P. balia Say, P. tlicis Knoch., P. tristis Feb.,
P. fervida Fab., P. hirsuta Knoch., and P. crenulata Froel., to which A. A.
Wood added P. gracilis Burm., and Mr. G. H. Hammond added P. hirticula
Knoch., P. longispina Smith and P. vilifrons Lec. in 1935.

Directly across the lake from Grand Bend is the state of Michigan
and for comparison it is interesting to notice the list of the Phyllophaga
fauna of Michigan in the order of abundance of species as reported to us
in correspondence by W. F. Morofsky, of Michigan State College: NORTH-
ERN MICHIGAN—P. anxia Lec., P. drakiw Kby., and P. marginalis Lec.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN—P. rugosa Mels., P. hirticula Knoch., P. anxia Lec.,
P. futilis Lec., P. fusca Froel., P. crenulata Froel., P. tristis Fab., and
P. draku Kby. SOUTHERN MICHIGAN—P. rugosa Mels., P. hirticula Knoch.,
P. anxia Lec., P. fusca Froel., P. futilis Lec., P. crenulata Froel., P. tristis
Fab., P. tlicis Knoch., P. inversa Horn, P. gracilis Burm., P. pruniana Lec.,
P. longispina Smith, P. balia Say, P. forsteri Burm., P. drakiu Kby., P.
fraterna Harr. Of these seventeen species fourteen are common to both
areas: P. fervida Fab., P. hirsuta Knoch. and P. vilifrons Lec. which occur
in Ontario are not at the moment recorded from Michigan. Likewise from
the Michigan list P. pruniana Lec. and P. forstert Burm. are not recorded
from Ontario.

The only information in regard to food plants was that secured in
beating the vegetation. P. tristis Fab. was found to be more abundant on
red oak, while other species favored white oak, shad bush and witch hazel.
Very few specimens were taken on aspen.

Where the beetles come from is a question. There are grassy areas
within the habitat, but it is more probable that their breeding grounds
may be in the scattered cultivated areas close to the habitat. The cultivated
areas in the vicinity are small, ranging from two to five acres in extent.
They will be kept under observation during the next few years to deter-
mine if possible any distinctive preference of the species for particular
vegetational or soil conditions.

The taking of nine species, one-half of those recorded from the entire
province, in one locality in one season was looked upon as quite unusual
and worthy of mention. Taken in conjunction with the fact that four new
species records were added to this list during the season by Messrs. Ham-
mond and Wood at least indicates that intensive study under favorable
conditions may materially extend the list of species of this genus in
Ontario as well as in Canada.

WHITE GRUB SURVEYS IN ONTARIO DURING 1935
By G. H. HAMMOND
Entomological Branch, Ottawa

Studies of June beetles and white grubs in Eastern Canada have
shown three zones with distinct life-cycle rhythms of P. anzia Lec. in
Quebec. One of these zones which occupied the upper Ottawa Valley in
Quebec from Argenteuil county westward proved to be identical with a

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 43

similar zone in eastern Ontario. Information available in 1932 made it
possible to forecast white grub conditions over practically all of eastern
Ontario as far west as the Rideau river, during the years 1933-1936. The
situation throughout central and western Ontario, however, was not so
well known and it was impossible to make forecasts regarding the status
of these insects for that area with any degree of certainty. An urgent
need, therefore, existed for this information, not only in respect to the
distribution of injurious numbers of white grubs and June beetles but
also with regard to the life-history cycles and the identity of the species
concerned in the principal agricultural areas of central and western
Ontario. As a consequence the necessary survey throughout this territory
during the early summer of 1935 formed part of the studies of the white
grub problem in course in the Entomological Branch.

The particular year selected for carrying on this work was one in
which a major flight of beetles was expected to be in progress throughout
a large part of the area concerned. Second year grubs, however, were
found in certain districts in a small proportion of the area surveyed. Most
of the information secured was from June beetles collected from host
trees at night coupled with a general appraisal of the situation made for
each locality.

About 75 per cent of the area examined was involved in the June
beetle flight of the year. Five areas of manifest beetle abundance were
readily isolated. The first such area, involving nearly 3,000 square miles,
was located in eastern Ontario, with the most severely infested section
being centred in Grenville county, extending into Dundas, Carleton, Lanark
and Leeds counties. Russell, Stormont and Glengarry counties were
infested less heavily, as indicated in the accompanying map. Only one
species, Phyllophaga anxia Lec., was encountered throughout this district.
The second area of beetle concentration, where general defoliation of large
trees was observed, and which covered nearly 1,500 square miles, was
centred in Hastings county, but extended into the central part of the
counties of Lennox and Addington, and Peterborough. From the abun-
dance of beetles much loss from white grubs can be expected in this
region during 1936. Both P. anxia Lec. and P. fusca Froe. were present
throughout this district. A third beetle concentration encircled Lake
Simcoe, involving Simcoe and Ontario counties, as well as the northern
part of York county, covering nearly 1,000 square miles. Only one species,
P. anxia Lec., was found here in economic numbers, the heaviest flights
being located near areas of soil of high organic content near growths of
willow, popular or elm. A fourth zone of infestation which involved nearly
1,000 square miles was found to be largely centred in Bruce county, with
the most important section along Lake Huron. P. rugosa Melsh. outnum-
bered any other species here, although P. anxia Lec., P. fusca Froe. and
P. futilis Lec. were found over a part of the area and were locally common.
A fifth zone of abundance was found which occupied nearly 8,000 square
miles, a much larger area than any of the others. Beetles were very con-
spicuous in the counties of Huron, Perth, Waterloo, Brant, Oxford, Mid-
dlesex, Kent and Wentworth, extending also, in dangerous numbers,
outward into the adjacent parts of Wellington, Halton, Norfolk, Elgin,
Essex and Lambton counties. P. futilis Lec. far exceeded any other species
in numbers over a large part of this area but P. anxia Lec., P. fusca Froe.
and P. rugosa Melsh. were also present, often comprising a large part of

44 THE REPORT OF THE

te0e

Sot PL

CLP Pry 2

qcneee Ceeteererteeg,, |

ee

e eegeetes. «'
e, or" *

| WHITE GRUB INFESTATIONS
: IN ONTARIO 1936

ES VERY HEAVY (2) LIGHT
E24. HEAVY 5“ YEAR GRUBS

we

Fic. 1. — Diagram showing distribution of June beetles and their relative abundance in Ontario

1935.
=~
») PANXIA GENERAL THROUGHOUT WHOLE AREA
/
L)
oO
Z,
Lis-"Am.. D>
pFutl vee
--"\ i
Fa : .
P ILICIS = <
P MARGINATA PINVERSA ~*~" Ny
4 PCRENULATA PHIRSUTA I:
i PTRISTIS i!
iF PHIRTICULA
E e
g Sj PHIRTICULA ae
Fic. 2. — Diagram showing distribution of the species of June beetles in Ontario as shown by

the survey of 1935.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 45

local collections. P. anxia Lec. was often found in association with P. fusca
Froe. or P. rugosa Melsh. near areas of low-lying soils rich in organic
matter where P. futilis Lec. was searce or lacking. At many points the
June beetles caused important damage to host trees such as elm, haw-
thorn, oak, rose, willow, poplars and numerous others.

From a study of the June beetle collections made at hundreds of
points throughout Ontario it was determined that P. anxia Lec. was the
most widespread and injurious single species throughout the province.
P. futilis Lec. was next in economic importance because, although occurring
over but a restricted area, it was usually very common over its range.
P. fusca Froe. rates third in economic importance in the province, although
having a much wider range than the preceding species. It was not found
eastward of Hastings county. P. rugosa Melsh. was found over much the
same range as P. futilis Lec. and proved to be the principal species in
the Bruce county infestation. P. drakiu Kby. was almost as widespread
in distribution as P. anxia Lec. but was decidedly scattered and was
common at only a few points in Huron and Hastings counties. Specimens
ot P. vilifrons Lec., P..inversa.Horn, P. hirticula Knoch., P. marginalis
Lec., P. alicis Knoch., P. hirsuta Knoch. and P. longispina Smith were also
taken during the season but these were not regarded as being of economic
importance. Messrs. Hudson and Wood of the Dominion Entomological
Laboratory, Strathroy, Ont., collected a number of new records for Ontario
at Grand Bend, the most interesting of which were P. gracilis Burm.,
P. tristis Fab., and P. crenulata Froe. Although previously recorded in
- literature no record of P. fraterna Harr., P. fervida Fab. or P. balia Say
was obtained from any source during the season.

Areas of the second year grub stage were found as distinct life-
history zones in Durham and Ontario counties, in the Niagara peninsula
and in Essex county. Losses from the second year grubs were decidedly
important in the two former counties, with a considerable number of
crops being involved. Damage to strawberries, hay and nursery crops was:
more severe than was the case for many years. These areas of distinct
life-history rhythm will not be fully known with regard to species con-
cerned and geographical distribution until the next major flight year in
these districts. The fact that they do not overlap to any extent with the
life cycle phase in adjacent areas is interesting and greatly facilitates
the timing of the application of control recommendations, and possible
forecasting of outbreaks.

OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING THE WHITE GRUBS
IN QUEBEC, IN 19385

By GEORGES GAUTHIER

Department of Agriculture, Quebec

We are of opinion that the larvae of the June bug or white grub have
caused greater damage in 1935 than during the preceding years. The total
amount of damage will probably attain a total of some hundred thousand
ae Quebec farmers have therefore to face a very difficult and serious
problem.

46 THE REPORT OF THE

This year, the losses due to this insect in prairie land are very heavy.
Numerous fields growing cereals, potatoes, sweet and fodder corn, turnips,
etc., have been either completely ruined or seriously affected.

I wish to thank Mr. George-H. Hammond, most sincerely, for the very
useful information that he has kindly furnished me concerning this insect.
We are indebted to him for a map of the Province of Quebec, indicating
the three large zones particularly infested with the June bugs.

The survey carried out during this last season has permitted us to
estimate the damage caused on a few farms, and to establish a relationship
between the multiplication of the white grub and the cultural system
practiced on these farms. The losses caused by this insect on the forty-
five farms surveyed last summer amount to $9,940.00 with an average of
about $216.44 per farm.

A total area of 1,183 acres was devastated, making an average loss
of 26.2 acres per farm. The damage may be divided according to the
different crops, in the following order: The prairie lands of three years
and more form an area of 570 acres. Those one and two years old repre-
sent 182 acres. On the total of 752 acres of prairie or sod land, somewhere
about 730 acres grew no leguminous plants at the time when the adults
laid their eggs. In first year oat fields, we found 65 acres having a quan-
tity of white grubs sufficient to destroy the crop. About 30 acres cultivated
in potatoes on old meadow land were completely destroyed. Some acres
of sweet and fodder corn, turnips, barley, beans, strawberries and buck-
wheat were equally damaged.

There are three principal causes permitting the white grubs to
develop and multiply more or less abundantiy on a farm or in a locality.
The first is the texture or composition of the soil. It is well known |
that light and gravelly soils are preferred by this insect. These particular —

soils constitute a large portion of the Province of Quebec. In fact, most |

of the lands along the Laurentian Mountains, a large portion of the East- |

ern Townships, the Lower St. Lawrence district, part of Gaspé as well |

as numerous regions along the shores of the St. Lawrence River, have |

soils of this texture. Therefore, in Quebec, we have immense agricultural |

areas that are favorable to the development and multiplication _ of the 7]
white grubs. 4

The second cause is the system of culture. This is the more important
in regions where the white grub thrives, because it is by means of this
system of culture or rotation that this insect may be more easily
controlled.

In zone No. 3 and particularly in the Eastern Townships, we have
noticed that the larger portion of farms was cultivated only every eight
or ten years. In these conditions, one cannot be surprised to find that the
white grub has developed considerably in this region. This is quite easy
to explain. We know that the adult bugs lay their eggs in prairies. If
these lands are not tilled during the three years that the larvae remain
in the ground, each female will deposit from forty to fifty eggs in such
fields or in the neighboring ones. This clearly demonstrates why we find
from 400,000 to 500,000 grubs per acre, in severely infested prairies.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY AT

During the latter part of September, we estimated approximately the
weight of white grubs found in one square acre. In severely infested fields
we found about 15 worms per square foot, forming the enormous weight
of 1,506 lbs. to the acre. If we should count 10 worms, as an average,
per square foot, as is often found in numerous fields, we come to the
total weight of 890 pounds to the acre. In general, as the white grub
requires more nourishment in proportion to its size than other superior
animals, we cannot be surprised as to the heavy damage caused by this
insect, when found together in such large numbers. According to the
Rural Economics Statistical Branch of the Quebec Department of Agri-
culture, two to three acres of pasture land will nourish an animal weighing
700 to 900 pounds during the summer. If, proportionately to its weight,
the white grub requires two to three times more nourishment than the
farm stock, we must conclude that the presence of but one or two worms
per square foot will suffice to cause severe damages to numerous crops.

The third important cause of the development of the white grub can
be found in unfertilized permanent pastures. This contributes largely to
the increase of the June bugs on farms in the Eastern Townships. As a
general rule the white grub will not develop easily in prairie land. In
fact, we know that roots form the necessary nourishment for the worms
that lie just beneath the surface of the soil. In permanent pastures, where
this upper layer of the ground is being constantly trampled down by the
farm animals, the worms and adults are in no better position than if they
were in a heavy and clay soil. For this reason, owing to the compactness
of the soil in permanent pasture land, the adults will prefer to deposit
their eggs in prairies where the soil is mellow and the grass abundant.

However, the pasture lands of the Eastern Townships region offer a
particularity that the insect’s instinct has not failed to discover. In these
fields grows a certain noxious weed called ‘“‘Stipple Bush (Spirea tor-
mentosa). At the foot of these bunches of weeds the soil cannot easily
be trampled down by the cattle, so the ground remains mellow and thus
the June bugs choose these places to deposit their eggs. It is therefore
_ around these plants that we find large quantities of white grubs. In
_ these conditions every permanent pasture in the Eastern Townships region
becomes a centre where the insects may develop and become an imminent
danger of infection for the neighboring prairies and cultivated fields.

- We do not pretend it is possible.to eliminate the three important
eauses that permit the white grub to develop and propagate so rapidly.
We are aware that the first cause cannot be changed, for it is based on
the particular physical composition of the soil. The second one, due to
the incorrect cultural system or a defective rotation, may be partly modi-
fied. As a definition, rotation, or the system of culture, means the
methodical and orderly succession of different cultures, on the same piece
of land. It has for its purpose the improvement in yield of crops, while
maintaining at the same time the fertility of the soil.

In June bug zones, the adoption of a short three year rotation would
greatly contribute to diminish the number of these injurious insects.
Knowing their life cycle, every farmer should organize the succession of
his crop in such a way that, during the particular year when the adult
bugs are ready to deposit their eggs, his prairie land will grow leguminous

A8 THE REPORT OF THE

plants. Alfalfa, red clover, sweet clover are resistant to the attacks of
the white grubs and their culture will hinder the adults from depositing
their eggs in these fields.

To summarize, we would say that a good rotation system will prevent
this insect from damaging the crops severely. .

Permanent pastures are a source of infection for the cultivated fields.
The first thing to do is to destroy the “Stipple Bush” (Spirea tormentosa).

CONCLUSIONS

(1) A three or four-year rotation is recommended for light soils,
where white grubs are abundant.

( 2) Taking as a basis the life cycle of this insect, the farmers, in
each of the infested zones of Quebec, should organize their culture so that
the larger part of their prairies be sown in leguminous cror. the year
the adults are ready to deposit their eggs.

(3) During the year when the adults lay their eggs, every farmer
should have recourse to semi-fallowing and disc frequently the fields that
are to grow hoed crops the following year. He should prepare his field
beforehand.

(4) In prairies ravaged by grubs in their second year, the semi-
fallow is highly recommended, for it improves the soil, destroys noxious
weeds and kills a high percentage of white grubs. This last summer, by
this method, we destroyed about 91% of worms.

(5) Hogs are so fond of these insects that, when placed in a limited
space, they will destroy the worms almost entirely. It would be worth
while for farmers to use movable fences to clean out infested fields.

THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE ALFALFA SNOUT BEETLE
(BRACHYRHINUS LIGUSTICI L.) IN NEW YORK STATE

By CHARLES E. PALM
Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.

The study of the alfalfa snout beetle problem in northern New York
has been continued during the past season. The emergence of this insect
and its migration habits were observed for the first time in North America.
Experimental measures were begun for the control of this pest in addition
to further studies on the biology, wild host plants and possible ways by
which it might be spread.

Present Known Distribution. eae Bureau of Plant Industry of the
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets under the direc-
tion of Dr. A. B. Buchholz conducted spring and fall scouting surveys in

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS :—This work was conducted under the direction of Professor
P. W. Claassen. From May 1 until June 9, Elmer W. Beck of the U. S. Bureau of
Entomology and Plant Quarantine co- -operated in various phases of the work and
assisted on the problem wherever possible. Credit is due C. G. Lincoln and C. P.
Zorsch who rendered valuable services during a part of the work.

a

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 49

the alfalfa belt adjoining Oswego and Jefferson counties. In neither of
the two surveys were infestations of B. ligustict found outside of these
counties. Additional injury was discovered in Jefferson county which
would seem to indicate a slow spread of this insect within the known
limits of distribution. A total of 592 acres of land in Oswego and Jefferson
counties are now known to be infested. Because of the difficulty in locating

light infestations the rate of spread into the alfalfa belt is still uncertain.

Emergence and Migration.—The beetles began to work their way
toward the surface from their resting cells in the soil late in March and
early in April. The first beetles appeared on the surface April 11th, but
remained beneath debris until April 21st when weather conditions became
favorable for movement. The peak of migration was reached about May
8-10, and diminished rapidly, although a few beetles were moving as late
as June 10th. During cold rainy days the adults clustered beneath stones,
in clumps of grass or under clods of dirt and remained there until the
temperature favored activity. Nearly all migration took place during
daylight hours.

The adults fed voraciously on the foliage of a number of host plants.
Feeding was most pronounced on alfalfa and clover during the first two
weeks after emergence, although it continued on through the egg-laying
period. The beetles fed on any part of the tender shoot growth; much of
the feeding, however, was confined to the basal parts. After feeding, egg
development commenced and migration slowed down. Once oviposition
began there was practically no lateral migration except a secondary phase
which came after the first cutting of hay.

In his dispersion experiments Mr. Beck liberated a total of 2,989
marked beetles at the sides of a plowed field near a long trench barrier.
Eleven of the recovered beetles had travelled over plowed ground and
were caught in barriers 677 and 690 feet from the point of libration.
Four beetles travelled 677 feet in 7, 8, 10 and 11 days respectively, and
seven crawled a distance of 690 feet, one in 10 days, four in 11 days, and
two in 14 days. It is not known how far they will migrate through alfalfa.

Oviposition.—Oviposition was first noted in the field on May 20th.
The last egg deposited by a beetle collected in the field was on September
Sth. Under insectary conditions egg deposition began May 21st and con-
tinued until July 31st. A small series of beetles which were not given
food deposited no eggs. A few adults that were given orchard grass and
timothy, although they fed lightly, likewise failed to oviposit.

Pupation.—Pupation began June 18th. The first pupae came from
an area in the better drained part of the field. In this same area, pupation
was complete by July 18th; transformation to adults began on July 10th.
In another part of the same field in heavy wet soil the first pupae were
obtained on July 15th and the last on September 3rd. Variation in soil
temperature affects the rate of pupation.

Host Plants of the Larvae.—Out of thirty-six different host plants
which thus far have been used, larvae are being reared on alfalfa, dock,
cinquefoil, yarrow, quack grass, alsike clover, wild strawberry, blackberry,
red clover, plantain, sorrel, cabbage and chicory. Larvae of the 1935
brood that were collected on August 15th and placed on new hosts are

50 THE REPORT OF THE

developing on plants other than those mentioned, including goldenrod, red
raspberry, shepherds purse, dutch clover, black locust, yellow and white
sweet clover, kale, Canada thistle, corn and dogwood.

A certain number of the larvae do not complete their development
the first year. From July 17th until August 14th, partly mature larvae
of the 1934 brood were collected from the field and placed on 15 different .
host plants. A total of 83 larvae were collected. On the 31st of October,
29 larvae were still alive; 5 had pupated and transformed to adults. One
had completed its feeding on soybeans, two on quack grass, one on mullein,
and one on dock. Since a few of the grubs require two years to complete |
their development, it seems almost certain that these individuals will have
a three-year life cycle.

Seasonal History.—The two-year life cycle of B. ligustici has been
verified under experimental conditions. Larvae that hatched from eggs
deposited in the summer of 1934 finished their feeding on alfalfa by
December of 1934, pupated in June and July of 1935, transformed into
adults and remained in hibernation in the rearing containers. One adult
has been reared on dock (Rumex obtusifolius) as the larval host. Appar-
ently dock is equally as satisfactory as alfalfa for food of the larvae and
adults.

Spread.—The distribution of the alfalfa snout beetle is limited to an
area of New York State where the acreage of alfalfa and clover is small.
All of the hay grown in this region is used or sold locally ; none is exported.
B. ligustici is not yet known to occur in the main alfalfa belt of the state.

In connection with the study of the habits of the adults it has been
found that some of the beetles collect under newly cut hay in the field and
a few are carried with it into the barns. These adults quickly leave the
unloaded hay in search of growing plants and more favorable temperature
conditions. The only possible danger of spread through the medium of
hay seems to be local, that is, from farm to farm where the crop is bought
on the lot and is removed at cutting time.

The wingless condition of the adults makes the natural rate of spread
very slow. There is some feeling that beetles which get into streams at
the time of migration may be carried by water currents. A far greater
danger of spread can be expected from migrating beetles which may
crawl into vehicles along roadways and be transported into uninfested
areas. Because of the parthenogenetic reproduction of this species an
isolated beetle may start a new area of infestation.

Control.—Most of the control measures in 1935 were directed toward
the adults during their pre-oviposition period. In the experimental work
the following objectives were kept in mind, to determine: (1) the use of
barriers to prevent spread from infested fields as well as to protect new
seedings within the infested area, (2) the value of poisoned baits in
infested alfalfa and clover fields and on plowed fields in which the beetles
were emerging, (3) the use of sprays and dusts on the foliage of alfalfa
and clover to kill the beetles, (4) the effect of cultural practices upon the
control of this insect, and (5) crops suitable to use in rotations following
the plowing up of an infested alfalfa field.

Most of the field experiments were conducted on 1/40 acre plots
although a small series of 1/20 and 1/300 acre size were used. The
majority of the plots were surrounded with a strip of crude chipped

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 51

napthalene, 34, inches wide, to prevent cross migration. Unfortunately
_this arrangement did not prove entirely satisfactory because the popula-
tion of the plots shifted to the periphery and in some instances crowded
across the barrier. At other times most of the beetles collected in the

corners and did not feed normally; in one series of plots the emergence
was very light.

A unit area of 1 square foot of surface was used in making counts,
with the exception of one series of bait plots. In this case 300 beetles
were counted at random from each plot.

The data must be considered as preliminary and as suggestive of a
trend to be followed in control experiments of the coming year. It is
realized also that the materials tested must be used again under more
optimum conditions before any conclusions are drawn.

Barriers.—A straight-walled trench barrier, from 8 to 12 inches deep,
depending on the type of soil and depth to which the grass roots pene-
trate, was probably the most economical and effective barrier used. Post
holes at 15 to 25-foot intervals in the bottom the trench collected the
beetles. A trench barrier worked best when the side walls were dry and
free from grass roots. During rainy weather the trench walls became
wet and packed down so that the beetles crawled up the sides and escaped.

In order of their effectiveness, the following repellent barrier mate-
rials were used: crude chipped napthalene, creosote, drained motor oil
with crude chipped napthalene in suspension (2 pounds per gallon), pine
tar, and coarsely ground flowers of sulphur. These materials were laid
on the surface of the ground as strip barriers. None of these repellents

prevented migration when large numbers of beetles assembled along them.
They worked best with trap holes on the front side of the barrier to
collect the beetles that migrated along it.

Baits.—The raisin-shorts sodium fluosilicate bait, which was developed
'by Downes! for the control of the strawberry root-weevil in British
| Columbia, proved to be the most effective bait used. Both in growing
_alfalfa and on plowed fields from which beetles were emerging this raisin-
‘shorts bait gave excellent kill. The minimum effective dosage of the
| material per acre has not been determined. In the work of the past season
_ the bait was used at the rate of 100 pounds per acre, which is more than
necessary, particularly on plowed fields.

Apple pomace soaked in a solution of molasses, water, malt syrup and
yeast, was substituted for raisins. The apple pomace-shorts bait was
_ effective for a short time, but soon dried out and lost its attractiveness.
Mineral and vegetable oil added at the rate of 1 gallon per 100 pounds of

| bait helped to retain the moisture but acted as a repellent to the beetles.

Bran-molasses-paris green bait, apple pomace-calcium arsenate, and
_alfalfa meal-molasses-paris green bait, dried out too quickly to be of
any value.

Ee anna ITE

Downes, W. The Strawberry Root Wood with Notes on Other Insects Affecting
Strawberries. Canada Dept. Agr. Pamphlet 5, new series, pp. 1-9. 1982.

|
|

52 THE REPORT OF THE

TABLE 1.
1/40 ACRE PLOTS ON PLOWED GROUND SURROUNDED WITH NAPTHALENE
BARRIER. APPLICATION, APRIL 25. COUNT, APRIL 27, 1935. A TOTAL
OF 300 BEETLES WERE COUNTED AT RANDOM FROM EACH PLOT.

No. beetles No. beetles Per cent

Treatment Replications alive dead kill
Raisin-shorts, sodium (\Ptot’ i 12 288 96.0
fluosilicateas to te «eee )-Plote2 AY 254 83.0
Alfalfa, meal, molasses, { Plot 1 251 49 16.3
Parisvereenige: 25: ae jePlot 2 254 46 15.3
Bran, molasses, Paris green...... (Eloi 287 13 4.3
Plot 2 291 9 3.0
Apple pomace, calcium arsenate.. § Plot 1 295 5 seal
1 Plot 2 286 14 4.7

TABLE 2.

1/40 ACRE PLOTS ON PLOWED GROUND SURROUNDED WITH NAPTHALENE |
BARRIER. APPLICATIONS MADE MAY 5-6, COUNTS TAKEN MAy 13-14,
1935. THE APPLICATION OF APPLE POMACE, MOLASSES, SODIUM
FLUOSILICATE BAIT WAS MADE ON MAy 8. 32 COUNTS,
1 SQUARE FOOT AREA WERE MADE IN EACH PLOT.

No. beetles No. beetles Per cent

Treatment Replications alive dead kill
(eos al 12 352 96.7

Raisin-shorts, sodium fluosilicate { Plot 2 5 243 07-9
| Plot 3 4 320 98.8

Apple pomace,

molasses, sodium fluosilicate. Plot 1 158 A491 TDs

Apple pomace, brown sugar, ( Plot 1 199 105 65.5

sodium fluosilicate .................. 4 Plot 2 185 340 64.8

| Plot 3 213 397 65.1

Alfalfa meal, molasses, (Plott 136 32 19.1

Paris" ereenoay vee wee) eee 1 Plot 2 85 127 59.9
TABLE 3.

1/40 ACRE PLOTS IN ALFALFA SURROUNDED WITH NAPTHALENE BARRIER.
APPLICATION, MAY 8; COUNTS, MAY 17, 1935. 32 COUNTS,
1 SQUARE FOOT AREA, WERE MADE IN EACH PLOT.

No. beetles No. beetles Per cent

Treatment Replications alive dead kill

Raisin-shorts, sodium {Plot eh 13 108 89.3

AWOSTICAtTCR Scone onke a ee ee PPlota2 4 91 92.6

Apple pomace, molasses, {Plott 18 12 39.0

sodium tlhuosilicate ae. ) Plot 2 18 lige 249
TABLE 4.

1/20 ACRE PLOTS SURROUNDED WITH NAPTHALENE BARRIER. APPLICATION
May 11, 1935. |

No. No. Per
Treatment Replications Date of beetles beetles cent
count alive dead kill

Raisin-shorts, rey
sodium fluosilicate.. Plot 1 May 14-15 18 188 91.2
(on plowed ground)

Raisin-shorts,
sodium fluosilicate.. Plot 1 May 15-16 72 263 78.5
(in alfalfa) June 3 4 396 98.9

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 53

Sprays.—Of the different spray materials used, calcium arsenate

, 214 pounds to 50 gallons of water with 214 pounds of hydrated lime and
*1 pound of soap gave the best results. It seems as if the efficiency of a

spray depends on thorough coverage of the basal part of the alfalfa shoots
as well as the foliage. Other materials tested include lead arsenate, zine

_arsenite, and natural cryolite.

Dusts.—Dusts of calcium arsenate and hydrated lime, equal parts,
and calcium arsenate and finely ground dusting sulphur, equal parts, gave

very encouraging results. In addition to these materials, 1 per cent

rotenone, synthetic cryolite, and barium fluosilicate were tested. Dusts,
like sprays, must cover the basal shoot growth as well as the tops in

_ order to be effective.

Cultural Methods.—Observations of the past spring show that infested

| alfalfa fields that were plowed in the fall and harrowed before the middle
of April contained practically no living vegetation on the surface. Beetles
| emerging from these areas were forced to migrate out to feed. Because
_of this fact, poisoned baits were particularly effective when broadcast over
'the surface of the field. In contrast, fields that were plowed in April con-
| tained scattered vegetation at the time of emergence and afforded shelter
and food for some of the beetles.

Corn is a safe crop to plant after the plowing of infested alfalfa.

Quite likely soybeans may be shown the second year if desired.

SUMMARY

(1) Control measures for Brachyrhinus ligustict L. in the Oswego

area of New York should be carried on during late April and the first half

of May. Beetles appeared on the surface on April 11th and began active

|migration April 21st.

(2) For clean-up measures, a badly infested field should be plowed
in the fall, harrowed or disked as early in April as possible and dragged.
This treatment forces migration of the beetles when they emerge and

| affords ample opportunity to effectively employ poison baits and barriers.

(8) The raisin-shorts bait gave good experimental control of the

| adults both in seedings of alfalfa and on plowed ground. The attractiveness

of poisoned bait depends, it seems, on the bait remaining moist and sweet.

(4) Sprays and dusts of calcium arsenate on the alfalfa and clover
foliage gave encouraging results.

(5) The effectiveness of trench barriers depends on the side walls
being dry and free from grass roots. With any type of barrier, trap holes

| or bait greatly increase the efficiency by taking the beetles out of
|. circulation.

(6) Oviposition was first noted on May 20. The last egg deposited by
a beetle collected in the field was on September 8th.

(7) There is evidence that under certain conditions B. ligustici will
‘ have a three-year life cycle.

ae

54 THE REPORT OF THE

(8) Beetles may..be. carried. into. the. barn.with freshly cut hay,
‘although they tend to leave the’ hay as quickly as possible. The greatest |
danger of spreading this insect comes at the time of the spring nuerableny
when adults may crawl into some vehicle and be carried.

(9) Since the preliminary survey in 1934, no new infestations of the |
alfalfa snout beetle have been found outside of Oswego and Jefferson |

counties. Additional infestations have been found within these areas,
some of which were overlooked in the preliminary survey.

NOTES ON A NEW OR HITHERTO UNRECORDED le OF
SWEET CLOVER IN ONTARIO

By L. CAESAR
O. A. C., Guelph, Ontario

On August 16th Mr. M. H. Winter, the agricultural representative
for Victoria county, sent me about a dozen snout beetles from the farm
of Mr. C. A. Netherton at Little Britain, near Lindsay. These beetles he
said were present in great numbers on sweet clover left for seed on the
farms of Mr. Netherton and several other growers in the vicinity, and
were causing a good deal of anxiety.

Nearly a month later, September 14th, I received some more speci-
mens of the same insect from Mr. Ralph White, the agricultural repre-
sentative for York county, who stated that the beetles were abundant on
sweet clover on a number of farms east of Newmarket and had stripped
off much of the seed.

On examining the insects I recognized that they belonged to the genus
Sitona but that they did not seem to come under any of the species given
in the key, so I sent them to Ottawa to Mr. Brown. He happened to be
absent. The specimens were then sent to Washington and identified by
Mr. Buchanan as Sitona cylindricollis Fahr. He stated that “available
data indicate that this European species was first found in North America
in 19382 at Middlebury, Vermont’. The insect would seem, therefore, to
be a recent importation.

Until I received its determination by Mr. Buchanan I thought that it
was probably a native but perhaps unidentified species which, like many
other native insects, had, owing to the relaxing of natural control factors,
become very abundant and so I did not feel anxious about it. However,
soon after I learned that it was of European origin and apparently had
become recently established in North America, Mr. Gordon Dustan and I,
on October 21st, went down to York and Victoria counties to investigate.

In York county Mr. White took us to the farm of a Mr. Leek, about
six miles east of Newmarket. Mr. Leek told us that his crop of sweet
clover in the early part of the season had been very promising, but that
the beetles had later attacked it in so great numbers that they had eaten

off the epidermis of nearly all the stems and branches, had destroyed the ©

leaves, and caused so many of the seeds to fall that, though he had expected

8 to 10 bushels of seed to the acre, he had only about 1 after threshing. |

The beetles, he said, were so numerous when he was cutting the clover that
they almost covered the canvas on the binder.

}
|
|
}

Pe

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY ‘55

On further inquiries we found that several farmers in this district
in an area about 15 miles from north to south had also suffered severely
this year, though an occasional field seemed to have escaped injury.

We examined some of the seed which had been threshed and found
numerous wings and broken parts of the bodies of the insects in it, but
no living beetles. We then inspected a nearby alfalfa field which had been
cut for hay, but had a good new growth, to see if the beetles had attacked

it. A few were found on the ground but there was no clear proof that

they had done any feeding. Their presence may have been due solely to
migration from the sweet clover field after it had been cut and plowed.
After looking at this field we spent some time in trying to discover how
the insect wintered, but as this subject will be dealt with below I shall
pass on to our inspection in Victoria county.

In Victoria Mr. Winter took us to the farm of Mr. Netherton, who
had been the first to complain of the insect. Mr. Netherton stated that it
seemed to have attracted notice on the clover for the first time about
August 8th, that it had been exceedingly abundant on his own sweet clover
about August 14th, and that he found it so badly infested when cutting
the field that he had become alarmed and had decided the best thing to
do was to burn the clover just as quickly as possible after cutting. After
burning he plowed the field. A little later he observed that the beetles
had been migrating and attacking the new seeding of sweet clover, which
was then about 8 inches high. To stop injury to this he plowed an area
about 10 feet wide between the two fields as a barrier. This, however, had
little or no affect because the beetles crawled, or possibly flew, over the
barrier. (They have well developed wings and apparently can fly, though
none of the farmers seem to have noticed their doing so.) When we were
there they had eaten all, or nearly all, the leaves of the young clover and
left merely the bare stem. On pulling up the plants many of them were
found to be dead, but some had buds or leaflets at the ground.

Fortunately for us the sweet clover field which had been cut and
burned had not only young sweet clover adjoining it on one side, but also
on two of the other sides red clover, alsike and alfalfa. The latter had been
cut twice for hay, but had grown up again and was green and vigorous.
The presence of these other kinds of clovers gave us an opportunity to
see whether the beetle had attacked them or whether it fed only on sweet
clover. On investigation we found that though they could be found in the
red clover they apparently had not fed upon it. The same was true of
alfalfa, just as we have mentioned above in the case of the alfalfa in York
county, but on the alsike, to our surprise, we found the beetles had been
feeding freely and had eaten off nearly all the leaves over large areas.
The injury was not so severe as on the young sweet clover, but severe
enough to show that alsike is also a favorite food plant.

In our efforts to find where the insects wintered we discovered them
in large numbers on the ground among the plants, both in the sweet clover
and alsike fields, and to a less extent in alfalfa and red clover. Most of
them were hidden beneath light refuse such as clover leaves or dead weeds
or rotting grain stubble; a few were in crevices in the ground; and many
others in old corn stubbles which were fairly abundant in the alsike field.
In the sweet clover there were from 25 to more than 100 to every square
yard of surface examined. They were present also in the grass along the

56 THE REPORT OF THE

fence around the original sweet clover fields, which had been plowed. On |
examining fence posts and fence rails we discovered many had hidden |
beneath loose bark or in deep holes or crevices in these. So that one ;
would seem safe in saying that they winter beneath almost any kind of _
shelter in or near the fields where they fed.

The only stage in which we found them was the adult. On our return |
to Guelph Mr. Dustan dissected a dozen or more to see if there were any —
mature, or nearly mature, eggs, but none was found, hence there seems —
little or no doubt that they hibernate only in the adult stage, though a
closely related species, Sitona hispidula Fab., winters both in the adult —
and egg stage. Hibernation does not seem to begin until the temperature
is fairly cool as the beetles seem to have fed into October, though none
was feeding on the 21st when we were there. Some brought back to
Guelph and placed in cages over young sweet clover at ordinary room
temperature fed a little, but only a little.

How widely spread the insect is we had not time to investigate, nor
do we know whether it did any serious damage in 1934. We could not
get any definite data on this.

It is too soon yet to express any opinion as to how destructive the
insect may be in the future. This depends to a large extent on whether
it is a recently imported pest, or whether it has been here a long time
and until lately had been kept under control by natural factors. In any
case it is important enough to justify a careful study of its life history
next year so that we may have a basis on which to try to work out
control measures. The problem will be greatly complicated if it is found
that it can live upon alfalfa and red clover as well as sweet clover and
alsike.

The insect is a small snout beetle about three-sixteenths of an inch
long. The head and thorax are distinctly narrower than the abdomen,
which at the widest part is about one-tenth of an inch. The color of the
body when rubbed is black, or blackish-brown. When not rubbed the back
is so densely covered with very fine, short brown and gray hairs that it
appears grayish-brown. This color is sometimes mottled with black spots.
The hair covering on the underside of the body is lighter than the upper
and is gray or silvery-gray.

THE BRONZE CUTWORM, NEPHELODES EMMEDONIA CRAM.,
IN THE MARITIME PROVINCES

By R. P. GORHAM
Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Fredericton, N.B.

Definite records of the occurrence of the bronze cutworm on the
Tantramar dykelands go back to 1885 and an aged resident of Amherst
states that an outbreak occurred in the period of the American Civil War,
1860-65. The insect has generally developed in numbers sufficient to
attract attention at from five or six-year intervals, chiefly on the dyke-
lands lying between the Tantramar and Aulac rivers. At intervals there
appear to have been more widespread infestations. Residents of Riverside,

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 57

—

Albert county, N.B., speak of the marsh lands in that region being infested
fifty years ago. Residents along the Peticodiac valley mention infestations
on their marsh lands about thirty-five years ago and residents of Fort
Lawrence Ridge, Amherst and Nappan, speak of damage to their grass
lands at about the same period. Serious outbreaks which were investigated
by entomologists occurred on the Tantramar dykelands in 1921, ’22 and
23 and again in 1928, ’29 and ’30. Since 1922 the insect has been under
observation, yearly examinations of the marsh lands being made by
entomologists.

In 1934 indications of the development of another outbreak were
observed in the increased abundance of the insect in small and scattered
areas. In June, 1935, extensive injury to grass became noticeable on the
Tantramar dykelands, in the valleys of the Missaguash, La Planche and
Nappan rivers in Nova Scotia. In the valleys of the Memramcook and
Peticodiac rivers in New Brunswick, and on the marshes along the Bay
of Fundy shores at Riverside, Albert county, and Minudie, Cumberland
county, numerous small and scattered infestation centres were found, these
varying in size from small patches a few square rods in extent to areas
of from fifty to one hundred or more acres. A survey of the feeding areas
indicated that on about 2,000 acres the grass was completely eaten and
on an equal area partially damaged. Numerous record counts were taken
in the pupation and moth emergence periods which showed that the usual
parasites and diseases of the insect were almost wholly wanting, and that
in infested areas there were on an average forty pupae per square yard
with a high percentage of moth emergence.

In September and October sample sods were collected from eighty-
three locations and the eggs in these samples counted. The general average
of all sods was found to be thirty-two eggs per square foot, the sods repre-
senting many types of marshland vegetation. The greatest number of
eggs were found in samples from the central portion of the Tantramar
dykelands between the Tantramar and the Aulac rivers. This central
body of marsh land is a single meadow of some twenty square miles.
Thirty-one samples from different portions of this area showed an average
of sixty-one eggs per square foot. Samples from the marshes in the
drainage basins of the Missaguash and La Planche rivers gave records of
thirty-five eggs per square foot. Samples from the marshes in the valley
of the Memramcook river yielded an average of 15 eggs per square foot.
Samples from the marshes along the Peticodiac river at Moncton yielded
sixty per square foot.

More than sixty per cent of the eggs had hatched by the middle of
October. Favored by very mild weather many of the caterpillars were in
the second instar and nearly one-half an inch in length at the beginning
bf November.

The results obtained in counting eggs and larvae in sample sods are
such as to indicate that unless winter conditions should prove unfavorable
for the insects there is the probability that an extensive outbreak of the
bronze cutworm may be expected in June, 1936, extending across all the
dykelands in Westmorland county, N.B., and Cumberland county, N.S.

When the records of moth emergence were obtained in August mimeo-
graphed circulars were sent to more than one thousand individual marsh
land owners advising the plowing of old meadows likely to be most

58 THE REPORT OF THE

severely infested. Favored by mild weather, a great deal of plowing was
done, more than in several previous years. On November 7th, forty-three
teams were seen at work plowing marsh land between Upper Sackville
and Amherst. Besides those with the teams a large number of men were
at work cleaning out the drainage ditches, another recommended control
feature. :

THE GRASSHOPPER CAMPAIGN IN MANITOBA IN 1935
By A. V. MITCHENER |
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg

During the summer of 1935 grasshoppers appeared in outbreak form
in Manitoba for the fifth consecutive year. In 1931 poisoning was not
extensive and was done with supplies that had been left on hand from
the outbreak which subsided some seven years previously. In the reports
of the Entomological Society of Ontario for the years 1932, 1933 and 1934
there appear individual accounts of the campaigns in Manitoba for those
respective years. This brief paper with its accompanying map is to set
forth some facts concerning the progress of the current outbreak.

In 1935 our most prevalent species was the clear-winged grasshopper
Camnula pellucida Scudd. The second most important species was the
two-striped grasshopper Melanoplus bivittatus Say. This situation was
unchanged from the previous year. Throughout the past five years Cam-
nula pellucida Scudd. has been by far the most injurious species. It is
well to bear this in mind when devising the most suitable baits and other
control factors for this province. Without doubt the tastes of the various
species differ. Certainly their habits are different. The writer is still
convinced that much more can be done to prevent Camnula pellucida
Scudd. from ovipositing near grain fields by plowing the adjoining areas
which under ordinary circumstances are selected by this species for their
ego beds.

In 1935 hatching was first reported on May 15 from the municipality
of North Cypress. This was followed in a day or two by a report from
the municipality of Oakland. Very few hoppers had hatched by May 24
as the season was late in opening. There was no heat wave in May and
even in June there were relatively few hot days. Much rain fell and the
growth was luxuriant. Grain was so far advanced by time much hatching
had occurred that the usual black margins along grain fields were absent.
Bait was first mixed in North Cypress on May 23 but it was not until
about June 15 that poisoning became general in the province. The season
seemed about two weeks late until near the end of June. By July 4 some
66 per cent of the mixing stations had closed. Poisoning operations ceased
for the summer on approximately July 17.

The plan of campaign for 1935 was essentially the same as that
conducted during the previous years of the current outbreak. Each farmer
was restricted to two sacks of prepared bait per quarter section (160
acres) per day. In case he had adult assistance the restriction limited
the bait he could secure daily to two grain sacks per person spreading
bait. This restriction served to secure better application of the bait. This
year the sawdust was further increased in the bait to at least three parts

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 59

ee A
—$<$<$ $<

sawdust to one part bran or malt sprouts by weight. My personal opinion
is that the bait would be more effective with a smaller percentage of saw-
dust in it. Liquid sodium arsenite was used again at the rate of one quart
to each one hundred pounds of dry carrier. No salt was used in the bait.
During the summer of 1935 some 2,856 cwt. of bran, 1,428 cwt. of
malt sprouts, 32 cars of sawdust each containing approximately 20 tons
and 4,275 gallons of liquid sodium arsenite containing 8 lbs. As.0. per
gallon were used in preparing the grasshopper bait. These ingredients -
were used to produce approximately 1,710 tons of prepared wet bait. This
bait was used in 45 municipalities by 3,222 farmers who poisoned
grasshoppers.

The accompanying map indicates the municipalities in which grass-
hoppers were poisoned. Moderate infestations were experienced in nine
municipalities and light infestations in the other 36 municipalities. The
relative infestation in the various municipalities is indicated in the accom-
panying: map. This basis for classification is the same as that used in
_previous reports. The cost of the ingredients for the bait to the provincial
government was $7,460.00. Forty-three of the forty-five municipalities
prepared their own bait while the other two, which used a relatively small
amount, purchased what they required from the neighboring
municipalities. , :

The infestation in 1935, although still widespread, included fewer
municipalities than in any of the three previous years. The severity of
the infestation was much less than in the previous year. This was indi-
cated by the decreased amount of bait used. In 1935 the map shows no
municipalities where the infestation was either very heavy or even heavy.
This decline in the outbreak was due in part to less favorable conditions
for grasshoppers in early summer.

During late June and early July Camnula pellucida Scudd. was
destroyed in enormous numbers over a large area by a fungus disease
believed to be Empusa grylli (Fres.) Nowak. The disease did not affect
Melanoplus bivittatus Say to nearly the same extent. The history of the
previous outbreak which began in 1919 in Manitoba would lead one to
expect a lessening in the severity of the outbreak at about this stage in
the history of this grasshopper outbreak.

A severe epidemic of stem rust of wheat Puccinia graminis tritici
EKrikss. and Henn. severely injured a great amount of the wheat crop
throughout much of the area infested with grasshoppers in 1935. It is
particularly difficult therefore to make an estimate of the value of the
crop saved through the use of poisoned bait. Our estimate is that 400,000
bushels of wheat, 425,000 bushels of oats and 350,000 bushels of barley
were saved through the application of the poisoned bait.

The writer wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr. H. E. Wood,
Assistant Director of the Extension Service, Department of Agriculture,
Winnipeg, from whom data on the amounts of materials used as well as
the costs of the campaign were obtained.

Dr. R. D. Bird and Mr. R. H. Handford, Dominion Entomological
Laboratory, Brandon, Manitoba, and Mr. R. H. Painter, Entomological
Branch, Ottawa, rendered valuable and continuous assistance throughout
the course of the 1985 campaign.

60 THE REPORT OF THE

MANITOBA

Grasshopper Infestation

1935

= Mhoderate

MANITOBA ee

p=.

roi "Menor

A = - lll
HS CC Sse a

Cenc
} i q

Fic. 1.—Relative infestations are based upon the total amounts of prepared bait
actually used during the season. Where moderate infestations occurred from 500 to
2,000 pounds of bait were used and where light infestations are indicated less than
500 pounds of prepared bait were used per section (640 acres) of taxable land
during 19385.

it

=<
——
——a

— -

A NOTE ON GRASSHOPPER OUTBREAKS IN THE COUNTIES OF
RENFREW AND HASTINGS, ONTARIO, IN 1935

By H. A. GILBERT
Entomological Branch, Ottawa

In the middle of July, 1935, report of an outbreak of grasshoppers
in Renfrew county was received at Ottawa.

A survey of the district revealed that grasshoppers were numerous
in an area of about 120 square miles, situated around the towns of Barry’s
Bay, Palmer Rapids, Westmeath and Killaloe. This district is about 100

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 61

miles due west of Ottawa. It is typically a sandy country and very rough.
The agricultural land is cleared from bush. Some clearings comprise four
or five farms of about 100 acres each in extent. Others are only a single
farm cleared from the surrounding bush.

The species of grasshoppers concerned were Camnula pellucida Sceud.,
Melanoplus angustipennis Dodge, M. bivittatus Say and Dissosteira caro-
lina L. C. pellucida Scud. and M. angustipennis Dodge were responsible
for almost all the damage as M. bivittatus and D. carolina L. restricted
their feeding mostly to headlands and roadsides.

The grasshoppers as soon as the hay had been cut entered the grain
crops and caused considerable damage to the developing grain. The leaves
of all grains were eaten down to the ground giving the crops a stripped
appearance. Damage to oats was most noticeable because the grasshoppers
cut the grain right off but in wheat and rye the grasshoppers fed on the
kernels without doing this. In order to avoid an almost total loss the
farmers cut some of their oat fields green and used them for hay. One
field of two acres of oats, for example, which was left to ripen, yielded
only two bags of threshed grain. In the gardens cabbage, carrots, parsnips,
beans and corn were all subject to attack and damage to the leaves of
turnips and potatoes was quite noticeable.

After the grasshoppers had invaded the grain control with poisoned
baits was attempted. The two baits consisted of: bran, 25 pounds; Paris
green, 114, pounds; salt, 1 pound; molasses, 1 pint, and water about 5
gallons, and a similar bait without molasses. From counts of dead grass-
hoppers per square yard made after baiting, it appeared that rather
unsatisfactory results were obtained, as only from six to seven dead grass-
hoppers per square yard were found. However, from casual observations
of the living hoppers remaining it appeared that better control had been
obtained than the counts of dead hoppers indicated, as the numbers
present in the treated areas had decreased quite noticeably. One of the
farmers in the district had used bait early in the season, from the end
of June to the middle of July, and was convinced that by baiting he had
been able to save a piece of newly seeded hayland from destruction by
grasshoppers.

Fic. 1.—Camnula pellucida Scud. egg bed in headland along fence, Palmer Rapids, Ont.

62 THE REPORT OF THE

Early in September a survey was made for egg-beds. These, however,
were not found to be as numerous as had been expectd from the large
numbers of grasshoppers present in the summer. Only three definite beds
were found, though individual pods were frequently encountered in pas-
tures, headlands and roadsides. In one of the egg-beds (see Fig. 1), 314
yards wide by 250 yards long, along the headland of a hay field, an
average of 1,278 eggs per square foot were found. In the other two beds
considerably smaller in extent the average number of eggs was not so
high; 77 and 275 eggs per square foot approximately representing the
comparative abundance. These egg-beds were situated in sod that had not
been plowed for many years, round a stone pile, in a headland and on a
knoll in a pasture field.

Another minor outbreak of grasshoppers occurred in Ontario in 1935,
around the village of Castleton, some twenty-five miles north of Belleville.
This outbreak was not so extensive as the one in Renfrew county. The
areas damaged were restricted mostly to fairly high, sandy knolls.
Melanoplus mexicanus mexicanus Saus. and Camnula pellucida Scud. were
the predominating species. Although a very extensive search was made
for egg-beds shortly after egg-beds had been found in Renfrew county
not a single pod was found. The suggestion seems to be that the grass-
hoppers oviposited but slightly, if at all. The possibility of a repetition
of the outbreak will be checked again in the spring at the time when the
young hoppers are due to emerge.

EFFECTS OF SOME ECOLOGICAL FACTORS ON THE PEA APHIS

By PELLERIN LAGLOIRE

Department of Agriculture, Quebec

RESUME

The life-history of the pea aphis is one of the most interesting in
the biology of insects. The phenomera of parthenogenesis presents only
one angle of the problem. However, this study of reproduction without
immediate fertilization is above all in the domain of the laboratory. Here
genetics find a real mine to exploit.

But paralleled with these works of pure science is closely bound the
ecology of the insect and the study of factors of environment. These
factors of environment or whatever they may be called, such as climate,
soil, wind, etc., are, however, powerful enough to alter and change com-
pletely the vital cycle of the insect.

The ‘“‘Résumé” of the work that I wish to present today is a proof
of this last contention.

Following the generally accepted facts, the pea aphis, (Macrosiphum
pisi Kalt.), in the main line of their life-history confirm the peculiar mode ©’
of development of all aphis. It is easily understood that the least inter-
ference which may occur changes and breaks the harmony of the com-
plicated vital cycle of the insect.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 65

Two factors have greatest influence on these biological changes, degree
of temperature and humidity. This is the phase to which we would direct
your attention.

A series of experiments executed in 1931, 1982 and 1933 permits me
to show clearly enough the enormous influence of heat and humidity,
first on the number of generations and secondly on the mortality rate.
The results obtained confirm the ideas, held by the more observant pea
growers. Some repeated yet simple experiments with only ordinary mate-
rial at hand, such as a box heated by a laundry iron, a damp cloth to
furnish the desired humidity, and the kitchen refrigerator, creating the
extremes of temperature and humidity, confirmed the scientific facts
already deduced from field experiments and observations.

For want of properly equipped laboratory close to the experimental
fields, I was denied the opportunity of gleaning an even greater amount

of information. But it is necessary to bear in mind that the desired end

of my experiments was not so much to add to the already accumulated
scientific knowledge on the life of the pea aphids as to verify general
ideas and apply them to practical methods of control.

In closing, let me mention that on the degree of temperature and
humidity depends largely, not only the number of generations of aphids,
but also the speed with which the generations follow each other. On the
number of generations depends the duration of the vital cycle. It is this
which explains that when the pea aphis have entered into their hibernating
stage, as at Marieville, on dry soil, far from water courses and protected
by the mountains, at St-John on the banks of the Richelieu, the insect
has only half of the cycle completed.

As a corollary to these researches it has been generalized that pea
aphis winter almost exclusively in clover fields. I have found pea aphis
hibernating in all lands bordering on pea fields: prairies, pastures, grain
fields, or wood lots not completely cleaned.

I hope that these few notes, which have not the pretention to be
the last word on the ecology of the aphis, may be of help to others privi-
leged to pursue more minutely this study.

NOTES ON INSECTS FOUND INFESTING PACKING MATERIALS
ENTERING THE PORT OF MONTREAL

By H. A. U. MONRO
Entomological Branch, Montreal, P.Q.

The rapid spread of the Dutch elm disease in Europe and its subse-
quent discovery in certain parts of the United States has stimulated an
inquiry into the means whereby the disease organism, Ceratostomella ulmi
Schwarz itself, or its insect vectors, might be introduced from Europe
into North America.

Under Regulation No. 17 (Foreign) of the Destructive Insect and
Pest Act, elms, elm logs, or burls, from all countries are prohibited entry
into Canada, while similar regulations apply in the United States. There

64 THE REPORT OF THE

still remains the possibility of the illegal, but probably accidental, intro-
duction into this country of undressed elm used as part a wooden
containers or packing materials.

Beattie (1935) states that among crates of chinaware examined in
New York fifteen were found built in part of elm sticks. Five of the fifteen
showed brown streaks in the wood and contained living larvae of Scolytus
multistriatus Marsh. Attempts to isolate Ceratostomella from the sticks
were unsuccessful, but other fungi found are being studied.

As Readio (1935) has said, we must not neglect to take into account —

the activities of insects other than the known vector, S. multistriatus
Marsh., as the disease appears to be carried mechanically. As possible
carriers he suggests members of the families Cerambycidae, Curculionidae
and Buprestidae.

With the foregoing possibilities in mind periodical visits were made
to the import sheds in Montreal during the shipping season of 1935, with
the object of determining the types of packages made with undressed
wood, the species of woods thus employed and the possibility of finding
live insects therein.

Numerous containers, such as wood boxes containing bulbs, are bound
with small, undressed thongs of twig. For the most part, however, the
survey was narrowed down to an examination of crates of chinaware and
earthenware, casks containing more expensive china and the occasional
shipment of crucibles, wines or chemicals contained also in casks with
undressed hoops. The crates are usually about 5’x3’x3’ in dimension, while
the barrels are often 3’ high with a diameter of 2’6” or more. During
the season of 1934 a total of 9,546 tons of chinaware, crockery, earthen-
ware and crucibles entered the port of Montreal, representing approxi-
mately 38,000 crates and barrels, mostly originating in the pottery district
surrounding Stoke-on-Trent, England. This latter figure gave a significant
idea of the total amount of undressed lumber entering through the port
in the course of a year.

Prior to shipment from England, any straw used as packing in these
crates is sprayed and fumigated with 37 per cent formaldehyde in com-
pliance with the Animal Contagious Disease Act. It appears that this is
invariably done before the crates are made up.

Among the many different types of wood examined, representing all
ages and sizes, the following genera of trees have been distinguished:
Hazel (Corylus sp.) ; chestnut (Castanea sp.); willow (Salix sp.) ; birch
(Betula sp.) ; ash (Fraxinus sp.) ; alder (Alnus sp.) ; oak (Quercus sp.) ;
maple (Acer sp.) ; and, on two occasions, pieces of elm (Ulmus sp.). This
proves that it has been possible for elm to enter this country in some
form or other.

Although live insects were continually being found in crates and
packing cases, the adults so far identified are confined to two species, a
cerambycid, Gracilia minuta Fabr. and a scolytid, Leperisinus fraxini
Panzer. Undetermined larvae belonged possibly to the genera Saperda and
Xyleborus. In the hoops of the casks cerambycid larvae were sometimes
found badly crushed beyond hope of accurate determination. The two
pieces of elm were free of insects or diseases.

ote

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 65

——

‘p

Gracilia minuta Fabr. (Callidium pygmaeum Fabr.).—Adults and
pupae of this species were found in hoops of willow on a cask of china
from Stoke-on-Trent, England. The adult is a slender brownish ceram-
bycid about 6 mm. in length. Barbey (1925) states that this insect is
polyphagous but is more commonly found on willow. Regarding the
economic status of this insect the same author says that it will only attack

dying or recently cut parts of the tree. As a forest insect it is, therefore,
of no importance. On the other hand he states that it is very injurious

‘in the basket-making and allied industries, where it has destroyed baskets

and “mannequins” made of wicker when stored in warehouses. Escherich

(1923) also stresses the secondary nature of the attacks of this insect

and mentions its importance in the wine-making industry where, as the
result of an infestation by G. minuta Fabr., the hoops surrounding casks
often give way, allowing the wines to run out.

Leperisinus (Hylesinus) fraxini Panzer.—During the middle of the
summer crates and casks of chinaware from the English potteries were
found to be heavily infested with all stages of this insect. The adult is a
small ashy-grey beetle 2.5 to 3 mm. long. Apparently the work of this

‘insect is quite characteristic and provides a quick means of identification

on the spot. It is of the “forked transverse” type and consists of a short
vertical tunnel and a double armed egg tunnel, set at right angles to the

line of the stem.

In order to obtain some idea of the prevalence of this extremely
common insect a careful examination was made of a number of crates
coming off one steamer. The survey revealed the following figures:

No. of crates Crates containing Crates containing ash found
examined ash wood in any form infested with L. Fraxini. Panzer
74 56 34
or 76% of the total or 61% of those with ash

and 46% of the total.

These figures are interesting in comparison with those in an earlier
paragraph showing the approximate number of crates entering in one
Season.

There is a slight disagreement among European authorities as to the
status of this insect as a pest of primary importance in forests. Gillanders
(1912) and Escherich (1923) agree that it will never attack young
healthy trees. But, the former believes that it will only attack trees
weakened in some way, while the latter declares it will attack older trees
even when they are healthy. Barbey (1925) makes no mention of age
but states that healthy trees will succumb after several years of repeated
attack. There is no doubt that much of the wood examined in Montreal
was still very “‘green’’.

The beetles bore into healthy ash trees or newly felled logs and there

Spend the winter. As a result of this habit the tree is seen to produce a

condition known to European foresters as ‘‘ash roses.’’ Gillanders, how-
ever, believes this is caused exclusively by a fungus, Nectria ditissima,
“following in the train of the wound made by the beetle.” If L. fraxini
Panzer is to be considered as a possible pest of shade and forest trees in
Canada, it is probably this latter habit which should be taken into account
by forest entomologists and pathologists.

66 THE REPORT OF THE

The writer wishes to thank members of the staff of the Forest
Products Laboratory, Department of Interior, Ottawa, for identification
of the genera of woods. The beetles were identified from time to time by
Mr. W. J. Brown cf the Division of Systematic Entomology and Mr. J. J.
de Gryse of the Division of Forest insects, both of the Entomological
Branch, Ottawa.

SUMMARY

boring insects, injurious in themselves or as vectors of plant diseases,

conside} palgen must be given to packages coming from abroad made up

wholly or partially with undressed wocds.

Most of such packages entering Montreal in 1934 came from the
pottery districts of eelnd. if is believed that as many as 38,600 may
enter this port in one season.

RE

on two cccasions.

Of the named species of insects found in these woods Gracilia minuta *

Fabr. is a pest of wicker work and of cask hoops, while the extremely

common Leperisinus fraxini Panzer is an important pest of the ash. Ags F

far as is known, neither of these insects is as yet established in Canada.

LITERATURE CITED

BARrBey, A.—Traité d’Entomologie forestiére pp. 621-624 and 663-665, Paris, 1925.
BEATTIE, R. K —Resear ch during 19384 on Ceratostomella, uimi. J. Econ. Ent. Vol. 28,
p. 528, June 1935.

ESCHERICH, K.—Die Forstinsekten Mitteleuropas pp. 268-269 and 499-502. Berlin, 1923,

GILLANDERS, A. T.—Forest Entomology, pp. 103-105, Edinburgh, 1912.
READIO, P. A—En 2tomological Phases of the Dutch Elm disease, J. Econ. Ent. Vol. 28,
p. 341, April 1935.

ati varieties of woods were found including elm, which was inter= ©
Gi : f

As a potential source of both the Dutch elm disease and also wood —

Pn se f

FURTHER NOTES REGARDING HONEY BEES AND POLLINATION ~

By C. B. GOODERHAM
Central Fxperimental Farm, Ottawa

The project briefiy outlined in this paper is being conducted for the
purpose of determining the comparative value of over-wintered colom
and package bees for pollination purposes.

Bee men as you all know have long contended that the presence of
honey bees in an orchard during the period of bloom will materially
increase the crop of fruit procured, and fruit growers have encouraged
beekeepers to place bees in or near their orchards, and in many cases
have paid well for such service. Comparatively recent developments in
orchard practice for the control of injurious insect pests, however, have
made it extremely unprofitable for beekeepers to place their bees any-
where near a well-cared for orchard unless a substantial rental can be
obtained for doing so. During the past few years, however, a new source
of supply has been developed, for bee men in the Southern States have
discovered that in certain districts it is more profitable to produce bees

j

>

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 67

than it is to produce honey, while in other localities the removal of a few
pounds of bees from the cclonies during the early spring is conducive to
less swarming and larger honey crops, therefore, the purchase of package
bees has largely displaced the renting of over-wintered colonies.

Package bees are sold by the pound, and packages of almost any
weight can be obtained, the 2-lb., 3-lb. and 5-lb. sizes, however, are the
most common, and it is these sizes that are used in this project. There
are approximately 5,000 bees in a pound; therefore, a package of definite
weight represents a definite force of bees, while the strength. of an over-
Wintered colony may vary from year to year.

To carry on the work here described, 2-lb. 3-lb. and 5-lb. packages
were secured from a southern breeder. These bees were received in Ottawa
in excellent condition and arrived from 6 to 23 days prior to the opening
of the fruit bloom. All packages were hived on drawn comb and the bees
fed until new supplies from the fields were sufficient to maintain them.
At the time the packages arrived, the bees and brood in the over-wintered
colonies were measured in order to compare their strength with that of
the packages. A second measurement of all colonies including packages
was made at the opening of the fruit bloom and again after all bloom
had fallen. Special traps were constructed to catch and hold bees as they
returned to the hive and whenever the bees were fiying freely during the
period of bloom the traps were placed on the hives so that all bees return-
ing to the hives while the traps were in place were caught. The placing
of the traps caused no confusion to the incoming bees. The traps were
placed simultaneously, one on each of the 2-lb. 3-lb., 5-lb. packages and
one over-wintered colony. The traps were left in position for four minutes,
then clesed and taken to a bee-tight building for counting. Two men
counted at each trap, one counting the total number of bees caught, the
other counting the pollen carriers only. When the traps were emptied
they were placed over a fresh colony in each group so that no colony was
trapped twice in succession. No counts of flying bees were made in 1931.

Time does not permit giving in detail the results of these measure-
ments and counts for each colony or package in this experiment, therefore
group averages only are here recorded.

In 19381, ’33, ’34 and ’35 the average strength of the over-wintered
colonies at the time the packages arrived was greater than the strongest
of the packages. In addition, all over-wintered colonies contained a large
amount of brood in all stages which meant that the strength of the
colonies was increasing daily, while the package colonies could not hope
to increase their strength for at least 21 days after arrival. In 1932, due
to the severity of the previous winter, the over-wintered colonies were
little better than the weakest of the packages, other than that they had
some brood which the packages did not.

Each year at the commencement of fruit bloom the over-wintered
colonies had increased their strength considerably, while on the other hand
the package colonies were weaker than they were upon arrival.

68 THE REPORT OF THE

The criterion of value, however, is the force of bees each was able
to send out to the orchards, and these are as follows:

GROUP AVERAGES

Average no. Average no.

of incoming of pollen Average no. Average no.
bees in 10 carriers in of incoming of pollen
Year Group San uaeh dine each gee
1932: -O. W. Cols. 1515 Solio 37.9 8.8
5 Ibs. 1789 285.85 44.7 (ia!
3 Ibs. 1552 428.50 38.8 10.7
2 Ibs. Sys) 118.50 8.2 3.0
1933 O. W. Cols. 3184 965.0 79.6 24.1
5 lbs. 2200 534.0 55.0 13.3
3 Ibs. 1560 405.0 39.0 10.1
2 Ibs. 1055 364.0 26.4 9.1
1934. OL W. Cols. 2871 1071 LL 26.8
5 lbs. 2482 530 62.0 132
3 lbs. Zoe 563 55.8 14.1
2 lbs. iZoe 345 30.8 8.6
1935... .Q. W.-Gols. 5402 1611 135.0 40.3
5 Ibs. 3376 787 84.4 19.7
3 lbs. 1870 541 46.7 13.5
2 lbs. 1520 503 38.0 12.6

With the exception of 1932 the over-wintered colonies not only sent
out the largest force of field bees, but they also sent out the largest force
of pollen gatherers. In 1932 the 5-pound package sent out the largest
force of field bees but the 3-pound package showed the greatest force of
pollen gatherers. The 3-pound package also showed a greater number of
pollen carriers than the 5-pound packages in 1934. The pollen carriers
are the only bees of the total force sent out that can be definitely identi-
field as having worked the pollen of the blossoms, and if these are to be
taken as the criterion of effectiveness in cross pollenization, then during
the three years of the four in which counts were made the over-wintered
colonies sent out approximately double the force of the strongest packages
and approximately three times as many as the weakest packages.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 69

THE WALNUT HUSK FLY, RHAGOLETIS SUAVIS LOEW,
IN ONTARIO

By Gro. M. STIRRETT
Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Chatham, Ontario

The husks of native black walnuts, Juglans nigra L., are frequently
heavily infested with maggots of the fly, Rhagoletis suavis Loew, in the
vicinity of Chatham. Ripe walnuts, when shaken from trees early in
October, may contain as many as thirty maggots.

Nut growers in the district are well acquainted with the insect and
its damage. One grower states that he has seen it in the husks of Japanese
and hybrid Japanese walnuts as well as in the husks of the native nuts
and hickory nuts. He further states that about 1925 the insect destroyed
his whole crop of Japanese walnuts.

The native nuts are not at all or only slightly damaged by the maggots,
but according to the literature and to the grower mentioned, the insect
causes much more damage to Japanese and Persian walnuts. The feeding
activity of the maggots comes earlier in the maturity of the nut and these
are dwarfed and either fall from the tree prematurely or cling to it longer
than normal nuts.

Very little is known regarding the life-history of the insect under our
conditions, but it appears that it varies little from that recorded for
Michigan and other sections of the United States. Maggots collected in
the field in walnut husks on October 1 and 2, 1933, and allowed to pupate
in soil in a cage in the laboratory emerged as adults between July 9 and
July 31, 1934. Some of the puparia did not emerge during the first year,
but emerged in July, 1935. The proportion of puparia remaining over the
second year is not known, but was quite small. This phenomenon has also
been observed by Ries: in Michigan.

Because of the insect’s wide and marked distribution in native black
walnuts in southwestern Ontario, and its destructive presence in cultivated
nut groves in the vicinity of Chatham, it would appear that any further
extension of the nut-growing industry will bring about an increased
activity on the part of this insect.

REFERENCES
1RIES, D. T.—Biological Study of the Walnut Husk Fly. Papers Mich. Acad. Science,
‘Arts and Letters, Vol. XX, 1934. (1935).

Brooks, F. E.—Walnut Husk Fly. Bull. 992, U.S. D. A., November 4, 1921.
Howanrp, L. O.—Report of Entomologist, U. 3. D. A. 1920, p. 11, 1920.

INSECT COLLECTIONS FROM NIAGARA’S COLORED
SEARCHLIGHTS

By R. W. SHEPPARD
Entomological Branch, Niagara Falls, Ontario

Several years ago, acting upon a suggestion put forward by Mr. L.
S. McLaine of the Entomological Branch, Dominion Department of Agri-
culture, an investigation was started at Niagara Falls which had in view

710 THE REPORT OF THE

the possibilities or potentialities of Niagara’s powerful illuminating lights
as an attractive force for insects in general, and certain economic pests
in particular.

Although many inquiries were instituted and cbservations made in
previous years, it was not until this past summer season of 1935 that
an opportunity was found in which to make systematic collections upon
the concrete terrace, or platforms, on which the searchlights are mounted.
For this work I was fortunate in procuring the services of Mr. J. E.
Armand, to whom the credit for practically the entire collection of insects
must go.

The lights in question consist of an installation of 24 thirty-six inch |
searchlights, requiring about 450 horsepower of electricity to operate, and —
of such power that the total installation equals 1,320,000,000 candlepower,
or 55,000,000 candlepower to each of the 24 units.

These powerful searchlights, for which power is supplied free by the
Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, and operation by a joint
grant provided by the Niagara Falls Park Commission, and the two cities
of Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Niagara Falls, Ontario, are focussed each
night on the Canadian and American Falls, brilliantly illuminating them
with either a white light or a frequently changed variety of colors, or
combinations of colors. The colored effects are produced by red, green,
yellow, blue and purple gelatine screens which are rapidly slipped into
grooves in front of the searchlights as occasion demands. Such changes
usually taking place on an individual searchlight about every 7 minutes;
while the white, or natural light, may be held for a period of half an
hour or more. It is the usual practice to start and end the evening’s
display with a period of half an hour or more devoted to white lights
only. The intermediate period being filled up with the previously men-
tioned frequent changes of colored light.

After some preliminary negotiations, permission was obtained,
through the courtesy of Mr. C. E. Kaumeyer, General Manager of the
Queen Victoria Niagara Park System, Major J. A. Bond, Secretary of the
Illumination Board, and Mr. William Rapelje, Chief Operator of the lights,
to visit the searchlight installation platform for the purpose of collecting
insects on several nights each week throughout the season.

Systematic collection started on June 24th and was carried on until
August 12th.

Throughout the entire season collection of miscellaneous insects, and
the search for interesting specimens of economic importance, was more
than a little handicapped by the almost constant presence around the
lights of myriads of caddice-fiies, as well as May-flies and other epheme-
rids. However, notwithstanding certain difficulties of that nature, and
the fact that care must be taken with the eyes, etc., when getting in front
ot these extremely powerful lights, a quite large collection of interesting
insects was obtained.

The collections largely consist of lepidopterous or coleopterous insects,
but such unexpected orthopterous forms as roadside grasshoppers and
green tree-crickets were taken in some numbers; while the occasional
hemipterous, or homopterous insect, such as giant water-bugs, or cicadas,

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 71

made their appearance on the platforms, and once in awhile, at rare
intervals, dipterous flies such as tabanids, and hymenopterous insects,
“such as bees, and flying ants, appeared in our night’s takings. In addition,
one or two stone-flies of the order Plecoptera, and an odd neuropterous
form such as lacewing flies, fish-flies, etc., turned up in the collections.

Among the somewhat extensive lepidopterous collections, the family
Sphingidae stands out very prominently, and such species as the hog
sphinx (Ampelophaga myron Cr.), the wild-cherry sphinx (Sphinx drupi-
ferarum 8S. & A.), the pen-marked sphinx (Sphinx chersis Hbn.) and the
galium sphinx (Celerio gallit intermedia Kby.) were taken in some num-
bers, and on quite frequent occasions. Noctuid moths also occurred in
considerable numbers, the adults of the yellow-headed cutworm (Septis
arctica Lef.) and the spotted cutworm (Noctua c-nigrum L.) being excep-
tionally common at the lights; while arctiids such as adults of the salt-
marsh caterpillar (H'stigmene acraea Dru.) and a few of the more spec-
tacular saturnids, such as the polyphemus moth (Telea polyphemus Cr.)
and the Io moth (Automeris io Fab.) were occasionally encountered.

A fair number of notodontids of the genus Datana and lasiocampids
of the genus Malacosoma were collected; while the large family of Geome-
tridae was also quite well represented in the captures.

With regard to the family Tortricidae, the hope was to take a num-
ber, especially adults of the European pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia
buoliana Schiff.) which is very common in the vicinity, and is to be fre-
quently seen flying around the low growing pines almost under the light
tower ; but notwithstanding the close proximity of many examples of this
species, we can produce no definite record of any being taken on the light
platform. In fact, tortricids, of any species, were so scarce at the search-
lights as to be all but absent from the collections.

Of coleopterous insects a very considerable quantity were collected,
but only a few of the larger families such as Carabidae, Dytiscidae,
Hydrophilidae, Silphidae, and Scarabaeidae are represented in any great
numbers. In the Carabidae, fiery-hunters (Calosoma calidwm Fab.) and
beetles of the genus Harpalus may be mentioned as of frequent occurrence,
while of other families predacious diving beetles and water-scavenger
beetles were obtained in great numbers on nearly every collecting night.

Scarabids were represented by very appreciable numbers of the
spotted grape vine beetle (Pelidnota punctata L.) and a few other species
such as the goldsmith beetle (Cotalpa lanigera L.) and the flower-beetles
of the genus Osmoderma. :

Although it has been found impracticable, in the time available, to
compile a complete list of the species of insects taken during the summer
of 1935, at Niagara’s powerful searchlights, an attempt has been made to
record and enumerate as fully as possible the lepidopterous and coleop-
terous material. In this connection, with much appreciated assistance
from Dr. J. McDunnough in the matter of determinations, the writer has
been able to prepare and present the list as appended herewith.

72 THE REPORT OF THE

LIST OF LEPIDOPTEROUS AND COLEOPTEROUS SPECIMENS TAKEN AT COLORED
SEARCHLIGHTS, NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO,

JUNE 24- AUGUST 12, 1935

The species of insects are listed by families; the numbers in brackets |
following the species’ name indicates the number of individuals taken,
and the dates associated with each species indicates the date of first and |

last capture.

LEPIDOPTERA

EUCLEIDAE.—Euclea dephinii Bdv., (1), June 25; Prolimacodes badia |

WIk., (4), July 6-9.

TORTRICIDAE.—Cacoecia conflictana Wlk., (3), July 2-5; Archips rosa-

ceana Harr., (2), July 24-28.
PYRALIDIDAE.—Desmia funeralis Hbn., (1), July 24.
CITHERONIIDAE.—Anisota rubicunda Fab., (1), July 12.

SATURNIIDAE.—Automeris io Fab., (2), July 6-10; Telea polyphemus
Cr.; (3), July 13224.

LASIOCAMPIDAE.—Malacosoma americana Fab., (22), June 28-July
18; Malacosoma disstria Hbn., (27), July 5-24.

THYATIRIDAE.—Habrosyne gloriosa Gn. (rectangulata Ottol.), (2),
June 25-July 13; Pseudothyatira cymatophoroides var. expultrix Gnt., (1),
July 19.

GEOMETRIDAE.—Haematopis grataria Fab., (10), July 5-Aug. 12;
Acidalia cacuminaria Morr., (1), June 26; Lygris diversilineata Hbn.,
(14), July 13-Aug. 4; Physostegania postularia Gr., (18), July 12-24;
Macaria bisignata Wlk., (2), July 17-24; Amphidasis cognataria ab. swet-
taria B. & McD., (1), Aug. 12; Sicya macularia Harr., (1), July 12;
Ennomos subsignarius Hbn., (6), July 12-Aug. 4; Ennomos magnarius
Gn., (1), Aug. 4; Fuchlaena serrata Dru., (3), July 138-24; Pero honesta-
rus Wlk., (2), Aug. 4; Apicia confusaris Hbn., (1), July 19; Tetracis
crocallata Gn., (2), July 13-17.

SPHINGIDAE.—Phlegethontius quinquemaculata Haw., (3), July 2-.

Aug. 3; Ceratomia amyntor Hbn., (5), July 5-Aug. 3; Ceratomia undulosa
Wlk., (10), June 25-July 20; Sphinx kalmiae S. & A., (2), July 17-19;
Sphine drupiferarum S. & A., (21), July 2-19; Sphinx gordius Stoll., (4),

June 24-July 10; Sphinx chersis Hbn., (12), July 2-26; Smerinthus jamat- —

censis geminatus Say, (2), June 26-July 20; Cressonia juglandis S. & A.,
(1), July 13; Pachysphinx modesta Harr., (1), July 2; Ampelophaga
myron Cr., (33), June 28-Aug. 12; Ampelophaga versicolor Harr., (1),
July 13; Sphecodina abbottii Swains, (1), June 25; Celerio galli inter-

media Kby., (8), July 31-Aug. 12; Celerio lineata Fab., (4), July 5-Aug. 4. |

NOTODONTIDAE.—Datana ministra Dru., (18), June 25-July 31;
Datana perspicua G. & R., (8), June 10-July 6; Datana integerrima G. &

R., (6), July 6-17; Ichthyura apicalis Wlk., (1), July 20; Hyperaeschra

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY (3)

stragula Grt., (1), July 31; Pheosia dimidiata H.S., (1), July 2; Schizura
concinna 8. & A., (1), July 17; Cerura occidentalis Lint., (2), July 19-
Aug. 4.

NOcTUIDAE.—Bomolocha madefactalis Gn., (1), July 20; Plathypena
scabra Fab., (8), July 31-Aug. 4; Panopoda rufimargo Hbn., (4), July 7-
13; Abrostola formosa Grt., (1), July 5; Plusia aerea Hbn., (1), July 2;
Autographa precationis Gn., (16), July 5-Aug. 4; Autographa brassicae
Riley, (8), July 26-Aug. 12; Autographa falcifera Kby., (27), June 28-
Aug. 4; Autographa contexta Grt., (1), Aug. 4; Caenurgia erechtea Cram.,
(36), July 12-Aug. 4; Euparthenos nubilis Hbn., (2), July 5-12; Catocala
concumbens Wlk., (2), Aug. 4; Catocala meskei Grt., (2), July 26-28;
Catocala parta Gn., (8), July 31-Aug. 3; Baileya australis Grt., (2), July
20-30; Huthisanotia unio Hbn., (1), July 19; Pyrrhia exprimens WIk.,
(2), July 2; Apamea velata Wlk., (2). July 17; Apamea nictitans Borkh.,
(3), July 20-31; Prodenia ornithogalli Gn., (1), Aug. 14; Hyppa xylit-
noides Gn., (1), July 31; Acronycta americana Harr., (4), July 6-19;
Acronycta dactylina Grt., (1), July 5; Leuconycta diphteriodes Gn., (1),
July 6; Phlogophora iris Gn., (18), July 5-20; Luperina passer Gn., (1),
July 6; Sidemia devastator Br., (15), June 28-Aug. 4; Perigea vecors Gr.,
(1), July 31; Septis arctica Lef., (95), June 28-Aug. 3; Septis cartosa
Gn., (1), July 19; Dipterygia scabriuscula L., (1), Aug. 4; Amphipyra
pyramidoides Gn., (1), July 24; Neleucania albilinea Hbn., (3), June 28-
Aug. 12; Cirphis unipuncta Haw., (70), June 25-Aug. 4; Cirphis pseu-
dargyria Gn., (16), July 12-24; Cirphis multilinea Wlk., (12), July 13-31;
Cirphis phragmatidicola Gn., (18), June 25-July 31; Hriopyga crenulata
Butl., (1), June 28; Polia meditata Grt., (1), Aug. 4; Polia subjuncta G.
& R., (1), Aug. 4; Polia adjuncta Bdv., (1), July 31; Polia lilacina form
iwlabefacta Morr., (1), Aug. 4; Polia renigera Steph., (1), July 20; Rhyn-
chagrotis sp. ,(8), July 5-26; Abagrotis sp., (1), July 19; Agrotis ypsilon
Rott., (9), July 6-Aug. 4; Graphiphora (Noctua) c-nigrum L., (53), June
26-July 31; Spaelotis clandestina Harr., (10), June 25-July 19; Feltia
ducens Wlk., (4), July 28-Aug. 4; Feltia herilis Grt., (1), July 13; Euxoa
tessellata Harr., (19), July 6-Aug. 4; Euxoa obeliscoides Gn., (7), July
24-Aug. 12; Euxoa scholastica McD., (10), July 12-24; Schinia marginata
Haw., (4), July 31-Aug. 4; Rhodophora florida Gn., (2), July 17-31.

AGARISTIDAE.—Alypia octomaculata Fab., (1), June 26.

ARCTIIDAE.—Haploa confusa Lyman, (1), July 31; Euchaetias egle
Dru., (1), July 13; Apantesia vittata Fab., (2), Aug. 12; E’'stigmene acraea
Dru., (6), June 28-Aug. 4; Isia isabella A. & B., (8), June 26-July 13;
Diacrisia virginica Fab., (1), Aug. 4; Diacrisia latipennis Stretch., (1),
July 6; Phragmatobia fuliginosa L., (1), July 31; Hubaphe aurantiaca
Hbn., (2), Aug. 4; Halisidota tessellaris 8. & A., (14), July 5-31; Ammalo
collaris Fitch., (1), July 6.

EUCHROMIDAE.—Scepsis fulvicollis Hbn., (2), June 26-July 31.

NYMPHALIDAE.—Vanessa atlanta L., (2), July 6.
COLEOPTERA

CICINDELIDAE.—Cicindela punctulata Oliv., (10), July 5-Aug. 4.

CARABIDAE.—Calosoma scrutator Fab., (1), July 7; Calosoma willeoxi
Lec., (1), July 5; Calosoma calidum Fab., (28), July 3-Aug. 17; Patrobus

74 THE REPORT OF THE

longicornis Say., (4), July 6-Aug. 4; Pterostichus sp., (1), July 6; Poecilus
sp., (4), July 5-10; Bradytus apricarius Payk., (42), June 28-Aug. 4;
Bradytus latior Kby., (10), June 28-July 19; Percosia obesa Say, (2),
July 10-17; Rembus laticollis Lec., (2), June 28-July 17; Badister pulchel-
lus Lec., (1), Aug. 4; Platynus decorus Say, (2), June 26-July 6; Platynus
sp., (22), June 28-Aug. 4; Lebia grandis Hentz., (1), Aug. 4; Chlaenius
sericeus Forst., (1), July 6; Chlaenius tometosus Say, (2), July 31-Aug.
4: Geopinus incrassatus Dej., (1), July 5; Nothopus grossus Say, (1),
Aug. 4; Lachnocrepis parallelus Say, (1), July 6; Harpalus calignosus
Fab., (34), July 6-Aug. 12; Harpalus compar Lec., (118), July 5-Aug. 12;
Harpalus sp., (86), July 5-Aug. 12; Anadaptus discoideus Dej., (5), June
28-July 31; Anadaptus baltimorensis Say, (2), July 5-6; Anzsotarsus
terminatus Say, (6), July 12-31; Agonoderus pallipes Fab., (22), June
28-July 19.

HALIPLIDAE.—Peltodytes edentulus Lec., (2), July 17.

DYTISCIDAE.—Coelambus impressopunctatus Schall., (4), June 28-
Aug. 4; Ilybius biguttulus Germ., (7), July 5-Aug. 4; Agabetes acuductus
Harr., (1), July 31; Matus bicarinatus Say, (87), July 12-Aug. 12;
Copelatus glyphicus Say, (4), July 6-19; Coptotomus longulus Lec., (8),
July 19-Aug. 4; Colymbetes sculptilis Harr., (83), June 28-Aug. 4; Dytis-
cus fasciventris Say, (35), June 28-Aug. 3; Dytiscus verticalis Say, (1),
July 31; Hydaticus piceus Lec., (67), July 10-Aug. 12; Thermonectes
basilaris Harr., (8), July 19-Aug. 4; Graphoderus sp., (1). July 31.

HYDROPHILIDAE.—Berosus sp., (27), July 5-Aug. 4; Hydrous triangu-
laris Say, (10), June 28-July 31; Hydrophilus obtusatus Say, (217), July
5-Aug. 12; Tropi isternum sp., (40), July 5-Aug. 12; Hydrobius fuscipes
L.,; (224), June 28-Aug. 12: Anacaena limbata Fab., (1), July 12;
Enochrus hamiltoni Horn., ( 2), July 12-17.

SILPHIDAE.—Necrophorus orbicollis Say, (1), July 24; Silpha surina-
mensis Fab., (29), July 5-Aug. 12.

STAPHYLINIDAE.—Philonthus sp., (1), July 5.
LAMPYRIDAE.—Photinus scintillans Say, (1), July 17.
OEDEMERIDAE.—Nacerda melanura L., (11), June 28-July 31.
MELOIDAE.—Epicauta cinerea Forst., (6), July 5-18.
PYROCHROIDAE.—Neopyrochroa flabellata Fab., (1), July 12.

ELATERIDAE.—Ludius pyrrhos Hbst., (4), June 28-July 20; Hemz-
crepidius memnonius Hbst., (6), June 28. July 19; BEE sp., (6),
July 6-Aug. 4.

HETEROCERIDAE.—Heterocerus sp.. (4), July 12.

COCCINELLIDAE.—Hippodamia tredecimpunctata L., (11), July 10-21;
Adalia bipunctata L., (4), July 12-Aug. 4.

TENEBRIONIDAE.—Bolitotherus cornutus Panz., (1), July 6; Tenebrio
molitor L., (4), July 5-Aug. 4.

SCARABAEIDAE.—Copris tullius Oliv., (1), July 2; Ataentus falli Hin-
ton, (18), June 25-Aug. 4; Serica trisiis Lec., (8), July 5-31; Diplotaxis

so

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY

~
Ot

———

tristis Kby., (13), June 28-July 31; Phyllophaga futilis Lec., (1), July 6;
Phyllophaga marginalis Lec., (1), July 2; Pelidnota punctata L., (29),
July 4-31; Cotalipa lanigera L., (2), June 28-July 2; Ligyrus gibbosus
DeG., (1), July 5; Osmoderma eremicola Knoch., (3), July 5-19.

LUCANIDAE.—Pseudolucanus capreolus L., (2), July 13-20; Pseudolu-

_canus placidus Say, (3), July 2-10; Dorcus parallelus Say, (4), July 5-13.

CERAMBYCIDAE.—Parandra brunnea Fab., (2), July 31-Aug. 4; Roma-
leum rufulum Hold., (1), Aug. 4; Arhopalus fulminans Fab., (1), July 5;
Monochamus notatus Dru., (1), July 10.

CHRYSOMELIDAE.—Donacia sp., (2), July 6-Aug. 4; Diabrotica vittata
Fab., (1), July 19.

CURCULIONIDAE.—Phytonomus nigrirostris Fab., (1), July 31; Listro-
notus sp., (3), July 5-12; Notaris puncticollis Lec.,; (1), July 5.

A NOTE ON THE BAT BEDBUG, CIMEX PILOSELLUS HARR.
By GEO. M. STIRRETT
Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Chatham, Ontario

In 1935 an investigation was made of a house near Chatham, the
upper rooms of which were periodically infested by Cimex pilosellus Harr.
The attic was used as a roost by large numbers of the little brown bat,
Myotis keenti septeutrionalis (Troussart). It was estimated that about
two hundred were present in the attic on the day of our visit.

Bedbugs were first noticed invading the upper floors in large numbers
in July, 1934; they occurred again during July, 1935. Previously, only
about six bedbugs had been noticed by the occupants of the house during
the past ten or twelve years.

Bats had infested the house at least for a period of thirty-five years,
but, as noted, no bedbugs had been observed in any number until recently.

Bedbugs had never been noticed frequeting persons or beds or to
have bitten persons sleeping in the rooms. The only indication of feeding
was on one occasion when the floor was being cleaned with a cloth heid
in the operator’s hand. About one dozen bedbugs climbed upon the fore-
ae and one bug bit into the wrist causing a slight “‘sting’’ before being

illed.

Similar infestations of the bat bedbug have been reported by Felt’
in New York State and Spencer? records an infestation in a summer hotel
in British Columbia and also gives host records of collections made in
that province. |

REFERENCES

1FELT, E. P.—Observations and Notes on Injurious and other Insects of New York
State. N. Y. State Museum Bull. 274, April 1928, pp. 152-154.

2SPENCER, G. J.—The Bedbugs of British Columbia. Proceedings Entomological Society
of British Columbia, No. 31, February 1934, pp. 43-45.

76 THE REPORT OF THE

A NOTE FILING SYSTEM FOR ENTOMOLOGICAL FIELD
LABORATORIES

By GEO. M. STIRRETT
Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Chatham, Ontario

The following outline is a description of a note filing system devised |
by the author and used by the laboratory during the past nine years.

UNITS OF SYSTEM

The system contains four units, which are housed in one 8 x 5 inch |
and one 5 x 8 inch filing drawer. |

(1) Permanent Experiment Number File.

(a) Printed red cards (3 x 5) bearing the base or identification
experiment numbers.

(b) Printed white cards (8 x 5) bearing the sub-experiment numbers
if such occur. These cards are filed according to consecutive numbers
and immediately follow the red card bearing the base or identification
number.

(2) Temporary Experiment Number File.

White cards (8 x 5) filed under a labelled blue tab. Each year has
its own set of temporary numbers. Each season the numbers begin at
one and continue consecutively as necessary. Temporary numbers for a
number of years are filed in the same drawer under each year’s heading. —

(3) Subject Index to Permanent Experiment Numbers.

White cards (8 x 5) arranged alphabetically according to subject.
All subjects are cross-indexed as far as possible. Each card indicates
the experiment number of its subject.

(4) Field Notes File.

Field note book pages (5 x 8) are used for all notes. They are filed
according to temporary or permanent experiment number. All numbers
are filed consecutively, starting with the lowest number. Buff colored tabs
indicate base experiment and temporary numbers while blue colored fifth-
cut tabs indicate sub-experiment numbers if any. Temporary numbers
are placed first in the file, followed by the lowest permanent number.

EXPLANATION OF SYSTEM

‘ (1) Permanent Experiment Number File-——Each experimental pro-
ject or work upon a known insect species is given a permanent experiment
number at its initiation. The number is printed upon a red 3 x 5 ecard,
together with the scientific and common names of the insect, subject of
the investigation and name of the investigator. If the study is a large
one or has well defined sections, it may be divided and the sections given
sub-experiment numbers.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 17

EKxamples.—(a) European corn borer—a study of seasonal develop-
ment; experiment number (base number, red card) 15036-. This study
» is divided into units as follows:

Pupation—15036-1 (Sub-experiment number), white card
Emergence—15036-2 (Sub-experiment number), white card

Oviposition—15036-3 (Sub-experiment number), white card

(b) Mexican bean beetle (base number, red card) 15040 -

This study has no sub-experiment numbers.

When initiating the system, experiment numbers may arbitrarily start
at any number desired, but once initiated, numbers must be used
consecutively.

The year in which field notes are made is designated upon them by
adding the last two digits of the year to the end of the experiment number.
The last two figures always indicate the year. In the examples given
above, the complete experiment numbers for the year 1936 would be as
follows: 15036-1386, 15036-236, 15036-336, 15040-36. In 1937, they would
becomes 15036-137, 15036-237, 15036-337, 15040-37. The year is not indi-
cated upon the cards in the permanent experiment number file and subject
index file, but the year of initiation of study is generally indicated upon
the cards in the former.

The cards in the permanent experiment number file and in the subject
index file are added year after year, while at the beginning of each year
a new set of tabs (guides) are made for the temporary experiment num-
bers file (3 x 5) and for the field notes file (5 x 8). The tabs of the
previous year always remain in the drawer with the temporary experi-

ment number file and the field note file, thus constituting each as a unit
for all time. The tabs contain at the first of the year all numbers upon
which work will be done. If additional work is done under new or other
experiment numbers during the year, the proper tabs can easily be made
and included.

Field notes for a number of years may be filed in a single drawer so
that notes on any particular investigation are always available if the
experiment number is known and this can be obtained from the subject
index, from notes or from reports.

(2) Temporary Experiment Number File-—Temporary numbers are
given to projects dealing with insects, the specific identity of which is
unknown. Each year a new set of temporary numbers is used, beginning
with number one, as T 36-1, T 36-2, T 36-3, etc., or T 37-1, T 37-2, T 37-3,
etc., for the years 1936 and 1937 respectively. As soon as identification
has been made, the insect is given a permanent number. The permanent
humber and date of transfer are noted upon the temporary number card
and when the field notes themselves are transferred from the temporary
position in the field notes file to the permanent position, a note indicating
that the transfer has been made is inserted in temporary position. Sub-
jects under temporary numbers are not included in the subject index file
to experiment numbers.

78 THE REPORT OF THE

Temporary numbers are utilized in order to avoid at any time the
changing of permanent experiment numbers. For the first few years, |
temporary numbers were not utilized and difficulty was frequently
encountered. When rearing cutworms for example, if the species was not
known it was frequently found that two species were reared from collec- |
tions made at one time and if they had been given a permanent number :
this necessitated the changing of at least one permanent number, whereas |
with the temporary number system now used the permanent number is
not given until definite identification is made and it does not matter how
many species are identified from one collection.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ENTERING AN EXPERIMENT NUMBER IN FILES” FOR A
NEW PROJECT

a) For Permanent Numbers. , oe
Ge, the next experiment number and enter details on the 3 x 5

ase or identification experiment number card and the 3 x 5 white
d bearing sub-experiment number if needed and file these in their
proper places in the permanent experiment number file.

tiated)
tlalts Hiibn.)

Exp. No. 15036—(Plus year ini

(Sci. name—Pyrausta 2u01
(Commen name—WHuropean corn borer)

Subject—A study of seasonal development

Allotted to: John Jones.

Example of material contained on 3 x 5 red card (base or identifica-
tion number). Permanent experiment number file.

Exp. No. 15036-1 (Plus year initiated) :
(Sci. name—Pyrausta nubilalis Hiibn.)

Insect
(Common name—European corn borer)

Subject—A study of seasonal development—pupation
Allotted to: John Jones.

Example of material contained on 3 x 5 white card (sub-experiment
card). Permanent experiment number file.

(2) Make out the necessary number of 3 x 5 white cards for the
subject index to the experiment number file and place in their proper
alphabetical position in the file.

(8) Make out proper tabs (guides) for 5 x 8 field notes file anil insert
in proper place in file.
4

15036-36

Example of legend for buff tab,
5 x 8 field note file.

KNTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 19

15036-136

Example of legend for blue fifth-cut tab,
sub-experiment number, 5 x 8
field note file.

(4) Be sure to label all field notes, insect specimens, glass slides, etc.,
with proper complete experiment number, always including the year at
the time such notes are made or insect specimens are mounted.

(ob) For Temporary Numbers.

Select the next temporary experiment number. Enter details on
3 x 5 white card and file in its proper place under blue tab of temporary
experiment number file. Make out proper buff fifth-cut tab for experiment
number notes file (5 x 8) and insert in proper place.

Temporary Exp. No. Permanent Exp. No.
T 36-1 — Date given—
‘ Tnitials—
Date given—
(Sci name
Insect

(Common name
Subject—
Allotted to:

Example of material contained on 3 x 5 white card, temporary experiment
number file.

1936
Temporary
numbers
Example of legend for 3 x 5 blue tab, Example of legend for buff fifth-cut tab,
temporary experiment number file. 5 x 8 field note file.

When identification of insect species is established, fill in permanent
experiment number and details upon temporary 3 x 5 card and then fill
in required cards for permanent experiment number file and subject index
file as instructed above. Leave notice of the transfer under the temporary
tab in field notes file.

GENERAL NOTES

The above descriptions and explanations appear cumbersome when
written out, but the system is quite simple and very easily used. Our
files which have been in operation for nine years are contained in two
filing sections, a 3 x 5 drawer and a 5 x 8 drawer.

After the filing system described in the previous pages has been in
use for a number of years, it might be found convenient to have a type-
written copy of the subject index to experiment numbers made, indicating

80 THE REPORT OF THE

— a eee OOOO

subject and experiment numbers. This has been done at the laboratory
and each member of the staff has been supplied a copy for handy reference
instead of necessitating the examination of the file itself.

The selection of the color of cards and tabs is, of course, optional.
It so happened that the colors mentioned above were used at the initiation
of our note filing system.

A SUMMARY OF INSECT CONDITIONS IN CANADA IN 1935*
By C. R. TWINN

Entomological Branch, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa

INTRODUCTION

This is the seventh annual summary of insect conditions in Canada,
the first having been prepared for the year 1929. All of these summaries
have appeared in the pages of the Canadian Insect Pest Review, a mimeo-
graphed publication issued by the Entomological Branch, of the Dominion
Department of Agriculture. The 1933 and 1934 summaries were also
published in the 64th and 65th annual reports of the Society, respectively ;
the 1929 summary appeared in Scientific Agriculture (X: 754-8, 1930),
and that for 1930, in the 23-24 annual report of the Quebec Society for
the Protection of Plants (149-168, 1930-32). As in the case of the
summaries for previous years, this one has been largely based on reports
submitted by officers of the Dominion Entomological Branch, and by
provincial workers in entomology carrying out investigations on insect
pests, in various parts of the Dominion. A list of their names and
addresses will be found on the last two pages of volume 13, of the Canadian
Insect Pest Review. Statements on ‘Insects of the Season,” in the various
provinces, which were formerly published in the annual reports of the
Society, have been included in the first issue of volume 14, of the Review.
Grateful thanks are extended to all those who have co-operated with the
Insect Pest Survey by contributing notes and reports on insect pests, and
thus made this summary possible. |

FIELD CROP AND GARDEN INSECTS

The grasshopper outbreak in the Prairie Provinces, which has been
widespread, serious, and menacing, since 1930, was greatly reduced during
1935, by weather conditions, natural enemies, and the effects of organized
intensive control campaigns. In Manitoba the rainfall from May to July
was about twice normal; May and June were abnormally cool, and July
was unusually warm. These conditions resulted in delayed hatching and
development, followed by an epidemic of the fungus disease, Empusa
grylli, which broke out in late June, spread with great rapidity and almost
eliminated the clear-winged grasshopper (the most abundant of the three
economic species), over a large part of western Manitoba, and consider-
ably reduced it elsewhere. The two-striped grasshopper was also affected,
but somewhat less extensively; the lesser migratory grasshopper was

*Prepared by direction of the Dominion Entomologist.- — jaue ons to vqeo mam

ne

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 81

largely immune. These and other surviving grasshoppers did little
damage owing to the luxuriant growth of crops and vegetation generally, ©
produced by the heavy rains, and only local poisoning was necessary.

Prospects of an extensive outbreak in 1936 are reported slight. The

outbreak in Saskatchewan was also greatly reduced in intensity from that
of 1934, and damage was further minimized by the cool, wet spring which

delayed hatching and produced a heavy crop growth. On the whole, the

poisoning campaign resulted in material savings, and only a few rather
limited areas suffered extensive damage. In Alberta, delayed hatching
and lack of early season damage to crops led many farmers to under-
estimate the severity of the outbreak, with the result that the poisoning
campaign was not sufficiently intensive. As the native vegetation dried
up in the summer drought, the grasshoppers moved into the crops and
some losses occurred. Moreover, enormous numbers of eggs were laid,
threatening a further outbreak in 1936. The outbreak extended north-
ward to a line drawn from Red Deer east to the boundary.

In British Columbia, a further distinct increase in grasshopper
abundance occurred, in 1935, over a large part of the province, and poison-
ing campaigns were carried out in several sections of the province.
Moderate to light outbreaks of grasshoppers were reported in several

localities in Ontario, but did not result in important crop damage.

Blister beetles were again very numerous in the Prairie Provinces,
and caused considerable damage to leguminous plants and potatoes. The
caragana beetle, Lytta nuttalli Say, and L. sphaericollis Say, were the
principal species involved. In the Kamloops district, British Columbia,
where E'vicauta oregona Horn is most numerous, garden crops were
reported attacked.

Although still very abundant, a further marked reduction in the
numbers of the common field cricket, Gryllus assimilis Fab., was noted
in southern Quebec and in Manitoba. In the latter province some damage
was done by the crickets cutting binder twine. For the first time in many
years, the mormon cricket, Anabrus simplex Hald., appeared in conspic-
uous numbers in south-western Alberta, at Magrath and in the foothills
near Cowley, largely on range land. Specimens were taken as far north
and east in the province as Carbon and Oyen.

Generally speaking, 19385 witnessed a resurgence in the cutworm
population in parts of all the provinces except British Columbia. The
pale western cutworm, Agrotis orthogonia Morr., which has been a serious
crop pest in some portions of Saskatchewan and Alberta since 1928,
developed in great abundance in the drier areas of these two provinces,
and many thousands of acres of grain crops were destroyed. The most
Serious losses occurred in the west-central part of Saskatchewan, and in
the Lethbridge district, Alberta. In the former region, in the Leader-Fox
valley area, it is estimated that some 150,000 acres suffered destruction.
Serious losses also occurred in several other districts. Fortunately, in

_ certain areas where outbreaks were forecast, excessive rainfall in early

May effectively controlled the insects, while at other points the rainfall
in May and June was sufficient to reduce the damage to losses in occa-
sional fields, or to a slight thinning of the crop. Cutworms of other species
showed an increase in the Prairie Provinces. The red-backed cutworm
Huxoa ochrogaster Gn., and its allies, caused rather extensive damage in
north-western Saskatchewan. Cutworms of several species were also

82 THE REPORT OF THE

abundant and destructive in many sections of Eastern Canada, and caused
' quite serious damage to field and garden crops. In the Maritime Provinces
the striped cutworm, EHuxoa tessellata Harr., was apparently the most '
numerous; the black army cutworm, Agrotis fennica Tausch., was locally
abundant in Gloucester county, New Brunswick; the bronzed cutworm, |
Nephelodes emmedonia Cram., was destructive to grasses in parts of |
Westmoreland county, New Brunswick, and Cumberland county, Nova .
Scotia. Infestations of cutworms were heavy in Quebec, and reports of |
injury were received from many parts of that province. In Ontario, where
complaints of damage were numerous, a severe outbreak of the spotted
cutworm, Agrotis c-nigrum L., developed throughout the southern areas
and effected losses to root crops, corn, beans, alfalfa and grains. In
British Columbia, cutworms were comparatively scarce, particularly |
throughout the interior. |

Injury by wireworms (Ludius aereipennis destructor Brown and
Cryptohypnus nocturnus bicolor Esch.) was heavier in Saskatchewan, in
1935, that in 1934. The greatest losses occurred in wheat and other small
grains on land summer-fallowed in 1934, but injury to potatoes was also
common. Severe damage was reported from the western half of the open
prairie section, and also from the south-eastern corner of the province.
Wireworms caused slight losses to wheat generally in southern Alberta,
and in some areas these losses were above the average. In the central and
northern parts of the province damage appeared below normal. There
was less injury in British Columbia than in 1934, although the pests
did considerable damage to onions and potatoes. Some loss to corn occurred
in Manitoba in the Brandon district. Wireworms of several species were
injurious to crops in south-western Ontario, where damage was more
intense than for several years, especiaily to sugar beets and tobacco.

June beetles and white grubs were important pests in parts of Eastern
Canada in 1935. As anticipated, a relatively heavy flight of beetles,
Phyllophaga anxia Lee., occurred throughout much of Ontario, and
resulted in considerable damage to the foliage of ornamental, shade and
forest trees. In central and south-western areas of the province P. futilis
Lec., was predominant, with P. fusca Froel., also very abundant. Local
damage to crops and lawns by the first year grubs was reported in the
autumn, and is expected to be serious in 1936. Second-year white grubs,
P. anxia, were injurious in southern Quebec, the principal losses being
sustained in the Eastern Townships. Considerable damage to grain, grass-
land, strawberries and potatoes by white grubs was reported in sections
of the Maritime Provinces. June beetles were also abundant in New
Brunswick and presage further crop injury in 1936 and 1937.

Heavy infestations of the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Nort.,
developed in the edges of fields on the Griswold district, Manitoba, but did.
little damage, as the wheat was severely rusted, and not more than one-
third of the larvae were able to reach maturity. In Saskatchewan, the
losses due to this insect were reported as apparently approximating those
of 1934. The sawfly has been a major pest in south-central Alberta for
several years, and has only recently invaded the extreme south of the
province. Losses in the latter area were small, in 1935, but in some of
the older infested districts, as much as 90 per cent of the wheat was cut
by it. Despite retarded adult emergence in northern sections, there was
a decided increase in damage in many districts.

r

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 83

Damage by the wheat stem maggot, Meromyza americana Fitch, was
considerably less than in 1934, in southern Manitoba. As in previous
years, the heaviest infestations occurred in the Red River valley, especially
in the Eli-Fortier district.

Say’s grain bug, Chlorochroa sayi Stahl., was found infesting wheat
fields in the vicinity of Coutts, just north of the international boundary,
in July, 1935. The first record of its presence is reported to be a collec-
tion made east of Warner, in the fall of 1934. This species has been a
serious pest of wheat in Montana to the south, for several years, but has
not caused any appreciable losses in Alberta.

Reports indicate that the infestation of the Colorado potato beetle,
Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, was essentially similar to that of 1934,
throughout the Dominion; that is, it was about normally injurious with
local exceptions.

Tomatoes and potatoes were attacked by the potato psyllid, Paratrioza
cockerelli Sulc., in a number of localities in southern Alberta. The insect
is reported to cause a diseased condition in potatoes known as “‘psyllid
yellows,” which has caused many growers to harvest a short crop.

Infestations of the red turnip beetle, H’ntomoscelis adonidis Pal.,
afiecting turnips and various other cruciferous plants, appear to have
been particularly severe in the Peace River district of Alberta and British
Columbia in 1935, as well as in 1934.

Reports from the Ottawa and Belleville districts indicate that the
cabbage maggot, Hylemyia brassicae Bouche, was abnormally abundant
in eastern Ontario and seriously damaged the cabbage and turnip crop.
The species was reported more than usually abundant in New Brunswick;
rather less injurious than usual in northern Alberta, and apparently
negligible in the Lower Fraser valley, British Columbia. Elsewhere it
was about normal. The onion maggot, H. antiqua Men., was scarce and
injury correspondingly light in southern Ontario. In-the Ottawa region
the infestation was heavier than in 1934, but still slightly under normal.

In Quebec it was about average; in Alberta generally present and injur-

ious. Considerable damage to beans and corn by the seed corn maggot,
H. cilicrura Rond., occurred in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and southern
Ontario. Beans especially suffered in the latter region. The sugar beet root
maggot, Tetanops aldricht Hendel, which was found causing damage for
the first time, in 1934, in the Barnwell district, Aiberta, again damaged
beets in that area, in 1935, and the flies were abundant throughout most
of the sugar beet growing area of the southern region of the province.

The imported cabbage worm, Pieris ranae L., was recorded as worse
than ever before in Quebec, and undoubtedly one of the most injurious
pests of the season. ‘Jt was also noted as very abundant and destructive
to cruciferous plants in south-western Ontario. Elsewhere it apparently
occurred in about average numbers. The cabbage looper, Autographa
brassicae Riley, was almost as abundant as P. rapae in the Ottawa dis-
trict, Ontario, which is quite unusual; a looper, possibly this species, also
caused serious damage to crucifers at Estevan, Saskatchewan. The
diamond-back moth, Plutella maculipennis Curtis, was again negligible.

It will be recalled that the 1934 infestation of the European corn

borer, Pyrausta nubdilalis Hbn., in most counties in Ontario was lower

84 THE REPORT OF THE

than during any year since 1923. During 1935, there was a large increase
of the borer over most of the infested areas of the province; this amounted
to about 300 per cent in south-western sections. The corn industry as
a whole was not seriously affected, but if a similar increase occurs in
1936, some commercial damage will result. In Quebec, a slight decrease
in the degree of infestation was reported; the damage to sweet corn .
around Montreal was 10-20 per cent, and traces of injury were found in
several counties hitherto free.

In 1935, the corn ear worm, Heliothis obsoleta Fab., was greatly |
reduced in numbers in Ontario as compared with 1934. Reports received,
or the absence of them, indicate it was negligible in other provinces.

Conspicuous flights of moths and heavy infestations of the larvae of
the beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis L., occurred rather extensively
in the three Prairie Provinces. Weeds, especially lamb’s quarters, were
attacked principally, but some damage was also suffered by sugar beets
and garden crops.

As anticipated from the heavy flights of moths in 1934, sod webworms
developed in outbreak form, in southern Ontario, in 1935. The over-
wintering larvae of Crambus trisectus WIk., severely damaged grasses in
meadows, pastures, lawn and golf courses, and also caused some injury
to grains, corn, tobacco and other crops planted in newly ploughed sod
land. Conspicuous flights of the adults occurred in late June and —
July. The last outbreak in this region was in 1981.

Flea beetles were troublesome pests of crops in many areas through-
out the Dominion, in 1935. The infestation of potato flea beetles, E’pitriz
cucumeris Harr., in New Brunswick, was more generally noticeable than
in 1934. The spring generation was injurious to young tomato plants and
the summer generation was destructive to potato foliage. Potato tubers
were reported injured by the larvae in Prince Edward Island. The
beetles were about normal in western Nova Scotia, but caused material
damage in eastern sections. The insects were generally numerous in
Quebec and damaged tomatoes and potatoes. In Ontario, although perhaps
less abundant than in 1934, their numbers were still above normal. The
hop flea beetle, Psylliodes punctulata Melsh, caused the replanting of some
fields or portions of field of sugar beets in southwestern Ontario. The
turnip flea beetle, Phyllotreta vittata Fab., was exceptionally numerous
throughout Nova Scotia; many farmers lost their mangolds; many turnip
fields were seeded a second time, some a third time; eastern parts of the
province, especially Cape Breton, were particularly affected. Several
species of flea beetles appeared to be more numerous than usual in southern
Alberta, on sugar beets, Rumex and willow. Flea beetles were also
abundant and destructive in British Columbia. Heavy infestations of
the cabbage flea beetle, Phyllotreat albionica Lec., caused damage in the |
Okanagan, the Lower Fraser valley and in southern Vancouver Island.

The striped cucumber beetle, Diabrotica vittata Fab., was reported
troublesome, but less numerous than in 1934, in Nova Scotia, unusually
scarce in New Brunswick, and about normally abundant and injurious in
Ontario.

_ Achinch bug, Blissus sp., was prevalent in many localities in Halifax,
Kings and Cumberland counties, Nova Scotia, and probably elsewhere, —
causing damage to lawns, golf greens, and meadow and orchard grasses. |

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 85

It also appeared locally in orchards in Westmoreland, New Brunswick.
It was first noticed in Nova Scotia doing similar damage in 1931. B.
leucopterus Say, which caused crop injury in Essex county, Ontario, in
1934, was not reported doing damage in 1935. A small outbreak of the
western chinch bug, B. occiduus Barber, occurred in barley at Brunkild,
Manitoba.

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus pratensis L., was reported injurious
to garden flowering plants, and abundant on potatoes and clover, in New
Brunswick. In Ontario, where it was scarce in 1934, a material increase
was noted. The squash bug, Anasa tristis DeG., was about average in
numbers and in the damage caused to cucurbits, in south-western Ontario.
Elsewhere in that province it was troublesome in small gardens.

No reports were received of infestations of the turnip aphid
Rhopalosiphum pseudobrassicae Davis, in 1935. There was a serious out-
break of this species in southern Ontario in 1934. All species of potato
aphids (including Macrosiphum solanifolii Ashm.) were scarce in New
Brunswick. In the Medicine Hat district, Alberta, there was a general
infestation of aphids on potatoes more severe than observed in any
previous outbreak. The pea aphid, Jllinoia pisi Kalt., developed in out-
break form in southern Quebec and Ontario. Although much damage was
done to the crop of canning and garden peas, the extent of this was
materially lessened by the operation of natural control factors on the
aphids when at the peak of abundance. Absence of reports from British
Columbia would seem to indicate that the 1934 outbreak in the Lower
Fraser valley was not repeated in 1935.

The pea moth, Laspeyresia nigricana Steph., was common in garden
peas in New Brunswick, and for the second season in succession infested
the pea crop locally in Bonaventure county, Quebec, to the extent of 20-40
per cent. It was again abundant and caused much damage in the
Agassiz district, British Columbia, where up to 50 per cent of the pea
pods in some gardens contained larvae.

The spinach carrion beetle, Silpha bituberosa Lec., attacked garden
garden plants at Beaverlodge, Alberta, and infested sugar beet fields
in several other localities in the province. The species was more numerous
than for some time, but severe damage was limited and localized.

In Nova Scotia, the carrot crop in gardens suffered less than usual
from the carrot rust fly, Psila rosae Fab. In New Brunswick, however,
it was recorded as abundant in ali gardens in towns and villages. In the
Ottawa region it apparently caused little damage.

Complaints were received of the abundance of European earwigs,
Forficula auricularia L., at Victoria, Vancouver, and throughout the Lower
Fraser valley, British Columbia. A report from Victoria stated that the
earwigs were very destructive to garden crops in urban areas. The intro-
duced earwig parasite, Digonochaeta setipennis has become established
at Victoria as well as at Sidney.

The gladiolus thrips, Taeniothrips simplex Mor., increased in
abundance in Ontario during 1935, but was not so injurious as in 1931-2.
Localized damage was reported at Halifax, Nova Scotia, St. Stephen, New
Brunswick, and Medicine Hat, Alberta. No reports of injury were
received from Quebec or British Columbia.

86 THE REPORT OF THE

The rose sawfly, Caliroa aethiops Fab., was-reported common and
destructive to the foliage of unsprayed rose bushes in sections of New
Brunswick, southern Ontario and southern Saskatchewan. Wild and
cultivated roses were also attacked by the green rose chafer Dichelonyx
backi, Kby., in parts of Saskatchewan and Alberta. In these provinces,
too, particularly the latter, the rose curculio Rhynchites bicolor Fab., was
again a serious pest.

FRUIT INSECTS

Except in British Columbia, aphid species which attack fruit trees
and shrubs were generally of minor importance in 1935. The apple aphid,
Aphis pomi DeG., was searce to moderate in Eastern Canada. The rosy
apple aphid, Anwuraphis roseus Baker, too, was again a minor pest. In
British Columbia, where aphids of several species were unusually numer-
ous and injurious, special sprays were required to control the former, in
parts of the Okanagan valley; the rosy aphid, Aphis sorbi Kalt., caused
damage in orchards at Penticton. The woolly apple aphid, Hriosoma
lanigerum Hausm., was reported fairly conspicuous, but not especially
injurious, in some orchards of the Niagara peninsula, Ontario; very
numerous throughout the province of Quebec, and not of any particular
importance in British Columbia. Minor local outbreaks of the mealy
plum aphid, Hyalopterus arundinis Fab., again occurred in the Niagara
district and Norfolk county, Ontario. The black cherry..aphid, Myzus
-cerast Fab., threatened to be more abundant than for.some years, in the
‘Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia, early in the season, but was effectively
eontrolied by natural agencies. This. species again appeared in injurious
numbers on sweet cherry in the cherry-growing districts of Ontario. In
British Columbia it was exceedinely. tr a in the south: end of the
Okanagan valley. pur. be | :

oS oe ae general indeenetst ot the codling moth, Carpocapsa
pomoneila L., was. reported in-the central and eastern portions of the
Annapolis vall Nova Scotia, where much injury was done to the apple
crop:..in Baebes it was again considered the most serious pest of fruit.
The amount of injury is noted as probably abnormal owing to the short
crop. Weather conditions in Ontario, part eee the lower temperatures
early in the season, were less favorable for codling moth development than
in 1934; the species was of little importance in the eastern part of the
province, and injury to fruit in well sprayed orchards in the Niagara
district was lar gely in the form of stings; it was recorded as abundant
and destructive in southwestern Ontario, especially in poorly sprayed
orchards. The insect continued to be a serious pest locally in British
Columbia, and is increasing where proper control is not carried on.

A further reduction in the extent and degree of infestation by the
apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh, occurred in many of the apple
orchards of Eastern Canada. A marked decrease in the number of prop-
erties infested with this insect, as compared with 1934, was reported in
Nova Scotia, where the infestation, too, was lighter, in unsprayed
orchards. The status of the insect was about the same as in 1934, in
most districts in Quebec, but slight decreases were apparent in some
orchards: losses were slight in commercial orchards in the Montreal sec-

> , ; “ ‘oe ; “4? (ane wees

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re ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 87

~ tion, and absent in the Quebec district. In most of the important apple-
growing sections of Ontario there was a marked decrease in the apple
* maggot population, and also in the number of infested orchards.

The lesser apple worm, Laspeyresia prunivora Walsh, was of con-
siderable importance in orchards of the Okanagan valley, British
Columbia, in 19385.

' The apple seed chalcid, Syntomaspis druparum Beoh., which was
recorded abundant, and caused damage to the apple crop, in Ontario
and Quebec, in 1934, markedly declined in numbers in 1935. Only one
case of injury was reported in Quebec, and the absence of reports from
Ontario indicate a similar scarcity in that province. In Prince Edward
Island, the larvae were found present in many apples examined during
orchard inspection, but the species was noted as less abundant than in
1934.

The percentage of fruit injury by the eye-spotted budmoth, Spilonota
ocellana D. & S., was low in the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia, and a
reduction in the numbers of this once serious pest appears to have taken
place. This is considered as possibly due to the persistence of the spray
residue into the autumn of 1934, as a result of the dry season... The species
‘was quite numerous in some sections of British Columbia. | |

The gray-banded leaf roller, Eulia mariana Fern., continued to be
a major pest in apple orchards in Nova Scotia. There appeared, however,
to be a greater reduction in numbers during 1935 than has occurred: in
past years. An appreciable percentage of this reduction can be attributed
to natural control, particularly to predators. The dusky leaf. roiler,
Amorbia humerosana Clem., caused no injury of importance in that prov-
ince. In Ontario, the fruit tree leaf roller, Cacoecia argyrospila W1k., and
‘the species C. semiferana W1k., with local exceptions, were negiigibie. In
Britisn Columbia, the former species, and the oblique-banded leaf roller,
C. rosaceana Harr., were both more numerous than for several years. The
European leaf roller, C. rosana L., appeared in large numbers at Vic-
toria, B. C.

Green fruit worms of several species were noticeably more prevalent
in the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia, than for some time, and, as a result,
there was a considerable increase in their characteristic markings on
apples. Light injury by Xylina spp., occurred in apple-growing districts
in Quebec. In the Niagara district, Ontario, the species Graptolitha
antennata Wlk., was sufficientiy abundant on peaches locally, to cause
some alarm among growers. No commercial damage was done, nowever.

Bruce’s measuring worm, Rachela bruceata Hulst., which for several
seasons has been a troublesome pest in apple orchards of the Okanagan
valley, British Columbia, was again prevalent and destructive in some
orchards.

There apparently was no change in the status of the apple curculio,
Tachypterellus quadrigibbus Say, in southern Quebec, and it continued
to cause severe injury to susceptible varieties in the Abbotsford and St.
Hilaire districts.

88 THE REPORT OF THE

a RR SR A REARS SEA f

Several reports of severe injury by the round-headed apple tree borer, |
Saperda candida Fab., were received from widely separated localities in |
Quebec, and the species was especially injurious in Missisquoi county.
More complaints than usual of the flat-headed apple tree borer, Chryso-
bothris femorata Oliv., in Ontario, were received, probably owing to the
prevalence of weakened and unthrifty trees in winter-injured orchards.

The great amount of winter injury to all kinds of fruit trees in the |
province of Ontario made conditions favourable for an increase in the
number of shot-hole borers, Scolytus rugulosus Ratz., but the increase was |
not nearly so high as was anticipated.

The mealy bug, Phenacoccus aceris Sign., is becoming more generally |
disseminated in orchards of the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia. A serious |
infestation of a species of mealy bug on apple trees was reported, in 1935, ©
in the Kootenay section of British Columbia.

A severe infestation of the buffalo tree hopper, Ceresa bubalus Fab.,
apparently of several years standing was found at Round Hill, Nova —
Scotia. The species continued to cause important damage in many young —
orchards in Ontario. |

Some very severe infestations of the white apple leaf hopper, |
Typhlocyba pomaria McA., occurred in Nova Scotia, probably the worst |
being in the Berwick and Lakeville districts. As anticipated, this species —
appeared in outbreak form in many orchards in the Niagara-Burlington |
district, Ontario. In some plantings the first generation was more abun- |
dant and caused more mottling of the foliage than previously experienced. |
In other parts of the province the hopper was less troublesome than in |
1934, In British Columbia, it was very abundant at Okanagan Centre, |
and caused marked injury to the foliage of apple.

The San José scale, Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst., is the source of
increasing anxiety to many fruit-growers in southern Ontario. However,
although very abundant in some orchards, it was not so much in evidence
as in 1934. In British Columbia it made its appearance in some orchards
where it had not previously been reported. An apparent increase in the
oyster shell scale, Lepidosaphes ulmi L., was noted in the Annapolis valley,
Nova Scotia. The unusually cold winter of 1934-5, in British Columbia,
was reported to have reduced the infestation of this scale i in many orchards
of the Okanagan valley.

Over-wintering eggs of the European red mite, Paratetranychus
pilosus C. & F., were more numerous than usual in Nova Scotia orchards,
but the late, drawn-out spring appeared to reduce the viability of the eggs.
Reports were later received-that the young mites died in large numbers |
soon after hatching: no severe infestations were observed. In Ontario, |
this mite appears to be increasing in importance, in the Niagara district,
as a pest of certain varieties of peaches: it was also abundant on apple,
in the Georgian Bay district, but elsewhere was of minor importance on
apples and stone fruits. In British Columbia, mites of several species,
including the European red mite which have become increasingly abundant
in the Okanagan valiey, during the past few years, caused material damage
in some orchards, in 1935. The pear leaf blister mite, Hriophyes pyri —

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 89

Pgst., was reported present in many orchards of the Annapolis valley,
Nova Scotia, and the Okanagan valley, British Columbia. No serious
injury by it was observed in the Niagara district, Ontario, in 1935.

During the 1935 season, the oriental fruit moth, Laspeyresia molesta
Busck, was much reduced in numbers as compared with recent years,
throughout the Niagara district, Ontario, and injury to fruit did not reach
serious proportions.

Reports would indicate that the peach borer, Synanthedon exitiosa
Say, has become more prevalent and injurious in the peach- growing
sections of southern Ontario.

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus pratensis L., caused conspicuous
damage to peaches in orchards at St. Davids, Kingsville and Oxley, in
southern Ontario. In the orchard at St. Davids the infestation originated
from a heavy growth of pigweed, and in that at Oxley, from tumbleweed.
At Coldstream, British Columbia, the bugs destroyed many of the buds
on a block of crab apple trees growing on land that carried a heavy crop
of sweet clover in 1934.

In the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia, the pear plant bug, Lygus
communis Knight, increased to larger numbers in 1935, than in the
previous three years, and occasioned special control measures in some
-orchards.

The pear slug, E'riocampoides limacina Retz., was again of minor
importance in the pear and cherry growing sections of Nova Scotia and
Ontario.

But for the application of protective dormant oil sprays in the com-
mercial pear orchards of southern Ontario, it is probable that the pear
psylla, Psyllia pyricola Forst., would have been very destructive. In some
orchards additional sprays had to be applied in midsummer. The species
was more numerous than for many years in Nova Scotia orchards.

The usual rather severe injury by the plum curculio Conotrachelus
nenuphar Hbst., occurred in the western part of the Annapolis valley,
Nova Scotia, but in southern Ontario, the insect appeared to be somewhat
reduced in numbers. At Winnipeg, Manitoba, many varieties of plums
were attacked, the damage being the most severe experienced there.

The 1935 season was apparently unfavourable to the grape berry
moth, Polychrosis viteana Clem., in the Niagara district, Ontario, as no
complaints concerning it were received, and scarcely a trace of the insects
could be found at Vineland.

For the fifth year in succession, grape leafhoppers, Hrythroneura
comes Say and LE. tricincta Fitch, were extremely abundant in the Niagara
district, Ontario, and injury caused by them was conspicuous in unsprayed,
or poorly sprayed vineyards. E. comes ziczac Walsh was again prevalent
on Virginia creeper, in parts of Saskatchewan.

As usual, the rose chafer, Macrodactylus subspinosus Fab., appeared
in outbreak form in various sandy sections of southern Ontario. In Norfolk
county the insect was not so abundant as it usually it. In the Port

= 90 THE REPORT OF THE

Dalhousie- Si.’ Catharines section, Niagara peninsula, grapes and young
sweet cherry and peach trees had to be sprayed to protect them from the
ravages of the insect.

The attacks of various species on the ceo were recorded during
1935. The raspberry cane borer, Oberea bimaculata Oliv., and the red-
necked cane borer, Agrilus ruficollis Fab., were again destructive in south-
western Ontario. The former species was scaree in eastern Ontario; in
the Niagara district, although more than the usual number of enquiries
regarding it were received, during 1934 and 1935, it is of minor impor-
tance. In Quebec, both species were less injurious than two years ago
(in 1933), but instances of serious damage occurred north of Montreal.
Local reports of injury by the raspberry sawfiy, Monophadnoides rubi
Harr., were received from the southern sections of Quebee and Ontario.
The insect was noticed for the first time in numbers in New Brunswick,
and was quite prevalent in some localities in Nova Scotia. The pest has
evidently become established in Manitoba, where it was reported for the
first time in- 1934, as injury was noted at Winnipeg, as well as at Stein-
bach. A province-wide outbreak of the raspberry fruit worm, Byturus
unicolor say, occurred in New Brunswick. Loca! damage by it was
reported in‘ Kings county, Nova Scotia, and at Grand Forks, British —
Columbia. A. raspberry patch was severely- damaged by’ white grubs, |
Phyllophaga rugosa Melsh, in the Leamington district, Ontario’ Infésta-
tions of spider mites caused moderate damage to raspberry at Wembley,
Alberta, and Pouce Coupe, British Columbia. In the latter province, at
D’Arcy, adilts of the caragana plant bug, Lopidea dakatae Knight, were
reported damaging the ripe fruit.

The: currant fruit fly, Epochra canadensis Loew. was ‘reported. preva-
lent all over southern New Brunswick, ard locally in southern Quebec.
In the Edmonton region, of Alberta; it is Stee as the most serious: pest
with which currant growers -have to contend. The iapopeed currant worm,
Pieronidea ribesi Scop., was locally injurious in Ontario. No other reports
were received. ;

Wild and cultivated cranberry bogs in Nova Scotia were found gen-
erally infested by the black-headed fire worm, Rhopobota vacciniana Pack.
Cranberry and other bog plants in the wild bogs were also infested by the
blunt nose leaf hopper, Ophiala striatulus Fall.

Infestations of the strawberry weevil, Anthonomus signatus Say, were
prevalent in the Maritime Provinces, in 1935. At Annapolis Royal, Nova
Soctia, no injury had been observed previously, but this year, 50 per cent
or more of the crop was destroyed, in some patches. Damage was also
recorded in Kings and Yarmouth counties. The insect caused extensive
injury to the strawberry and raspberry crop in New Brunswick and Prince
Edward Island, and, in the latter province, also attacked the buds of apple.
In the region about Quebec city, Quebec, damage by the weevils averaged
12 per cent, with a maximum of 30 per cent in heavily infested fields.
The strawberry root wevil, Brachyrhinus ovatus L., caused economic
damage to strawberries at Ottawa, Ontario, and the species B. rugosos-
triatus Goeze was responsible for seriously injuring a strawberry patch
at Niagara Falls.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 91

——_—___——,

@heorms’* were injurious to fruit crops in the, Niagara and Norfolk
_ districts, Ontario, in the spring, and among other things attacked straw-
_ berries and raspberries, and peach and cherry nursery: stock. A similar
ciao, of raspberry and strawberry was noted in Middlesex county.
At Walsh, Norfolk county, they destroyed the opening buds of apple trees.

FOREST AND SHADE TREE INSECTS

The outbreak of European spruce sawfly, Diprion polytomum Htg.,
continued severe in the Gaspe peninsula, Quebec, and the loss of much of
the spruce in the interior is expected. A considerable increase in the
infestation in the Matapedia valley and in Kamouraska county occurred
during the year, and at a few points some trees were dying. The species
was found much more widespread in Quebec than was hitherto known.
In New Brunswick, where the sawfly was reported generally distributed
in 1934, no change in the larval population was noted. Infestations were
found for the first time in Nova Scotia, in Cumberland and Pictou counties.
Liberations of imported parasites of the species were made in Quebec

and New Brunswick.

The yellow-headed spruce sawfly,. Pachynematus ocreatus Harr., was
sensible for the total defoliation of large numbers of plantation spruce
trees throughout the northern half of the agricultural areas of Manitoba,
Saskatchewan and.Alberta, and in many areas in.southern Saskatchewan.
It has been a severe pest. for. several. years, in. HOpULe nections) of the
ae Provinces. diseel 2 iaGtiw! Shoe oll BEY a

oThe! black- headed ESE: Peronea variana . Tievate ae ‘more
Siiaerdus: on fir and spruce, in the Maritime Provinces. and the Gaspe
peninsula, Quebec, than in 1934.

“The spruce mite, Paratetranychus ununguis. a ac., was again very
Pieeiettve to spruce trees growing in Clanmale Ons | in fame Prairie Provinces,
‘especially in the older planted districts.

Two outbreaks of the spruce leaf miner, Taniva albolineana Kit.,
were recorded, one in Wawanesa, Manitoba, and the other at Rose Valley,
Saskatchewan. This insect was observed in the West in Saskatchewan,
during the summer of 1927. It may become an important pest.

_An infestation reported in spruce in the Kootenay National Park,
British Columbia, proved to be an enormous outbreak of the mountain
pine bark beeile, Dendroctonus monticolae Hopk., in lodepole pine, which
has been spreading for the past five years. In the Columbia Lake and
Canal Flats district, infestation in Douglas fir increased greatly in 1934
and 1935, and is taking a large toll from forests of that region.

Nearly two thousand acres of ycung jack pine in the Sandiland Forest
Reserve, in Manitoba, suffered severe defoliation by the spruce budworm,
Cacoecia fumiferana Clem. A scale insect, Lecanium sp., also heavily
infested large numbers of the trees. Slight damage was done by the white
pine weevil, Pissodes strobi Peck.

The red-headed pine sawfly, Neodiprion lecontei Fitch, occurs widely
in the Muskoka district, Ontario. It was very abundant in 1934, and even
more so in 1935, feeding on red, jack and Scotch pines.

92 THE REPORT OF THE

The pine needle scale, Chionaspis pinifoliae Fitch, was reported as
increasing in Ontario, and somewhat reduced in the Vernon district, |
British Columbia. It is a widespread pest of spruce in the Prairie
Provinces.

A general and moderately heavy infestation of the larch sawfly, .
Lygaeonematus erichsom Hartig., was reported in central and southern
New Brunswick. The species was also numerous throughout most of Nova
Scotia, and, in some places, the larch trees were largely defoliated. Local

infestations were noted in Quebec province. No appreciable increase in |

the larch sawfiy population occurred in native larch stands in the Prairie
Provinces, but in plantations at Indian Head, Saskatchewan, an important
increase was noted, following the cessation of the drought conditions of
recent years.

The larch case bearer, Haploptilia laricella Hbn., was conspicuous
on larches in Eastern Canada. Although again prevalent in Nova Scotia,
it was not so destructive nor so widespread as in 1934. An increase was
reported in central New Brunswick where, by the end of May, the foliage
of infested trees was mostly brown. In eastern Ontario the case bearer
caused some slight to total defoliation, the amount varying in different
localities.

In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, balsam fir trees continue to
die as the result of attacks by the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae
Ratz. In the former province, the total loss in mature stands was estimated
as probably about 50 per cent, with many large stands practically
destroyed. In some districts in New Brunswick, most of the fir above
five inches d. b. h. has been killed.

Larvae of the moth, Dichomeris marginella Fab., which were reported
damaging the foliage of ornamental junipers in Vancouver, British
Columbia, in 1982 were observed on junipers at Victoria, Vancouver
Island, in 1934 and 1935.

Various species of aphids were present in about average numbers
on decidious trees in the Prairie Provinces. More abundant moisture and
relatively cool weather aided in reducing injury of a permanent nature.

Trees and shrubs in many parts of the Dominion suffered foliage
injury from the attacks of tent caterpillars in 1935. The forest tent
caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria Hbn., completely defoliated many poplars
Over a wide area in south-central New Brunswick. Neglected apple trees
were also affected. In Nova Scotia, this species and the eastern tent
caterpillar, M. americana Fab., caused damage in unsprayed orchards in
various sections of the province. A further increase of the eastern species
was noted in southern Quebec and Ontario, but sprayed orchards were
little affected. In the Rainy River and Thunder Bay districts, of Ontario,
north of Lake Superior, the severe 1934 outbreak of the forest tent cater-
pillar on deciduous forest trees was repeated. In southern Alberta, a
general infestation of this species on shade trees, shrubs and wild rose
may presage a future outbreak. In British Columbia, tent caterpillars
were reported as greatly on the increase throughout the interior. On
southern Vancouver Island, the species M. pluvialis Dyar also showed a
marked increase.

9

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 93

The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea Dru., was about averagely
abundant in the eastern provinces, on shade trees, shrubs and unsprayed
apple trees. In British Columbia, its unsightly webs were noticeable all
over the lower Fraser valley, and were numerous on neglected orchard
trees in the Okanagan valley.

The fall canker worm, Alsophila pometaria Harr., was responsible
for defoliation of trees in various parts of the Dominion. Small local
outbreaks occurred in Kings county, Nova Scotia, and a heavy infestation
was reported in southern Quebec along the marshy areas of the Richelieu

river and its tributaries, from St. Johns southward to the border of

~ Vermont state. This and other species were abundant on forest and shade

trees in Norfolk county, and along the Niagara escarpment in southern |
Ontario. The outbreak of 1934 was repeated in the Prairie Provinces:
damage was quite general in southern Manitoba, but was considerably
lighter than in 1934; it was severe, but more localized in Saskatchewan
and Alberta. Box elder and elm were chiefly attacked.

The white-marked tussock moth, Hemerocampa leucostigma S. & A.,
which has been scarce in the Maritime Provinces since 1930, appeared in
markedly increased numbers in 1935. There was a particularly severe
infestation in the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the presence of
the larvae caused considerable annoyance to inhabitants, as well as damage
to the foliage of shade trees and ornamentals.

Partial to complete defoliation of many poplars and willows by the
satin moth, Stilpnotia salicis L., occurred in various districts in the three
Maritime Provinces, where some further spread of the species was
reported. The larvae also caused annoyance to householders in towns and
villages by crawling into dwellings and outhouses. In British Columbia,
the insect was scarce over the greater part of the infested region, appar-
ently as a result of the activities of the introduced parasite, Apanteles
solitarius. 7

The cottonwood blotch-miners, Zeugophora scutellaris Suffr. and Z.
abnormis Lec., again caused foliage injury and weakening of poplar trees
in plantations in southern agricultural areas of Saskatchewan and
Alberta. The poplar leaf roller, Hxentera improbana oregonana Loew,
defoliated many acres of aspens in the Aweme district of Mani-
toba. Another species of leaf roller, apparently Cacoecia con-
fuctana Wlk., was very numerous at points in New Brunswick, and
destroyed 50 per cent or more of the foliage of aspens. The aspen poplar
leaf beetle, Lina tremulae Fab., increased in abundance over 1934, in
Manitoba and again defoliated many aspens. The cottonwood leaf beetle,
L. scripta Fab., also showed an increase in southern Alberta, and heavily
infested shelter belts of willow and cottonwood in some localities. In
areas south of Regina, Saskatchewan, the species Calligrapha multipunc-
tata Say severely defoliated willows.

Boxelder was again extensively defoliated in the southern half of
saskatchewan by larvae of the cecropia moth, Platysamia cecropia L. The
larvae were present in significant numbers elsewhere in the Prairie
Provinces.

94 THE REPORT OF THE

The beech scale, Cryptococcus fagit Bsp., was reported to be more
numerous in Nova Scotia, and in Charlotte county, New Brunswick, than
in 1934, and is apparently recovering from the check imposed on its ©
numbers by the unusually severe winter of 1933-34.

A heavy attack of the birch sawfly leaf miner, Phyllotoma nemorata
Fall., occurred in 1935 in the Parke Reserve, Kamouraska county, Quebec, —
locally destroying much of the foliage of yellow and white birch.

The walnut caterpillar, Datana integerrima G. & R., was again present
in large numbers in southern Ontario, and defoliated many walnut trees.

The wharf borer, Nacerdes melanura L., has been reported causing
serious damage to piling in the harbour of Saint John, N.B. This species
has previously been recorded in certain localities in the provinces of Nova
Scotia, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba.

INSECTS AFFECTING ANIMALS AND MAN

As usual, mosquitoes were a troublesome pest of animals and mar
in various parts of the Dominion, during 1935. In New Brunswick they
were reported more numerous than for several: years. In eastern Ontario
the mosquito outbreak was comparatively light in the early part of the
season, owing to a moderate winter snowfall and an unusually dry spring.
The resulting absence of river floods reduced the seasonal abundance of the
floodwater species, Aedes hirsuteron Theo., and snow and rainpool mos-
quitoes were also reduced. Heavy rains during the summer, however,
hatched the rainpool species, A. vexans Men., in troublesome numbers.
Reports of annoyance in other parts of Ontario were received. Similar
conditions in southern Quebec were indicated by local reports from that
area. In the Prairie Provinces, increased precipitation resulted in the
development of larger number of mosquitoes than had been the case for
several years, and they were extremely annoying to livestock and man in
many parts of that region. A number of cases of equine encephalomyelitis.
a virus disease of horses, which United States workers have experimentally
shown to be transmitted by mosquitoes, occurred in Manitoba. In British
Columbia, very severe outbreaks of mosquitoes were reported in the Kam-
loops and Cariboo regions. Two species particularly troublesome on the
ranges in the Kamloops district were Aedes campestris D. & K., and A.
cataphylla Dyar.

A study of blackflies in the Ottawa region of Ontario and Quebec
revealed the presence of twenty species of the subgenera Prosimulium,
Eusimuliwm and Simulium, ten of which are new to science. Three species
and a variety were received from Baffin island, of which two species and
the variety are also new. The species Simuliwm venustum Say, which is
the vector of a fatal disease of young ducks caused by Leucocytozoon anatis
Wickware, is widespread in the Dominion.

A few reports of other biting flies occurring in troublesome numbers,
including punkies (Culicoides), tabanids (Tabanus, Chrysops), and stable
flies (Stomoxys calcitrans L.) were received from certain parts of Canada
during the 1935 season.

Specimens of the elk or winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus Pack.,
from moose were collected in Nova Scotia, where it is believed that the
animals were infested to a greater degree than usual. Specimens were

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 95

also taken on a cow in one locality in New Brunswick. Moose in the
north woods of Saskatchewan were reported to be apparently suffering
severely from the attacks of this species, and it was also noted as unusually
common on horses in the northern part of Alberta. The paralysis tick,
D. anderson Stiles, was more abundant in southern Alberta, than for some
years past, and one case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, of which this
tick is the vector, was recorded in the Manyberries district. The American
dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis Say, was found infesitng sheep in one
locality in this province. Attacks by Iwodes sp., on humans and a dog,
were recorded locally in Quebee and Ontario.

Specimens of the human flea, Pulex irritans L., were received from
Crystal Falls, Ontario, in July, 1935, constituting the first definite record
for the province. The known distribution of this species in Canada now
includes isolated localities in Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario,
Saskatchewan and British Columbia. It seems likely that it will become
an increasingly prominent household pest.

HOUSEHOLD AND STORED PRODUCT INSECTS

The numerous and widespread species that are included in this group
of insects were, as usual, injurious and troublesome in the Dominion,
during 1935. Although large numbers of reports from correspondents
and others concerning them are received annually, the individual and
usually isolated character of the infestations so reported, and the nature
of those reports, make it difficult to interpret the seasonal and regional)
fluctuations that doubtless occur in the various species.

96 THE REPORT OF THE

INDEX

. PAGE
Abagrotis. spi..dm 28 ie Bee 73
Abrostola formosa Grt. .........0ccc. 73
Acanthostmus'* 3... 2893 tone Oe bee 10
Acanthoderes:, Areas Lat. EEN 10
Acidalia cacuminaria Morr. .............. 72
Acronycta americana Hart. .............. 73
Aactulana Grn & kos ee ee 73
Adalig DipUnGtatd We ne eee 74
Adelges, piceae Ratz... ee 92
Aedes campestris D. & K, .................. 94
COLO PUY, WYATT te Gr eee 94
hirsuteron 1 neo. eee ee 94
pecans Men. :..4052 2 ee ee 94
Agabetes acuductus Harr. .................. 74
Agaristidae ......:5.8 Lote ee 73
Agonoderus pallipes Fab. .......00.000.000 74
Agrilus animus Gory... 8
bilineatus Webs ° 2 eee 8
TIPLCOUCES ae Lt ee ee ee 37, 90
Agrotis c-nigrum Va.-2.. eee eee 82
yennica “Tausch, (207 eee ee 82
orthogonia Morr... ee 81
yosilon Row. >... 3s ee 73
Alsophila pometaria Harr. ................ 93
Alypia octomaculata Fab. .................. 73
Ammalo collaris Fiteh .........0000 3.28. 13
Amorbia humerosana Clem. ................ 87
Ampelophaga myron Cr. ...........:....71, 72
VCTSUCOLOT MALATE: PA: ee ee (2,
Amphidasis cognataria ab. swetaria
Bo GERIEDDS x rete ERNE be gee ao 72
Amphipyra pyramidoides Gn. ............ 73
Anabrussimples Haldo 2s... %- 81
Anacaena limbata Fab. ..................... 74
ADGCO TIS tien te Re ie Bk 10
Anadaptus discoideus Dej. ................ 74
balvimorcisis Say 2.0 ee ee 74
ANGGTUB. 0... Li, Ss 195 20s alee S
Anagrus armatus var. nigriventris
Gai... aR ees ae stra LGS 47.) 1952228
ARG PLOLETE, ANE Re Bee: ee 10
Anise tristis DEGS (sae ee 85
Ancylis comptana Frehl. .................... 37
Anisota rubicunda Fab. .....:.0::.00.0-600..- Tien
Anisotarsus terminatus Say .............. 74
Anthonomus signatus Say ............ 37, 90
Atithophilan: 2 Ss nee 10
Anuraphis roseus Baker .................... 86
Apamea nictitans Borkh. ..............0..... 73
DELOUG Wy Meche nts et 73
Apanteles solitarius Ratz ............::00... 93
Apantesia vittata Fab. 00:00). 2nd. 73

PAGE
Aphelopus........ 16, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28
Aphelopus nr. microleucus Perkins.... 17
A picia_confusaris bn, 2 eee 72
ADs), «2. wena beta 85, 86, 92
apple ..23....6.. dle. eee 86
balsam woolly «....4: 2.923 92
blackscherry®.)...26. 2 eee 86
mealy plum 20... 203.8) 86
peap iui A. aaa 62, 85
turnip icc 3il pael. Sele eee 85
potato <i... bao See 85
YOSY 2... tacihiew 2S 86
rosy ‘apple ...........:..53 86
woolly .apple....:....0. tee 86
Aphis pomi DeG. 2.33... eee 86
sorbi Kall. 245. 2.2 86
Archips rosaceana Harr. .................... 72
Arctudae... 62k: 58 7) Soe iste
Arhopalus fulminans Fab. ........... .... 15
Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst ............ 88
Astylopsis’ ...ccleon eee ee 10
Ataenius falli Hinton! 2.22 74
Autographa californica Speyer .......... 6
contexta Grt.. ue 73
brassicae Riley. 4... 3 13, 838 |
_ feleifera Kby.. 2... ee 73
precationis-Gn. .2..2).c2 73
Automeris 10 Fab. =... 22 fae
Badister pulchellus Lec. ......2...1..e 74
Baileya australis Grt. 2.2... 25 13
Bark beetle, balsam 9
eastern. SPTUCe .c..4..0:05aee ee ee 9
DINE. occa. csesecnendiegieas ns ee 91
Bedbug, bat ........c.-.c0::.:0.:s:e ee 75
Beetle, alfalfa snout ..............0.....0 48
American raspberry ....................005 37
Argus tortoise :.20.2.. 223 37
aspen poplar leaf ........ 22.3322 93
blisters ve ee sion hcl lee ea 81
caragana 2.0.86 eee ee 81
flower? ..2....0080 0.04 eee 719
woldsmith: .:.0200.....3.5.33 eee 71
June......39, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47 ae
Mexican bean \.(:...)..00. 202. TT
potato 82423. ae 31, 838
predacious diving ™..0...52.2. 22. py
Tréd tuTNIp ..2.45..6.03 uk 83
spinach Carrion: ..:/%6..0...0. eee 85
spotted grape ViNE...................:.0 pt
striped ‘cucumber ..225.: (0.0.22... 84
water Scavenger... “eae at

oe,

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY ail

PAGE PAGE

MAT Po pcos dale upp benne 68, 71 TACO Gla iS CMM de cn i els eg eae 713
ES eye ai ecane gene tne upgu ta iy 68 COMI ae OES, Re SE 9 10
ona ees eee 66 pygmaeum Fab. ............ AN Sie nai in 65
SSI ccc cio ain gnraewels <yrne yess 74 Calligrapha multipunctata Say... a 08
ON TE oes ael cape BER - ses eBoieanneninsen ss 10 Camnula pellucida Seudd.. 58, 59, 61, 62
Bembecia marginata Harr. ................ 37 Canker worm, fall............ ie ee et 93
«Thies 26 eee 94 Carabidae wet, 2... Ee oe ie 12
ass sp ae ee 84 Carpocapsa pomonella Le ..s.......0000000..+. 86
PET COPECTUS SAY ose ec ceseoe vdeceee senses 85 Case bearer, larch ......... Leeann 92
BGGIOUUWS, BALDY ....... ..ccecierecdielecnnse use 85 Caterpillar, eastern tent ................. 92
_Bolitotherus cornutus Panz. .............. 74 ORES: emt (OF ia ok Se Oa 92
Bomolocha madefactalis Gn. .............. 73 So NG aM NSM ee acai (il
Borer, bronze birch ..................00.0 8 ASTON Sohn, Fs cans? 8 ay Wee Rn ee RnR eee 92
European corn.......... SH May key ates) AnH GONG Meaae se gare Neola ete auaapteet aeste OPNCG me a 94
flat-headed apple tree........................ 88 Catocala concumbens Wik Big eee aN gl 73
CUM IRC 2 ae eenenene 8 MCG et ak Crista Wacrint ee Re ae 73
“REISE 00) eee 8 VO TAC ON Geter akc 3
TSEC) a0}; eee ee 9 Celerio gallu intermedia Kby. ......71, 72
ere Ne i sche. KS. sonny cahise’ 89 GREGG TNAD, sass Rie Se na oe We,
“CE IDUBIP JU: cece eee oe 8 Cephus cinctus Nott. ........... Pee en ALeGNS 82
MASDDCEEY CANE cic... cc. ...eseeeeeeernne 37, 90 Geramby Gide ea. neues ee 64
TASTE CLOWN osccehisccheecsccoeateven vont 37 Ceratomia amyntor ifn eran: a 72
red-necked Cane .....................000. 37, 90 UAL ULO SCH. Nil Kept tied he 8 ae We le Te,
round-headed apple tree.................. 88 Gcresa bubalius Wale. ee 88

2 SV OEIOIGY abe eee ere ee 88 Cerura occidentalis Limts) 2..02..1..--2....- We
SPOTECCG MEM OC he .cbey sos 0s one se cde dud: 8 Chalcid: applewseed) 2... a 87
scar mee ea ie 8 Chalcophera virginiensis Dry. ............ 10
two-lined chestnut ............................ 8 Chafer, SCCMELOSC et. ant pik nent 86
chat. a ea 94 TOS Chae Uy Eee css eis ca et yt Son 37, 89
Brachyrhinus ligustici L., 48, 49, 50, 53 Chelymorpha cassidea Eats, A Sea 37
ee Li eee eee 90 Chionaspis pinifoliae Fitch ................ 92
rugosostriatus GOeZe 2.00... cccceeees 90 Chlaenius tometosus BANE Lisette Seago 74
Bradytus apricarius Payk. ..............:. 74 SCIICCIUS s MOMS. ce sy Aa SN ice Rae aces 74
AC 30% KOS eee a ee ee 74 Chlorochroa sayt Stahl. 0.00.0... 83
mudimoth, eye-spotted. ...<.........c0.--c-0- 87 CHRUSOUGUNTIS We Bei ae tA eeu bias 10
21 ack VSS CC ee eee 91 POMOC CREA ONDE Wong ee sae nA oe eee 88
‘Sj TEOUGS a ae ere eke Oe olll CUT YSOD SI aha PA MR IB Be hina whoa 94
MPC ITU oe osc accel svsccccs cet Q4 Gia aS eon BRE ct ork atom Bu ih use 70
So SITE 1 ec oe ee 70 Cicindela punctulata Oliv. fc Meee ee 73
Lars coi ee et ene 83 Giema@elidiaewey Mies a. ees 3
SSS 2 era e 85 Cimex pilosellus HOrve v1... icc. 715
meMEMISHeG, DANG «oe... ecccccsec ccs. cete. 85 Caos, miwltaWe on NIMES icin pte open: 73
Beescern CHINN foo voit... scsi abs 85 phragmatidicola Gn... 73
Byturus unicolor Say .................... ak 90) pseudargyria Gn. ........ ee eS eee 73
ices aa nee eee 70 wmapuncta, HAW. pssst eee 73
Cacoecia argyrospila Wk. ................ Q7 Citheronmidae +8 heen. whee at. ve eect en 72
Canplictana Wks. ..........dee8.-ts. Toe OB Coccinella rs Pit Noa. coca 74
onder iene aan 91 Coelambus impressopunctatus Schall. 74
@esaccona Warr. |... 88) .ceess ace 87 Coeloides dendroctoni Cushman.......... 13
Seip Ue a ee omer Q7 COlCOPECE AT coe oc \Gibsdaren hotter gested ee 73
BMI CTO. NV UK. orcas her sceseceo. 02 Wace 87 Colymbetes sculptilis Harr. iteeseeeeeeeeas 74
Caenurgia erechtea Cram. .................. 73 Conotrachelus nenuphar Hbst. .......... 89
Odliroa acthiops Fab. .......0....0cccccc0+- 86 Copelatus glyphicus Say 0.0.0.0... 74
Calosoma calidum Fab. ............ file 73 Copris tullis Oliv. 0... de HR a A 74
BOC OLOT MAD, ou. oo sveenend misono. Rockses 13 Coptotomus longulus Lee. .............. peng

98 THE REPORT OF THE

PAGE
Cotalpa tanigera Tay a fa bi pear 5)
Cranibus trisectus Wk. ...............0...6. 84
Cressonia fuglandis S. & A. ........... 72
Crickeehcld: ot ee 81
(og Y 28 TU Ol Le) ca pea RE SRE Tn 70
AMOR MAO pare 0 ee Fe Naat oe terete 81
SEIIPEU ELC) Ue na. Sete cree 37
Cryptococcus fagt Bsp. ...........0..0..006. 94
Cryptohypnus nocturnus bicolor
SCH fee): CARE ae ROR er ee reer ree 82
Cryptorhynchus lapathi L. .................. 9
Carlie Ones ae ais) ha he eee 94
Cuterebra tenebrosa Coquillet .......... 6
Curculiasapple so ..22.c80. 0 mea ee 87
OWnUu (WAR OR Eta leah hess Destin iid learn Uae ces 89
TE OAS EY anes A EMME nn ROD Si 86
CHU WOT Nis ke ee Net Om Sige Ol Oo eOIL
black varnmiyan = le Sr ee aber ane ee 82
brOMZe™. hen lebes ramets Met: Came ae ae Os. 324
paleaswestemneac te eee ee 81
red-backed! =.0. 208.02. ME ee 81
Smotted sae: eee Te een ee cleremner,
SEINE Gy bs eles: is Chee Ah Seen Are ee 82
yellow-headed i: .:08* Sanna De fal
CiullenespicthusnDrury 2 eee 8
LODINIOC AGOTSt. Cr ee. ee ere 8
I OCH ACT Oe asa RO A bear aeeat hc ih WAM tet 4 Od rae
integerriinea (Go Goer ee tome Wey Ga
UY SLOUSSAT E(t BATS 6 yO Aer eee i de DLE WZ
Porsprete NG. Comin lt eee WZ
Dendroctonus monticolae Hopk. ........ 91
piceaperda Hopk. 2.0.0.0... ae kd
Dermacentor albipictus Pack. ............ 94
anderson: Stiles 207.250 9 Gy 9)5)
Von Otis Ea. Use ee Ne Oe 95
Desmig-funeradliscbn. 25. 72
Diabrotica vittata Fab. ..............5 75, 84
Diacrisia latipennis Stretch .............. 73
Virginica Mabie ee ee ee ie
DUC CTCO rn. ii: So EUS cits 10
Dichelonyx backi Kby. ..............0....... 86
Dichomeris marginella Fab. .............. 92
Digonochaeta setipennis Fall. ........ yy. telss
Diplotaxis tristis Kby. .......00000000..... abe ApS)
Diprion polytomum Hartig ............ dt Oa
Dipterygia scabriuscula Li ......0......... 73
Dissosteira carolina Li ...........0.0cccce 61
Donatos ro Ls Sees ee 75
Dorceus parallelus! Say eGo 5
Doryphorophaga doryphorae Rly., 32, 34
Dryocoetes affaber Mannh. ................ ta
Wy tiscidae Sukh MUMS Oi Bi SAR Tale. TAs
Dytiscus fasciventris Say .......0..0... 74
Merticnlis: Sayy nese i SEA Bee 74
AE WAS ee SOD 85

PAGE
Huropean 00. eee 85
Klateridae 2 eee 74
Hmpusa gryli (Eres) 22 59, 80
Ennomos magnarius Gu. ee
subsignarius Hbn. ........ Ree dis oad firs
Enochrus hamilton Horn. .................. 74
Entomoscelis adonidis Pal. ................ 83
Ephemerids ()..0.......23. ee 70
Epicanta cinerea Forst=... eee 74
orégona Worn, :.iie eee oe
Epitrix cucumeris Harts. eee 84
Epochra canadensis Loew .................... 90
Eriocampoides limacina Retz .............. 89
Hriopyga creniulata, Mut eee 73
Hriophyges pyri Pest. 22) 88
Eriosoma lanigerum Hausm. .............. 86
Erythroneura comes Say | 89
comes ziczac Walsht2... eee: 89
tricncta Witch eee 89
Estigomene- acraca Dros) eee iv, He
Hubaphe aurantiaca Hbus =e 73
Huchaetias egle Dru. 2.4 73
Euchiaena serrate Dirtus ee Tie |
EKuchromidae’....- 3) a eee 73
Huclea dephinn. Bava 72
EKucleidae .).00) eee TZ |
Buha marine Kern 3 ee 87
Huparthenos nubilis Abn. 13
Busimuliwm 80... 94
Buthisanotia unio Hbnk eee 73
EHuxow obeliscoides Gn eee TS |
ochrogaster Gn. - 2 81
scholastica MeD: 5) ne eee Tee |
tessellata Harre 5. oe eee 73, 8a
Hmwentera improbana oregonana
LOCQW. bescvdoteveen 93
Fiery-hunter ....4....5445) eee 71
MICAS! Ake. interes cult 6
humans...) ee 95
Flea -beetless....ccce 84
Cabbage: icc eee 84
hop Aud dnehewn 84
potato .cikel ee 84
tUPhip acco Le ee 84
Plie@Seisg cine 83 |
currant fruit ./).....) 39a 90 |
walnut husk. 4)...4..508: ee 69
fishes siti ee. 71
iFeltaa ducens Wik. .. 3282S 73
herilis Grbigcee nc 73
Forficula-auricularia I). eee 85 |
Grasshoppers... 5, 37, 58, 60, 61, 62, 70,
80, 81
clear-wingedw448.2. 200 eee 58, 80.

lesser miowatory: .......808/ eee 80

E

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 99

PAGE
PMVO-=SELTPEM: ber Ale siren eitean eine 58, 80
= ACICT SIGIR EC (UT (e4
Geopinus incrassatus De}. ...............-: 74
“Glycobius speciosus Say oo... 8
LISI pbadheneldleeiOaBinaine Conn er ime te here nna 16
rufiscutellaris Cress. .............000 15, 16
Gracilia minuta Fab. ............ 64, 65, 66
Graphiphora (Noctua) c-nigrum L. 73
Per ILOMCTUS SP ccc ciicec ccccesncs cide cos dbeleiina 74
Graptolitha, Pieannta Wik. ee tans 87
Gryllus assimilis Fab. ........0..000.0........ 81
GINCSICUS Mit. ..0..-... euberaen hee 6
Habrosyne gloriosa Gn. (rectangulata
CLNEDLS |) shed mie opie a eae eee a2,
Haematopis grataria Fab. ................. 712
= LUCIE ae Ae Ee ee ie!
Halisidota tessellaris S. & A. ............ 73
Haploa confusa Lyman ...................... 73
Haploptilia laricella Hbn. .................. 92
— SPOGIS ieee eer er ae ila
COLGHOSHS EAD. 60.0084. taveatlien. hase 74.
GHC Ce EYL celeste anton 17:
Heliothis obsoleta Fab. ...............0.: 84
Hemerocampa leucostigma S.A. 37, 93
Hemicrepidius memnonius Hbst. .... 74
feenerocerigae 2.) 2) usdcasneed. 74
MECLCTOCETUS SP. ...265.8 ae isasesusiees 74
Hippodamia tridecimpunctata L. ...... 74
mropper, buffalo tree) fool. 88
Hyalopterus arundinis Fab. .............. 86
Hydaticus piceus ee. .....0...0cccccecee 74
PTYOTODIUS FUSEIPES Li. 22. ooe. cc ieveeesen dln 74
mvdrophilidae |........0).6 02). 20ke a nt.
Hydrophilus obtusatus Say ................ 74
Hydrous triangularis Say .......0....... 74
Hylemyia antiqua Men. ...........0000.00. 83
brassicae Bouche (2022.82.00 20008 83
CACM OM IRONS 2.)50.505...208. QMO, 83
MC STIINS ete eye ccc ces veneer ae 65
Hyperaeschra stragula Grt. ........ U2 TS
Hyphantria Eunea Drurees 3. See: 93
Hyppa xylinoides Gn. .....0..ccccccececeeee Wes
Ichthyura apicalis Wk. ........0..00000... 12
mara piste Kalt.) (0.0 Re eee an 85
Ilybius biguttulus Germ. .............00..... 74
mes Doremlis Swe ....0.. NEES. LM TZ,
perturbatus Eichh. ........ Lipa Zenda y 15
memmasavella A. & By... ke 13
_ LE SSRIS ee Ute belt Gein Meee 95
Lachnocrepis parallelus Say .............. 74
ME BMUMPY CUO AG 2:5 scccssc- ces sscesce0te settee. 74
MASVOCAMIPIGAC ©. s.c..5000+.0--0400 ns. iD,
ME PSOCAMIPIGS ©. cco.cenc.oocr ieee eee 71
Laspeyresia molesta Busch ................ 89
PPGTICONG “SLEPMe ccccccslees. DIRS. 85

PAGE
DEUMAVOTO WAYS oo. EE oh rok
Leat beetle, cottonwood ..................... 98
Strawberry: sc: dese cieiest Bee kek om
Leafhopper.................. 20, 23, 24, .26, 27
plang me Se! UE, a Oe ass laMs ane 90°
FORT 2 Oe ahi Mes) 9p 3 Sun ea (ae eR
Wihitew apples ccc... ee. 16-17, 88
Wear roller see fete kako. 98
CDSE ee RN, NO ie ela 87
PUNO DEAE iors Be sete eS sc. do eo saneusechanes 87
SCIELEUIG BASS tage ate ee ean nn ees: 87
eray-pandeds 22.2 2henese i see: ag ON
Oblioue-bandied acetic ean, VON
| CLO) 0) GS Ree ee nel coe eae enter et cee OO
SUPA CRI NY hr oa MN a Cg
Kebia grandis Hentz ................. Beeson UE:
LE COUM UGE) Vy, hacteiecen ee ee peering 91
Leperisinus fraxini Panzer............ 64, 65
He PIGOPCET A: Le ete io ace (7s
Memadosapwes ulm’ Vis 60s. hs ess. 88.
Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say ........ 83
Leucocytozoon anatis Wickware ........ 94
Leuconycta diphteriodes Gn. ............ hes
ebia. grandis: Wentz .258.5 ot ek 32
Iigyrus gibbosus DeG. ................ oe 715:
iinasscripta Wmabs Skew kee oe. aA 93
CARO AUCKE MOCN OVS Ee sore ctcnnnene acne ance emo
TASER ONOUUSES De csssise.cotssee sda tnicqorOvresie wid 75:
HOOPeE CAbDASe 2 eke ele eeu bigreo
Lopidea dakotae Knight ...................... — 90
WONOSCOOS STICTICOLIS Win <2. cies. rede iaces: 84
Ludius aereipennis destructor Brown 82
WI RIALS SEW Stan seis. css eeeO ses 74
iupermna passer Gns s0.03.. ee MONA NCAALT (Co
Lydella doryphorae Riley ............ Rete eok
Lygaeonematus erichsoni Hartig ...... 97;
Lygris diversilineata Hbn. ................... 72
Lygus communis Knight ................... MB 0,
OVO CC WSUS ice h biee necks WG Mee rwaeas Be, 85, 89
Wytta: Nuttall Say te a Roe eee Tt Sl
sphaecricollis: Say tte. cee wie 81
Macaria bisignata Wk. ..........:... dus Mhebcen gt ice

Macrocentrus ancylivorus Rohwer 15, 16
Macrodactylus subspinosus Fab. 37, 89

ifacrosiphim. pist*Kaltsmec: Be. ee: 62
SOLGIM fol ASHMIS ee ee 85
Maceot; applern:). 2a st AnGie SG
Cab baee Oe Mies on \ ceeea he vee se. greet 83.
OOM ee ee AOE oe oo eae ba 88
raspberry: canes:4: aul eee Reel eo
SCECE COMM 3/2141: RB ARES xen a So
sugar beet root. 0 2)5.2.\. sehiseboin8s
WANE AG SUCII feces. csenie. vcaavwodacose CREARORELE 83
DE OVDEO SOUND ccc scce erie ess ccntse eR aL:
QMCLICAUG, EP Abit). atkins 42, < 92.

100 THE REPORT OF THE

PAGE
disstria “Abus: 24. ee eee We, X92
pluvialis: Dyan on en eee: 92

Matus bicarindtus Say 2... 74
Missy S fies ico. ee No ce 70
Me alaipte) i ci ole ae e 34, 35, 88
Melanophiia fulvogutta Harv. ............ 8
Melaneptus Sp. 5.20 eee 37
angustipennis Dodge .................00..... 61
bivsthatuscSay <2 ree 58, 097" 61
mexicanus mexicanus Saus. ............ 62
Vielomotis Spc Ue Be ae 74
Viet ordeet 08 2 a. eS ae 74
Meromyza americana Fitch ................ 83
Miner, birch sawfly leaf ......00......0.0..... 94
cottonwood blotch .......0.........00c. 93
spruce leaf 2)... 2h eee eee ee 91
Mites Muropeanived’ e-..isee 88
raspuerry red... kee Vo7
pear "blister 6.260 eee 838
spider ........ Sc cy Ay Ee Sone 90
SPRUCA IS Le ees Penna NE 91
WVonochamus 7 Se ae Qerao
notatis Druy a eee eee 15
scutellatis(Say . 227 ee See eo 8
Monophadnoides vibis Harris........ 37, 90
Mosquito, rainpool ........0.......00000.00 94
STOVE 2528 eh re ch) ta a A 94
Mothecécropia see eee 93
COdMNG Heel e hss oie eRe | TER 86
diamond=baelk 22s Te Sy O rik aes, 83
European pine shoot ..............00........ 71
Srape Merry ee TT aA Bee 89
| Gar ta MARE SUS AR a i gt UL fal
noctwides.:V Gee ALY SCO are 71
Orientalsizgit ee. eee 52 2uSo
Sebi ee eT ORT Ne - ele 2 BEI SNE 93
white marked tussock ................ 87938
Mymarids ove Rel Gn ee Bae Ly
Myotis Keenti Septentrionalis
TVOUCSSATLE 65350650505. FR ae 75
Myzus.cerosi Fab. 22265. i ionrae 86
Nacerda. melanura Li ...........00c cece. WA, 94
Necrophorus orbicollis Say ................ 74
Neleucanta aibilinea Hbn. .................. 73
Neodiprion lecontei Fitch .................... 91
Neopyrochroa flabellata Fab. ............ 74
Nephelodes emmedonia Cram. ...... 56, 82
Noctuw ie-migrum Lie, oc. Be be
Noetinidae cut een Oia oe ae 73
Notaris puncticollis Lee. ...........00000.... LE
Nothopus grossus. Say ou... cece 74
Niotbodentidde .....3.cc.0...... 220% Loo. ae 2
IMotodontids..2is.uWto... Ses pote teas 71
IN ymphalidae foie.) se .1ss,..- SRORIER 73

Oberea bimaculata Oliv. ..0.0...0....... 37, 90

PAGE
Oecanthus nigricornis Walk. ......... OWiST™ |
Oedemeridae. .......6..0....0 00-5 ee 74 °
Ophiala striatulus Fall. ......00....... UTE 90
Osmoderme ...)... 2s. ae 71
erenucola Knoch> 55 75
scabra Beam. “2212 yaa 10
Pachynematus ocreatus Harr. ............ 91%
Pachysphinx modesta Hart. .............. 72
Pachyta. 20 eee eS 10
Panopoda rufimargo Hbn. .................. 73
Parandra brunnea Fab. ........ veer ae 75
Parasite, earwig ....... 22a) See 6, 85
Paratetranychus pilosus C. & F. ...... 88
‘UNUNGUS Jac... ee 91
Paratrioza cockerelli Say ................... 83
Patrobus longicornis Say .............. (aes
Pea-moth 2.0... 2 ee 6, 85
Pelidnota punctatalce... 2a 75
Peltodytes edentulus Lee. .................... 74
Pentatomids..0.:...2.). 2 32
Percosia obesa Say ...08 0 ae 74
Perigea vecors GY. 1... eae 73
Perillus 2 eee S230 ast ae
bioculatus Fab. ........... | eee 39538
circumcinctus Staloae®,. 3a 33
Pero honestarius Wk... 32 72
Peronea variana Kern. eee SE
Phenococeus aceris Sign. ............ 34, 88
Pheesia dumdiata HiSs). ae ee 73
Philonthus spose... 2 eS 74
Phlegethontius quinquemaculata
HaW5%, oocsscos is ond Bae ee 72°
Phlogophora iris Gn. ...... 2 eee 73
Phorbia rubivora Cog. uiss oe at
Phorocera doryphorae Riley .............. 34
Photinus scintellans Say ..........c.0000 74
Phragmatobia fuliginosa L. ................ 713
Phyllophaga Sp. ....... sae Dilgpe Aalto
Omura bees. es aes 41, 42. 43, Ab wise
balia (Say 2: tls. eee AD Ae
crenultata F roel: 2 seas Aly AQ As
draku Koy: 44 span Aly, AQ Ae
fervida Fab. 408 2iaee es ma AD.» Aly
forstem, Burm. ......... 423 ee 42
froterna Harteecet) 2x eee A245, aes
FUSCG SEV OC wy Lee 41, 42, 48, 45, 82
futilis: Lee.: ....41,142,943, 145, eae
gracilis Burm. ...4..4.. 42. 42. 4s
hirsuta: Kneoch. \Ys...:.:-.....4 ee 42, 45
hirticula Knoch. ....... ot yoh 3 nee AD: AS
ALicis KOCH? « ithe ey oe Al: AZ uae
mvuerse Horn. 2....)..... 2 nee AQ. AR
longispina Smith... 2R ise 42... AGE
marginalis Lee. ............ 41, A? Abas
prUnianoe Wee. 2....4edR ones A2

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 101

PAGE

rugosa Mels. .......... AA Ae. Aa) OO

“MOE OT GS A OY Ce aa el ADA NS

Mapsvis Hab. .....0.0..5 6.0.0 ANA De Ayre. (5
Phyllotoma nemorata Fall. ................ 94
Phyllotreta albionica Lee. .................. 84

< CEAGHEGS LEMP 0 pacha se tet aaa ee a a 84
Physostegania postularia Gr. ............ 72

Phytonomus nigrirostris Fab. ............ 15
Bericnapae ls 2 LL. 83
Pissodes strobi Peck. ::.............0....... Paste LS
Pityokteines sparsus Lee. ................0.: 9

MMMM POIULILOUUS G...ccciccceseexcesy-cr Han ee LE 12

Plutella maculipennis Curtis ............ 83
Beet DUS CAGALANA., ........ 0... ce ceeeees 90

PT Pee sic non cBpP HAG Agel aan Sete Sea ads 89

“ ZiPTRES G0 ee ae ee 89
Eeaenypena scabra Mab. ........cc6..c0%- 73
7 UPA DIS 0 STC eae eee a 74

2 PEPUUS SRR ae cee ene een me 74
Batysamia cecropia Wi. ................. 3
BerspOnOe7CO) ELD. ooo... .).. se cce cece nodes 13
Prionoxystus macmurtrei Guer. ........ 8
Prodenia ornithogallt Gn. ............2....... "3
Prolmacodes badia Wk. .........:..:....... 2,
“DL OOGLI OST Noe 94
mseudolucanus capreolus Lz ..............:. 75
Pseudothyatira cymatophoroides var.

2 MDDS Ip EO ea an 72
£10) POGEHA 1) es ne 85
- FIL) [OSE TIS Saar ee einai enn Aan 89
Reaiiia pyricola Forst.. 00.0 ool ccoccus 89
eyllid, potato ...........0.00..... pone eee crac 83
Psylliodes punctulata Melsh. .............. 84
BeCTONICEH TIDESL SCOP. .....0.ccccceeceeecess 90
BBG SUICIOWS SD. ooo. cee oocceidig es vesweee ceccess 74
RTA en "2,
Pyrausta nubilalis Hbn. 37, 38, 78, 838
TED BL CTRROTTCC le ( e 74
murrnia expromens WI. .......:c..0... 73
REPO OM TOO CT IDV 5 ooo. eco ce ecececesseccceseus 10

DTOUUSS EY OS es ea ea 10
MUM PICT VLOWMS Very o.oo... occ csen ceasseicceececses 95
2 DLLSL SS 1 gl ee ES een ee nae 94
Podisus maculiventris Say ...............6. o2
MUSES sea, 74
Polia adjuncta Badv. .......... Pern Brees sake
lilacina form illabefacta Morr. .......... 73

©: BULSGOREOP C1 8 Os ee ee 73

BERPOGCTO UCP. 6..2...24.csecnccccreevancecessees 73

SL SUH CGIGT, (CCS Aue) °C ee 13
Polychrosis viteana Clem. ................6.:- 89
BPUTICKIUS WMOtN 2.2........).ccceeeevsersseees 71
meachela bruceata Hulst. .................... 87
mem bus laticollis Lee. ..........60...cc0..0 74

Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh .............. 86

PAGE
SUOMISIOCWa si aude uu wei ee 69
Rhodophora florida Gn. .......0:......0.000 73
Rhopalosiphum pseudobrassicae
1 DES acer eee ee a ae Ue em 85
Rhopobota vacciniana Pack. ............ 90
Rhyacionia buoliana Schiff. ................ 71
TRUM CRO GTOUUS SPs cee ict oste ee 13
ighynchites bicolor Fabs)... 22.8 86
Romaleum rufulum Hold. .................. aS
Rast iy Carrot eee 85
SOU CRO Oe ee ya trae cre Lalla oi 64
COLCOROLG SAY ee in sonnets
CANCICG Wa EO Pe en wre 88
IS ELGLETIIE OUT Salo Bc Rees i td etc et fil
Sa buna ee ee on ce aca ccnsdemenee We
SUT a ee ne a 8 i ie eC ames no 91
Huropean Spruce o...-s. ces... Le Oe
ACU ewer me nse ac etna 92
VASDOCREV eee ee eee coset: Sie 90
Ked-neaded. PING 8 eee 91
TOS Coy ora ere Mec eee eee ene 86
WWIGAURSECIM te tartan Mech myarer eens: 82
yellow-headed spruce ...................06- 91
SY OEE Sah ae ele av Ra RONA Ba At ee 91
| SYEVSCOL ae AM AN Cal R “MT AL Sentai ten eat Fae anne 94
OV Stes Shel ee MMM einen meat oe 88
PINE MECCA ree ewe ee SYA
Sa OSC ery er. cn een Cee: 88
Seacawpacidae: so) pee ee es. (alee!
Bicenses, fulvicollis: HMibtin fo. 2 73
Schinia marginata Haw. .................... 73
Scehizura concinna 8. & A. ............. 73
COME ee ee. cnn ROE eee 64
SCOMMPIG ACR eins ee Came cue as 9
Scolytus mullistriatus Marsh. .......... 64
Scolycus mwgulosus Ratz, 6. 88
SMU IS OnCLVCd Wuete fo. A ee cs towne 73
GONBIOS Cea Gu tases cae cumae tee 3
SGU COATES EUSA) WEI Cote ge ae ee eee 74
Secwa maculoria, TARE. \ 2. c..c...0cos: (ee
Sie CHita CevaStaton Bie arc 3.5. 73
STUD) GUNG See oe AMEN ete ON Oe Macatee een ale tA:
MS TALCUL LOGIN ASION, etn) oan aut eesratner eS 94
MEMES SOM ee EE ee ee ade 94
Salpha bituberosa Wee. <...-..0..2.2..0--2- 85
suminamensts Walon fica cessecs ccc 74
AST ACHGD saat rea as na A Re I on iseae a 10
OVKE WSUS OO OHO GOUS omaan dniosep eonceeeee oe 10
Sitonia cylindricollis Fab. ... .............. 54
HUSTOCHVU GRA SEN Oar tah NR. co uetae anteeee ete 56
Sera oe I ee ee in Come anode 89
Smerinthus jamaicensis geminatus
SE? rey a Wrage Satie ta Mei ee He ere ein ee (2
Spaelotis clandestina Hart. ................ 713
Spilonota ocellana D. & S. .........-. ..:. 87

102 THE REPORT OF THE
PAGE ~ PAGE
Sphecodina abbottii Swains .............. 72 paralysis 0..." See 95
Sphineidae £25 ee ee, Wi, ae WINKLE 7h... .esesssceencee ee 94
Sphinz chersis Hn. «ccc. W42 “Tortricidae Fe T1s:,42
drupiferarum S. & Ae oe 1, 72 Trichiotinus assimilis. Kby. ................ 10
2370 F007 ace Oe enn mm RP oe “(il TrOpPiSteTNUM SPo vececcccccccccccecceesessesssseeees 7A
MOTUS StO Ne ee ee eee ee 72 Trypodendron >... ee 9, 10
hog Sa Sena Sk ar ak SebE RE apo 026 aah Pe 72 Typhlocyba pomaria McA., 16, We 28, 88
eal Se" Se, PA ese es 72 Typophorous canillus Fab. ................ 37
“LG 65) at gh at ae em gL {Gl Upis ceramboides Li «0.0... 10
pen-marked BRET RSME SESS ASAE SO SgOO CRO TAIGATOEDS onoC 71 Vanessa alitanta Le 73
oe oe Se lyeh enye rhe ae NA Sa I ue Webworm,, beet. .................... 2 84
Shay liNId ae 6 ....0.86is eh ee eae 74 fall 92
. 5 ee All | oo... Sik
Sil pnotia, salicis Vas ...08.. cee 93 ae 84
Seciiohe Rel ns ee 94 ecm
Sbome ilies! 20° Sati. eee eee 71 Weevil, strawberry 22227 yee 37, 90
Synanthedon ewitiosa Say oo. ccccc-. 39 strawberry Toot. «..jc04:.42.. eee 90
Syntomasphis druparum Boh. 3... 87 white pPINe \..0.33. 4 See ff 8, 9
TOO URS © 9 MO Sy Meera tclin got uns aa ota eee 94 White fly, rhododendron]=.. === 6
"Wem Sis is oe teers. ec aie aes ah 394 White grubs............ 37,42 44°45 AG. Aes
Tachypterellus quadrigibbus Say ...... 87 82, 90
Taeniothrips simplex Mor. .................. 85 Wireworms *.....20)......0 eee 82
Taniva albolineana Kft. ..............0-- 91 Worm, black-headed fire .................... 90
Telia polyphemus Cre oo nsscc ce iL pate Bruce’s measuring ............ aris 3 sis 87
TeHCDTIO INMOLVEOT: Las se 74 COrNn CaP)... eee 84
Penebrionidae «500. cee ce oe Nees 74 green fruit ....0.... eee 87
Tetracis crocallata Gn. ...........cccccccceeees fe imported cabbage =...) eee 83
Tetanops aldrichi Hendel. .................. 83 imported currant 2.) 90
Tetranychus ‘telarius Va. ccccc0060.0.c0e0 37 lesser apple ...:::..... 233 87
PECLOPIMN 65.5.6 eee Ee 10 oak carpenter .....00.. 2.43 8
Thermonectes basilaris Harr. ............ 74 raspberry fruit... 22 90
PPS “SlAGIONUS eee, oe ee ae: 85 Ayleborus! 0... eee 64
WAV ALITIG AG... oo eo eo Ree nae 72 AYLING SPPeo oc. cael ee 87
PEEKS Meh i! scien ch2 in dt ae 6 XYlOtTechus |........1 eee 9, 19
AMmeriGantl ndoty. vc: aera 95 Zeugophora abnormis Lee. ................. 93
=) | eran a aM Aa Mann Erk et ia 94 scutellaris Suitrt, —...2 ee ars 93

we

Ontario Department of Agriculture

Sixty-Seventh Annual Report

of the

Entomological Society
of Ontario

1936

PRINTED BY ORDER OF

HON. DUNCAN MARSHALL, Minister of Agriculture

ONTARIO

NVA. ate * y
— SION AL MUS=—

ay eee
Pieper erent

TORONTO
Printed by T. E. BowMAN, Printer to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty
1937

Pd Tei a

CONTENTS

OFFICERS HOR MRUO SOLOS 1. oiiccre se. lctcscedsvascceces vat Tectia rea ects ca cia Me cut ie Alen ERE RN eR MER esd Bata?
FINANCIAL KSA TRS OUT OT Sa Mla eR gaan OU IC MBN Sa AONB ABB tetas ne as a ee el RL
Rerort ORC OUNCM es oi) soc eal en. oot ane oe SR alae RUDE a) NC Cs.
REPORT PMBIMIGISBIAN et eh eG A le tts Oi
‘PROGRAMME—

Looking Ahead: WALTER COLLINS O’KANEBE...........00000....ccccccccccccccceeseeeeecccesssenuneeseeeeess
uy Developments in Vacuum Fumigation at the Port of Montreal: L. S. McLAINE
4 pap eprnese Oh oI MEWINIR O22 GN ced cle cc cass caladatee) goby aah dee suerauanesnstquseue veake ctor
tk The Agricultural Pests Control Act, 1927, with Regulations: G. E. GRATTAN..
q Pyrethrum and Derris Dust: A. KELSALL and H. T. STULTZ.......0000000 ee.
i PA Laboratory Apparatus for Determining the Relative Toxicity of Contact
ie DMSESemoyeel sy DAVIN) ANG TH Ps STULTZ....iccc.cccccccsccescccccccedeviecessscaeedisecdsscnedsenan®
: The European Corn Borer in Ontaric in 1936: L. CAESAR.........0.0...00000..c:cccseseeees
; ; mnewoweet Clover Weevil: «He W. GOBLE. .25..0s.4.0..ccccccccdecteccced eb deevencsereoecevsevsdiostecesens
4 A Report on the Alfalfa Snout Beetle, Brachyrhinus ligustici L., in New York:
M4, (CURUAIEADIS) 1 JEUNIG NU MEE I (oe aU es Mein as i nner er OR Geer ern ena

Resistance of Some Varieties of Peas to the Pea Aohaa: Illinoia pisi Kalt.:

i, [Bs JUAN HOUN TSI Su i ie IT Sei ie a nN CO CS ee eM sen
Observations on the Biology of the Apple Maggot: J. ALLAN HALL....................
Results from Organized Apple Maggot Control in Nova Scotia: A. KELSALL

UTEP Ata |) ts ETC KOT ee ee ee aor vesveedecsaact
Notes on the European Pine Shoot Moth (Rhyacionia buoliana Schiff.) :

Ever lem VIC AUNIDRENWIS atte: i elie ete eI ea Ae NEE cols l enbevdscex vucsaibetedenel
Four Years’ Experience with ‘“‘Electracide” Light Traps: D. F. PATTERSON......
A Brief Report on Certain Mercury Salts Used Experimentally Against the

GriomeVassote wal. Gi WUSTAN 25... ee i.e ca neni Soot boda addeb NR LM aoabes ddagets

‘Some Factors in the Control of the Common Greenhouse Aphid, Myzus persicae
Sulzer, by the Parasite Aphidius phorodontis Ashmead: J. H. MCLEObD......

The Grasshopper Outbreak in Ontario in 1936: H. A. GILBERT andaivauwwe
BRRTACONV BIDS ONG erence er ns Sn Tc MIRNA dso tuo ANI wad Sdokbidoueseduadtecee coe’

A Note on the Grasshopper Situation in Manitoba in 1936: A. V. MITCHENER 68

Observations on the Life-History and Habits of the Columbine Borer:
A Nira Groen V OAC ENV IVICA seen MeO 2. sak, ago Re Mas Gdetdcansstvan areeeghedbakcebaseianeseeeesbeeseet

Invasion of Three New Quebec Districts by the Potato Beetle: GEo. MAHEUX 72

A Summary of the Insect Pest Situation in Canada in 1936: C. R. TWINN........

STP GIS oa ee Se eI es Ms IUGR Sa Boe eer A a re era cg ORAL OO

Entomological Society of Ontario

OFFICERS FOR 1936-1937

President—L. S. MCLAINE, Ottawa.

Vice-President—H. F. HUDSON, Strathroy, Ontario.
Secretary-Treasurer and Librarian—R. H. OZBURN, Guelph, Ontario.
Directors—R. EK. BALCH, Fredericton, New Brunswick; GEO. Moorg, Mon- }
treal, Quebec; GEO. M. STIRRETT, Chatham, Ontario; Dr. R. D. Birp, }
Brandon, Manitoba; R. M. WHITE, Lethbridge, Alberta; RALPH Hop-
PING, Vernon, B.C. |
Directors (ex-presidents)—PROFESSOR JOHN DEARNESS, London; PROFES-
soR E. M. WALKER, University of Toronto; PROFESSOR LAWSON }
CAESAR, O. A. College, Guelph; DR. ARTHUR GIBSON, Dominion Ento-
mologist, Ottawa; F. J. A. Morris, Peterborough; DR. J. M. SWAINE,
Ottawa; REV. FATHER LEOPOLD, La Trappe, Que.; PROFESSOR A. W. |
BAKER, O. A. College, Guelph, Ont.; DR. T. D. JARVIS, Ontario Research }
Foundation, Toronto; PROFESSOR J. D. DETWILER, Western University, |
London, Ontario; Dr. W. H. BRITTAIN, Macdonald College, Quebec; }
W. A. Ross, Vineland Station, Ont. |

Editor—Dr. J. MCDUNNOUGH, Ottawa.
Associate Editor—H. G. CRAWFORD, Ottawa.
Assistant E'ditor—Dr. A. D. BAKER, Ottawa.
Advertising Manager—W. N. KEENAN, Ottawa.

Auditors—G. G. DUSTAN, O. A. College, Guelph, Ont.; PRoF. L. CAESAR,
O. A. College, Guelph, Ont.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO
FINANCIAL STATEMENT

FoR YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31st, 1936

Receipts Expenditures
Cash on Hand from 1984..........:. $ 400.26 Printin® | ...2..../.. eee $1,170.00 |
DO SCTUDLIOMS ie yoo. ee te eat 478.60 Salaries \...0.04...... 3. 200.00 |
LD EVIE ello oI be a a ie OR ce 234.39 Back Salaries 2... 2 125.00
Government Grant ....:.........00.0. 350.00 Repfinting © ..:.........25.. 03a 85.40 |
A dyectisements: ook ic nee oe 317.65 Postage oo... eee 44.50 |
NS ACK MN MADETS 60s koctscr teense 28 Oe 197.42 Miscellaneous Expenses ............. 18.55
Bank PI Nberest,.. sks. tal hk ik eee 4,29 Exchange on Cheques.........:........ 14.05 |
Annual Meeting, 1985.................. 9.40
Total... 3... eee $1,670.50
Balance in. Bank:.3.. oe 312.11

Potala gure ee Cele $1,982.61 Total... ane

Respectfully submitted,
REG. H. OZBURN, |
Secretary-Treasurer. |
Audited and found correct.
L. CAESAR, ‘
G. G: DUSTAN, Auditors. 7

(4) | |

4
BF
©

Entomological Society of Ontario

REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1935-36

5 The Council of the Entomological Society of Ontario presents its
report for the year 1935-36.

| The Seventy-second Annual Meeting of the Society was held in the
-Confederation Building, Ottawa, on Thursday and Friday, November 14th
‘and 15th, 1935.

The morning and afternoon sessions, which were devoted almost
entirely to the reading and discussion of papers on various phases of ento-
mology, were well attended by members and friends of the Society.

| In place of the usual evening meeting, a dinner was enjoyed at Chez
- Henri, Hull. Mr. S. A. Rowher, of the U. S. Bureau of Entomology and
_ Plant Quarantine, and Mr. F. A. Morris, of Peterborough, were the guest
_speakers. Mr. Rowher gave an interesting talk on “Research Trends in
| the U. S. Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine,” after which Mr.
Morris entertained the members and their friends with an interesting
' paper on “One Touch of Nature”.

The Canadian Entomologist, the Society’s journal, completed its sixty-
seventh volume in December last. This volume contained 278 pages, 14
full page plates and 15 original figures. Forty-eight authors contributed
to this volume, including writers in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, thirteen of the United
States, England, and China.

It is the sad duty of the Council to record the death of one of the
Society’s oldest members, Mr. Chas. E. Grant, who died at Orillia, March
8th, 1936. For over 25 years Mr, Grant, an indefatigable amateur collector
of Lepidoptera, acted as a Director of the Society and took a keen, interest
in its welfare. That this interest was maintained until his death is shown
by the fact that he bequeathed his collection of some 5,000 specimens to
the Society where they have been deposited with the other collections of
the Society, in the keeping of the Department of Entomology at the Ontario
Agricultural College. :

A meeting of the Council was held at Belleville on November 18th,
1936, in connection with the Seventy-third Annual Meeting of the Society.
Amongst the business transacted, the following items are worthy of note:

As many of the periodicals and other publications received in exchange
for the Society’s journal are probably not elsewhere available to the mem-
bers, a list of these will be published in the Canadian Entomologist.

As it is a number of years since a list of the members of the Society
and affiliated societies has been published it was thought advisable to pub-
lish such a list in the Canadian Entomologist at an early date.

Mr. C. E. Petch, at present compiling an index to the Annual Reports
of the Society from 1900 to date, reported that he expected this index
would be ready for publication by the time of the 1937 Annual Meeting.

gue i2 iss? 5)

6 THE REPORT OF THE

Mr. Leonard S. McLaine, President of the Society, was appointed repre- }
sentative of the Society on the committee making arrangements for the
American Association for the Advancement of Science meetings in Ottawa,}

in June of 1938.

In future, papers presented at the Annual Meeting and published else- |
where than in the Canadian Entomologist or Annual Report, will be.
abstracted as a matter of record in one of the Society’s publications. |

The Society accepted the invitation of the Board of Trustees of the

Royal Ontario Museum, to hold the 1937 Annual Meeting at the Museum. §
The Seventy-fourth Annual Meeting will therefore be held in Toronto the
Thursday and Friday during the Royal Winter Fair.

Since 1938 is the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the Society, the selec- |
tion of the time and place of meeting was left with the Executive, with the §
suggestion that it might be possible to hold the meetings in Ottawa in §
connection with the meeting of the avers Association for the Advance- | |
ment of Science in June.

At the Annual Meeting, notice of motion was given that the revision
of the Constitution, including the student membership clause, would be
balloted on at the next meeting.

The list of members and others attending the Seventy-third Annual |
Meeting of the Society was as follows: :

Arnott, D. A., Keenan, W. N.,
Baird, A. B., Kelsall, A.,

Baker, A. D., Kennedy, Howard,
Baker, A. W., Lagloire, R.,

Baker, W. A. Lapp, W. R.,

Balch, R. E., MacAndrews, A. H..,
Barclay, J. M., Maltais, J. B.,

Beall, Geoffrey, Matthewman, W. G.,
Beaudoin, W. B., McLaine, L. S.,
Beaulieu, Andre A., McLeod, J. H.,

Belyea, W. R.,
Boyce, H. R..,
Briand, L. J.,
Brimley, J. F.,
Brown, W. J.,
Caesar, L.,
Crawford, H. G.,
Ferguson, Neil C.,
Finlayson, L. R.,
Fowler, W. A.,
Gauthier, Geo.,
Gibson, Arthur,
Gilbert, H. A.,
Godbout, Fernand,
Graham, A. R.,
Grattan, Geo. E.,
Gray, D. E.,
Gregory, F. 'W.,
Grieve, (Mrs.) E. G.,
Hall, i. A.,
Heimburger, C.,
Hudson, F. J.,
Hudson, H. F.,
Hutson, Ray,

Ide; P.,

James, H. G.,

_ Patterson, F. F.,

Munro, H. A. Ts

Naphtali (Miss) Dorothy,
Nix, L. A., :
Ozburn, Re 1Ety

Palm, Chas. E.,

Pass, Herbert A.,
Paterson, J. W.,

Pock, O.,

Petch, C. E.,
Putnam, W. L.,
Reeks, W. A.,
Ross, W. A.,
Ryan, W. S. G.,
Sheppard, R. W ,,.
Simpson, L. J.,
Smith, C. W.,
Stanley, John,
Stirrett, Geo. M.,
Swaine, J. M.
Thompson, R. W.,
van Steenburgh, W. E.,
Watson, E. B.
Wilkes, A..,
Wishart, Geo.,
Wood, A. A.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY | T

REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN

As time permitted, the work of rearranging the Society’s library and
completing the files of various periodicals, has been continued.

A check-up of the publications received in exchange for the Canadian
Entomologist was made, and as a result the Society’s exchange mailing
sheet was reduced from approximately 175 to 125, there being approxi-
mately 50 societies and institutions which have ceased publication of peri-
odicals in the past few years, or whose publications have been so changed
in character that they are no longer of particular use to the members of
the Society. Experimental station libraries were dropped as their publi-
cations are available to the members elsewhere.

R. H. OZBURN,
Librarian.

LOOKING AHEAD

TRENDS AND PROSPECTS IN THE PROFESSION OF ENTOMOLOGY
By WALTER COLLINS O’KANE
New Hampshire State University, Durham, N.H.

I would not dare to offer specific, dogmatic predictions as to coming
developments in entomology in the next five or ten years. Changes in all
human activities are taking place far too rapidly to make specific predic-
tion other than hazardous. Furthermore entomology, as a science and as
as a profession, has been taking on new aspects, making new alliances,
reaching out with new endeavors, and in general exhibiting new growth.
There is no telling just how far, or to what new places, this new entomology
will proceed.

I do wish, however, to look broadly at entomology in some of its import-
ant aspects as it stands to-day, and to see what trends appear to exist. I
should like to attempt an entomological map and to indicate possible ports
which the ship may reach, taking into account its design, its crew, its motive
power, and its apparent orders. Perhaps from such a map we can glimpse
the present place of entomology and the entomologist in human affairs, and
their capacity toward filling future needs.

As a science entomology is not what is was a few years ago. It is no
longer merely a relatively simple study of a certain part of a certain section
of the lower animal kingdom. It has become a complicated, specialized
subject, with intimate relationships to various other sciences, with highly
important economic aspects, and with a need for research that grows stead-
ily larger as the fund of acquired knowledge increases.

Insect Physiology.—Within its own scientific boundaries entomology
has begun lately to explore the almost unknown territory of insect phys-
lology. As it does so it discovers whole fields of knowledge which no one
knows very much about. At the same time it learns that these fields are
highly significant in any further advance in insect control.

g THE REPORT OF THE

Who knows, for example, the hydrogen ion concentration of the diges-
tive tract in various species of our most destructive insects? A few men
know a little about a few species, but that is all. Yet the hydrogen ion
concentration of the foregut, the mudgut and the hindgut has a definite
bearing on the effectiveness of our most widely used insecticides. And this
is only one of several factors influencing the effectiveness. With sufficient
knowledge of these facts an intelligent search for better stomach poisons
would have an intelligent start. ;

Who knows fully the processes that take place in the respiration of an
insect? Yet fumigation presumably depends in part at least, on insect
respiration. If we possessed better knowledge of the processes involved
we could search more efficiently for better fumigants.

Who knows the real facts about the responses of insects to stimuli
that are not recognizable to human senses and, therefore, have not been
accurately classified? Yet one of the most important needs in the warfare
against certain insects, such as Japanese beetle adult, is for a repellent
that will not disfigure foliage and will operate efficiently over a satisfac-
tory period of time. Such a repellent is likely to be effective because of
its action on sensory stimuli which we do not understand and as yet have .
no means of discovering and appraising.

Who knows the precise reasons why a given species or a given group
within a species becomes more virile for a period and then declines? Yet
cycles of this nature occur. For example, in the case of certain soil-
inhabiting grubs a marked decline in population occurs following a period
of destructive abundance, and this decline is not exclusively the result of
attack by insect parasites. If we knew the cause of decline we might
induce it or accelerate it.

In a few places in the world men have begun to study these problems af

in insect physiology and behaviour. These men are keenly aware of the |
fact that for every item of ascertained fact there are twenty items of con- |
jecture. The significance of this field of knowledge is now recognized. As _ |
men are trained they will extend the boundaries. This is one of the
objectives toward which present-day entomology seems clearly to be
directed.

One could wish that an endowment might be made available with
which an adequate laboratory or research institute could be equipped, and
with which men could be brought together as a permanent staff to work in
accordance with an orderly and productive plan. Such a laboratory might
well be of as great significance to the human race and its welfare as one of
the great medical research institutes long since endowed and in operation.

Anatomy and Morphology.—tIn order to learn how the intricate life
processes of an insect proceed we need to possess a detailed knowledge of
the structure of an insect’s body, and of all of its parts and organs. Here
the fund of knowledge at our disposal is far greater than it is in the aspect
of entomology just considered. Many men in many places have been at
work for a long time in the field of insect anatomy and morphology. Eix- |
ploration can readily be undertaken. Yet even here ‘we lack information |
that is vital. |

For example, it is significant to know whether the integument of an

insect is permeable to certain liquids, such as the petroleum oils and their

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY | 9

_ derivatives, and to know where and under what conditions we may take
_ advantage of such permeability. In part the answer to this question lies
in a better knowledge of the intimate structures of insect integument in
EN its various regions and as regards many species of insects. <A liquid spray
80 adjusted as to take advantage of known permeability may well give
_ superior results. Substances may be so adjusted as to exhibit a toxicity

_ hitherto unattained.

‘ Recent studies have shown, for example, that arsenious oxide will

_ penetrate through a supposedly hard and tough region of the integument
4 of the American roach. The arsenic has been recovered in definite
_ amounts from all the internal organs, including the cephalic ganglia. How
‘ the penetration takes place is not yet known.

3 Since the existing fund of knowledge as to insect structure and organs
is relatively substantial, since many men are equipped by training to carry
4 on further studies, and since the facilities for such studies are easily obtain-

able, it may be expected that this division of research in entomology will
; = to move steadily forward.

Medical Entomology.—The vital relationship of entomology to various
ie diseases has had marked emphasis for a substantial period of years.
‘This has been natural because human diseases command attention. When
it is suspected that a disease is transmitted by an insect, constructive work

: is demanded for a study of the relationship between the two.

Since the importance of medical entomology is so well recognized, this
“field is relatively capable of standing on its own feet. It has the continu-
—_ ous backing of the medical profession. From time to time it has access to
‘special funds. Therefore, it may be expected to move forward and to have
an increasing significance, both to the profession of entomology and to the
- public.

“4 Diseases of Insects.—lIn the division of entomology represented by the
iS
_ diseases which themselves attack insects, present information is meagre.
In a few cases organisms have been discovered which apparently are
‘: responsible for the death of an insect in large numbers. We may reason-
_ ably suspect that a great many species of insects are subject to attack by
~ micro- -organisms which, though not causing death, may impair vitality.
We may surmise that greater knowledge of these conditions might place in
4 our hands effective weapons for warfare against some of our destructive
4 pests.
P For example, in our laboratory at the University of New Hampshire
we maintain various cultures of insects for experimental use. Several
months ago we found one of these declining in vitality to such an extent
_ that we were in danger of losing the culture. A man was available to
assign to the problem. He has succeeded in isolating a bacillus which
clearly is responsible for the condition. The bacillus appears to represent
anew species. Pure cultures of the bacillus have been secured. It can be
‘cultured in ordinary media, such as agar. Using one of these pure cul-
_ tures we have inoculated adults of the American roach. Inoculated roaches
_ die in twelve hours.

- __ Probably it is not to be expected that the boundaries of knowledge in

‘this field will be rapidly enlarged in the next few years. But it may be
= that these boundaries will at least be somewhat extended, and

10 | THE REPORT OF THE

that men entering the profession of entomology will find in this direction
ample opportunity for important and original research.

Biological Control_—Other and probably more significant enemies of '
insects, notably insect parasites, have justly received greater attention.
The installation of such a laboratory as the one in Belleville is a noteworthy
example of progress. The whole movement of deliberately sought biologi- |
cal control is now well established. A body of personnel has been in train-
ing. A fund of knowledge has been accumulated. Technique has crystal-
lized. Public support has been won. Control of certain pests has been |
achieved. Further progress seems certain. |

Relations to Plant Pathology.—In recent years entomology has been |
making new and extensive alliances with other sciences and with other |
fields of human activity. Its expansion in these directions has been rapid |
and marked.

One of these alliances is with a sister science and profession, that of | |
the plant pathologist. This is both natural and desirable. While ento- |
mology and plant pathology deal with organisms which have only a remote
relationship, the activities of those organisms frequently are found on the
same host and at the same time. The injurious effects of the one are in-
creased by those of the other. Sometimes the work of insects opens avenues |
for the entrance of plant pathogens. Sometimes insects are chance car-|
riers. Sometimes they are the sole means of dissemination of a plant dis-
ease. Frequently the remedial measures _ the one are combined with |
those for the other. |

In the last few years there has been an increased recognition of the |
fact that entomologists and plant pathologists may well work in close
understanding. There have been joint meetings of the two groups. Since
this development is only the logical outcome of an already existing relation-
ship between the two sciences, it may be expected that it will continue and
will increase.

It is not to be expected that an entomologist will attempt to be, or
assume to be, a competent plant pathologist. If a given problem requires
expert knowledge in both fields it should have the attention and services
of well-trained experts in both fields. This is the outcome that is already
achieved here and there, and it may be expected to reach further realiza-
tion.

Relations to Chemistry.—In no other of its recent alliances has ento-
mology moved so rapidly and so far as in its relations with chemistry.
Month by month in recent years the entomologist has turned more and
more to the chemist to help him toward solution of his entomological prob-
lems. The public, suffering losses from insect attacks, desires above every- |
thing else a spray, or a dust, or a fumigant that will stop the attack imme-
diately and visibly, or, if applied in advance, will prevent its occurrence.
Furthermore the public desires materials that are inexpensive, that are |
safe, both to the operator and to the public, that will cause no harm to the |
plants or livestock to which they are applied, that will remain effective |
through a satisfactory period, that can be stored from one year to the next
without deterioration, and that ‘will combine with other materials that need |
to be applied for other reasons. In addition, unfortunately, the public too
often expects materials that can be applied hastily and without much care
and will give adequate results.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY be

To the entimologist this is a large order. He has a continuous and a
growing need for spray materials, dusts, and other treatments, that will
meet increasingly difficult specifications. All of this has placed high em-
phasis on the relationship of chemistry to entomology.

That an entomolggist can also be an expert chemist is seldom to be
expected. It is difficult enough for a competent man to be a good chemist
without being anything else. In chemistry itself the division of subject
matter into many fields is inevitable. A man who is expert in the chem-
istry of sugars may know little about the chemistry of soils; and so on for
other divisions.

It is desirable that an entomologist should have a certain fundamental
knowledge of chemistry if he has anything to do with the economic aspects
of his profession. Within limits the broader and deeper his fundamental
knowledge the better. But if he is first of all an entomologist he cannot,
also, be first of all a chemist.

Wherever funds and organization will permit, expert chemical ser-
vices should definitely be provided for in the solving of entomological prob-
lems. It will seldom avail to arrange merely that the entomologist be per-
mitted to take his problem from time to time to a busy department of
chemistry. Experience is showing that the better way is to attach one or
more chemists to the department of entomology, so that they may become
thoroughly familiar with the problems and may give the understanding
cooperation that is needed. This is the direction in which organization
has been moving. Since this plan is giving results it may be expected to
continue and to be expanded.

Relations to Electricity—In much less degree entomology has been
touching upon the realm of electricity. The use of lights to attract insects
- to traps has been the subject of rather extensive research during the last
two or three years, both in the central states and on the west coast. High
frequency as a killing agent has been under study. High potential has
received attention. A new and unpublished development involves the use
of a hitherto unexplored form of electrical energy, not yet available in a
commercial way.

It seems clear that in this new alliance the entomologist must have
the expert knowledge of the man who has devoted his life to studies in
electricity in its various forms. For example, one of the leading scientists
in the development of X-rays discussed with the writer the possible use of
specially modified X-rays to assist the entomologist in his research into
insect physiology and morphology. Out of his stores of knowledge he could
bring to bear upon that subject a technique that no entomologist could
hope to duplicate.

It is hardly to be expected that men who are authorities in the realm
of electricity could be attached to the staffs of departments of entomology.
But it is within reason to expect that entomologists can establish such con-
acts as will give them access to expert advice and assistance. With such
arrangements in effect the prospects for new advances are interesting.

Taxonomy.—In a wholly different field entomology is faced with the
necessity of keeping pace with advancing needs in the orderly classification
of insects. There is probably no large museum in America that has all of
its entomological specimens thoroughly studied, identified, and classified.

12 THE REPORT OF THE

Most museums have a continuing problem of providing an adequate staff.
It is easy enough to acquire accessions to collections, and it is by no means
difficult to secure funds for exploration of little known regions or countries,
in order to collect specimens, especially when the plans for an expedition
include collection of the larger mammals. The difficulty lies in providing
a large enough permanent staff to give the essential study to accessions.
This is not a new need, and it is not very far on the road to satisfactory
solution. Since the work to be done is not spectacular it has to fight its
way. Unfortunately this situation is likely to continue.

Entomology and Industry.—A new relationship has grown up between
entomology and industry, especially chemical manufacture. This had its
beginnings in a small way fifteen or twenty years ago, but recently it has
expanded far beyond anything hitherto known. |

The new alliance has come about naturally because of the need for
better and more effective sprays, dusts, and fumigants, and because indus-
trial plants are in a position to help supply these needs. The larger plants
have thoroughly organized research departments, which in some cases
employ a large number of highly-trained specialists. These plants are
always in search of new outlets for materials that they already are pro-
ducing, new uses for by-products that have insufficient market, and new
opportunities for materials that could be made with present equipment or
with reasonable additions.

Entomologists are discovering that the research staff of a chemical
manufacturer possesses a fund of specialized knowledge which is not
obtainable elsewhere. Such manufacturers as General Chemical, Dow,
Du Pont, Monsanto, Atlantic Refining, General Dyestuffs, National Aniline,
and the various Standard Oil companies, have brought into their employ
the best brains that they could find. Each of these in its own field knows
more about available materials and what could be done to make them more
useful than any other men or group of men could know.

One after another these and other industries have established rela-
tions with entomology. They have undertaken substantial research under
the direction of departments of entomology, or under the direction of the
Crop Protection Institute.

One after another, also, they have added entomologists to their own
staffs. Ten years ago only a few manufacturers employed entomologists.
To-day one can name many.

That this movement will continue and will expand seems certain. The
foundations on which it rests are productive in their scientific aspects and —
sound in their economic promise. As the contacts between entomology
and industry increase, industry acquires a better understanding of the |
problems that it must meet, the limitations inherent in biological under-
takings as compared with purely chemical or mechanical developments, _
and an increased respect for the standards of the entimologist. The lat- ~
ter, in turn, acquires a better comprehension of the possibilities that lie in _
the industrial laboratory. :|

A sign of the times may be observed in a recent development at the
Mellon Institute at Pittsburgh. A trained entomologist has now been
added to the staff of research men directed by the Institute. His work

ee

Sree

= > eae. el, eee ae Pe ee
TT et ee

SE Rai

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 13

represents, of course, an industrial project. But, in turn, he himself repre-
sents primarily the science of entomology.

The Entomologist as a Consultant.—In past years entomologists sel-
dom have served as paid consultants. Traditionally and naturally the
entomologist gives his advice as a part of his public service duties. For
the most part this status will, no doubt, continue. We take it for granted
that the farmer and the fruit grower, the vegetable gardener and the live-
stock grower, are entitled to free help in meeting their problems. Our
social and economic organization is based on that premise.

However, in the present expansion of entomology, consultation service
of a different nature sometimes is called for, and that service logically
commands professional fees. Industries are confronted with special prob-
lems which do not concern the public but relate solely to the industry in
question. Solving the problem means detailed study by an expert, and
perhaps involves organized experimentation. <A solution may mean profits
to the industry, or at least avoidance of serious losses. Under such condi-
tions employment of a consultant is the logical course.

That such work will ever become as extensive as in the engineering
professions seems not at all likely. But it is on the increase and it is of
such character as to demand high-grade, intelligent service on the part of
the entomologists to whom consultation engagements are offered.

Insect Eradication.—In the last ten years entomology has successfully
undertaken actual eradication of newly-established and highly destructive
insect pests. It has been able to secure the funds with which to undertake
such a program, and it has been able to set up an adequate organization.

From this a confidence has grown up within the profession. If a new
and dangerous pest were discovered to-morrow in what appeared to he a
restricted territory there is little doubt but that prompt measures looking
toward the possibility of eradication would be taken. Public interest and
public support would not be difficult to secure. Entomologists in various
capacities would cooperate. Most of all, the profession has learned by
experience what it means to organize an eradication campaign. It knows
a great deal more than it once did about the maintenance of such a cam-
paign. It is learning how to safeguard the movement of products that
might carry the pest into new territory; how to cooperate with common
carriers, including both railroads and post office departments; how to draw
up regulations that can be enforced. And it is learning how to make a de-
cision between the course of abandoning an attempted eradication and the
course of putting it through vigorously and intensively.

Recent organization of transit inspection shows what can be done.
Inspectors at strategic points are watching shipments in order to intercept
any that are moving in violation of regulations. They are steadily edu-
cating express agents, postmasters, and amateur growers in the terms of
existing regulations. The percentage of shipments offered in violation of
regulations has materially decreased.

It is to be expected that dangerous importation of destructive pests
from foreign countries will continue. The avenues for chance importation
cannot be completely blocked without serious interference with normal
and desirable trade. Furthermore, the speeding up of travel with foreign

countries by faster ships, and now by airplanes and dirigibles, means new

14 - - THE REPORT OF THE

risks. Already inspection of the planes now spanning the Pacific has
intercepted merchandise capable of introducing serious pests new to the
American continent. Trans-Pacific planes land at the seacoast where ter-
minal inspection may safely be made. But planes from points south of
the United States do not all land at the border. Glendale, California, is
the approved terminus for planes arriving from Mexico. Inland cities
are continually exerting pressure to secure approval of their landing fields
as termini for planes coming from beyond the border. This means a greater
risk than that which is offered by steamship.

Thus, in the whole field of safeguarding the movement of merchandise,
preventing the introduction of new and dangerous pests, and eradicating
them if they are introduced, entomology is expanding and intensifying its
program. There seems to be no reason to expect that this as diminish
in the years ahead.

Financial Support.—In the last four or five years entomology in
America has been receiving greater financial support than ever before in
its history. In the United States a considerable part of the additional
funds have come through participation in work relief projects arising out
of the depression. Some of these projects have involved expenditures far
beyond any hitherto sought or conceived.

No one can predict to what extent such projects and expenditures may
be continued in the years immediately ahead. That some will be discon-
tinued is to be expected. That some may be continued, perhaps on a
reduced scale, is within the boundaries of possibility. The public has
had a liberal education in the importance of insect suppression and the
benefits that arise from it. To a certain extent law makers have become
accustomed to thinking of insect suppression in terms of substantial sums.

With business resuming its former volume, with unemployment -de-
creasing, with wages rising and purchasing power increasing, either of
two conflicting forces may lie ahead for entomology in its more extensive
control projects. Business improvement may lead to balancing budgets,
and thus to curtailment in order to accomplish that end. Or, business
improvement, if sufficiently great, may lead to liberality. The writer is
inclined to surmise that both influences will make themselves felt. The
net outcome appears to be beyond prediction.

The Training of an Entomologist.—The training of an entomologist
should reflect trends and needs. In general it does so, though it lags some-
what because any substantial changes in educational institutions must win
their way against established customs and ideas. In the last few years
definite changes have taken place. There is less emphasis on various
zoological subjects, more emphasis on chemistry, specialized mathematics,
and other subjects directly related to professional entomology, especially
in its economic aspects.

In general, along with other professions, entomology is in process of
deciding whether it wants a man who is broadly grounded in his earlier
college years, leaving specialization to the upper undergraduate and the
graduate years, or whether it wants a man who specializes from the start.
Institutions such as Chicago University have decided what they propose
to do with reference to their students in any division. The first two years
are spent in laying a groundwork which gives the student a broad, general
outlook on the physical sciences, the biological sciences, the social sciences

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 15

and the humanities. After that is accomplished satisfactorily he may
enter a division and begin to look toward specialization.

e Perhaps one might delineate the entomological training of the years
_tocome asa pyramid. The broad base of such a pyramid would be founda-
_ tional instruction such as that which Chicago University is now requiring.
_ Upon this base would rest another block, less extensive, more intensive,
- consisting of fundamental training in entomology, together with appro-
_ priate instruction in closely related sciences such as chemistry, plant path-
- ology, bacteriology, and others. Upon this in turn would rest another
block of still less area, but of greater height, representing the highly spe-
3 cialized training of graduate entomology leading to the doctor’s degree.
And finally upon this would rise a shaft representing the attainments of
_ the man himself in the practice of his profession.

These are glimpses of the years immediately ahead as the writer sees

them. Some of them may be right, many of them may be wrong. They
fs represent merely one man’s views and expectations.

el teh Le
Magee
A

DEVELOPMENTS IN VACUUM FUMIGATION AT THE
PORT OF MONTREAL

By L. 8. McCLAINE and H. A. U. MUNRO

Entomological Branch, Ottawa

The installation of the vacuum fumigation plant at the port of Mon-
treal has been mentioned in a previous paper by the senior author (1936).
In considering the question of the commercial operation of the plant it
was soon realized that a considerable amount of preliminary experimental
work would have to be carried out to adapt fumigation practices to suit
local problems, either of the present or the future. In this paper a brief
~ account is given of operations which have been based on experiments with
_ two fumigants, hydrocyanic acid gas (HCN) and methyl bromide CH,Br) -
_ carbon dioxide (CO,) mixture.

ioe gE a ES ae 8 Fo LOS ot a REY RE Re eed

: Hydrocyanic Acid Gas.—Prior to the present season consignment of
- broom corn originating in countries other than the United States and
_ destined for Canada have been routed via either Boston or New York for
steam sterilization. At these ports the bales of corn were treated for a

period of 20 minutes in a steam atmosphere obtained by introducing live
steam into a vacuum of 25 inches until a positive pressure of ten pounds
_ per square inch was built up. This treatment is very effective for killing
all forms of insect life, but it has a deleterious effect not only on the appear-
_ ance and suppleness of the corn, but also on its ability to retain an even
_ distribution of the dyes used in colouring the brooms.

Experiments were, therefore, carried out to discover an effective and
comparatively inexpensive method of killing corn borer larvae without
damaging the product. In preliminary work it was found that a complete

- mortality of European corn borer larvae, artificially placed in broom corn
_ Stalks, was obtained by using hydrocyanic acid gas at dosages between

- 8 ounces and 64 ounces per thousand cubic feet for a period of three hours,

‘ after drawing an initial vacuum of 29.5 inches. The vacuum was main-

4

16 THE REPORT OF THE |

tained at approximately 28.5 inches after the introduction of the gas, while
the tank and commodity temperatures varied between 60° F. and 70° F.

In view of these results, shipments of Argentine broom corn were >
accepted for treatment at a dosage of two and a half pounds of liquid —
hydrocyanic acid gas per 1,000 cubic feet for a period of three hours using |
an initial vacuum of 28 inches. Test corn borer larvae placed in these .
shipments continued to show a hundred per cent. mortality at tempera-
tures above 70° F. It was therefore decided that shipments originating
in Europe could be handled under summer conditions. The Department
was then requested by importers to accept broom corn from Europe during |
the winter months. This demanded further experimental work to deter-
mine what effect temporary exposure to low temperatures would have on >
the susceptibility of the corn borer larvae to hydrocyanic acid gas even >
after the bales had been raised to temperatures of 60° F and over. In this
work the problem was whether the mere warming of the bales of broom
corn would bring back the contained larvae to a condition of susceptibility
to fumigation after they had been kept at low temperatures for varying
lengths of time.

Corn stalks and broom corn, either naturally infested or artificially
stocked with corn borer larvae placed in gelatine capsules, were made up
in lots containing about thirty larvae and kept in cold storage at 10° F.
for periods of three, seven, fourteen and twenty-one days respectively.
After removal from storage they were either fumigated immediately,
under the commercial conditions mentioned above, or retained at temper-
atures between 50° F. and 54° F. for periods of one, four, seven and four-
teen days prior to fumigation. The temperatures of the commodities in
the immediate vicinity of the test insects varied between 70° F. and 90° F.
during the fumigation process. :

It was found that a hundred per cent mortality was obtained with all
the larvae which were slightly warmed prior to fumigation, but in the case
of the artificially infested lots kept for seven or fourteen days in cold
storage, and fumigated immediately after removal therefrom, one live
larva was recovered, giving a mortality of 96 per cent. in each instance.
In one lot of naturally infested stalks kept in cold storage for twenty-one
days and fumigated immediately, a mortality of only 76 per cent. was
obtained. These results seem to bear out the commonly expressed belief
that once the larvae are sufficiently warmed up after being chilled they are
again susceptible to fumigation.

It is the present policy never to fumigate bales of broom corn until
the entire interior of the bale is warmed to 60° F. or over. During the
actual process the tank temperature is maintained as close as possible to
SO? He

In accordance with this policy the regulations for handling broom |
corn between November 15th and March 31st stipulate that the commodity
be transported from the ports of New York or Boston in heated cars main-
taining an air temperature of not less than 55° F., and that if any storage
of the product is necessary prior to delivery at the fumigation plant, the
storage space must be maintained at a temperature of not less than 60° F.

Methyl Bromide-carbon Dioxide Mixture.—A proprietary fumigant
containing, by weight, approximately 7 per cent. methyl bromide and 93
‘per cent. carbon dioxide has been used for vacuum fumigation work by

tn.

J SoM,

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 17

Mr. D. B. Mackie, Supervisor of Entomology for the State of California,

who was kind enough to suggest that it might be applied to some of our

work. This fumigant has been tried as a substitute for carbon bisulphide,
as the latter has grave disadvantages owing to its explosive qualities. Like
carbon bisulphide, methyl bromide is almost insoluble in water and appears
to be very toxic to insects, and may therefore hold promise as a fumigant
of infested plant material. It is more suited to fumigation work as it is
practically non-explosive.

In preliminary experiments the mixture was found effective in killing
the larvae of the European corn borer infesting table corn, used at the
rate of 40 pounds of gas mixture per 1,000 cubic feet for a period of ninety
minutes. Shipments of table corn, lightly infested with the borer, origin-
ating on the island of -Montreal within the area quarantined by the Prov-
ince of Quebec authorities, were fumigated with the mixture prior to ship-

- ment to other parts of the Province of Quebec and also to New Brunswick.

On removal from the fumigating tank the borers were not dead, but
appeared very sluggish, and all specimens retained died within a period
of twenty-four hours after treatment.

Specimens of all vegetables fumigated with the mixture under experi-
mental conditions were submitted to the Food and Drugs Laboratory of
the Department of National Health, for analysis to whom we are indebted
for the information contained in the following table:

Dosage of fumigant, Bromine, parts per million
lb. per 1,000 cu. ft. Treated samples Controls,
Extracted untreated,
Commodity CH:Br CO: Ashed by boiling ashed
LE GUGNIC E20 Rae ae Sie eine th nen Se 2.8 BU ler 19 19 7
TE GS ieee a as af ¢ 17 4.5
OS) Se oe en es iy es 15 15 1 or less
MOE MTONVET 220. f 2s. ccseleseosopeetie oe te 15 15 2
“USGL LC “¢ &s 6 sale less than 1
BPOWNAEOs FUICE 2520.0. cccn eget he a 6 a voc
J LET oe. eee ea « s 1.5 1 ae
“ENT E* COTS 1 en a Re ee « sf 10* less than 1
A SUD LES Ai LO ds en ae e rs ie less than 1

*Method of analysis not specified

This analysis shows that , to a very limited extent, the methyl bromide has
combined with the plant material to yield bromine, which is in a water
soluble form. This bromine would, in the case of cooked vegetables, be
largely eliminated in the process of cooking.

In other experimental work this mixture, at the rate of 40 pounds per
1,000 cubic feet for a two hour exposure, has given complete mortality to
apple maggots and codling moth larvae found in the centre of infested
apples. Work is also being done to determine the ultimate effect of both
the mixture and the pure methyl bromide itself on plants, vegetables,
fruits and foodstuffs generally.

REFERENCE

McLAINE, L. S., 1936, Recent Developments in Canadian Regulatory Work. Jour.
Econ. Ent., 29: 766-771. |

18 THE REPORT OF THE

THE AGRICULTURAL PESTS’ CONTROL ACT, 1927
WITH REGULATIONS

By G. E. GRATTAN
Seeds Branch, Ottawa

Prior to 1927, very little attempt was made in Canada to control any
of the preparations which were then offered for sale as insecticides or
fungicides. The Food and Drug Laboratories, it is true, did make a few
random analyses on Paris green, lead arsenate and formalin, but it is very
doubtful if any legal action could have been taken on the grounds of mis-
branding or adulteration.

In 1927, however, a bill was prepared and presented to Parliament .
which was considered and passed, and became known as The Agricultural
Pests’ Control Act. Its scope is wider than insecticides and fungicides
because it also includes weed killers, rat poisons, gopher poisons and agri-
cultural disinfectants.

It provides that no person shall manufacture, import, advertise or
offer for sale, in Canada, any brand of poison as defined under the Act
unless each and every brand is registered and assigned a registration
number. If the applicant for registration resides outside of Canada, he
must appoint a bona fide resident Canadian Agent who will be responsible
for due compliance with the provisions of the Act and regulations.

The application for registration shall state the manufacturer’s name
and address, as well as that of the applicant, the entire brand name and
trade mark of the preparation, its formula in percentages for the confiden-
tial use of the officers in charge of registrations and its guaranteed analy-
sis. Information may also be required concerning the use for which the
poison is to be used, and also experimental data from an institution of
recognized standing showing that the preparation has value for the pur-
pose for which it is being sold. Preparations which are obviously satis-
factory are passed without question; others are referred to any or all of
the various officers in charge of entomology, plant. pathology, bacteriology,
' Health of Animals and the Department of Health.

The application shall be signed by the applicant and also by his Cana-
dian Agent, if the said applicant be non-resident.

The Act gives the Minister the right to refuse to register any poison
if in his opinion the name would tend to deceive or mislead the purchaser
in any way or if the preparation be approximately the same as that of
another brand registered by the same manufacturer, or if it is believed
to be unsuited for the purpose for which it is represented,, or if it is detri-
mental or injurious to vegetation, animals or public health when used
according to directions.

A number of these provisions have been invoked and one or two exam-
ples may be cited. Just after the Act became law, application was received
from a returned soldier who desired to manufacture a chicken louse killer
composed chiefly of calcium sulphide. A 5 grain tablet was dissolved in a
gallon of water. The hens were to drink the water and the dissolved sul-
phide. This was broken down in the digestive processes and finally ex-
creted as hydrogen sulphide in the perspiration of the fowl and owing to
the fact that H.S is a deadly gas would immediately destroy all lice on the

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 19

poultry and keep them free from vermin. Great indignation was ex-
pressed by the applicant and his learned attorney when they were informed
\that poultry did not exude perspiration.

Another example of this may be given concerning a wireworm exter-
'minator. A very enterprising gentleman of Western Canada, who also
“was apparently a good salesman, concocted a mixture of various materials
and applied for registration. On the advice of certain officials of the

Entomological Branch, registration was withheld pending pot and plot
‘tests and from reports which have been received from these tests the with-
holding of registration appeared to be fully justified.

Care has also been exercised in permitting the sale of dangerous
poisons to the general public. A few years ago, certain rat virus prepara-
tions were denied registration on the advice of the officials of the Depart-
ment of Pensions and Health. It was later found that individuals were
importing these for their own use and it was found necessary to amend
the Criminal Code to the effect that it was unlawful to have these prepara-
tions in one’s possession.

More recently, the case of thallium preparations has been considered.
These have been found excellent for the control of ants and also to a certain
extent rats. Several manufacturers desired to place their preparations
'on the market in collapsible tubes similar to those used for tooth paste.
The attractant for ants is syrups or honey and it was considered to be too
dangerous, particularly to small children, to allow the sale of this prepar-
ation unless the container was of a different type and more substantial in
construction. This poison is extremely powerful and even minute quanti-
ties cause permanent and complete loss of all hair. It is also said to be
tasteless.

The Act prescribes an annual regisrtation fee of twenty dollars, pay-
able in advance, with the application.

Provision is also made for cancellation of registration for the violation
of any provision or if the preparation is found to be of doubtful value. So
far, only one registration has been cancelled and this is a so-called disin-
fectant powder.

Provision is also made for prohibition of importation for any viola-
tion of the Act.

All preparations must be labelled to show the brand name, the regis-
tration number, the word poison, skull and crossbones, and antidote in both
English and French if it is harmful to human life, the net quantity in the
package, the guaranteed analysis and the applicant’s name and address.

Provision is made for the appointment of an Advisory Board by the
Minister of Agriculture, which may recommend regulations necessary for
making effective the provisions of this Act.

Inspectors are appointed to take samples, from time to time, of the
different brands on the market and to forward them to an Official Analyst
| appointed under the Act for a chemical or bacteriological examination.

| Penalties are also prescribed for violation of the provisions of the
Act and cases have been taken before a judge and these penalties imposed.

20 ‘THE REPORT OF THE.

The present regulations under the Act prescribe the form on which
application for registration shall be made.

They also set certain standards for the manufacture of arsenicals and
arsenic dusts, lime sulphur solutions and derris powders. As more experi-
ence is gained doubtless other minimum standards will also be set. The
size of printing on the tags or labels is prescribed in so far as the informa- |
tion required by the Act is concerned. |

A list of poisons with their antidotes has been prepared and included |
and while other antidotes may be accepted these are recommended.

: The form in which the guaranteed analysis is to be stated is also
given. |

Fees for analyses are given and methods of analysis outlined.

For the information of our inspection staff, all importations of poisons
are reported by the Customs officers of the National Revenue Department
to the nearest District Office.

At present the Act is under consideration for revision with a view to
having it amended and brought up to date to take care of the greater needs
of the producer, the inspector and the consumer.

PYRETHRUM AND DERRIS DUST
By A. KELSALL and H. T. STULTZ
Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Annapolis Royal, N.S.

Three factors have been responsible for an increasing interest in the
insecticidal properties of pyrethrum and derris. These are, (1), the |
Spray residue situation, and the consequent attempt to utilize insecticides |
comparatively non-poisonous to man; (2) the fact that within recent years
chemical methods for evaluating, at least to a considerable extent, both
pyrethrum and derris have been found which has made the standardiza-
tion of these products possible, and (3) the pronounced decrease in price
of these commodities. Under the present conditions, therefore, the use
of pyrethrum and derris is not accompanied by the uncertainties formerly
prevailing, and with the supplies now available at present market prices,
the use of these materials is both practical and economical.

The objects of the experiments described in this paper were to deter-
mine the relative insecticidal efficiency of pyrethrum and derris against
economic insect species, to determine the dosages required to give control,
and secondarily, to make some observations on the persistence of toxic |
properties and on the effects of diverse diluents.

The experiments described relate entirely to pyrethrum and derris
used in the natural form, as dust. The diluent used in each case, unless
otherwise stated, was gypsum.

The derris powder was guaranteed to contain not less than 4% rote-
none, and the pyrethrum powder not less than 0.9 per cent. total pyre-
thrins. These materials were analyzed by F. A. Herman, Chemical Divi-
sion, C.E.F., and the following is a copy of his report:

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 21

“Derris Powder
Analysed according to following methods: 3
| (a) with sodium-dried ether and purification in alcohol as per method of
+ Tattersfield and Martin.
(b) extraction with chloroform as per method of Beach.
Rotenone (average) found 3.95%.”

“Pyrethrum Powder

Tattersfield’s Acid Method for total pyrethrins.
Pyrethrins 0.94%.”

The pyrethrum and derris dusts were used in several concentrations
in most cases. The work consisted of (1) laboratory tests using the
apparatus of Payne and Stultz previously described, and (2) field experi-
ments.

Records were taken at varying periods after treatment, and the insects
counted were divided into the following groups wherever such a system
was applicable: normal, squirming, quiet, moribund, and dead. In the
laboratory experiments, against such insects with which the method was
practical, record was also kept of the area of foliage consumed, following
the treatment.

The data obtained were very extensive so that a detailed account of
‘the experiments is impossible. This paper is, therefore, a general sum-
mary of the results obtained.

| In addition to the writers of this article, some of the experiments
described were undertaken by other officers of the Entomological Branch.
The field experiments on strawberry weevil were done in co-operation with
R. P. Gorham, and after further experiments, it is probable that a separate
paper dealing with this phase of the work, may be prepared. S. H. Payne
-assisted in many of the laboratory experiments. N. A. Patterson con-
‘ducted one of the field experiments against flea beetles, and one against
the green apple bug, and F. C. Gilliatt conducted one of the field experi-
‘ments against cranberry insects. F. A. Herman, Chemical Division, sup-
|plied some notes on the potato flea beetle.

RESULTS
FALL WEBWORM, Hyphantria cunea Drury

Laboratory Experiments.—Pyrethrum 15 per cent gave 60 per cent
imortality in 10 days. Pyrethrum at 50 per cent and 100 per cent each
‘gave 100 per cent mortality in 5 days.

Derris 25 per cent and 100 per cent each produced 20 per cent mor-
tality in 5 days. However, even though few of the insects were killed,
feeding on foliage was somewhat reduced.

Pyrethrum was, therefore, effective against this insect only when used
in the stronger concentrations. Derris was not effective in producing death
| but did, to some extent, reduce feeding.

EASTERN TENT CATERPILLAR, Malacosoma americana Fab.

Laboratory Experiments.—Pyrethrum 15, 30, and 45 per cent caused
‘mortality of 52, 84, and 100 per cent respectively, in 7 days. The insects
remaining alive did no feeding during the period.

22 } THE REPORT OF THE

Derris 5, 1214, and 25 per cent caused mortality of 0, 28, and 92 per
cent respectively. Caterpillars treated with the weaker dilution fed nor-
mally, but caterpillars treated with the stronger concentration did no
feeding.

Both pyrethrum and derris are effective against the eastern tent cater-
pillar, but apparently only in the stronger Concer |

SATIN MOTH, Stilpnotia salicis L.

Laboratory Experiments.—Pyrethrum 1, 5, 10, 15, and 30 per cent
caused mortality of 0, 10, 30, 85, and 100 per cent in 36 hours.

Derris used up to 25 per cent caused no mortality in any instance.

Field Hxperiments.—R. P. Gorham observed that satin moth cater-
pillars on poplar trees were destroyed by the application of pyrethrum
30 per cent.

These caterpillars were, therefore, very susceptible to pyrethrum dust,
but were entirely resistant to derris, as least up to the highest concen-
tration used.

GRAY BANDED LEAF ROLLER, Hulia mariana Fern.

Laboratory Experiments.—Pyrethrum 15 and 30 per cent caused
mortality of 70 and 40 per cent respectively, in 8 days. Pyrethrum 50 and
100 per cent each caused mortality of 100 per cent*in 5 days. Insects
dusted with pyrethrum below the lethal dosaze : ‘consumed considerably
less foliage than normal caterpillars. |

-Derris 5 per.cent and 12% per a caused mortality of 20 per com
and 10 per cent respectively in 8 days. Derris 25 per cent and 100 per
cent each caused mortality of 40 per cent in 5 days. Feeding was reduced
when caterpillars were treated with more concentrated (Oe but feed-
ing was not reduced from the lesser dosages.

Field Experiments.—Some observations were made in field experi-
ments, and this caterpillar was brought down in large numbers from apple
trees, but not to an extent that constituted a satisfactory control.

Pyrethrum is thus only effective against the gray banded leaf roller
when used in the stronger concentrations. Derris was even more in-
effective. |

BRONZE CuTworM, Nephelodes emmedonia Cram.

These cutworms were collected in the field and treated with pyrethrum
30 per cent and derris 10 per cent. In 2 days 96 per cent of those treated
with pyrethrum were dead, and 21 per cent of those treated with derris.
After 2 weeks a considerable number of derris treated caterpillars were
still alive, though all pyrethrum treated caterpillars had been dead for
some time. The derris treated caterpillars which remained alive continued
to feed normally.

In the concentrations used, therefore, pyrethrum is much more toxic
to this insect than derris.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 23

CABBAGE BUTTERFLY, Pieris rapae L.

Laboratory Experiments.—Pyrethrum 1, 5, 15, and 30 per cent caused
mortality of 67, 100, 100, and 100 per cent respectively, in 2 days.

Derris 5, and 1214 per cent caused mortality of 100 and 80 per cent
respectively, in 2 days, and in another experiment, caused mortality of 67
and 100 per cent respectively, in 1 day.

Field Experiments.—Field experiments against this insect were quite
extensive. Control from both pyrethrum and derris dusts was very
effective. Under our experimental conditions pyrethrum 15 per cent or
derris 5 per cent appeared to give a thorough and practical control. Even
concentrations less than these gave excellent control if thoroughly applied.

This insect was, therefore, very susceptible to both pyrethrum and
derris.

CABBAGE LOOPER, Autographa brassicae Riley

Laboratory Experiments.—Pyrethrum 1, 5, 15, and 30 per cent caused
mortality of 67, 100, 100 and 100 per cent in 2 days. In another experi-
ment, pyrethrum 15 and 30 per cent caused mortality of 75 and 80 per cent
respectively in 1 day.

Derris 5 and 1214 per cent caused mortality of 33 and 50 per cent
respectively, in 1 day.

Field Kxperiments.—In field experiments control from pyrethrum
dusts was excellent. Control from derris was fair. It would appear that
in treating cabbages generally, for cabbage pests, when. field looper is
prevalent, the use of pyrethrum might:be preferable to that of derris.

DIAMOND BACK MOTH, Plutella maculipennis Curt.

Laboratory Experiments.—Pyrethrum 15 and 30 per cent. caused
mortality of 83 and 100 per cent respectively, in 1 day. Derris 5 and 1214
per cent caused mortality of 0 and 40 per cent respectively, in 1 day.

Field Experiments.—tIn the field experiments on cabbages this insect
was not numerous but the indications were that pyrethrum used in the
strengths mentioned above as for the cabbage worm, were effective, but
sufficient data are lacking for any positive statements. —

IMPORTED CURRANT WORM, Pteronidea ribesi Scop.

Laboratory Experiments.—Pyrethrum 15 and 30 per cent caused mor-
tality of 20 and 35 per cent respectively in 2 days.

Derris 5 and 1214 per cent each caused mortality of 100 per cent in 2
days. Derris .25, .50, 1, and 214 per cent caused mortality of 70, 70, 90,
and 91 per cent respectively in 3 days.

Field Hxperiments.—Field experiments against this insect were quite
extensive. Speaking generally, pyrethrum was only effective when used
at 30 per cent concentration or above, and the dust applied copiously.

Derris was most extraordinarily effective against this insect. Der-
ris used at 2.5 per cent was effective from a practical standpoint. It was
observed that bushes treated with derris prevented re-infestation for a

24 THE REPORT OF THE

period apparently as long as 3 weeks, whereas bushes treated with pyre-
thrum were rapidly re-infested by newly hatched insects.

From the above experiments it is obvious that derris is exceedingly
toxic to this insect, but that pyrethrum is only toxic when used copiously.

POTATO FLEA BEETLE, E'pitrix cucumeris Harr.

Laboratory Experiments.—Pyrethrum 5, 15, and 30 per cent, all
caused 100 per cent mortality in 45 minutes.

Derris 5, 1214, and 25 per cent, all caused 100 per cent mortality in.
45 minutes. There was a little uncertainty about the accuracy of the
above results as it was impossible to distinguish between insects knocked
out and those dead, and also there was a high mortality among control
insects kept for 2 days.

Field Experiments.—On areas of potatoes treated with pyrethrum
15 and 30 per cent, flea bettles could be found in fair numbers on both
these areas 2 days after treatment. Flea bettles had been, however,
knocked down completely immediately following the treatment. On a
simliar area treated with derris 5 per cent, practically no flea beetles could
be found 2 days after treatment. The above experiment was, however,
on a comparatively lightly infested field.

Derris 10 per cent was applied to a patch of tomatoes exceedingly
heavily infested with this insect. Within an hour after treatment the
ground was thickly dotted with beetles which were, however, mostly still
alive. One day later these were apparently all dead. Two days later no
flea beetles could be found on the plants. Ten days after treatment the
plants were re-infested to a slight extent.

Several pear trees, situated near a potato patch, were treated with
pyrethrum 30 and 50 per cent and with derris 25 per cent. These pear
trees were being treated for another purpose but it was observed that
shortly after treatment large numbers of potato flea beetles came down
following the derris treatment, most of them falling within an hour and no
recovery within 28 hours. From trees treated with pyrethrum, potato flea
beetles did not fall down to the same extent.

Derris was thus very effective against the potato flea beetle. Results
from pyrethrum were not conclusive, but in any case the effectiveness of
pyrethrum was not persistent.

POTATO BEETLE, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say

Laboratory Experiments.—With adult potato beetles pyrethrum at
5, 15, and 30 per cent caused mortality of 20, 100, and 100 per cent. in 4
days. Derris at 214, 5, and 1214 per cent caused mortality of 100, 80, and
100 per cent respectively, in 4 days. Against potato beetle larvae, pyre-
thrum at 0.5, 1, 5, and 15 per cent caused mortality of 0, 40, 100, and 100
per cent respectively, in 4 days. Derris 5 and 25 per cent each caused
mortality of 100 per cent in 4 days. ~

Field EKxperiments.—Field experiments against this insect were very
extensive. Speaking generally, pyrethrum 15 per cent and derris 5 per
cent each gave a practical and satisfactory control of potato beetles. Con-
centrations less than these, while giving partial control, were not satis-

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 25

Fi factory. In the above tests, dusts were applied at approximately 80
_ pounds per acre.

Y Both pyrethrum and derris were thus very effective against the potato
= beetle.

CABBAGE FLEA BEETLE, Phyllotreta albionica Lec.

Field Hxperiments.—Materials were applied to a field of mangels, the
plants being quite young and severely infested with the cabbage flea
beetle. Pyrethrum was used 30 and 100 per cent, and derris at 10, 30,
and 100 per cent. Showers fell while treatment was being made and
_ showers occurred during the following night. Plots were in duplicate,
- each being about 30 by 35 feet. Two days after treatment the two pyre-
- thrum plots contained flea beetles, but only about a fifth of that of the
- check area. The plots treated with derris 30 and 100 per cent contained
- practically no flea beetles. The plots treated with derris 10 per cent had a
_ few flea beetles, but not nearly as many as on the pyrethrum plots.

} Five days after treatment, all derris treated plots had only a few flea

beetles, whereas there were a considerable number on all of the pyrethrum
plots. At this period, from counts made, there were 16 times as many
- flea beetles on the pyrethrum treated plots as on those treated with derris.

Derris was, therefore, very effective against the cabbage flea beetle,
_ but pyrethrum only produced a partial control.

STRAWBERRY WEEVIL, Anthonomus signatus Say

a Laboratory Experiments.—Pyrethrum 15, 30, 45, and 50 per cent

caused a mortality of 100, 100, 100, and 60 per cent respectively in 3 days.
_ In another experiment, pyrethrum 5, 15, and 30 per cent caused a mortality
_ of 100, 62, and 88 per cent respectively in 3 days.

Derris 5, 1214, and 25 per cent each caused mortality of 100 per cent
in 3 days. In another experiment, derris 2.5, 5, and 1214 per cent caused
_ mortality of 90, 80, and 90 per cent respectively, in 3 days.

Field Experiments.—Field experiments against this insect were exten-
Sive, both on strawberry and raspberry. From some of the earlier field
- experiments, it was concluded that derris was not particularly effective

against the insect, so that later experiments were confined to pyrethrum.
In view, however, of the results in the laboratory, this matter requires
further investigation.

On strawberries, pyrethrum 30 per cent killed all or nearly all of the
weevils on the plants, but in many cases the strawberries became speedily
-re-infested from outside sources. Whether this method will produce a
practical control of strawberry weevil is dependent upon the presence or
otherwise, of outside sources of infestation.

Several large areas of raspberries were treated with pyrethrum 30

per cent. These areas had been very severely attacked by weevils, with
large loss of crop, for several years previously. At the time of treatment,
weevils were numerous on the canes.

One day after treatment practically no weevils could be found. The
canes remained comparatively free from weevils although small numbers
could be found after 3 weeks. A large crop of berries was harvested,

26 THE REPORT OF THE

much the largest ever harvested from these areas. Dust was applied at

approximately 100 pounds per acre. As in the case of strawberries, it is |
probable that the liability of re-infestation from outside sources will deter- |
mine whether this method of control is practical or not. With re-°«
infestation from outside sources, more than one application may be neces- |

sary.

Pyrethrum is thus effective against strawberry weevil, but under
practical conditions economic results obtained may be greatly influenced |
by the surroundings. Sufficient data are not available for any definite ©

statement regarding derris.
CUCUMBER BEETLE, Diabrotica vittata Fab.

Laboratory Experiments.—Pyrethrum 0.5, 1, 5, and 15 per cent caused >

mortality of 60, 60, 90, and 100 per cent respectively in 1 day.

Derris 1, 2.5, and 5 per cent caused mortality of 20, 80, and 100 per |

cent respectively in 1 day.

Field Experiments.—Field experiments showed that as indicated in |
the laboratory experiments, this insect is very susceptible to both pyre- |

thrum and derris. The indications were, however, that re-infestation was

more rapid on plants treated with pyrethrum than on plants treated with ©

derris.

Both aaa and derris were, therefore, effective jones this —

insect, but indications are that derris is the more practical material.

_CABBAGE APHIS, Brevicoryne brassicae L.

gona Kuperiments.—Pyrethrum 5, 15, 30, 45, and 100 per cent |

caused mortality of 25, 60, 70, 90, and 100 per cent respectively im’ Z days.

Derris 1214, 25, and 50 per cent caused mortality of 5, 10, a 20 per |

cent respectively in 2 days.

Field Experiments. —Pyrethrum 30. per - cent and abaya gave good |
control where dusting was thorough. At lower concentrations, the results

were not: satisfactory. Nevertheless, re-infestation was quite rapid,
treated plots being again severely infested 3 weeks later.

In field experiments plots treated with derris up to 25 per cent, gave :
in all cases a poor and unsatisfactory control, and were decidedly inferior |

to pyrethrum. At the end of 3 weeks, while the whole area was re-infested,
the derris plots were more severely infested than the pyrethrum plots.

Pyrethrum dust 30 per cent or over may be satisfactory against cab- _

bage aphids providing dust is thoroughly and frequently applied. Derris
appeared to be quite unsatisfactory.

BLUNT NosE LEAF Hopper, Huscelis striatulus Fall.,
AND OTHER CRANBERRY INSECTS

Field Experiments.—Several cranberry bogs were treated with 30

per cent pyrethrum for the blunt nose leaf hopper, at the rate of 100 pounds |
per acre. In all cases control was practically complete. In one area |
three series each of 50 net sweepings before treatment gave 72, 170, and |

107 hoppers per series. The hoppers were mostly in the last nymphal

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 27

—_—_—

stages, a few adults being present. 20 hours after treatment, a similar
series of sweepings gave no hoppers. 15 days after treatment a similar
series of sweepings gave hoppers 1, 1, and nil.

In the same experiment a number of unidentified geometrids were
present, and these were likewise completely eliminated.

Observations made in other experiments using the same material,
also showed a high degree of control of newly hatched black headed fire-
worm.

Pyrethrum dust 30 per cent was thus effective against the cranberry
insects mentioned above.

GREEN APPLE BuG, Lygus communis Knight

Field Experiments.—An orchard of 60 trees was dusted at the rate of
about 60 pounds per acre, with pyrethrum dust 30 per cent, the orchard
having an infestation of green apple bug which were in the adult stage.

The adults began to drop a short time after dusting. These insects

remained alive for some time but were practically all dead the day follow-

ing. 380 adults were collected under one moderate sized tree.

The destruction of this insect by means of pyrethrum dust is of con-
siderable interest and opens up decided possibilities, not only on apple,
but in preventing damage to pears. Previous experience has shown that.
nicotine dust against the adults of this insect is quite unsatisfactory.

Incidentally, there were a fair number of rosy aphids in this orchard.
A considerable number were brought down but all were alive and moving
‘about, the day following treatment. Many-rosy aphids remained on ws
trees and these showed no ill effects from the treatment.

BUFFALO TREE HOPPER, Goycca Dubois aly

Field Experiments. —A number of small trees were dusted vette 30 per
cent and 50 per cent pyrethrum and with derris 25 per cent. These trees
were infested with adults of the buffalo tree hopper.

On both pyrethrum plots the buffalo tree hopper mou dropped witle
in 20 minutes and practically all were down within an hour. These insects
only remained alive for a short period, and apparently mortality was
complete.

The derris was entirely ineffective, no hoppers falling following this
treatment.

Incidentally in this experiment large numbers of the white apple leaf
hopper fell on the pyrethrum treated plots. These did not succumb as
rapidly as the buffalo tree hopper, but most of them showed very little
activity at the end of 18 hours.

The derris did not bring down any of the white apple leaf hopper.

TARNISHED PLANT Bue, Lygus pratensis L.

Field Experiments.—Three greenhouses were found, devoted to the
culture of chrysanthemums, which were severely infested with the tar-
nished plant bug. A few adults were present but most were in nymphal

28 THE REUORT OF THE

stages. Most of the plants were about 15 inches in height, and averaged
114 bugs per plant. A small bed of larger plants had 4 to 5 bugs per plant.
These greenhouses were treated with pyrethrum 100 per cent, using a
rotary hand duster.

214 hours after dusting, no active bugs, either adult or nymphs, could
be found on any of the plants. Bugs in a knocked-out condition were to
be found on the ground beneath the plants. 4 days later examination
showed that the pyrethrum dust had completely controlled the infestation.

It is interesting to note that unidentified aphids were found still alive
after this treatment. On the other hand, sow bugs which came into con-
tact with the dust, were dead.

PEAR PSYLLA, Psylla pyricola Foerst

Field Experiments.—A few individual pear trees severely infested
with nymphs and adults of the pear Psylla, were treated, late in the season,
with pyrethrum 30 per cent and derris 25 per cent. The adults mostly
flew away and escaped at the time of dusting, and most of those that did
fall, disabled, later recovered. On trees treated with pyrethrum, nymphs
were rather slow in falling, but nearly all had fallen in 24 hours. Treated
trees were practically clear of the nymphs. On trees treated with derris,
nymphs were very slow in dropping, and but few had dropped at the end
of 24 hours. Nevertheless, they appeared to be affected and commenced
to drop later. Trees were not examined again until 2 weeks after treat-
ment when the derris treated trees were found to be practically free from
nymphs. Nymphs were still abundant on check trees.

PERSISTENCE OF TOXICITY

Definite experiments relating to the persistence of toxicity after dust-
ing were all done in: connection with the potato beetle, although some
observations were made in connection with other insects. The method
followed in some cases was to dust foliage, and to place insects on the
dusted foliage after the expiration of definite periods. In other cases
plates were dusted and these plates exposed for definite periods, and then
insects allowed to crawl through the dust and in some instances, insects
were caused to roll in the dust. Records of temperature and sunshine
_ were kept in connection with these experiments.

Speaking generally, the oe appear to be the more important
results obtained.

(1) The toxicity of derris was considerably more persistent than
that of pyrethrum.

(2) The heavier the dust film, the longer was the persistence of
toxicity with both pyrethrum and derris, but particularly so with derris.

(3) The more concentrated the dust, the longer was the persistence of
toxicity.

(4) Persistence of toxicity was shorter in sunlight than in shade,
this applying to both pyrethrum and derris.

(5) A general idea of the persistence of toxicity may he gathered
from the following: Pyrethrum 15 per cent lost its toxicity in 6 hours of
sunshine at an air temperature of from 74° to 83° F. Pyrethrum 100 per
cent exposed to sunlight 8 hours with air temperature, minimum 55° and
maximum 68°, lost most of its toxicity in a 24 hour period. Derris 15 per

i iB
Se ee

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 29

cent exposed 6 hours to sunlight, lost most of its toxicity in that period,
exposed at air temperature of minimum 74° and maximum 83°. On the
other hand, derris dust at the same concentration in the shade, minimum

air temperature 55° and maximum 83°, lost most of its toxicity in 24 hours.

Derris dust 25 per cent in the shade, minimum air temperature 55°, maxi-
mum 83°, retained a good deal of its toxicity after 50 hours, and showed

some toxicity after 100 hours. Derris dust 100 per cent, through 42 hours

sunshine, minimum temperature 45°, maximum 73°, showed considerable
toxicity at the end of 168 hours. On some susceptible insects such as the
currant worm, there was evidence of the toxicity of derris for a prolonged
period, even up to 3 weeks.

EFFECT OF DILUENT

In the experiments dealt with previously, the diluent in each case was
gypsum. Hydrated lime, however, is a commonly available material and
it was considered desirable to determine the effect of hydrated lime upon
both pyrethrum and derris. Accordingly, dusts were prepared at vary-
ing concentrations using both gypsum and hydrated lime as diluents.
These were tested when freshly mixed and similar dusts were stored in
jars in a dark cupboard for subsequent tests. Most of this work was done
on the potato beetle.

In general, the results were as follows :—

(1) Mixtures of hydrated lime and pyrethrum had equal toxicity to
those of gypsum and pyrethrum when used fresh and during a period up
to 16 days after mixing. After a period of 68 days, mixtures of pyre-
thrum and hydrated lime, while still highly toxic, were decidedly less toxic
than corresponding mixtures of pyrethrum arid gypsum. After a period
of 3 months, this difference was further accentuated, but nevertheless the
mixtures of pyrethrum and hydrated lime were still decidedly toxic.

(2) Mixtures of derris and hydrated lime did not appear to show
deterioration in toxic properties when compared with mixtures of derris
and gypsum, through a three-month period.

(3) However, there was some inconsistencies in the above experi-
ments and samples of all materials are held for further tests at longer
periods of storage.

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

The use of both pyrethrum and derris, for the control of many insect
species, is both practical and economical.

Pyrethrum was effective against more insect forms than was derris,
but derris was effective against several species against which pyrethrum
was not satisfactory.

Pyrethrum may be used under conditions where persistence of toxicity
on foliage is not required, but if maintenance of toxicity is important, it
would appear that derris is to be preferred against those insects which are
susceptible to derris.

Dusts containing 0.4 per cent rotenone or 0.25 per cent total pyre-
thrins, appear to be suitable for general purposes, but concentration of
dusts and the amount used per acre may be varied greatly. Both pyre-
thrum and derris may be applied without any diluent, providing the dust-
ing apparatus will give thorough coverage with the smaller amount of
material used.

30 3 THE REPORT OF THE

A LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE
RELATIVE TOXICITY OF CONTACT DUSTS

By-s: HAPAYNE and Hei STULL eZ
Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Annapolis Royal, N.S.

In the course of planning an experimental project designed to deter-
mine and evaluate the relative insecticidal value of pyrethrum and derris
dusts, A. Kelsall pointed out to us that it was desirable that a new labora-
tory apparatus should be designed for the purpose of conducting biological
tests with contact dusts.

In developing such an apparatus, several desirable characteristics
were kept in mind. First, it should be possible to lay down a series of
dust films, or give successive dustings, all of which would be of uniform
density. In the second place, these dusts should be evenly distributed
over the area dusted. Other important considerations were convenience
of manipulation, ease with which it could be thoroughly cleaned, speed
with which successive dusts could be applied and adaptability to different
methods of using dust in laboratory experiments.

An apparatus designed to fill these specifications has been developed
during the past season. It consists, essentially, of a closed dusting cham-
ber into which a known quantity of dust may be injected at a controllable
rate and force and subsequently distributed evenly over the area to be

dusted. |

Fic. 1.—Assembly of equipment for the construction of the apparatus for making
toxicity tests of contact dusts.

4 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 51

The dust chamber consists of a rectangular wooden box having inside
dimensions of 914 x 1014 inches in breadth and thickness and an overall

- height of 18 inches. There are four glass windows, one on each side, each

“measuring 1134x634 inches. They are sealed with putty. Running

around the inside and 3% of an inch from the upper and lower ends of the

box, are two sets of 34 inch wooden strips. The four strips of each set

are joined at the four corners of the chamber wall. The upper strips form

a seat upon which a close fitting cover 34 of an inch in thickness, may be
placed. The top of the cover when in place, would therefore be flush with

the upper rim of the box. The lower strips form a seat which rests upon

the base of the box. This base consists of a 34 inch board of the same

surface dimensions as those of the inside of the lower end of the box.

When in position to use, the lower end of the box extends down over the
base for 3 of an inch, the strips resting on the top of the base thus holding

up the box. This method of construction provides a close fitting top and

bottom and yet allows the sides of the box to be readily separated from the

top and the base. This facilitates cleaning of the chamber. The sides

and cover of the box are made of planed 3% inch pine stock. The inside
surfaces are smoothed with fine sandpaper, shellacked and then sand-

papered again.

The base is nailed to the top of a simple wooden stand. Through the
centre of the base and continuing down through the top of the stand, is a
34, inch hole. Into this is fitted a rubber cork having a hole through the
centre into which a 14 inch glass tube may be fitted. This tube is the

outlet for the incoming dust.

A small hole near the lower end of one side of the box is provided to
allow for the rapid equalization of air pressures when dust laden air is

forced into the chamber from below. If desired, this may be closed with
~acork.

The dust reservoir consists of an “oil tube, long form” as “adapted
by the American Society for Testing Materials and used for determining

precipitation, also water and sediment in oil for standard method 1930”.

_ The special virtues of this type of reservoir are that the lower end tapers

_ to a nicely rounded apex, and that the mouth has a reinforced rim. This

is fitted with a rubber cork which has two holes, each large enough so that
a inch glass tube may be fitted through it. Through one runs a glass

tube which, when the cork is in place, extends to within 14, inch of the apex
of the dust reservoir. It extends for about 3 inches outside of the cork.
The inner end of the tube in the second hole is just flush with the lower

surface of the cork. The outer end extends about 3 inches beyond the
eork. A rubber tube connects this glass tube with the glass tube which
projects through the cork in the base of the dust chamber, and which acts
as a dust outlet. The latter tube extends an inch above the top of the dust
chamber base. The longer tube in the dust reservoir is connected with
the outlet from a pressure tank by means of a long rubber tube. It is
through this tube that air under pressure is forced into the dust reservoir.
Separate reservoirs, each with its own cork and tubes, are provided for
each kind of dust used.

Air at a controllable pressure is obtained by means of a pressure tank
fitted with a pressure gauge. So far we have obtained our air pressure
by means of an automobile hand pump. A more efficient method for

32 THE REPORT OF THE

obtaining constant pressure would be to use a motor driven air pump
provided with a gas-regulator valve.

Let us now consider the modus operandi of the apparatus as so far

described. First, a small quantity of dust is placed in the dust reservoir.
The cork with its tubes is then put in place, and-the dust shaken to the

apex of the reservoir, which hangs down. There is now a continuous |

closed passage running from the pressure tank, through the dust reservoir
and out through the outlet tube in the base of the dust chamber. If the
outlet from the pressure tank is opened so that air under pressure is intro-
duced into this system, it will cause a violent disturbance of the dust in the
reservoir; as a result, the dust will be taken up by the air and carried to
the outlet into the chamber. Here it will be injected to form a finely
divided cloud of dust which rises to fill the chamber. This dust immed-
lately starts settling to the bottom of the chamber.

For several reasons, it was considered undesirable that insects should |

be hit directly by this stream of dust-laden air; also, the set-up as so far
described is not well adapted for the covering of a glass plate with a uni-

form coating of dust. However, by utilizing the falling of dust by gravity |

from the upper part of the chamber after a charge had been injected, the
factor of mechanical disturbance or injury is avoided and at the same
time, a uniform dust is obtained. This is done by introducing an accessory
piece of apparatus into the chamber. It consists of an inverted metal cone
suspended, by three stiff wire legs, in such a way that the tip of the cone is
placed directly above and 134 inch from the opening of the dust outlet in
the base of the chamber. The dust laden air, striking the top of this cone,
is carried up past it to the upper part of the chamber. As a result, the
dust particles are quite evenly distributed so that when they fall they form
a very uniform dust film upon any surface below. A wire screen is fas-
tened across the upper base of the cone; this forms a surface upon which
may he placed any object or objects to be dusted. The cone is made of
tinned sheet-iron. The distance from base to apex is 614 inches and the
diameter of the base is 4144 inches. A petri dish 334, inches in diameter
was found to be a very suitable container for receiving dust films and for
holding insects to be dusted; it is convenient to use and fits well within the
area comprising the base of the cone.

As we have indicated above, insects may be either dusted directly by
the dust falling from above, or they may be brought into contact with a
film of dust which has been previously put upon a plate. If the insects to
be treated are very active, direct dusting can be done only if the top of
their container is screened. In such a case the insects come in contact
with the dust only after it has fallen through the screen. Insects which
are not too active, may be dusted as they rest in the uncovered petri dish
or upon a suitable screen.

Another satisfactory method of bringing test insects into contact with
a dust is by the use of a dust film ona plate. At the end of a definite period
of time following the injection of the dust, the plate is removed from the
chamber. The required number of test insects may then be emptied upon
the dust film from a clean receptacle into which they have been previously
counted. If the insects are active crawlers, they may be left to crawl
about in the film, for a definite length of time. For this method a contact
period of two minutes was found sufficient. Inseets which are not uni-
formly active are best treated by gently rolling them about in a dust film.

+

ae die ea

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 35

The method of doing this is to drop the required number of insects upon
the film and then immediately give the dish a rolling motion by holding it
upright with the fingers, at the same time tipping it about in various direc-
tions for a definite number of times. Five rolls were found to give satis-
factory results. This method ensures that each insect in a test gets
approximately the same opportunity to come into contact with the dust
film.

The quantity of dust used per test depends upon the purpose one has
in.mind in making it. Thus, the quantity is varied when studying the
influence of density of dust film upon the persistence of toxicity when
exposed to different conditions. For the ordinary run of experiments,
comparing the relative toxicities of diluted pyrethrum and derris dusts, a

charge of 0.5 grams of dust was found to be satisfactory. In every case

the dust charge for each test is weighed on a balance before being injected
into the dust chamber.

The results obtained with this apparatus have proven very satisfac-
tory. The individual dust films which it makes is of uniform density over
the whole plate. A series of plates, dusted one after the other, each receive
a dust film of the same density, providing in all cases that the quantities
of dust, the air pressure, and the length of time the dust plate is left in the
chamber after each dust injection, are equal. In the case of direct dusting
on insects, the results are uniform and consistent providing a sufficient
number of insects, each in the same stage of development, are used.

THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER IN ONTARIO IN 1936
By L. CAESAR
Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph

In 1985 the European corn borer (Pyrausta nubilalis Hubn.) in-

creased nearly threefold in Essex, Kent, Lambton, Middlesex, Elgin, Nor-

folk and Oxford counties and even more than that in Prince Edward, and
Lennox-and-Addington. It increased also in almost all of the other coun-
ties, but in several of them to a much less extent than in those mentioned.
This great increase, especially as it took place in the main corn growing
counties, caused much anxiety to the growers themselves and to many
others. Consequently an attempt was made last fall and winter to show
the growers in these counties, especially in Essex and Kent, that great
care would have to be taken to make as good a clean-up on corn fields and
other corn remnants as possible; because, if this were not done, and if
weather conditions happened to be as favorable in 1936 as they had been
in 1935, the borer might again increase threefold and then, as in 1925,
1926 and 1927, great losses would be incurred. I personally was very
anxious because I knew that a large percentage, probably 50 per cent, of all
the corn in Essex and Kent had not been cut before winter and I saw
that if nothing was done to this before the spring it would be a tremendous
task to get it all cut and the ground cleared before the moths emerged.
Efforts were therefore made to have as many of these standing fields of
corn as possible broken off by means of heavy beams or iron rails or else
cut level with the ground by hoes and the stalks gathered and burned at
once while still dry. Unfortunately snow came early and remained on

34 ) THE REPORT OF THE

until spring so that nothing could be done during the winter and the whole
work was left until the spring. The task looked impossible of accom-
plishment, but the farmers, recognizing the menace, co-operated well with
the inspectors and a very fair job was done, though in Essex where condi-
tions were more difficult than in the other counties somewhat more stubble
and other corn remnants were left on the surface than in previous years.

This fall, as usual, we inspected as many counties as time permitted
to see what the infestation was compared with that in 1935. We found.
that it varied greatly: In Essex (including Pelee island), the western half
of Middlesex, and in parts of Ontario and Lincoln counties, there was a
large increase. In Kent, Elgin, Lambton, Oxford, Brant, Welland, Haldi-
mand and apparently in Peel there was little difference from 1935. In
Norfolk and York there were conspicuous decreases. Norfolk had only
3.7 per cent of the corn plants infested. There also seemed to have been
a decrease in Prince Edward, but not sufficient fields were inspected there
to determine this definitely. Reports from members of the Entomological
Branch, Ottawa, and from a few others, indicated that there was a large
increase at least from Kingston to the Quebec boundary.

When inspecting the different counties it was interesting to observe
that early corn in at least all the south-western part of the province seemed
to be more heavily infested than usual compared with corn planted a week
or two later. Of course it is well known that the earliest planted corn
usually is most heavily infested. This fact seemed, however, more con-
spicuous than in previous years. For instance, in parts of Essex there
were early fields which had an average of over 80 per cent of the stalks
infested, whereas fields planted ten days later had an average not higher
than 25 per cent. | |

You will be glad to know that in spite of the increase in Essex, which
is now the most heavily infested county west of Toronto, there were no —
fields with enough borers to prevent a fairly good yield. Moreover even —
the very early fields were not as highly infested as the average for the
whole county in 1926. Hence there is no good reason to be unduly alarmed,
though the situation is sufficiently serious to demand close attention next
spring.

You will probably ask why there was so great a variation in the infes-
tation in the different counties this year. I think that the large increase
in Essex compared with no increase in Kent is to be explained in two ways.
First, Essex was not as well cleaned up last spring as Kent, and second,
there were some rains in parts of Essex which Kent did not get and which
coming at apparently a critical time would be very favorable to the insect.
The great decrease in Norfolk, I feel sure, may be attributed to the long
drought in that county. So far as I can learn the drought was more exten-
sive in Norfolk than in any other county. The increase in the eastern
part of the province coincides with the much greater amount of moisture
in that area.

I am convinced that if we had a full weather record of the different
counties for the last ten years or more and had full and accurate data on
the degree of infestation in each county each year, we could discover a
wealth of information that would explain the ups and downs of the insect
from season to season. In fact I think that a careful study of weather
conditions in relation to infestation records, even in Essex and Kent alone,

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 35

:
would yield information that would be of great value not only in its bear-
‘ing on the corn borer alone but also on other insects.

: In conclusion I wish to call your attention to work done by the U. S.
Bureau of Entomology on breeding and testing strains of corn resistant to
‘the borer. This work gives promise of a factor that is in our hands to use

in simplifying control. The U. 8S. men have shown, in the case of field

corn, that if certain crosses are used they will lessen the number of borers
which can establish themselves in the plants by almost 50 per cent. If we

‘had corn that would lessen the number even by 20 per cent it would make
it very much easier to hold the borer here. In fact I think that if we had

such strains of corn we would not need the Corn Borer Act in most coun-
ties and perhaps in none. I therefore feel that we in Canada should make
a vigorous effort to have our agronomists take up this problem of breeding
resistant hybrids in co-operation with the U. 8S. Bureau of Plant Industry.
The men of that Bureau, I was informed at Toledo, would be very glad to

give us the benefit of their experience and to provide us with seed for start-
ing off experiments of our own. The work, however, in this province
would have to be done by agronomists in co-operation with the entomolo-

‘gists. Iam bringing up the question at Guelph and would like very much

to see the men at Harrow undertake the work there.

THE SWEET CLOVER WEEVIL
By H. W. GoBLE
Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph

At the last annual meeting of this society, Professor Caesar gave a
short paper on a weevil (Sitona cylindricollis Fabr.) attacking sweet
clover which in this paper we shall speak of as the sweet clover weevil.
In his paper he described a very severe outbreak of this insect near Lindsay
-and another near Newmarket and stated that from information from the
Entomological Branch, Ottawa, and from the Bureau of Entomology,
_Washington, the beetle was apparently an importation from Europe. The
earliest record of it in Canada was in 1927 and in the United States in
B1932.

The serious damage in York and Victoria counties last fall and the
belief that the insect was a comparatively recent importation, caused
Professor Caesar to feel that a study of it should be undertaken this spring
in hopes of finding some means of control in case the beetles continued to
increase. The writer was assigned this task.

Distribution and Abundance in Ontario.—Observations this spring
and early summer by members of our Department showed that the insect
occurred, not merely in the two counties mentioned above, but all over the
Province from Ottawa to Windsor and from lakes Ontario and Erie to
Algonquin Park and Georgian bay. It was found in every sweet clover
field visited, on almost every plant along the roadside and in villages and
towns. In many clover fields there was scarcely a plant whose foliage did
not show the characteristic feeding marks. In some fields there were
from 1 to 10 or more beetles per plant. The enormous number of beetles
caused us to fear that the prospect for sweet clover, in Ontario at least,

_ was black.

va
iit,

36 THE REPORT OF THE : eae

Food Plants.—Sweet clover is by far the favorite. Alsike also is
attacked but to a much less extent. There were indications that black
medick at times was fed upon. Observations throughout the province
and cage tests indicated that where sweet clover was present compara-
tively little damage was done to either of the other two plants. Red
clover and alfalfa and other legumes, as far as observed, were immune.

life History and Habits.—Hibernation occurred only in the adult |

stage. The beetles were found on the ground in clover fields beneath plant
refuse of any kind, also inside old corn stubble, in long grass along head-
lands, in cracks in fence rails, and under loose bark on cedar posts.

As soon as the weather warmed up, in fact on April 30th (maximum
temperature at Guelph, 64° F.), the first beetles in outdoor cages were seen
to be active and a few days later were active also in various places in the

field. Feeding began almost at once. In feeding the adults eat small |

crescent-shaped notches from the edges of the leaves, and when numerous
totally strip the plants. For the first week or two, before egg laying, the
beetles fed voraciously. Then they slackened off somewhat until after
most of the eggs were laid, when active feeding was resumed. Feeding
continued until late in July or early in August, when the over-wintering
adults died off.

Mating commenced from one to two weeks after the beetles emerged
from hibernation, was very common until the end of May and then slack-
ened off but occasional pairs were found in copula until August. The
earliest eggs were found in cages in the open on May 13th. Eggs in the
field were very difficult to find, although great numbers must have been
laid. So far as observed they were laid indiscriminately here and there
over the surface of the soil beneath the plants. Egg laying continued at

least to the end of June as indicated by dissection of the females and by the |

presence of young larvae throughout July.

Larvae were of typical Rhynchophorous form, being curved, white |

and legless. The head was brown with distinct darker brown mandibles.
Full-grown they averaged 5mm. in length. As far as could be determined
they fed entirely on the fine roots and root hairs from slightly below the
surface to 6 inches or more in depth. This year, because of their small
numbers, and the large root system of sweet clover, no appreciable damage
was done. In years when the larvae are very abundant the damage might
be severe. An occasional larva was found up to the 13th of August. In
sandy soil the great majority of them were full-grown the end of June
and on heavy soil a week or so later.

The first pupa was found on June 20th, but as four newly emerged

adults were seen on June 25th, pupation must have begun around the 10th. |
Pupation takes place in a loose-textured pocket in the soil. Pupae, of |

course, are white. The length of this stage was not definitely determined.

The earliest of the new generation of adults were seen on June 25th. |
They continued to emerge well on into August. The greater part appeared —
the last week in June in sandy soil and in July in heavier soil. As far as —
known no eggs were laid by this generation, thus giving one generation in |

a year. These beetles, like the over-wintering ones, fed upon the foliage

and feeding continued into October, but owing to their very small num- ©
bers, no appreciable damage was done. In the fall of 1935, however, they _

did great damage both to clover left for seed and to the new seedling crop.

HNTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY Oo”

In heavily infested fields near Lindsay and. Newmarket they occurred in
countless numbers and stripped the seed clover of almost all its leaves and

caused most of the seed to fall. They also attacked the young seedling

i

plants, stripped the greater part of them of all leaves and caused most of

them to die before winter.

Causes of the Great Decrease this Year.—Instead of having, as we

expected, vastly more beetles this fall there were less than one-tenth as
many. The decrease was undoubtedly brought about by natural factors.

All the eggs seen in the insectary and those brought in from the fields

failed to hatch. Mating was so conspicuous that lack of fertilization can
scarcely have been the cause. The probability is that it was lack of
moisture, but this was not proven. Larvae, except in rare cases, were
scarce, 25 being the greatest number found in the soil around a plant..
Most plants had less than 5 larvae per plant, whereas from the number
of beetles present and the long egg-laying period, one would have expected
from 50 to over 100 per plant. The scarcity of larvae may have been
caused by failure of the eggs to hatch as mentioned above, by the dryness
and hardness of the soil for a good part of the season, or by predators,
especially ground beetles and their larvae. We saw no proof of disease
being a factor. Whatever the causes were, it is clear that this insect is
greatly affected by its environment. The great numbers this spring would
indicate that if it is of European origin it must have been present in this
country for 20 years or more.

Control.—Plots were sprayed with arsenate of lead, with and without
molasses, with no control obtained. Other plots were sprayed with barium
fluosilicate with and without molasses. These also showed no results.
Arsenate of lead as a dust was ineffective. Barium fluosilicate and talc,
equal parts, was also applied as a dust. This, as far as could be judged,
gave commercial control. It was difficult, however, to be absolutely cer-
tain as the beetles flew around freely and reinfested the plants. Poison
baits were tried, including Downe’s bait. None of these killed. It is
probable that a fair measure of control might be obtained if the clover
were cut in early bloom and harvested as hay and the stubble at once well
ploughed under. This would destroy many of the pupae and many of the
larvae. Just how effective this would be cannot be told without actual
tests.

A REPORT ON THE ALFALFA SNOUT BEETLE,
Brachyrhinus ligustici L., IN NEW YORK
By CHARLES E. PALM
Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

The alfalfa snout beetle, Brachyrhinus ligustici L., is a pest of Euro-

pean origin that appeared in destructive numbers in the Oswego area of

New York along the eastern shore of lake Ontario in 1933. Investiga-
tions were begun by Cornell University and have been continued to date.
This insect is a wingless weevil one-half an inch in length, dark greyish
black with pear] grey scales over the body. It is parthenogenetic and each
female is capable of depositing several hundred eggs. On alfalfa, the
favored host, the beetle probably deposits on an average of over three

38 THE REPORT OF THE

hundred eggs. The normal two year life cycle may extend to three years |
on certain host plants. Alfalfa and all of the clovers are susceptible to
injury. After emerging from the soil in April and May the beetles |
migrate, feed, and begin to oviposit about May 15. Oviposition has been |

obtained in the laboratory as late as September 8, although most of the |
eggs are laid by August 1. The legless grubs hatch from the eggs in the

top inch of soil around the host plants, pass through seven instars of.

development and in their feeding destroy the side and tap roots of the

alfalfa and clover plants. The grubs feed until about December 1 when
they go down into the soil to an average depth of ten to twelve inches. The |

following June, July and August pupation takes place at this depth and |
the newly formed beetles remain inactive in the old pupal cells until they
emerge the following April, completing the two year development period.

Control Measures.—The New York State College of Agriculture at |
Cornell University is conducting the research work on this insect and is |
assisting on all other phases of the problem. The New York State De-
partment of Agriculture and Markets is in charge of regulatory and sup-

pression measures and general scouting activities. In the spring of 1936 |

control measures were applied to the entire area known to be infested in
Oswego and Jefferson counties. The’ raisin-shorts- sodium fluosilicate bait

|

developed by Downes (1) in British Columbia was used. Grinding this.

bait in large quantities presented a difficult problem. Two, large power

meat choppers rated at a capacity of 1,500 pounds of meat per hour were .
used. . On the first grinding a 3% inch. disc worked .best with a two bladed |

knife; on the second grinding a 14, inch disc with a breaker on the outside

to make small pellets of the moist bait proved satisfactory. The bait was

placed in: bushel baskets -which held: approximately fifty pounds. of. the

moist bait. More than.110,000 pounds of bait were prepared and dis- |
tributed. The spreading was done by hand and all fields received from |

day:

two to four ape ens nea spread on.an. Byori of un ESS a

The esulte of the canto work were encouragins. Mier aen! of. this |

Insect was effectively checked and a large per cent of the beetles were
killed in all of the ‘fields. Field injury in 1936 was much less than in
previous years. It seems unlikely that complete control in alfalfa and
clover will be possible because some of the beetles feed on the foliage and
are not attracted to the bait. Another difficulty is the late straggling
emergence on heavy soil and low wet spots in some fields. On plowed
ground it is possible to obtain a very high per cent of kill. Infested
alfalfa and clover can be plowed under in the fall and the plowed ground

baited in the spring. Corn is a safe crop to follow in the rotation. The |
corn stubble should be turned under in the fall and the plowed ground |

baited again the following spring. In this way it is possible to clean up an
infestation almost entirely. The growers are aware of this fact and
plowed as much of their alfalfa as possible in 1936 and gradually will plow

all of their seedings in an effort to eliminate the problem on their own |
farms. It is hoped that such practices will reduce the pest to minimum |

importance on each farm and likewise throughout the infested area.

Poison bait will be used again in 1937 over the twelve hundred acres —

known to be infested.

Dusts and sprays of arden ival and flourine compounds were tested

experimentally on clover and alfalfa foliage. Under optimum conditions |

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY } | 39

dusts and sprays may be of some value but field conditions render them
practically worthless in northern New York. Apple pomace, bran, ground
oats, alfalfa meal, sawdust, and cracked corn were used in various bait
combinations. A bait composed of moistened cracked corn, 100 pounds,
sodium fluosilicate 5 pounds, and waste honey, 2 to 3 gallons, was easily

_ prepared and compared favorably on test plots with raisin-shorts bait.

Distribution.—B. ligustici is elusive in small numbers and is difficult
to discover unless sufficiently abundant to cause visible injury to the plants.
The area surrounding the known infestations was scouted in the fall of
1936. The scouting extended along the St. Lawrence river through

northern New York to Plattsburg on lake Champlain, through central

and western New York to the lake Chautauque district southwest of
Buffalo. No new infestations were found although new fields were added
in the infested area that had not been located previously.

Biological Notes.—Beetles have been reared from egg to adult on

alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.; alsike clover, Trifolium hybridum L.; yarrow,
Achillea Millefolium L.; and dock, Rumex obtusifolius L. Thirty-eight

different plants were used for rearing larvae in 1936 with survival of
about twenty of this number. Nineteen different food plants for the
adults were used in oviposition studies. Wild strawberry, Fragaria
virgimana Duchesne, yielded the highest record -with 937 eggs from a
single beetle... Beetles which fed on blackberry, Rubus sp., dogwood, Cor-
nus stolonifera Michx., dandelion, Taraxacum officinale Weber, yarrow,

_ Achillea Millefolium L., and grape, Vitis sp. and other plants deposited

eggs. On the other hand, beetles fed only on orchard grass, Dactylis
glomerata L., timothy, Phleum pratense L., mullein, LSC ge sl ue
beetles without food failed to deposit a single ego.

eeclminary laboratory experiments were conducted in.co- operation
with the United States Bureau of Plant Industry with Neoplectana
chresima, a nematode parasite for the larvae of B. ligustict. A high per
cent of establishment: of this’ parasite was obtained at 7 5 degrees F.

~ Among the predators the slenne is . the snact valuable. Uae sero on
of the stomach and intestines of a male skunk yielded. 271 larval remains

- of B. ligustici, and 182 in the digestive tract of a female. One quart of

Ee skunk droppings collected on November 12, 1936, contained 512 larval

remains and another’ quart of droppings collected on November 18, 1935,

: contained 413 larval remains.

Summary. —Control measures are fone applied to all known infesta-
tions in an effort to check migration and spread of Brachyrhinus ligustict
as well as to reduce the population in the infested area. Encouraging

results were obtained in 1936 and plans are now in progress for a more

SAS ee
eee ee e

i
=

ie thorough program in 1937. Much better control is obtained on plowed

ground than in seedings of alfalfa and clover.

No new infestations of this insect have been found outside of Oswego
and Jefferson counties although the total infested fields now cover twelve
hundred acres.

Strict voluntary quarantine measures are being observed in all work
with this pest. The New York State Plant Industry Bureau is keeping
close watch of all nursery stock and gravel pits in the area.

40 THE REPORT OF THE

Experimental work is being conducted on more efficient control mea-
sures, host plants of the larvae and adults, larval mortality in the field,
larval parasites and predators and on details of the biology of the insect.

REFERENCE

(1) Downes, W., 1932. The strawberry root weevil with notes on other insects affect-
ing strawberries. Canada Dept. Ag. Pamph. n. s. 5: 1-19.

RESISTANCE OF SOME VARIETIES OF PEAS TO THE PEA APHID
Ilinoia pist KALT.
By J. B. MALTAIS
Entomological Laboratory, Hemmingford, Que.

The pea aphid has caused severe losses to the canning pea industry in
the past. It is especially troublesome in the sections of the Province of
Quebec where peas are grown for canning purposes, and although the
intensity of the infestation varies from year to year, considerable injury
is caused every year.

This summary report is the result of four years of investigation car-
ried on at St. Isidore, Que., where a large acreage of canning peas is sown
every year. During the four years of this experimental work on the pea
aphid, several standard varieties of peas were studied. The varieties
concerned were as follows: Thomas Laxton, Laxtonian, Blue Bantam,
Alaska, Laxton Superb, Malting Sugar, Perfection, Lincoln, Telephone,
Advancer, Daisy, Horsford, Horal, Surprise, Green Admiral, Champion of
England, and Gladstone. In addition to the above varieties, Primal, Ash-
ford, Badger, Canner’s Gem and Prince of Wales were tested in 1936.

The primary object of our experiments was to determine the relative
resistance of varieties to pea aphid attacks. Having very little informa-
tion on this question, it was necessary to study the different plant and
variety characters and undertake tests which would lead to a more com-
prehensive knowledge of plant resistance to insects.

Since the beginning of this investigation, several points have received
special attention, and in addition to the study of the relative degree of
infestation among varieties of peas in connection with the relative resist-
ance of some varieties to the pea aphid, the probable causes of this resist-
ance have been studied. Thus, the foliage colour, the hydrogen-ion con-
centration, the chlorophyll content and the water content of each variety
under experimentation have been tested several times. We shall leave
these separate studies for furthr discussion. We are, at present, inter-
ested particularly in the relative resistance of varieties of peas to the pea
aphid.

Field Technique.—The field method employed consisted in growing on
well drained clay soil each of the twenty-two varieties of peas, in a separate
plot measuring about two hundred square feet. As soon as the aphids
migrated to the young pea plants, about the first week of July, ten random
samples of terminal growths were collected twice weekly from each variety.
All the aphids feeding on those samples were carefully counted and re-

+

a

ae

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 41

corded. These counts were continued until the peas had just passed the
harvesting stage as green canning peas. The fresh samples, which were
placed in large glass vials 114” x 6” closed with cotton wool, were taken
to the field laboratory and all aphids present on each group of ten samples
were counted. In order to simplify the count, it was necessary to expose
the vials containing both samples and aphids to strong sunlight for about
ten minutes. During their exposure to sunlight most of the aphids leave
their host and gather on the moist inner surface of the vial where they all
die from the intense heat. This simple method immobilizes the insects
and makes the counts much easier and more rapid. In 1936, the counts
were made every other day instead of twice weekly as during the previous

years.

Results of the Counts.—The aphids from each group of samples col-
lected at different dates in 1936 were counted carefully and the results are
given in the following table.

TABLE I—AVERAGE RELATIVE PEA APHID POPULATION, IN RELATION TO DATES
IN 1933-34-35-36

Date Year

July 1933 1934 1935 1936
72. oh panne eee ee ee 152.0 37.9
Dacdiassaseseannn eee es
doh cdangans eae 62.8 231.3 29.4
Dosages: ainaae Ete eee ene IOUS
Do idjccetsacehed sit etene ae eem 67.1
"TU nossaaber (eSHboee ae neo eee 98.8 93.6
oo ese ganee aaa ee
Soc Sah c ee eae oe eae 320.2 380.9 157.7

1): caeetsiac setae ee ee
1 RU acaaareee cp OO ae 264.1 461.5 73.9
1174 ao ihe ae a 561.0
iG obs case coe ee 256.7
1 cose 8 so S aaa ee ea eg 206.2 203.7
1.3): biyasde tae 230.6 .
Ge ee ee ales. 443.9 209.2
TR rich yeti Sinn casts pan
fe) age Sa ee 505.9 85.3 159.8
1. a2 ane tere NPR aenie aan ie aa 929.3
"A oioda ine tk Ee een 139.9
72 cde lee 416.0 173.2
eRe Secor See iS. eith tT 38.3
2) cel tela ag 978.6 214.5
aL, aod esec ane en ee
ER SSeS Laces disiabes 1255.1 40.2 253.6
el opine aaa ae eee a ee 1313.0
LU use Gn ee ee eee 239.7
721.3 vac npap aco eaen ae eee Ea eee 1039.0 174.5
29) cons Speed cee ae ae . 25.9
BEE eed oe Ja seh 131.5 127.4
hes “suede cE SON Se aaa ER
ug.
iL <:06deige See Sa SE ae eo 149.8
Zo cece Sty eA ee ee
3 ised onde ee eee ee 174.6

Table 1 and diagram fig. 1 shows the average number of aphids
counted on different dates from all samples of the varieties studied. The
first counts were made on July 2. On that date, the aphids had already
migrated from their primary host to the peas and were increasing their

Nomber of Aphids

A2 THE REPORT OF THE

population very rapidly. In order to condense the figures gathered during
four years of investigation on this subject, it was necessary to tabulate the

mean population in the counts for the years 1933-34-35-36. The popula-

tion of aphids in 1933 began to increase on July 4 and kept increasing until
it reached its maximum on about July 24. In 1934, the population was
much higher than that of 1933 and reached its maximum on July 25 to

drop suddenly towards the end of the month. In 1935, the type of infesta- .

tion was entirely different to that of the two previous years. From July 2
until July 11, the population increased gradually to decrease rapidly after-
wards until the end of the month.

Graph ie : Y ;
Average number of a tach Count durmg yiars 1933-3 4-35-36 : ; =e

* * I SS OS SRA ee |
Hates Peep EO Se KO BR Pe BPO RS RI IE IS {9 28 21 22 23 27 25 2 2f 28 2)

~ daly - Ses
f

Fic. 1—Diagram showing the average number of aphids counted on different dates
from all samples of the varieties studied. Sk aae

_It was interesting to observe that in 1935, although the population
was much lower than that of 1933 and 1934, the injury caused to the peas
was rather severe. This was due to the rapidity with which aphids mul-
tiplied during the first part of July. During the two first years (1933-34)
the maximum infestation was quite late and there was no real danger for
the pea crop, but in 1935 the greatest amount of aphids appeared when
the plants were forming their pods, exactly at the period of growth the
peas are most susceptible to serious injury with even a lesser degree of
infestation. .

With regard to the infestation of 1936, very little damage was done to
the crop. The average population was rather low throughout the period
of infestation. We attribute this to a relatively cool rainy season.

Relation Between Varieties and Average Number of Aphids.—Table
2 and figure 2 show the relation that exists between varities and the degree
of infestation during the period that extends from the first appearance of
aphids to the time the different varieties are ready to harvest as green
canning peas.

ai |

=

2 oF

A x
£ 6)
aes ey 7 Cc, =
re a + 5 , 9 y y
on : i y
ae Ry 2 b S
a y
BS z 9 5 ~ : 9
"4 ; 9, v ; .)
Gy aa
sl

Fic. 2.—The dashed line on figure 2 represents the average number of aphids found on
each of the varieties tested during the years 1933-34-35.

equal degree throughout the season.
apparent but it is real in most respects.
Telephone and Horal, show a decidedly higher degree of infestation than
the varieties Surprise, Blue Bantam, Champion of England, Melting Sugar

Avsrags nummbir of aphids on tack variety

Be eee Re ne Pesrere fee 2933-34-35
frvrrays fer IG 3t
Aanglh o gromth.
j
t
x
t
¥
3 {
t t
$ }
i i!
4s \
i 4
f tt
i ees
‘ t
K ?
oO ‘
us SS ee ANS i
PES Re es foo
$3 * ;
& ¢ f
a é : f
PAY ‘ t
y ‘4 F
ee ‘
Aut Secale

Length af growth of arr ties :

43

a ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
|e TABLE 2.—RELATION BETWEEN VARIETIES AND AVERAGE NUMBER
| OF APHIDS PER SAMPLE
ape Variety 1933 1934 1935 1936
SST 0) Se 59.0 159.3 107.9
Thomas Laxton................. 83.0 116.0 WO. 107.2
PE AXEOMIAN oo ese. sees 97.5 253.0 296.6
m= Blue Bantam .................... 114.0 118.0 177.6 131.2
| ENG N00 1 296.7 288.3 163.7
e Ele STKE) CA Reale aaa ee 123.0 359.0 231.6 123.3
me Laxton Superb ................ 201-7 432.0 209.4
mm ©6Melting Sugar.................. 223.0 420.5 98.1 70.9
Champion of England...... 413.2 Ue 94.5
4 1 PAST YC) 1 re 237.0 1158.3 222 218.1
\MPTINIGOIN oc 287.8 344.6 154.6 145.4
& MelephNone oo... oe .ec vec clek 492.7
Bee AC VaNcer |... 6... 534.7 370.3 Ie 198.6
MPG IAQSEONG. 6400... 2.22. 558.3 109.1
LD ENTISS se 581.4 864.8 404.5 224.3
[ELOISECONS 0b ass eee 605.7 551.3 300.4 208.6
BETO A fe cece 707.1 550.4 Pa {Toil 187.8
me Canner’s Gem ................8. 213.8
Eten C OE SR aa ene eee 144.2
PS MUROU OR el 2s cavevg uve. 177.3
Champion of England (a) 60.5
iprince of Wales. ....:./...... ‘78.6
Prete ese. este, ats hee 157.9

The varieties of peas in general are not infested with aphids to an
This marked difference is not only
The varieties Perfection, Daisy,

ie.)

eee |
Pm AB ORY SOD H&E QAUWDTSO~ NEY HRAUYSEOD
» eee ates

OX

Nombir of days

44 THE REPORT OF THE

and Prince of Wales. Since this paper refers mostly to variety resistance —
to aphids, we shall therefore adopt for the discussion the term resistance -
as in opposition to the term susceptibility.

During the past four years of this investigation all the varieties of
peas under test have received the same soil treatment every year, but on
account of variable weather factors, the growth of peas was not uniform.
This may have caused some slight variations in the degree of infestation.
In spite of such variable conditions, it is evident that some varieties of
peas are naturally resistant to aphids.

The dashed line on figure 2 represents the average number of aphids
found on each of the varieties tested during the years 1933-34-35. The
average population of aphids is based on ten samples of terminal growths;
that is to say that when a variety shows an average population of 500, it
means that this variety carried in the field an average population of 50
aphids per plant sample. Thus, if we analyse the figures given in table 2,
we find that the varieties Perfection, Daisy and Telephone, carried an
average population of 53.9, 61.6 and 63.6 aphids per plant sample respect-
ively for three consecutive seasons. On the other hand, varieties such as
Surprise, Thomas Laxton, Blue Bantam, Melting Sugar and Champion of
England, carried an average population of 10.9, 12.3, 24.7 and 24.2 aphids
per plant sample respectively for the same period.

We consider that the best and most conclusive results were obtained
in 1986. The conditions of plant growth and aphid development were very
favorable and special efforts were made to gather as much data as possible

Pree PaiecdreRie tte COE ISLES, exes RR CSRS R ES SUR LEED CLOUD Ney ics cca pr emeeaccancamnnscin sth enn namanmns ahengnamamrnntsientencectnstcsscsas pote Teas eer

Totel number of aphids on zach
variety fer ach count. - {936

Number of aphids — ~

~ Ss
Keane eee

Fic. 3—Diagram showing the contrast in aphid population existing between two
susceptible (Daisy, and Perfection) and two resistant (Champion of England
and Prince of Wales) varieties, 1936.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 45

on the subject. Instead of making counts twice weekly as before, we made
four counts a week during the whole period of infestation. This resulted
in lowering the experimental error in the computation of the figures obtain-
ed. The regularity and smoothness of the curve in figure 1 is a logical
consequence of frequent counts.

| Referring to table 2 and figure 2 we see that Melting Sugar, Champion

of England, Prince of Wales and Champion of England (a), show a popu-
lation of 7.0, 9.4, 7.8 and 6.0 aphids per plant sample respectively, whereas
Perfection, Advancer, Daisy, Canner’s Gem, show an average population
of 21.8, 19.8, 22.4 and 21.3 aphids per plant sample respectively. Refer-
ring also to figure 3, which was prepared for the purpose of showing the
contrast existing between two susceptible and two resistant varieties, we
see that during the season of 1936 the susceptible varieties such as Daisy
and Perfection carried almost three times as many aphids as the resistant
varieties such as Champion of England and Prince of Wales.

This demonstrates without any doubt that varieties of peas are not
infested with aphids to an equal degree and that the resistance of some
varieties is an established fact.

Early varieties such as Surprise, Thomas Laxton, Blue Bantam and
Alaska, are varieties which fall into a special class. Owing to their earli-
ness, these varieties are not subject to severe aphid injury. Whether sus-
' ceptible or resistant, such early varieties have a greater chance, under our
climate, to escape serious infestations than intermediate and late growing
varieties. In 1933 and 1934, early varieties in general suffered much less
damage than intermediate and late growing ones on account of the maxi-
mum aphid infestation occurring late in the month of July, but in 1935,
on account of the peak infestation taking place during the first part of
July, early varieties were infested as much as intermediate and late ones.

In 1936, no injury was done to any of the varieties tested, but early
varieties showed again this quality of being ready to harvest before aphids
attain a population large enough to cause serious damage. The barbed
line on figure 2 represents the length of growth of each of the varieties
studied. The curve illustrating the length of growth is far from corre-

sponding with the curves representing the average aphid population of
each variety.

Summary.—The pea aphid is a serious pest to cultivated peas in the
Province of Quebec. It especially affects the production of peas for
canning purposes.

The seriousness of the injury caused to the pea crop depends mostly
on the stage of growth at which the plants are heavily infested. It depends
also on the rapidity with which aphids develop during the month of July.

Varieties of canning and market garden peas are not infested to an
equal degree throughout the growing season.

There are varieties of peas that are naturally resistant to pea aphids;
Champion of England, Melting Sugar and Prince of Wales, are typical
aphid resistant varieties.

The relative length of growth of varieties is not a factor of resistance,
but early varieties generally reach harvesting time before aphids are
numerous enough to cause important injury.

46 THE REPORT OF THE

OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIOLOGY OF THE APPLE MAGGOT
By J. ALLAN HALL

Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Vineland Station, Ont.

INTRODUCTION

The following notes on the biology of the apple maggot, dealing espe-
cially with the emergence of the adults and with the preoviposition period
of the female, are based on a study of this insect which has been in pro-
gress in Norfolk county, Ontario, since 1933.. The work was attended
with much difficulty in finding ways and means of getting flies to behave
normally in confinement. Many types of cage, in different locations, and
many kinds and combinations of foods were tried before any tangible
- results were obtained. Out of knowledge gained from others and from
our own experiments we have found that the flies respond when they are
concentrated in numbers, are exposed regularly to sunlight, have water
available, and receive yeast and sugar in some form. We have used Royal
Yeast cakes to provide the yeast and raisins and honey to supply the sugar.
More recently milk has been added to the diet with favourable results. The
sunlight Segura art suggests that vitamin D is essential to the health of
this fly.

EMERGENCE OF ADULTS

In Norfolk county there are two generations each year. In this paper
flies transforming from wintered larvae are spoken of as spring brood and
those transforming in the current year (year in which the larvae matured)
are termed first brood.

> + APPLE MAGt GOT EMERGENCE « |
: _ SPRING BROOD ADULTS, oo.
‘NORFOLK, ONTARIO.

ese - eas
1955. 1473

lege ook
RRS

Emergence Period.—Under orchard conditions the emergence of
spring brood flies from a sand loam soil has begun from June 19 to 27 and
ended Angust 7 to September 7. The emergence period in the different
years varied from 44 to 77 and averaged 59 days. The peak of emergence

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY AT

usually occurred during the third week of J uly, and not more than two per
cent of the adults emerged after August 1 in any season (See table 1 and
figure 1 below.).

TABLE 1.—EMERGENCE OF SPRANG BROOD OF APPLE MAGGOT ADULTS

Dates of emergence Emergence

- Origin Year First Maximum Last period
MREMICOG. «5... esc ences. 1933 June 19 July 26 Aue) 1 54 days
a 1934 June 25 ely Lz Aue ae AAS) ss
So 1935 June 27 July 17 Aug. 27 G2.
MEMIBREOG. es) see eeeese es 1936 June 23 July 11 Sept. 7 (igs es
met. Davids................... ; 1934 June 22 July 20 Aug. 7 ANT
MUURETPAM oes e sees 1934 June 25 July 18 Aug. 13 5Ovs 6
a Simcoe average ..............0..... HO its

4 The emergence of adults of the first brood has begun as early as
4 September 18 and as late as October 14 (See table 2 and figure 2.).

TABLE 2.—EMERGENCE OF FIRST BROOD OF APPLE MAGGOT ADULTS

No flies _ Dates of emergence

' Emergence
_ Year recovered First Maximum Last period
ee 61 Sept. 25 ? Oct. 18 24 days
aS ee 196 Oet.. 14 Oct. 31 Nov. 14 ei, ae
| 2 a es 304 Sept. 18 Oct. 10 Och 27% a0ee

. Average peroid............ Says

;

aan oF
ua f APLE - “MAGGOT. _
ee 8
4o ae NORFOLK, ONTARIO. |

4] Fig. 2_ Je = 195

~
i

~ GSC oi ws w+
| September October — TE Nheetet

|

: Influence of Host Variety Upon Emergence.—The variety of apple in
: which the larvae feed affects the time of their maturity—those in the early
: Tipening apples maturing first. Only early maturing larvae transform to
e adults i in the current season. From .02 to 10.5 per cent of larvae, matured
‘in the varieties Astrachan, Duchess, Early Harvest and Golden Sweet,
have transformed to adults in the current year while no larvae from later
Yipening varieties have done so (See table 3.).

48 THE REPORT OF THE

TABLE 3.—HOST VARIETY AND EMERGENCE OF FIRST BROOD
OF APPLE MAGGOT

Host No. of Adults emerged (current year)

variety larvae Number Per cent
1934 atly: “Harvestin tice soni 6,075 59 0.97
1934 Golden. Sweet. ......nh icy 9,142 2 O02,
1934 STOW: cee Rane he ates Gee tae, Ce 4,735 0 0.00
1934 Wa Seneing: | bi ou e he seas iae : 2,619 0 0.00
1935 TD WCC SS ie rites t ee al ee CaN eer da 3,063 193 5.41
1935 Golden Sweet .../...0.0...0cc0eccdeee- 1,797 3 0.16
1936 PESACH AN Me ek ee sone eee ee 2,251 2at 10.50
1936 Marly Warvest® 2.260.500 cee 3,145 67 2.138
19386 MON — GUN Ta ereeee 26,741 0 0.00

There was some indication that the emergence of adults, in the year
following that in which the larvae matured, was somewhat earlier for those
derived from summer varieties than for those reared from later varieties
of apples, but the evidence was inconclusive. In 1935 the emergence peaks
for adults derived from Early Harvest and Golden Sweet coincided and
were 7 and 10 days earlier than the peaks for Wealthy and Snow respect-
ively. In 1936 the relationship between Wealthy and Golden Sweet was
reversed, the peak of the former coming five days earlier than that of the
latter. In 1936 flies reared from Duchess appeared somewhat in advance
of those from Golden Sweet and Wealthy (See table 4 and figures 3 and 4.).

TABLE 4.—HOST VARIETY AND EMERGENCE OF SPRING BROOD
OF APPLE MAGGOT

Dates of emergence of adults

Host 1935 1936
variety First Maximum Last First Maximum Last
Dichess ve ou sea “June 25 Tulyoee Aug. 26
Harly barvest...:..0... diwthy 2 dhalkye July 25 No record
Golden Sweet.................. June27 July 12 Aug. 14 July 3 #£4July 16 Aug. 29
Wiealthyaus: occ ceueeeeeste. June28 July 19 Aug. 13 July 3, July 21 Sept. 3
SONYA Hen cons Coma eer June28 July 22 July 30 No record

— | | |
LL APPLE. mas cor

|Srt.) Emergence of Advtts

‘

| idsa oo
| | ge |

| HOST | VARIETY

* Early Harvest... 02. Flies.
Golden Sweet.

. Neolthy {77 Fes
: eee te

oe

3 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 49
¢ ERE

, deel APPLE MAGGOT— =

_ EMERGENCE OF ADULT 5 oe
: 1956
ee 4) 3
HUST VARIETY.

oo Duchess 992 Flies. : oS
Golden Sweet 853 Flies.
---Wealthy 789 Flies.

24. «= S
dune

The mortality of the insects between the time of larval maturity and
the emergence of the flies appeared to be influenced by the variety of apple
in which the larvae developed. With summer and fall varieties the sur-
vival in 1935 varied from 9.6 to 27 per cent (See table 5.).

TABLE 5.—HOST VARIETY AND PER CENT OF EMERGENCE OF APPLE MAGGOT

: Host No. of Adults emerged
variety larvae Number Per cent

(7 SEVELAVERSIS) ts IE 0S Aa oo Oe ee 1,838 497 27.0
ES Min gee eee RO in et he Say uate) 852 IAT 205%

© GIST SIS ase en ace: eRe Seon ~ 766 20.1_

BOnow ....... rs gh SAUL ARE INES acy ie 0 ee eat ci ee ie 2,359 370 1S 4
BRAVES 45 SM set eee a ee A 1,061 102 9.6

Influence of Date of Larval Maturity Upon Emergence.—The time
the larvae mature determines whether they will transform to adults in the
‘current season. In our experiments, all first brood flies were derived from
larvae which reached maturity before August 20, though all larvae matured
by this date did not transform in the current year. As shown in table 6
the time of larval maturity has little, if any, effect on the time of trans-
formation to adults in the followinng year. This table shows that the
first, maximum and last emergence of flies from larvae maturing at any
given date coincides closely with those of other dates of maturity.

he

50 THE REPORT OF THE

TABLE 6.—LARVAL MATURITY DATES AND EMERGENCE OF
APPLE MAGGOT

Larvae matured Adults emerged in following year
No. Year ~ Dates No. First Maximum Last
571 1933 Aug. 15-26 89 June 25 July 17 July 25 |
501 1933 Aug. 28-Sept. 2 125 July = 2 J ly OY duly 27s |
600 1933 Sept. 4-Sept. 15 78 June 27 ~ | Srully ssn Anes eh
678 L933 Sept. 12—Oct z 80 June 28 daly, Ag July 24
1,061 1934 Aug. 11-16 102 July 2 July 12 July 25 —
2,156 1934 Aug. 17-20 A471 July 6 July eZ, Aug. 14 ©
1,641 1934 Aug. 21-22 295 June 27 July 20 Aug. 12
2,009 1934 Aug. 18—-Sept. 10 370 June 28 July 18 July 27
852 1934 Aug. 23-Sept. 10 Ie June 28 duly 19 Aug. 18
1,838 1935 Aug. 38-12 497 July 3 Jil yoedet Aug. 19
1,700 1935 Aug. 22-Sept. 6 412 June 29 July 16 Aug. 26

WAIGTD5 1935 Sept. 6-18 591 June 27 July 14 Aug. 27

Influence of Cultivation on Emergence.—One would naturally expect
that cultivating the soil would destroy some of the insects and thus lower
the percentage of adults recovered. In our experiments the cultivation
of infested sandy loam soil, in late April, May and June, while destroying
some pupae so favoured the remainder that the ultimate mortality was
reduced and the number of adults recovered increased by as much as 21.7
per cent. The increased emergence was probably due to two factors,
namely: (1) water conserved in the soil as a result of treatment prevented
dessication of the pupae and (2) loosening of the soil enabled greater
numbers of flies to reach the surface.

The effect of cultivation as summarized from table 7 shows that culti-
vation did not hasten or retard the time of emergence; one cultivation,
April 29, increased the emergence by 3 per cent; five cultivations, April-
May, increased the emergence 21.7 per cent; and nine cultivations, April-
June, increased the emergence 20.6 per cent.

TABLE 7.—EFFECT OF CULTIVATION ON EMERGENCE OF SPRING
BROOD OF APPLE MAGGOT ADULTS, 1936

Cage Times No. of Flies emerged Dates of emergence

No. cultivated larvae No. % First Maximum Last
3 0 1,838 497 27.0 ily 3 July, aa Aug. 19
14 0 SULA 294 16.5 July 2. Julyeic Aug. 29
18 0 ILS ND 591 33.6 June 27 July 14 Aug. 27
16 1 (April) Tes eA) 495 Sel June 25 July 11 Aug. 26
22 5 (April-May) LO" 853 47.4 Jrulye 73 July 16 Aug. 29
25 9 (April-June) 1,700 789 46.3 July 3 July 11 Sept. 3
Total 3 checks 5370. 1382 25.7°° July -2 | July dee |
1 cultivation 1,725 495 28.7 June 25 July 11 Aug. 26
5 cultivations ond 853 47.4 July 3 July 16 Aug. 29
9 cultivations 1,700 7189 46.3 Sty. to July 11 Sept. 3

The graphs, figure 5, show that the peaks of emergence from the
uncultivated, one and nine times cultivated plots fell on the same days,
July 11. They also show a similarity in the duration of the emergence
period for each treatment. The slight differences may be due to the loca-
tion of the cages and the host derivation of the larvae used in them.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 51

= Aer Mag Gon
eee ae

EMERGENCE OF ADULTS
1936

ve oe Cae een eer roe i pce aaa

i te Bat nation ee

dee
--4

Sane

ehzieees
eee

ti tdwee

fee nnbase
SAS OS

CRA eae Se

mete gerect
Pac ese ans

| mae Five Co ltivations

awe

ea |

i i
j
j

wa Wine Cultivations

ES Sony pany eT CO
ae

Settee etre et
»
Sw hee eee ae SS SSS ESS

+t re F,
VO ss
{

The Influence of Water on Emergence.—In order to determine the
effect of rain on the emergence of adults we conducted an experiment in
which cages, containing definite numbers of pupae, were roofed over, and
sufficient water to saturate the soil to a depth of four inches was applied
to some each week from early spring to the end of the emergence period.
This treatment resulted in a 12 per cent increase in the number of adults
emerging as compared with emergence in the cages under dry conditions.
The graph, figure 6, shows this increase to be due to a slight prolonging
of the emergence period with an increased number of flies during the latter
part of it. It is thought that the water aided liberation from the puparia

and escape from the soil.

Influence of Temperature on Emergence.—The emergence of spring
brood flies took place on days in which the mean temperature varied from
64.3 to 87.7 degrees F. Temperatures of 70 degrees F. or over seemed
most conducive to emergence.

The emergence of first brood flies took place on days in which the
mean temperature varied from 34.3 to 73.9 degrees F. and occurred on
days with minimum air temperatures as low as 25 degrees.

Emergence and Sex Ratio. With many insects males predominate in
the early part of the emergence period but with the apple maggot the
reverse is the case. At first females may outnumber of males by as many
as five to one, during the middle of the emergence period the sexes come in

52 THE REPORT OF THE

i APPLE. MAGGOT oF =e
| EMERGENCE 1934. :
eee ae

ees fom ee sei

- = Soil J

about equal numbers, and later on males predominate. Among 8,855
spring brood flies reared over four years 47 per cent were males and 53
per cent were females. In the case of the first brood the percentages were
43 and 57 respectively.

LIFE CYCLES

Data obtained show that larvae matured in any given year will give
rise to adults in the current season, and first, second and third succeeding
years. The percentage of larvae giving rise to adults in each cycle has |
been .92, 25.81, .58 and .04 per cent, respectively (See table 8.).

TABLE 8.—LENGTH OF LIFE CYCLE OF APPLE MAGGOT

No. of Flies emerged
Year larvae Number Per cent
Ceres leks: cle. ce ar ee See i 60,922 561 0.92
PGSG Rape ts., : cote Bie NS, gO RM) gen hae 29,016 7,489 25.81
SECOMMIO hc se Baers leer We Sk te eee ae 16,734 97 0.58
1 ATTY Vg ll: 8s OMe SOIR a = ea stir aA me a 4,585 z 0.04

PREOVIPOSITION PERIOD

The preoviposition period, or in other words, the time elapsing be-
tween the emergence of the female fly and the deposition of her first egg,
varies with the temperature and degree of maturity of the host fruit.
Twenty-six records gathered over a three year period give 4, 14 and 8.3
days as the minimum, maximum and average preoviposition periods under
varving weather conditions and with several varieties of apples. When
Early Harvest apples were used the average preoviposition period was
5.4 days as against an average of 8 days for Golden Sweet. The difference
is believed to have been due entirely to the greater maturity of the Early
Harvest apples at the time the tests were made. This conclusion was also
borne out by the fact that flies would not oviposit in certain other fruits,
such as hawthorn, until a stage of near maturity had been reached.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 53

TABLE 9.—APPLE VARIETY AND PREOVIPOSITION PERIOD OF
APPLE MAGGOT

No. of Preoviposition period in days
} Variety records Maximum Minimum Average
Wear vetieerVeSE™ ~.2.......2...0.0.20) 064, A 7 A 5.4
Merelden SWEEL™ ~.....2.............6u. t 14 5 8.0
4 MIORMECCOFRUS | c.2-:......22..6-20. cc. ii 13 6 8.7
; * 1935 comparable conditions, variety test.
: 7 1936 various conditions of weather June to August.

RESULTS FROM ORGANIZED APPLE MAGGOT CONTROL
IN NOVA SCOTIA

By A. KELSALL

Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Annapolis Royal, N.S.
and
A. Di PICKETE

Provincial Entomologist, Truro, N.S.

The Nova Scotia Apple Maggot Control Act was passed and became
effective in 1931, and in consequence control measures for the apple
_ Maggot became compulsory in certain areas and an organization to carry
- out the provisions of the Act was effected. Prior -to this date, the control
' of apple maggot was more or less dependent upon the voluntary desires
and actions of orchard owners or operators, and the apple maggot was
increasing both in intensity and area of infestation.

; Administration.—The Apple Maggot Control Act is administered by
an independent board of 10 members, each a fruit grower. The general
_ policy is determined by this board, and its decisions are acted upon by an
"executive of three. One member of the Board acts as Chief Executive
_ Officer. The Dominion Entomological Officer for Nova Scotia, and the
Provincial Entomologist, are technical advisors to the Board, attend Board

_ meetings, but have no vote.

The Board Employs ten inspectors, each for approximately four to
five months per year, whose duty it is to see that the regulations of the
Board are carried out. The Board co-operates with the Dominion Fruit
Branch in making the annual orchard inspection, and the officers of the
Dominion Fruit Branch are responsible for the warehouse inspection at

“time of packing.

a

. One area, known as the large zone, is organized as a unit for control
" purposes. Commercial orchards situated at places other than within this
large zone, are organized under the Certification Plan similar to that pre-
_vailing in Ontario.

ka The Large Control Zone.—This article deals only with the large con-
trol zone, which extends from Annapolis Royal to Windsor, approximately
85 miles, and varies in width from 4 miles to 20 miles. Within this zone
‘are upwards of 30,000 acres of orchard, much of which is commercial,

54 THE REPORT OF THE

but non-commercial orchards are numerous. In the area are six incor-
porated towns and numerous villages. Small orchards and individual
apple trees are numerous in all the towns and villages. |

Control Measures Required.—All properties found infested are re- |

quired to adopt control measures, these being as follows :—.

(1) Apple trees are required to be sprayed in accordance with the
regulations of the Board. In practise, this means that in commercial |

orchards two sprays have to be applied after the calyx spray. Thus, in

effect, commercial orchards have three post-blossom applications. It has |
been found that, if following the blossom period, apples are treated three

times, at intervals of say, 10 to 14 days apart, and even though the last

spray may be applied no later than early July, apples carry a satisfactory |
load of arsenic through the apple maggot fly season. Apples that are so ©
treated, carry sufficient arsenic to control apple maggot, and at picking ©

time comply with the requirements concerning arsenic tolerance, without
washing treatment. On non-commercial apple trees and orchards, which

are not sprayed regularly, two sprays are required, first in early July and ©

a second about the middle of July, or shortly thereafter. In all cases
sprays consist of lead arsenate 3 pounds per 100 gallons, or the equivalent
of this dosage in the form of other arsenicals, and the spray must be
applied with sufficient thoroughness to satisfy the inspector.

(2) Drop apples are required to be picked up and destroyed. In
practice, drops of soft apples such as Gravenstein, are required to be
picked up with frequency. As a rule, drops of this class of apple are
cleanly picked up immediately after harvest. Frequent picking up of
drops of hard winter apples is not insisted upon, but all drops must be

cleanly picked up after harvest. Drop apples must be disposed of in some |
manner which insures destruction of the pest. Several methods are |
allowed. They may be fed to stock, utilized for apple by-products, dumped —
into the sea, or buried deeply. This latter procedure is practically never —

followed. On some occasions the Board has permitted dumps of drop
apples to be made in forested areas at some considerable distance from
orchards. All apples within 300 yards of an infested orchard, must be
either removed or treated in the same manner as though infested.

(3) Apples produced outside of the large control zone, may not enter

the zone, except under permit issued by the Board. Permits are granted
to apple by-product factories to bring in apples from outside the zone, but
these have to be in suitable containers satisfactory to the Board, and

handled in such a mnaner that there is no opportunity for waste apples to

become distributed. Apple by-product plants are required to dispose of
their refuse such as peelings and cores, in a manner similar to the disposal
of drop apples. Such refuse is sometimes sterilized by steaming.

Difficulties Encountered.—Speaking generally, the Board has en-
countered no difficulties in dealing with commercial orchards. Little
opposition was encountered in towns and villages, property owners in
nearly all cases co-operating satisfactorily, but the very nature of these

properties and surroundings make control measures tedious and the work |

of the inspectors arduous. The principal difficulties encountered through-
out the area have been connected with properties held by absentee owners,

by aged people, or by persons without financial means. Problem cases |
have each had to be dealt with separately by procedures best suited for |

“te

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 55

each particular case. Infestations are mostly in non-commercial orchards,
and largely in the vicinity of towns and villages.

Results Obtained.—The following table shows the number of proper-
ties inspected within the large zone and the infestations found from the
years 1932 to 1936 inclusive:

1982. 193319841985 1936

: Records Panis,

Number of properties visited not DrOOo 0,500 ) DD09 RAZA
available

Total infestations reported 1,460 1,152 985 524 aoe

These figures represent the actual infested properties found each
current year. They do not coincide with the Board’s official figures of
infested properties, due to the fact that the Board does not regard a pro-
perty as free from infestation until it has been reported free for three
consecutive years.

It will be seen from the above figures that the number of infested
properties has declined rapidly during each year of treatment, and the
general results to date are considered satisfactory. However, a detailed

- examination of the records reveals two features of some interest, the first

with regard to the percentage of orchards cleaned up each year, and the

- second in connection with the spread of the insect. The percentage of

orchards reported clean which were infested the previous year, shows
1933, 54; 1934, 42; 1935, 64; and 1936, 72 per cent. These figures indi-
cate a high degree of control, certainly higher than was anticipated. The
number of new infestations found each year is, however, very consider-
able. The actual numbers are: 1933, 525; 1934, 454; 1935, 192; and 1936,
140. The percentage of new infestations compared with the total number
of infested orchards each year was: 1933, 45; 1934, 45; 19385, 36; and 1936,

48 per cent. While the new infestations have declined considerably in

number each year, yet nevertheless the percentage as compared with total
infested properties has remained much the same. Some of these new
infestations unquestionably occur on properties where a previous light
infestation had not been detected, but nevertheless, a study of the detailed
figures and a knowledge of many of the properties concerned, clearly indi-
cate that a large part of these new infestations are caused by the spread
and dispersal of the insect. All the figures given above relating to the
infestations in 1936 will be subject to slight modification as the warehouse

_ inspection is not completed at the time of the preparation of this article

On account of the large number of new infestations, the Apple Maggot
Board has recently made a change in its policy. Previously, only such
orchards were regarded as infested in which an infestation had actually
been found, but in future, all orchards or apple trees within the territory
involved, are to be regarded as potentially infested.

The data presented above all pertain to the large zone. The situation
in connection with orchards on the Certification Plan outside the large
zone, is quite complicated due to many factors not necessary to enter into
in this paper, but speaking generally, the control of the pest in the Certi-
fication areas has not been as satisfactory as that within the zone.

56 THE REPORT OF THE

NOTES ON THE EUROPEAN PINE SHOOT MOTH
(Rhyacionia buoliana SCHIFF.)
By A. H. MCANDREWS
College of Forestry, Syracuse, New York

In 1928 an outbreak of the European pine shoot moth was discovered —

at Syracuse, N.Y., in a ten acre pine plantation. The injury indicated |
that the attack had begun about 1926. The insects had apparently come |

from infested ornamental stock in a nearby cemetery.

The plantation was a confused mixture of age classes and species. |

The trees ranged in size from one foot to ten feet in height and the follow-
ing species were represented—white, red, Scotch, jack, Austrian, western

yellow and Japanese black pine. The site was poor and drainage very |
poor with a steep western exposure. The pine covered the lower slopes. |

A pure stand of Norway spruce covered the upper slopes. Prevailing
winds at time of moth flight carried moths into the spruce continually.

Observations have been made on the insect activity since 1931 and |

some interesting data has been collected with regard to host selection,
habit and reaction of the different species of pine to repeated attacks of
Rhyacionia buoliana Schiff.

Host Relations.—It soon became evident that some species of pine
were more susceptible to attack than others and that some species suffered
much more than others when the larval population per 100 buds was the
same. It soon became evident that the ability to recover from injury
varied with the species. Japanese black pine and Austrian pine suffered
the most through lack of ability to recover though the actual attack, in
some cases, wasn’t as heavy as on some of the other species. Red pine’s
recovery was very poor while Scotch and jack, injured to the same extent
as the red, recovered readily. White pine was injured the least of all, so
lightly in fact that no data on recovery was available and we do not believe
that the shoot moth will ever be a grave threat to white pine.

Relation to White Pine.—In Connecticut, Dr. Friend reports that the
insect does not mature on white pine but at Syracuse adults were reared
both in the field and laboratory. Mortality was high and the females had
a subnormal number of eggs. They also ran small in size.

Relation to Site-—Due to lack of appreciation of the difference in the
ability of the different species of pine to recover from injury there has
arisen a mistaken idea regarding host preference which has been based
on appearance of the tree instead of being based on actual number of
attacks, per bud population, per tree. Susceptibility to attack implies
preference while the ability to recover from these attacks is tied up with
the growth characteristics of the tree and it is possible for a secondary
host to suffer severely because of lack of ability to recover.

We also found no grounds for the statement that the attacks are

heaviest on the poorer sites. On the poor sites the growth is slower and |

buds are smaller and a given number of larvae will destroy more buds on
a poor site than on a good site and the tree will show the injury more
because of a retarded ability to recover on the poor site as compared to

the good site. This become very evident when thousands of buds were —

examined and compared species by species with the larval population.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY ey

Biological Strain on Norway Spruce.—In 1935 some buds in the Nor-
way Spruce Plantation adjoining the pine developed resinous exudations
that looked like Rhyacionia buoliana injury. A needle miner and the
spruce gall louse had disfigured the foliage in previous years and this helped
to hide the injury to the buds. Dead larvae were found in buds injured
in 1934 and on close examination a few live larvae were found in the 1935
buds. Some were caged in the field and some brought into the laboratory.
About 2 weeks after normal moth flight moths emerged in the laboratory
but none survived in the field. On examining the field material it was
found that some larvae had died, some had pupated but failed to emerge
and in 2 cases dead moths were found inside the buds. The three moths
that emerged in the laboratory were small specimens of Rhyacionia
buoliana Schiff. They were a little off color and did not show as much
orange as found on the pine specimens.

At first glance this might look as though we were getting a spruce
strain of the European pine shoot moth developed at Syracuse. After
years of association with mixed pines and a pure stand of Norway spruce
within a few feet we finally have a few individuals that have apparently
developed the ability to survive on the spruce. Further examination of
the spruce buds showed that attacks had occurred previous to 1934 but
apparently without success.

This year (1936) no new attacks could be found on the spruce and
unfortunately the adults bred out in the laboratory died before laying eggs
as no fresh material was present in the cage at time of emergence. It
would have been very interesting to have found out how their progeny
reacted to spruce.

Affect of Feeding on Needle Structure.—During the investigation it
was sometimes difficult to identify some of the pines because of abnormal
growth and as a final decision a cross section of the needle was made. Some
slides showed unusual characters that didn’t seem to fit any of the common
pine species and in checking back to the host in question we found that on
severely injured red pine we were getting two types of needles. Normal
needles, two to a fascicle, with two large ventral resin canals and one to
four smaller dorsal canals. Abnormal needles, short, dark green, stout,
and three to a fascicle with confused resin canals. On the severely 1nj ured
tips this type of needle predominated while immediately below the injury
the needles were normal. After recovery from the tip moth injury normal
needles appeared on the new tips. On normal trees (those not injured by
Rhyacionia) we occasionally got three needles to a fascicle but their struc-
ture was normal. This type of deformity was not found on any of the
other pines even when the injury was serious enough to cause death.

FOUR YEARS’ EXPERIENCE WITH “ELECTRACIDE”
LIGHT TRAPS
By D. F. PATTERSON
Dominion Entomological Laboratory,
Vineland Station, Ont.

In 1933 through the co-operation of the Larkin Farms, Queenston,
_ Ontario, an experiment was initiated on the value of electrocuting light

58 THE REPORT OF THE

traps in controlling the codling moth (Carpocapsa pomonella L.).

The trap used is known as an “Electracide Insekiller’. The essential
parts are a 75 watt Mazda light surrounded by a grid, alternating bars of
which carry opposite charges of electricity at 4,000 volts, so arranged that

when an insect attracted by the light comes in contact with any two adja-

cent bars it receives the full force of the current.

In 1933, twenty-four traps were placed, one in every fourth tree of a
block of Northern Spies. The following year twenty-five traps were added
and the block reduced in size to 6 by 10 with all but three trees lighted.
The arrangement remained essentially the same for the two BULE eAe
years.

In 1933 no poison (lead arsenate) was applied to the lighted block

after the first cover spray and in the succeeding years none after the second
cover spray. The adjacent unlighted portion of the orchard which re-
ceived the regular spray schedule of four cover applications in 1933 and
1936 and five in 1934 and 1935 was used as a check. All spraying in this
orchard was done by the owner.

Percentages of injured fruit at picking time are given in the following ~
table.

TABLE 1
Sprayed block Ligted trees Unlighted trees
Reduc-
Year Deep Sting Total Deep Sting Total tion Deep Sting Total
Jo %o %o Yo To % %o Jo % %
1933, 2 34.6 Desf oiee ZieG 1.0 22.6 14.7 34.4 aff 35.2
O34 81.4 16 89.0 63.0 5.1 68.1 20.9
1935 7.5 45.7 53.2 Bel IL 14.4 38.8
f936e7 715.0 19.6 34.6 ea 8.4 25.5 9.1

The irregularity of these figures was partly due to the variation in the
size of the crop which was only moderate in the best year (1933) and
extremely light in the poorest year (1934). The unlighted trees recorded
in 1933 were within the lighted block.

The average crop on the record trees which in 1934 included all bear-
ing fruit within the block was as follows:
1933—1,500 apples per tree.
1934— 400 apples per tree.
1935— 700 apples per tree.
1936— 800 apples per tree.

The number of traps in operation, numbers of codling moth caught,
and period of capture are shown in the following table.

TABLE 2.—RECORD OF CODLING MOTH CATCH

Codling fete
Year Records from moths Period of capture
HO Bom... Meee cr. oe 24 traps 1,602 June 17—-Sept. 25
HSA A Se San.) Ve 25 traps; 25 unrecorded 1,705 May 29-Sept. 27
EE) ae cha, i ie 25 traps; 24 ce A79 June 1-Sept. 8

1218 ire Make 25 traps; 24 ‘f 490 June 2-Sept. 9

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 59

A comparison between evening temperatures and codling moth catches
in the traps showed that from the time when the first moths were caught
(average June 1) until early in July the daily catch varied directly with
the evening temperature, but during midsummer when practically all
evenings were sufficiently warm for codling moth activity the catch became
erratic and this correlation was not apparent. The evening temperature
was calculated as the average hourly temperature from seven to eleven
o’clock inclusive, and for the period under consideration ranged from 56°
to 78° F. Practically no moths were caught when the temperatures were
below 60° F.

The relation between temperature and catch is shown in figure 1, in
which is incorporated all the available daily records between the following
dates: May 28 to July 6, 1934; June 5 to July 13, 1985; and June 2 to July
fe 1936. |

Qe me WOO.)

20

nrHos :

= A
EVENING TEMPERATURE. .

Fic. 1.—Diagram showing the relation between temperature and catch.

Some data were secured on the time of flight as indicated by light trap
captures. Record taking commenced at sunset and continued at half hour
intervals for three haurs.

TABLE 3.—TIME OF CODLING MOTH CAPTURE

Moths captured

Before Half hours after sunset: Next

Date Sunset sunset Ist 2nd 3rd Ath 5th 6th morning Total
June 16 8:01 in 5 | 4 4 4 . 1 20
ete 8:03 A i} 6 11 5 2 3 26
28 8:03 1 2 10 3 5 2 if Silt ap
Ee! 29 8:03 F; & ita 14 5 il 3 3 Sul
Aug. 8 hee I 4 16 13 6 5 2 14 61
SRA IY 7:30 ee il 24 S 1 2 2 10 43
a 7 69 43 32 19 8 62 242

60 THE REPORT, OF THE’:

These records show that few moths were captured before the second
half hour after sunset, during which time the greatest number were cap-
tured, and that from then on the numbers trapped gradually decreased
with each successive half hour. Irregularly considerable catches were
made during the latter part of the night. This was first noted on the
morning of June 29 when 31 moths were found in the traps after 26 had
been removed between 7 and 11 p.m., the previous evening. The following
night, records were taken at half hour intervals from sunset to sunrise but
only three moths were secured after the third hour and these came in at

irregular intervals. The data secured is insufficient to warrant a guess |

as to the cause of this later catch.

Unlighted apple trees

Class 1

Class. 3
No Unlighted
apple apple
trees . trees

Class 4

Class. 2

No apple trees

FIG. 2.—DISTRIBUTION OF TRAPS OF VARIOUS CLASSES

The height of the traps from the ground and their proximity to foliage
were recorded but, contrary to results secured by other investigators (1),
there was no consistent relation between these: factors and the codling
moth catch.

The position of the trap within the lighted block has consistently
proved to be a factor influencing the codling moth catch. The traps were
separated into four classes according to their position within the lighted
block as illustrated in figure 2. Class 1.—Traps in those trees on the two
sides of the plot which had unlighted trees adjacent. Class 2.—Traps in
those trees on the two sides of the plot which formed part of the edge of
the orchard thus having no unlighted trees adjacent. Class 3.—Traps in
the second row of the plot thus having one row of lighted trees between
them and the margin of the plot. Class 4.—Traps in the third row of the
plot (centre) having two rows of lighted trees between them and the edge
of the plot.

cpio

SS ee SS

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 61

TABLE 4.—VARIATION'IN CODLING MOTH CATCH

Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4
Ave. moths per trap per year 50 33 Pll 17

Results by other workers (1) have shown that the codling moth is

not attracted by lights for any great distance. Thus the increase in catch

along the outer edge of the lighted block would appear to be due to a natural
drift of moths from tree to tree.

Oviposition cages of the type described by Dustan (2) were set up in
varying positions relative to the light traps. The closest, cage 1, was
placed directly beneath a light trap; the most distant, cage 4, was one

_ hundred and twenty feet away from the nearest light trap. Cages 2 and
_ 3 were intermediate in position, the former seven feet away from a light
_ with some foliage intervening, the latter in an unlighted tree forty feet
_ from the nearest light. Equal numbers of female moths were placed in
_ the cages which were supplied continuously with water through wicks.

BeBe
ae AS

Fresh foliage was introduced into the cages each day, removed the follow-
ing day and the eggs deposited thereon counted.

In 1933 oriental fruit moths were used, and in 1934 the work was

_ repeated with codling moths. In both cases no significant reductions in
_ Oviposition were caused by the presence of the lights.

TABLE 5.—SUMMARY OF OVIPOSITION RECORDS

No. female
moths Species Cage 1 Cage 2 Cage 3 Cage 4

ee eee Orentlruil moth «45,109.44. B274,. BBB

#1934 292 Codling moth 3,551 SAT aii, nee 4,016

Other Insects Captured.—A close check was kept on such other

- orchard pests as the fruit tree leaf roller (Cacoecia argyrospila Wlk.), the

= dae OS

oblique-banded leaf roller (C. rosaceana Harr.), the three-lined leaf roller

- (Pandemis limitata Rob.), and the eye-spotted budmoth (Spilonota ocellana

D. & S.). All of these were relatively scarce in the orchard and were

- captured in correspondingly small numbers.

A record of the insects captured has been compiled. This list is much

- more complete 1 in the Lepidoptera than in the other orders, largely because
_ the economic phase of the investigation centred in that group. . Unidenti-

fied material consisted principally of Diptera, Homoptera, Hemiptera and

- Coleoptera. The number of species identified embraced Lepidoptera, 405;

a
re

Homoptera, 22; Hemiptera, 31; Neuroptera, 10; Coleoptera, 77 -Hymenop-
tera, 5; Dermaptera, 1; Orthoptera, 2; Diptera, 12.
REFERENCES

me Marshall, G. E., & Hienton, T. E. Agri. Eng., Vol. 16, No. 9, Sept. 1935.
(2) Dustan, G. G., Can. Ent., 63: Pai, ale@wile

62 THE REPORT OF THE

A BRIEF REPORT ON CERTAIN MERCURY SALTS USED
EXPERIMENTALLY AGAINST THE ONION MAGGOT

By ALAN G. DUSTAN
Entomological Branch, Ottawa

Due to the difficulty experienced in preparing and applying lubricating ©
oil sprays as a control for the onion maggot, experiments were commenced
in 1935 in an effort to supply a suitable substitute which would be effective,
easy of application and cheap. As mercury salts had proven effective
against other root maggots and in certain countries, including Canada,
were recommended as a control for the onion maggot, attention was first
directed toward a‘study of these materials.

Tests included the old standby mercury bichloride, as well as mer-
curous chloride, methyl mercury chloride and a proprietary compound
composed of the first two insecticides mentioned above. Corrosive subli-
mate and calomel need no introduction. “Methyl mercury chloride is man-
ufactured in England and is being used there experimentally as a control
for certain soil infesting insects. It has the formula CH.HgCl. The
proprietary compound is one sold in this country as a control for fungous
diseases attacking lawn grasses, such as brown patch, and is a mixture of
mercury bichloride and mercurous chloride which contains 34 per cent of
the former and 66 per cent of the latter poison.

In 1936, the above materials were tested in replications of three on
plots measuring 53 feet long and comprising three rows each. The plots
were randomized and three checks were included in the experiment. The
mercury bichloride, mercurous chloride and the proprietary mixture were
diluted in water at the rate of 1-960, while the methyl mercury chloride,
being a much stronger insecticide, at the rate of 1-4800. In 1935, the last
mentioned material was tested on the advice of the manufacturers in dliu- |
tions of 1-20,000 which were found to be much too weak. When it was |
learned by actual test that methyl mercury chloride could be safely used
at a greater strength on onions without injuring the plants, the rate of
dilution was decreased considerably. In the case of the mercurous chlor-
ide, two tablespoonfuls of lignin pitch were added to each ounce of the
insecticide to keep the powder in better suspension. This was found to
have a very beneficial effect.

Four applications of each of the materials were made, commencing
as soon as the first eggs were noticed in the field. In the present test treat-
ments were given on May 25, June 1, 8 and 15. The insecticides were
mixed in a wooden tub and applied from enamelware pails and pitchers. —
The liquid was poured over the seedlings in a liberal stream, sufficient
being used to thoroughly wet the soil to a depth of at least an inch and to —
a distance of two inches on either side of the row. In view of the fact that |
onion maggot flies prefer damp soils to dry when laying their eggs, the
check rows were moistened with tap water for the purpose of making the
seedlings in both treated and untreated plots equally attractive to the
insects. It might be mentioned here that none of the treatments appeared |
to have any adverse effect on seedling development.

The controlling effect of the different mercury salts was ascertained
by counting the number of seedlings killed by maggots in all rows three |
times per week during the season, in reality only until about the end of |

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 63

July when the plants had reached sufficient size to be able to withstand
attack or at any rate show no signs of it externally. By counting the
number of onions which came up originally in each row it was then possible
to work out the percentage seedling mortality.

The control exercised by certain of the materials tested looks decidedly
promising. The summary on this point should be prefaced by the state-
ment that a 23.2 per cent seedling mortality took place in the check plots.
In the plots treated with the proprietary mixture only 3.3 per cent of the
onions were killed, which was followed by a mortality of 3.7 in the mercury
bichloride plots, 9.2 in the methyl mercury rows and 10.6 among the seed-
lings treated with mercurous chloride.

Good commercial control was secured where the first two materials

were used which is all the more noteworthy when it is realized that the

onions were standing in light sandy soil and in a field where the seedlings
are annually injured very severely by the onion maggot.

Worthy of mention here is the fact that a nearby field of onions, stand-
ing in similar soil and distant only 100 feet, was sprayed five times with a
214 per cent lubricating oil spray, the oil in this case being Imperial zone
pale paraffin. Culturally the fields received identical treatment. Seed-
ling mortality records were taken throughout the season in this plot and
showed that only 2.9 per cent of the plants were killed by maggot attack,
slightly less than the best control secured following the use of the mercury
salts.

SOME FACTORS IN THE CONTROL OF THE COMMON GREEN-
HOUSE APHID, Myzus persicae SULZER, BY THE
PARASITE Aphidius phorodontis ASHM.

By J. H. McLEop
Dominion Parasite Laboratory,
Entomological Branch, Belleville, Ontario

The peach aphid, Myzus persicae Sulzer, attacks a wide variety of
plants and is one of the most common greenhouse pests. Various control

- measures have been tried in the laboratory greenhouse since 1930. It was

thought that an infestation could be prevented by cleaning and fumigating
the greenhouse thoroughly and by treating all plants and containers going
into the greenhouse. An oil emulsion was used and everything was dipped
in this solution before being placed in the greenhouse. Although all pos-
sible sources of infestation were watched carefully, colonies of aphids were
found on some of the plants in a few weeks, and other control measures
were necessary. The use of insecticides proved unsatisfactory, due to a
residual accumulation of toxic material on the leaves of the plants, used as
food for rearing insects in the laboratory. Biological control seemed to
offer the only satisfactory solution to the problem.

In September, 1932, several specimens of aphids parasitized by Aphid-

ius phorodontis Ashm. were found in the laboratory garden, and were

placed on infested plants in the greenhouse. The measure of control
obtained during the winter of 1932-33 was very encouraging and seemed

64 THE REPORT OF THE

to warrant a more thorough investigation of the possibilities of this para-
site. The study has been continued since that time, the practical results
of which may be briefly summarized as follows:

(1) Myzus persicae has been controlled at all times in No. 1 econ
of the greenhouse.

(2) The parasite population builds up much more slowly in No. 3
section and satisfactory control of the pest has not been secured
until April and May.

The heating system in the greenhouse (which is hot water) provides
a greater radiation surface in No. 1 section, with the result that a higher
night temperature is maintained in that section throughout the winter.
A thermograph record of the temperature in each section has been kept.
Since other factors, such as humidity, length of day, and amount of sun-
light, can be eliminated, a careful analysis of the records for the winter
1935-36 has been made in an effort to determine the particular tempera-
ture factor responsible for the different results obtained in each section.
The following comparisons were made: maximum temperature, minimum
temperature, average day temperature (6:00 a.m., 6:00 p.m.), average
night temperature (6:00 p.m., 6:00 a.m.), and average daily temperature
(24 hours).

Averages for the purpose of comparison were taken in each section
when the increase in aphid population had been checked, and definite
control was being secured. The month when control was secured was
January for No. 1 section, and April for No. 3 section. Temperature con-
ditions were quite different in each section since the day temperature was
lower and the night temperature higher in No. 1 section than in No. 3.
This gave No. 3 section a consistently higher maximum temperature and a
consistently lower minimum temperature. The average temperatures for
the above months were as follows:

Average

Average Average 24-hour

night day Maxi- Mini- tempera-
temperature temperature mum mum ture
No. 1 January 62.5 67.4 (fa) 59.3 64.7
No. 3. April 58.27 (Aleswi 84.8 55.3 64.5

A consideration of each of these temperature factors would seem to
indicate that the most important factor is average 24-hour temperature,
since the aphids were controlled in No. 3 section as soon as the 24-hour
temperature rose to the point where they had been controlled in No. 1
section.

If these results can be duplicated in further checks, it seems reason-
able to assume that this species of aphids can be controlled by the parasite
Aphidius phorodontis in a greenhouse where the average daily temperature
is 65 degrees F. or over.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 65

Cx ai aa

THE GRASSHOPPER OUTBREAK IN ONTARIO IN 1936
By H. A. GILBERT
. Entomological Branch, Ottawa,
and
R. W. THOMPSON
Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph

In 1936 grasshopper outbreaks occurred in Renfrew, Hastings and
Northumberland counties and also in Manitoulin island. In Renfrew
county an area of some 5,000 acres was involved and in Hastings county
just across the county border from the outbreak in Renfrew approximately
2,000 acres were threatened with heavy loss. These two areas can be
regarded virtually as a unit and comprise the same area where an outbreak
occurred in 1935.1. The Northumberland county outbreak was limited to
a few farms near Castleton. In Manitoulin island the area in which the
outbreak occurred comprised some 2,000 acres. j

In the Renfrew-Hastings area the grasshoppers were restricted to
the same territory as reported in the 1935 outbreak by a natural border of
heavy soil which bounds the infested area of very light land. Each farm
where grasshoppers were present in injurious numbers has as a rule but a
small percentage of land suitable for cropping. The remainder is non-

arable land, in most cases, rough, and in all cases made up of very light
soil which is left as natural pasture and which thus provides breeding

‘places. It is interesting to note the improvement in quality of farms as
soon as the heavier soil is reached. Here the percentage of pasture land
is lower and the grasshoppers show a correlated reduction in numbers.

Hatching of Camnula pellucida Scud. from sod, and of Melanoplus
mexicanus mexicanus Saus. from stubble, started around May 20, and the
“majority of the eggs hatched during the week of very warm weather
‘following this date. These two species were present in the Renfrew and
Hastings areas in much larger numbers than any other species. In Sep-
tember, Mr. F. A. Urquhart of the Division of Systematic Entomology,
Ottawa, identified the following species in the field in the Renfrew area,
arranged more or less in order of abundance, as:? Melanoplus mexicanus
mexicanus Saus., Camnula pellucida Scud., Melanoplus bivittatus Say,
Melanoplus femur-rubrum DeG. (Golden lake only), Dissosteira carolina
L., Encoptolophus sordidus Burm., Orphulella speciosa Scud., Chorthippus
curtipennis Harr. (low-lying pastures), Acridium granulatum Kby., Tetti-
gidea lateralis parvipennis Harr., Conocephalus fasciatus fasciatus DeG.,

Chortophaga viridifasciata DeG. (nymphs only), Circotettix verruculatus
‘Kby., Spharagemon bolli Scud., Melanoplus dawsont Scud.

The farmers of Carlow township, Hastings county, had suffered losses
from grasshoppers in 1935, and in some cases in 1934 also, so that as soon
as the hoppers started hatching this spring they petitioned the Provincial

1Ann. Rept., Ent. Soc. of Ont., 1935.

2M. angustipennis Dodge recorded in 1935 by H. A. Gilbert, Ann. Rep. Ent. Soc. Ont.
No. 66, p. 61, is now considered to have been a misidentification of M. mexicanus
mexicanus Saus. A review of material collected in 1935 shows this species unques-
tionably present and no specimens of M. angustipennis Dodge in the collections.

66 THE REPORT OF THE

Minister of Agriculture for assistance in combating the insects. Surveys
of the situation were carried on by the agricultural representatives and
the Provincial Entomologist’s Office in the various areas involved with the
result that the Ontario Department of Agriculture agreed to supply poison ~
free of charge in such amounts as were needed for a supervised campaign.
In Renfrew the work was under the supervision of Mr. F. Q. Dench, the |
Agricultural Representative, assisted by the senior author and in Hastings,
Mr. J. Wilson, the Agricultural Representative, supervised the distribution —
of poison and the campaign generally, with help from the Provincial Ento-
mologist and the junior author. Poison was supplied free of charge to
Manitoulin island where Mr. R. C. Banbury, the Agricultural Representa- -
tive, was in charge of the work, and also to Northumberland county where
Mr. A. H. Martin, the Agricultural Representative, supervised the control —
measures applied in the small area there.

In Renfrew, six mixing and spreading demonstrations were held at
focal points throughout the infested area. Prior to holding these demon-
strations the farmers in the affected townships were circularized by letter,
indicating the nearest demonstration which they could attend, supplying
information relative to bait mixing and spreading, and warning them of
the danger of poisoning live stock if the bait was not properly applied.
In Hastings, reeves and other township officials were interviewed and their
aid enlisted in bringing the farmers to mixing and spreading demonstra-
tions. At these demonstrations mimeographed sheets of instructions and
warnings were distributed and the men encouraged to mix up batches of
bait for themselves and to spread these so that mistakes in both operations
could be corrected before they dispersed to apply the poison to their own
land.

Two kinds of poison were supplied, white arsenic and sodium arsenate.
No sodium arsenite was available and it was decided that the two other
poisons, of which considerable amounts were at hand, were sufficiently
comparable in toxicity to sodium arsenite that the delay in supply which
would be entailed in the preparation of the latter was not justified. The
white arsenic, 90 per cent As,O, or 68 per cent metallic arsenic, was pack-
aged in eight lb. cans and delivered at a cost of three cents per lb. Sodium
arsenate, 50.0 per cent As,O. or 33 per cent metallic arsenic, and packaged
in two lb. cans was delivered at six cents per lb. Later the sodium arsenate
was shipped in 300 lb. barrels and some of these shipments contained
sodium arsenate but 30.6 per cent As,O.. In all about 2,500 lbs. of white
arsenic and 8,000 lbs. of solium arsenate were supplied for baitnig approxi-
mately 9,000 acres. This total includes Manitoulin island and Northum-
berland county, although in Manitoulin island some of the poison supplied
was not used and is being carried over until 1937.

The formula followed in mixing the bait in most cases was :—

Bray 5 GO Re 7 eee RT role ec a) ee ee 12 lbs.
Eresh,’ fine. sawdust). 235 ie eee equal bulk to bran
Sodium arsenate 11/4 lbs., or white arsenic............. oe eee 1 Tee
Sate ic cas occ hc ee ea en ner 1k:
Water i). eer a eins aru iaeitese (eae ae Lara from 2-3 gallons

Early tests with sodium arsenate in Hastings county indicated that it
killed more rapidly than white arsenic and hence was preferred in the

e

#
}
#
A

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 67

" poisoning work. The bait was applied by hand at the rate of about 10
lbs. per acre. In some cases whole fields of pasture land were treated

around the margins where heavily infested to keep the hoppers from

she 5

spreading into adjoining grain fields.

From our observations results obtained in the areas supervised were
satisfactory and considerable crop was saved in comparison with previous

_years. Farmers and municipal officers who were visited later in the

season expressed themselves as being well satisfied with the way the hop-

pers had been held in check and the acreage of crop which had been saved
from destruction.

In addition to the effective control obtained with the poisoned baits,
it should be mentioned also that another important factor was responsible

_ for saving a percentage of crop. In the two areas under consideration and

to some extent in Manitoulin island, abundance of moisture early in the
season resulted in a good growth of grass upon which the grasshoppers
fed instead of migrating, as they had in years of poor grass, to grain fields

that were not very far advanced in development.

No poisoning of live stock has been reported, apart from some twenty-

five young turkeys which were alleged to have died as a result of eating
poisoned grasshoppers. In this connection it is possibly worthy of note

to report that at Guelph we were unable to poison chickens with a dose of

_.85 grame of lead arsenate per bird mixed into- wet mash over a period
of 10 days. The birds in this experiment were kept over a period of one
month but no poisoning symptoms could be noted during the 10 days when

the food was poisoned nor during the rest of the month following it.

Recent experiments conducted at Madison, Wisconsin, and reported in

the Journal of Economic Entomology, October 1936, page 1008, indicate
that it is possible to poison chickens with erasshopper baits, so that the
claims of the turkey owner, while Boy substantiated by postmortem exam-

ination, may be justified.

Experiments were conducted in Renfrew and Hastings to ascertain

the comparative toxicity to grasshoppers of sodium arsenate, white arsenic

and Paris green. As noted earlier in this paper sodium arsenate appeared
to kill, at least younger hoppers, much more rapidly than white arsenic.
In later examinations of the same plots, however, the white arsenic

appeared to have killed equally as well as the sodium arsenate. Reports

from Manitoulin island indicate that from results obtained there the

farmers prefer the white arsenic to the sodium arsenate and consider the

latter to be inferior. In Manitoulin island the baits were not spread until
the grasshoppers had reached the adult stage in July and August, which
may explain why the sodium arsenate appeared unsatisfactory. In Ren-
frew and Hastings our own experiments indicated that white arsenic,
sodium arsenate and Paris green are about equal in toxicity to grasshop-
pers, although a report received from the agricultural representative of
Hastings recently states that the farmers there prefer the white arsenic.

In Renfrew, tests with sawdust alone as a carrier for the poison indi-
cated that almost as good results could be obtained from sawdust alone

as with a mixture of equal bulk sawdust and bran, provided that weather

conditions were good. In damp, cool weather the baits made up with

sawdust only were not as readily taken as the bran baits. Sawdust used

68 THE REPORT OF THE

in Hastings was a mixture of pine and hardwood and the question arises
as to preference on the part of the grasshoppers for any special type of
sawdust.

From our experimental plots and also from a general survey of baited
fields through the area it was found that rain and dew freshen the poison
baits sufficiently to make them effective over a much longer period than
was previously thought possible. Bait which had been spread only 45
minutes previous to an almost torrential rain and followed by blistering
sun was found to be killing hoppers in fairly large numbers two days later.
In the case of this bait very little if any feeding occurred previous to the
rain. .

During the last week of September, a survey of egg-laying was made
in Renfrew county. The old egg beds of last year were thoroughly exam-
ined and all likely places for new egg beds were carefully searched but no
indication of a definite egg bed such as occurred in the previous season
was found. Egg-laying appeared to be general throughout sod land, such
as pastures, roadsides and along fence rows, but even in these places egg-
laying was not conspicuous, in fact it took considerable hunting to find
even one egg pod.

In reviewing the literature in preparation for this paper, an inter-
esting reference? was found to an outbreak of grasshoppers at Ormsby
3Exp. Farms Rpt., p. 148, 1895.

some twelve miles south of Bancroft in the north of Hastings county in
the year 1895. A correspondent from Ormsby, writing to Dr. James
Fletcher, the Dominion Entomologist and Botanist at that time, states that
grasshoppers were worse than he had seen them for forty years.

So many useful notes and papers were found in the literature in
regard to grasshoppers in Eastern Canada dating back as far as 1882 it
has been considered that a bibliography and a short resume of this litera-
ture would be of value to workers in Ontario and Eastern Canada. Accord-
ingly, it is hoped presently to publish a review of the available informa-
tion on grasshoppers in Ontario at a subsequent date in the Canadian
Entomologist.

A NOTE ON THE GRASSHOPPER SITUATION IN
MANITOBA IN 1936

By A. V. MITCHENER
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg

In the reports of the Entomological Society of Ontario for the years
1932, 1933, 1934 and 1935 the writer attempted to record the progress of
the Manitoba outbreak of grasshoppers which began in 1931. This record
was based largely upon the amounts of materials used in the poisoned bait
supplied by the Department of Agriculture of this province to the involved
municipalities. Judged by this standard grasshoppers were not important
pests in Manitoba during the growing season of 1936. The egg survey
made during the autumn of 1935 by the officials of the Dominion Ento-
mological Branch in Manitoba indicated that a grasshopper outbreak

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 69

would occur in certain limited areas, but for some reason, possibly egg
parasites, etc., hoppers failed to hatch in the expected numbers in these

_ areas in the spring of 1936. In a few localities hoppers appeared and did

.

a small amount of damage to the young crops, but this was so slight that
farmers thought it was not worth while to poison them although the
ingredients for bait-making were available as usual through the provincial

department of agriculture. The writer tried on several occasions to locate

sources for a supply of young hoppers to continue work with various
sawdusts in baits and although he visited areas reputed to be most heavily
infested he was unable to secure the necessary supply.

For purposes of record we state that practically no bait was used to
control grasshoppers in Manitoba in 1936 and consequently a bait distri-
bution map similar to those accompanying previous reports is lacking this
year. Possibly we have reached the end of the grasshopper outbreak
which began in Manitoba in 1931. If no report on the grasshopper situ-

ation in Manitoba appears in the annual report of the Entomological

society for 1937 it may be taken for granted that this grasshopper out-
break has subsided to the point where control measures are no longer

deemed necessary by the farmers of this province.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE LIFE-HISTORY AND HABITS OF
THE COLUMBINE BORER
By W. G. MATTHEWMAN

Entomological Branch, Ottawa

The columbine borer, Papaipema purpurifascia Grote and Robinson
(1868), has been the most important pest of cultivated Aquilegia for many
years. Despite its widespread distribution, with the exception of a paper
by Miss Grace Griswold (7) of Cornell University, very little has been

‘published on either its biology or control. It is because of this lack of

information on the life-history and habits of the insect particularly in
Canada that the present paper has been prepared.

A review of the literature discloses references to the activities of the

-columbine borer in Ontario as far back as 1893. Dr. Gibson (2), in a

description of an outbreak of the insect at Ottawa in 1904, stated, “Dr.

Fletcher tells me the larva of this species did considerable damage at

Ottawa to columbine plants in gardens, in 1893, but since that date it has

not been seen until the present year.” In 1904 the borer was reported as
having caused serious injury to columbines at Perth, Ontario (2), and

there is evidence that it was present at Hamilton, Ontario (2), some years
before. In 1905 the insect again was present in destructive numbers at
Ottawa (3) and in 1908 its occurrence was reported from Toronto (Ap
No further reference to the columbine borer can be found in Canadian
literature until 1923, when Mr. Ross and Professor Caesar (5) reported it

as troublesome in several sections of southwestern Ontario. In 1928, the

latter authors (6) again mentioned the receipt of numerous complaints
as to its destructiveness in the same area.

For the past two seasons at Ottawa, experiments in the control of the
columbine borer have been carried on—chiefly tests of the efficiency of

substances applied to the soil surface, as ovicides, in the autumn and spring

70 THE REPORT OF THE

of the year. In connection with these ovicidal tests it was necessary to
rear the moths, and in the course of the rearing work data were obtained
which, though not extensive, throw considerable light on the biology of :
the insect; there was, however, no attempt at a detailed study of the life- |
history.

The columbine borer passes the winter in the egg stage, the eggs being -
deposited in the autumn on the soil surface near the base of the plants. |
Hatching occurs early in May; at Ottawa, this season, on the 8th of the
month. The larvae, upon hatching, make their way to the nearest colum- |
bine, crawl up the stems and enter the plant at almost any point above the ©
surface of the ground. The favourite places of entrance, however, are the
tips of new shoots, that is, shoots which will later develop into the stems —
supporting the blossom. Stems which bear leaves rarely are in- |
fested. The young borers may spend some time feeding on the leaf sur-
face in the protection afforded by the tightly-folded buds of the young —
shoots, or they may enter the tip of the stem directly upon reaching it. In
any case, the original entrance hole is so small as to escape detection.

Once established the borers proceed to feed, usually in the upper part
of the shoot, hollowing it out until nothing is left but a shell. The original
entrance hole is enlarged, and, if in the side of the shoot or the crown of
the plant, it is usually conspicuous owing to the accumulated frass. If it
occurs at the tip of the shoot, the frass may not be apparent owing to the
folded leaves. Sometimes, though very rarely, a second hole is made in
the side of the stem.

The larvae next turn their attention to the lower part of the stem,
and work their way down to the crown of the plant where they gradually
chew out a hollow chamber. Considerable time is spent in this location. |
Up to this time, the only indication of the presence of the insect is the .
entrance hole and the frass, often very well hidden by the foliage. The
leaves of a tunnelled stem now begin to wilt and turn yellow and frequently
the stem breaks over at the crown. The infested section of the root com-
mences to rot, and the interior becomes a slimy mass. The rottenness of
the root does not appear to bother the borer, in fact, it seems to aid it in
penetrating farther and farther to a fresh food supply. At this stage
in the development of the insect, the dark frass usually. is thrown out in
some quantity, in the centre of the crown of the plant, and consequently
the grower is likely to become aware of the presence of the borer a the
first time but unfortunately after the damage has been done.

Toward the end of July, the larvae become mature and pupate in the
fibrous roots and surrounding soil. By this time small plants, and larger
plants containing several borers, in many cases will have been killed.
Despite the fact that as many as five or six mature larvae have been found |
in very large plants, the usual number of borers reaching maturity is only |
one, and more rarely two or three, per plant. The most severe injury
consequently is to the younger columbines. With large plants containing
only one or two borers, partial recovery seems to set in at this time,
although frequently such plants are weakened further by the secondary
attacks of millipedes and nematodes, and fail to survive the winter.

A month after pupation, toward the end of August, the moths emerge
and commence laying their eggs almost at once. A peak in the oviposition
is reached the second or third night of adult life, at Ottawa about the first |

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 71

of September; lesser peaks occur, however, whenever there is a warm or
_ particularly favourable evening, and as a rule the eggs are deposited fairly

Date

steadily throughout the entire life of the moths. The latter live, on an

average, two weeks, although an occasional moth may live as long as four
weeks. In the second half of September, the mortality among the moths

increases rapidly, and egg-laying has ceased by the end of the month.

Since the moths are nocturnal, little is known of their activities. In
the insectary they feed on the sugar solution supplied, mate and scatter

their eggs freely about the bottoms of the cages. At nights they batter

themselves against the wire screening and lose so many of their scales that
it is difficult to distinguish the sexes after the first few days. During the

day time they remain inactive. In the field, the moths hide amongst the
_columbine foliage and probably in other situations, as yet unknown.

The eggs of the columbine borer are somewhat globular, though sight-
ly flattened at the poles. When first laid they are creamy white; within a
week, however, they have a pinkish tinge and shortly after become dis-
tinctly buff in colour. The chorion, while elaborately sculptured, is quite
transparent. Thus, two or three days before hatching, development is
apparent to the naked eye—the egg commences to darken in colour, the
contents draw away from the shell and the egg appears mottled owing to

_ the formation of the embryonic capsule and thoracic shield. The incuba-

_ tion period at room temperature varies between 8 and 14 days, while at

constant temperatures of approximately 60° and 82° F., 15 and 6 days

- respectively are required.

In the field the eggs are found lying, for the most part singly, on the
soil surface within a few inches of the base of the plants. During ovi-
position they are deposited directly against the surface of the leaves,

usually the upper ones, and then roll or are shaken to the ground below.

For the first few days, the eggs are relatively conspicuous. Once they

have assumed their permanent brownish colouration, however, they so

closely resemble the soil particles that it is almost an impossibility to

discover them ; further, many undoubtedly fall into tiny crevices, are beaten

in by the rain and generally become mixed with the soil within a short
time. Considering the fecundity of the columbine borer, the percentage

of larvae which become established is very small. In the insectary, the

- average number of eggs laid was over 500, while one moth laid as many

as 1,100.

In the field, on the average, the larvae require 12 weeks to mature.
From 3 weeks to a month is spent in the pupal stage, while the average
length of adult life, with caged moths, is 15 days. Pupation occurs the
latter part of July and early August, the mothes emerge from the middle
of August to the middle of September. A peak in the pupation is reached
about the first of August, and a peak in the emergence of the moths occurs
toward the end of the same month. .

The sexes of the columbine borer numerically appear to be approxi-
mately equal. Of 100 moths reared in the insectary, 46 were males and 54

were females.

LITERATURE CITED

1. Grote, A. R., and RosBiInson, C.T., 1868. Descriptions of American Lepidoptera,
Amer. Ent. Soc. Trans. 1: 341.

72 THE REPORT OF THE

2. GIBSON, ARTHUR, 1904. Note on the Columbine Borer (Papaipema purpurifascia
Gand R.). Ont. Ent. Soc. R. 35: 81.

3. ——_—___—_—___ 1905. Injurious Insects to the Flower Gardex. Ont. Ent. Soc. .
Roo. 11S:

4, Nasu, C. W. 1908. Reports on Insects of the Year. Ont. Ent. Soc. R. 39: 12.
5. Ross, W. A., and Carsar, L. 1923. Insects of the Season. Ont. Ent. Soc. R. 54: 62. |
6. —+__—__——_ 1928. Insects of the Season in Ontario. Ont. Ent) Soe Rago; 228.
ff

. GRISWOLD, GRACE H. 1934. Oviposition in the Columbine Borer and the Iris Borer. |
Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 27: 545.

INVASION OF THREE NEW QUEBEC DISTRICTS
BY THE POTATO BEETLE
By GEO. MAHEUX
Provincial Entomologist, Quebec, P.Q.

The object of this note is to report some modifications to the distribu-
tion of insects in Quebec, brought about by the potato beetle during the
summer of 19386. This occurred in three widely separated districts: the
Magdalen islands, Temiscamingue and Abitibi.

Magdalen Islands.—This group of islands located in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, about 200 miles south of Gaspe and 100 miles north of Prince
Edward Island, maintains regular commercial exchange by boats with the
mainland. Since the beginning of the 20th century, it is very likely that
this insect has been accidentally carried over to the islands with or without
the help of tubers from the Maritime Provinces. Consequently, the pres-
ence of the potato beetle, so far from the mainland, holds nothing new in
itself. If the event is worth while mentioning this year, it is because the |
pest does not seem to have made a purely accidental and temporary visit
to Amherst island.

Last summer (1936), probably for the first time in history, the beetle
has been seen to settle in a potato field, to multiply, cause damage and to
spread over to the neighboring fields. The invading insect was seen in a
small field of Green Mountains, just one-quarter of an acre, and a very
noticeable defoliation took place.

If we consider the whole of the islands, the damage is, of course, insig- —
nificant; but the future might make the situation a serious one if the pest
cast resist the hard winter climate of these islands.

Although all means of fighting were resorted to, there is no doubt that |
quite a few specimens will winter in the ground; until next summer we can
but make hypotheses. The year 1937 will answer the question and wipe
out any doubt as to the survival of the potato beetle and tell the entomolo-
gists whether they have to face a new problem of economic entomology
or not.

Temiscamingue.—The potato beetle has appeared from time to time
in this western district of Quebec close to the Ontario boundary, but appar-
ently these attempts were not successful. Farmers from the old parishes
say that they have already seen the potato beetle in some years, but without
suffering any serious damage. The first invasion goes back to 10 years
ago. Last summer the beetle was present in so many localities that fear
is entertained among the growers that the beetle has now come to stay.

= si 3 ee 2

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 73

At Ville-Marie and Fabre especially, the damage caused by this pest is quite
varying in intensity; on the other hand, a normal succession of generations
was observed and a sufficient stock produced to justify the fear of future
epidemics. As long as the communications were only made by boats ply-
ing on Lake Temiscamingue to the Ontario side, where there is not much
agricultural activity, the danger of contamination was reduced to a mini-
mum. Now, the Canadian Pacific goes up to Angliers, there is also an
increasing automobile traffic and these appear to me as excellent means of
penetration for the beetle. Here again we have to wait and see if the
winter will favour or not the survival of the stages hibernating in the soil.

A bitibi.—This is to my knowledge the first record of the potato beetle
in this northwestern region of Quebec. The insect was discovered at
Ste-Anne de Poulariés, a new settlement south of Macamic in western
Abitibi. Only a few adults were seen and no appreciable damage was
noticed. There may be a connection between the Temiscamingue and
Abitibi invasions as Ste-Anne is directly on the road connecting Macamic
to North Temiscamingue and the same means of transportation may have
been used by the potato beetle last summer. Here again, it will be inter-
esting to observe the behaviour of this chrysomelid next year.

When we are informed that the potato beetle in just one season is seen
in three new districts on the extreme east and west of the province, have
we not there the proof that this insect has a great power of dissemination?
Hence the necessity for us to keep a careful watch around all districts
recently taken over by colonization. With the farmers well informed as
to the danger of letting this pest settle and multiply, with the help of the
district agronomists and the work of our own inspectors, we will do our
utmost to stop the invader.

A SUMMARY OF THE INSECT PEST SITUATION
IN CANADA IN 1936*

By C. R. TWINN
Entomological Branch, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa

The following summary of insect conditions in Canada during the year
1936 has been prepared from reports submitted in connection with the
Canadian Insect Pest Survey by entomologists and associated workers in
various parts of the Dominion. My thanks are extended to all of them.
Reference to the original reports, which include the names of the reporters
and dates of submission, may be had by consulting the pages of the mimeo-
graphed Canadian Insect Pest Review. Summaries for 1933, 1934 and
1935, will be found in the annual reports of the Society for those years,
and references to previous ones are included in the introduction to the
statement for 1933.

FIELD CROP AND GARDEN INSECTS

A marked improvement in the grasshopper situation occurred in
Manitoba, during 1936, and there was a material reduction of crop damage
in Saskatchewan. In Alberta the outbreak continued with unabated

*Prepared by direction of the Dominion Entomologist.

74 THE REPORT OF THE

severity, while in British Columbia the numbers of grasshoppers increased —
to serious proportions. An important feature in Saskatchewan and Al-
berta was the extensive northward spread of the infestation. Further
details follow:

Prior to 1935, the grasshopper outbreak in Manitoba was the most
severe since settlement. In 1935, however, an epidemic of the fungous
disease, Empusa grylli Fr., largely exterminated the clear-winged grass-
hopper and greatly reduced the numbers of the two-striped species. The
lesser migratory grasshopper was not affected by the disease, but experi-

enced conditions unfavorable to oviposition. As a result of reduced grass-

hopper abundance and more vigorous plant growth induced by plentiful
reserve moisture, grasshopper damage in the spring of 1936 was slight.
Later, drought conditions aggravated the situation, and considerable crop
damage was done in the southwest corner of the province. However, a
cool autumn, and, in some sections, abundant precipitation, caused reduced
egg-laying, and the forecast for 1937 is a light and patchy infestation
east of the Red river, and in south-western Manitoba. With the excep-
tion of the latter area, the grasshopper population is now practically nor-
mal throughout the province. In Saskatchewan, crop destruction by grass-
hoppers was materially less in 1936 than in any year since 1932, but the
area of economic infestation was still very widespread, and extended in
light or moderate form into localities north of the North Saskatchewan
river, and elsewhere in the northwest, where a grasshopper outbreak had
not previously been recorded. Severe infestations that occurred over
much of the northern part of west-central Saskatchewan, in which the
roadside grasshopper was important or predominant, were well controlled
by an active provincial control campaign; lighter infestations, in most of
which the lesser migratory grasshopper predominated, generally were
not effectively dealt with. Greatly increased infestations resulted in the
autumn, and in nearly all areas oats and other feed crops suffered severely.
Apparently owing to the fact that high temperatures and drought matured
wheat well before the main dispersal of grasshoppers, head-cutting of this
crop was unexpectedly light. In Alberta, the 1936 season was very fav-
ourable to grasshoppers and unfavourable to crops, and the former consti-
tuted the most widespread insect outbreak of the year. Damage to crops
was severe, and extensive migrations of the grasshoppers spread the infest- -
ation one hundred miles farther to the north, where they occurred in
destructive numbers, particularly along the eastern boundary of the prov-
ince. In British Columbia, a very great increase took place in all parts of
the province, and serious outbreaks occurred on all open range lands with
the exception of the Nicola valley where continual control work has proven
effective. The predominating species are the roadside and lesser migra-
tory grasshoppers. 7

As in previous years of grasshopper outbreak, blister beetles of several
species were abundant in the Prairie Provinces, and defoliated leguminous
shrubs and crops, and certain other plants. They were less injurious than
in recent years in Manitoba.

In Saskatchewan, the pale western cutworm, Agrotis orthogonia Morr.,
was most abundant, during 1936, in the area south of the Saskatchewan
river from Leader to Cabri, and south to Fox Valley and Hazlet, but serious
losses occurred only in fields of stubbled-in crop, or where summer-
fallowing in 1935 was done contrary to control recommendations. In

y

At

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 15

Alberta, the species caused extensive crop losses in sections centering on
Lethbridge and Empress. Elsewhere, only slight losses occurred. The
red-backed cutworm, Huxoa ochrogaster Gn., and its allies, developed in
serious outbreak numbers only in a small area north of the Saskatchewan
river, east of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where losses to grains were
general and heavy. In the northwest, where there was considerable dam-
age in 1935, serious losses occurred only in the Loon lake district. In
Manitoba, this species and certain related forms caused much injury to
garden crops. Minor to severe losses to garden crops and sugar beets
were reported in southern Alberta.

In the Maritime Provinces, cutworms were local in distribution,

troublesome in a few small areas, but not nearly so abundant over wide

areas as in 1935. The bronzed cutworm, Nephelodes emmedonia Cram.,
was present in large numbers on certain sections of the Tantramar dyke-
lands, and on similar meadows in the valleys of the Memramcook and
Petiticodiac rivers. The local centres of abundance were scattered and
generally small. An outbreak of a fungous disease destroyed a large num-
ber of the insects. In several counties in southern Ontario, oats and, to a
lesser extent. barley, suffered from attacks of the glassy cutworm, Sidemia
devastator Brace. In general, however, cutworms were less injurious

than in 1935, particularly in eastern Ontario. The species Huxoa excellens

Grt., was a troublesome pest in southern Vancouver island, British Colum-
bia.

Wireworms continued as a major pest of field crops in the Prairie
Provinces, particularly in Saskatchewan and Alberta. <A general increase
of these insects is indicated in the former province in areas persistently
affected by drought; moreover, conditions in 1936 favoured a rather high
rate of damage in proportion to infestation. In the prairies and adjoining
park belt area of Saskatchewan, damage to wheat seeded on summer-fallow
is reported to have averaged 10-15 per cent. Considerable damage
occurred to other crops. In general, wireworms were also the most serious
insect pest in much of the northwestern section of the province. The

potato crop in the Saskatoon district, and in the northwest, suffered injury

to an unusual extent. The most important species in Saskatchewan was
Ludius aeripennis destructor Brown. Extensive but inconspicuous dam-
age was done by wireworms in southern Alberta; in more northern sections
it was about normal, and nowhere very severe. Losses were reported
below normal in the Peace River district. Local crop damage was reported
throughout southern Manitoba, and in southwestern Ontario, southern
Quebec, and New Brunswick.

White grubs were common in Prince Edward Island and New Bruns-
wick, in 1936, affecting chiefly oats and potatoes. Reports of damage
were fewer than usual in Nova Scotia. Several species of white grubs
of the genus Phyllophaga were injurious in Ontario. The second-year
grubs caused damage to wheat, potatoes, meadows and pastures in various
parts of the province. Some damage to potato tubers was reported at
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Flights of adults of P. anxia Lec., occurred
north of Montreal in Quebec, and large numbers of deciduous trees suffered
severe defoliation over an area of about 800 square miles. <A heavy flight
of the same species was also reported on the east coast of the Gaspe penin-
sula. A minor flight occurred on Prince Edward Island.

The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Nort., was quite scarce in

76 THE REPORT OF THE

Manitoba, in 1936, and little damage was reported. This was probably
due to the poor survival in rusted wheat last year when many larvae per-
ished through insufficient nourishment. In Saskatchewan, the species .
was more abundant than usual over most of the southern part of the prov-
ince, from Estevan to Francis to Morse, and northwest to Wilkie and
Lloydminster. The most serious damage occurred at Swift Current,

Stewart Valley, Wymark and Cabri, where losses averaged from 5 to 10 ©

per cent of the entire wheat crop. Infested fields varied from 20 to 95
per cent average marginal infestation. Most of the grain cut by sawfly
larvae was lost. In Alberta, the sawfly has spread almost to the limit of
its range, and, in spite of the drought, wheat was severely infested in the
southern portions of the province, while the best crop areas centering on
Drumheller suffered greater losses than usual.

A further reduction in damage by the wheat stem maggot, Meromyza
americana Fitch, was reported in Manitoba, in 1936. A general, but
light, infestation occurred in Saskatchewan, from the Birch Hills-Melfort
area south to Indian Head. Another species of maggot, Hylemywa cerealis
Gill., was responsible for extensive losses to wheat at Watts, in east-central
Alberta, early in the season. ,

The wheat joint worm, Harmolita tritici Fitch, was injurious to wheat
on Prince Edward Island. Several fields of oats and of barley in Waterloo
county, Ontario, suffered attacks of the wheat nematode, Heterodera
schachtii Schm., and some of the oat fields were practically ruined. The
wheat midge, Thecodiplosis mosellana Gehin, was destructive to spring
wheat in the Nanaimo district, British Columbia, and slight injury was
reported locally near Strathroy, Ontario.

The Hessian fly, Phytophaga destructor Say, damaged grain on the
Saanich peninsula, British Columbia. In southern Ontario, where no ser-
ious losses have been caused by it during the past decade, a few fields were
moderately infested.

Say’s grain bug, Chlorochroa sayi Stal, which was first recorded in
Alberta in 1934 is now well established, and has made its appearance over
most of the province south of Calgary. During 1936, it was recorded for
the first time in Saskatchewan, and was found in small numbers from
Maple Creek to Mortlach, and single specimens were captured at Elbow
and east of Estevan. It has been a serious pest of grain in northern Mon-
tana in recent years.

The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, was about
normal in numbers and destructiveness in the eastern provinces, in 1936.
However, in southern Ontario, the second brood was reported as remark-
ably scarce. A great reduction in this brood was also noted in Manitoba.
In Saskatchewan and Alberta, economic infestations appeared in localities
much farther north than hitherto. In the former province, where the
outbreak was the most intensive and widespread ever recorded in Sas-
katchewan, serious infestations were found as far north as the Loon Lake
and White Fox districts. The farthest north record in Alberta was Good-
fish lake, 50 miles north of Edmonton. In the East Kootenay section of
British Columbia, the only section of the province at present infested, a
decline in the numbers of beetles was reported.

The potato psyllid, Paratrioza cockerelli Sulc., was again locally abun-
dant in southern Alberta, and was found for the first time at Kdmonton,

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 77

in the north. Light infestations were also located at several points in
_ west-central and northwest Saskatchewan, but no important injury
— occurred.

Much damage to cultivated cruficerous plants and weeds was done
by the red turnip beetle, Entomoscelis adonidis Pallas, in the park belt
and adjacent prairie areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta, where the species
was present in unusually large numbers.

The cabbage maggot, Hylemyia brassicae Bouche, was sub-normal in
numbers in eastern Ontario, in 1936, whereas in the previous year it was
unusually abundant and injurious. In the Chatham district (south-
_ western Ontario) it was very destructive in 1936. Reports, and lack of
_ them, in other cases, indicate sub-normal to normal infestations in other
parts of Canada. The latter statement also applies to the onion maggot,
_ Hf. antiqua Megn., throughout the Dominion. The seed corn maggot, H.
_ cilicrura Rond., caused little or no injury in the areas of Eastern Canada
_ where, in 1935, it was responsible for much damage.

The imported cabbage worm, Pieris rapae L., appears to have been
about average in numbers and destructiveness, except in parts of Alberta
and Saskatchewan, where, possibly, it was more troublesome than usual.

| The European corn borer, Pyrausta nubilalis Hbn., was much more
_ abundant in Ontario than for several years, except in areas affected by
drought, where the infestation remained stationary or decreased. In
_ Essex county (south-western Ontario) damage was greater than in any
- year since 1927; in eastern Ontario the pest was more abundant than in
any previous year. In Quebec, a general outbreak developed from Mon-
_ treal eastward to Granby, the heaviest yet observed in the province. A
_ light infestation was reported in the Gaspe peninsula, Quebec. The corn
earworm, Heliothis obsoleta Fab., continued at a low ebb throughout its

- range.

The occurrence of the sunflower pyralid, Homoeosoma electellum
Hest., was first recorded in Manitoba in 1935, but in 1936 it was found in
increased numbers throughout the southern part of the province. It
attacks cultivated sunflowers and other compositae, particularly zinnias
and cosmos.

The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis L., was again numerous and
widespread in the Prairie Provinces. Weeds suffered principally, but
beets, garden plants, and, occasionally, alfalfa, were attacked. A report
of damage to beets was received from Wallaceburg, Ontario.

The potatc flea beetle, Epitrix cucumeris Harr., continued to be con-
spicuous as a pest to potato, tomato and tobacco in agricultural sections of
Eastern Canada. The hop flea beetle, Psylliodes punctulata Melsh, was
locally reported attacking beets in Ontario and in southern Alberta. In

the latter province it caused considerable injury early in the season. The
_ turnip flea beetle, Phyllotreta vittata Fab., was much less abundant in
Nova Scotia than in 1935, and was not reported troublesome elsewhere.
The banded flea beetle, Systena taeniata Say, was the most injurious species
in southern Ontario, especially Essex county, where it damaged beets,
beans and carrots. Several species of flea bettles were injurious in Mani-
toba. Phyllotreta lewisi Crotch, attacked seedling cabbage plants, Chal-
coides nana Say was abundant on willow at Winnipeg, and Phyllotreta

Viol (ee a TM ey meena ||
Ne mats. |

18 THE REPORT OF THE

vittata Fab. was taken at Latellier. Flea beetles were also abundant on
potatoes in the Red River valley. The cabbage flea bettle, P. albionica Lec.,

was destructive to cruciferous plants in southern Vancouver island, British

Columbia.

The chinch bug, Blissus sp., is slowly spreading in sod mulch orchards
in Nova Scotia. In the western part of the province, dead patches were

not so conspicuous on lawns and golf courses as in previous years. At °

Halifax the insect was quite destructive. It was also abundant at Fred-
ericton and Sackville, New Brunswick, and at Charlottetown, Prince Ed-
ward Island. A local outbreak of B. leucopterus Say was reported on

grain at Markdale, Ontario. A numerous flight of the western chinch |

bug, B. occiduus Barber, occurred at Melita, Manitoba, on July 15, 1936,
and this species occurred in injurious numbers at Madison, Saskatchewan,
for the first time since 1923, and caused marginal damage to wheat
locally.

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus pratensis L., was numerous and de-
structive on field, garden and ornamental plants in Nova Scotia, and was
abundant in potato fields in New Brunswick. Considerable damage was
done by it to certain species of flowering plants in Ontario. Celery and
garden flowers suffered injury in certain localities in southern Quebec. In
British Columbia it was abundant on orchard cover crops and in alfalfa
hay fields in the Vernon district, but unusually scarce in the Agassiz dis-
beet.

Local outbreaks of several species of aphids on various field and garden
crops were reported, but, in general, no serious outbreaks appear to have
developed in any part of the Dominion.

The potato leafhopper, H#mpoasca fabae Harr., was moderate to severe

in numbers and destructiveness on the potato crop in Ontario. They |

occurred in small numbers in several localities in Saskatchewan.

The potato stem borer, Gortyna micacae Esp., was locally trouble-

some in the Maritime Provinces. Garden plants and shrubs were attacked |

by the stalk borer, Papaipema nitela Gn., in Ontario.

All crops of garden and field peas in the Agassiz district, British Col-

umbia, were reported infested with the pea moth, Laspeyresia nigricana —
Steph. Severe damage was caused to the pea crop in the St. Godfroi dis- —
trict of the Gaspe peninsula, Quebec, some fields being a total loss. The ©
Species was recorded in field peas at Fredericton, New Brunswick, and in |

garden peas at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

The heads of clover plants in parts of the Maritime Provinces and

eastern Ontario were reported infested with the clover seed chalcid,
Bruchophagus funebris How., with resultant loss of seed.

In the spring of 1936 sweet clover weevils, Sitona cylindricollis Fab.,

were very abundant in all parts of Ontario, but natural control factors |

reduced them to comparatively small numbers by the end of the season.

The European earwig, Forficula auricularia L., was present in greater |
numbers than previously, in the Victoria district, British Columbia, and |
in some instances necessitated repeated re-sowing of vegetable crops. In —

Vancouver and New Westminster a decided decrease was reported.

4
va

|

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 12

Slugs were locally reported to be prevalent and injurious in the prov-
inces of Eastern Canada, and in the Lower Fraser valley, British Columbia.
In certain areas in New Brunswick they caused more loss to the potato
crop than the combined activities of all potato insects.

Widespread damage to wild and cultivated roses was done in parts of
the three Prairie Provinces by the rose curculio, Rhynchites bicolor Fab.
A severe attack occurred at Milton, in Halton county, Ontario. Roses were
also damaged at Vernon, British Columbia. The rose stem girdler, Agrilus
viridis fagi Ratz., which has appeared in recent years as a pest in southern
Ontario, affected 6,000 young rose plants in a nursery at Beamsville and
caused serious loss.

The gladiolus thrips, Taeniothrips simplex Morrison (=gladioli M. &
S.), was found in several new localities in southern Vancouver island and
on the mainland of British Columbia, during 1936, and appears to be
spreading over the province.

FRUIT INSECTS

Certain species of aphids were injurious pests of fruit, particularly
in sections of Eastern Canada. The apple aphid, Aphis pomi DeG., was
abundant in Nova Scotia, where it probably caused more damage than in
any year since 1927. In southern Quebec the aphids were prevalent in
early May, but decreased rapidly later in the month. A threatened severe
and general outbreak in Ontario was controlled by hot dry weather in
July. The species was a serious pest of young fruit trees in the Okanagan
valley, British Columbia, although other species were scarce. The rosy
apple aphid, Anuraphis roseus Baker, was an outstanding pest in Nova
Scotia orchards, and caused widespread injury to the fruit. Local severe
outbreaks occured in the Niagara district, Ontario. The woolly apple
aphid, Hriosoma lanigerum Hausm., was unusually scarce in British Colum-
bia, and was not reported injurious to fruit elsewhere in the Dominion.
In Nova Scotia some increase was noted. The black cherry aphid, Myzus
cerasi Fab., was prevalent in parts of Nova Scotia, and on unsprayed and
poorly sprayed trees in the Niagara district, Ontario. The currant aphid,
M. ribis L., was locally reported injurious in Prince Edward Island, south-
ern Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

The codling moth, Carpocapsa pomonella L., was more troublesome
than usual throughout the province of Ontario, and was exceptionally

- destructive in the Niagara district, and in parts of Halton, Norfolk, Kent

and Essex counties. The belief is reported that this was largely due to
very hot weather in July, which accelerated development at a critical point
in the insect’s life-history and interfered with cover spraying; also to a
low larval establishment mortality (about one-half that of 1935). Injury
by the codling moth was observed in all unsprayed orchards on Prince
Edward Island. The infestation was light in southern Quebec. On
Vancouver island, British Columbia, a large increase was noted at Keating,
and the species appeared for the first time in the Metchosin district, 15

miles west of Victoria. The infestation was greatly reduced at Royal

Oak by spraying practices. No reports were received from other prov-
inces.

The fruit in many orchards of the Okanagan valley, British Columbia,
was damaged to the extent of about 5 per cent by the lesser apple worm,
Laspeyresia prunivora Walsh.

80 THE REPORT OF THE

There were no severe infestations of the-eye-spotted budmoth Spilo-
nota ocellana D. & S., in the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia, in 1936, and a
further decrease was noted in the western part of the area. It was appar-
ently of little importance in Ontario. Although still a major pest in Nova
Scotia, the gray banded leaf roller, Hulia mariana Fern., was not more
abundant than in 1935. No other species of leaf rollers were reported
causing injury of importance in the Dominion. ;

The apple curculio, Tachypterellus quadrigibbus Say, infested 10-50
per cent of some varieties of apples in certain sections of southern Quebec:
the species was locally common in eastern Ontario. Severe infestations
of the plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar Hbst., continued in western
Annapolis county, Nova Scotia, and caused the usual injury to plums and
cherries. As high as 50 per cent of the apple crop at Hemmingford and
Abbotsford, in southern Quebec, where the crop was very light, was also
infested. The species was generally injurious to plums and apples in ~
eastern Ontario, but negligible in other parts of the province.

Although no reports of serious injury: by the shot-hole borer, Scolytus
rugulosus Ratz., were received from commercial fruit-growers in Ontario,
the species was quite prevalent in small, backyard orchards, in the south-
western part of the province, especially on plums and cherries. The apple
twig borer, Amphicerus bicaudatus Say, was collected at Grand Bend,
Ontario. The round-headed apple tree borer, Saverda candida Fab.,
caused serious losses in several districts in southern Quebec. As many as
80 per cent of the trees were affected in some infestations.

There were no severe infestations of the white apple leafhopper,
Typhlocyba pomaria McA., in orchard sections of Nova Scotia and Ontario
in 1936. The species was abundant on Prince Edward Island, and in the
Vernor and Kamloops districts of British Columbia. For the first time,
the apple leafhopper, E’mpoasca maligna Walsh, was sufficiently abundant
in an orchard in Vineland, Ontario, to cause noticeable injury. The potato
leafhopper, FH’. fabae Harr., was injurious to apple and plum nursery stock
in the Niagara district.

The apple and thorn skeletonizer, Hemerophila pariana Cl., was again
very scarce in Eastern Canada.

The apple redbug, Lygidea mendax Reut., was common in orchards
in south-western Ontario, but damage to the fruit was slight.

There was a further increase in the pear plant bug, Lygus communis
Knight, in apple orchards of the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia.

Moderate infestations of the European red mite, Paratetranychus
pilosus C. & F., were present in Nova Scotia orchards. The species was of
comparatively little importance in southern Ontario, but abundant and —
injurious in the Okanagan valley, British Columbia. In 1936, the pear
leaf blister mite, Eriophyes pyri Pgst., was found to have been very much
reduced by the extreme cold of the previous winters, in the Vernon dis-
trict, British Columbia. No appreciable injury by it was observed in
Ontario, but in Nova Scotia, it was more prevalent than usual in some
districts, and severe infestations were reported at Annapolis Royal.

The oriental fruit moth, Laspeyresia molesta Busck, was of less im-
portance in 1936 than in any season since it became generally distributed

in the peach-growing areas of Ontario. In orchards under observation |

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 81

the average twig infestation was less than one-quarter that of 1935, and
fruit injury was about one-half. Parasitism by the introduced species
Macrocentrus ancylivorus and adverse weather conditions were probably
largely responsible.

The peach borer, Synanthedon exitiosa Say, was more prevalent and
injurious in the Niagara peninsula, Ontario, than previously recorded.
In was also troublesome in south-western Ontario. A local infestation
of the peach twig borer, Anarsia lineatella Zell., caused slight damage to
young peach trees at Vineland. It is usually so scarce as to escape obser-
vation.

The pear psylla, Psyllia pyricola Forst., again threatened to be injur-
ious in pear orchards in the Niagara district, Ontario, and necessitated
the application of effective control measures. Severe infestations occurred
in Nova Scotia.

A local outbreak of the pear thrips, Taeniothrips inconsequens Uzel,

was reported at Kelowna, British Columbia. This is stated to be the

first occurrence of the pest at Kelowna, and the first record of injury in
the interior.

In the Okanagan valley, British Columbia, the tarnished plant bug,
Lyaus pratensis L., was a more serious pest than ever previously recorded,
and did great damage in orchards and gardens. Buds on apple trees at
Kamloops also suffered injury. Although locally abundant in southern
Ontario, the species, in general, was of minor importance on peach and

other fruit nursery stock in that province.

Owing to spraying practices, cherry fruit flies, Rhagoletis cingulata
Loew., and R. fausta O. S., are now of little commercial importance in
Ontario. Larvae of the former snecies were found in cherries from Sal-
mon Arm, British Columbia. On Vancouver island, there was some reduc-

tion of the sour cherry crov owing to the attacks of the cherry fruit worm,

Grapholitha packardi Zell. An infestation of the cherry case bearer,
Hanloptilia pruniella Clem., was locally severe at Ville La Salle, Quebec.

A marked reduction occurred in the numbers of the grape leafhopners,
Erythroneura comes Say and E. tricincta Fitch, in vineyards of the

Niagara peninsula, Ontario. They had been present in outbreak form
_ during the preceding five years. |

The raspberry cane borer, Oberea bimaculata Ol., the red-necked cane

borer, Agrilus ruficollis Fab.. and the black-horned tree cricket, Oecanthus

nigricornis Wlk., were avain injurious in some raspberry plantations in
Ontario. At Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Que., as manv as 50 per cent of the
canes were affected by the first-named snecies. The beetle. Paria canella
Fab.. damaged foliage of raspberrv at Abbotsford and Frelighsburg, Que.
Small numbers of the rasnberry fruit worm. Byturus unicolor Sav, were
reported locally in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia: the species was
abundant on wild rasvberries in southern Manitoba. Light, scattered
infestations of the rasvberry sawflv. Mononhadnoides rubi Harr., occurred
in Nova Scotia: Jocal conspicuous injury was caused by it in southern
Ontario, and at Lethbridge. Alberta. Some local damage to rasnberries
by the caragana plant bug. Lovidea dakotae Ket., and a species of crown
borer was reported in Saskatchewan. Moderate to severe infestations of
the red spider mite, Tetranuchus telarius L., were noted in several locali-

ties in southern Ontario and Saskatchewan.

82 THE REPORT OF THE

From 25 to 50 per cent. of the fruit of red currants was infested by
the currant fruit fly, Epochra canadensis Leow., at Ste. Anne de Bellevue,
Quebec. Currants at Painswick, and gooseberries at Uxbridge, Ontario, |
were attacked. Infestations were reported in various parts of the Prairie |
Provinces; these were especially severe in Saskatchwan. The imported |
currant worm, Pteronidea ribesit, Scop., locally defoliated gooseberries in |
New Brunswick, southern Ontario and Saskatchewan. Currants were .
also attacked in the latter province and in the Gaspe peninsula, Quebec. |
The currant borer, Synanthedon tipuliformis L., was moderately abundant |
in southern Ontario, and the currant spanworm, Itame ribearia Fitch, was —
locally present in destructive numbers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

A decided increase in the blunt nose leafhopper, Ophiala striatulus
Fall., compared with the two previous years, occurred on cranberry bogs }
at Auburn and Aylesford, Nova Scotia, in 1936. Control measures against |
the black-headed fire worm, Rhopobota vacciniana Pack., a pest of cran- |
berry, were necessary in the same localities. 1

The strawberry weevil, Anthonomus signatus Say, was again preva-
lent and injurious in the Maritime Provinces, attacking both strawberry ©
and raspberry. In Quebec, the strawberry crop suffered less from it than ]}
during the previous year. Some damage by the black vine weevil Brachy- |
rhinus sulcatus Fab., occurred in some strawberry fields on Vancouver |
island. This insect, however, is less numerous and destructive in British }
Columbia than the strawberry root weevil, B. ovatus L. Unfolding buds |
and leaves of raspberries were attacked by the strawberry root worm, }
Paria canella gilvipes Horn, at Greenwich and Wilmot, Nova Scotia, and }
Abbotsford and Frelighsburg, Quebec. The thrips, Franklimella tritici |
Fitch, were present in large numbers in strawberry plantations near }
Forest, Ontario, and blasted from 25 to 75 per cent of the blossoms. At }
St. Catherines, Ontario, the strawberry root aphid, Aphis forbesi Wied., |
killed numerous plants locally. |

FOREST AND SHADE TREE INSECTS

The European spruce sawfly,Diprion polytomum Hartig., increased in }
numbers over a considerable part of the infested area; however, in some }
localities a decrease was apparent, while in others no noticeable change }
has occurred for several years. So far, a high rate of tree mortality has }
occurred only in mature white and black spruce in the Gaspe peninsula, |
Quebec, and in a small area in Kamouraska county. Some stands of young }
white spruce have been partly killed along the coast of the Gaspe and in }
Matapedia and Rimouski counties, and considerable mortality is expected |
to develop in 1937. North of the St. Lawrence river the sawfly has been
found as far east.as Pentecost, and as far north as Dolbeau; it is also widely ]
distributed in western Quebec in an area extending from lake Expanse to |
Noranda, but nowhere is causing noticeable injury. Across the border, |
in Ontario, the species appears to be well established in New Liskeard |
and Temiskaming districts. In New Brunswick, an increase in sawfly
population has been very noticeable in many stands of black and white
spruce, and there is a danger that some trees may be killed in localized |
areas in the near future.. In Nova Scotia, the sawfly has been found only |
in small numbers in Cumberland, Pictou, Antignish, and Guysboro coun-
ties, where it appeared to be slightly more numerous than in 1935. |

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 83

bee eee

The yellow-headed spruce sawfly, Pachynematus ocreatus Harr., is
widely distributed throughout the northern spruce forests. Spruce trees
in plantations in the northern part of the cultivated areas of the Prairie

* Provinces were again seriously defoliated, and the outbreak has extended
to include much of the central and eastern areas of Saskatchewan. Many
trees have been killed and others weakened. Isolated spruce in clearings
and open places in the Muskoka and Algonquin Park districts, Ontario,
were reported partially defoliated. —

An outbreak of the spruce sawfly, Neodiprion abietis Harr., on spruce,
_was reported in the vicinity of Pine River and Ethelbert, Duck mountains,
Manitoba.

A number of young spruce trees were defoliated in the vicinity of
Mcl.eod Meadows on the Upper Kootenay river, British Columbia, by a
nematine sawfly. Some were defoliated severely enough so that death
may follow. The sawfiy larvae appeared to be confined to trees near the

river bank. Parasitism was quite heavy in places.

An extensive ground and aerial survey, in 1936, showed that the jack
pine over a large area in southeastern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario
is heavily infested by the spruce budworm, Cacoecia fumiferana Clem.
In some areas southeast of Kenora, Ontario, defoliation was almost com-
plete, and about one-half of the trees were in a dying condition.

Small numbers of the black-headed budworm, Peronea variana Fern.,
occurred on white spruce and balsam fir throughout the Maritime Prov-
inces. This species was quite prevalent in the Kootenay National Park,
British Columbia, in 1935, but practically disappeared in 1936.

A marked decline in bark beetle activities is apparent throughout the
interior of British Columbia. The outbreak in the Aspen Grove area,
which reached its peak during 1931-1933, showed practically no activity,

and only trees in a weakened condition were attacked during 1936. The
infestation of spruce at Lumberton by the Engelmann-spruce beetle,
_Dendroctonus engelmanni Hopk., has undergone a marked decline, and the
only beetle activity in the area was confined to slask and cull logs. It is
estimated that this outbreak, which was active for several years, caused a
loss of fifteen million board feet of spruce. The extensive infestation of
the mountain pine beetle, D. monticolae Hopk., in lodgepole pine, in the
Kootenay National Park, also greatly decreased. A huge infestation of
this species, which must have started at least five years ago, was discovered
west of the Chilcotin country, extending from Tatla lake northward over
a more or less inaccessible area of hundreds of square miles. The infesta-
tion has now died out, and the high percentage of dead trees presents a
serious fire hazard. The timber was not commercially valuable. The
Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopk., has been active in
single trees and small groups of trees throughout the Douglas fir areas of
the interior of British Columbia, particularly around Columbia lake and
in the Lumby district. In Eastern Canada, the eastern spruce beetle,
Dendroctonus piceaperda Hopk., was very scarce, although one or two
trees were found to have been freshly attacked in the Gaspe peninsula,
Quebec. Several reports of injury to pines by bark beetles, mostly Ips
pint Say, were received from southern Ontario. In northwestern Ontario,
this species and D. valens Lec., have appeared in jack pine stands severely
defoliated by the spruce budworm.

84 THE REPORT OF THE

A large snout beetle, Hypomolyx piceus DeG., has been found attack-
ing the bases of lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, and white pine, in the interior
of British Columbia. The species is most prevalent on lodgepole pine. -
The activities of the larvae undoubtedly weaken the trees to some extent.

In the vicinity of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Douglas firs were
severely defoliated by the tussock moth, Hemerocampa pseudotsugata -
McD., which has been scarce in this region since 1930.

A species of needle miner in Douglas fir has appeared in outbreak
form along the southern boundary of British Columbia, and in northern ©
Washington, in the vicinity of Laurier, Northport, and Grand Forks. It
it apparently rather widespread in the province.

The spruce needle miner, Taniva albolineana Kft., severely defoliated
spruce hedges at Rosthern and Rose Valley, Saskatchewan. The new
growth of native and blue spruce around Edmonton, and in other districts
of northern Alberta was attacked.

Considerable injury to the terminal twigs of spruce trees by the spruce
pineapple gall aphid, Adelges abietis Kalt., was recorded extensively in the
Prairie Provnices. Gall aphids are widespread and injurious in spruce
plantations, and on ornametal spruce trees and hedges in eastern and
southern Ontario.

The spruce mite, Paratetranychus ununguis Jac., increased materially
throughout the Prairie Provinces. In many places injury was very severe,
and if it continues will be responsible for the death of a considerable num-
ber of trees.

Colonies of larvae of the jack pine sawfly, Neodiprion swainei Mdltn.,
occurred on most of the jack pine in the Laniel district of Quebec. A local
infestation was observed near Quyon. An extensive outbreak of a jack-
pine sawfly, apparently this species, is in progress in the Abitibi lake region
of Ontario. A European species, D. frutetorum, found attacking pine in
the Niagara district, in 1934, shows no further spread and is being brought
under control in some areas by imported parasites.

The red-headed pine sawfly, Neodiprion lecontei Fitch, was widely
distributed and again very abundant on red pine and pack pine throughout
Ontario, from lake Temiskaming southwards. The most heavily infested
areas were in the districts of North Bay, Muskoka and the Ottawa valley;
reports of injury were also received from widely separated localities in
southern Ontario.

The white pine weevil, Pissodes strobi, Peck., which is essentially a
pest of young and vigorous trees, constitutes the worst insect enemy of
white pine in Ontario, and its numbers fluctuate very little from year to
year.

An increase in the abundance and destructiveness of the pine needle
scale, Chionaspis pinifoliae Fitch, was reported to be general in Ontario
and the Prairie Provinces.

Larvae of the hemlock looper, Ellopia fiscellaria Gn., were rather com-
monly found in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and in the Thousand Islands
district of Ontario, but apparently nowhere caused much damage. In the

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 85

=e ins

latter area there was a severe outbreak in 1928, and many fine stands of
hemlock were killed at Brockville. A possible outbreak of HL. somniaria
Hlst., on oaks, is threatening at Victoria, British Columbia.

Pas ae

The larch sawfly, Lygaeonematus erichsoni Htg., was numerous
throughout the Maritime Provinces in 19386. The majority of larch
_ stands in southern New Brunswick suffered from slight to complete defoli-
ation, and scattered areas in Nova Scotia were also heavily infested. The
_ tachinid, Bessa selecta, was an effective controlling agent in places, and
_ the imported parasite, Mesoleius tenthredinis Morley, has been established

near Fredericton and Lepreau, New Brunswick, from liberations made in
1935. The larch sawfly appears to be on the increase in northern Ontario,

and reports of injury have been received from Gogama and Hornepayne;
_ also from Temiskaming in Quebec. There was no noticeable defoliation
in the Petawawa forest reserve. Severe local infestations were reported
in eastern Ontario, and at Indian Head, Saskatchewan. In the Fernie
district, British Columbia, the sawfly had been greatly reduced by M.
tenthredinis Morley and native parasites and predators. However, it has
spread westward as far as Kootenay lake.

1

ae ee

The larch case bearer, Haploptilia laricella Hbn., was less numerous
throughout Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in 1936. In Nova Scotia,
and some parts of southern New Brunswick, the injury from the past few
years’ attack was noticeable, many stands having a greyish appearance.
Occasionally, whole branches and a few trees have been killed. In eastern
Ontario, defoliation was definitely more severe than in 1935, and local
_larches are gradually dying out.

Pn a a age eS Fr

North America by W. Downes, at Victoria, British Columbia, in 1928, has
confined its attacks to certain species of yew, and does not appear to have

| The species Batodes angustiorana Haw., which was first recorded in
_ spread. :

r During the past decade, the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae
' Ratz., has killed a great deal of fir in Prince Edward Island where much
: the same conditions occur as in Nova Scotia. The insect is now compara-
_ tively scarce in these two provinces, but some of the injured trees are still
dying, and occasional newly infested areas are found. In New Brunswick,
heavy infestations are again developing in scattered centres of infestation
from the small numbers which survived the severe winter of 1933-34, par-
ticularly along the margin of the infested area.

Aphids were rather troublesome in the Prairie Provinces, the boxelder
aphid, Chaitophorus negnudinis Thom., and the woolly elm aphid, Eriosoma
_ americanum Riley, being the most common on shade trees.

Extensive defoliation of poplars and certain other deciduous trees by
the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria Hbn., occurred in many
‘parts of the Maritime Provinces, Quebec and northern and northwestern
Ontario. This was a continuation of outbreak conditions that have been
building up during the past few years. A similar situation exists In the
northeastern poplar and willow belt in Saskatchewan. Local reports of
infestations were received from Manitoba, Alberta, and the interior of
British Columbia. The species M. pluviaris Dyar apparently reached a
peak of abundance in southern Vancouver island, but the prevalence of
_ and disease indicates a cessation of the outbreak in 19387.

ESS IT . ae

~

a

eh ) e we fata
86 THE REPORT OF THE

The fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria Harr., was again abundant
in the three Prairie Provinces. Boxelder, elm and poplar suffered attack.
Local infestations were reported in the eastern provinces.

~The satin moth, Stilpnotia salicis L., continued to be a severe and
widespread pest of poplars in the Maritime Provinces, many trees being
completely defoliated, and some dying from the attacks of the past three
years. The effectiveness of the introduced parasite Apanteles solitarius
was much reduced by hyperparasites. The pest was scarce in the infested
regions of British Columbia. are

In the Prairie Provinces, species of blotchminers, leaf rollers and leaf
- beetles were again prevalent pests of the foliage of pont as specifically
reported in the summary for 1935.

The outbreak of the cecropia moth caterpillar, Platysamia cecropia L.,
in south-central and west-central areas of Saskatchewan, extended north-
wards at a number of points. Manitoba maples were again seriously
defoliated.

Over a large portion of the three Prairie Provinces, the species Psyllia
negundinis Mlly., heavily infested boxelder, so that, by midsummer, the
foliage of most trees was dying. The boxelder leafroller, Gracilaria
negundella Chamb., markedly increased in numbers in this region, after
being at a low ebb for several years.

The European birch leaf miner, Fenusa pumila Klug., was prevalent
on birch in many parts of the Maritime Provinces, Quebec, and eastern
Ontario. Many birch trees in Ontario have been killed in recent years by
the bronzed birch borer, Agrilus anxius Gory.

The walnut caterpillar, Datana integerrima G. & R., which for several
years has been a conspicuous pest of walnut trees in southwestern Ontario,
showed a reduction in numbers in 1936.

OTHER INSECT AND ARTHROPOD PESTS

The wet spring of 1936 produced a severe outbreak of mosquitoes in
the Ottawa river valley, comparable to that of 1929. The dominant species
in the outbreak was Aedes hirsuteron Theo., which developed in floodwaters
of the Ottawa river. Probably the most important factor in producing
flood conditions was the heavy precipitation over a wide region coincident
with the spring freshet, the total precipitation in March and April being
nearly twice normal. The situation was also aggravated to some extent
by the release of impounded waters on the Ottawa and Gatineau rivers
while the freshet was at its height. Mosquitoes of the genus Aedes were |
unusually abundant throughout the Prairie Provinces early in the season, |
but with the onset of warm dry weather the transient water bodies quickly
dried up, and the pests rapidly diminished. In the Kamloops, Nicola and
Chilcoton districts of British Columbia mosquito conditions were reported
to be worse than for many years. Mosquitoes were also exceptionally
troublesome in the Fraser river valley. River floods at freshet time were
an important factor in these outbreaks. Aedes campestris D. & K., and
A. fitch F. & Y., were two of the major species in the Kamloops region.
In the Saanichton district, on Vancouver island, A. dorsalis Mgn., was
_ extremely numerous, and interfered with fruit-picking.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 87

A total of thirty-eight species of Simulium, of the subgenera Prosi-
mulium, Husemulium and Simulium are now known to occur in various
parts of Canada. Five of these species are widespread throughout the
Dominion; fifteen of the others have been found only in the West, and the
remaining eighteen only in the East.

The paralysis tick, Dermacentor andersoni Stiles, is prevalent in Brit-

- ish Columbia and southern Alberta. A number of cattle in the Quilchena

district, British Columbia, developed paralysis early in the season, but
recovered when the ticks were removed. The tick was reported to be
increasing and spreading in the Agassiz district. Several cases of Rocky
Mountain spotted fever, of which it is the vector, have been reported in
these provinces during the past two years. A fatal case developed at
Manyberries, Alberta, in 1935, and one fatal and one non-fatal in 1936.
In British Columbia, a suspected case at Pender Harbour, and two possible
cases at Hedley were reported in 1936.

| The usual reports of infestations and annoyance by various other
species of insects that attack man and livestock were received during 1936,
but these reports are too few and scattered, and too sketchy in content, to
enable one to draw reasonably accurate conclusions on the situation as it
exists from year to year. In general, this statement also applies to house-
hold and stored product pests, some of which are of considerable economic
importance.

88 THE REPORT OF THE

INDEX

PAGE

Acridium granulatum Kby. ................ 65
videlges; abietis Kalt.c.28 568 Ss 84
DCC. CR MECALZ tice ReaD Mee Nes oe eas oa es 85
Aedes campestris Diot& Kel ee: 86
GOrsihise MiGs, ice hat ii Hee 5 ee 86
PORCIU TOs Aas UN CLR ete 8 On 86
PAESULERON: Me NeOS isi ee ae 86
PGTUIES ANLIUS GOLLY) 55. Ns: 86
RU COUise Mabe wes Pier, Seen eee 81
DIAS FOG) WAtZ. hPa ee iY)
A.grotus orthogonia Morr... 260208.. 74
Alsophila pometaria Harr................... 86
Amphicerus bicaudatus Say................ 80
Anarsia luneatella Zell... 0.002. Atk. 81
Anthonomus signatus Say............... 25, 82
FANT SEE ASCs ee ee i ine Pee ee one ST a 19
Anuraphis roseus Bakev..................0..... 79
PA DUGCLES, SOUVILOTIUS h.)..c.3).o: cask oe 86
JNTOLEUUG IS) > 2 ae Sanat Meat yeoDERN Se. 78
CUPDIC TEM Ss nce scoe sc ance st She EC eE 79
AUSTIN E WOOLY) 2s cee oh, at eee es 85
PACK CMEL TY 656 pica oa eh 719
WONACIOOT yee’ sotiast ah Gees: Ade ener 85
EMC Ad oe, ote {Git ee athe ut Aue ae 26
common greenhouse .......................... 63
CIUNETE ST AG ere a es ete CoE AS Rest a. 79
spruce pineapple gall...........00000...... 84
FOES y CM eens Sob ermal 40, 45
EOSWATA ILE sc. Nee. Lil eae ane 79
SERAaWDeLLY TOO.) 2.cs%< ee eee 82
AVOOlW ata DIDI. y\o... is ena Seem gene? 79
SROKCS LN 11s i mers ee TG ga 85
Aphidius phorodontis Ashm........... 63, 64
Apis MmOnroest Wied. a.0e: exe eee 82
TENCE LUD O12, CRASS Otten OS oc aa Raa ee aR PEN 79
Autographa brassicae Riley................ Zo
Batodes angustiorana Haw................. 85
Beetle walralfa; snout. me eee 37
| S/S eh nes be aM Alt Toe ME Ree etn hee Se 83
DIISECR ek ci ee Ste ae eae ee eae 74
UTC UIT 0) 2) RRO Set Sa Maltese ton at Co 26
Dou et as Mit). k en) eae ee 83
CASLeENASPEUCE Oia wkss Mees Rae 83
Buclemann-Spruces. 70. eee tee 83
MOU AI, PING (5 Se46 a eee ee 83
CECCGUrnUD: 64 Beeb. Re Ae ee ee eae 77
Cy CLUS AC ps eho a, |e en RR MRR 245 We aor 10
PRCSSO/ESOLCLUO) ts. ett: ees eens 85
TIS EUS A SIOy Cai Cie... oe RO Ns Roo, 5 ema cy 78
LENCOPVETUS BOAvae gs aan aoe none 78

PAGE
occiduus Barber. ....20.22 ee 78
Borer, apple twig... 80
bronzed birch |... 22 86
columbine”.....0..... 2 eee 69, 71
Currant 0.30.0 ho eee 82
European corn............ 15, 17, 33-35, TT
peach: 000 ss eee sity |
peach twig’ 0.5... eee 81
potato stem .........03 ee 78
raspberry cane 33.3 81
red-necked Cane .................cc00ccceeeceeee 81
round-headed apple tree.................... 80
shot-hole .......00:1. 223 80
* Stalk’ oo. ee 78
Brachyrhinus ligustici L. .................. 37-40
ovatus Li. 3... ssn eee 82
sulcatus Fab. 2.2. 82
Brevicoryne brassicae L...................... 26
Bruchophagus funebris How............... 78
Budmoth, eye-spotted ..........::........ 61, 80
Budworm, black-headed ........................ 83
SPYUGCE } o.oo e.g be ee 83
Bug, caragana plant = 22 81
chinch = oo)... eee 78
green apple ......4... ee 7A We |
pear plant... 4 80
Say’s grain... eee 76
tarnished ‘plant”.=. 4. 21, AO On
Butterfly, cabbage |... -23 32 eae 23
Byturus unicolor Say “2222s ee 81
Cacoecia argyrospila WIk.................... 61
fumiferana Clem. 2.5. 222 83
rosaceana . Harr. ~...0. eee 61
Camnula pellucida Scud. 2... 65
Canker worm, fall...) 22
Carpocapsa pomonella L....... i DO-OLy ae
Case bearer, cherry (2.5.25. 81
larch: io 85
Caterpillar, cecropia moth. .-...2.2s= 86
eastern tent \.......)... 22 21
forest ‘tent 4.0.3.0... =e 85
walnut vo ee 86
Cephus cinctus Nort........: 23 75
Ceresa: bubalus Fab... eee 20
Chalcoides nana. Say......... ee ch!
Chaitophorus negnudinis Thom........... 85
Chionaspis pinifoliae Fitch.................. 84
Chilorochroa sayi Stal. 25.0022 76
Chorthippus curtipennis Harr. .......... 65

Chortophaga viridifasciata DeG......... 65

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 89

PAGE PAGE

Circotettia verruculatus Kby. ............. 65 ConnyngemtcacdewSPs i: :.sc28 She ae 78
Conocephalus fasciatus fasciatus DeG. 65 Gracilaria negundella Chamb............... 86
. Conotrachelus nenuphar Hbst............. 80 Grapholitha packardi Zell..................... 81
Cricket, black-horned tree ................... 81 Grasshopper esgic ote 65-69, 73, 74
Spero 29a) Cee 80 Haploptiia laricella Hbn..::.......22:...2... 85
SPULDDTD alk SS Sage 80 pugenve lion Cleiitn: Mract wheres o.oo eden 81
UDSE ie 79 lpeeMolic a MEV Uited UE SD occ soe seccezsaea.a 76
BmewoOrm, BLONZe- .......fioccc ck. 2275 Eehiothas obsoleta. Wab. .2....0000..sccc nel
S.s3y os) Sees eeeeere 75 Hemerocampa pseudotsugata McD... 84
Polpeemestern 7... che kei 74 Hemerophila partana Cl. ....2..0..0.00.005 80
meimemeneden on ee A ae 75 Homoeosoma electellum Hest. ............. wer
Datana integerrima G. & R. 0.0.0.0... 86 Elopper Omiialo) tree te vita, sete |
Dendroctonus engelmanni Hopk......... 83 Hylemyia antiqua Men........0.0.00.000.. 77
Gamimeeloe HOpK. © .2......0....25-.c0scce 83 brassicae BOUCHE = \.cpaaneee en seat cca 0
bcc nero m THOpK. 2.0 3..3 kiss... 88 COTCOISD Gillie ete Oe Oe se 76
BSCUDOESHMOGE. HOP. oo... sc0csseeseeeeee 83 Caliente: IRONIC ete, oh ahem er. ohana Cee
SCUALS TLCS Saar 83 Hyphantria cunea Drury.................... 21
Dermacentor andersoni Stiles............. 87 Liypomolycpiceus: WEG. a)... sneer 84
Diabrotica vittata Fab. ........................ 26 TOO tarpisteWalten 8 3. et Hoe eee 40-45
MOON TMECLOTUM, 0. .ccececcccssesesss 84 TOS FOUOO SOW cess. eeceseessene-coserc. dae nc ses. 83
polytomum Hartig. 000.0... 82 one rib canta Witches sagen 2.0 xe 82
Missesteira carolina Li................<.c5..0.:. 65 Laspeyresia molesta Busck.................. 80
PEeyI MITODCAM 2)... .sc0cccscezesecseseees 78 WOOT VEO IEE _ SUDA nk eae. ect ae 78
__ STENT EISTIE, (COO) 6 dee Ty PEURAV OTM NVOIS IR i) ie erasccss sce 19
Siilopia fiscellaria GNn.....................cc0.6+: 84 Ie eaNO PPE Apes. hee cree. oe ee eee 80
SDT. 1S TIS) oka ee 85 lohinnntnOseie yi cok ee ry See eins: 26, 82
Empoasca fabae | BSN Tero ie ale ate even 78, 80 (O51 HST} ON Sareea Apne ae rly Amc re AUPE Ae. Acar een 81
Gomiiomam Walshe: 0. kes 80 POLAT OMe we era: etl iene ta Pps 78, 80
Encoptolophus sordidus Burm............. 65 Vinibes apples tEeCs Te. a. kata ec .c- vee 80
Entomoscelis adonidis Pallas ............... 77 eat mime, Guropean) birch ==. 2. 86
Bipitrix cucumeris Harr. ...........:...... 2A, ieararoller. boxel der a te. cose 86
_ Eypochra canadensis Leow..................... 82 TEDREDNG TELECOM Ce aa aM tea = a 61
MEIMOILyES pyr? Pest. © 2.8 on see. 80 SrayeDAMGed: ec... Sic A ah eee 22, 80
Eriosoma americanum Riley................ 85 Obitquerbandedy ©) 7g cere cue 61
lomigerum Hausm. 2.0 5....0ss2.0000. 8 q PINRO E eel Caer ect ae Res ele ee ai 8 oe te 61
Erythroneura comes Say...........000000..... 81 Leptinotarsa decemlineaia Say........ 24 16
RaCIRCEE Hitch: 26 22. 81 Ee Meee ee Aare SEs Sey ent eee eon gue Le 18
Eulia mariana Fern. ......................... 22, 80 WOODEE = CADDAG EN .6.28h kin eeces. dae 3
Euscelis striatulus Fall..................... 26 MLeTAMO Ck is seo Se Naas See cine 84
> SUT DIOCT aa ee en 87 Lopidea dakotae Ket. .................0.- ee
Kuxoa excellens Grt..........c.cccccccccccesetees 75 Lowxostege sticticalis Va.........0...-...02.1 77
menmogascer GN. che oe Beso). ees. 75 Ludius aeripennis destructor Brown.. 75
menusa pumila Klug. edi. ccc 86 Lygaeonematus erichsoni Htg............. 85
fea beetley banded) ..cns.f. hak lek iat Lyouded mendex Weut. tac 80
Sermbaer O s 25, 78 Lygus communis Knight ................ 27, 80
een Mee 5 SE ete i rer PECCCWSIS | Na | ore aca. 21, 18, 81
OEIC Tee ne cee P24 U7 Macrocentrus ancylivorus Robwer...... 81
SUSE TALEO) eee ee eee ere ru Maree Ots supper ate 17, 46-55
oa GING TPTE\( 2) 2 B10 0 Fe 81 (SENS Oe an Same Say ATER ROEDER. SMERIeT WER Hi Litt
UC USTABSEKB, TET ere cee 82 OIL OM gee see cee ee Ee 62-63, 77
Meni ef re a ab 76 SECdCOMN ex eee house a Snare eo Ty
Forficula auricularia Li.........0..cccccc. 78 Neat ASHeIGs Ab code ee eee 76
Frankliniella tritici Fitch..................... 82 Malacosoma americana Fab................. 21

90 Tit: REPORT OR Lah

PAGE

desstraa <n, eo See ee ee 85
plaviariscDyanne 2 eee eee 85
Melanoplus angustipennis Dodge....... 65
CrUtlatnuys: Say | Ae Cee nee es 65
DCWSORTESCUdMY He eet eee 65
femur-rubrum DeGe a 65
mexicanus mexicanus Saus............... 65
Meromyza americana Fitch.................. 76
Mesoleius tenthredinis Morley............ 85
NMidcercloyer: séeds. Ya ae 78
WM CA i ene te uae Cie ora em aee Sone ee ete 76
Miner; spruce needle.) 85 oF ets 84
Mite." Huropeansred’ = See! Se 80
pear leak blister: 22 we) ee 80
POUSS Oi Sie ys hig. 2k eS ee 81
SIUC Cee. eee ee ee TEE eee 84
Monophadnoides rubi Harrv................... 81
MOS GUTTOeS Ree), Vas eee en. eee 86
Moth tecod lines... eee en: ioe 19
diamond: back «..Ae3. Se ee 23
European pine shoot...................... 56-57
orientalbetrurt: 27825). eee 80

| Of 22 ees So eM ARs rere t aL tS id 78
SUG HN ee hes Shel See ae 21, 86
LUSSOCK I: ele. cs ee ee 84
VIG ATSMCCHOST GE ADs. 2 hoes 3 eee 19
WErSicde= SUIZeM es vane eee 63, 64
NU O US Mle nine. 2. ces oie ep aes eer eee a, a9
Neodiprion. abietis Harrs. 3). oe 83
leconteis Pit Choc a eo ee ee 84
Swoinenervidlitn.; +:; ke ane 84
Nephelodes emmedonia Cram......... Vapi
Obereca *bimaculata “Ole ee 81
Occaonthus -1igricorinis, Nk ee 81
Opiialatstiatilus shall Se ee 82
Orphulella speciosa Scud. 3... =. 65
Fachynematus ocreatus Harv............... 83
Pondenus, limitataz Roba 61
Papaipena nitela-Gnwe 2 )2 78
purpurifascia Grote and Robinson69-71
Paratetranychus pilosus C. & F........... 80
MULUNO LSE IAC er ee ee 84
Paratrioza cockeretla Sule.) ee 76
Poniocconeila- Rabat . oe 81
canella-givipes Hom.) 82
PCLOneee VO TmOnN Oe ech yk eee 83
ERYHOOROGO ie toe ee ee 75
CRO NGC. eee 2 eee ee 75
Phyllotreta albionica Lee................. 25, 78
lewis Crotch). a eee ee 1.
DICOTOP EADS elite = Ree en HT weaT rey
Phytophaga. destructor Say. 76
PACTISETO POC NGM. Lae tes to mete ee Zion hi

; PAGE
Pissodes strobi Peckin 22 ae 84
Plutella maculipennis ‘Curt. 22 23
Prosimulwum 3... eee 87
Psytha negundims Milly ee 86
Psylla,. pear. 233s eee SHR 28, 81
Psytha pyricola. Foerst 2.22 28, 81
Psyllid,. potato ......... 233 16
Psylliodes punctulata Melsh................. il
Pteromdea ribesti Scop. ea eee 23, 82
Pyralid, sunflower... 2) ee 77
Pyroausta nubilalis, Abner hk
Redbug, apple ......: 4s eee 80
Rhagoletis cingulata Loew................... 81

fausta 0: Sock... ee 81
Rhopobota vacciniana Pack................. 82
Rhyacionia buoliana Schiff. ............ 56, 57
Rhynchites bicolor Fab..................00-+- 79
Saperda candida Fab... 80
Sawfly, European spruce...................... 82

jack pine ©......4..... 84

larch 0... hoc... eee 85

nematine .....).....5.. 83

raspberry © .......0...4 2 ee 81

red-headed pine ................... 2 eee ae 84

SPruce ...00..0.4...00.. oe 83

wheat stem...........2 34.5) 75

yellow-headed spruce ........................ 83
Scale, pine needle ....2....2. 65. 84
Scolytus rugulosus Ratz... 890
Sidemia devastator Brace...................... 75
Simulium 2... ee 87
Sitona cylindricollis Fab................. 35, 78
Skeletonizer, apple and thorn.............. 80
Spanworm,.currant .......f2.) ee
Spharagemon bolli Scud......... ae 65
Spilonota ocellana D. & B............... 61, 80
Stem -girdler, rose.....2:.3..5 ee ao
Stilpnotia salicis Ti. 2 22.136
Synanthedon exitiosa Say................06- 81

tipuljorms Ji. .....J5) Ae 82
Systena taemata. Say...) FCF
Tachypterellus quadrigibbus Say........ 80
Taeniothrips inconsequens Uczel.......... 81

simples. Morrison 2.2... oe
Taniva albolineana Kit...) 84
Tetranychus-telarius Loe 81
Thecodiplosis mosellana Gehin............ 76
TRANS: iceice 2st: etecaitnc eee 32

eladiolus® ecco). eee 79

PEAY. -wheends siete eee 81
Tick, paralysis: <5. 302) 32 87

Typhlocyba pomaria MeA.................... 80

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 91

PAGE

VS) OR VOLETONS | O22) Ean 17
TEOU|) [lc Ad eee aes PR ac enc ch alenNG 21
Mericevilee black VINCs. 2¢.06c.0c.c6.5.00800c0ede none 82
S{ELEEIN/| S101 Gee a Dad Pati Bore
{ETA 7 OSTELA? 000) 0) ne 82
SHEE, ClOVO Eg ee eee eee 35, 78
“FOLATE TONICE) teak eee ee en ee 84
UMA CMOMUNDS) oof ees. .acetsidevesetaceteenetzeneenes 75
ONT TEENS HOLDS ae ae ee 19, 75

PAGE

Worn, black-headed fire................0....... 82
Chery airUlt oe eC ere. 81
IMported ean bagce: eye sa... eee I:
ImNpOLbed Currant =... 23, G2
lesser apples ses. eee. ee Rear 79
RASDOCKEV: EGUIE ol co 2) cede olny sre 81
Strawberry Toot ys. oe. ee 82
wn aibe JOMNG, eyes ee ee. 76

rt; ivy, ms
UJ. 8. Nat Mus.

Ontario Department of Agriculture

Sixty-Eighth Annual Report

of the

Entomological Society
of Ontario

1937

PRINTED BY ORDER OF

HON. P. M. DEWAN, Minister of Agriculture

TION At JS'
~ ee
TORONTO
Printed by T. E. BowMaAN, Printer to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.
1938

Se tee a Se eee he AOR LAO hee

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<4

CONTENTS

I SPR UC EQS och 5.) acti ag lice acct eaten eceiett gn ea sapd sy Singpssessounabsansee cocesapacesarieisedlon 4
etre N RI STOEL UTDTIN Esha es ete ee eee cd ns soci eeccececchecssieedebeeateoshn. cee 4
ED BER Sp UENCE TEES i Re Sa a ee a a 5
ET TIF LIER VREDAUNT cies othe tea Ba Res: een eet a/c ce ea a 5
PROGRAM ME—

Biology of the Plum and Peach Leafhopper, Macropsis trimaculata (Fitch) :
ALBERT HARTZELL

The Forest Insect Survey: A. W. A. BROWN

pH LAS” | SSR EN nro Ba EOS Oe en 13
Experiments in the Control of Green Apple Bug, Apple Red Bug, and the Pale
Apple Leafhopper by Means of Pyrethrum Dusts and Sprays: N. A.
UP AD IDIESIOING cig ha seo sere Se IS See Ee ap ook BE EE oN a ee « 18
Some Records of Captures in Orchard Light Traps: F. C. GILLIATT.................... 19

The Simultaneous Propagation of Macrocentrus ancylivorus Rohwer and Asco-
gaster carpocapsae Vier. on the Peach Moth (Laspeyresia molesta Busck) :
A Study in Multiple Parasitism: W. E. VAN STEENBURGH and H. R. Boyce 24

Controlling Codling Moth with Nicotine-Bentonite: J. M. MERRITT.............0.0........ 26
Notes on Corn Borer Resistance in Hybrid Corn: R. W. THOMPSON.................... 28

A Laboratory Technique for the Comparison of Contact Insecticides, Using
Wrosophiia Flies: C. W. B. MAXWELL and F. T. LORD.................0...0.c.c.c0cc0cssceees 33

Some Results in Controlling the Onion Maggot (Hylemyia antiqua Meig.) with

ira ea NT Fee Ge Gr PN UST ACN oa coe sae ac rec cue seed cn coseetau ce cesccessncotousel si ces.ssacaSosd Resse dinsends 37
Controlling the Pea Aphid with Vaporized Nicotine: J. F. ALSTERLUND............ 43
Burther Notes on Parasites of Aphids: J. H: MCLEOD................0...c0000ccccceeceeseeeees 44

The European Spruce Sawfly Situation in Western Quebec and Ontario:
C. E. ATWoopD

Notes on the Occurrence of Diprion frutetorum Fabr. in Southern Ontario........ 50
Notes on the Fall Cankerworm and the Effectiveness of Banding: R. E. BALCH 51

The Importance of Cleanliness and Good Housekeeping Practices in Household

beast ts tak Gs COMO rine Co Seneca E WEINUIN Go occ oe ee Sse se sons asceessesscdsievsssuuboeveuestoaengel srs 56
The Effects of Temperature and Certain Chemicals on Cheese Mites:

Se Gey LDS ae RR a ee EIN es ee gee ee ee ee 60
Experiments Relating to the Control of Armyworm, Cirphis unipuncta Haw.,

bu Poisoned Pbalcce Ac REDSALGVaANG He Dy STOLTZ 2 occ. ec. cscedscceecgeceietsvoesive 67
A Note on the Grasshopper Situation in Manitoba in 1937: A. V. MITCHENER.... 70
The Potato Scab-Gnat Outbreak in Middlesex in 1937: A. A. WOOD...................... a
Remarks on External Parasites of Canadian Wild Life: ARTHUR GIBSON.......... Te
Some Observations on the Use of Methyl Bromide as a Fumigant:

TEL ake TO AIST Oe oe Recaro ne oe UR ene

CaF IN gai age erecta le | St gat SS elie Sg OT 87

Entomological Society of Ontario

OFFICERS FOR 1937-1938
President—DR. ARTHUR GIBSON, Ottawa.
Vice-President—Dr. J. MAHEUX, Dept. of Agriculture, Quebec.
Secretary-Treasurer and Librarian—R. H. OzBuRN, Guelph, Ont.

Directors—K. R. BUCKELL, Vernon, B.C.; H. A. U. Monro, Montreal, Que. ; |
Dr. F. IDE, Toronto; A. V. MITCHENER, Winnipeg, Man.; H. L. SEA-
MANS, Lethbridge, Alta.; F. C. GILLIATT, Annapolis Royal, N.S.

Directors (ex-presidents)—PROF. E. M. WALKER, University of Toronto;
PROF. LAWSON CAESAR, O. A. College, Guelph; Dr. ARTHUR GIBSON, |
Dominion Entomologist, Ottawa; F. J. A. Morris, Peterborough;
Dr. J. M. SWAINE, Ottawa; REV. FATHER LEOPOLD, La Trappe, Que.;
ProF. A. W. BAKER, O. A. College, Guelph; Dr. T. D. JARVIS, Ontario
Research Foundation, Toronto; PRor. J. D. DETWILER, University of
Western Ontario, London, Ont.; Dr. W. H. BRITTAIN, Macdonald Col-
lege, Que.; W. A. Ross, Vineland Station, Ont.; L. S. McCLAINE,
Ottawa.

Editor—Dr. J. MCDUNNOUGH, Ottawa.
Associate E'ditor—H. G. CRAWFORD, Ottawa.
Assistant Editor—Dr. A. D. BAKER., Ottawa.
Advertising Manager—W. N. KEENAN, Ottawa.

Auditors—PROF. L. CAESAR, O. A. College, Guelph, Ont.; G. G. DUSTAN,
O. A. College, Guelph, Ont.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO
FINANCIAL STATEMENT

FOR YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31st, 1937

- Receipts Expenditures

Gashvon Shatids..-ssiheee ss Ae Sigal 2a Printing Cans Ent: 3 $1,170.00
Duess 3-2 eee tact ere 263.03 Salaries and Honoraria ............. 220.00
DUDSEHIpLIONS. £2 Sos s 2. eee 530.12 Reprinting Can. Ents. .............. 274.00
Advertisements’ «2.55.5... 267.15 Postage and Carriage Charges... 58.85
Back. Numbers! o.5.cce care 480.68 - Miscellaneous i... ee 40.89 |
Government Grant 2... 350.00 Annual Meeting 2. === 20.93
Miscellaneous ..............00000000. ea 26.50 Bank Enchange .............. eee 15.70
Interests cosa oe Se 11.88 =. ~ Cash:om Hand, 1.32 .30
$1,800.67

Balance in Bank, 31 Oct., 1937 440.36

$2,240.97 $2,240.97

_ Respectfully submitted, |

REG. H. OZBURN, 7

| Secretary-Treasurer.

Audited and found correct. : *
L. CAESAR, |

G. G. DUSTAN, Auditors.
(4)

Entomological Society of Ontario

REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1936-37

The Seventy-third Annual Meeting of the Society was held at the
Dominion Parasite Laboratory, Belleville, on Thursday and Friday,
_November 19th and 20th, 1936.

(

\

! At the morning and afternoon sessions, which were well attended by
_members and others interested in entomology, some thirty papers covering
_ @ wide range of entomological problems were read and discussed.

; Preceding the evening session an enjoyable dinner at which Dr. C. E.
Palm of the New York State School of Agriculture showed a film on the
alfalfa snout beetle was held in the St. Thomas Parish Hall. At the even-
ing session, held in the Collegiate Auditorium, Professor W. C. O’Kane of
the New Hampshire State College gave an address on “‘Looking Ahead” in
Entomology.

As a fitting climax to the evening, the members and their friends

adjourned to the Artillery Officers’ Mess for a social hour and smoker, dur-

.Ing which Mr. F. A. Morris of Peterborough gave one of his inimitable
papers on “Barrie” the author.

The Canadian Entomologist, the monthly journal of the Society, com-
pleted its 68th volume in December, 1936. This volume of 292 pages con-
tained some 80 articles, 21 full page plates, and 14 text figures, contributed
by 55 authors, including writers from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Que-
bec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, 15 of the United States,
and Jugoslavia.

Starting in this volume, an attempt has been made to inelude a section
in each issue devoted to ““Research Notes” and “News and Views’. It is
hoped that this new section will help to keep members and subscribers
_ informed of recent observations and items of interest in the field of Can-
; adian Entomology.

——. ae ee ee le eg ee Oe i ee eee

REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN

During the past year a list of the publications received by the Society
in exchange for the Canadian Entomologist or by gift, was published in
the Society’s Journal (Vol. 67, No. 12, and Vol. 68, Nos. 1,2 and 3). A
start was also made towards completing the Society’s files of some of the
publications received.

(5)

6 . THE REPORT OF THE

BIOLOGY OF THE PLUM AND PEACH LEAFHOPPER,
MACROPSIS TRIMACULATA (FITCH)
By ALBERT HARTZELL

Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Yonkers, N.Y.

Macropsis trimaculata (Fitch), as the vector of peach yellows (9)
and little peach (11) is one of the most serious insects affecting the peach
(Prunus persica [L.] Stokes) in eastern North America. It also trans-
mits both of these diseases from cultivated plums (Prunus salicina and
Prunus simonii) to peach (14). The relation of this insect te peach yel-
lows has been discussed by the writer (4. 5, 6) in previous publications.
The present paper will be restricted, therefore, to a description of the
insect, particularly to the early stages and with special emphasis on the
life history and habits of this unusual species of leafhopper. Although
this species was described by Fitch (3) in 1851, its peculiar habits of
concealment has caused it to be overlooked except by a few workers initer-
ested in taxonomy.

The habits of Macropsis trimaculata resemble those of a treehopper
rather than a leafhopper. Instead of feeding on the foliage, as is the usual
habit of leafhoppers, both adults and nymphs feed on the twigs and are
rarely observed on the leaves. The adults are seldom seen to fly when
disturbed nor do the nymphs hop, but both seek concealment by running
along the twigs to the nearest fork or by dodging to the opposite side of
the branch from the observer.

While the chief visible damage is done indirectly to peach by trans-
mitting yellows, it occurs in greatest numbers on plum and is found only
sparingly on peach. Furthermore, the symptoms of yellows on plums are
masked and, therefore, until recentiy have been overlooked. The double
host relationship of Macropsis trimaculata has prompted the writer (4)
to propose the name plum and peach leafhopper as an appropriate common
name for this species. Its protective coloration, the specific requirements
for the development of this leafhopper together with its unusual habits
have made the study of this species difficult.

The work on the biology of Macropsis trimaculata was done in con-
junction with the study of the transmission of peach yellows (4, 7) and
has extended over a period of years. That the species is not merely a
mechanical carrier of peach yellows has been shown by the fact that the
insect is incapable of transmitting the disease until an incubation period
(5) has elapsed of approximately two to three weeks. Cytological studies
of the salivary glands and of the wall of the intestine of vivisected infected
leafhoppers disclose motile intracellular bodies while dissections of non-
infected leafhoppers show none or few such bodies (6). Similar intra-—
cellular bodies have been observed in peach tissue from trees affected with
peach yellows.

DISTRIBUTION

Macropsis trimaculata has been reported from the provinces of Que-
bec and Ontario, Canada, and in the United States from Maine (17) west-
ward to Colorado and as far south as Virginia (15). It is widely dis-
tributed throughout the Transitional and Upper Austral life zones in east-
ern North America. In reviewing the literature it is difficult to determine
in every instance whether a given locality record refers to this species or to
a closely related species. The range of the species is not co-extensive with

\ 4 a

i

AJ

(

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY vs

wild plum (Prunus americana Marsh), its principal wild host. The south-
ern range corresponds with the southern limit of peach yellows, although
Prunus americana extends much farther southward.. T. F. Manns and
M. M. Manns (14) found no Macropsis trimaculata on wild plum in Min-
nesota and North Dakota beyond the range of Japanese plum. They con-
clude that the species is not endemic but was probably introduced from

Fic. 1.—Plum and peach leafhopper, Macropsis trimaculata. (A) Adult female x 20;
(B) Adult male x 20; (C) Female ovipositing x 4; (D) Egg scars x 4; (E)
Egg x 8.

8 THE REPORT OF THE

the Orient on Japanese and Chinese plums, and has not yet reached the
outer limit of the range of wild plum, since it has been reported from
Ontario and Quebec, areas almost as severe in climate.

Host PLANTS

Wild plum (Prunus americana) is the principal wild host of Macropsis °
trimaculata although it has been reported from Prunus angustifolia,
Prunus munsoniana (12, 13) and Prunus pissardu (2). The writer (4)
has previously called attention to the positive correlation of Macropsis
trimaculata and Prunus americana and the incidence of yellows in peach ~
orchards adjacent to woodland. It also occurs on Prunus domestica.
Manns (14) reports that it prefers Japanese and Chinese plums Prunus
salicina and P. simonii, especially such varieties as Abundance, Red June,
Chalco, Chabot, Satsuma, and Santa Rosa. The first record on peach was
by Stearns (15) in 1927 from Virginia. The insect occurs also on apricot
(7) (Prunus armeniaca L.) and there is a record by La Hue (10) from
grape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INSECT

As the species is variable both in size and color markings, it is possible
that future taxonomic study may change the present conception regarding
its status. A description of the stages of the insect taken from specimens
actually used in the experimental work are presented here.

_Adult.—The adultst of Macropsis trimaculata are of a dull reddish-
brown color (Fig. 1 A, B). The males are usually darker and somewhat
smaller than the females. The markings are rather indistinct, but well
marked specimens have three transparent white spots in a row on each
elytron. The average length of the females is 5 mm. compared with 4.5
mm. for the males.

Egg—The eggs are very small and difficult to find as they are laid
principally in slits beneath the outer bark of plum trees and to a limited
extent on peach (Fig. 1C, D). The egg (Fig. 1 E) is pearly white, oval,
elongate, slightly curved, tapered and rounded at both ends. Length 0.66
mm.

Nyenph.—The nymphs (Fig. 2) are reddish-brown, robust with broad
abdomen lifted into a sharp crest, each segment of which ends in 4 tooth.

First instar.—Robust body with short transverse head. Abdomen
lifted into sharp crest, each segment ending in a tooth that projects pos-
teriorly. Color reddish-brown, marked with fulvous vitta, fuscopunctate.
Pronotum and scutellum fulvous. A broad fulvous vitta on the dorsal
median line of the abdomen. A narrower fulvous vitta on either side of
the abdomen beginning with the second segment and extending posteriorly
to the lateral margin of the seventh and eighth tergites. Face and clypeus
dark brown. Legs fulvous to dark brown. Abdomen salmon-colored be-
neath. Genital pieces infuscated. Length 2 mm.

Second instar.—Color dark brown to black. Head, pronotum, and
scutellum brown. A broad fulvous vitta contiguous to scutellum and a
second just caudad to it. Abdomen dark brown to black, lighter beneath.
Lateral markings more distinct than in first instar. Dorsal markings
distinct in the sixth and seventh segments but less distinct or wanting in

1For technical description of adult see Breakey (1, p. 828-829).

i _ LLL LL GL CLO LOL E LLALLLLL T

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 4

other segments. Face and clypeus dark brown. Legs yellow striped with

black. Genital pieces dark brown to black. Length 2.75 mm.

Third instar.—Body more robust than in the first and second instars.
Color markings resembling second instar. Wing pads appear as lateral
buds extending to the posterior margin of the first abdominal segment.
Length 3 mm.

Fic. 2.Nymphal stages of the plum and peach leafhopper, Macropsis trimaculata, x 3;
(A) First instar; (B) Second instar; (C) Third instar; (D) Fourth instar ;,
(E) Fifth instar.

10 THE REPORT OF THE

Fourth instar.—General ground color dark brown to black. Mark-
ings resembling second and third instars. Dorsal surface of head, prono-
tum, and scutellum densely clothed with short gray hairs. Ventral sur-
face of abdomen salmon-colored. Genital pieces fuscous. Legs yellow
striped with black, pubescent. Wing pads extend to the posterior margin
of the second abdominal segment. Length 3.5 mm.

Fifth wstar.—General body color reddish-brown. Eyes pink. Lat-
eral markings of abdomen indistinct. Distinct white dorsal markings on
the sixth and seventh tergites. Dorsal surface of head fulvous. Basal
angles of scutellum black. Wing pads yellow, extending to middle of the
third abdominal segment. Face dark brown. Clypeus and beneath yel-
low. Thoracic pleurites black. Legs yellow striped with black. Ventral
surface of abdomen salmon-colored. Genital pieces infuscated. Seventh,
eighth, and ninth tergites fulvous at crest with black tooth-like projec-
tions. Length 4 mm. 7

LIFE HISTORY

The nymphs were collected by brushing them from the twigs into shell
vials with the aid of a camel’s hair brush. A pneumatic insect collector
(9) was used to catch and transfer the adults.

Newly hatched nymphs were placed in glass vials (3” x 14”) contain-
ing twigs of peach or plum two inches in length from which the leaf blades
had been removed. A nymph was placed in each vial and daily examina-
tions were made for molts and the exuvize removed. The twigs were re-
placed with fresh ones every other day. This method was used in rearing
the nymphs under constant temperature conditions (7, 16). Both nymphs
aud adults similarly placed in vials could be transported long distances by
automobile without injury.

A number of different kinds of cages were used for rearing this insect
in the greenhouse and in an out-of-door shelter, depending upon the object
to be attained.

Adults were kept in captivity from 11 to 51 days, with an average of
25 days for 34 observations. The latest record was September 11. The
earliest date that adults were observed in the field was June 15, while the
latest date was August 17. The males outnumbered the females about
two to one during the fore part of the season, while during the latter part
of the season the reverse was true. The period of oviposition is relatively
long. Fertile females were captured as late as August 15.

The winter is passed in the egg stage. Newly laid eggs failed to hatch
until they had received a pre-treatment at low temperature. Under field
conditions the egg period extended from the middle of July to May of the
next year. Twigs of Prunus americana and Prunus angustifolia Marsh.
collected in Delaware, April 23, 1937, were placed with their cut ends in
water in a greenhouse at Yonkers, New York. Nymphs hatched from
May 10 to 19 from eggs that had been deposited in these twigs the previous
season. Twigs from this series placed in 12-inch test tubes in ovens at
eonstant temperatures of 15°, 20°, and 25° C. failed to hatch any eggs.
Daily alternating temperatures of 15° C. for 16 hours and 20° or 25° C.
for 8 hours also failed *> hatch eggs. When twigs of Prunus ameri-
cana from local trees infested with eggs were placed with their cut ends in
water and held at constant temperatures of 15°, 20°, and 25° C., nymphs

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY ui

emerged on June 38. No attempt was made to control the humidity. In

another experiment, however, no nymphs emerged from infested twigs
that were kept constantly at room temperature of various relative humidi-
ties ranging from no moisture to 90 per cent humidity.

The earliest dates that newly emerged nymphs were observed in the
field during the past five years ranged from May 25 to June 8. The dates
that the last nymphs were collected ranged from June 16 to June 24.

The length of the nymphal period varies greatly depending on tem-
perature conditions. At 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, and 25° C., the nymphal period
was completed only at 20° C. While at this constant temperature nymphs

abil a a

Fic. 3.—Macropsis trimaculata: Life cycle.

were able to pass through their five instars and become adult, the nymphal
period was greatly prolonged. Under field conditions the first instar
varied from one to five days, the second instar from three to six days, the

_ third instar from four to seven days, the fourth instar from six to eight

days, and the fifth instar from seven to nine days. Thus the total nymphal
period showed a minimum of 21 days and a maximum of 35 days under field
conditions. Ata constant temperature of 20° C. the minimum period was
38 days while the maximum was 74 days. It is thus apparent that a con-
stant temperature of 20° C. while capable of supporting life is unfavorable
for development, while alternating temperatures such as are found under
field conditions are more favorable for development.

The egg period including dormancy during the winter months and in-
cubation in the spring extends over approximately 10 months. The
nymphal period averages about one month. The preoviposition period is
believed to be relatively long. While adults appeared as early as June 15,
they were not observed mating until July 13. This would indicate a period
of about a month for with leafhoppers oviposition does not begin until

_ several days after mating. Thus it requires 12 months to complete the

life cycle (Fig. 3). To summarize, the overwintering egos in the twigs
hatch almost with the first growth in spring. The nymphs complete their
development in June, while the females lay eggs during July and August.
The comparatively long time required by this species to complete its devel-
opment precludes the possibility of the insect having more than one gener-
ation a year in the latitude of Yonkers, New York.

Aside from a species of spider observed feeding on a nymph, Macrop-
sis trimaculata appears to be notably free from natural enemies.

12

16.
WG

THE REPORT OF THE

LITERATURE CITED

. BREAKEY, EDWARD PAUL. A review of the Nearctic Species of Macropsis (Homop-

tera, Cicadellidae). Ann. Ent. Soc. America 25: 787-844. 1932.

. DELONG, DwiGHT Moore. Family Cicadellidae. Jn Guide to the Insects of Con-

necticut. Prepared under the direction of W. E. Britton. Part IV. The Hem-
iptera or Sucking Insects of Connecticut. Connecticut Geol. & Nat. Hist. Survey
Bull. 34: 56-163. 1923.

. FitcH, ASA. Catalogue with References and Descriptions of the Insects Collected

and Arranged for the State Cabinet of Natural History by Asa Fitch. In New
York State Univ. Ann. Rept. of Regents on Condition of State Cabinet Nat. Hist.
4: 45-69. 1851. (Also in New York State Entomologist. Rept. on the injur-
ious and other insects of the State of New York 9: 383-413. 1893.

. HARTZELL, ALBERT. A Study of Peach Yellows and its Insect Vector. Contrib.

Boyce Thompson Inst. 7: 183-207. 1935.

Incubation Period of Peach Yellows in its Insect Vector. Con-

trib. Boyce Thompson Inst. 8: 113-120. 1936.

Movement of Intracellular Bodies Associated with Peach Yel-

lows. Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst. 8: 375-388. 1937.

Bionomics of the Plum and Peach Leafhopper, Macropsis trim-

aculata. Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst. 9:121-136. 1937.
. KUNKEL, L. O. Studies on Aster Yellows. Amer. Jour. Bot. 13: 646-705. 1926.

(Also mw Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst. 1: 181-240. 1926.)

—________———_ Insect Transmission of Peach Yellows. Contrib. Boyce
Thompson Inst. 5: 19-28. 1933.

. LAHUE, DELMOoN W. An Annotated List of Bythoscopinae of Indiana (Cicadelli-

dae Homoptera). Proc. Indiana Acad. Sci. 45: 310-314. 1936.

. MANNS, T. F. Our Present Knowledge on the Dissemination of Yellows and Little

Peach. Trans. Peninsula Hort. Soc. 1933: 17-19.

—_______________ The ]Pissemination of Yellows and Little Peach. Jz Delaware
Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 188: 36-38. 1934.

. MANNS, T. F. and F. R. DAVIES. Dissemination of Peach Yellows and Little Peach

by Macropsis trimaculata Fitch. In Delaware Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 205: 37-
40. 1936.

. MANNS, T. F. and M. M. Manns’ Plums as a Factor in the Dissemination of Yel-

lows and Little Peach. Trans. Peninsula Hort. Soe. 1934: 72-76.

. STEARNS, Louis A.- The Cicadellidae (Homoptera) of Virginia. Virginia Agric.

Exp. Sta. Tech. Ball. 31. 21 pp. 1927.
Temperature controls. Jn Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst. 1: 14-16. 1925.

VAN DUZEE, E. P. Catalogue of the Hemiptera of America North of Mexico Ex-
cepting the Aphididae, Coccidae, and Aleurodidae. Univ. of Caiifornia Publ.
Rint. 2.7 902 pps 1917:

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 13

THE FOREST INSECT SURVEY
By A. W. A. BROWN
Entomological Branch, Ottawa, Ontario.

The Forest Insect Survey is a project which has grown very rapidly
in the last few years. It is carried out on a co-operative basis with gov-
ernment organizations and private companies employing a summer staff
in the woods. Moreover, its scope is steadily increasing, the aim being
eventually to cover the whole Dominion. In 1936, 512 samples of insects
defoliating spruce and other conifers were sent in to Ottawa and reared
in our insectaries; this year the survey organization received over 3,000
samples. Since each sample generally contains several species, each of
which requires to be reared separately, the number of individual rearings
approached the ten thousand mark.

The purpose of this paper is not to outline the methods of the survey,
but merely to consider what contributions it is already making to know-
ledge of the biology of insects defoliating coniferous trees. Some of these
species have been or are being quite thoroughly studied at some point in
Canada or the United States; but the majority are rather inadequately
known, and in some cases the nomenclature is in doubt. A few specimens
of larvae of each species are preserved in alcohol or by inflation, the re-
mainder being reared through to the adult stage; identification of the adult
then extends our knowledge of larval forms, and supplies another skeleton
life-history. With the lesser known species it is found that almost no pro-
gress has been made since the publication of Packard’s Fifth Report (1).

For identification of the Lepidoptera we are much indebted to Dr. J.
H. McDunnough; of parasitic Hymenoptera to Mr. G. S. Walley; of. para-
sitic Diptera to Dr. O. Peck; and of species of Pikonema to Dr. H. H. Ross.

The defoliators of coniferous trees in Canada, and more especially of
spruce are confined within the groups Tenthredinidae (sawflies) and
Lepidoptera Heterocera. The sawflies are almost entirely restricted to
two sub-families, Diprioninae and Nematinae. lLepidopterous defoliators
are mainly to be found among the following families (cited in order of
their importance) : Tortricidae, Geometridae, Noctuidae, and Pyralidae.

Table 1 summarizes the data obtained on the life-history and parasites
of the more important forest insects covered by the survey at present.
In addition, the distribution of infestations, as compiled from survey re-
ports, is indicated on the map presented below.

(1) PACKARD, A. S., 1888. Report 5 of U. S. Entomological Commission.

THE REPORT OF THE

14

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16 THE REPORT OF THE

The European spruce sawfly (Diprion polytomum Htg.) is being
studied very closely in the survey, due to its great economic importance.
It has been collected only on the three species of spruce. Its distribution
is now continuous across Quebec and well into Ontario, west of lake Temis-
kaming (see map). The density of infestation, wherever studied, as in
New Brunswick and sountheastern Quebec, is found to be increasing
steadily. There is reason to believe that this species is spreading north-
ward and westward into the body of the continent. Data obtained in 1937
show it to be present now in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. There
appears to be an interesting gap in its distribution in the country north of
Ottawa, including the valleys of the Gatineau and Lievre rivers, no sam-
ples from that area having yet contained this destructive species.

With regard to the life-history of the European spruce sawfly, there
is some indication that in Quebec and Ontario it lacks the prolonged dia-
pause in the cocoon, characteristic of the Gaspe. Whereas cocoons from
the Gaspe material showed an emergence of 20 per cent in the following
spring, those from the remainder of Quebec and from Ontario gave a con-
sistent average of 58 per cent emergence. The existence of a partial
second generation in most localities in the latter area would also seem to
be indicated. Adult sawflies were emerging in the insectary from July 8
to October 12, the proportion of emergents decreasing as the season
advanced; in all, 15 per cent of the cocoons from Quebec (excluding Gaspe)
and Ontario gave summer emergents. Only one specimen of a cocoon
parasite, Spathimeigenia sp. (from Chicoutimi, P.Q.), was obtained in all
the material collected in 1986. With regard to sex ratio, only two males
emerged, the remainder all being females (see table).

The spruce budworm (Cacoecia fumiferana Clem.) is causing defolia- -

tion of spruce and balsam fir in the Algoma district of Ontario, the infesta-
tion having been built up during the past few years. Numerous species
of parasites have been found on samples received, but the percentage of
parasitism does not appear to be high. The black-headed budworm (Pero-
nea variana Fern.) is a supplementary species throughout the area of in-
festation, becoming the predominant form in the northern portion. This
species would appear to be the more widely distributed of the two, occur-
ring in samples from Saskatchewan to the Gaspe. Its mortality and
degree of parasitism, however, proved to be high; of the parasites, H'xochus
was the typical form in the centre of the range, with Phaeogenes to the
west, and Anachaetopsis still farther westwards. A few shipments of the
jack pine budworm (a biological race of Cacoecia fumiferana Clem.) were
received from the infestation west of lake Superior. Adults of this form
all possessed the brick-red coloration, and seemed easily distinguishable
from the grey-to-brown adults of the typical spruce budworm. Emer-
gence too place from a week to 10 days later than the spruce budworm
of Algoma.

A number of native species of sawfly have been found upon spruce.
Of these the most important are the brown-headed spruce sawfly (Piko-
nema alascensis Roh.) and the green-headed spruce sawfly (Pikonema
dimmockii Cress.) These species are constants elements of the spruce
fauna, and appear to be distributed throughout the range of their host-
tree. The former is capable of causing damage, particulariy to open-
grown spruce, severe defoliation having been noted in northern Manitoba
and Saskatchewan. Both species are attacked by a number of parasites.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY LF

The red-headed pine sawfly (Neodiprion lecontei Fitch), has proved
a serious defoliator of planted red, jack and Scots pine in the districts of
Muskoka, Nipissing, and the Ottawa valley, especially in 1936. Mature
- red pine in stands have also been attacked in Algonquin Park. An import-
ant parasite of this sawfly is Perilampus hyalinus Say, which in this case
has acted as a primary and not a secondary parasite; it is however absent
from the northern range of its host. The geographical range of two
dipterous parasites, also, is quite clearly indicated by survey results. The
larch sawfly (Pristiphora erichsonu Htg.) has been received often in sam-
ples due to its géneral abundance throughout Eastern Canada. It is inter-
esting in that a number of specimens of Bessa selecta Mg. have been reared
from these samples. Also an unusual abundance of mice have been re-
ported from Kapuskasing, Ontario, this year as being coincident with an
infestation of the larch sawfly.

The green looper (Macaria granitata Gn.) has shown itself to be a
constant and very widely distributed species on spruce; it becomes more
abundant in late summer, and in the northern belt it is the insect most
commonly found in the collections. Under cage conditions the insect is
easily reared. However, the percentage of parasitism is high and involves
a large number of species (see table). The hemlock looper (EHllopia fiscel-
laria Gn.) has been received from many points throughout Ontario and
Quebec. Host trees represented in the samples were mainly white spruce,
but included also black spruce, hemlock, and balsam fir. A severe infesta-
tion on hemlock was reported from an area immediately south of Parry
Sound, and information from this source represents it as spreading to
Muskoka. Samples reared in the insectary indicated a low degree of para-
sitism and very little mortality from other causes.

Infestations of the forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hbn.)
in Ontario have yielded material to the survey. In the Nipissing infesta-
tion, the striking feature this year has been the fusion of the French river
and Powassan infestations to sweep southward, over the Parry Sound
region, as far as Muskoka; practically every poplar stand was stripped
bare. A similar southward spread brought the infestation boundary from
Burk’s Falls to Huntsville. The infestation in the Mattawa valley was
very heavy, and its boundary has extended into Quebec and down the
Ottawa river. The forest tent caterpillar fortunately would appear to
be on the wane in districts west of lake Superior, according to reports
from Port Arthur, Sioux Lookout and Kenora. The season as a whole
this year was more advanced than in 1936, due to a mild spring in most
localities. Emergence took place around the first week in July in the
Nipissing region, and a week later in western Ontario. A number of
species of parasites was obtained from the many small samples sent in.

The survey has revealed that a large number of the lesser known species
are to be found on spruce and other conifers. Many of these may be regarded
as potentially destructive forest insects. The false hemlock looper (Nepy-
tia canosaria Wlk.) is quite widely distributed on spruce, and occasionally
on other conifers. In size and life-cycle it resembles the hemlock looper ;
its mortality and parasitism would appear to be higher. The larvae are
interesting due to the existence of two colour phases,—one crimson, the
other green. The grey looper (Caripeta angustiorata Wlk.) is a fairly
large spruce-feeder which seems to be markedly hardy and free from para-
sites. The survey indicates an apparent increase in its numbers in 1937
as against 1936. A number of other species of Geometridae occur, some

18 -. -THE REPORT OF THE

~ adequately characterised, others at present unknown. There are also twa

_ characteristic noctuid ‘species, Monodes and Feralia, on spruce, as well as
a number of agrotines and acronyctines. Among the pyralids, the genus
Pinipestis (Dioryctria)~ contains a number of spruce feeders difficult to
identify. Tortricids, arctiids, liparids, lasiocampids, and a few other
families complete the list of the lesser known forest insects studied in the
course of the survey.

It is understood that this paper is only in the nature of an interim
report. The forest insect survey being designed as a permanent institu-
tion, data will be gathered year by year to confirm or refute the treds
suggested in earlier years. It is the aim of the survey to gather as rauch
information as possible on the insect fauna of the forests.

EXPERIMENTS IN THE CONTROL OF GREEN APPLE BUG, APPLE
REDSUG, AND THE PALE APPLE LEAFHOPPER BY
MEANS OF PYRETHRUM DUSTS AND SPRAYS

By N. A. PATTERSON

~ Dominion Entomological Laboratory
Annapolis Royal, N.S.

In this paper are presented data and observations recorded from field
experiments in which pyrethrum, both as a dust and spray, was used
against green apple bug, Lygus communis Knt., apple redbug, Lygidea
mendax Reut., and pale apple leafhopper, Typhlocyba pomaria McA.

The pyrethrum consisted of a fine powder, that used in 1936 contain-
ing 0.94 per cent total pyrethrins, and that used in 1937 containing 0.89
per cent total pyrethrins. The pyrethrum dust was composed of 30 per
cent pyrethrum and 70 per cent dusting gypsum.

In 1936, an orchard infested with green apple bug, consisting of 50
trees of the variety Ben Davis, was treated with approximately 70 pounds
per acre of 30 per cent pyrethrum dust. The insects were then in the
adult stage, treatment being made on the evening of July 8.

White cotton sheets large enough to cover all the ground, were placed
under two trees. The adult bugs began to drop on to the sheets in a very
short time after dusting, and the majority of them fell within an hour or

two after treatment. Three hundred and eighty insects were collected —

under one medium-sized tree, and apparently the control obtained was
practically a complete one. This observation is of considerable interest,

for while nicotine is effective against the young of this insect, it is com-

paratively ineffective after the insects have reached maturity.

In 1937 an orchard of the variety Northern Spy was treated on June —

7, the insects being in the nymphal stage, with pyrethrum dust of com-
position similar to that already mentioned. Counts of insects were made

on several hundred leaf clusters prior to treatment, and similar counts |

‘again. made after treatment, from the results of which the control indi-

cated was 98.8 per cent. “On a similar area an application was made of |
‘nicotine dust (2 per cent. nicotine); and from this a control of 98.7 per |

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 19

cent was obtained. On the same date an orchard of large trees of the
variety Greening was dusted with pyrethrum, and in this case the dusting
_ was done from one side of the tree only, and no more than 50 to 60 pounds
*of dust per acre was used. The control obtained was excellent, being
apparently 100 per cent.

| Similarly, experiments were conducted using pyrethrum as a spray.
~Using pyrethrum at the rate of three pounds per 1°0 gallons, and using
the same unmixed with any other material, the contra] of green apple bug
in the nymphal stage, was found to be excellent. After treatment, 555
Insects were collected under one tree, and on a search a few days later, no
living bug's could be found in the treated area.

In one experiment, however, pyrethrum was used at a similar rate in
the iron sulphate lime-sulphar mixture, and in this case the coxtrol did not
appear to be equally satisfactory. While the centrol was coxsicderalze,
it was not esmplete, and there thus still remains some doulst as to whether
the combination of pyrethrum and iron sulphate mixture is satisfactory.

On June 4 a block of MacIntosh Red apple trees, close slanted, vras
dusted at the rate of 90 pounds per acre with 30 per cent pyrethrura dust.
This orchard was severely infested with nyzaphs ¢: the azple redbug.
The results from this experiment were the same as that describes) agains’
the green apple bug. One hundred and eighty bugs were collect:d under
one tree shortly after treatment, and very few could be found anyw!ere
in the orchard later in the season, and the crop showed practically no
injury from this insect.

Similar experiments were conducted against the pale apple leafhop-
per and these were found to be very readily controlled with either pyre-
thrum dust or spray.

As result of the above experiments it is felt that certain recommenda-
tions may be made with confidence, regarding the control of these ixsects
by means of pyrethrum. The material is economical, control appears, at

least in seme cases, to be superior to that from nicotine, and in addition,
pyrethrum is more pleasant to use, from the standpoint of personal com-
fort.

SOME RECORDS OF CAPTURES IN ORCHARD LIGHT TRAPS
By F.C. GILLIATT

Dominion Entomological Laboratory
Annapolis Royal, N.S.

The use of electric light traps was one of the many attempts in Nova
Scotia to explore all avenues for control of the gray-banded leaf roller,
Eulia mariana Fern.

An orchard at Round Hill was selected where a moderate infestation
of this insect had been present for several years. Electric light wires
were extended from a nearby dwelling through the centre of the orchard,
for a distance of about 1,500 feet. On this line there were installed four
light traps, each consisting of a box with glass sides, with openings so
arranged that insects could enter. A cyanide jar was screwed in the trap
at the bottom, into which insects readily dropped. A 60-watt bulb was
used in each trap.

20 THE REPORT OF THE

There were captured during the season of 1935, 402 male and four
female moths of Hulia mariana Fern. The males that were captured at
the beginning of the season had full abdomens and most of them appeared .
not to have mated. After the first week there was an increasing number
with slim, rather emaciated bodies, indicating that mating had taken place
previous to capture. The four females still carried at least a portion of
their egg complement. It was apparent from these results that any :
appreciable measure of control of this particular pest by the use of light
traps was not at all encouraging.

In 1935, with the exception of Hulia mariana Fern., no detailed re-
cords were kept of other individual species, although a number of identifi-
cations were made of species hitherto unrecorded in the district. Obser-
vations, however, led to the conclusions that from the operation of the light
traps, data of value would be secured. The lights, therefore have been
continued from May until November, during 1936 and 1937.

Table 1 is a record of our more common species, taken in the traps
in large numbers during the season of 1936 and 1937.

21

SOCIETY

ENTOMOLOGICAL

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.

THE REPORT OF THE

22

The species listed in table 2 were captured in comparatively small

numbers, both in 1936 and 1937.
members are for the most part insects of economic importance, and mainly ,

They belong, however, to genera whose

It is probable all or most of these forms feed more or less

on this account have been selected from a long list of identifications from |

the captures.

However, as yet we know very little of the habits of these —

We are aware, however, that the apple has been mentioned as a :

host of many of these species in other fruit growing regions and in a num-

ber of instances have become pests of some importance.

upon the apple.

species.

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ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 23

There are many items of interest in these results, even though the

traps have been in operation for only a brief period. The first and last |

dates of capture present a guide of the seasonal appearance of the different

species under Noya Scotian conditions. The dates of maximum emer-

- gence are also recorded where the numbers were sufficient to give a clear

indication. Fluctuations are shown in numbers of the different species
comparing one year with another. For instance, as already mentioned,
there were 406 adults captured of Hulia mariana Fern. in 1935, and in the
following two years this number was reduced to 334 and 315 respectively.

- On the other hand, there are increases indicated with several of our more

important orchard pests, viz., Spilonota ocellana D. & S.; Archips rosa-

ceana Harris and Pandemis limitata Rob., together with the noctuid,

Cirphis unipuncta Haw., the true armyworm. It would be unwise to
make further comparisons in this regard with other species as the traps
have not been in operation over a sufficient period.

The records show the predominance of males over females. This
feature was quite consistent with the majority of the species. There were,
however, a few exceptions. The codling moth females are apparently
as readily attracted to the lights and captured in the traps as the males.
There was also a fair proportion of females taken of the diamond-back

moth, Plutella maculipennis Curt., and the armyworm Cirphis unipuncta

Haw.

Outbreaks of insect pests may be forecast in advance. In the autumn

of 1936 a few armyworm adults were taken in the traps but at this time

the numbers did not appear significant. However, in 1937 over 1,000
adults were captured in a short period of time during late June and early
July. There soon followed probably the worst recorded outbreak of this
insect in Nova Scotia. With further experience, by comparing the catches
in the traps with the numbers in the field, it should be possible to obtain
information of material assistance in forecasting outbreaks of insects.

The presence of species hitherto unknown in the district, as well as
those not commonly observed, may be captured and identified. From the
catches, several hundred species have been identified, many of which were
detected for the first time, at least for this part of Nova Scotia. To men-
tion a few, there are a number belonging to the family Tortricidae, and
found in table 2, viz., Hulia quercifoliana Fitch, Hulia velutinana WI1k.,
Eulia ministrana Linn., Sparganothis reticulatana Clem., Sparganothis
xanthoides Wlk., Argyrcploce constellatana Zell., Argyroploce bipartitana
Clem., Cacoecia fervidana Clem., Cacoecia purpurana Clem., Cacoecia con-
flictana Wlk., Thiodia ochroterminana Kear., Thiodia olivaceana Rly. Two
specimens were taken of Tortriz alberta McD., which has only been known

_ from the type lot from Nardegg, Alberta. Among other groups a few

new or rarely observed species may be mentioned, viz., Stenoma algidella
Wlk., Stenoma schlaegeri Z., Balsa malana Fitch, (many spotted apple
worm), Hymenia perspictalis Hbn., (spotted beet worm), Evergestis
straminalis Hbn., (purple backed cabbage worm), and Desmia funeralis
Hbn., (grape leaf folder).

The light traps are of considerable assistance in solving phenological
problems. When there is more than one brood of a particular species
during a season, the captures show the maxima fairly clearly for the

different generations. This was very clearly defined with the species

Gh +.

Cirphis unipuncta Haw. There was a maximum capture of adults at

24 THE REPORT OF THE

about June 3 and again at September 3. In the case of Plutella maculi-
pennis Curt., there is evidently an overlapping of broods for adults were
captured every week from May until October, but deceea maxima occurred
at about June 24 and in late August.

If data from the use of light traps can be secured over a sufficient
number of years, it may be possible to finally establish a cycle for at least
some of our more important economic species.

THE SIMULTANEOUS PROPAGATION OF MACROCENTRUS
ANCYLIVORUS ROHWER AND ASCOGASTER CARPOCAPSAE
VIER. ON THE PEACH MOTH (LASPEYRESIA MOLESTA
BUSCK.): A STUDY IN MULTIPLE PARASITISM

By W. E. VAN STEENBURGH and H. R. BOYCE
Dominion Parasite Laboratory, Belleville, Ontario

As the Oriental fruit moth became a pest of major importance in the
peach orchards of Ontario, a demand developed for the colonization of
Macrocentrus ancylivorus Rohwer, a successful larval parasite from south-
ern New Jersey. The early releases of this parasite were made with
material collected in New Jersey, and since 1931 have been continued with
parasites secured from laboratory breeding. The propagation of the
second parasite of the study, Ascogaster carpocapsae Vier., a parasite of
both the Oriental fruit moth and the codling moth (Carpocapsa pomonella
Linn.) was undertaken in 1932 to provide a supply of parasites for re-
leases against the codling moth in the apple orchards of British Columbia.

A technique was developed for the laboratory breeding of the moth
and when this had been successfully accomplished the parasites were
introduced into the procedure. Moth eggs were secured in small cylin-
drical cages lined with heavy waxed paper. Each day the paper on which
the moth females had oviposited was removed and a new piece inserted.
The eggs were then held until just before hatching when they were placed
on lightly scored or sliced green apples and removed to the rearing con-
tainers. When reared for the propagation of Macrocentrus the larve were
allowed to feed on the apples for some 10 to 15 hours, or, if sliced apples
were substituted for whole apples, from two to five days, and were then
hung for 24 hours in a cage containing Macrocentrus females. The mater-
ial was then returned to incubation. Ascogaster breeding produced no
essential modifications in the method of handling the host. Moth eggs of
two days development were placed with Ascogaster for a short time and
were thereafter placed on green apples as described above.

Ascogaster and Macrocentrus differ greatly in their methods of host
attack. Ascogaster attacks the eggs of the host. The small parasite eggs
hatch within the host eggs and the young first instar parasites secure
establishment in the host larvae before the latter leave the eggs. Marco-
centrus parasitizes all the larval stages of the host but prefers the earlier
host instars when the host larvae are confined close to the surface of the
fruit in the feeding tunnels. Both species of parasites feed internally and
emerge as mature larval forms from the mature host larvae within the
spin-ups.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 25

—_——_——_

Under laboratory conditions is it possible to secure a fairly high per-
centage of parasitism by Ascogaster because the host eggs can be com-
pletely exposed to the parasite females. With Macrocentrus, regardless
of whether the host larvae are presented in whole or sliced apples, only a
proportion are parasitized. This is due to the feeding habits of the host
larvae which makes a varying percentage of them accessible to parasite
attack. It seemed probable that were it possible to combine the breeding
of the two parasites into the one process a higher utilization of the avail-
able host material could be made and much time and expense saved. The
success of such a procedure depended upon the interrelation of the com-
peting larval parasites within the host larvae. To ensure any success
Macrocentrus must prove to be the dominant species.

The initial studies were confined to the dissection of host larvae which
had been exposed to the females of both species of parasites. These dis-
sections showed that Macrocentrus first instar larvae attacked the first
instar larvae of Ascogaster and invariably caused the destruction of the
latter species. The Macrocentrus larvae were much more active than their
competitors and seemed to have little difficulty in gaining ascendancy with-
in the host. The next step in the study was to combine the rearing of
the two parasites into a single process, which represented only a slight
departure from the former method of rearing the parasites. Oriental
fruit moth eggs of from 40 to 48 hours development at 80° F. were ex-
posed to Ascogaster females until the eggs were thoroughly worked over.
Just previous to their hatching these same eggs were placed on either
scored whole green apples or on sliced green apples and the regular breed-
ing technique used for Macrocentrus was followed. Both of the parasites
emerge over the same period and they were collected in the usual manner.

In both of the methods used to secure Macrocentrus parasitism, the
results were the same. Apparently the age of the Ascogaster larva when
parasitism took place had no influence on its surviving ability. With both
of the parasites used in the study, the parasite eggs hatch into first stage
larvae and do not again transform until the host larvae have reached
maturity. Therefore, regardless of the time of parasitism by Macrocen-
trus, it secured the possession of the host.

The work was begun in a series of breeding incubators in the spring
of 1936, and was continued in the autumn and winter of 1936-37 under
much more satisfactory working conditions offered by the equipment of
the new laboratory. In all, a total of some 11,000 larvae was used in the
study. Table 1 presents the results secured when the incubators were
used, while table 2 represents the results of the breeding in the condi-
tioned rooms. :

TABLE 1
Check lots Macrocentrus only 20.0% parasitism
cote Ascogaster only 48.6 cs
Combined Breeding
Macrocentrus 20.8 -
Ascogaster LOT cs
TABLE 2
Check lots Macrocentrus only 31.0 :
i. Ascogaster only 56.3 i
Combined Breeding
Macrocentrus 36.9 *
Ascogaster 18.7 <

26 THE. REPORT OF THE

$$$

The figures clearly indicate the feasibility of. combining the rearing
of the two species of parasites and they also suggest that a greater utiliza-
tion of the host insect could be made by securing a higher initial paras*t¢sm
by Ascogaster. The dominant species was not affected in its esta*lish-
ment by the introduction of the minor species into the breeding technique.
The minor species definitely suffered by the competition, but the nuzabers
of the minor species surviving represented, to the extent of the numbers
of parasites emerging, a more satisfactory utilization of the host insect.

CONTROLLING CODLING MOTH WITH NICOTINE-BENTONITE:
By J. M. MERRITT

Tobacco By-Products & Chemical Corp.,
' Louisville, Kentucky

Intensive development of producing areas has made codling moti con-
trol a major factor in most commercial orchards. Control measures have
of necessity kept pace with a growing problem.

About 10 years ago the increasing amounts of spray residues on mar-
ket fruit were recognized as potentially dangerous, and tolerances con-
trolling lead and arsenic were enforced. This naturally directed attention —
to alternative insecticides, both inorganic and organic. Entomolozgists
and chemists familiar with the properties of nicotine made extensive tests
to determine its fitness in this field. Two factors were found t® affect
the durability of its toxic properties; namely, volatility and solubility.

The volatility of nicotine, while it increases the toxicity to eggs, young
larvae, and moths, has been reduced by various combinations to achieve
a longer period of toxicity. Thus free nicotine and nicotine sulphate have
been found to be effective in control when added to arsenicals. However,
the combination of nicotine sulphate and mineral oil is in itself an effective
spray, because of the ability of the oil to retard the volatility of the nico-
tine. Further economy of the effect of the nicotine is inherent in nicotine- —
tannate and nicotine-bentonite, for they are essentially non-volatile and
correspondingly durable. ;

The solubility of nicotine, also desirable in a contact spray, tends to
affect its durability in much the same way. Free nicotine, nicotine sul-
phate, and nicotine-oil are soluble, and nicotine-tannate is partly soluble,
so are subject to appreciable loss during rainy periods. Nicotine-bentonite
is essentially insoluble and non-volatile, modifying the physical properties
of nicotine to a form better adapted to economical codling moth control
than any of its predecessors.

Limited tests of nicotine-bentonite in 1932, and field tests in 1933 and
1934, demonstrated the ability of this compound to deposit and retain
relatively large amounts of nicotine, when used at dosages equivalent to
current nicotine-oil recommendations.

Two factors were found to handicap the practical value of this com-
bination. The tenacious residue of colloidal bentonite is objectionable
and most difficult to remove. Also, the complete reaction of these two
materials sacrifices part of the contact properties of nicotine, reducing its

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 27

toxicity to the adult moths, and limiting its effect to the more susceptible
stages of eggs and young larvae.

For many years the Tobacco By-Products & Chemical Corporation
has studied nicotine-bentonite compounds in the field and in the labora-
tory, giving particular attention to factory-processed compounds which
could be modified to attain certain desired results. Through the co-
operative efforts of many Experiment Stations, replicated tests of differ-
ent compounds have been compared with standard control methods in
areas representative of wide ranges of variation.

The objectives in adapting such compounds to commercial require-
ments were (1) modification and control of the resultant residue; (2)
incorporation of contact effect, against various stages of codling moth and
other orchard insects affected by nicotine; and (3) retention of sufficient
durability to effectively span the desirable interval between applications.

“Black Leaf 155” is representative of a group of compounds in which
the colloidal residue of raw bentonite has been changed to a powdery film.
This has extended the advantages of nicotine-bentonite to the average
grower, whose main objective is a non-residue program. It has proved
amenable to methods regularly employed in packing fruit sprayed close
to harvest, for it readily brushes off. When the fruit is not sprayed late
in the season, its gradually weathers, requiring no removal. It has also
been possible to incorporate, during the factory processing, sufficient
immediate contact effect to give commercial control of aphis and leaf-
hoppers, and to be a definite factor in codling moth control, provided the
applications are sufficiently thorough. This not only eliminates the need
for special applications for these insects, but prevents the damage which
may occur before the population develops epidemic proportions. The par-
ticular formula chosen was selected because consistent results under varied
conditions indicated worm control equivalent to existing methods, and
Superior sting control. Residue analysis of sprayed foliage further indi-
cated its ability to apply and retain effective amounts of material. Its
complete compatibility with standard neutral insecticides amd fungicides
also adapts it to the complex problems of summer spraying in different
areas.

The selection of this formula seems to have been entirely justified by
_ the results obtained in commercial orchards in 1937. Satisfactory results,
as indicated by relatively high percentages of U. S. No. 1 grade fruit,
were observed in areas where the codling moth is a serious problem and
several sprays are applied at relatively short intervals. In such areas
“Black Leaf 155” was applied in combination with summer oil to apparent
advantage, as is the case with lead arsenate. On the other hand, com-
parable results were observed, in several instances, in areas where rela-
tively few applications are necessary.

Another important advantage of nicotine compounds was observed
during 1937; namely, its safety to foliage. In several areas, arsenical
residues sufficient to achieve control exceeded the resistance of the trees.
Partial or complete defoliation resulted, often materially affecting the size
of the fruit and predicating reduced bud formation. More frequently the
__effect was apparent by direct comparison, but horticulturists and growers
are giving considerable attention to the causticity of spray programs in
general. This is in part because nicotine-bentonite, in the form of “Black
Leaf 155”, has proven adaptable to a wide range of conditions, and safe
to the trees and fruit.

28 THE REPORT OF THE

NOTES ON CORN BORER RESISTANCE IN HYBRID CORN
By R. W. THOMPSON

Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph

At several of the recent meetings of this Society it will be recalled
that attention was drawn to the possibility of the development of strains
of corn resistant to corn borer attacks. Development of such strains has
been proceeding in the United States for several years and the reports
which have come to hand from time to time have indicated that some of
the hybrids which have been evolved show significant resistance to the
borer. Among the more promising strains tried out by Patch (1) in Ohio
are some hybrids in which inbreds Hy, R4, and A 48 enter into the pedi-
gree of a double cross. One hybrid, Hy x R4, showed up particularly well
for resistance and at the same time gave a yield of nine bushels to the acre
more than the mean yield of all the strains in the test.

Recognizing that, if any variety or strain of corn could be found or
developed which was not only as good a yielder as our best standard varie-
ties but also was, say, 20 per cent more resistant to the borer, this would
be a great help in the fight against the borer, Professor Caesar brought
the matter before a meeting of the Standing Committee on Field Crop
Improvement in Ontario held at Guelph last winter and urged that work
along this line be begun in 1937. The committee agreed that the proposal
was a good one and the result was that Professor McRostie, head of the
Field Husbandry Department at the Ontario Agricultural College, under-
took to test a number of so-called resistant strains in comparison with our
standard, popuiar varieties. These tests were made at Guelph, Ridgetown
and on a farm near Woodslea, in Essex county, under the supervision of
Mr. Blake Cohoe. Forty hybrid corns and nine varieties of standard corn
were tested at each of the above mentioned experimental locations. The
hybrid corns included strains from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio
and New York. Four replicates of these 49 corns, in randomized plant-
ings, were sown at each of the three places.

The same planting dates and the same cultural conditions were main-
tained in each replicate as far as possible. At Guelph and Ridgetown
each plot of a variety or strain consisted of three rows of 22 hills each.
At Woodslea, each plot consisted of three rows of 12 hills each. Tasseling
date, height of stalk, date of cutting, yield and stage of maturity at cut-
ting were recorded in the customary manner by the Field Husbandry De-
partment, but since the agronomic aspects of these experiments are to be
published separately only such of the data as are necessary are included
in this paper.

At harvest, before making any dissections, all the plots at each loca-
tion were carefully inspected and any variety or strain which from poor
yield, weakness of stalk, lateness of maturity or other defect, was found
unsuitable for this province was discarded and no dissection of it made.
At Guelph dissections were made by members of the Entomological De-
partment and an agronomy student, of two samples of 10 stalks each,

taken at random, from each of the four plots of each variety or strain, to _

find the numbers of borers present. At Ridgetown only two of the four
replicate blocks were sampled for borer populations by Professors McRos-
tie and Caesar, by dissecting 10 stalks from each plot. At Woodslea the
sampling was kindly undertaken by Dr. G. M. Stirrett and his assistants,

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 29

from the Dominion Entomological Laboratory at Chatham. Here also,
samples of 10 stalks were dissected from each plot in each of the four
replicates

The following horizontal bar charts show borer populations at (1)
Guelph, (2) Ridgetown and (3) Woodslea, of the respective hybrids dis-
sected and also, by comparison, of the standard varieties in common use
throughout Ontario.

CHART 1.—AVERAGE NUMBER OF EUROPEAN CORN BORERS PER 10
STALKS IN STANDARD AND HYBRID CORN, GUELPH, 1937

Average
0 10 20 30 40
us |
Salzer’s North Dakota (Standard) (32) ee
Longfellow (Standard) (32) | -—--———— | — — | ——
Wisconsin No. 7 (Standard) (22) |———— |_|

Golden Glow (Standard) (Stewart) (25) |————|—————_ |———
WhiteCap Yellow Dent (Standard) (23) |————_|—__—_____|"—_

Bailey (Standard) (20)

Hybrid E. OD) aera rat IEE Le CI ee

Hybrid F. F. (9) esas ee

Hybrid L. CU) ieee |e

(3 x A 48) x R38 (CUL2A) i res eee re oral ee |

(3 x A 48 x (26 x 23) (GUS) ata

(3 x R38) x (26 x 23) (19) |

(3 x 26 x R3 (11) ae

(R23 x Hy) x (26 x 23) G2) SS eee |

(R4 x Hy) x (26 x 23) (U4) See oe eee |
(R38 xA48) x (26x 28) (GES) 5 serra aoe ae ere

(R38 x 90) x (23 x 26) GH Gita ae |
(ids x Ro) x € 3 x 26) G5) esses Soe |
(M13xR3) x (26 x 23) CII) lsenamanstiseis 5 ca wae

(Mt3x25) x (3x R83) (28) Ts ae

Michigan Hybrid No. 561 (GO eooaeraes eet laud.

Hybrid No. 101 (2 emma Ss oS

Hybrid No. K 23 (GUD) Sleaesapapeat eal Fe

CHART 2.—_AVERAGE NUMBER OF EUROPEAN CORN BORERS PER 10
STALKS IN STANDARD AND HYBRID CORN, RIDGETOWN, 1937

Average
0 10 20 30 40 50
oe

Salzer’s North Dakota (40)
Golden Glow (Stewart) (3.8). caxeaneEcalieereais eer IS chiar
White Cap Yellow Dent C6) cea ot, iGo eal eee
Compton’s Early (SO oer rs el er
Minnesota 402 CAS) me aprrenn Ne ETMERS C-CIE ae Co lag Ge Les
(R3 x Hy) x (26 x 23) CO) Sea
(R4 x Hy) x (26 x 23) (BO) itetocaares (a ttc
(R3 x A 48) x (26 x 23) Cb) ansaaeliee Ee
(R3 x 90) x (28 x 26) (20) lees lan
Michigan Hybrid 561 (31)

Hybrid No. K 23 (39)

30 THE REPORT OF THE

CHA™T 3.—AVERAGE NUMBER OF EUROPEAN CORN BORERS PER 10
STALKS IN STANDARD AND HYBRID CORN, WOODSLEA, 1937

Average

0 40 6 80

So

0
|
Wisconsin No. 7 a
Golden Glow (Stewart)
Burr Leaming (Standard) |
(83xA48) x (R38) |
(83xA48) x (23x27)
(3 x R38) xo( 26523) :
(3 x 26) x (R3)
(R3:x Ey,)? ex 265523)
(R4xHy) x (26x23)
(R3 x A 48) x (26 x 23) a
CRS 90) = << (23 26)
(M 13x R38) x (8 x 26)
(M13 x R8) x (26 x 28) oe
(M 13x25) x (3x R38)
Michigan Hybrid 561 i |

Chart 1 was constructed from data obtained frem the previeusly
mentioned dissections of 20 stalks (two sets of ten) in each c« the
four plots of each variety and strain at Guelph, and ther:fore the averages
are computed from eight samples of ten stalks in each variety and strain.
As shown by this bar chart, in all cases but one the Wisconsin hybrids had
lower borer populations than the ordinary standard varieties of corn. By
comparison the average population of 80 stalks of all the Wisconsin hy-
brids was 120 borers while the average for all the standard varieties dis-
sected was 280 borers in 80 stalks.

Chart 2 is constructed from a smaller amount of datas since as stated
previously the dissections at Ridgetown were made of ten stalks from two
of the replicates, or a total of twenty stalks. In spite of this condition
the comparison of stalk populations is in favor of the Wisconsin hybrids
since the average borer population of 80 stalks is 192 borers, whereas the
average borer population for 80 stalks of the standard varieties is 312.

Chart 3 shows smaller differences in the average borer populations
of the Wisconsin hybrids and the standard varieties respectively, but there
is still the same relationship between the two, namely that in the former
the average borer population of 80 stalks is 384, whereas in the standard
varieties the average borer population for 80 stalks is 448.

While it is too early to draw conclusions in connection with these
hybrids, the fact remains that one or two of them in each of the experi-
mental locations noted had lower borer populations than any other varie-
ties or strains in the experiment.

An additional promising feature in connection with the Waeceeeen
hybride, as shown in Charts 4 and 5, is that in nearly all cases the
stalks in the hybrid plots showed considerably less breaking down than
those in the standard variety plots. This might appear to-_be attributable
solely to the presence of smaller numbers of borers, but in individual plots
where the borer populations equalled or exceeded those present in some
individual standard variety plots the breakage was much more noticeable
in the latter than in the hybrids. It is of interest, also, to note that in
most cases when a large percentage of the standard variety stalks were
broken down the stalks were slender and apparently weak. The stalks
of the hybrids were, in the majority of cases, no stouter than the slender
standard variety stalks, indicating probably that the hybrid stalks are

GB && OH 9 00 00 00 ONO OIA 6 09 BA
Ne ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee See ee ee” See” See”

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

— LBL OL OO ON ON NN NN
aor hoPpww fh orf PA

=
a ae
|

o~
_
ie.)
~~

ENTOMOLOGICAL

SOCIETY 31

tougher. Charts 4 and 5 show the percentage breakage for hybrids
and standard varieties and from this it can be noted that the breakage is
cons:ste«tly lower in the hybrids. This factor is of considerable import-
ance from the standpoint of grain production and fodder.

Tle cobs produced by the Wisconsin hybrids are well filled and of
good quality, although not particularly large.

CHART 4.—AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF BROKEN DOWN STALKS IN
STANDARD AND HYBRID CORN, GUELPH, 1937

Average
0 20 40 60 8

Salzer’s Nerth Dakota
Longfellew —
Wiscensira No. 7
Golden Glow (Stewart)
White Cap Yellow Dent
Bailey

Hybrid E.

Hybrid F. F.

|

Hybrid EL.
(3x A 48
(3 x A 48)
(3 x R3)
(3 x 26)
(R3 x Hy)

Sa tves

x (26 x 23)

x (26 x 28)
x R3

x (26 x 23)

AN NWNVAHGOCHONAROAN

|

a ae
ae

. (R38 xA 48) x (26 x 23)

(R4xHy) x (26x 23)

=
ie

Cho x90). x (23 x26
(M 13 x R38) x (8 x 22)
(M 13 x R38) x (26 x 23)
(M 18 x 25) x (3 x R38)
Michigan Hybrid No. 561
Hybrid No. 101

Hybrid No. K 23

LO LR RR RE I ff FP FN ON Pm
SHH REND EE ND EENNENNABRBRORAD
Nee ee ee Ne ee Ne ee ee ee ee eS eS

COM COONNOS

LS
=
AN

—

CHART 5—AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF BROKEN DOWN CORN STALKS IN
STANDARD AND HYBRID CORN, RIDGETOWN, 19387

Average
0 20 40 60 80
@| |

Salzer’s North Dakota (SOME ier ce a
Longfellow BLO) ecw ene cpamear ak
Wisconsin No. 7 CUO) Sirerate ere Be ares
Golden Glow (Stewart) (50) as RS
White Cap Yellow Dent (50) ag ean ee
Bailey (70) ae
Hybrid E. (40)
Hybrid F. F. (30) oT
Hybrid L. (50) area
($xA48) xR3_ (40)
(3xA48) x (26x23. (20) |
(3 x R38) x (26:x 23) (20)
(3 x 26) x R38 (30). Sere?
(R38 x Hy) x (26 x 23) (20) | |
(R4xHy) x (26x 23) (G0) io ee
(R3 x A 48) x (26 x 23) (20) |
GRS<90) . x (23 x 26) (30)
(M138 x R3) x (3 x 26) (30) | Te,
(M 138 x R3) x (26 x 23) (40) |
OVE 13 x 25) x (3 x R3) (40)
Michigan Hybrid No. 561 (50) Tein |
Hybrid Ns. 101 . (30) rapreeees [
Hybrid No. K 23 (30) |

32 THE REPORT OF THE

From the standpoint of fodder the hybrids bear their leaves well spaced
throughout the whole length of the stem. Records for total weight of
yields show that in most cases the hybrids compare favorably with the
best yielding standard varieties. ;

Experiments will be continued next year to check the somewhat prom-
ising results which have been obtained this year. 3

For the sake of those who are interested in the corn borer situation
year by year a brief summary of that situation is included in this paper.

In most of the counties west of Ontario county there is an increase in
the number of stalks infested this year. In some of the counties such as
Essex, Kent, Lambton, Oxford, Welland and York there are increases
varying from fifty per cent to four and five hundred per cent. In Essex
and Kent counties the infestation is the highest since 1926 and 1927, the
years during which the borer caused the most damage to the corn crop in
these two counties. The following tabulation shows the infestation figures
for Essex and Kent since 1926.

1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 19381 1952 1933 1934 193ou someon
Essex 85.0) 264.7) ALT © 3519 6 ae 26 2 eZ 9r0 8.5 19.7 silos 4720
Kent 69.5 48.8 35.0 21.4 22.2 26.9 28.5 35.0 6.2 23.5 20.0 44.0

It is of interest to note how the infestation in these two counties has risen
since 1934, the year of so much dry weather.

Two factors appear to be largely responsible for the marked increase
in the number of borers in the area mentioned. Both can be regarded as
weather factors, but since they occurred at different times in the season
must be considered separately. During the spring of 1937, specifically at
the time when large acreages of corn are usually cleaned up in ordinary
seasons, there was so much wet weather that satisfactory clean-up was
much harder to achieve and in a greater number of cases than usual was
not possible. In addition, there was an abundance of moisture during the
period of moth flight, oviposition and larval establishment.

In the counties east of Ontario county, both in counties where the
Act is enforced and also in those where it is not, and in addition in Lin-
coln county, there were decreases in the number of infested stalks. In all
of these counties there was not the abundance of moisture at either of the
times mentioned above in connection with the areas where increases
occurred.

On various occasions it has been pointed out that such a condition is
most favorable for an increase in borer abundance and the results this
year appear to bear out this contention once again, and also to indicate
that in years when such weather occurs an increase in the number of borers
may be expected, even though the clean-up is better than was possible
during the spring of 1937.

1. Patcu, L. H. Jour. Ec. Ent., April 1937, page 271.

Runes of Entomology and Plant Quarantine Reports, 1937 (Corn
orer).

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 33

A LABORATORY TECHNIQUE FOR THE COMPARISON OF
CONTACT INSECTICIDES, USING DROSOPHILA FLIES

By C. W. B. MAXWELL and F. T. Lorp

Dominion Entomological Laboratory

Fredericton, N.B.

The following paper is a description of apparatus and technique used
at the Dominion Entomological Laboratory, Fredericton, for the compari-
son of contact insecticides and is a:development of the principles employed
for similar research at Macdonald College. The procedure involves, (a)
spraying apparatus, (b) rearing and preparation of flies for spraying,
(c) spraying operations and care of flies after spraying.

DESCRIPTION OF SPRAYING APPARATUS

The apparatus consists essentially of an outfit supplying a current of
air of an even pressure to an atomizer. A quarter horse-power motor,
operating a small air pump of the intake valve type, supplies air to a pres-
sure tank, 24 by 9 inches. The large drive wheel of an old type sewing
machine, mounted on the shaft of the air pump made an ideal fly wheel
and was found quite necessary for satisfactory operation. A round leather
lace from the belt groove of the fly wheel to the motor operates the pump.
Air enters the pressure tank through a car tire valve soldered to it. A
turn-off valve is situated in the air line between the reducing valve and
pressure tank and is located near the atomizer. An air cleaner was found
necessary and was made of heavy glass tubing containing an amount of
_ absorbent cotton and is located in the air line before entering the reducing
valve. A manometer between the reducing valve and atomizer records
the exact air pressure in inches of mercury.

The atomizer used is Tattersfield’s No. 2 type, a description of which
may be found in the Annals of Applied Biology, No. 21: 691-703. It has
an adjustment for regulating the fineness of spray without which it would
be quite useless in experimental work involving solutions of varying visco-
sities where Drosophila melanogaster is used as the experimental medium.
The writers previously experimented with other types of atomizers un-
equipped with such adjustments, receiving unusually high kills with con-
siderable mortality in checks which was thought to be partly due to
mechanical force of the spray. The atomizer is mounted on a laboratory
tripod made adjustable to heights by means of small diameter piping fit-
ting over the legs. A spring clamp for holding the spraying tube under
the atomizer is located in such a position that the tube containing the flies ©
is directly beneath the mouth of the atomizer. Its position is checked
from time to time by means of a plumb bob. |

REARING AND PREPARATION OF FLIES FOR SPRAYING

As pint bottles proved too small for the rearing of large numbers of
flies for extensive experiments, gum and candy jars were used. Prelim-
inary tests were run to establish the most suitable medium with which
Drosophila melanogaster could be conveniently reared. Cornmeal and Na-
tional Breweries yeast proved ideal for larval development if the larvae
could be established before molds, otherwise larvae would not develop.
Prunes, grapes, boiled apples, and bananas were used in mixtures with

34 THE REPORT OF THE

oe eS ne

cornmeal but were discarded because of molds. Similar results were
obtained with the use of raw raisins, alfalfa meal and whole wheat flour.
Boiled apples and sawdust with yeast gave promising results but flies
reared through on this mixture died within a few days unless fed on some
more favourable food, such as banana juice. It became apparent that
bananas alone would give the greatest satisfaction and this method was

Fic. 1.—Apparatus used in the study of the comparison of contact insecticides.

——————o

—

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 35

—

adopted. A little dry fine sawdust is put into the gum jars before admit-
ting two or three bananas. The sawdust takes up excessive moisture,
eliminating drowning of larvae and provides a foundation through which
the larvae may work. If bananas were none too ripe, a little Brewer’s
“yeast was added. The skins of the bananas provide a place for pupation.

The cultures were kept in chambers at 70° F. and humidity at approxi-
mately 70 per cent. A higher temperature hastens the life cycle consid-
erably but causes a greater fluctuation in humidity. If the humidity be-
comes too high, condensation begins on the sides of the jars and flies be-
come stuck to the sides. Cultures are dated when made up, the flies being
used for spraying 16 to 18 days later. Usually only one culture is used
for one day’s spraying and is then discarded. There is no advantage in
utilizing weak cultures or in attempting to rejuvenate old ones.

In preparing flies for spraying, a clean jar is placed over a culture,
the cotton top of which is suddenly removed. The two are then carried
to the light, preferably day light, and a certain quantity of the flies will
pass into the clean jar. A chemical separatory funnel, having a metal
cone at the base, is placed over the jar and the two inverted. With a few
downward sweeping motions the flies are transferred to the separatory
funnel. A cork containing an air line is placed in the hole at the base of
the funnel and the flies are ready for the spraying tubes. These are 45
mm. long and 14 mm. wide, inside diameter. Tulle, 28 mesh to the inch,
is put over one end of all tubes before operations begin. The pieces should
be large enough so that elastics may be put on with little trouble. In load-
ing the tubes with flies the separatory funnel is placed on its side and the
tube placed over the small end, the shut-off of which regulates the number
of flies passing through. When 15 to 20 flies have been admitted the tube
is removed and tulle is applied as at the other end. Including all opera-
tions, a maximum of 30 seconds per tube is required in preparation for
spraying. When nearly all flies have left the funnel the remainder can be
assisted by means of the air line passing through the cork at the base. A
supply of absorbent cotton in the air line assists in eliminating moisture
from the breath.

SPRAYING OPERATIONS AND CARE OF FLIES AFTER SPRAYING

Pressure is built up to the required point and a little of the solution
to be tested is run through the atomizer. The spraying tubes containing
the flies are then sprayed one by one. Before beginning a secsnd solution,
distilled water is run through, followed by a little of the solution to be
sprayed, as before. Experimentation shows that a distance of seven and
one-half inches between mouth of atomizer and top of spraying tube was
must favourable and was therefore maintained throughout the work. One
c.c. of test solution per tube is used and the adjustment of the atomizer
is regulated so that this amount is atomized in 10 to 25 seconds. It was
found that solutions of varying viscosities were atomized at varying
lengths of time, solutions of low viscosities passing through so quickly
that flies were likely to be injured. The regulation of the atomizer to a
20 to 25 second spray using 1 c.c. of any solution eliminated this trouble
The position of the spray cone over the spraying tube is checked from tinae
to time by spraying a square of colored blotting paper surrounding a spray-
ing tube while in position. Sprayings are made at 70° F. and humidity
at approximately 50 per cent.

Immediately after spraying the tubes are placed in a humidity cabi-

36 THE REPORT OF THE

net, temperature 70° F., humidity 70 per cent, and left there for 30 min-
utes. They are then removed and transferred to the feeding vials.
Twenty-four hours later the percentage of dead flies is recorded. Analysis
of considerable data taken at 24 and 48 hour periods of feeding after —
spraying showed that the coefficient of variation was less in the 24-hour
period. The following data on feeding tests will also indicate this. It is
necessary that the feeding vials be of the same diameter as the spraying .
tubes so that the flies may be jarrred into them with little trouble. In
preliminary experiments, 10 per cent dextrose was used as the feeding
medium and was applied in absorbent cotton wads. It was discovered
that these dried out to a considerable extent in the 48-hour period of feed- ©
ing. Upon occasional wetting with distilled water the mortality was ©
lowered but further investigation showed that honey and glycerine were
also satisfactory as food media. The mortality effect of these three mater-
ials at 10 per cent strengths for a 48-hour period of feeding is as follows:
dextrose 33 per cent, dextrose wetted down 30 per cent, honey 12 per
cent, and glycerine 16 per cent.

An improvement on the absorbent cotton wad was the addition of
galvanized wire cones to the feeding vials. A fair-sized hole in the apex
of the cone through which the absorbent cotton slightly protruded assisted
in making the feeding solution easily accessible to the flies. Trays with
holes to contain the vials assist greatly in handling.

PERCENTAGE MORTALITY OBTAINED IN COMPARING VARIOUS
BRANDS OF NICOTINE

Plus 25% Plus 35%

sodium sodium

Brand of Nosoap No. flies fish-oil No. flies fish-oil No. flies
nicotine used used sprayed soap sprayed soap sprayed
.5% Neotine 26.9 4,559 66.0 5,079 73.4 2,563
5% Britnico em 4,579 67.2 5,603 72.8 2,441
5% Hyco 15.6 4,787 64.5 4,688 72.0 ZAG
5% Philip Bauer 14.3 4,756 55.5 Se Bar (035% 2,154
5% Nicofume 54.0 3,730 94.0 4,995 93.9 2,095

Check iE 1,995

—

Total flies sprayed, 61,342.

The above table shows consistency in results when using flies from
apparently normal cultures. Other experiments have indicated that the
condition of flies is very important for consistent results and to overcome
differences in apparently normal cultures large numbers of flies have to
be used. Further investigations are in progress with the object of elim-
inating factors affecting the conditions of fiies, the most importa” beng
that of age.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 37

SOME RESULTS IN CONTROLLING THE ONION MAGGOT
| (HYLEMYIA ANTIQUA MEIG.) WITH CALOMEL

| By G. G. DUSTAN
| Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph

For the past three seasons the writer has tested out a number of
| materials in an attempt to find a more satisfactory control for onion mag-
. gots than the lubricating oil emulsion or corrosive sublimate as now re-
,commended. The progress of this work was considerably hampered in
« 1935 and 1936 by the low infestation of onion maggots in the Niagara dis-
. trict where the work was done, but in 1937 a considerably heavier infesta-
. tion occurred and very encouraging results were obtained with calomel
) (mercurous chloride) applied directly to the seed before sowing.

The insecticidal value of.calomel on soil insects, including the onion
Maggot, was apparently first demonstrated by Dr. Hugh Glasgow (1) and
lis now being recommended in New York, New Jersey (2), and possibly
) other states, as a control for onion maggots and also for the cabbage root
‘maggot (3),—especially in seed bed plantings of cabbage and cauliflower.
| The action of calomel on insects is not definitely known, but it is probable
that it acts as a stomach poison and kills the young maggots before or just

after they enter the small onion bulb. Apparently it is of no value as an
ovicide. It is thought that the calomel is a relatively inert substance, as
‘compared with corrosive sublimate for example, it may be chemically
changed sonrswhat by the action of the soil. |

Calomel has been tried on onion plants against the maggots, and a
dilute dust (about 4 per cent, with gypsum or some other inert spreader)
_applied with a hand or power duster, and as a suspension in water applied
by the watering-can method as used for corrosive sublimate solutions.

Neither of the above two methods has given satisfactory control in the
'experience of the writer. The seed treatment method, using about equal
| parts of seed and calomel, has given good results under the conditions we
! have experienced so far. )

This method of treating the seed, as practiced by the writer, was as
‘follows: Place an amount of seed which would almost fill the seeder in a
icheesecloth bag; dip the bag in water until all the seed is well moistened,
‘then drain off all surplus water by whirling the bag around at arms length
‘a few times. Next pour the seed into an open pail and while doing so
/ sprinkle over it an amount of finely ground calomel equal to a weight or a

weight and a half of the dry weight of the seed. Then take a small stick
’and stir the seed and calomel until the mixture looks even. The mixture
‘ean then be poured back and forth from one container to another to fur-
‘ther ensure even mixing, before placing it in the seeder. This amount of
~ calomel, when adhering to the seed will take up enough moisture to allow
the seed to run freely. It should be sown at once, because if allowed to
dry out the calomel will tend to flake off. The increased bulk of the treated
seed requires that the seeder be opened wider to obtain the desired rate of
seeding. This can be determined by testing on short bits of row at the
start. 'The method needs considerably more working over to make it as
fool-proof as possible. The use of adhesives for sticking the calomel to
the seed will be mentioned in the discussion at the end of the paper.

38 THE REPORT OF THE

It should be mentioned that if this method continues to give as good
results as we have had so far, it should be much more readily accepted by .
the growers, most of whom are not properly equipped to apply oil emul- |
sions, and do not seem to like the rather slow watering-car method of |
applying insecticides. The growers who saw the method were very favor- |
ably impressed with its cheapness, simplicity, and the fact that proper |
timing was unnecessary, although we cautioned them that it still was in |
the experimental stage and would need further testing under different ©
conditions.

In the following experiments the small plots on the experimental farm
at Vineland were arranged either in Latin squares or randomized blocks, |
while in the field tests at other places, the plots consisted of groups of |
consecutive rows running the full length of the field, and duplicated a_
varying number of times. The field onions, unless otherwise stated, were
sown at a rate of from four to six lbs. of seed per acre. Injury records on a
few of the small plots were taken by counting all the plants, but in most >
of the plots were taken by recording the total number and number of in-
jured plants from strips of row three feet long, chosen in a restricted
randomized method over the whole plot. These records were taken sev-
eral times during a season,’ but where only one record is given in this
paper it represents the maximum amount of injury as recorded by the
last count of the season. |

EXPERIMENTS IN 1935

Calomel and a proprietary soil insecticide were given a preliminary |
test on a small block of pickler onions sown at both 40 lbs. and 80 lbs. to
the acre on the experimental farm. The results as shown in the following |
table, indicated that the seed treatment gave almost perfect control under |
these conditions.

Percentage of

Treatment plants injured
Calomel* plus seed! ini equal parts. 6.3 ee ee 0.16
Calomel 1 part, onion seed 1% part, dead alfalfa seed 1% part 0.00
4 per cent calomel-gypsum dust—put on seed in furrow.......... 3.09
Proprietaty. Soil ansecticides. i. esheets eee 9.28

Check — untreated ......... Gaceie aR eahe Sones ia oe Ra CoRR Rear 12.90

EXPERIMENTS IN 1936

Two field experiments were run in 1936, one on a commercial field of
picklers near St. Catharines, and the other on small experimental plots |
on the Horticultural Experimental Farm at Vineland. Only the former
experiment will be reported, because the infestation on the experimental |
farm plot was so light the results had no significance.

The field of pickler onions consisted of 75 rows, 200 ft. long, sown 14
inches apart, and was laid out as follows:

Plot Al—20 rows untreated check
Plot BI1— 4 rows treated with calomel
Plot A2—22 rows untreated check
Plot B2—14 rows treated with calomel
Plot A8—15 rows untreated check

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 39

The seed was treated in the usual manner with an equal weight of
calomel and sowed with a Planet Jr. seeder. Unfortunately, this seed
only tested 50 per cent germination, and consequently was sown at the
rate of about 80 lbs. per acre, which is double the usual rate.

Results.—The first injury counts were made on June 9 and showed
no injury at all in the treated plots, and an average of 6.3 per cent of the
plants killed by maggots in the check. A second count was made on June
_ 18 and indicated an average injury of 0.06 per cent in the treated plots,

and 7.8 per cent in the check. At harvest time weight records taken at
random from strips of row 18 feet long, showed that the treated area
yielded about 7,076 lbs. per acre, and the check about 5,377 lbs. per acre.

EXPERIMENTS IN 1937

This season two small plot experiments, and three more extensive
field tests were run.

Pickler Onions, Field A.—Two rows of pickler onions about 60 feet
long were sown on the Vineland Experimental Farm. One row was un-
treated, and the seed for the other row was treated with 14 its weight of
calomel, plus enough dry gypsum to take up the surplus moisture and allow
the seed to run freely. The seed was sown heavily, at about 50 to 60 lbs.
per acre. The final injury records taken on June 25 showed no injured
plants in the treated row, and 23.5 per cent of the plants injured on the
check row. |

Pickler Onions, Field B.—In a commercial field of pickler onions at
Vineland, eight rows were treated with two applications of lubricating
oil emulsion in 4-4-40 Bordeaux; eight rows had the seed treated prior to
sowing with one-quarter its weight of calomel plus enough bentonite clay
to take up the surplus moisture; and the remainder of the field left un-
treated. The infestation was comparatively light in this field and the final
injury count made on June 28 showed the check to have 6.6 per cent injury,
the oil plots 2.4 per cent, and the calomel plots 1.7 per cent.

Pickler Onions, Field C.—This field of pickler onions near St. Cathar-
ines was the same one as used in 1926. The field was divided into 12 plots,
four of which were treated with calomel on the seed; four with two per
cent lubricating oil emulsion in 2-4-40 Bordeaux; and four left untreated
as a check. The infestation was low, but again calomel gave the better
control.

Treatment Injury
SPOTS UOT. SSC eRe ee 8 ea 16
ZF RGLE COSTING OLY Sy OVEN = a aan ae een Coenen Sa 43
ROD RES pepe re Rese ee Sas a Seg 1 oh ache acne tele do Sakaki ay edechiee 2.50

Field Onions, Field D.—Another small scale experiment, consisting of
randomized blocks, in which each plot was three rows of onions 15- feet
long, and each treatment in triplicate, was carried out on the Vineland
Experimental Farm to compare oil, corrosive sublimate, and calomel. The
light infestation in this field rendered the results of little value, but the
final injury records are given here to show that calomel again apparently
gave the best control.

Treatment Injury
Calomelele pari -tO<SCOddl Part siihiw hoses thee eee ast oseanaie ose 0.06
Salaineie partsyto SCed gl PAG. ceo: csackcesepacage see tates ane 0.12
Zopemcent lupricatine oll emulsion. ooo.) aks hoc ncans 1.23
Correstve suplimate:1~oz. to 10° gale. cies eee 2.56

Check 2.48

40 THE REPORT OF THE

Field Onions, Field E.—In 1936, a fairly heavy infestation of onion
maggots in a six acre field at Collingwood was brought to the writer’s
attention, and the grower stated that he was not satisfied with the results
which he was getting from using lubricating oil spray, and wished to try
other methods. Plans were consequently made to carry on a large scale
experiment to compare the relative values of oil, calomel, corrosive subli-
mate, and a proprietary insecticide containing arsenicals. The writer
himself treated the seed with calomel, and supervised the sowing, but the
other materials were all applied by the owner, who arranged the size of
the plots to suit himself. It was found out later in the season that the
corrosive sublimate solution was applied far too lightly, and the applica-
tions were not properly timed, so that practically no control could be ex-

pected; so for the purpose of this experiment the corrosive sublimate plots —

can be considered as untreated checks. The details of the experiment
with the results are given in the following table.

Percentage
re No. rows injury on Yield—tons
Treatment treated June 21 per acre
Seed 1 part, calomel 1% parts.
Sown May 1 49 ai 633
Seed 1 part, calomel 1% parts.
Sown May 1 17 7.6 10
C. 2 per cent lubricating oil emulsion in
2-4-40 Bordeaux. 2 applications,
May 31 and June 15 60 qa liee Not taken
D. Proprietary insecticide, 2 applica-
. tions, May 31 and June 8 38 18.8 Not taken
E. Check, untreated 25 Zoe 4.0
F. Corrosive sublimate, 1 oz. to 10 gals.
Two applications, May 28 and
| June 148 216 31.9 Not taken
G. Corrosive sublimate — duplicate of
87 40.9 Not taken

It is unfortunate that no yield records were obtained from the oil and
corrosive sublimate plots, but owing to a misunderstanding with the
grower, these onions were harvested in such a way that the record could
not be obtained.

Another point of interest with regard to the yield is that the onions
on the calomel plots were considerably smaller than on the plots greatly
thinned out by maggot injury. A count showed that 1,000 onions from
the calomel plot weighed 71 lbs., and 1,000 from the check plot weighed
149 lbs. Growing conditions in this district were poor this season owing
to a lack of rain during midsummer, and an abundance of thrips later.
The grower stated that had it been a good growing season, the yield from
the calomel plots probably would have shown an even better weight com-
parison than it did with the checks.

Despite the fact that the plot arrangement of this experiment was not
such that it would tend to eliminate the effects of location and soil differ-
ences, which undoubtedly influenced the degree of infestation over the
field,—it was nevertheless very apparent to the eye that a marked degree
on control was obtained by the calomel treatment, and to a somewhat
lesser extent, by the oil. As can be seen in the accompanving phvtograph,

!

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY AY

taken on the end of the field where the infestation was heaviest, the onions
in the corrosive sublimate plot (which can be considered a check plot)
were greatly reduced in numbers, whereas the beginning of the calomel
plot is clearly distinguishable by the heavier stand.

Fig. 1.—Showing the reduced stand in an untreated area (right), as compared to that
treated with calomel (left).

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

It has been shown that under the conditions of the above experiments,
the treatment of onion seed with a weight of calomel from one to one and
one-half times the weight of the seed, has given better control of onion
maggots than either two applications of oil sprays or of corrosive subli-
mate. We purposely gave only two applications of oil (the first just before
egg laying started and the second one week later), because we felt that the
three or four applications usually recommended were t00 costly and took
too much time for the average grower. We fully realize, however, that
for this reason these tests do not give a fair comparison between the con-
trol by calomel and the best control which might have been obtained with
oil.

This control method needs further testing under Ontario conditions,
and especially under conditions of very heavy infestation, although these
do not occur often in most onion growing areas.

Dr. Hugh Glasgow, in conversation with the writer stated that their
experience with calomel seed treatment in New York State was that under

42 - THE REPORT OF THE

conditions of light to medium infestation quite good control was obtained
and that the growers liked the method much better than spraying or apply-
ing corrosive sublimate, but that when the infestation was very heavy
(90 per cent or more of the untreated plants being killed), the calomel
treatment often was not so effective as three or four applications of lubri-
cating oil emulsion. He also stated that the calomel did not afford much
protection from the attacks of maggots later in the season after the plants
were up a month or so. However, in Ontario, the commercial damage is
confined almost entirely to that caused by the first generation maggots on
the young seedling in June, so this point is of relatively little importance
most seasons. Dr. Glasgow also mentioned that better results are obtained
by sowing the treated seed as shallow as possible. We have not tested
this yet.

With regard to the cost of this method, it is cheaper than the oil
spraying, when treating field onions sown at from four to six lbs. of seed
per acre. When calomel is purchased in about 10 lb. lots or more it sells
for about $1.75 per pound, therefore the cost for calomel to treat one acre,
sown at the usual rate of about five lbs. of seed, would be $8.75. One man
should be able to sow an acre of onions in a day, and by stopping to treat
each seeder-full of seed, this time should not be increased more than one-
half day,—so the extra labour cost would be about $1.50 per acre at the
most, making the total cost of treatment per acre between $10.00 and
$11.00. A. G. Dustan (4) has estimated that the total cost per acre for
four applications of oil spray would be between $30.00 and $35.00, and
thus for two applications as used in our experiments, $15.00 and $17.50.

. For pickler onions, which are usually sown at the rate of from 40 to
60 lbs. per acre, it is obviously far too costly if an equal weight of calomel
is used. However, experiments so far have indicated that one-quarter
the seed weight of calomel, plus a sufficient amount of some dry, inert
powder like gypsum to take up the surplus moisture, will give fair control.
Further work will be done to determine the minimum amount necessary
for commercial control, and whether the gypsum has any adverse effects
on seed germination. Dr. Glasgow stated that he found the use of gypsum
lowered the germination of the seed, although we did not notice this in
our experiment.

The fact that seed treated by the method described in this paper has
to be sown at once to prevent the calomel from flaking off, is a disadvan-
tage because the seeding may be interrupted for some reason or another
and the seed unavoidably dry out. To overcome this, various adhesives
have been tried, some of which give fair results. Dr. Glasgow (5) recom-
mends the use of gum acacia, and his method consists of sprinkling one
pound of seed with one and one-half ozs. of a stock solution made by boil-
ing one oz. of gum acacia in eight ozs. of water, then adding the calomel
without further moistening of the seed.

The writer devised a method of using a concentrated sugar solution
(six ozs. sugar to one qt. water) in which the seed was soaked the same
as in water as described above before adding the calomel. By this method
the seed would take up from one to two lbs. of calomel and retain it much
more firmly after drying out. The method has to be further tested to
show whether under ordinary conditions of sowing it is of any advantage
or worth the extra effort. Different adhesives should also be tried.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 43

It is hoped that the calomel seed treatment for onion maggot control
will be tried out by other workers in Canada under different conditions.

REFERENCES
(1) GLAsGow, H., 1929. Mercury Salts as Soil Insecticides. Jr. Ec. Ent. 22: 335-340.

(2) PEPPER, B. B., and NIssLEy, CHas. H., 1937. Control of Maggots on Seed Onions.
Veg. Insect Mim. Circ. 22, N. J. State College of Agr.

(3) GLAsGow, H., 1937. The Cabbage Root Maggot. N.Y. State Agr. Expt. Sta., Circe.
164.

(4) Dustan, A. G., 1933. The Control of the Imported Onion Maggot. Canada Dept.
of Agr., Cire. 88.

CONTROLLING THE PEA APHID WITH VAPORIZED NICOTINE
By J. F. ALSTERLUND
Tobacco By-Products Company, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.

In operation against the pea aphid the Vapo-Fumer consists of a truck
or re-built touring chassis at the end of which is attached a long, gas-
tight apron. Nicotine is volatilized in the exhaust stream of the auto-
_ mobile engine, or in an ordinary engine, and discharged under the apron.
The outfit is driven across the field at a speed of about 100 feet per minute.
As such, the Vapo-Fumer represents not only a new approach to a solution
of the pea aphid problem, but also the development of an essentially new
principle in general aphid control. This principle is the subjection of
insects to a relatively heavy dosage of nicotine vapor for a much shortened
period of exposure (one minute or less. depending on the resistance of the
insect involved). The process is, in fact, a sort of compromise between
spraying and fumigating with nicotine. It resembles fumigation in that
it is completely gaseous, yet is similar to spraying in the rapidity of treat-
ment and kill, and in the positive drive of the dense fumes into the vege-
tation.

The method has thus far been largely confined to use against the pea
aphid. First commercial treatments were conducted in 1936 in sections
in Illinois and Wisconsin, supplemented by experimental work in New
York and Illinois. In 1937 the Vapo-Fumer was used quite extensively
over a territory embracing the principal pea-growing areas of North Amer-
ica. Four machines, treating 200 acres of peas were used in Ontario and
Quebec. An account of the effectiveness of the Vapo-Fumer method in
controlling the pea aphids has already been published.(*) The purpose of
the present paper is to present a more detailed description of the princi-
ples of operation, particularly in view of the improvements developed
through the 1937 season. The essential physical equipment of the method
at present are :—

(1) A source of motive power, capable of maintaining a slow rate of
travel of 100 feet per minute. The slow speed required has generally
been achieved by choosing a truck with an extra low gear, that is, one with
four forward speeds. An alternative method, developed by growers on
the West Coast, consists of installation of a second transmission in line,
the machine being driven in double reverse gear. This dual transmission
arrangement is valuable in that a passenger chassis may be used instead
of a truck.

44 THE REPORT OF THE

(2) An internal combustion engine delivering an exhaust of sufficient
heat and volume for vaporization of the nicotine dosage. There are a
number of available solutions to this problem. (a) The engine of the
vehicle itself may be used, for instance, with the dual transmission just
described. (b) An automobile engine may be mounted on the outfit, and
used as an independent source of heat. This was the heat source most
commonly used in 1937. (c) A small, stationary, air-cooled engine of
four H.P. may be used. (d) A water-cooled, stationary engine of 8 to 10
H.P. may be adapted.

(3) Adequate insulation of the exhaust system to assure a tempera-
ture of 500 to 550° F.. to the point of discharge of the fumes. The exhaust
line and discharge boom are wrapped with heat-resistant pipe-covering.
A five point distribution boom, set about 18 inches from the ground has
generally been employed and found to give good results.

(4) A gas-tight apron, 100 feet in length and 22 feet wide, which
recewes the discharge of nicotine fumes, and holds it for the period of
exposure. When backing and turning the Vapo-Fumer, the apron is
handled by two of the regular crew of three men. During straight driv-
ing across the field the apron requires little attention.

(5) A pump capable of injecting a constant amount of nicotine into
- the exhaust line. A small reciprocating magnetic type pump is used. It
is regulated by an electrical contactor connected to the speedometer shaft
of the vehicle. This synchronization with the speed of the outfit makes ©
the Vapo-Fumer unique among field equipment in that dosage is regulated

not by time, but by area actually covered.

(6) A highly refined and concentrated nicotine solution.

Such is, in brief, the Vapo-Fumer as an instrument for pea aphid
control. It will be seen that it is a type of mechanism that is flexible and
subject to great possible variation without alteration of basic principles.
The method has already shown promise of application to related pests
difficult to control by spraying, such as the cabbage and citrus aphids. |

FURTHER NOTES ON PARASITES OF APHIDS.
By J. H. McLEop |
Dominion Parasite Laboratory, Belleville, Ontario

The injury to almost all forms of plant life caused by the feeding of
aphids has been recognized for many years. Recently, also, the economic
importance of these insects has been increased by the proof that they can
and do transmit many virus diseases of plants. The importance of aphids
in the Belleville area may be illustrated by one species, Illinoia pisi (Kalt.).
Cannery officials estimated that in 1987 more than twenty thousand acres
of peas were grown for canning and seed purposes in the counties of Has-
tings, Prince Edward and Northumberland. Injury caused by the pea
aphid was admitted to be the most serious problem in the growing of this
crop.

The importance of natural control factors is not always properly

(1) ALSTERLUND, J. F., and Compton, C. C. Effects of Nicotine Fumigation at Short
exposure and Assumed High Concentration. Jour. Econ. Ent. Vol. 30: 571-575.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 45

evaluated. The abundance or scarcity of a pest is noted without consider-
ing the natural control factors that have caused the fluctuations in num-
bers.

An excellent opportunity to study some of the factors affecting the
abundance of aphids was provided during the past summer. A number
of Rosa rugosa bushes are planted on the grounds of the Dominion Parasite
Laboratory. No artificial control was attempted as other rose pests were
not troublesome.* Ahpids (Macrosiphum rosae lL.) appeared late in May
and the first parasitized individuals were collected on June 2. Predators
appeared shortly after. The following natural enemies were collected
during the season: (parasites) Aphidius rosae Hal., Praon semulans Prov.,
Lysiphlebus testaceipes Cress., Lysiphlebus sp., Aphelinus sp., (predators)
Coccinellidae—six species, Syrphidae—four species, Cecidomyidae—one
species, Chrysopidae—one species, Hemerobiidae—one species, Agromy-
zidae—one species of Leucopis, Sphecidae—one species, and Figitidae—
one species.

Several species of secondaries were reared from the primary para-
sites and predators but they were not present in sufficient numbers to pre-
vent effective control. The population cf the aphid and its natural ene-
mies fluctuated throughout the season, but at no time was it necessary to
resort to artificial control measures.

In connection with the study of the natural enemies of the rose aphis,
a preliminary survey of natural enemies of aphids in the Belleville area
was made. The following additional species were reared during the sum-
mer of 1937 , (braconids) Aphidius phorodontis Ashm., Aphidius ribis
Hal.,Diaeretus rapae Hal., Hphedrus nitidus Gahan, Praon alaskensis
Ashm., Trioys sp. and (chalcids) Aphelinus jucundus Gahan, Aphelinus
malt Hal., Aphelinus marlatti Ashm.

The courtesy of Mr. G. S. Walley, of the Division of Systematic Ento-
mology, Dominion Entomological Branch, and Mr. A. B. Gahan, of the
United States Department of Agriculture, is acknowledged for the deter-
mination of the braconids and chalcids, respectively.

The complexity of the interrelation between host, parasites, predators,
secondary parasites and disease, and the physical factors of temperature
and humidity tends to make the field study of the natural control of aphids
a difficult task. However, the study of this problem under greenhouse
conditions, where many of the factors can be eliminated or controlled, is
much simplified.

During the winter of 1936-37 further observations were made in the
laboratory greenhouse on the natural control factors operating upon yzus
persicae Sulzer. In addition to the two species of braconid parasites,
Aphidius phorodontis Ashm. and Ephedrus nitidus Gahan, which occurred
naturally, two species of chalcid parasites, Aphelinus jucundus Gahan and
Aphelinus marlatti Ashm., were introduced. Aphelinus marlatti Ashm.
was secured in a local greenhouse attacking an unidentified species of aphis
on cineraria. Aphelinus jucundus Gahan was obtained from aphids on
pelargonium at Napanee. The four species persisted throughout the win-
ter in spite of a very low host population.. Chalcid parasites of aphids are
not generally considered to be as efficient as braconids. The fact that
these two species continued to propagate in competition with the two bra-

46 THE REPORT OF THE

conid parasites and did so on a host aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer) on
which neither appeared to be normally parasitic, is particularly inter-
esting.

The braconid parasite, E'phedrus nitidus Gahan, of which this is :
apparently the first record in Canada, showed a preference for the more
exposed parts of the plants and could always be found working over aphids
around the tops of tomato and tobacco plants. Aphidius phorodontis
Ashm. was more abundant in the less exposed places. An interesting
characteristic of E’phedrus was noted in its method of fastening the host
to the substratum. A short time before pupation takes place the host
dies and the mature parasite larva completely reverses its position, the
final orientation being exactly the reverse of that of the host. During this
process a longitudinal slit is cut in the ventral surface of the aphid by the
mandibles of the parasite. The slit is opened by the turning movement
of the larva and a web of silk threads is spun over the opening and attached
at the same time to the substratum. The host is thus firmly fastened to
the leaf or other surface and watering or handling the plants does not dis-
lodge the pupa. Aphids killed by this parasite can be distinguished by
their colour which is black, with a longitudinal white strip of silk along
the ventral surface. An attempt was made to discover the host plants
and host aphids on which this species propagates during the summer. No
Specimens were located until August when a species of aphis on wild aster
was found to be heavily parasitized by E’phedrus. Colonies were found
from Napanee to Bowmanville, a distance of about one hundred miles.

REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF Aphelinus marlattt Ashm.

This parasite which was found originally attacking an aphid on cine-
raria iS a wingless species and because of its peculiar appearance, it was
decided to study its habits and life-history in the laboratory.

Suitable breeding cages were made from glass tubes six and one-
quarter inches long and two inches in diameter. Ends for the cages were
made from cardboard. Tops were cut two inches in diameter with a one
inch diameter hole in the centre, over which cotton was fastened with
shellac. Bottoms were cut four inches square. Paraffin blocks three-
eighths inches thick and the same diameter as the inside of the tubes
were made to hold the ends in place. This was done by placing the card-
board against the end of the tubes into which was poured the required
amount of liquid paraffin. Small holes were cut in the bottom through
which plant stems were passed to a water container below. These cages
proved very useful for individual rearing and for observation of the para-—
sites.

Egg.—The egg is laid in the body fluid of the aphid and is somewhat
kidney-shaped with the caudal end elongated. It is very light creamy
white in colour, with a comparatively thin -chorion through which, after
twenty-four hours (at 70° F.), the young embryo may be seen. The
measurement of ten eggs gave an average length of .261 mm. and an aver-
age width of .054 mm. The time spent in the egg stage at 70° F. is about
65 hours or slightly under three days. Usually only one eggs was found
in an aphid, although as many as three were found when there were sev-
eral parasites present with a small number of aphids.

Larva.—The newly hatched larva resembles the egg in form except
that the posterior end is more pointed. It gradually straightens out and

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY AT

becomes spindle shaped and finally globular. The larva retains its globu-
lar shape until growth is completed when the excrement is voided and
the body becomes more elongated.

Pupa.—Just before pupation takes place the larva orients itself in
exactly the opposite position to that of the host, the final orientation being
the same as that of E'phedrus. In the turning process the ventral surface
of the aphid is not cut as is the case with E’phedrus, and the aphid is fas-
tened to the substratum by means of a liquid which is exuded through the
host body to the surface beneath. This material hardens quickly and
holds the aphid securely.

When first formed, the pupa is light yellow in colour. The ocelli and
eyes become orange coloured and other parts gradually darken. When
pupation is complete the head and thorax are black, the abdomen dark
brown, and the legs a somewhat lighter brown. Emergence takes place
through a circular hole chewed in the dorsal surface of the host usually
between the cornicles.

Habits.—Many individuals have been observed in the act of oviposi-
tion within a few hours after emergence. The method of oviposition is
similar to that described by Griswold:(1) for the chalcid parasite Aphe-
linus gucundus Gahan. The parasite approaches with a slight swaying
motion. When it reaches its victim it stops and apparently sizes up the
situation, then turns quickly and backs up to the aphid with the ovipositor
extruded. Oviposition lasts from one to eight minutes, the average time
being about four minutes.

Under greenhouse conditions the parasites feed on the aphids, or on
the “honey dew” produced by the aphids or both. In the laboratory they
feed readily on cube sugar; several generations were reared when sugar
was the only food provided. The method of feeding on aphids is similar
to that described by Griswold (1)) for Aphelinus jucundus Gahan and
(Hartley (8)) for Aphelinus semiflavus. For a short time after para-
sitism the aphid appears to be paralyzed and is not disturbed when, as is
often the case, the parasite turns and begins feeding at the oviposition
hole. Many of the younger stages of the host are completely collapsed
and killed in this way. An effort was made to determine whether the
primary purpose of inserting the ovipositor was to deposit an egg or to
provide a hole in the aphid’s body through which food could be obtained.
No definite results were secured but it was noted that many aphids were
punctured and killed by the feeding of the parasite on the body juices
when no egg was deposited, while, on the other hand, some aphids were
fed on after an egg has been deposited.

At room temperature of 70° F. the average length of life was eight
days without food. Life was greatly lengthened, however, when fed on
cube sugar.

Seventeen newly emerged adults were placed in a shell vial with a
small piece of cube sugar. Water was added daily to the cotton stopper.
The first Aphelinus died after 41 days—several lived over 50 days and the
last one died after 58 days.

(1) On the Bionomics of a Primary Parasite and Two Hyper Parasites of the Ger-
anium Aphid. Ann. Ent. Soc. Am. vol. xxii, No. 3.
(3) Some Bionomics of Aphelinus semiflavus. Ohio J our. of Sci. vol. xxii, No. 8.

48 THE REPORT OF THE

The following table gives a summary of some of the rearings at dif-
ferent temperatures:

Days Days.

No. No. Per- fromegg from Days
aphids adults centage to darken- darken- from
par’zd para- emer- ing of ing to egg to Temper-
sites gence Sex aphid emergence adult ature
Aphelinus 8 3 31.5 ) 34-37 22-25 55-60 50°
marlatti 51 46 90.2 ) 16-20 13-15 31-33 60°
Ashm. 91 90 98.9 ) 9-14 8-12 20-25 70°
25 17 68 ) 6-11 6-7 13-17 80°

The results may be summarized as follows:—more aphids were para-
sitized at 70° F. than at temperatures higher or lower. However, those
held at 50° and 80° F. were in rooms without natural light, which may
have influenced the parasitism. The highest percentage emergence was
secured at a temperature of 70° F. A higher or lower temperature re-
duced the percentage emergence. The length of time required for devel-
opment from egg to adult varied inversely with the temperature. Approx-
imately one day was added to the developmental period for each degree
drop in temperature between 80° and 60° F. Below 60° the time required
for development increased more rapidly. At 50° F. the viability was
greatly reduced. Reproduction was parthenogenetic. All progeny were
females.

This parasite, although wingless, when liberated in the greenhouse
showed remarkable ability to move about, and was found working not only
on the aphids close to the soil, but also at the tops of tomato plants seven
feet tall.

The results secured in 1935-36 in experiments with Aphidius phoro-
dontis Ashm. (2) showed that the parasite only becomes efficient at a tem-
perature of 65° or higher. This, taken in conjunction with the present
results secured with Aphelinus marlattt Ashm., would indicate that aphid
parasites, both chalcid and braconid, are most efficient at a temperature
of between 65° and 75° F.

THE EUROPEAN SPRUCE SAWFLY SITUATION IN
WESTERN QUEBEC AND ONTARIO

By C. E. ATWooD
Entomological Branch, Ottawa, Ont.

The European spruce sawfly, Diprion polytomum Hartig, is now
known to be generally present in Eastern Canada. With the exception of
certain local areas, the entire region east of lake Temagami and south of
the Transcontinental railway is infested. In eastern Quebec and the Mari-
time Provinces, its life-history has been intensively studied and the results
of this study have appeared in various scientific journals; until 1937, how-
ever, no field work with this insect had been carried on west of Quebec
city.

(2) Some Factors Influencing the Control of Geechee Aphids by Parasite 67th
Ann. Rep. of Ent. Soc. Ont. 1936.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 49

In the spring of 1937, the writer was stationed at Laniel, on Kipawa
lake, Que., some six miles from the Ontario boundary, and was thus enabled
to make some preliminary observations upon the life-history of Diprion
and upon the degree of infestation in the Kipawa region.

The most significant feature of the life-history at Laniel is the occur-
rence of two generations in the field. Larvae collected in the course of
the forest insect survey in 1936 had developed into adults in the course of
a single summer, so it had been suspected that two generations might
occur in western Quebec. This indirect evidence was far from conclusive,
however, for the larvae in question had been reared at Ottawa, and the
emergence of second generation females could have been due to the higher
temperature prevailing there. Even females from Gaspe, definitely a
one-generation area, have emerged in time for a second generation at
Fredericton. Rearing carried on at Laniel has demonstrated that the
first emergence may occur as early as May 24. Descendants of these
females spun cocoons about July 15, emerged in late July or early August,
and the larvae produced by them were full grown in late September.

The number of cocoons which has been examined is still too small to
give reliable data on the proportion which emerges as second generation
females.

In regard to intensity of infestation, a comparison is shown in table 1.
Each sample represents the number of larvae falling on to a mat, seven
by nine feet, when the limbs and foliage above it are beaten in a standard
way. The trees were white spruce of the “old field” type, with abundant
foliage down to the ground, and were selected with an eye to their uniform-
ity in size and in volume of brush over the mat. Beating was done with
a light pole 10 feet long in such a way as to cause the least possible injury
to the trees.

The area in which the New Brunswick samples were taken is one in
which defoliation was at that time beginning to be noticeable. No killing
of trees has yet occurred there and unless the sawfly population increases
more rapidly than it has done in previous years, no killing may be expected
for another four or five years. If the course of the outbreak in Ontario
and Quebec is similar to that in New Brunswick, killing of trees will not
take place for from five to ten years. That leaves a good amount of time
during which control of the insect by one means or another, may be estab-
_ lished.

This prediction, however, should not be taken too seriously, because
a succession either of favourable or unfavourable years may alter the whole
situation. In the meantime, however, everything points to a slow but
definite growth of sawfly population until the danger point Is reached.

50 THE REPORT OF THE

TABLE 1.—NUMBERS OF DIPRION LARVAE BEATEN FROM “OLD FIELD” TYPE
SAMPLE WHITE SPRUCE TREES IN NEW BRUNSWICK AND ONTARIO

Tree No. New Brunswick, 1936 _ Laniel, 1937

ih
bo
—

(e,0) oo
00 00
—

bo
(Jt)
rear

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 |
iE aes 5 sn G4
12
13
14
15
16

: 00
rae
|

NOTES ON THE OCCURRENCE OF DIPRION FRUTETORUM |
FABR. IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO |
“By D. E. GRAY
Entomological Branch, Ottawa, Ont.

In 1934, while assisting in pine shoot moth investigations, the writer
discovered a.small infestation of sawfly larvae on a group of Scotch pines
in the vicinity of “The Glen,’ near Niagara Falls, Ont. Specimens were™
forwarded to Ottawa for identification and J. J. deGryse and G. 8S. Walley
together determined the larvae as “‘some European species probably
Diprion frutetorum or Diprion dorsatus.”’

A large number of larvae were collected and when they had spun their
cocoons they were shipped to the Dominion Parasite Laboratory at Belle-
ville. L. R. Finlayson kindly took charge of the shipment, and, applying
artificial technique, succeeded in inducing a pre-season emergence. The
adults were submitted to the Division of Systematic Entomology and Mr.
Walley definitely determined the sawflies as the European species Diprion
frutetorum, Fabr. This was the first record of this species in Canada and.
probably the first on the continent.

At the time of discovery, September, 1934, it was thought that the
distribution of Diprion frutetorum Fabr. might extend throughout the Nia-
gara Peninsula. However, it was not possible to make a special survey then
and the only place where the larvae were known to be prevalent was in
the neighbourhood of “The Glen” adjacent to Niagara Falls.

Through the Dominion Parasite Laboratory small numbers of the ©
European parasites E’'xenterus and Microcryptus and several thousand
Microplectron were liberated against Diprion frutetorum Fabr. early in
1935. The liberations were made near “The Glen.” Visiting the locality
in the late autumn of 1935 the writer made collections of cocoons under
the infested trees. The cocoons proved to be heavily parasitized and hun-
dreds of small chalcids emerged from them in the spring. Specimens of
the parasites were submitted to L. R. Finlayson who determined the spe-

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 51

cies as Microplectron fuscipennis Zett. It was planned to collect cocoons

again in the spring of 1936 to ascertain if the parasites had survived the
winter but, owing to a change in location of work, these plans had to be
>abandoned. |

Nothing further was learned of the distribution of Diprion frutetorum
Fabr. until quite recentiy. This autumn (1937) in conjunction with cer-
-tain pine shoot moth investigations in the Niagara Peninsula and along
the north shore of lake Erie a careful watch was maintained to discover the
possible presence of Diprion frutetorum Fabr. A few larvae were found
on a Scotch pine in Niagara Falls at some distance from the site of the
original discovery. In addition, several specimens were taken from pine
on the lake Erie shore immediately west of Fort Erie. Although intensive
examinations of Scotch pines were made in the vicinity of Port Colborne
no trace of the sawfly was found. However, at Ridgeway, larvae of
Diprion frutetorum Fabr. were easy to find on several trees, though defoli-
ation was not evident. No larvae were observed on trees along the north
shore of-lake Erie west of Port Colborne. A single specimen,’ however,
was collected inland four miles east of Simcoe, Ont. = —- : =

It is evident, therefore, that the distribution of Diprion frutetorum
Fabr. in the Niagara Peninsula extends from Niagara Falls, Ont., to Fort
Erie, Ont., at least, and a concentration may be building up in the vicinity
of Ridgeway, Ont. Furthermore, since a specimen was found in the
neighbourhood of Simcoe, this sawfly may eventually be found infesting
the extensive plantings of Scotch pine throughout Norfolk county, Ont.

4 NOTES ON THE FALL CANKERWORM AND THE
i EFFECTIVENESS OF BANDING

By R. E. BALCH
Entomological Laboratory, Fredericton, N.B.

The fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria Harr.) is one of the oldest
pests of orchard and shade trees in North America. As the female is
wingless and emerges from the ground in the late autumn to crawl up the
trees and lay its eggs, banding with a sticky substance has long been recom-
‘mended as acontrol. Very often, however, no mention has been made of
the difficulties and shortcomings of this method.

In the annual report of the Dominion Entomologist for 1895, Dr.
‘Fletcher mentioned the practice of using adhesive mixtures to trap the
wingless females. Printer’s ink and the usual castor oil and resin com-
pound were both used with varying success. Dr. Fletcher was apparently
in favour of spraying as a control measur: against the cankerworm in
fruit trees as the following excerpt indicates:

“There are several mechanical contrivances for keeping the females
from ascending the trees to lay their eggs; but under ordinary circum-
stances none of these can compare -for efficacy with spraying the trees in
the springtime bes

- Coquillett in the same year suggested a paper band at the base of the tree
‘with an adhesive substance around the upper portion, the whole to be
removed before spring.

52° | THE REPORT OF THE

Goodwin (1918) recommends banding for shade and forest trees but
emphasizes the danger of the bands being bridged in heavy infestations
by the moths themselves, and reports as many as 15,000 females being :
caught in one band. He mentions the fact that young larvae are carried
by the wind but does not give this as a cause of the ineffectiveness of band- |
ing. Porter and Allen (1924) recommend banding as giving complete
protection, if properly applied, but point out that the moths will bridge ©
the bands when very numerous. Britton (1935) states that partial and ©
fairly good control may be obtained on isolated trees or rows of trees and
mentions that the bands need to be combed when leaves or many moths
become stuck on them. Felt (1935) says that even trees standing in the ©
open at some distance from another source of infestation were not always
protected by banding and consider this failure to be due to the drifting of
larvae on the wind. Hartzell and Youden (1935) report on the careful-—
banding of 100 trees and failure to obtain even 10 per cent reduction in the —
defoliation. They proved by means of screens that many of the larvae
were carried considerable distances in the air and attributed the failure
of the banding to this fact.

The insect has been very numerous during the past five or six years
at a num’er of points throughout eastern North America and has caused
severe defoliation, particularly of elms. In the city of Fredericton, N.B.,
an outbreak has been in progress since 1931; this is part of a larger out-
break extending throughout the elm woods of the St. John river valley
some 25 miles eastward. Between 1931 and 1936, varying degrees of
defoliation occurred in the eastern part of the city but only occasionally,
in the case of a few trees, was the foliage almost entirely destroyed. In
1937, however, a considerable increase took place and 400 fully grown elms
were completely stripped while about 550 lost more than half their foliage.
Population studies indicate the probability of a heavier attack in 1938.

The trees concerned are mostly 75 to 100 years old and range from
60 to 100 feet in height. Serious injury has occurred only where the
elms are fairly numerous and where not much more than half the ground
beneath them is paved. Loose, undisturbed ground, as under shrubbery,
has been most favourable as a place of pupation but lawns are almost as.
favourable and have produced samples with as many as 76 sound pupae
per square foot.

Our studies will not be complete until the outbreak has died down
but it seems probable that complete defoliation in the city will be confined
to the eastern part where the elms are numerous and fairly close together
and where there are many lawns and gardens. Even in the country seri-
ous loss of foliage has not as yet occurred on isolated trees or rows of
trees. The light attack upon isolated trees or rows of trees may be ex-
plained by the fact that a large number of newly hatched larvae are carried |
away by the air currents and that many female adults do not succeed in
finding trees on which to lay their eggs.

Immediately after the larvae emerge from the eggs, which are laid all
over the tree but mostly at the ends of the small branches, many of them |
drop on threads and are carried away even by the slightest air movement.
This takes place in spite of the presence of plenty of foliage and in the
absence of any disturbance. In laboratory tests and field observations |
more than half the larvae have been found to drop in this way within a

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 53

few minutes of emergence. Where trees are scattered, the larval mor-
tality caused by this habit is very much greater than where there is a good
chance that the larvae will reach another host.

Similarly, there is a very considerable loss, in the case of isolated
trees, from the apparent inability of the adult females to find their way to
a favourable host except largely by accident. They will climb any tree,
post, or upright object and have laid large numbers of eggs even on tomb-
stones. Where favourable hosts, such as elm, oak or soft maple, are
numerous, most of the adults, however, find their way to a suitable tree
and the reduction in population from wandering is not great.

Banding Experiments.—The need for control measures in the part of
the city most suitable for cankerworm development became apparent in
1933 and in the absence of suitable solid-stream spraying equipment, band-
ing was-tested on a few trees. Tree tanglefoot was used and the bands
were renewed twice in the autumn and once in the spring. No noticeable

Fic. 1.—Larvae of eankerworm crawling over house after all foliage destroyed.

control was obtained, however, and this was attributed largely to the larvae
being carried in the air from nearby unbanded trees, although it was also
recognized that the bands were not watched closely enough to prevent
occasional bridging. *

In 1936, however, a more careful test was made to determine whether
the failure of banding was primarily due to air-borne larvae or to bridging.
Fifteen trees, averaging 24 inches in diameter, as well as a number of
small ones, were banded and examined daily until freeze-up. The bands

(1) This work has been done by Mr. C. C. Smith of the Dominion Entomological Labor-
atory, Fredericton, N.B.

54 THE REPORT OF THE

were kept fresh throughout the whole emergence period and also in the
spring when the eggs were hatching. On two trees, double bands were
placed as a check and the climbing females were counted and destroyed ‘
periodically. Similar work has been done in 1937 (1).

In some cases the banded trees were almost touching unbanded trees
and all were situated in the heavily infested area and surrounded by elms :
that were completely stripped when the larvae were only half grown. The
results, however, were fairly satisfactory. Although the neighbouring
trees had enough larvae on them to consume all the foliage before they
were fully grown.and there was a tremendous amount of starvation, the
banded trees were in no case stripped and in most.cases passed as practi-
cally uninjured to the untrained observer (Fig. 1). We estimated the
defoliation on the banded trees at from 25 to 75 per cent with an average
of about 45 per cent. No inconvenience from migrating caterpillars was
experienced beneath the banded trees whereas householders nearby were
annoyed for 10 days by swarms of larvae on their houses and gardens;
garden plants were destroyed, and an unpleasant odour arose from the
dead insects.

Fic. 2.—T wo elms in heals, infested area just before end of larval feeding. The one
on left was banded the other-not banded (Photo by John Stanley).

- CONCLUSIONS
The followine conclusions. were drawn:

Where spraying is impossible, banding with sa tment will give
valuable results provided the bands are properly put on and very carefully
looked after. Failures in the past are probably attributable more to un-
suspected bridging of the bands than to air-borne larvae. Larvae carried
in the air from the nearby trees will, however, cause.a considerable amount

4

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 55

a SSSSSSSSSSSSSGeSESeeGeM
a

of reinfestation, depending on the proximity and numbers of unbanded
trees. First stage larvae have been taken on glass slides 100 yards from
the nearest tree.

In New Brunswick, the bands should be on the trees not later than
October 5 and preferably, by the end of September. They will need to be
watched daily until about the middle of November for bridging by falling
leaves or male moths. Some females may emerge in the latter half of
November. A fresh application will be needed in the spring before the
buds burst and the cers should be kept on until the larvae have gone into
the ground.

It is advisable to make bands about five inches wide and place them

about six feet high where they can be reached for cleaning. The use of
cotton batting and tar paper as a base is recommended only when it is

certain that sufficient care will be taken to fill all crevices. It is necessary

to warn people to remove only loose bark when preparing to band or some

will injure their trees. Application directly to the bark is easiest and
safest. It leaves a mark for a few years but will not injure elm trees.

It takes about five pounds of tanglefoot for every 16 feet of circum-
ference to keep the bands fresh autumn and spring. This is about two
pounds per average tree of 24 inches diameter.

It is useless to band unless it is certain that bridging will be pre-

vented. The emergence period commences about the same time as the

leaves fall. Wind storms call for immediate cleaning of bands. On warm
days around the beginning of November, male moths may be so numerous
that bands may need cleaning twice in one day. As many as 6,850 females
have been taken from beneath the band of one tree and of these over 4,000

emerged in one day. They are attended by a rather large number of
males and as these congregate around the bands the latter rapidly become

covered with their wings.
In heavy infestations only » small proportion of the females needs to
cross the bands to make the work ineffective. Less than one-third may

cause complete defoliation. Often it will be better to let all the adults
‘climb a tree rather than stop only a portion of them as this may only

serve to reduce starvation without preventing complete defoliation and

thereby increase the infestation in the following year.

It was found necessary. to clean the bands 13 times in the
autumn; the total time spent actually working on the trees, including

application of bands was two hours per tree.

The total cost per tree of 24 inches diameter was about $1.00 for

material and 75 cents for labour.

Owing to the cost of banding and uncertainty as to whether it will be
properly carried out it is to be recommended only where spraying is im-
possible.

REFERENCES

Britton, W. E., 1935. “Connnecticut State Entomologist’s 34th Rept., p. 217.

CoQuILLET, D. W., 1895. Cankerworms. U.S.D.A., Cire. 9, second series.

FELT, E. P., 1935. The Important Shade Tree Insects in 1934. Jour. Ec. Ent., Vol. 28,
No. 2. .

FLETCHER, JAMES, 1895. Annual Report of the Dominion Entomologist.

Goopwin, W. H., 1918. Cankerworms. Ohio Agric. Expt. Sta. Monthly Bulletin 27.
March.

HARTZELL, A., and YOUDEN, W. J., 1935. Efficiency of Banding for the Control of Can-
kerworms. Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst., Vol. 7, No. 3, p. 365.

PorTER, B. A., and ALDEN, C. H. The Cankerworms. U.S.D.A. Mallesin 1238.

56 | THE REPORT OF THE

THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEANLINESS AND GOOD
HOUSEKEEPING PRACTICES IN HOUSEHOLD
INSECT CONTROL

By C. R. TWINN
Entomological Branch, Ottawa

Probably no group of insects is of more immediate concern to the
general public than the household insects, for every citizen from time to
time is certain to be affected by one or more of these species, often in an
economic sense, and frequently in an unpleasantly intimate manner. Much
has been done on the study of household insects, especially in connection
with the improvement of insecticidal methods of control, but more empha-
sis needs to be given to the importance and value of cleanliness and good
housekeeping practices in retarding or preventing infestations from devel-
oping. Experience has clearly shown that where there is careless house-
keeping, or lack of cleanliness, insect infestations of one kind or another —
are bound to develop sooner or later, with resulting loss and annoyance to
the occupants of the premises, or even danger to their health. When such
infestations have become established, and especially when the insects are
in outbreak form, it is usually necessary, of course, to resort to the use of
fumigants or other insecticides. It is therefore not the purpose of this
article to detract from the importance of insecticides in maintaining insect-
free homes, but rather to stress the value and effectiveness of preventive
measures based on a general knowledge of the habits and life-histories. of
the pests. .

Among the more fortunate elements of the community the likelihood
of severe insect infestations developing in the home is reduced to a consid-
erable extent by improved methods and materials used in modern building
construction, in which all unnecessary cracks and corners are eliminated
that might serve as harbourages for dirt and refuges for insects. Old
buildings, often poorly lighted, and with an abundance of ill-fitting wood-
work and cracks in the walls due to inferior construction work and set-
tling of the foundations provide ideal conditions in which insects may
flourish, especially when the occupants are careless in their habits, and
where there is overcrowding. Such conditions probably can be satisfac-
torily rectified only by a general rise in the standard of living resulting
from improved economic conditions, and by the spread of education relat-
ing to personal and public hygiene. However, even so, the widespread
dissemination of information on the life-histories and habits of prevalent
household insects pests, and on the conditions which encourage their repro-
duction should be of value. Even in the most dilapidated of dwellings, the
use of crack fillers, the removal of loose wallpaper and similar measures,
and the adoption of thorough housecleaning methods should not fail to
reduce the insect population and the possibility of insect outbreaks, and,
if coupled with the judicious use of insecticides, to eliminate them entirely.

In discussing the relation of housecleaning to insect control, special
mention should be made of that valuable ally of the modern housewife in
her perennial battle with dirt and insects, the electrical vacuum cleaner.
These machines are a great boon to all with means to possess and operate
them, and are coming into increasingly widespread use. They are invalu-
able in removing lint, dust, organic matter and other debris from the places
in which insects lurk and breed, together with any insect life stages that

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 57

—_

may be present. When used properly and frequently they greatly reduce
the likelihood of damage by such insects as clothes moths and carpet bee-
tles, and make existence difficult for various other species, too.

It is not intended to discuss the preventive control of all of the rather
numerous species that may occur in dwellings, but a few examples con-
cerning certain of the more troublesome or injurious forms are*included
by way of illustration. Undoubtedly the most injurious of household
insects are the two species of clothes moths, of which the webbing clothes
moth, Tineola biselliella Hum., is the more important. These universally
common insects have probably been a source of loss and annoyance to man
from earliest times, but the accelerated development of urban life, and the
improved standards of living of modern times involving wider use of
manufactured fur and woollen clothing, rugs, upholstered furniture, etc.,
have greatly extended their field of damage. As carpet beetles, of which
the black carpet beetle, Attagenus piceus Ol. is the most prevalent, have
somewhat similar habits, the following remarks may be considered as
applying equally to them.

These insects are most apt to multiply in places where there is rela-
tively little disturbance. This is an important point and should be borne
in mind, as it indicates the remedy. Care, forethought and vigilance need
to be exercised. Incipient infestations should be traced to their source
and removed without delay to prevent their spread. Clothing subject to
damage, when not in use, particularly in spring and summer, should be
brushed and beaten, or be sent to the dry cleaners, before being carefully
stored away in moth-proof bags or boxes. Frequent attention to clothing
not so protected is necessary during the summer months of the year. Floor
cracks, especially when covered with rugs or carpents, need to be filled or
cleaned out periodically. The spaces behind baseboards and other wood-
work should not be overlooked. Woollen lint, dust, and debris that collect
in the shafts of hot air furnaces form a source of infestation that should
be removed from time to time. Rugs and carpets, especially those with a
thick pile, or with felt padding beneath them, require to be cleaned on both
sides at not infrequent intervals, preferably with a vacuum cleaner. Sur-
face damage to susceptible fabrics on upholstered furniture may be pre-
vented by frequent brushing and the use of a vacuum cleaner. The felting
in pianos also needs periodic attention.

Another species that may multiply in carelessly kept homes is the
larder beetle, Dermestes lardarius L. This is a pest of animal food pro-
ducts and, normally, occurs in dwellings in small numbers, or as occasional
specimens accidentally introduced. Sometimes, where there is a lack of
cleanliness, homes may be completely overrun with them. One source of
outbreaks of the larder beetle, which demonstrates the importance of peri-
odical cleaning unused parts of the house, is the dead bodies of cluster flies,
Pollenia rudis Fab. These insects often enter dwellings in large numbers
in the autumn, around window frames, under shingles and through cracks
resulting from faulty construction, and their corpses may accumulate in
attics and neglected rooms and serve as food material for larder beetle
larvae. This often happens in summer homes.

The common bedbug, Cimex lectularius L., is an insect that usually
becomes a serious pest only when the initial infestatoin is overlooked or
neglected, or where the character or location of the affected premises facili-
tates, or exposes them to, infestation. Nevertheless, bedbugs are widely

58 THE REPORT OF THE

prevalent. Poorly constructed buildings, overcrowding, ignorance and
carelessness undoubtedly favour their multiplication. Two common
sources of infestation should be guarded against. One of these is second-
hand furniture. Such articles should be carefully examined and, if neces-
sary, subjected to suitable treatment before being brought into the home.
The other source is domestic servants from infested homes who may intro-
duce the bugs in their personal effects. A number of cases of this sort
have come to our attention. To prevent the risk of infestation, it would
seem a wise precaution for housewives to investigate, in an unobtrusive
manner, the home environment of prospective domestic servants. If this
is not done, or, as an additional precaution, the domestics’ quarters might
be periodically examined to detect incipient infestations which, if neglected,
may develop to outbreak proportions. Ge.

Certain external parasites of birds and bats sometimes become a nuis-
ance in human habitations. Infestations of these creatures can be avoided
by preventing the hosts from nesting or roosting in or about the house.
We have records of infestations in houses of the bat bug, Cimex pilosellus
Horv., from various parts.of the Dominion, and doubtless many invasions
of dwellings occur that are not brought to our attention. This species
closely resembles the true bedbug, but apparently does not attack humans.
It causes alarm and annoyance by invading the living quarters of houses
in which bats have established their roosts. The swallow bug, Oeciacus
vicarius Horv., which has been recorded biting humans, occasionally enters
homes and other buildings about which swallows are nesting. ~

Ss

It is inadvisable, from the viewpoint of this article, to permit birds
nesting indiscriminately about dwelling houses. One may be a bird-lover,
and yet take action to prevent them from becoming a nuisance. House
sparrows, starlings, and certain other species commonly found about
houses are hosts of the northern fowl mite, Liponyssus sylviarum C. & F.,
which often develops in enormous numbers, and, in late spring and sum-
mer, especially when the fledglings are leaving the nests, migrates over
roofs, walls and verandahs where the nests are situated, and not infre-
quently invade the interior. One infestation we investigated in late June,
1934, affected a small country church in the Ottawa district, and prevented
the holding of divine service. There was conspicuous evidence of birds
nesting in the belfry, under the eaves and elsewhere, and windows and
window sills were plentifully soiled with their excretions. Incredible
numbers of mites were on the shingled roof and ridgepole of the church,
and on the walls and windows. Great numbers had also found their way
inside and were moving about on the pews, particularly on the backs and
arm-rests where they congregated in small patches. We have observed,
and received reports of, similar infestations affecting houses and summer
cottages at various points in Eastern Canada, and trouble from them is
probably even more common than we are at present aware. In May, 1935,
specimens of another species of mite, the chicken mite, Dermanyssus galli-
nae L., were received from R. P. Gorham, with the statement that they had
caused a great deal of trouble in a room in a boarding house, at Freder-
icton, N.B., which they had entered through a small hole or crack in the
plaster in one corner. According to Mr. Gorham, a possible source of the
mites was a dead pigeon found in a nearby roof gutter. It is obvious from
the foregoing that householders must pay attention to the cleanliness of
the exterior as well as the interior of their dwelling places.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 59

Householders, particularly those who keep dogs and cats, are often
alarmed and annoyed during summer ard autumn by the appearance of
actively biting fleas in their homes, sometimes in considerable numbers.
Usually, the fleas involved are the dog flea, Ctenocephalus canis Bouche,
cand the cat flea, C. felis Curtis. These fleas may be especially troublesome
after the home has been closed up for some time, while the occupants are
away enjoying a summer vacation. The reason for this is that in tempor-
arily vacant houses the cleaning activities of the housewife are suspended,
and the fleas are able to develop and multiply undisturbed. In any case,
thorough housecleaning is the best preventive measure, and the most im-
portant remedy, as the larvae breed on organic debris in floor cracks,
beneath carpets, and in rooms infrequently cleaned. In our experience,
infestations commonly originate in the basements of buildings. This is
because infested animals usually have access to basements, and the latter
are less frequently and less thoroughly cleaned than other parts of the
dwelling and thus provide satisfactory conditions for the immature stages
of the fleas. When an outbreak has developed in a building it may be
controlled usually without recourse to fumigation. Control under such
conditions consists of three phases: (1) the destruction of adult fleas in
the house by the liberal use of pyrethrum spray; (2) on the dog or cat by
means of pyrethrum or derris powder, or by washing in a weak cresol
solution; and (3) destruction of the immature stages by a thorough house-
cleaning, paying particular attention to the sleeping quarters of animals
and the basement, and to floor cracks and similar places, scrubbing these
with plenty of hot soapy water.

Sunlight, fresh air, and housecleaning are valuable in preventing out-
breaks of another pest, the tiny psocids, or book lice, which thrive in ill-
lighted, unused rooms that are warm and damp, and swarm about the walls
and furniture. Dwellings closed during the summer and damp new build-
ings are particularly subject to heavy infestations. Late summer and
autumn is the period when they are most troublesome. Dampness due to
insufficient ventilation also attracts sowbugs, which frequently congregate
in dark basements.

Poorly constructed buildings, and those in disrepair, in which loose
and badly fitting woodwork, and cracks and crevices abound are particu-
larly liable to infestation by cockroaches, crickets and silverfish. Besides
the use of insecticides to deal with infestations under these conditions,
structural improvements are necessary, insofar as possible, to eliminate
the situations which serve as hiding places for the insects. Foodstuffs,
the presence of which attracts and favours the rapid reproduction of the
insects should be stored in insect-proof containers; kitchens and dining
rooms should be kept thoroughly clean, and all débris from cooking and
meals disposed of where the insects cannot reach it. Garbage should be
placed in cans with well-fitting lids until it is collected for incineration or
other disposal. The latter remarks apply equally to ant control.

There is frequent complaint of trouble in households from various
species of stored product insects such as saw-toothed grain beetles, drug
store beetles, Indian meal worms, etc., which find their way into pantries
and kitchens through the medium of foodstuffs purchased to meet the
family needs. Much of this could be avoided by carefully inspecting cer-
eals, dried fruits, spices and other foods, for the presence of insects,
immediately they are brought into the home, and by storing the foodstuffs
in insect-proof containers.

60 - THE REPORT OF THE

Among the perennially important problems affecting citizens gener-
ally is that of the house fly, Musca domestica L. In spite of the study that
this insect has received, the research devoted to its control, and the publi-
city given to it as a menace to public health, it continues to hold an import-
ant place as an annoying and dangerous pest in and about human habita-
tions during the summer months. In recent years pyrethrum fly sprays
have come into prominence as a means of combatting this pest. The
better sort of these sprays undoubtedly serve a good purpose, as do other
similar palliative measures, but the problem needs attacking at its source;
namely, the manure pile, the refuse heap and the garbage dump. The
manure pile is still the major source of flies in country districts, but in
towns and cities the internal combustion engine has largely replaced the
horse, and the evil smelling, insect and rat-infested garbage dump has
taken over the function of the manure pile as the breeding place of myriads
of filthy, potentially disease-carrving, flies.

This is a matter that may justifiably be considered ne an article of
this sort, as it is of direct concern to every householder, who, for his own
and his family’s protection, should play his part in encouraging organized
community action to deal with the house fly control problem. Clean home
surroundings, too, reduce the prevalence of flies. Foodstuffs should be
‘protected from contact with flies to avoid the menace of disease trans-
mission through this medium. All organic refuse such as household gar-
bage should be wrapped in paper and stored in fly-proof garbage cans until
finally disposed of. Adequate and properly-fitting screens should be placed
on doors and windows during the fly season to prevent flies from entering.

THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND ‘CERTAIN
CHEMICALS ON CHEESE MITES

By G. G. DUSTAN
Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph

This paper gives some of the experimental data obtained from an
investigation of cheese mites carried on by the writer during the winter
of 1936-37. The species of mite concerned is Tyroglyphus farinae DeG.
as determined by Dr. Ewing at Washington.

The mites crawl actively about on the surface of cheese, biting out
small particles with their pincer-like mouth parts. They confine their
feeding almost entirely to the surface of the cheese or to cracks, but do
not make burrows like skippers. Wherever they feed they leave a mass of
fine brownish powder consisting of living and dead mites, cast skins, parti-
cles of uneaten food, excreta and eggs. We have seen large cheddar
cheeses having as much as one-half inch of this powder over the whole
upper surface. The accompanying photograph shows the appearance of
the powder, the injured surface below the powder, and the uninjured
cheese where the surface pitted by the mites has been cut away.

An important point in connection with stored cheese is whether mites
can eat through the paraffin covering, and whether a completely waxed
cheese is safe from their attacks. Our experience indicated that a per-
fectly waxed cheese is entirely free from mite attack, but that it is exceed-
ingly difficult to prevent small cracks from forming somewhere over the
surface, and that even a tiny crack affords a means of entrance which is

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY | 61

very likely to be found. Once having entered under the wax, the mites
will eat out large areas on the surface of the cheese under the wax.

We set up half inch glass cells on the surface of cheese, some of which
was waxed, some waxed over cheesecloth, and some unwaxed. About 100
mites were added to each and the cells covered with cover-glasses sealed
with vaseline. On the unwaxed cheese the mites fed actively and laid
eggs. On the waxed cells there was no indication of any feeding or injury
to the surface at the end of one week, and all the mites had died in one of
these cells; while in another, which had a small particle of unwaxed cheese
accidentally introduced, they remained alive. In the cell over waxed
cheesecloth it was found that there was a very tiny crack in the wax (about
the width of a mite) and that the mites were feeding through it, and
apparently widening it somewhat.

We did not obtain full data on the life history, but while rearing some
mites on cheese in small glass cells we observed that the incubation period
of the eggs was from 10-12 days at an average temperature of about 60° F.
Eales (1) states that from egg to adult covers a period of about four to
five weeks, consisting of about 10-12 days as an egg, about a week as a
larva (six leg stage), and about 12-13 days as a nymph (eight leg stage).

Fic. 1.—The portion of the top of a 90 lb. cheddar cheese showing injury
caused by cheese mites.

EFFECTS OF NORMAL TEMPERATURE

De Ong and Roadhouse (2) state that temperatures of from 55° to
90° F. favor the development of the mites. Although we obtained no
definite data on the optimum temperature range for develpment, we did
find that at temperatures over 60° F. it was almost impossible to rear
mites for any length of time on cheddar cheese. This was because such
cheese at these temperatures tends to become greasy and very unfavorable
for the feeding of the mites. Practically all the mites on two large heavily
infested sections of cheddar cheese died within three weeks when kept at
a temperature which rose to about 85° F. in the daytime, while those kept
on a similar cheese at a temperature of 60° F. and lower, continued to feed
and reproduce normally. In another experiment most of the mites
migrated from 4 piece of cheese which had become greasy at 75° F., while
they remained on a similar check kept at 60° F. Mites were reared suc-

62 ‘THE REPORT -OF THE ~ -

cessfully on soda biscuits in small glass cells at 85° F., but could not be
reared on cheese if the temperature was over 60° F. for long.

HIGH TEMPERATURE

It has been reported (2) that a temperature of 95° F. is fatal to cheese
mites in a dry atmosphere, but that the same temperature in a humid
atmosphere is harmless. One test made by the writer showed that the
mites survived 106.3° F. in a dry oven for five minutes, but were all deagt
at the end of 20 minutes at this temperature. ‘

Careful tests were made to determine the lethal temperature of water.
when applied momentarily, as might be the case if hot water was poured
over. a floor or shelves. _To do this the mites were placed in large numbers
on a piece of cheesecloth one inch square resting on a bit of blotting paper,
and from 10-20 c.c. of water was rapidly dumped on them from a glass
tube kept in a vessel of. water at the required temperature until the moment
of application. The results from duplicate tests made for a large series
of temperatures showed that all mites taken from a cheese on which they
were actively feeding were killed. at 127.4° F. while a few survived at
125.6° F.; another lot of mites ‘which. had been transferred a day or two
were all killed at 120.2° F. while a few oe 118.4° F. This test was
repeated several times for a series of decréasing temperatures.

In order to obtain some data on the use of hot water and steam for
killing mites on the woodwork and shelves of cheese rooms, sticks of wood
were smeared with cheese and mites added, being careful\to get some of
them well into cracks and other protected places. -A kill of\100 per cent
was obtained by each of the following methods Et) Dipping the sticks
in boiling water for one second; (2) pouring: boiling water over the sticks
for two to three seconds; (3) turning live steam onto the sticks for 15-20
seconds, with the nozzle of the steam pipe held six inches or closer from
the surface being treated. Less than 100 per cent kill was obtained when
the sticks were quickly but thoroughly rubbed with a rag dipped in boiling
water,—and also when the steam pipe nozzle was held one foot or more
away from the surface. The temperatures of the steam at different dis-
tances from the nozzle, in a room at about 50° F. were one foot, 125° F.;
six inches, 170° F.; three inches, 190° F.; and one inch, 209°F. Dipping
a quarter pound piece of infested cheese in boiling water for five seconds
killed all the mites on the surface but very few in the deeper cracks; this
of course is unpractical.

Low TEMPERATURE

Dormancy.—This was determined by making observations in constant
temperature store-rooms and by using sealed glass vials cooled with snow
and salt. When the mites are gradually cooled their crawling becomes
progressively slower and finally stops, although they may continue to move
their legs freely at temperatures several degrees lower.

Several hundred mites were placed in each of several constant tem-
perature store-rooms and at the end of three hours examined with a micro-
scope while still in the room. At 30° and 32° F. a few were feebly moving
their legs and one or two crawling very slowly. In the cheese storage
room of the Dairy Department of the Ontario Agricultural College, mites
were observed crawling slowly at 37° F. About five cheeses which had

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 63

been kept in this room at 40° F. or a little lower, from the time they were
made seven months previously, were found to be infested with mites on
their under surfaces, although very little injury had been done, and prob-
_ably not more than 100 mites were present.on each cheese.

The method of procedure in observing the effects of falling and rising
temperatures on the mites was to place about 50 of them on a square of
black paper and carefully insert this into a six inch shell vial so that only
two edges of the paper were in contact with the glass. A cork was placed
in the neck of the vial and a thermometer run through this to within one-
quarter inch of the mites. Then, working in a greenhouse at a tempera-
ture of about 40° F., and shading the vial from the direct sun, snow was
packed around the vial, so as to leave an uncovered spot large enough to
make observations with a binocular microscope. When the temperature
in the vial dropped to almost freezing, salt was added to the snow. After
dormancy occurred the temperature was allowed to drop a few degrees
lower before the snow and salt were removed. Observations and notes
were taken at intervals of 1° on the Centigrade scale, and the readings
given here are the direct equivalent on the Fahrenheit scale. The sum-
mary of the five tests given below refers to the temperature at which the
last individual became dormant and the first one again became active.

Cooling Crawling Dormancy Activity
wae Cooled from time in stopped occurred resumed
Test No. degrees F. minutes degrees F. degrees F. degrees F.
een ocd to 1.21.2 47 30.2 25.7 26.6
Ze 41 to 26.6 20 32.0 28.4 29.3
3. Al to 226.6 9 35.6 28.4 29°35
paar |s 37.4 to 29.3 a 33.4 29.3 oie
5. 44.6 to 23.0 14 35.6 23.0 27.5
Average 34.2 26.9 28.7

It was noticed in these tests that the largest individuals were always
the last to become dormant and the first to regain activity. The smallest
larvae were dormant at temperatures of from 4.5° to 8.1° higher than the
adults.

Mortality—An experiment on egg laying showed that mites lived at
least 11 days at 30°F., and it is very likely they will live much longer at
this temperature. In another experiment several hundred mites were
taken from a temperature of about 50° F. and placed in glass cells on
cheese in cold storage rooms at the following temperatures,—10° F.,
0° F., 30° F., and 32° F. The temperatures of these rooms remained con-
stant to within about 1° F. during the tests. The results were as follows:

Temperature Mortality
S10" F. Several mites survived for 15 minutes, but all were dead at the
end of 1% hours.
OU. One mite Aaneived for 1% hours, but all were dead at the end of
12 hours.
30° F. Majority survived for 11 days at least.
oe: Majority survived for 11 days at least.

Development.—Thirty mites were placed in each of four glass cells
provided with cheese and a piece of moist blotting paper and fitted with
a cover glass sealed with vaseline. On March 9 one cell was placed in
each of the store-rooms having constant temperatures of 30°, 32°, 40°, and

64 THE REPORT OF THE

60° F. respectively. Egg laying records were taken in the rooms every
second day until March 20, and much to our surprise we found a few eggs
were laid even at 30° F. The records given in the following table show
only approximate figures, because it was necessary to make the examina-
tions very rapidly so as not to raise the temperature of the cells.

Number of Eggs Laid

Date 30) ai. ace Aa 40° € 602
Mareh 11 0 3 20 20 -
lic 3 wu! No record 5
ee riley 2 5 owing to 25
FT: 0 0 faulty 5
ER ete20 5 5 apparatus “5

Total 10 iby 60

The lowest temperature at which eggs would develop and hatch was
not determined. It would appear from the fact that mites were present
and feeding slowly in the cheese storage at 37°-40° F. where the cheese
had been kept for seven months, that the eggs will develop at tempera-
tures this low. We failed to obtain any hatch from several hundred newly
laid eggs placed at both 30° and 32° F. from March 18 to April 15 when
observations were discontinued.

WASHES

A number of liquids were tested to see if any of them would be of
value in killing mites on shelves and other woodwork in infested store-
rooms. The method of testing consisted of placin® about 100 mites on a
small square of cheesecloth laid on blotting paper and then adding from
6-10 c.c. of the liquid so as to thoroughly soak the mites. After standing
about one-quarter of a minute until the blotting paper had taken up the
surplus mosture, the cheesecloth was transferred to a pill box and covered.
Observations were made with a binocular microscope at intervals for 24
hours or more. Water was used as a check in each case. Each material
was tested for a series of strengths and often in duplicate or triplicate.
Only a summary of the tests will be given here.

The materials tested were (1) javel water (“White Magic’), (2)
caustic soda (‘“Gillet’s Lye’), (83) soap (Palmolive Soap Flakes), (4) aqua
ammonia, (5) methyl alcohol, and (6) formalin. None of these except
formalin gave any indication of being of much greater practical value
than cold water.

The javel water bleaching solution had to be used full strength to
produce a complete kill. Caustic soda had to be used at a strength of one
pound to one gallon of water to give 100 per cent kill. This is 16 times the
strength recommended for washing woodwork. Soap solutions up to 1 oz.
in 10 ozs. of water failed to kill all mites. Methyl alcohol even when
applied full strength appeared to have no effect at all and killed less than
water under the conditions of these tests. Aqua ammonia at a strength
of 15 per cent gave a complete kill, but it is very irritating to use. —

Formalin is used in creameries to keep down mould so considerable
work was done with it to determine a killing strength for mites.
Eales (1) reports that many mites remained alive after being immersed
in 5 per cent formalin for a week. We tried to modify the method of test-
ing to find out if it had to come in contact as a liquid or whether it killed as

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 65

agas. The strength of the solutions mentioned here are based on formalin
(40 per cent formaldehyde) as being 100 per cent.

The results with formalin indicated that a complete kill could be
expected if the mites were kept covered with a film of 12 per cent formalin
for about 20 hours. If allowed to dry off rapidly they could stand a much
stronger concentration. Mites were almost instantly killed by contact
with 100 per cent formalin and within one-half hour by 70 per cent. One
of the tests showed that the fumes given off, if strong enough, will kill the
mites, although the minimum concentration was not determined. A
recommended strength for surface disinfection is 500 c.c. formalin per
1,000 cu. ft. of air space, using 250 grs. of potassium permanganate per

(100 cu. ft. to speed up the generation of the gas. We used double the above

rate in a 5.4 cu. ft. chamber exposing mites for 24 hours and got very little
kill.

FUMIGANTS

We tested ammonia, pyrethrum fumes, sulphur dioxide, “‘Weevil-
cide’, napthalene, formaldehyde, a mixture of methyl bromide 6.8 per cent
and carbon dioxide 93.2 per cent, and a mixture of ethylene oxide one part
and carbon dioxide nine parts. Of these only theslatter two gave satis-
factory results.

The fumigation chambers were @)) a class jar of about 1/5 cu. ft.,
(2) a square glass chamber with a cubic content of about 5.4 cu. ft., and
(3) a gas-tight room of 570 cu. ft.

Pyrethrum fumes killed about 33 per cent of the mites but tainted
the cheese badly. Weevilcide at the rate of 13 lbs. per 1,000 cu.ft. for 24
hours killed all the mites but tainted the cheese. Napthalene gave. the
cheese such an exceedingly strong odor and taste it was at once discon-
tinued. Formaldehyde as mentioned above was not very effective. Sul-
phur dioxide generated by burning four lbs. sulphur per 1,000 cu. ft. killed
all mites after an exposure of 24 hours in the 5.4 ft. chamber, but the
cheese was noticeably tainted.

Ammonia has been used by Cranfield (3) who reported that over 90

per cent kill of cheese mites was obtained in a reasonably air-tight room
when the ammonia was used at a concentration in air of 1:25. He stated,

however, that eggs were not killed.

We tried ammonia fumes at a concentration of 1:20, using concen-
trated NH,OH (Sp. gr. 0.95, NH,—28.3%) placed on bags on the floor,
giving an exposure of 24 hours. In three tests, using 18.7 c.c. of NH,OH

per test in the 5.4 ft. chamber, we obtained a complete kill of larvae and

adults on the upper exposed surfaces of the cheese, but only about a 30 per

- cent kill on the under surface next the floor. About the same results were

obtained in the 570 cu. ft. chamber using 41% lbs. of NH,OH.
Cheese fumigated with ammonia had a slight odor and a fairly marked

' taint in flavor when it first came from the chamber, but both these disap-
_ peared after 24 hours’ exposure to the air. Furthermore, ammonia fumes
are so irritating and penetrating that we feel it would not be a practical

fumigant to use. |

The results obtained with methyl bromide-carbon dioxide mixture as
well as with ethylene oxide-carbon dioxide mixture have already been pub-
lished (4), so only a brief summary of the experiments will be given.

66 THE REPORT OF: THE

The methyl bromide-carbon dioxide mixture, which is sold.as a
liquid under pressure in cylinders for $0.20 a pound, produced a gas
having a slight somewhat unpleasant, non-irritating odor, but does
not give a very marked warning of its presence. It is non-inflam-
mable and non-combustible (5) (9),-and although not highly toxic
to humans in weak concentration has to be used with the usual
precautions for fumigation. The gas is somewhat heavier than air. The
amount recommended by the manufacturers for killing most insects is
from 15-20 lbs. per 1,000 cu. ft.

In four experimental fumigations of cheese in an air-tight room of
570 cu. ft. we obtained, in each case, a complete kill of all cheese mites,
and apparently the eggs also, as none subsequently hatched, using the gas
at rates varying from 8-20 lbs. per 1,000 cu. ft. and at temperatures of
from 58° to 68° F. An electric fan was kept running in the chamber for
the duration of the fumigation period. The gas appears to penetrate well,
because we obtained a kill inside a closed cheese box, and also on the under
surface of bits of cheese resting on a flat surface. A 24 hour fumigation
also killed all of several mature meal worm larvae buried from six to eight
inches in fine meal in a metal waste basket.

Many tests were made to determine the effects of the gas on cheese.
It was found that the unwaxed exposed portions of cheese picked up a
fairly decided unpleasant taste which extended to about one-quarter inch
below the surface, but that this foreign taste completely disappeared after
an exposure to the air of from 36-48 hours.

The question arose as to the possible detrimental effects from eating
fumigated cheese or other food products. We fed fumigated cheese, grain,
vegetables and milk to mice, hens, guinea pigs, and a cat respectively, 24
hours after fumigation, and noticed no injurious effects.

Lepigre (10) has reported a few experiments with methyl bromide
alone which showed that the germination of some grain was reduced from
96 per cent in the check to 81 per cent when exposed for 24 hours to methyl |
bromide at the rate of 4.1 lbs. per 1,000 cu. ft. and that an exposure of 14
days reduced it to 33.5 per cent.

The writer fumigated a sample of wheat for 24 hours using the methyl
bromide mixture at the rate of 20 lbs. per 1,000 cu. ft., i.e. 1.36 lbs. methyl
bromide alone, and found no reduction in the germination which was 91
per cent in the check.

Ethylene oxide-carbon dioxide mixture is sold under pressure in cylin-
ders for $0.23 per pound. It has a faint not unpleasant odor, and is non-
inflammable and non-combustible under ordinary conditions. Ethylene
oxide is (6) reported to have exceedingly good penetrating powers.
Although not highly toxic to man the usual precautions used in handling —
a poisonous gas must be taken. It is also used at the rate of 20 lbs. per
1,000 cu. ft.

We obtained almost identical results with this material as with the
methyl bromide-carbon dioxide mixture as far as the complete kill of
mites and their eggs was concerned, and it had the added advantage of
not imparting even a temporary taint in flavor or odor. We used it at
the rate of 20 lbs. per 1,000 cu. ft. for 24 hours. An electric fan was left |
running for the duration of the fumigation period.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 67

No toxicity tests with fumigated food were made because workers in
the United States (7) have reported that it leaves no obnoxious nor poison-
ous residue.

The germination of grain was not injured by a 24 hour fumigation.
| LITERATURE CITED

1. EALES, NELLIE B. Cheese Mites, Jr. Bd. of Agr. 24 pp. 1087-1096, 1918.

2. DEONG, E. R. and ROADHOUSE, C. L. Cheese Pests and Their Control, Bull. No. 343,
Univ. of California Ag. Expt. Sta. 1922.

3. CRANFIELD, H. J., RoeBpucK, A. and STaFForD, J. G. W. The Control of Mites in
Cheese Stores, Jr. Ministry of Agr. 41, pp. 347-353, 1934.

4, DUSTAN, G. G. Cheese Mites and Their Control, Ont. Dept. of Agr. Bull. 385, Apxil
1937.

5. “Industrial Fumigation,” distributed by the Dominion Oxygen Co., 1930.

6. OZBURN and Lipp. Fumigation of Fresh Fruit to Destroy the Japanese Beetle,
eS eA Cire. 373; 1935.

7. BACK, E. A. and CoTTon, R. T. Industrial Fumigation Against Insects, U.S.D.A.
Cie. 369, 1935.

. Nucxouis, A. H. Miscellaneous Hazard No. 2375, Underwriters’ Laboratories, 1933.

9. “List of Inspected Gas, Oil and Miscellaneous Appliances”, pp. 106, Underwriters’
Laboratories, 1936.

10. LEPIGRE, M. ANDRE. Notes on Methyl Bromide, translated from Bulletin de la
Societe D’encouragement pour L’Industrie Nationale, June-July 1936, pp. 458-462.

(oe)

“EXPERIMENTS RELATING TO THE CONTROL OF ARMYWORM,

CIRPHIS UNIPUNCTA HAW., BY POISONED BAITS
By A. KELSALL and H. T. STULTZ

Dominion Entomological Laboratory
Annapolis Royal, N.S.

The objects of the experiments described were (1) to compare the
relative toxicity of various arsenical insecticides, in baits, against the

-armyworm; (2) to compare baits with, and without, molasses; (3) to

compare the relative merits of bran and sawdust; and (4) to obtain some
information regarding the ratio of the bran or sawdust to the arsenical,

which it would be advisable to use in practise.

The arsenical insecticides were mostly the standard commodities,
analysis of which was known. The white arsenic No. 1 was a finely pow-
dered, almost pure, arsenious oxide, and would be fairly representative of
most of the white arsenic available on the market. White arsenic No. 3

“was a more finely divided powder, having particles of size decidedly less

than white arsenic No. 1. No. 3, however, contained a considerable
amount of impurities of which antimony predominated. The micronized
white arsenic was almost pure arsenious oxide, so extremely finely divided
that much of it could be considered colloidal. In each series of baits
tested, the various arsenicals were used in such amount as to give the
same quality of metallic arsenic per unit of bran.

PLAN OF EXPERIMENTS

I. Bran Series.—In this series water was added at the rate of 10

gallons per 100 pounds of bran. Series A—arsenicals used at the rate of

GARG:

1 Ib. metallic arsenic per 100 lbs. bran, (a) without molasses, (b) with

68 3. THE REPORT OF THE

molasses (20 lbs. per 100 lbs. of bran). Series B—arsenicals used at rate
of 14 lb. metallic arsenic per 100 lbs. bran, (a) without molasses, (b) with
molasses. Series C—arsenicals used at rate of 2 lbs. metallic arsenic per
100 lbs. bran, (a) without molasses, (b) with molasses. Series D—arsen-
icals used at rate of 14, lb. metallic arsenic per 100 Ibs. bran, (a) without
molasses, (b) with molasses. In series D the baits were spread and
allowed to stand in the cages for periods of 2 hours, and 13 hours (over-
night), before the test larvae were put in for feeding.

II. Sawdust Series.—In this series water was added at the rate of
20 gallons per 100 pounds of sawdust; arsenicals were used at rate of 1 |b. ~
metallic arsenic per 100 lbs. of sawdust, (a) without molasses and (b)
with molasses (20 lbs. per 100 lbs. of sawdust).

Shortly before each series was commenced, larvae were collected in
wire cages and given couch grass to feed upon until used. The bran or
sawdust, and the arsenical, for each test was weighed, and the two thor-
oughly mixed. The measured amount of water was then added and again
mixed, and the molasses added where such was indicated. The prepared bait
was then weighed for each test, six grams of bait being used for each
feeding cage. The bait was then evenly scattered over the floor of each
feeding cage which had an area of approximately 122 square inches, after
which the test larvae were introduced.

The larvae were under observation at varying periods, and records
were taken approximately 23 hours, and in some cases, 48 hours, after the
larvae had been introduced into the cages. Twenty-five caterpillars were
introduced into each test cage, and every series of tests was conducted in
duplicate. The bottom of the cages consisted of wood, the sides were two

of wood and two of wire screening, and the top was glass.

It will be noted that the amount of bait distributed was far in excess
of any amount that would be used in actual practise over a similar area,
which was to ensure that the test caterpillars would have plenty of bait.
available. |

TABLE 1.—SHOWING PERCENTAGE TOTAL MORIBUND AND DEAD FOR
EACH TEST PLUS ITS DUPLICATE IN EACH SERIES RUN (EXCEPT
SERIES D). THESE PERCENTAGES ARE ALL BASED ON RECORDS
TAKEN AT THE END OF 24 HOURS. THE POUNDS OF METALLIC
ARSENIC USED PER 100 POUNDS OF BRAN OR SAWDUST,

ARE SHOWN AT THE HEAD OF EACH SERIES

Bran series A BranseriesB BranseriesC Sawdust series A
it Ais==106 Y% As—100 2-As==100 1 Ag =00

No With No With No With No With |

Jo Jo % % % % % %
Lead arsenate 94 90 46 74 94 - 96 26 46
Calcium arsenate 90 90 64 80 96 94 8 38
Paris green 86 98 100 100 96 98 18 66
Sodium arsenite 98 98 84 90 92 98 54s 64
White arsenic No. 3 82 80 56 54 96.786 12 24 :
White arsenic No. 1 84 88 38 34
W. A. micronized 82 92 78 90 94 96

Check 4 0 0 0 4 %)

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 69

TABLE 2.—BRAN SERIES D (% LB. AS PER 100 LBS. BRAN) WITH AND WITH-
OUT MOLASSES. UNDER THE COLUMN “DRIED” IS INDICATED THE
NUMBER OF HOURS THE BAIT WAS ALLOWED TO DRY IN CAGE
BEFORE BEING FED UPON. THE RESULTS ARE GIVEN AS PER-
GENTAGE MORIBUND-PLUS-DEAD FOUND IN THE CAGES 24
AND 48 HOURS AFTER LARVAE INTRODUCED

FOR FEEDING

24 hours 48 hours
No With No With
‘Dried molasses molasses molasses molasses

% % % %
Sodium arsenite ZS: q 86 88 96
Paris green 13 hrs 40 88 60 94

(overnight)

Check 2 2

TABLE 3—_THE ARSENICAL-BRAN BAITS COMPARED IN ORDER OF THEIR
. BHFFECTIVENESS ON THE BASIS OF THE AVERAGE
PERCENTAGES OF MORIBUND-PLUS-DEAD

Without With
molasses molasses Average
% % %
Paris green 93 99 96
Sodium arsenite 91 94 92.5
Micronized white arsenic 80 91 85.5
Calcium arsenate he 85 81
Lead arsenate 70 82 716
White arsenic No. 3 69 67 68
White arsenic No. 1 61 61 61

TABLE 4.—THE ARSENICAL-SAWDUST BAITS COMPARED IN ORDER OF
THEIR EFFECTIVENESS ON THE BASIS OF THE AVERAGE PER-
CENTAGES OF MORIBUND-PLUS-DEAD

Without With
molasses molasses Average
% % %o
Sodium arsenite 54 66 59
Paris green 26 64 42
Lead arsenate 18 46 36
Calcium arsenate 8 38 23
White arsenic No. 3 2 24 18

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

The order of effectiveness of the arsenical-bran baits was as follows:
Paris green, sodium arsenite, micronized white arsenic, calcium arsenate,
lead arsenate, white arsenic No. 3, white arsenic No. 1. The order of
effectiveness of the arsenical-sawdust baits was as follows: sodium arsen-
ite, Paris green, lead” arsenate, calcium arsenate, white arsenic No. 3.
However, the sawdust experiments only consisted of one series in dupli-
cate. Although there were some variations, results were quite similar to
those of the bran.

Besides showing the greater toxicity, the Paris green and sodium
arsenite also immobilized the armyworm in a shorter time than did the
| other arsenicals tested. The micronized white arsenic seemed next in order
of rapidity of knockout. This feature is not shown in the tables, but was
| a

70 THE REPORT OF THE

apparent to the observer watching the cage at intervals during the first
24 hours of feeding. :

On the whole, the addition of molasses to the bait improved its effi-
ciency. This was particularly apparent if the baits were allowed to dry
for a few hours before being fed upon. The advantage of using molasses .
was also considerably more apparent in the lower arsenical-bran ratios.
The addition of molasses to the arsenical-sawdust baits markedly improved
their efficiency.

Arsenical-sawdust baits were not nearly as effective as the arsenical-
bran baits.

The ratio of 14, pound metallic arsenic per 100 pounds of bran was |
sufficient to form highly effective baits when the arsenicals used were
Paris green and sodium arsenite. Micronized white arsenic at this rate
was also fairly effective. Lead arsenate and calcium arsenate usé at this ©
rate showed a comparatively low mortality at the end of the first 24 hours, —
but the mortality at the end of 48 hours was fairly satisfactory particu-
larly when molasses had been added. This latter point is not shown in
the tables. All the arsenicals result in a satisfactory mortality when used —
at the rate of one pound metallic arsenic per 100 pounds of bran.

The use of arsenicals at the rate of two pounds of metallic arsenic per
100 pounds of bran resulted in highly effective baits. There was no evi-
dence that arsenicals used at this rate repelled the insects from feeding. |

A NOTE ON THE GRASSHOPPER SITUATION
IN MANITOBA IN 1937

By A. V. MITCHENER
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg

In the report of the Entomological Society of Ontario for 1936 we
stated “possibly we have reached the end of the grasshopper outbreak |
which began in Manitoba in 1931”. Although farmers did not do a great |
deal of poisoning, grasshoppers were quite widespread in south-western —
Manitoba in 1937. For the purpose of continuing our records which |
appeared in the reports of this society for 1932, 1933, 1984, 1935 and 1936 |
we state that approximately six and one-quarter tons of prepared bait —
were used by the farmers in the municipality of Edward and ten and >
three-quarters tons by the farmers in Arthur municipality in 1937. These ,
two municipalities lie in the extreme south-western corner of Manitoba.
Although these amounts are relatively small they are reported as they
indicate the continued presence of grasshoppers several years after the |
peak of the current outbreak. The species involved this year was largely
Melanoplus mexicanus mexicanus Saus. If bait is used in 1938 we shall |
report again.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY ie

THE POTATO SCAB-GNAT OUTBREAK IN MIDDLESEX IN 1937
By A. A. Woop
Entomological Laboratory, Strathroy, Ontario

An outbreak of the potato scab-gnat, Pnyxia scabiet (Hopkins),
occurred in many potato fields throughout the township of Caradoc in the
county of Middlesex this year. The infestation was confined to the potato
growing section on.the light sandy soil.

Although the insect is a fungus gnat it feeds on various substances
including the potato. Potatoes grown on a soil with a pH reaction over
5.0 and with a deficiency in organic matter are supposed to be more sus-
ceptible to attack. The infested fields without exception were those in
which common scab was prevaient to some extent at least. The insect in
many cases attacked tubers having earlier injury by scab and wireworm;
yet many groups of larvae were found under the unbroken skin, where
the dark larval excrenent and refuse could be seen beneath the skin,
causing dark blotches on the surface of the tubers. Cross-sections showed
the cavities penetrating to depths of from three-sixteenths to three-eighths
of an inch. The larvae were feeding on the sound potato tissues at the
bottom of the cavities, being completely hidden from view under the refuse
and soil.

The larvae are semi-transparent, the internal organs plainly visible
through the body wall. They are slender maggots about three-sixteenths
of an inch in length. According to Dr. Harry L. Gui of the Agricultural
Experiment Station at Wooster, Ohio, the larvae spend the winter in the
stored tubers wherever conditions are not too dry. This apparently is
not the case in Ontario as all the larvae had disappeared from the tubers
by the first week in October, before the potatoes had been dug.

The degree of infestation varied greatly in the several fields examined,
running from 7 per cent to 54 per cent. In the fields with high infestation
the cavities were more numerous and deeper. Some growers claimed to
have seen this type of injury in former years, calling it “deep scab”, but
whether this condition really existed is questionable.

REMARKS ON EXTERNAL PARASITES OF CANADIAN
WILD LIFE

By ARTHUR GIBSON
Entomological Branch, Ottawa
(Withdrawn for publication elsewhere)

This paper directed attention to the fact that in Canada many different
kinds of external parasites seriously affect the health of wild animals—
deer, moose, the smaller animals, birds, etc. The paper discussed certain
species of ticks which are vectors of such diseases as tularaemia and Rocky
Mountain spotted fever, both of which have attacked humans.

In addition to various species of ticks, information was given regard-
ing different kinds of mites, biting lice, two-winged flies, ete. An appeal
was made to the members of the Entomological Society of Ontario to assist
the Entomological Branch in studies being undertaken on parasites of
Canadian wild life occurring in the various provinces of Canada. The
Branch is building up an excellent collection of these parasites and material

to add to this collection would be welcomed.

12 THE REPORT OF THE

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE USE OF METHYL BROMIDE
AS A FUMIGANT ()

By H. A. U. MUNRO
Entomological Branch, Montreal, P.Q.

SUMMARY ~

Methyl bromide, used in Europe as a fire extinguisher for aeroplanes,
has been found to possess insecticidal properties and to be suitable for use
as a fumigant. It is, however, a somewhat reactive compound and its
_ effect on particular commodities must be carefully checked before it is
used as a fumigant against insects infesting them. For instance, the gas
was found to be highly toxic to anple insects when applied in vacuum
fumigation for varying lengths of time at the rate of two and a half
pounds of methyl bromide per 1,000 cu. ft. of vault space. In each test
an initial vacuum of three inches of absolute pressure was dropped to 27
inches of absolute pressure after the introduction of the dosage, the vault
temperatures being maintained at 80° F. by fan circulation. In several
varieties of apples exposures of 90 minutes were completely toxic in the
case of larvae of the codling moth, Carpocapsa pomonella Linn., and 60
minutes in the case of maggots of Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh. Eggs of
R. pomonella (in situ) were killed by exposures of 30 minutes upwards,
but 60 minutes were required for egg's of C. pomonella Linn.

The effect on the apples, however, requires further investigation.
In preliminary work in 1936 a proprietary fumigant containing by weight
approximately 7 per cent methyl bromide and 93 per cent carbon dioxide
produced an injury on the surface of freshly picked McIntosh apples when
applied at the rate of 35 pounds of the mixture per 1,000 cu. ft. Repetition
of this dosage at later periods when the apples had been stored at 33° F.
failed to produce similar effects. From other experiments it appeared
that the methyl bromide itself was the only factor causing the damage.
The question of gas injury to the apples. is being further investigated in
collaboration with the Division of Horticulture, Central Experimental
Farm, Ottawa, to determine if it is varietal or correlated with maturity.

A SUMMARY OF THE INSECT PEST SITUATION
IN CANADA IN 1937*

By C. R. TWINN

Entomological Branch, Department of Agriculture, Ottawa

This summary of insect conditions in Canada, like the previous sum-
maries published in the annual reports of the Society, has been prepared
from reports received in connection with the Canadian Insect Pest Survey
from entomologists working at various points in the nine provinces, from
the Atlantic to the Pacific. These entomologists, whose original reports
may be referred to in the pages of the Canadian Insect Pest Review, repre-

——— ee

(1) Paper withdrawn for further study and publication elsewhere.

‘ey Gr:

FORT

Regn aee ON

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 73

sent both the Dominion and Provincial services, and our grateful thanks
are extended to them for their continued co-operation, without which these
summaries would not be possible.

Agricultural season of 1937**

“Spring opened late over much of the country and agricultural oper-

ations were held up by cold wet weather in practically all areas except the
wheat lands of southern Saskatchewan and Alberta. There, because of
low moisture reserves, the soil dried quickly aad wheat seeding was com-
pleted well in advance of the previous season. In Eastern Canada, back-
ward weather delayed work on the land considerably and in the Maritime
Provinces, seeding of cereals was so seriously retarded that many farmers
were obliged to alter their cropping plans; crops got away to a poor start
and in most instances were not sufficiently advanced to withstand the sub-
sequent drought’ of mid-summer which sharply reduced both yield and
quality. In the central provinces of Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba, seed-
ing of grain crops was somewhat late, but abundant moisture supplies gave
promise of better prospects than had prevailed during the previous season.
Killing of meadows and winter grains was fairly widespread as the result
of the open winter and the dry soil conditions of the previous autumn. On
the prairies, spring came earlier than in the preceding season and wheat
seeding was well advanced by the latter part of May. Over much of the
area, the soil was drier than usual for that time of year and because of
this, seeding of coarse grains was held up, and in the southern parts of
Saskatchewan and Alberta soil drifting had already begun to menace the
newly seeded wheat even before the beginning of June. From then on-
ward, conditions became progressively worse. Scattered showers brought
temporary relief to some areas but seldom were they sufficient to save the
crops. Each succeeding day saw an enlargement of the drought-
devastated area and when the season closed the combined effects of wind,
drought and insect pests had brought about the most widespread and seri-
ous crop failure in the history of prairie agriculture in Canada.
“There were, however, some bright spots in the situation. After a
late start, crops in Ontario and Quebec came ahead rapidly. Hay yields
were generally satisfactory and pastures held up well throughout the
season. Fall sown grains yielded fine returns for the most part and
although rust affected some of the spring grains, yields were well up to
normal in most cases. Tobacco growers harvested a bumper crop and the
yield and quality of horticultural crops was well in advance of that of the
previous season. Despite the dry conditions in the Maritimes, the apple
crop turned out to be one of the best on record. Manitoba escaped the
brunt of the drought which blighted crop prospects in the other Prairie
Provinces. Yields of all crops were much better than in 1936 and the
farmers of the province experienced one of the best seasons in recent
years. Likewise in British Columbia, good crops were the rule in practi-
cally every instance.”

” Field Crop and Garden Insects

In general, grasshoppers were more widespread in the Prairie Prov-
inces in 1937, than in 1936, but crop damage was less severe, due chiefly
to the large areas on which no crop was present due to the drought, and to
the fact that the insects were in somewhat reduced numbers as compared

*Prepared by direction of the Dominion Entomologist.
**Dom. Bur. of Statistics, C.R. 26, Jan. 21, 1938.

74 THE REPORT OF THE

$$$

with the previous several years. The outbreak in British Columbia con-
tinued, and many areas in the interior were again heavily infested. Com-
paratively little damage occurred in the provinces of Eastern Canada.
Further details follow:

In Manitoba, a light and patchy outbreak of grasshoppers persisted in
the extreme southwest of the province necessitating the distribution of
poisoned bait in three municipalities. In late July and August, their num-
bers were greatly increased in this area by extensive flights of the lesser
migratory grasshopper from the southeast, which resulted in considerable
head damage to late crops of wheat and oats. Autumn egg surveys showed
that most of the country west of a line drawn from Deloraine to Hartney
and Butler carried an economic infestation of eggs. Over much of this
area, however, the infestation was moderate. In Saskatchewan, although
the loss of crop caused by grasshoppers was of greater significance than
that attributable to any other insect pest in 1937, yet the damage was
slightly less than in 1936 and materially less than in any other year since
1932. This, in spite of the fact that the area of “economic” infestation
was somewhat greater than in 1936, involving one hundred rural munici-
palities, and portions of ninety others. As in 1936, the infestation was
only “light” or “moderate” over the greater part of this area. During the
early part of the season the damage was materially less than in recent
years, but as the season advanced and the drought in the southern part of
the province forced the grasshoppers farther north, serious losses occurred
to maturing crops and to fields on which the crop had failed to develop
until after the midsummer rains. The most severe outbreak occurred in
the northwest corner of the province. In areas of potentially good crop,
a well-organized baiting campaign was carried on with marked success,
especially in the northern part of west-central Saskatchewan, where seri-
ous infestations were present, with the roadside grasshopper predominat-
ing. Severe and general outbreaks are again indicated in this province
for 1938. In Alberta, grasshoppers were abundant over the greater part
of the south and east. There was little loss up to the end of June, but
with the advent of hot weather in July, grasshoppers migrated from the
drought areas into areas of greater precipitation, and losses occurred in
some districts in spite of the strenuous poisoning campaign. Along the
eastern borders of Alberta, grasshoppers moved northward into the bush
country and were found to be present in numbers two hundred miles north
of previously recorded outbreaks. In British Columbia, 1937 was a peak
year for grasshopper abundance, and nearly every section of the province
reported these pests in injurious numbers. They have been abundant for
several years, but a rapid decline is looked for in 1938 and 19389. poe:
losses were moderate as a result of control efforts.

Blister beetles of the genera Lytta and Epicauta were again a com-
mon pest in Saskatchewan and Alberta attacking the foliage of leguminous
and certain other plants. The abundance of these insects is associated
with repeated outbreaks of grasshoppers, on the egg pods of which their
larvae are reported to feed. An increased acreage and immediate market
for beans in southern Alberta has greatly increased the economic import-
ance of L. nuttalli Say, which feeds extensively on the blossoms of the
bean. Only a small amount of damage was reported in Manitoba in 1937.

Field crickets, Gryllus assimilis Fab., appeared in increased numbers
over previous years in sections of Manitoba and Alberta, but did no great
damage. Moderate infestations of the mormon cricket, Anabrus simplex
Hald., were also reported in several localities in these two provinces.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 75

Over extensive sections of the drought area in Saskatchewan there
was so little vegetation that it is probable that many of the larvae of the
pale western cutworm, Agrotis orthogonia Morr., died early in the season,
the only evidence of the outbreak being found in small patches of surviving
crop where cutworms and their work were found. In the Lloydminster-
North Battleford area severe infestations and losses occurred for the first
time. Approximately 2-7 per cent of the seeded acreage was destroyed.
Elsewhere in the outbreak area the damage was patchy. In southern
Alberta extensive damage occurred north and east of Lethbridge, for a
distance of eighty to ninety miles, while a more patchy infestation was
found to the south and west. In general, the infestation occurred about
as forecast, with severe losses in areas farther north than ever before
recorded. Had the drought been less severe in the northeastern areas
centering on Consort and Provost, it is probable that the pale western cut-
worm would have been more prominent as a crop menace. Red-backed
cutworms, Huxoa ochrogaster Gn., and allied species, again caused consid-
erable damage in northeastern Saskatchewan, especially in the heavily
wooded Whitefox-Nipawin district which marks the northeast corner of
agricultural settlement in the province. Slight damage occurred south
of the Saskatchewan river, centering on Melfort. Elsewhere the pest was
of little importance except in gardens where, as usual, much damage
resulted. In general, the situation was very much as in 1936. In Mani-
toba, the species did considerable damage to gardens, particularly near
Arnaud. Numerous complaints were received from the middle of May
to the middle of June. The army cutworm, Chorizagrotis auxiliaris Grt.,
appeared in numbers early in the season over most of southwestern Al-
berta. Early-seeded crops were injured and in some cases destroyed.
Over most of the area the larvae were mature before normally seeded
crops were above the ground. The appearance of the adults of this species
in certain localities of Saskatchewan in late summer may presage an out-
break in southern parts of the province. _

The outbreak of the bronzed cutworm, Nephelodes emmedonia Cram.,
which occurred on the Tantramar marshes at the head of the Bay of Fundy,
in the Maritime Provinces, in 1935 and 1936, appears to have terminated,
_as this species was of no importance in 1937. Other species of cutworms
were not as prevalent or as injurious as usual, in these provinces. Infest-
ations and damage by various species of cutworms occurred in the other
provinces of the Dominion, but except as previously recorded, there were
no serious outbreaks and the insects were average or subnormal.

Outbreaks of the armyworm, Cirphis unipuncta Haw., occurred in
parts of Eastern Canada and the Prairie Provinces. The outbreak in
Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island was the worst in nearly two de-
ecades. There was a moderate infestation in certain counties in New
Brunswick and a very light one in southwestern Ontario. In the central
and northern parts of the agricultural area of Manitoba considerable dam-
age was done to oats and wheat. These and other crops also suffered
damage throughout the eastern and north-eastern park areas of Saskatch-
ewan, where the species developed in serious outbreak form for the first
time. The armyworm was not a pest in Alberta, but adults were caught
in a light trap at Lethbridge, for the first time since its establishment in

1915.

Throughout recent drought years in Saskatchewan. the wireworm
problem has steadily increased in importance; and, in 1937, Ludius aeri-

76 THE REPORT OF THE

pennis destructor Brown and minor species, caused more thinning of crop
than in any season since 1931. Throughout large sections of the prairie
area from one-fourth to one-third of the wheat planted on summer-fallow
was destroyed by the middle of June, and this condition continued with
diminishing severity into the park areas. Potatoes and other garden
produce also suffered severe and widespread damage. In southern AlI-
berta, wireworms were noticeable in practically all areas, and wheat crops
suffered some thinning everywhere. In the drier areas this was consid-
ered an advantage, since the wheat was seeded too heavily for best results.
under prevailing drought conditions. As during the past several years,
wireworms caused some losses to sugar beets in the Barnwell-Taber area.
Except locally, these insects were not reported as serious pests in the other
provinces of the Dominion.

Large flights of June beetles, Phyllophaga spp., were noted in New
Brunswick, in Quebec south of the St. Lawrence river, and in several coun-
ties in Ontario, presaging future severe white grub injury. Losses due
to white grubs in 1937 were moderate to light in New Brunswick and
Ontario, but heavy in Nova Scotia (especially to lawns and gardens) ; and
to field and garden crops over a wide area in southern Quebec. On Van-
couver Island, grubs of the June beetle, Polyphylla decemlineata Say, dam-
aged nursery stock and strawberry plantations.

In areas of severe drought in Saskatchewan and Alberta, the scarcity
of suitable host plants for oviposition and larval development greatly re-
duced the population of the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Nort. In
Saskatchewan, damage was less than for several years, although very
severe in infested areas of better crop. The insect was widely distributed,
but the general infestation was south of a line joining Macklin, Saskatoon
and Balecarres. In southern Alberta, the species increased and spread
particularly in the strip-farming area. Increased damage was noted in
central Alberta, where there was sufficient moisture to develop a crop.
The insect continued scarce in Manitoba.

Say’s grain bug, Chlorochroa sayi Stal., was quite abundant in Al-
berta, and occurs over a wide area in this province and Saskatchewan.
The area extends from the international boundary, west to Cardston, Alta.,
east to East Poplar, Sask., and north to Calgary, Alta., and Alsack and
Ardath, Sask. It has been increasing and spreading over southern Alberta
since 1935. It was very abundant in the drier areas northeast of Leth-
bridge in 1937 and caused some loss to spring wheat. Although widely
distributed in Saskatchewan, where it was first found in 1936, no definite
record of damage has yet been made in that province.

Heavy infestations of the western chinch bug, Blissus occiduus Bar-
ber, occurred in old brome grass pastures in the Red river valley, Manitoba,
and, where the insects attacked young wheat plants along the edges of the
fields, the plants were destroyed. In Saskatchewan, where this insect
appeared in injurious numbers in 1936, after an absence of twelve years,
it was not reported in 1937.

The oat nematode, Heterodera schachtii Schm., which was reported as
injurious in Waterloo county, Ontario, in 1936, again caused a good deal
of damage to small grains, especially in the above county and York county,
by attacking the roots and killing or dwarfing the plants. Apparently it
is either spreading in south-western Ontario, or has been present but not
noted.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 77

_—_——_—_——

Jufiging from reports received, the infestation of the Colorado potato
beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, was somewhat similar to that of
1936 in the various provinces. In British Columbia, the insect was found
at Grand Forks in the Kettle valley area. Previously it had been confined
to the East Kootenays in the southeast corner of the province.

The potato psyllid, Paratrioza cockerelli Sulc., was not so abundant in
the Medicine Hat district this season as it has been the last few years, but
it was found in several widely scattered points throughout Alberta. It
attacks tomatoes and potatoes. The most serious injury to tomatoes
occurs in greenhouses where tomatoes are grown for the winter market.

The potato scab gnat, Pnyxia scabiei Hopk., caused damage to pota-
toes in Middlesex county, Ontario. This appears to be the first record of
its occurrence.

Although less abundant than in 1936, the red turnip beetle, Ento-
moscelis adonidis Pallas, continued in outbreak numbers in Saskatchewan,
throughout the park belt and adjacent prairie areas, causing much damage
to cruciferous vegetables, as well as attacking weeds, especially tumbling
mustard. The species appears to have been even more abundant than it
was in 1936, throughout the northern part of Alberta, including the Peace
river district. .

Quite severe damage from the cabbage maggot, Hylemyia brassicae
Bouche, was reported on Prince Edward Island, in central New Brunswick,
locally in Quebec, also in eastern and southern Ontario, and locally in Brit-
ish Columbia. Infestations of the onion maggot, H. antiqua Men., were
about average in all provinces except Ontario, where a great increase was
noted ; loss in some fields was 50 per cent of the crop and, in a few, up to
80 per cent. Increased acreages of onions in irrigated sections of southern
Alberta have increased the importance of the pest in that province. Corn
and beans have suffered considerable loss in south-western Ontario from
attacks of the seed corn maggot, H. cilicrura Rond.; a local infestation in
corn occurred at Reston, Manitoba. The sugar beet root maggot, Hury-
cephalomyia myopaeformis Roeder, which has been causing some losses to
sugar beets in the Barnwell district, Alberta, for the past few years, was
present on only one farm this season, and affected late-seeded beets, the
acreage of which was small.

The imported cabbage worm, Pieris rapae L., was a serious pest in
most regions of the Dominion and caused significant damage wherever
control measures were neglected. It was particularly destructive in the
Maritime Provinces and Ontario, and elsewhere as troublesome as usual,
with reported exceptions in the Hemmingford district, Quebec, and the
Agassiz district, British Columbia. Rather heavy infestations of the
diamond-back moth, Plutella maculipennis Curtis, were noted locally on
cruciferous crops in the Maritime Provinces and eastern Quebec. An out-
break of this species occurred extensively in Alberta and Saskatchewan, »
and resulted in much damage to various species of cruciferous plants.

There was a large increase in the European corn borer, Pyrausta
nubilalis Hiibner, in southern Ontario, and serious losses were caused in
a few counties, damage in many fields approximating that in 1926. The
species also increased in parts of southern Quebec, although in many dis-
tricts it was not present in economic numbers.

78 THE REPORT -OF Thi .

An outbreak of the beet webworm, Lowostege sticticalis L., of unusual
severity and widespread distribution developed in Saskatchewan, and in-
creased the seriousness of the feed situation in drought areas by destroying
weed growth (Russian thistle) otherwise available for feed. The out-
break extended over much of the agricultural area of southern Alberta.
Garden crops were also attacked. The species was quite abundant, too,
in Manitoba, but confined its depredations to weeds.

Heavy infestations of flea beetles of several species were reported on
field and garden crops in various parts of the Dominion. However, in
Nova Scotia, flea beetles were not so abundant as in 1936, and much less
so in 1935. As usual the potato flea beetle, E'pitrix cucumeris Harris, was
an abundant pest in many parts of the eastern provinces. An outbreak of
Systena pallicornis Schffr., on bean foliage in Brant and Perth counties,
Ontario, almost destroyed some fields. The insect was also abundant in
the Ottawa district. The species Phyilotreta lewisi Crotch, destroyed
many small cruciferous plants in market gardens in the Winnipeg area,
Manitoba. Injury to several host plants by Phyllotreta vittata Fab., was
reported locally in Quebec; P. albionica was averagely destructive in Brit-
ish Columbia. Flea bettles of several species were abundant in the irri-
gated sections of Alberta, and most vegetable crops suffered some losses;
young radishes, turnips, cabbage and cauliflower were frequently defoli-
ated.

There was a marked increase of the tarnished plant bug, Lygus pra-
tensis L., in Ontario and Quebec. At Algonguin, Ontario, probably 30 per
cent of the celery crop was ruined. The species was also noted as preva-
lent on Prince Edward Island and in the interior of New Brunswick, caus-
ing injury to flowers.

The species, Sitona lineatus L., which is a serious pest of peas and
beans in Europe, appeared in destructive numbers in the Victoria district,
British Columbia, in 1937, on seedling peas. The weevil is widespread in
the district and was collected as far north as Keating, twelve miles from
Victoria. This is apparently the first record of the species in North
America.

The pea moth, Laspeyresia nigricana Steph., continued to be of serious
import in the pea-growing areas of Gaspe, Quebec, and the Lower Fraser
valley, British Columbia; but, in both areas, the pest was at somewhat
less than its usual abundance. The loss in the Gaspe for the whole district
was about 1 per cent, and in the most severely infested districts approxi-
mately 10 per cent, with many growers, however, being unable to continue
the growing of peas for market. The same is substantially true in the
Lower Fraser valley, where in large districts dried pea growing has prac-
tically ceased owing to infestations in the past. The species was reported
as subnormal in the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia, and a serious pest of

late peas on Prince Edward Island.

Heavy infestations of the pea aphid, Jllinoia pist Kalt., occurred in
Quebec, parts of Ontario north of Lake Ontario, and in British Columbia
at the coast. The outbreak in Quebec was the worst so far recorded, and
caused an almost total failure of the canning pea crop.

Both species of asparagus beetles, Crioceris asparagt L., and C. duo-
decimpunctata L., were much more numerous than usual in Ontario, and
did serious damage to plants both during and after the cutting season.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 79

——— |

In the Niagara district the greatest injury to the asparagus crop occurred
late in May. G asparagt 18 spreading in the Vancouver district, British
Columbia, where it is a comparatively new pest.

The European earwig, Forficula auricularia L., is reported to have
decreased in some areas of British Columbia (Victoria and Vancouver dis-
tricts), in which it has been abundant for some years. In other localities,
where it appeared only recently, it continued to be a major pest. The
species was found in the interior, at Vernon, in 1937, and is increasing
at Nelson, in the Kootenay area.

Reports of injury to garden plants by slugs were received from Essex
and Kent counties, in south-western Ontario; from Carleton county in
eastern Ontario; and from the Agassiz district, British Columbia. They
were noted as less troublesome in the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia, than
in 1937, probably owing to the dry season.

Fruit Insects

A pronounced increase of the codling moth, Carpocapsa pomonella L.,
during 1937, was noted in the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia, and consid-
erable “sting’’ injury occurred around Berwick and Waterville, and in
parts of Hants county. There was heavy damage in unsprayed orchards
on Prince Edward Island. Moderate injury was reported in the Gaspe
and St. Hilaire districts of Quebec. In Ontario, the codling moth was less
destructive than in 1936, but was still responsible for serious losses in
many apple orchards, and was more injurious than usual to Bartlett pears
in the Niagara and Burlington districts. The species is apparently becom-
ing increasingly troublesome in some of the eastern counties, such as Dur-
hum and Northumberland. In the Niagara district spring brood moths
were very abundant, but the next brood was quite small. In British
Columbia, the codling moth has appeared in destructive numbers in one
orchard in the Metchosin district, this being an extension of its range in
the Victoria district. In areas on Vancouver Island where it has been
long established it showed no increase. In the Okanagan valley, it is
generally distributed from Vernon south. The Salmon Arm district has
become infested, and the occurrence of the moth in the Coldstream area
was first noted in 1936.

The lesser apple worm, Laspeyresia prunivora Walsh, was less com-
mon than for several seasons in the Vernon district, British Columbia,
but was fairly plentiful at Salmon Arm, causing some loss to apples. _ On
Vancouver Island, where it is seldom complained of, a report of injury
was received from the Courtenay district.

The 1937 season was~a favorable one in Nova Scotia, for the apple
maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh, with the result that there was a
rather considerable increase outside the control zone in which the com-
mercial orchards are situated. In two areas inside the control zone, a
slight increase in the number of properties infested was reported. Such
infestations were light. A material reduction of injury was noted in
southern Quebec, probably the result of more and better spraying, and a
much larger crop was harvested than in 1936. In Ontario, observations
indicate that the apple maggot infestation in neglected apple orchards
was somewhat lighter than during the past year or two, except in the St.

80 THE REPORT OF THE

Lawrence district, where an increase occurred. The orchard survey
showed a oheeidecetle reduction in the number of infested commercial
orchards in many counties.

With the exception of the apple aphid in British Columbia, there were
no serious outbreaks of aphids in fruit trees during 1937. The apple
aphid, Aphis pomi DeG., was comparatively scarce in Nova Scotia and
Ontario, with local exceptions. In the Okanagan valley, B.C., it was very
‘troublesome on apple trees, particularly young trees. The rosy apple
aphid, Anuraphis roseus Baker, was moderately numerous in some Nova
Scotia orchards in the spring, but was much reduced from 1936, and para-
sites and predators, particularly the latter, were very prevalent. The
species was of little or no consequence in apple orchards in Ontario. The
woolly apple aphid, E'riosoma lanigerum Hausm., was prevalent in the
Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia, and showed some increase over 1936; in
Ontario it was negligible. In the Okanagan valley, British Columbia, it
was fairly numerous early in the season, but was considerably reduced by
various factors later in the summer. The black cherry aphid, Myzus
cerast Fab., was prevalent and more general in Annapolis and Digby coun-
ties, Nova Scotia, than average; natural control, however, prevented any
serious injury. In Ontario, no important infestations were observed or
reported. This is of particular interest, as the species is more regularly
injurious in the province than any other fruit aphid. In British Columbia,
the black cherry aphid was a pest in some orchards; the green peach
aphid, Myzus persicae Sulz., was locally injurious, and the mealy plum
aphid, Hyalopterus arundinis Fab., was less troublesome than for several
seasons.

A moderate increase in numbers of the eye-spotted budmoth, Spilonota
ocellana D. & S., was noted in the western part of Annapolis county, Nova
Scotia, and in Kings and Hants counties. The species continued to be
negligible in Ontario and British Columbia. The infestation of the gray
banded leaf roller, Hulia mariana Fern., in Nova Scotia was about average
for the past three or four years. The three-lined leaf roller, Pandemis
limitata Rob., caused considerable injury to fruit in many areas in Nova
Scotia, and is apparently on the increase. The fruit tree leaf roller,
Cacoecia argyrospila Walk., is increasing in many sections of the Okana-
gan valley, British Columbia, necessitating the application of oil sprays
in early spring. It continued at a low level in Ontario. The dusky leaf
roller, Amorbia humerosena Clem., and the white triangle leaf roller,
Cacoecia persicana Fitch, were of minor importance in Nova Scotia in
1937. The oblique banded leaf roller, Cacoecia rosaceana Harr., is be-
coming more numerous in British Columbia.

The infestation of the plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar Hbst.,
was about the same as in 1936, in Nova Scotia and Ontario. No report
was received from Quebec.

The round-headed apple tree borer, Saperda candida Fab., continued
to occur in very large numbers in apple orchards in southern Quebec.

The pale apple leafhopper, Typhlocyba pomaria McA., was common
in most orchards in the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia, but no severe infest-
ations were reported. In southern Ontario, it was much more abundant.
and widespread than in 1936, and in several orchards appeared in outbreak
form. The apple leafhopper, Hmpoasca maligna Walsh, occurred in con-
siderable numbers in some apple orchards in the Niagara district, and in

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 81

Durham and Lambton counties, Ontario. The potato leafhopper, Empo-
asca fabae Harris, was again injurious to apple and plum nursery stock and
to young orchard trees in this province. The infestation was somewhat
lower than in 1936, and probably about normal.

The foliage of unsprayed apple trees was rather severely damaged by
the apple and thorn skeletonizer, Hemerophila pariana Clerck, in northern
and eastern Nova Scotia. Some orchards in Pictou county were completely
brown early in August. Increases were also indicated in Queens county.
In the sprayed area few of the insects were seen. Reports of injury were
received from several counties in Ontario, but, in general, comparatively
little damage was done. In many of the fruit growing districts of the
province the skeletonizer failed to appear. The species appears to be on
the upward trend in these two provinces.

Green fruit worms, Graptolitha torrida Sm., and G. georgi Grt., cause
considerable damage to young apples every year in the Okanagan valley,
British Columbia. Green fruit worms of various species injured a small
percentage of fruit in the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia, their depredations
being less than in 1936.

Larvae of the tussock moths (rusty and white marked) were prevalent
in the fruit area of Nova Scotia. Specimens were received from a number
of localities. There was some injury to fruit, but apparently not severe.

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus pratensis L., was more injurious to
peach, plum and apple nursery stock in the Niagara district, Ontario, than
in 19386. A type of injury, called “catfacing’’, taking the form of sunken
scars, varying in size from small, more or less round, spots, to fairly large
irregular areas, was common and serious on peach fruit in the district, and
was probably caused by this species. Some damage to maiden fruit trees
occurred in British Columbia, caused by the bugs “‘stinging”’ the terminals.

As in 1936, the oyster shell scale, Lepidosaphes ulmi L., was prevalent
in the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia, and in some instances infested fruit.
The species was very abundant on unsprayed fruit trees in New Brunswick.
No very heavy infestation of San Jose scale, Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst.,
were observed in southern Ontario, but in the Niagara district at least, the
insect was more prevalent than in 1936 on fruit; namely, apples and Japan-
ese plums. The European fruit scale, Aspidiotus ostreaeformis Curt., was
found infesting fruit in several orchards at Vernon, British Columbia. A
few sparse colonies of the European fruit lecanium, Eulecanium corylt
(Ldger), were found, but always freely parasitized by Blastothric.

The mealy bug, Phenococcus aceris Sig., infesting orchards in Nova
Scotia, has been shown to be the same species as is found in the fruit area
in British Columbia, where it is a more injurious pest. It is now found
In most orchards in the Annapolis valley, but few showed any appreciable

injury in 1937. |

The European red mite, Paratetranychus pilosus C. & F., was more
- general and widespread in orchards of the Annapolis valley, Nova Scotia,
than in previous years. Slightly to moderately bronzed foliage was pres-
ent on susceptible varieties in many orchards throughout the fruit area.
_ The species was of minor importance in Ontario. In the Okanagan valley,
British Columbia, it was not injurious this season, except locally. _ The
pear leaf blister mite, Eriophyes pyri Pgst., was common in many localities

32 - ‘THE REPORT OF THE

in Nova Scotia but no severe infestations developed. In Ontario it was
more prevalent than for several years on apples and pears, particularly
young trees and nursery stock, but no severe outbreaks were recorded.
Infestations were noted on apple trees in the Okanagan valley, British
Columbia, that will necessitate the application of dormant sprays. Erio-
phyid mites, Phyllocoptes foekeui Nal. & Trt., were abundant on the term-
inal growth of plum nursery stock in the Niagara district, Ontario, and
by feeding on the undersides of the tender leaves produced pronounced
curling. The species E'pitrimerus piri Hal., was common on pears and,
where numerous, caused russeting and some curling of the leaves.

In the Niagara district, Ontario, the infestation of the oriental fruit
moth, Laspeyresia molesta Busck, was distinctly greater than in 1936.
The average twig infestation was 3.4 per cent, compared with 2.6 per cent
in 1936, and the average injury to Elberta peaches in observation orchards
increased from 1.7 per cent to 5.8 per cent. This increased injury was
partly due to an unusual amount of third brood injury, resulting from
warm weather in late August, and to late harvesting. In south-western
Ontario the fruit moth was present in outbreak form and caused severe
losses. The average twig infestation was 22.4 per cent compared with
6.5 per cent in 1936; and, at Cedar Springs, Leamington and Ruthven,
fruit injury was as high as 30 to 40 per cent.

The peach borer, Synanthedon exitiosa Say, was less abundant and
injurious in the Niagara district, Ontario, than in 1936.

Considerable injury by the pear psylla, Psyllia pyricola Forst.,
occurred in Nova Scotia orchards where spraying was not properly done.
In southern Ontario the species caused practically no damage, the psyllids
being kept to small numbers in all commercial orchards by dormant oil
sprays. The pear slug, Eriocampoides limacina Retz., appeared in large
numbers of young cherry and pear trees, including nursery stock, in the
Niagara district, Ontario. No reports of abundance were received from
other parts of the Dominion. The pear thrips, Taeniothrips inconsequens
Uzel, caused damage in orchards at Courtenay, Vancouver Island, and at
Kelowna, British Columbia, both new areas for this species.

The marked reduction of the grape leafhoppers, Erythroneura comes
Say and E. tricincta Fitch, in the Niagara district, Ontario, in 1936, after
five successive years of outbreak, was not minimized in 1937, and the
insects once again appeared in large numbers, and caused material damage
in many unsprayed or poorly sprayed vineyards.

The common red spider, Tetranychus telarius L., wintered over in con-
siderable numbers in some raspberry plantations, in southern Ontario, but
was held in check by rains and other natural control factors. Infestations
of spider mites on raspberry and other plants were reported locally in
Manitoba. Spider mites were the most important pests of small fruits,
especially raspberry, in Saskatchewan, reports of serious injury being
necoved from widely-separated parts of the Pe SE,

The usual reports of damage to raspberries and other small fruits by
several species of insects were received from various parts of the Domin-
ion during 1937.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 83

Forest and Shade Tree Insects

The European spruce sawfly, Diprion polytomum. Htg., has increased
in numbers over practically the whole of the infested area in the eastern
provinces, and more than 10,000 square miles were estimated as heavily
infested. In eastern Quebec, north of the St. Lawrence, the infestation
is light, but extends as far east as the Moisie river. West of the St. Law-
rence, the sawfly is now known to extend from lake St. John westward
to lake Temiskaming. South of the St. Lawrence, heavy infestations
developed at scattered points as far west as Bellechase county. Infesta-
tion was heavy in many parts of New Brunswick, but light in Nova Scotia.
Actual death of trees has not yet occurred to any important extent outside
of the Gaspe peninsula. All classes and types of spruce are attacked, but
white spruce suffers more severely than red or black spruce.

Serious defoliation of planted spruce trees by the yellow-headed spruce
sawfly, Pachynematus ocreatus Harr., again occurred in the northern half
of the farming areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta. In Manitoba the
infestation was less heavy than in 1936, but in Saskatchewan several new
areas in the south weré recorded infested, indicating a gradual southward
extension of the infestation. The species was also quite prevalent in
northern Ontario. |

An infestation of the spruce budworm, Cacoecia fumiferana Clem., is
present in jack pine over a large territory in Manitoba and Ontario. It
apparently extends from the Sandilands Forest Reserve, Manitoba, to the
_ Eagle river, Ontario, and appears to be spreading in an easterly direction.
It is one of the most serious forest insect pests in the region and has caused
much permanent injury to the trees. The outbreak seems to be decreasing
in intensity.

The black-headed budworm, Peronia variana Fern., is evenly distri-
buted and fairly abundant from Saskatchewan to the Gaspe, with local
concentrations in northern Algoma.

The spruce mite, Paratetranychus ununguis Jac., which has long been
a serious pest of planted spruce in the Prairie Provinces, assumed out-
_ break proportions in 1937, and its feeding activities, combined with
drought conditions resulted in extensive injury.

The red-headed pine sawfly, Neodiprion leconte: Fitch, was mueh
scarcer in the Muskoka district, Ontario, than during the preceding three
years.

The European pine shoot moth, Rhyacionia buoliana Schiff., which
was largely eliminated in the Niagara district, Ontario, by the severe win-
ter of 1933-34, has recovered and increased to a considerable extent, and

many pines were attacked during 1937.

The larch sawfly, Lygaeonematus erichsoni Htg., increased in num-

bers in parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and caused 25-100 per

cent defoliation of larch. An infestation was discovered south of Silver-

_ ton, British Columbia, sixty-two miles farther west than previously re-

corded. No defoliation was noted anywhere in the province, the species
being at a low ebb.

Increased infestation and farmers: to balsam fir by the balsam woolly
Laine Adelges piceae Ratz., at scattered points in Nova Scotia and New

84 THE REPORT OF THE

Brunswick, has developed. Considerable injury to the terminal twigs of
spruce trees by the spruce gall aphid, Adelges abietis Kalt., was reported
in plantations throughout the Prairie Provinces. A number of species
of aphids were very abundant on various deciduous trees and shrubs in
this region.

There was a continuance of outbreaks of the forest tent
caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria Hbn., in several provinces. The out--
break in the Maritime Provinces was somewhat less extensive than in
1936. The infestations were again heavy over a wide territory in Ontario,
north of the Great Lakes, particularly on poplars. Extensive poplar and
willow stands in north-eastern Saskatchewan were also badly affected.
Severe local outbreaks occurred in Manitoba and south-central British
Columbia. The eastern tent caterpillar, M. americana Fab., was present
in outbreak form over a large part of Ontario, especially in northern and
eastern counties, and in the Niagara peninsula. The species was numer-
ous in parts of the Maritime Provinces and widespread and abundant in
the St. Lawrence valley. Injury by the cherry tent caterpillar, M. fragilis
Stretch, to fruit-bearing shrubs was severe over scattered areas through-
out the Prairie Provinces. On Vancouver Island, the species M. pluvialis
Dyar occurred in much smaller numbers in 1937, having reached the peak
of its abundance in 1936.

The fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria Harris, increased consider-
ably in parts of the St. John valley, New Brunswick, especially between
Fredericton and Jemseg, where it completely defoliated the elms and soft
maples in woodlands. Minor local infestations were reported in southern
Ontario. The species again proved a serious pest of Manitoba maple and
elm throughout large areas in Saskatchewan and was abundant on shelter
belts of Manitoba maple and ash almost everywhere in Alberta, south of
Calgary. North of this point only scattered infestations were reported.
The infestation in Manitoba declined, with only a few plantations and
groups of trees recorded: as infested.

The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea Drury, was generally abundant
throughout the St. Lawrence valley, less abundant than for several years
in eastern Ontario, and present in outbreak numbers in the Okanagan and
Lower Fraser valleys, British Columbia.

The douglas fir tussock moth, Hemerocampa pseudotsugata McD.,
appears to be increasing in the interior of British Columbia. It was found
for the first time on Vancouver Island, north of Victoria, but has not yet
occurred there in destructive numbers.. The rusty tussock moth, Notol-
vhus antiqua L., occurred in great abundance in the St. Lawrence valley,
Quebec, on different species of trees, especially larch. It was also com-
mon over a wide area in New Brunswick on many trees, including spruce.

The satin moth, Stilpnotia salicis L., increased in numbers at many
points in the Maritime Provinces. An outbreak appeared for the first
time at McAdam, N.B. Some trees along the north shore of Nova Scotia
have been killed by repeated. attack and infestations are now well distri-
buted throughout the province. In some places the outbreak has died
down, and imported parasites appear to have been an important factor

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 85

over limited areas. In British Columbia only a few isolated outbreaks
occurred, and the introduced parasite, Apanteles solitarius appears to be
an important control agent in the province.

Small infestations of the gypsy moth, Porthetria dispar L., were found
in Charlotte county, New Brunswick, in 1936, near the international
boundary, at St. Stephen, Milltown, and St. Andrew, a total of 24 egg
masses being located and destroyed by the scouting crew. Additional egg
masses, and two female moths were discovered and destroyed at St.
Stephen in 1937. The scouting and eradication work is being continued.

The beech scale, Cryptococcus fagi Bsp., increased seriously in south-
ern New Brunswick, and the majority of mature beech stands south of a
line from Shediac through Jemseg to St. Stephen have become heavily
infested and may die. Many trees are already dead and dying.

Grey and white birch throughout the Maritime Provinces were attack-
ed by the European birch leaf miner, Fenusa pumila Klug. Part of the
injury was due to the birch leaf miner, Phyllotoma nemorata Fall. These
species were also widespread in Quebec, and the former was common in
eastern Ontario.

Many birch trees in New Brunswick and Ontario are dead or dying
_ from attacks of the bronze birch borer, Agrilus anxius Cory.

The boxelder leaf-roller, Gracilaria negundella Chamb., was wide-
_ spread throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta and caused exten-
sive damage to Manitoba maple.

Larvae of the cecropia moth, Platysamia cecropia L., caused consid-
erable defoliation of Manitoba maple trees throughout the southern por-
tion of Saskatchewan, and south-west portions of Manitoba. It was rather

- severe locally in central Saskatchewan. Injury to the trees was accen-
_ tuated by drought conditions.

The walnut caterpillar, Datana integerrima G. & R., completely defol-
iated thousands of walnut and butternut trees in southwestern Oxtario.

Other Insect and Arthropod Pests

Various species of mosquitoes of the genus Aedes (stimulans WIk.,
hirsuteron Theo. etc.) were very prevalent in Eastern Canada, and a seri-
ous nuisance in many areas during spring and early summer. Later in
the summer, in the Ottawa valley and probably in other regions in the
- eastern provinces where rainfall was plentiful, and also in southern Mani-
- toba, Aedes vexans Men., was a troublesome pest. In Saskatchewan and
_ Alberta mosquitoes were comparatively scarce. In British Columbia,
1937 was not an outbreak year for mosquitoes, although these insects were
a pest locally.

Blackflies, Simuliuwm spp., were more than usually numerous and
troublesome in Eastern Canada. They were also reported abundant in
the Red River valley, Manitoba, and in the Kamloops region, British
Columbia. A most unusual outbreak of S. venustum Say affected the city
of Winnipeg, many persons being severely bitten.

86 THE REPORT OF THE

-Numerous complaints of various species of ticks infesting animals
and man were received during the 1937 season, especially from the west-
ern provinces. Many cases of tick paralysis, affecting cattle and sheep,
caused by Dermacentor andersoni Stiles, were reported in the interior of
British Columbia. At the Pacific coast, Ixodes ricinus L., was unusually
abundant, attacking domestic pets and humans. JD. andersoni has in-
creased greatly in numbers in southern sections of Alberta and Saskatch-
ewan during the recent drought years. The winter tick, D. albipictus
Packard, continued to be a pest on cattle and the larger wild game animals
in various parts of the Dominion.

As usual, reports of infestation by various other species affecting
animals and man, and of annoyance and damage by household and stored
products insects were received from many localities in the different prov-
inces.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 87

INDEX

PAGE

AGZUGES CHAISE EN ee 84
(PUGETE SG) OAR a es a eer 83
Aeaes mirsuteron, Theos <....6.c1.c..0.0.00--- 85
SEO ITAES DA Se ee a neers 85
LUCE NGS) SP goatee tne rete 85
MOE DIES NOMEGIUS: COVY. >... oes secsesecene eee 85
ASIST NZ 2 Ch La tee 45
Agroms orthogonia Morr. ...................: 715

Alfalfa snout beetle (see Brachyrhi-
nus ligustici L.)

Alsophila pometaria Harr. ........ 51-55, 84
Amorbia humerosana Clem. .............. 21, 80
mnaorus semples Hald. ...........0sc00icc 74
PNGUOCWOCUOPSIS SP o oo. .cccacs:suesiesdewvvesoxsnerers 16
Anchylopera nubeculana Clem........... 21
PimcuismOPICOWO, Wee... evecneccekes 22
Anwmaphis roseus Baker: ::...2i:5..0.6.6006- 80
Apamea americana Speyevr.................. Za
maepomteles. SOLILATIUS, RatZ..c.2.4.4.20.0....0-- 85
Aphelinus jucundus Gahan................ 45, 47
PROT LEU" 5 se aes tie na re 45
THOGHTPUGALE E72 72S 0110) ee ee 45, 46, 48
SLTATNIDOS Seek ee de ee AT
SSO Re Foe EE ah Ol ven dav cheueadnee 45
Aphidius phorodontis Ashm......... 45, 46, 48
PGES © 1S BAO ae a ait eat a 45
POSTE SIG e t I ieee ae gee ene 45
ALGIV DES “CEDIT BIS | OXEX C7 a ie ee 80

Apple and thorn skeletonizer (see
Hemerophila pariana Clerck)

Apple aphid (see Aphis pomi DeG.)

Apple leafhopper (see Empoasca ma-
ligna Walsh.)

Apple maggot (see Rhagoletis pomo-
nella Walsh.)

Apple redbug (see Lygidea mendax

Reut.)
Archips conflictana Wk. ...................... 14
wosaceana Harris... icccicccccces soos Pall 243%
Argyroploce bipartitans Clem......... Ade a3
constellatana Zell. ............ccccccc000-+- 22, 23

Army cutworm (see Chorizagrotis —
auxiliaris Grt.)

Armyworm (see Cirphis unipuncta
Haw.)

Ascogaster carpocapsae Viev.....24, 25, 26

Asparagus beetle (see Crioceris as-
paragi L., C. duodecimpunctata
es)

Aspidiotus (ostraeformis Curt.) (per-
mniciosus Comst.) ............:0 ee 81

GLO CHRUS piceus Ol; 0...) ee 57

Bolscematone, Witch) 22... Zep npes

Balsam woolly aphid (see Adelges
piceae Ratz.)

Bat bug (see Cimewx pilosellus Horo.)

Bedbug (see Cimex lectularius L.)

Beech scale (see Cryptococcus fagi
Bsp.)

Beet webworm (see Lowostege sticti-
calis L.)

Bessa selecta Mg. ity

Birch leaf miner (see Phyllotoma ne-
morata Fall.)

CAMO me CE aut et Neu we me once eee ae Tal

Black carpet beetle (see Attagenus
piceus Ol.)

Black cherry aphid (see RES cerasi
Fab.)

Blackflies (see Simulium spp.)

Blackheaded budworm (see Peronia
variana Fern.)

POSCOCIURED, ISIS cosas eee 81

Bilissus-occiduus Barber 22... 5... 76

Blister beetle (see E'picauta spp. and
Lytta spp.)

Boxelder leaf-roller (see Graciiaria
negundella Chamb.)

Brachyrhinus ligustici L. ee

Bronze birch borer (see Agvilus anx-
tus Cory.)

Bronze cutworm (see Nephelodes em-
medonia Cram.)

Brown-headed spruce sawfly (see
Pikonema alascensis Roh.)

Cabbage maggot (see Hylemyia bras-
sicae Bouche)

Cacoecia argyrospila Walk................... 80
Conplictand WAK. -inccosc cesses seen soo Dees
eTUIdO Na ClOMe 2. ono 2oecccccnereseeesseees Zoe
jractivittana Clem. .......ccc..c...-c20-00-00- 7A |
fumiferana Clem. .............. 14, 15, 16, 83
MEUSICONO: FICC W 2 5.656 o-c cs odes 21, 80
gem NO,! CNOM soe. j2 oss eee Mpa aa
TCOSGCOONG: SAVES. 56 eccnjarncadaeteece see 80

Camnula pellucida Scudd..................... 74

Caripeta angustiorata WhIk............... UF fon Ly /

Carpet beetles (see Attagenus piceus

Ol.)
Carpocapsa pomonella
| FE eee ae 21 23-265.20, oy co
Cat flea (see Ctenocephalus Felis
Curt.)

88 THE REPORT OF THE

PAGE

Cecropia moth (see Platysamia ce-
cropia L.)
Cepnhus cinctus. Nort.24.. ee 76
Cheese mites (see Tyroglyphus sirol.)
Cherry tent caterpillar (see Malaco-
soma fragilis Stretch)

Chicken mite (see Dermanyssus gal-

linae L.)
Chiorochrog say otalen 4) eos 76
Chorizagrotis auxiliaris Grt................. 75
Chrysopidae ..... sagan 2 Ue es Stat cay SO 45
CGines lectilarius aA ee ae 57
pilosellus Horo. ......... era Moe: ey 58
Cingilia catenaria Dru...22...5..2..... ait
RUDIPCTATIG. SWeLb~* 00k eee 14

Cirphis unipuncta Haw. 21, 23, 67-70, 75

Clothes moths (see Tineola biselliella
Hum.)

Cluster flies (see Pollenia rudis Fab.)

Gocecinellidae oak he ee 45

Codling moth (see Carpocapsa, pomo-
nella L.)

Colorado potato beetle (see Leptino-
tarsa decemlineata Say)

Common red spider (see Tetranychus
telarius L.)

Compaca, perlata Gn... 22
Conotrachelus nenuphar Hbst............. 80
CROCCHIS OSVArTOgt, lua ee 78, 79

duodecinipunctata Wi. =e oe ee 78
Cripescoccus. [090 BSP. ee 85
Cryptolechia tentoriferella Clem......... Dl
Ctenocephalus canis (Bouche) ther 59

feus:, Curtis 7 a0 es ee eee . 59
Depressaria alienella Bsk................. eee
Dermacentor albipictus Packard.......... 86

andersoni Stiles ...... nee elects cere 86
Dermanyssus gallinae Bee Sligo 58
Dermestes lardarius Va... 57
Desmia funeralis Hbn............ pit ik be 23
Diaeretus rapae Hal........... Spi Ey Sain 45

Diamond-back moth (see Plutella
maculipennis Curt.) bist,

Diprion -COTSQUUS eae eee 50
JTiLelorim. Baptee 0, tik
polytomum Htg. Wie eat 14-16, 48- 50, 83

Diprioninae ....... ee BRA rina.) he 13

Dog flea (see COLE as canis

Bouche)

Douglas fir tussock moth (see Hemer-
ocampa pseudotsugata McD.)

Drosophila melanogaster Meig............. 33

Drug store beetle (see ee 2 pa-
nicea L.)

a a

PAGE
Dusky leaf roller (see Amorbia hu-
merosana Clem.)
Eastern tent caterpillar (see Mala-
cosoma americana Fab.)

Ellopia fiscellartia Gn... LA a lye
Empoasca fabae Harris.........:........... 81.

maligna Walsh ........223 50s 80
Entomoscelis adonidis Pallas.............. reg
Ephedrus nitidus Gahan. .................. 45, 46
Epicauta spp. oe ‘in 74.
Epitrimerus piri Hal......... oS Uh eee 82
Epitria cucumeris Harris...3... 718.
Eriocampoides limacina Retz............... 82
Hriphyes pyrt Pest. ee 81
Eriosoma lanigerum Hausm................. 80
Erythroneura-cones Saye 82

tricincta: Fitch .... 2 eee 82
Eulecanium coryli (Ldger.) .................. 81
Eulia mariana Fern......... 19, 20; 215 25,00

miumistrana Linn. eee Deo

quadrifasciana Fern. 22

quercifoliang Fitch... Zon oe

velutinana Wik... 2 ee
Eupithecia palpata Pack. 14

European birch leaf miner (see Fen-
usa pumila Klug.)

European corn borer (see Pyrausta

nubilalis Hubn.)

European earwig (see Forficula auri-
cularia L.)

European fruit lecanium (see Eule-
canium coryli (Ldger.)

European fruit scale (see Aspidiotus
ostraeformis Curt.)

European pine shoot moth (see Rhya-
cionia buoliana Schiff.)

European red mite (see Paratetrany-
chus pilosus C. & F.)

European spruce sawfly (see Diprion
polytomum Htg.)

Eurycephalomyia ae Rea Roe- -
der ic eee at.

- Huxoa ochrogaster Gn................ bah eae 75
Evergestis straminalis Hbn........:....... 23
Evora hemidesma Zell. ee 22
EXOntTUS Spo ied. eee 50
Exochus sp. ..... ee a ee RM cs eg. 16
External parasites: ......:.......2ee TL

Eye-spotted budmoth (see Spilonota
ocellana D. & S.)

Fall cankerworm (see Alsophila pom-
etaria Harris)

Fall webworm (see see ai cunea
Drury) ca :

et ee

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 89

PAGE
False hemlock looper (see Nepytia
canosaria W1k.)

TRCMMSE DUNUILG MIG... oe. cccck cc lcccereedeleves 85
RCHUIP POCOSO Gres ccc ceca. cecdestnnecdeceese 14

Sic) onaaalfedebn Hceaea bes tie ae ect a a Re eee 18
)EUGEUETIG 2 cy gl a a ae 45
Wilemmipececles: 25. 208 ee Bibi 78

Forest tent caterpillar (see Malacos-
oma disstria Hbn.) ;

Forficula auricularia Li...........ccccccc 719

Fruit tree leaf roller (see Cacoecia
argyrospila Walk.)

(CEOS 02s (6 |S a a 13), 0g

Gracilaria negundella Chamb............... 85

Grape leaf folder (see Desmia funer-
alis Hbn.)

Grape leafhopper (see Hrythroneura
comes Say and E. tricincta

Fitch)
Graptolatha georgu Gite... 81
(CIPEPLEN TD: SHOTS eae he ei a a ee 81
(GIT ISIS) 110) 051 0 (2 Gn a 70, 73
Green apple bug (see Lygus communis
Knt.)

Green fruit worms (see Graptolitha
torrida Sm. and G. georgu Girt.)

Green-headed spruce sawfly (see Piko-

nema dimmockii Cress.)

Green looper (see Macaria yranitata
Gn.)

Green peach aphid (see Myzus persi-
cae Sulz.) )

Grey-banded leaf roller (see Eulia
mariana Fern.)

Grey looper (see Caripeta angustiorata

WIk.) .
Griyllus assinvlis Bab. .ccicc.ec.cc eee 74
Gypsonoma. fasciolana Clem................. 22
Gypsy moth (see Porthetria dispar L.)
PLCMER ODM GAC sie Sait. Bde 45
Hemerocampa leucostigma S. & A...21, 81
pseudotsugata .McD.. .............c..ccccceeee 84
Hemerophila pariana Clerck............... 81
Hemlock looper (see Ellopia fiscellaria
Gn.) ; :
Heterodera schachtii Schm................... 76
House fly (see. Musca domestica L.)
Hyalopterus arundinis Fab................... 80
Hylemyia antiqua Meig............... 31-43, 17
brassicae, bouche .....i6). 20.2 8iiest on. Cee
HACK OMRONG tA Rk. Pee na. EE
Hymenia perspictalis Hbn................. hail. as:
Hyphantria cunea Drury.................. 21, 84
(AACA. aUSIO a0 2) ob 1 lane ee 22

PAGE
iio, pist Walt ese ee eee 43, 44, 78
Imported cabbage worm (see Pieris

rapae L.)

Indian meal worms (see Plodia inter-
punctella Hb.)

OAS RICINUS) lah. eae ON hee ke ty 86

Jack pine budworm (see Cacoecia
fumiferana Clem.)

June beetle (see Phyllophaga spp.)

Larch sawfly (see Lygaconematus
erichsom Htg. and Pristiphora
erichsonu (Htg.)

Larder beetle (see Dermestes lardarius

L.)

Laspeyresia molesta Busck............... 24, 82
TAO TACO SLC Minne te eee ay ea 78
UATLUO UO BNWALSTNVVIse ee ene ee eee Pee Hts,

TGCAENODPCUS si 05... Ln aeae nee Cyt

epidosapwes whit Ws i ee 81

Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say............ ib

Lesser apple worm (see Laspeyresia
prunivora Wlshm.)

Lesser migratory grasshopper (see
Melanoplus mexicanus mexi-
canus Saus.)

I AGUIGOI DED. TS) OBR eee Seam hon a 45
Liponyssus sylviarum C. & F............... 58
WGOCOSLOGE SUICTICOIIS! TG2R). ....5.-02.28208-)-2 0. 78

Ludius aeripennis destructor Brown.. 76
Lygaeonematus erichsoni Htg......... 15, 83

Lygidea mendax Rett......................... 18,19
Lygus communis Knt..............0:00 es 1g:
ORO CIUSUSH lie Oeste ee hares! aesereies cee 78, 81
LUIS YOUN AVTES ESI ie enon oe cece oo 45
testaceipese Cress. 2 si aceeseeeeee net see 45.
Wetomaittalli Saya.) ee: 74
SONOS oe sii e.. toate cD SPREE NE Ioeb sae Re oes 74
Macuma,granitata (Gine.ycscs. = AS AUT.
Macrocentrus ancylivorus Rohwer..24, 25
Macropsis trimaculata Fitch....:......... 6-12
Macnositphum rosae. Liens eine. iece cess ADB
Malacosoma americana Fab............. 21, 84
GIssenig EL bie 4.) seo 14, 15,17, 21, 84
WOOsS SULeLe Myre, ee nate eh ea 84
DUTUIOLIS Wyatt a. x... Soateeaeeees vee Seek tee 84

Many spotted apple worm (see Balsa
malana Fitch)

Mealy bug (see Phenococcus aceris
Sig.)

Mealy plum aphid (see Hyalopterus
arundinis Fab.)

Melanoplus mexicanus mexicanus
SaAuSsHeeas: Hotes est dong epee 710, 74
Microcryptus Sp. ....... ees teeEech ene 50

90 THE REPORT OF. THE

. PAGE
Microplectron fuscipennis Zett............. 51
SOE Rat BS ai caat Ree els ae AG eee 50
Maneola waccm Riley. 2 Dall
AWites S85 aired tee Fee ae eae TASS
Monodés: Spec eee 18
versicolor Grows eee eee 14
Mormon cricket (see Anabrus simplex

Hald.)

‘Mosquitoes (see Aedes stimulans WIlk.,
A. hirsuteron Theo., and A.
vexans Men.

AMGUSCOC ONVESEIC OMe ee nn ese 60
IV YZUS COFGSU- TAD. oc. doe 80

PCrSiChe SUIZCh sa eee 45, 46, 80
INematinae <A eee one meee. 13
Neodiprion lecontei Fitch............ 14,17, 83

miner SNOLE. Gas eee 14

siained Md ney. eee 14
Nephelodes emmedonia Cram........... 21, 75
Nepytia canosaria Whk..................... Ihe ky
Noctuidae cts. Sie. POE ee ae ee 13

‘Northern fowl mite (see Liponyssus
sylviarum C. & F.)

Notolophus antiqua L...............0000..... 81, 84

‘Oat nematode (see Heterodera
schachtu Schm.)

‘Oblique-banded leaf roller (see Caco-
ecia rosaceana Harr.)

‘Occiacus wicanius THOrve ie 58

Olene vagans B. & MeD....................... ap

Onion maggot (see Hylemyia antiqua —
Meig.)

‘Oriental fruit moth (see Laspeyresia
molesta Busck)

‘Oriental peach moth (see Laspeyresia
molesta Busck)

‘Orizaephilus surinamensis L................ 59

‘Oyster shell scale (see Lepidosaphes
ulmi L.)

Pachynematus ocreatus Harr........... 15, 88

Pale apple leafhopper (see Typhlocyba
pomaria McA.)

Pale western cutworm (see Agrotis
orthogonia Morr.)

Pandemis limitata Rob. ............ 21, 23, 80
Paratetranychus pilosus C. & F........... 81

UNUNGUIS! SAC ..c. bee 83
Paratrioza cockerelli Sule. .................. 17
Parornix guttea Haw............06.ieccs.-- 22

Pea aphid (see Illinoia pisi Kalt.)

Pea moth (see Laspeyresia nigricana
Steph.)

Peach borer (see Synanthedon exitiosa
Say)

PAGE
Pear leaf blister mite (see Hriophyes
pyri Pest.)
Pear psylla (see Psylla pyricola
Forst.)
Pear slub (see E'riocampoides limacina_
Retz.)
Pear thrips (see Taentoihrips incon-
sequens Uzel) 2
Perilampus hyalinus Say... igi

Peronea variana Fern.......... 14, 15, 16, 83
Phenococeus aceris Sissi 22 81
Phyllocoptes foekewi Nal & Trt.)........ 82
Phyllophaga spp. ...2. 2. 76
Phyllotoma nemorata Fall................... 85
Phyllotreta albionica eee 718

lewist. Crotch 2.5.4.3 78

viteta Fab... eee 78
Pieris rapoe Wis ks5. eee Sige
Pikonema alascensis Roh................... 14,16

dimmockit Cress. S...323sn eee 14,16

SPP... ee 13
Pinipestis (Dioryctria) Sp.u...........:c.00 18
Platysamia cecropia Ve. 85
Plodia interpunctella Hb... ee 59

Plum and peach leafhopper (see
Macropsis trimaculata Fitch)

Plum curculio (see Conotrachelus
nenuphar Hbst.)

Plutella maculipennis Curt. 21, 28, 24, 77

Puy scabiet Hopk. 2 Tard.
Polia renigera Steph.......... «1 RR 21
Pollenia rudis: Fab... =. 57
Polyphylla decemlineata Say.............. 76
Porthetria dispar’ b... ee 85

Potato flea beetle (see E'pitrix cucum-
eris Harris)

Potato leafhopper. :.:......2 235 81

Potato psyllid (see Paratrioza cocker-
elli Sulc.)

Potato scab gnat (see Pnyxia scabier

Hopk.)
Praon alaskensis Ashm........................ 45
simulans Prov. .........:..... |. eee 45
Pristiphora erichsonu Htg............... 14,9%
Psylla pyricola Forst..............00000c00 82

Purple backed cabbage worm (see
Evergestis straminalis Hbn.)
Pyrausta nubilalis Hubn............. 28-32, 77
Red-backed cutworm (see Euxoa och-

rogaster Gn.)
Red-headed pine sawfly (see Neodi-
prion lecontei Fitch) |
Red turnip beetle (see Entomoscelis
adonidis Pallas)

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 91

PAGE
Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh............. f219
Rhyacionia buoliana Schiff............... 50, 83

Roadside grasshopper (see Camnula
pellucida Scudd.)

Rose aphid (see Macrosiphum rosae
L.) :

Rosy apple aphid (see Anwraphis
roseus Baker) -

Round-headed apple tree borer (see
Saperda candida Fab.)

Rusty iossock moth (see Notolophus
antiqua L.)

San Jose scale (see Aspidiotus perni-
ciosus Comst.)

PEER CEO NOIOG TAD... .6.5...ccccscceccccecceens 80
Satin moth (see Stilpnotia salicis L.)
“SETTLE ec EE ona ere 13

Saw-toothed grain beetle (see Orizae-
philus surinamensis L.)

Say’s grain bug (see Chlorochroa sayi
Stal.)

Seed corn maggot (see Hylemyia cili-
crura Rond.)

SATOCITTOS Se 85
PIUESEUDU OSA cock oo el eevhcssesiows asens 85
EOE OPE DOWICED, . Vics..cs..cc.co.cecececceessses- 59
SETS UCC TIS Uae 78
SUES ch a eee 79
SOP ET LEG CIC CTS) e 16
Sparganothis idaeusalis WhHk............... 22
rerrculatand Clem. ......2.....0-0.....00-2. 22S
BER BIEEO Ce OUOIN coco choco soc. cane sanos accuse at
PPROSCIGTIO GCN, c.cc..ccccceoeetsnnsecese os 22
ORT ETH OCT ES Nae 22.20
“SPITE SEG SE. AE SO er 45
SHTIG GS eG ees Act:
Spilonota ocellana D. & G............ 21, 23, 80

Spotted beet worm (see Hymenia
perspictalis Hbn.)

Spruce budworm (see Cacoecia fumi-
ferana Clem.)

Spruce gall aphid (see Adelges abietis

Kalt.)

Spruce mite (see Paratetranyckus

ununquis Jac.)

Stenoma algidella Whk....................... 22.23
SUD ECC 2212) | ee Oe 2osae
pybeipiatie Sauers Va....2......cccciee ss: Fe 84

—

PAGE
Sugar beet root maggot (see Huryce-
phalomyia myopaeformis Roe-

der )
Swallow bug (see Oeciacus vicarius
Horv.)
Synanthedon exitiosa Say..........c.0.... 82
NS ZTE CU ete ele nee aay BURNER pet 91 45
Systena pallicornis Schffr.................... 78
Taeniothrips inconsequens Uczel.......... 82
Tarnished plant bug (see Lygus pra-
tensis L.)
MENEMTECINIGAC. soi sare he bce ceed cectace oc, 13,14
hetranychus telarws Vi...) 3 0i.c50 82
Thiodia formosana Clem....................... rie
OERTOLERMANONG Wehbe oo Dee
OULU ACCU NUGMIN in en es Doe Dies

Three-lined leaf roller (see Pandemis
limitata Rob.)

TNS O)EGS 7 ae a ea he pee me ere ee GE AE ffl
mimneota oeselliella: ERUIMNe.o4co eee Bil
PRORGIICIG@AG 8 cise aes ccksoge seas. 1a 8
TORLEUL (OG fULCEGMOn W Uke icceehe ee 21
CLUDE EEO NEC DS ies hinge See Does
Clemensiang sHerns 2.44. Pak
MOTILOMOT CEM Les atures sneha Dies
ANRECNODPECES Boies ancwese Sogehas aicns ck eel cuaerecs 6
Hee FLOORS eS [ae ck ERE; Seven ee on eee 45
Typhlocyba pomaria MceaA............ 18, 19, 80
Tyroglyphus farinae DeG...................-. 60
GPA). 1g ages ee ee ee ne ane ee nT er 60-67

Walnut caterpillar (see Datana inte-
gerrima G. & R.)

Webbing clothes moth (see Tineola
biselliella Hum.)

Western chinch bug (see Blissus occi-
duus Barber)

Wheat stem sawfly (see Cephus cinctus
Nort.)

White-marked tussock moth (see
Hemerocampa leucostigma S.
& A.) .

White triangle leaf roller (see Cacoe-
cia persicana Fitch)

Winter tick (see Dermacentor albipic-
tus Packard)

Va ORINIS S62 cccs ss aha ee eee cee 71>

Woolly apple aphid (see Eriosoma
lanigerum Hausm.)

Yellow-headed spruce sawfly (see
Pachynematus ocreatus Harr.)

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No.65-68 | 7'7*" ann. Rpt. Ent. Soc. Ontario

a ee SSS SS Ne ey
GPO 16—6059

NT

3 9088 01268